Chapter Fifteen

Jake safe in his room with Ryan, David went in search of supplies. He’d take a tour of the village while he was out, he decided, something he’d avoided doing since he’d arrived, paranoia being his middle name. Somehow, it didn’t seem to be dogging him as much the last few days. People were bound to gossip to a degree, Jake and him being new to the village and he a single dad at that. It was human nature, David supposed.

Feeling slightly more optimistic about the future, he nodded at one or two people as he walked. Passing Fleur’s Flower Shop, he was almost tempted to go in and purchase a bouquet for Andrea by way of a thank you, but decided against it. Gesture of thanks, or not, it might well be misconstrued by Jonathan Eden, who was a troubled man if ever David saw one.

David pondered the remark he’d overheard the guy make before Andrea had gone out. He was still in shock, he’d said. Fair enough. He’d every right to be. It was what he’d said next that David had a problem with. ‘They weren’t even supposed to be there, were they: the kids, your mum, when the fire started. I had no idea …’ What was that all about?

Nothing to do with him was what. David pulled himself up, again. His paranoia was obviously refocusing on Eden. Naturally, the man would be shocked. Obviously he’d be troubled by the huge task of rebuilding their lives. Eden needn’t trouble himself about David’s intentions, however. No matter how attracted to Andrea he might be, he didn’t intend to … David almost stopped in his tracks. What was he thinking?

He wasn’t. Clearly.

David tried to reel his thoughts back in, before he lingered too long on her breathtaking smile. The concern in her pretty green eyes; clear eyes, no condemnation there. There should have been. She was obviously a forgiving person, though David doubted he’d ever forgive himself.

If he really wanted to thank her, keep her as a friend – they’d been pretty thin on the ground lately – couldn’t he help her out? Flowers might have been a nice gesture, but without even a vase to put them in … It would mean helping Eden out, too, unfortunately. But then, the guy was Andrea’s … whatever he was. And David had liquid assets, money from the sale of his house that he hadn’t touched. Nor did he need to with a fund already set up for Jake from his mother’s insurance. He could do something, couldn’t he? Give them a head start on getting their lives back together until their insurers paid up? David walked on, taking a side road from the High Street, his mind still on Andrea’s situation, but his step faltering as he passed by the little red brick house between the pub and the post office. The door to which was ajar, he noticed.

The occupant of which was lying on the floor just inside it.

David wasted no time. One hand on the top of it, he was over the fence in two seconds flat.

‘Eva?’ He eased the door wider and crouched down beside her, gently squeezing her shoulder in hopes of a reaction. Nothing. Damn it. David pressed two fingers to the carotid artery in her neck. He found a pulse. He checked her airway, and was about to get her into the recovery position when she stirred.

David caught a movement behind him but stayed focused on the old lady. He needed her to open her eyes.

‘Bloody hell,’ Jonathan said, crouching down beside him. ‘What happened?’

‘Not sure.’ David kept his eyes on Eva’s, retrieving his mobile from his pocket and passing it to Jonathan as he did. ‘A fall, possibly. Ambulance,’ he instructed Eden shortly.

‘No,’ Eva protested. ‘I’m fine.’ She tried to raise herself.

‘Hey, hey, hold your horses, Eva,’ David cautioned her. ‘Can you move all right?’

‘I’m trying to,’ Eva replied haughtily, ‘but I seem to have two burly men looming over me. Do you mind?’

‘Not if you don’t.’ David smiled.

Eva’s mouth twitched into a reciprocal smile. ‘Saucy,’ she said.

‘I know.’ David winked. ‘Gets me into terrible trouble. Now, are you in any pain?’

Eva thought about it. ‘No,’ she said, after a second.

Good. She was answering sensibly. She definitely understood what he was saying, so she wasn’t confused. And there didn’t appear to be any life threatening injuries. Glad Jonathan Eden was there to witness, David bade Eva stay still while he checked for small broken bones, no obvious bleeding, or burns.

‘Well, you appear to be in one piece,’ he concluded.

‘I could have told you that myself, my dear.’ Eva allowed him to help her to sitting.

‘You should still go to the hospital,’ David advised her. ‘You’ve been unconscious. You’ll need to be monitored to find out the cause of it.’

