‘Of course not. They probably won’t be up anyway. But honestly, Brandon likes you.’
‘Oh, I’m glad.’ He smiles. ‘So, d’you reckon the girlfriend’s thinking of getting her own place?’
‘Abi?’ She shrugs. Elias has met her too, several times. ‘She can’t afford it. Neither of them can. They’re just doing bar work at the moment, so money’s pretty tight?—’
‘And she can’t go back to live with her own parents?’ He looks quizzical.
Pearl shakes her head. ‘She’s not speaking to her mum and her dad’s never been on the scene.’
Elias frowns in sympathy. ‘Hopefully they’re both chipping in, though?’
She blinks in surprise. ‘You mean for food and stuff?’
‘Well, yes, that of course. But also rent?’
Taken aback, Pearl allows herself a moment before replying. Having grown up in a sprawling country home just outside Brussels, Elias has never married or had children. When he’s not working from home – and his hours seem incredibly flexible – he’s out taking arty architectural photographs around London. He seems to have spent his life pretty much pleasing himself.
‘No, I don’t charge them rent,’ Pearl says, keen to change the subject.
He gazes at her, chin propped up on a hand. ‘But they’re both adults, aren’t they? Both working?—’
‘Yes, but as I said, they’re not rolling in money?—’
‘Well, neither are you.’ He raises a brow, and she feels herself recoil from him. ‘What?’ He frowns.
‘Nothing.’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean?—’
‘No, it’s fine,’ she says firmly. ‘But I’d better get some sleep?—’
‘Pearl, sweetheart.’ He wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. ‘I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.’No it bloody isn’t!she thinks irritably, extracting herself from his embrace and sitting bolt upright in bed. Mid-September, she met him. Just three months ago. Yet he feels entitled to comment on how she manages her life with her son?
‘Pearl, I really am sorry,’ he murmurs. ‘I think you’re agreatmother. Everything you’ve coped with, doing it all on your own?—’
‘I wasn’t always alone,’ she snaps, aware of her eyes prickling.
He sits up and folds a hand around hers. ‘I know that, honey.’ Then he tips his head, gaze fixed on her until she looks at him. ‘I haven’t told you what your surprise is yet…’
‘Oh.’ She softens slightly. ‘No, you haven’t.’
He smiles. ‘Remember I said you’ll need to pack a bag?’
‘Yes?’
‘Hang on…’ He swivels out of bed and fishes his phone from the pocket of the trousers he’d flung over the chair. Slipping back in beside her, he types something and taps the screen. ‘I was thinking that after Christmas, when you’ve slaved away, no doubt making it a fantastic day for the three of you…’ Elias glances at her and grins. ‘Then you’ll deserve a treat.’
He hands his phone to her, and Pearl peers at it. It’s a home page for something called Moksha.Where freedom beckons, the text reads. ‘What’s this?’ she asks.
‘A club,’ Elias replies.
‘A club?’ She frowns. ‘Oh, I don’t know, Elias. I haven’t been clubbing for decades. How do people even dance any more? I’d feel like a complete idiot?—’
‘No, not that kind of club.’ His eyes glint, and he chuckles. ‘We’d stay overnight. It’s in Somerset. And Somerset’s lovely, isn’t it? All cider orchards and rolling hills…’
She bites her lip and clicks on the ‘about us’ link. ‘It says Moksha means “freedom” in Sanskrit.’ She looks at him. ‘Freedom to do what?’
‘Whatever you want!’ he announces. ‘It’s this private club, this little secret haven tucked away near the coast, for like-minded people to get together and have fun and?—’
