‘What was in the file?’
‘I’ve absolutely no idea, but he enjoyed taunting me with it.’
‘Sounds about right.’
‘He also came here about you.’
‘Me?’
‘He knows we’ve seen each other out of work, at least that’s what he hinted at; he didn’t give specifics.’
‘He’s been spying on us?’
‘He was so cocky, he didn’t even bother to deny it, claimed it was the way he thinks as a detective.’ He took a deep breath. ‘You should also know that he is willing to show me the folder… on one condition.’ He hated saying this out loud, the reason he’d been aloof when Maya tried to talk to him, why he’d backed off all of a sudden. ‘He wants me to stay away from you. He told me that you’re his wife regardless of a dumb piece of paper, and that I need to back off. Then he’ll give me what I need as long as he has my word.’
‘Son of a?—’
‘Pretty low, eh. And Maya, I hated agreeing to it. But this is Eva’s future I’m in charge of. I’m barely able to scrape together the cash Paul’s demanding, which means less money set asidefor Eva and whatever comes our way. I want her to have every opportunity. This information Conrad has a hold of could stop me having to pay out a huge sum of cash, wiping out my savings, maxing out my credit card because I’ve got no other money left anywhere.’
Wide brown eyes looked at him, sensing his turmoil and his pain. ‘Then you need to know what’s in it.’
‘But that’s only possible if I stay away from you. I’m not sure what he’ll do if I agree and then go back on my word after I know what’s in the folder.’
‘He’s a man who likes to play games. He’s done it with me long enough.’ She came and sat down beside him on the sofa, the in-control and take-no-shit Maya he’d begun to fall for. ‘We can’t let him do this to you. To us.’
‘Us?’ It was something he thought he wanted when he first met her but the wanting back then didn’t have the depth it had now. Now he knew her, she was so much more than a beautiful woman. She was kind, intelligent, good with people and when you were in her company, she saw you exactly as you were. He felt at ease by her side.
He took out his phone. ‘I thought it was Paul at the door when Conrad showed up so I’d already set my phone to record, hoping he dropped himself in it…’ He didn’t ask whether she wanted to hear the conversation; he set it to play. He’d wanted to explain everything in his own words first but this clarified any doubts of the threatening tones that had come his way.
She was sitting so close, it was all he could do to stop reaching out and putting a hand around the back of her neck to gently pull her closer, take comfort with this woman if only for a moment, let her take comfort in him for the way her ex-husband thought he could behave towards her and anyone she wanted to bring into her life.
The recording came to its conclusion at the same time as Geraldine came bustling through the door with Eva. It was time for him to switch from Noah, a single entity, to Noah the father figure, something he’d never seen coming but something he very much wanted now. He wanted all of it, all the good times and the tougher challenges as a parent. He’d take the sleepless nights, the temper tantrums, the soft play centres that he suspected would be bedlam. He’d do it all if he could keep Eva.
Eva reached out to him and he took her into his arms. ‘You had a good time?’ He was looking at Eva but his question was really for Geraldine, who deserved a medal for braving a soft play centre.
‘We most certainly did,’ Geraldine told him. ‘But I think my ears will be ringing for a few days. The noise in that place.’ She spotted he had company.
Noah introduced Maya and he didn’t miss the twinkle in Geraldine’s eye.
‘I’ve got it from here, Geraldine,’ he assured the most loyal and brilliant nanny, in his opinion, anyone could ask for.
‘Don’t I even get a cuppa before I leave?’
‘I apologise, of course you do. But I’m aware that sometimes I might take advantage; you never leave on time, you’re always doing long hours and extra jobs around here.’
‘And you know me, Noah. If I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t.’ She gave Eva a kiss. ‘I’m teasing you, anyway; I have to get going, I don’t need a cuppa. I’ve got ballroom-dancing class tonight.’
‘Where do you get your energy?’ Noah saw her to the door.
‘At my age, you’ve got to get your fun where you can.’ She gave Eva another smile and touched her cheek. ‘This one should sleep for a good couple of hours; she’s been in the ball pit, squealing and enjoying herself. I fed her before we left and I’ve changed her nappy. You should get a bit of time to yourselves.’
‘You’re too good to us, Geraldine. But thank you.’ He didn’t miss the sneaky nod towards the house either, which meant she was referring to Noah and Maya having some alone time rather than Noah and Eva. He’d love nothing more, just a shame they had to talk about his life threatening to implode before his very eyes.
Back inside, Maya was happy to give Eva a cuddle when Eva reached for her. ‘Noah, I think I have an idea of how I might be able to help.’
‘I’m all ears but I think I should get this one down before she passes the point of no return.’
‘Good idea.’