‘I fainted,’ Eva informed him as the two men took an arm each to help her to her feet.

‘That is still unconscious,’ David pointed out patiently as they led her to the kitchen. ‘And you still need to find out what caused it, Eva.’

‘I know what caused it,’ Eva insisted. ‘Two factors, actually. Move over Kit-kit,’ she instructed the cat comfortably curled on a chair, then allowed David to assist her down into it, while Jonathan put the kettle on.

‘Firstly, I haven’t eaten,’ Eva went on, ‘which you, as a doctor, would know causes light-headedness, and secondly, there was an intruder in the house.’

‘An—?’ David stopped as Jonathan dropped the tea caddy to the floor with the resounding clang.

‘Sorry,’ he said, quickly bending down to scoop up the spilled teabags.

‘There was someone here?’ David looked at Eva, doubly concerned now. She was an old woman. Who the hell would sink so low—?

‘Most definitely. Upstairs,’ Eva assured him, pointing to the ceiling. ‘Must have slipped in through the back door while I was watering my garden out front. I didn’t realise until I was sitting down in the lounge with my tea, and then … footsteps, out of my room and along the landing, as clear as day.’

‘You’re sure it wasn’t your cat, Eva?’ David asked. He couldn’t help wondering why an intruder would make himself known. Unless his intent was harassment, of course. In which case—

‘Cats pad, silently, Doctor Adams. And though Kit-kit is a little overweight, I doubt she’s heavy enough to creak floorboards.’ Eva gave him a look. ‘Anyway, I was saying, there was someone upstairs, so I waited until I was quite sure they’d passed by the lounge door to the kitchen, then stood up, quickly, as one would, rushed to the front door, the blood rushed to my head and whoosh, I fainted. Luckily, you were passing.’

‘Very luckily.’ David felt his jaw tighten. ‘We need to call the police.’

‘No we do not,’ Eva said adamantly. ‘I know who it was.’

‘You do?’ David cocked his head to one side, puzzled, whilst Jonathan apparently burned himself on the kettle, judging by his hand flapping and wincing.

‘Yes.’ Eva nodded. ‘We do, don’t we, Kit-kit?’

‘And?’ David bent to stroke the cat as it padded past, but the cat had other ideas, slinking aloofly out of his reach.

‘Ooh, naughty Kit-kit.’ Eva smiled fondly at the animal. ‘Sorry, Doctor Adams. She’s an unsociable beast. Doesn’t like strangers, I’m afraid.’

‘So I see.’ David raised an eyebrow as the ‘unsociable beast’ purred loudly and wove a figure of eight around Jonathan’s feet.

‘Now where was I?’ Eva asked.

‘The intruder,’ David prompted her.

‘Well, I suspect it was—’

‘Shit,’ Jonathan cursed, missing the mug he was pouring water into in favour of the work surface.

‘My son,’ Eva went on, apparently unfazed as water dripped all over the floor. ‘He’s gone off the rails a bit, I’m afraid.’ She glanced at David with a c’est la vie shrug. ‘Probably looking for knick-knacks he thought I wouldn’t miss.’

‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Jonathan said brightly, too brightly, looking relieved as he finally managed to produce a whole cup of tea. ‘It being your son, I mean,’ he clarified, handing Eva a mug.

Eva gave him a disgusted look, no doubt fostered by his completely inept comment. ‘Ye-es, isn’t it?’ she offered strangely.

Once he was sure Eva was all right, David decided to take his leave. He’d rather call the police, son or no, but, if it wasn’t what Eva wanted … It was hard, David supposed, being her flesh and blood. And who was he to comment on the wisdom of parents?

‘Now, remember, Eva,’ he said, turning for the hall, ‘keep those legs up high.’

‘Ooh, you are cheeky, Doctor Adams,’ Eva chuckled, ‘but terribly nice. Isn’t he, Kit-kit?’

David smiled. ‘Spread the word. The “nice” bit, I mean.’

‘Absolutely. I’ll be down at the post office first thing on Monday.’

David didn’t doubt it. ‘And then to the surgery for that check-up, Eva. No excuses,’ he said sternly.

‘Oh, my, and authoritative with it. Be careful, Doctor Adams, you’ll break hearts all over Hibberton.’

‘I will be, Eva, scout’s honour,’ David said, playing along.

