43

Eric had picked Eve up from the hospital on Monday and she’d cried with relief that he was back and they were all together again. It was blissful to feel Eric’s warm body against hers in bed after all the months of being alone, to watch his sleeping face on the pillow beside her and witness Arthur’s arms around his father’s neck. Both of them had spent every waking moment babbling on about all the tiny minutiae of their lives apart – things that had seemed too humdrum to explain during the precious phone calls across the globe, but which were the stuff of a shared life. Each day she woke with surprise that he was there; neither of them could stop smiling.

Arthur, however, was still shy with his father and confused by his sudden presence in their lives. He turned to Eve to do every single thing for him, as if he hadn’t yet realized Eric would be perfectly capable of pouring his cereal in the morning, or getting him dressed. Eve could see how much this was distressing Eric.

It was nearly seven thirty on Thursday evening and the child was still not ready for bed. Eve and Eric had been so absorbed in conversation as they sat with cups of tea at the kitchen table that they hadn’t noticed the time.

‘We should get him up,’ Eve said, indicating their son as he sat on the tiled floor surrounded by his farm animals. ‘He’s exhausted.’

‘I’d take him, but he probably won’t let me,’ Eric said. ‘I don’t want to upset him.’

Eve took his hand. ‘Give him time. You just have to keep trying.’

Eric sighed and dropped his voice. ‘It’s weird, Evie. When I left, it was just you and Arthur, and he was still a toddler. Then I get home and you’re about to give birth to another baby, and our son has changed beyond all recognition. He doesn’t seem to relate to me at all …’ He paused and shook his head in apparent bewilderment. ‘I feel a bit useless, to be honest.’

‘You’re being brilliant,’ she replied, watching him shrug off her reassurance. ‘You haven’t been back a week yet. He’ll get used to you.’

‘I hope he’ll do more than that!’

She laughed. ‘You know what I mean.’ There was silence for a moment. ‘Have I changed “beyond recognition” too?’ she asked tentatively.

Eric gave her an appraising glance. ‘Apart from becoming two people, you mean?’

‘Yeah, apart from that small consideration.’

‘I’d say …’ Eve waited, realizing she was oddly nervous of her partner’s reply. So much time apart – with such different agendas – could have changed the whole nature of what they meant to each other. But then Eric said softly, his brown eyes suddenly bright with uncharacteristic tears: ‘I’d say you’re still the most beautiful woman I have ever set eyes on.’ She heard him clear his throat. ‘And you’re still the woman I love most in all the world.’

Eve swallowed. Eric found it so hard to voice his emotions, and his words caused her heart to swell with relief. For a moment their attention was caught by their next-door neighbour’s cat, Possum, wandering into the kitchen. Eric got up and gently shooed it out. Then he came up behind her where she sat and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. Lifting his right hand, she felt his finger softly trace the length of her tattoo. She shivered with pleasure. ‘I meant what I said, Evie.’

She smiled at his words and let out a contented sigh.

‘You’re not still angry with me, are you? For not coming home sooner?’ he asked softly. ‘I think your mum thinks I’m well out of order.’

Eve looked up. ‘Why? What did she say?’

‘She didn’t say anything. I just had the feeling …’

‘I don’t care what anyone thinks. You’re home now.’ As she spoke she felt the tension about the baby’s birth – which had hovered like a huge black bird on her shoulder for weeks now – slowly slip away. She and Eric were in this together; everything would be all right.