‘That’s right. In Scotland.’ She was still paying Eva all the attention she wanted and instead of screeches, they got giggles.‘Hopefully no longer discovering his sounds or at least I hope he’s not.’
‘He might do if he’s at the pub,’ Noah laughed.
Maya handed Eva back the toy duck she’d dropped out of the side of the buggy, although Eva’s response was to drop it again.
Noah picked up the toy this time. ‘Her new game.’
‘She seems to love it,’ Maya approved.
Noah felt suddenly nervous in her presence. He wanted to keep her here, talk some more. ‘It’s nice to have a couple of days off work, isn’t it?’ Not the most imaginative of things to say but it would do. Because she still looked happy enough to be here talking to him and at least this time, they weren’t being watched by an ex-husband who really needed the termdivorceexplaining to him.
‘I love my job but yes, so good to have a rest.’ She pointed into the pharmacy. ‘I’d better get inside before it closes.’
‘Closes? It’s not even 5p.m. yet.’
Maya kept her voice to a whisper. ‘We’re not quite up to the standards of the London pharmacies here in Whistlestop River. The pharmacy closes at 4p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.’
‘I’ll try to remember to schedule being unwell,’ he joked.
‘You’ll get used to it. There’s a bigger pharmacy in the next town that’s open twenty-four hours so most people can get something there if they have to.’
Whistlestop River kept taking him by surprise and by far the biggest surprise, and a pleasant one at that, was Maya. Strong, capable, beautiful Maya. He bet Conrad was kicking himself that he hadn’t been able to hold onto her. Noah hadn’t yet mentioned that he was pretty sure he’d seen Conrad that night near the pub. He almost had when she said she was heading over to see him, but he’d held back, wondering whether it would be better to mind his own business. He was too new to town, toMaya’s life, and the last thing he wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable.
Maya waved to Eva to say goodbye as she stepped inside the pharmacy, but Eva was back to screeching as Maya moved out of the way of a woman who was coming the other way.
‘Hello, Mrs Simms.’ Maya held the door a bit wider to allow her to pass.
The woman grunted and Maya rolled her eyes.
‘Not a kid person?’ Noah wondered as they watched Mrs Simms head across the road.
‘She has two grown-up kids of her own.’ She shrugged. ‘She means well but she’s not been happy since they both left Whistlestop River so soon after one another. No idea what went on there.’
‘You know a lot about the town.’
‘Lived here a long time.’
‘Then you need to teach me about the locals – who shouldn’t be on the receiving end of Eva’s squeals and who might laugh it off.’ He attempted humour but his words brought back the reality that Eva might well not be with him if Paul got his way. Noah had done a one-eighty on the idea ever since meeting Paul; giving Eva to him was impossible to imagine. But her needs came first, he had to remember that. And perhaps being with her biological father was the right thing to do, no matter Noah’s opinions on the guy.
‘You’ll get to know everyone gradually, I’m sure.’
‘How about tonight?’ he asked before she could get away. With Maya, he felt as though he needed to take a chance, go for it before he lost his nerve. ‘You could tell me about the locals over a beer.’
‘I’m not sure I can face the pub this evening.’
‘Neither can I.’ He indicated Eva. ‘I was thinking my place.’ A risky move when they worked together but he couldn’t helphimself. He was so attracted to her. His former girlfriend Tahlia had been beautiful and career-minded too, but she’d also had an edge he hadn’t really thought about until he met Maya. Maya had the same level of confidence as Tahlia but also a softness she hid until you got to know her better.
‘Your place?’
‘I have to put Eva down around 7p.m. but I have a lovely porch overlooking the river. You might enjoy the peace and quiet. Nobody would see us from the street, nobody would discover where you’d sneaked off to.’ So if her ex-husband decided to go on the prowl and find out what she was up to, he’d have a hard time coming down the side of the house. Noah doubted the guy would have any idea where he lived either, although he wouldn’t put it past him to use the police computer to his own advantage if he got any hint that Maya might have a social life aside from attending to his needs.
‘Actually, that sounds like a really lovely idea.’
He’d assumed she’d turn him down, thought he’d hear some excuse about Conrad. His words spilled out of him after he shared his address. ‘I’ll be home all evening, any time after 7p.m.’
‘I’ll see you then.’ And with a smile for him and a wave for Eva, the door to the pharmacy closed behind her.
Eva tested out her screech all the way down the street to the car park and this time, Noah was so happy Maya had said yes that he almost joined in.