‘Particularly with Kit-kit’s. She’s a sensitive soul,’ Eva warned him as the cat, obviously having decided David was acceptable company, plopped off her lap to pad across and avail itself of his shins.

‘I think Kit-kit’s heart already belongs to another, Eva.’ David smiled and bent to stroke the cat, glancing at Jonathan as he did, whom Kit-kit apparently hadn’t considered the least bit ‘strange’, and who didn’t seem to be a stranger to Eva’s kitchen.

Odd, David couldn’t help thinking.

‘Right, I’ll get off, Eva,’ Jonathan said, placing his swilled cup in the dish rack and retrieving his coat from the back of a chair. ‘If you are sure you’re all right, that is?’

‘Perfectly,’ Eva assured him. ‘But I thought, as you were already here, you might stay, Jonathan.’

Jonathan glanced quickly at David. ‘I’d love to, Eva,’ he said, looking less than enthusiastic. ‘But I have to go—’

‘To discuss my missing policy document,’ Eva cut him short.

‘Ah, right. Yes.’ Jonathan nodded tightly.

‘Jonathan’s my investment adviser,’ Eva addressed David. ‘He looks after most of us baffled “oldies” of Hibberton. Has his offices on the High Street, don’t you, Jonathan? Very posh.’

‘Yes. Yes, I do.’ Jonathan offered David a short smile on official business introduction.

‘Specialises in Inheritance Tax matters,’ Eva went on. ‘He’s very clever. I’m sure I wouldn’t have a clue where my money would be safe without Jonathan’s guidance.’

‘Oh, right, I see.’ David nodded, feeling less troubled by Eden’s familiarity with his surroundings, yet still a little uneasy. Because of his own prejudices, David told himself firmly. ‘Maybe I’ll have a chat to you, sometime,’ he suggested, trying to be at least halfway civil to the man.

‘Anytime,’ Jonathan offered. ‘I’ll let you have a card.’

‘Do that.’ David nodded his thanks.

‘Right, so, you’ll stay then Jonathan,’ Eva turned back to Jonathan. ‘It’s just that I need to get my withdrawal under way.’

Pulling his attention away from David, Jonathan smiled at Eva resignedly.

‘I’ve decided to inject some cash into Andrea’s Second Chance Designer venture, Doctor Adams,’ Eva confided. ‘But keep it under your hat. I haven’t had a chance to discuss anything but the original renovation works I’d intended with Andrea yet. She’ll need some new stock, however, as I don’t imagine any of the clothes she had, vintage or current, will be salvageable. Will they, Jonathan?’

Eva turned her gaze back on Eden, who looked distinctly uncomfortable. ‘The insurance assessors have been in and they’re ringing me back first thing next week, Eva. We’ll know more then,’ he said, with a short smile.

‘Good.’ Eva continued to look at him, though Jonathan’s attention was now elsewhere. ‘About time, too. The sooner they sort out the claim the sooner the poor woman can get on with her life. Homeless with three children, it’s an abysmal situation to be in. No offence, Doctor Adams, but one’s home is where one’s heart is, don’t you think?’

‘None taken, Eva,’ David assured her. ‘And, yes, I do.’ His home had more of a heart with Andrea and her family in it, he had to concede.

‘Her heart’s in her business venture, too, and she could make it work,’ Eva went on determinedly. ‘You only have to look at the way she dresses to see she has an eye for clothes. Or, should I say, the way she did dress, before all her worldly goods were burnt to a cinder.’

Eva glanced pointedly again at Jonathan, who’d moved on to plucking hairs from his trousers. ‘I’m just glad she’s in such safe hands,’ Eva tacked on a touch cynically.

‘Obviously.’ David swapped glances with her, Eva’s look telling him they were on the same wavelength. As far as David could see, apart from the few heartfelt words back at his house, Eden seemed not too perturbed that he’d lost all his worldly goods. That he might have lost Andrea.

‘Anyway, that’s why I’ve decided to chip in and help her get restocked.’ Eva turned her attention back to David. ‘Mum’s the word though. I’m not sure Andrea would want me to be parted with my cash, would she Jonathan?’

‘Um, sorry?’ Jonathan’s thoughts were still apparently distracted.

‘My cash, Jonathan. Might we have that little chat, do you think?’

