‘Although…’ Feeling I should mention what I think is bothering Evie, I glance cautiously at Jack. ‘I suspect it’s our news that might be upsetting her.’
A troubled frown crosses his face. ‘She seemed okay when I told her.’
‘I wish you hadn’t said anything, Jack,’ I say carefully. I’ve tried not to mention it, thinking Evie would come round, and the last thing I want is to imply he’s been thoughtless, which I know he’s not. ‘On your own, I mean. If we’d sat down together with her, explained that it would make no difference to your feelings for her…’ I pause, struggling for the right words. ‘She’s scared,’ I go on gently. ‘She probably thinks a new baby will replace her in your affections, do you see?’
‘Damn. I didn’t think it through.’ He sighs in despair at himself. ‘I’m sorry, Kara. I can’t believe I’ve been so insensitive.’
I smile, marvelling at how sensitive he actually is. ‘It’s okay,’ I reassure him. ‘I’m sure she’ll warm to the idea.’ I make up mymind to work harder to make sure she knows that I care for her, that we’re both there for her.
‘I thought she’d be pleased,’ he says despondently. ‘I’ll talk to her. Maybe I should take her out for a meal or…’ He stops, eyeing me curiously as the doorbell goes. ‘Not expecting any deliveries, are we?’
‘No. It’s probably a salesperson.’ I start towards the front door.
‘I’ll get it. You tend to be a bit soft-hearted,’ he says with a teasing smile.
I frown as he heads for the hall. Do I? I thought I was quite assertive, though I know I can sometimes be too forgiving. I think it comes from realising other people might have scars you can’t see on the outside too.
Leaving him to it, I see to the coffee, guessing he’ll be shattered after a seven a.m. start to help an elderly couple in the village whose heating had broken down. I’m filling the mugs when, after a muffled exchange in the hall, I hear Jack raise his voice. ‘What thehellare you doing here?’ he grates.
Jarred by his rare show of anger, I clang the jug down and fly to the hall. The woman standing facing him is well past her sixties. Petite and frail-looking, she’s obviously harmless, so what on earth was that all about? I look from her to Jack, whose face is like thunder. ‘Jack?’ I move worriedly towards him. ‘Is there a problem?’
He sucks in a breath. Kneading his forehead tersely, he doesn’t answer. Doesn’t look at me.
I glance back at the woman, who arranges her face into a smile, then steps towards me. ‘I’m sorry to have called unannounced,’ she says, extending her hand. ‘I’m concerned about Evie. I’m Lina, by the way, Evie’s grandmother. Jack killed my daughter.’
ELEVEN
Staggered by her absurd accusation, I stare at the woman in complete incomprehension. Has she really just accused Jack of killing his wife? My gaze travels to Jack, who is clearly working to control his temper. ‘She has no idea what she’s talking about,’ he says tightly. ‘She’s obviously confused.’
I glance back to the woman – Lina. Her coat is misbuttoned, I notice, and her pallor is a sickly shade of pale. I can’t help but feel for her. She seems unwell – early dementia, possibly? I know Jack. I’m sure now that he would never be capable of hurting even a fly. He goes out of his way to help people, sometimes doing emergency jobs for free for those he knows are on small incomes. Anyone who knows him knows he’s too kind for his own good when it comes to running his business.
Lina notches her chin up, as if attempting to stand taller. ‘I may have some physical problems,’ she responds, ‘but I think you’ll find my mental faculties are intact.’ She looks Jack over, unimpressed, then turns to me. ‘I am demented, but with grief, my dear. I’m not delusional, nor am I inventing things. He’s lying. They do, you know – tell you they love you while lying through their teeth to keep their shameful little secrets.’
That unnerves me, and I glance again at Jack for some kind of reassurance.
Tugging in a terse breath, he eyes the ceiling. ‘Lina,’ he looks back at her, ‘I think you should go home. I don’t mean to be unkind, but you’re embarrassing yourself.’
‘Ha. Embarrassingyou, you mean,’ she retorts.
An agitated tic plays at Jack’s cheek. ‘You know what happened to Natalia,’ he says, with forced patience. ‘Why would you come here now saying all of this? You’re only going to upset Evie.’
She smiles flatly. ‘Evie’s not here, though, is she?’ she replies, plainly having seen her leave. ‘Which is why I am here now. She’s clearly not telling you what she’s told me. Sheisupset, considerably. Also confused as to how you could have leapt into another relationship so quickly. A serious relationship by all accounts.’
Her gaze pivots back to me, her eyes straying to my stomach, and I feel naked suddenly under her penetrating gaze.
‘You’ve been in touch with Evie?’ Jack asks, incredulous. But why would he be? I wonder. It’s clear the woman has issues, which might not be healthy for Evie given all she’s had to deal with, but isn’t it likely that she might have wanted to maintain contact with her grandmother?
‘Evie kept in touch with me.’ Lina confirms my thoughts. ‘She had some questions about her mother, questions she hasn’t been able to get answers to from you. Apparently, you also judged Natalia to have mental health issues. I thought you were a builder, Jack, which unless I’m mistaken, doesn’t qualify you to judge other people’s state of mind.’
‘Right.’ Jack emits a satirical laugh. ‘So you reckon Natalia was sound of mind, do you, Lina? Because what she did smacks to me of someone being slightly unbalanced.’
Taken aback by his aggressive tone, I look back to Lina, who lifts her chin another inch. ‘But it didn’t happen the way you said it did, did it?’ she responds, eyeing him challengingly.
‘I’ve heard enough of this,’ he mutters.
‘Evie has no recollection of events the way you described them,’ she goes on, her gaze fixed hard on him. ‘She says she doesn’t remember?—’
‘Shedoesn’tremember!’ Jack yells, causing me to jolt. ‘She blanked it out! She was bloody well traumatised, and now you’re coming here to traumatise her all over again. What the hell iswrongwith you?’
