Maya still seemed preoccupied by her phone.
‘Everything all right?’ Noah asked her when she slipped it into the rear pocket of her jeans yet again.
‘Of course.’ But even to his ears, not knowing her all that well, her claim sounded false. ‘Actually, I’m going to follow Hudson’s lead, get home.’
‘I’ll see you at shift tomorrow night then.’
Bess tried to persuade her it was too early to leave but had no luck and when Bess came over, shaking her head, he said, ‘I wonder if her and her ex will ever really be over.’
‘Dear God, let’s hope so,’ said Bess.
Noah made his excuses to leave too – he’d told Geraldine he’d be back at a reasonable hour, which to him meant this side of midnight at least.
He walked from the beer garden and along the track next to the water, keeping well away from the edge as if his actions might somehow transfer to Eva. Silly idea, but already he worried that when Eva was fully mobile and doing more than bum shuffling her way around the lounge, he’d have to be vigilant with their home backing onto the river.
Or would it even be a problem now he knew how to get in touch with Paul?
Eva had changed his life – well, Cassie had changed it by dying, but then Eva had come into his world like a paint bomb exploding and colouring everything in a totally different shade. Was he really going to hand it all over to Paul when his sister’s wishes had been for him to look after Eva? And if he was able to ask her now, would she really tell him she didn’t want Eva’s dad in her daughter’s life?
He passed the end of the alleyway that led from the river to the street not far past the pub and turned at the sound of rustling in the bushes, watched as a figure ran from this end of the alleyway to the other.
It was dark but Noah saw a definite flash of white beneath the streetlamp at the very end. It could be the person’s shirtsleeve illuminated in the light, but Noah knew it wasn’t. It was thewhite of an arm in a cast, the figure was male and definitely the right build to be who he suspected it was lurking out here.
Conrad. He’d put money on it. Keeping tabs on Maya.
13
The evening warmth as they tumbled into summer was pleasant and the walk home from the pub even better to clear her head. Maya let herself into her cottage and Whizzy trotted towards her.
She crouched down and scooped the cat up for a cuddle. ‘It’s nice to come home to you at long last.’ She smiled at the rattling purr she was sure was far louder now the cat lived here rather than at Conrad’s.
When her phone went again, she swore. Assuming it was Conrad, she snatched it from her pocket. He’d texted her five times at the pub. He hadn’t called declaring an emergency so that was something because she might have felt obliged to go and check on him, but he’d even started the last two texts with their son’s name as though she’d be more likely to click on the message when she saw Isaac’s name. Which she had.
Her shoulders relaxed when she saw her son’s name on the display now rather than her ex-husband’s.
‘Have you been out?’ he asked her.
‘I went to the pub.’ The cat snuggled onto her lap when she sat on the sofa.
‘Good for you. Me too.’ He sounded relaxed, happy. And as a parent, that was all that you really wanted for your children.
‘You’re not out clubbing tonight?’
‘Nah, can’t face it, not when I still have one exam to go.’
She wished Conrad could process how hard their son was working, be proud rather than only seeing things his way. ‘You’re working hard, you deserve a nice, long summer away from study. I can’t wait to see you. Do you have a date in mind yet?’
‘Not yet, a few of us might do something here right after the exams.’ He told her more about the idea that they would all go camping together, really kick back before they went their separate ways for the holidays. ‘And I’ve been offered a part time job in my mate’s parents’ café.’
Her heart sank. ‘Where?’
‘Here in Scotland.’
She summoned some enthusiasm. She should be proud he was getting work even if it wasn’t closer to this part of the country. ‘That’s great but where will you stay?’
‘I can stay with the family. I’ll get slightly less pay to allow for my board but it’s still worth it.’
And it would avoid having to see his dad. Maya knew that was partly his reasoning, she didn’t need to ask. ‘Well I hope I get to see you at least for a short while.’ Deflated, she tried to keep her emotions in check.