‘I’ll leave you to it,’ David said, still trying – and failing – to get Eden’s measure. This was the man Andrea was in love with? Surely he must have some redeeming features, though David was struggling to find any.

‘Goodbye, Doctor Adams. Do give my best to Andrea,’ Eva said with a smile.

At which, Jonathan shot him a none-too-friendly glance, David noted. Couldn’t blame him for that, he supposed, Eva having just lumped the man’s … partner? … fiancée? … and David together.

‘I’m sure Jonathan will pass on your regards, Eva,’ he said, not wanting to cause any friction between Andrea and … whoever he was, for Andrea’s sake. ‘Don’t forget to make that appointment at the surgery.’

David gave Eva a no-nonsense look and left her to the care of her investment adviser. Maybe he could help out on the business front, David mused as he let himself out. Andrea’s priorities, he imagined, would be to find a more permanent home for herself and her family until her own house was renovated, assuming it could be. Most of the expense for that would be covered by the insurance though, he assumed. Hopefully, most of the décor and furnishings could be replaced. Pity the missing dog couldn’t be so easily replaced, David thought ruefully. He’d put some posters up, he decided. Maybe get Jake to help out, which would give them something they could do together. It might be a start.

He’d have another quick word with Eva, he decided. Check out where the actual business premises were and whether he could be of any practical assistance there. Intending to poke his head back in and ask her if he could drop by later, David turned back to Eva’s, but stopped short of the front door when he heard Eva say, ‘So, Jonathan, did you find whatever it was you were looking for?’

‘The policy documents,’ Jonathan said, with an audible sigh. ‘I thought they’d be here, but no trace of them, I’m afraid.’

‘I know. I’ve searched,’ Eva stated categorically.

‘Well, obviously you would, Eva, but you know, with age comes forgetfulness,’ Jonathan replied patronisingly. ‘Sometimes a second pair of eyes help, don’t they?’

‘I wouldn’t know, Jonathan. I’ve only ever had one pair,’ was Eva’s droll reply. She sounded pretty much on the ball to David, whose uneasiness about Jonathan Eden was escalating. Had the guy actually come into Eva’s house uninvited?

‘So,’ Eva went on, ‘you thought you’d just let this second pair of eyes in through my back door without asking, did you?’

‘I came down the back path from Mr Robinson’s house,’ Jonathan supplied. ‘I did knock, but you were—’

‘In the front garden.’

‘Yes, I, um …’

‘So you had a good look around for a document I’m absolutely sure I left with you, and then decided to let yourself out, also presumably through the back door?’

‘Well, I assumed you were out, Eva. Obviously, I would have—’

‘Made your presence known, if you’d realised where I was?’

‘Yes, of course. I’d have made you a cuppa. You know I would, Eva. Now, about your investment, someone’s cocked up at the company head office, I’m afraid. Nothing to worry about, a wrong bond number input or something. It might take a couple of weeks to sort out. I’m on it though, rest assured.’

‘Hmm?’ said Eva.

And well she might, thought David, now feeling extremely uneasy. Did Eden know the woman had taken a fall? That she was lying on the hall floor, possibly seriously injured?

Whatever, why the hell was Eva covering for him?

It was one of those muggy, damp mornings, a soft drizzle on the air that does absolutely nothing for a girl’s hair. Not much caring, Andrea creaked open the school gates and slipped inside the playground. She was sweaty under her coat now, from the walk to the park, and then around the park searching fruitlessly for poor missing Dougal, as well as her now absent family. From there, she’d gone on to the village hall, where she’d eventually found Dee, with Sophie and Chloe, helping organise the bundles of donated clothes.

‘For the jumble sale,’ Thea had informed her, tossing knickers and bras efficiently on one pile and then turning her attention to the trouser pile.

‘Oh, lovely,’ Andrea had replied half-heartedly, then felt like an ungrateful wretch when Nita had wheelied by, her lap full of yet more clothing.

‘We’re having a raffle, too. And we’re forming a think tank for more ideas to help you out until you get some insurance money,’ Nita had said, parking herself at the trestle table to unburden herself.

