I sighed. ‘Come on Sam, this isn’tThe Godfather. Let’s just be civil and get on with this shall we?’
Sam unfolded his arms and sighed too. ‘Okay, I was just making sure you both knew I was here and I won’t stand for any nonsense, all right?’
I grinned at Adam. ‘See, told you he was a pussy cat.’
Sam flounced off to the kitchen, leaving me and Adam alone. I stepped closer to him, ready to explain what we were about to do. But before I could speak he took another step towards me so there was barely any space between us, and his eyes flickered with desire. I felt something stir in me, and was relieved when Sam yelled from the other room, ‘Tea? Coffee?’ and broke the spell.
I sprang back, turning away as Adam called back, ‘Coffee please,’ and busied myself with picking up the bag of instruments I’d dumped on the floor.
‘I’m glad you agreed to help me again.’ Adam’s voice was low and came from just above my head. I stood and faced him.
‘I’ll try my best.’
He nodded. ‘So you told Greg about me then?’
‘Yes.’
‘And?’
‘He knows I’m here.’
He paused. ‘I assume he’s not happy about it?’
‘Of course not. Why would he be?’
‘And yet you came anyway.’
‘I did.’ I raised my chin and looked him in the eye. ‘I said I’d help you, so I will.’
The air quivered between us as we stood facing each other.
‘Right, shall we make a start?’ I said, trying to disguise the tremor in my voice. I wished he didn’t still have such an effect on me, it was making things a lot harder.
‘Sure.’ He sat on the sofa just as Sam re-entered the room and handed him a coffee, then took a seat next to Adam.
‘Right, what happens now E?’ Sam said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
‘Are you staying?’
‘Yup. Got to keep an eye on you two.’
‘You don’t trust us?’ Adam said.
‘Nope. Especially not you.’ He grimaced. ‘You might not remember me, Adam Bowers, but I remember you very well and I’m not leaving this room for one minute. Got it?’
‘Right.’ To his credit, Adam didn’t say another word, and simply turned back to me. ‘I guess you’re going to play some CDs like last time are you?’
I shook my head. ‘I actually thought I’d try something else first.’
‘Oh?’
I pulled a small keyboard from my bag. ‘I’m going to play some more generic songs, some sounds I like to play to my patients.’
‘Your dementia patients?’ Adam sounded sceptical.
‘I know it sounds weird, but it’s how I like to start a session rather than going straight in for the kill, so to speak. To warm up a bit.’
‘Like a jamming session,’ Sam said, and I nodded.