Andrea should have stayed and helped, or at least put her Saturday to better use and gone shopping while her mum and her children were all happily occupied, Chloe up to her armpits in toys and Dee and Sophie sorting through bric-a-brac together, amazingly. There were so many things one needed when starting from scratch. Surely the insurance people could release some kind of emergency fund soon? She’d have to talk to Jonathan about it, though she really didn’t feel much like talking, or rather arguing, with him, right then.

Andrea fixed her eyes down as she walked through the playground, and tried not to breathe in the acrid smell of burnt wood still permeating the air.

Shoes, she’d thought, when she’d gone online, only to wonder whether to buy trainers or boots, and this was before considering Ryan and Sophie’s critical ‘cool’ footwear factor. There were toiletries to think about, potties and panties, duvets, toys and blankets, not to mention actual clothes. Andrea was truly grateful for her neighbours’ efforts but, ‘totally wicked’ though Sophie had thought some of the donated clothes were, she doubted she’d be so thrilled at the prospect of second-hand knickers.

Where would she find the money to pay for it all until the insurers paid out? As for Jonathan and where they would be in the future … Andrea sighed heavily. In truth, she had no inclination to think about it. Jonathan’s explanations about his whereabouts after the fire had sounded plausible, but vague somehow, and Andrea just didn’t have the energy to go there. What she would quite like to do was crawl into bed and sleep, preferably to wake up and find the whole awful mess was no more than a nightmare. In the absence of a bed to call her own, however, she’d come to the school instead. Selfish though it might seem, she needed some space. Something to do, other than sort through castoffs, or curl into a ball and cry, which she’d come very close to doing.

Physical therapy might be better though, and far less destabilising to her children than a blubbering mother, she decided, discarding her coat and bending to clutch at a weed fighting for space amongst many on the patch of land Andrea wanted to transform into a garden. Determined, she concentrated her efforts on tugging the gangly plant from the ground, then puffed up her fringe and tugged harder; and then wiped her hands free of rubbery green leaves, the only things she’d succeeded in removing thus far.

Damn. ‘It’s you or me, Little Weed,’ she growled, squatting to grab hold of it with both hands. ‘And be warned I’m in no mood to give in.’ She yanked at it, ‘Oooh, come on!’, and heaved, and … ‘Eeek!’ … keeled inelegantly backwards, plopping heavily – and painfully – to her hindquarters.

‘Right! Now, it’s war!’ she muttered, narrowing her eyes and attempting to scramble to her feet, only to find herself being hauled up from behind by a pair of firm hands.

‘Ouch, I bet that hurt,’ the owner of the hands imparted.

‘Not half as much as my pride,’ Andrea grumbled, turning to face David, who obviously found her predicament hilarious, judging by the merriment in his eyes. Nice eyes, she thought, her own eyes reluctant to look away, not ice cool at all. Quite warm and friendly, in fact, now he’d let his guard down.

‘I was passing,’ he said, holding her gaze, which Andrea found peculiarly disconcerting. ‘Saw this mad woman muttering to herself and trying to steal the plants, so I thought I’d better investigate.’

‘I’m not trying to steal them.’ Andrea looked away first, feeling more disorientated by the close proximity of his body than her spectacularly embarrassing tumble. ‘They’re weeds,’ she explained, rubbing her assaulted rump. ‘I’m trying to kill them.’

David laughed. ‘What, with threats?’

Andrea folded her arms, which allowed her a little more breathing space between them, and cocked her head to one side, her expression she hoped conveying not amused, rather than inexplicably confused.

David did likewise, his expression highly amused. ‘Not working really, is it?’ he ventured.

Andrea’s mouth twitched into a smile. She couldn’t help it. Despite her bruised pride, bruised bottom, and her whole world falling apart, there was something about this man that made her feel … at ease with herself, somehow.

Or at least he had.

She doubted she’d have been dancing dottily around singing a duet with her mum in front of Jonathan, who would have thought her just that, dotty. David hadn’t batted an eye. He’d even joined in and managed a whole actual laugh. He really was quite attractive. Andrea found herself appraising him again, taking in his soulful blue eyes, framed by unfairly dark eyelashes, his strong jawline, a hint of dark stubble thereon, which was undeniably sexy in a rugged-man sort of way, his mouth which far better suited a smile.

His torso was firm, long-limbed and well-toned, she couldn’t help but notice as they’d passed on the landing. His hands elegant and strong, with clean fingernails; those of a doctor a patient might immediately trust. Yes, outwardly, all the qualities a woman would find extremely attractive. And inwardly? David Adams had learned the hardest possible way the immeasurable pain cheating and lying can cause a woman. He was a caring person. Andrea had seen that. A man who’d hurt someone he loved and was hurting because of it. Should he ever feel guilt-free enough to embark on another relationship, she was sure he would be sensitive to a woman’s feelings. Her needs. Andrea’s eyes strayed to his lips, soft and full enough to be sensuous on a man.

‘Nice hair accessory,’ David said, after an awkward second.

‘Sorry?’ Andrea continued to stare at him, her gaze seeming to be drawn to his.

‘The, er, green foliage. Matches your eyes,’ he joked, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his expression.

She watched, transfixed, as he hesitated, and then reached for what could have been a hornet’s nest in her hair, so little did she care. And when his fingers brushed her cheek, David Adams as good as electrocuted her on the spot.

Closing her eyes and panting out a surprised breath, Andrea stifled a ridiculous desire to turn her face to his touch, to feel his fingers tracing the curve of her cheek, her lips … His mouth following in their wake, covering hers, his tongue gently probing and— she was fantasising about the man – right in front of him!

Andrea snapped her eyes open, to see David now studying her intently.

‘It’s er …’ He shook his head, as if bemused, then moved his hand through her hair to retrieve whatever was there, instantaneously sending another shockwave of pleasure right through her. ‘A leaf,’ he said, holding up the evidence. ‘I thought you might panic when you pulled your sweater … Ahem. Would you like a hand?’

Andrea blinked at him, now definitely disorientated.

‘You have to dig them out,’ David said softly.

‘Sorry?’

‘The weeds.’

Andrea didn’t answer. Instead, she continued to study him. Searching his face. On hers, open confusion.

David mentally reprimanded himself. What on earth had possessed him to let his hand linger like that? Tempted him to lean forward and steal a kiss from those velvet soft lips, so breathtakingly beautiful when she smiled, so agonisingly sensual when parted like that, in surprise.

To wonder what Andrea would feel like in his arms, kissing him back? In his bed? He’d wanted to taste her, touch her. Explore every inch of her. He swallowed hard. He wanted to make love to her. This was more than needing the solace of a woman’s touch. Needing to lose himself in the embrace of a woman. What he was feeling, David realised, with a jolt, was nothing to do with sex or lust.

He was in love with this woman.

But this woman was with another man. In love with another man – and completely out of bounds. There was simply nothing he could do about it. As much as David knew his chances of feeling this way ever again were probably nil, absolutely no way would he even test the waters. Break up another family? Traumatise Jake more than he already had? Cause chaos in Sophie and Ryan’s lives? And what about little Chloe? Eden wasn’t up to much in David’s estimation, but to his daughter he would be everything.

Then there was Andrea. He was assuming an awful lot, such as the fact she might be remotely interested. Could she be? Had he seen … something … in her eyes, or was that just his own wishful thinking? And, if she was, wouldn’t he break her bloody heart, too? That was one thing he was guaranteed to be good at.

‘I know.’ Andrea pulled his attention away from where it shouldn’t be.

David squinted at her, sure she’d been reading every wrong thought in his head.

‘By the roots,’ Andrea went on, looking perturbed now. As if she would very much have preferred he keep his hands to himself.

David nodded, forcing a smile and telling himself he was a bloody fool. Her only interest in him was that she cared, because that’s the kind of person she was.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked, thinking he’d rather apologise. But then, if Andrea had no inkling of why his hand had been reluctant to pull away, wouldn’t she wonder what he was apologising for? ‘You look a bit pale,’ he said, groping for anything to say instead.

‘Just cold,’ Andrea assured him, wrapping her arms about herself.

How David wanted to wrap his arms around her. Pull her close and keep her safe. Do it right this time. But, of course, he couldn’t.

Andrea’s gaze faltered. ‘Shall we have a bash, then?’ She smiled uncertainly and nodded towards the patch of weeds. ‘I think physical activity might be the only thing that will warm me up, to be honest.’

‘Let’s get some tools.’ David nodded firmly, whilst working very hard not to imagine the kind of physical activity that might keep them both warm.