“And I’m more than happy to share the little tale about your date with Lissa Ripponden,” she said, giving Jake her shiniest smile.
Jake’s eyes narrowed. Alex’s hand dipped a centimetre lower. Abby felt heat between her legs.
“Whatever Lissa said, it didn’t happen.” His words were harsh.
Abby felt Alex stop a laugh.
“I heard she’s got a job working with the therapist who’s bought the fields next to you.” Abby had been hearing lots about the woman who’d pipped Jake to the purchase of land he’s coveted.
Jake looked away.
“Sore point, Abs,” Alex said. “Let’s leave Jakey-pie to his mourning. I need another beer.”
They wandered back over to the fire, Alex’s arm moving round her shoulders. The sun had almost completely set and the only one of Jonny’s kids still up was Charlie, although he looked as if he was about to fall asleep on Rayah’s shoulder.
The fire was a low one, designed for people to toast marshmallows and talk over, it’s gentle crackle the only other noise besides the chat and the call of an owl hooting.
Abby sat next to Alex, Keren passing her a bottle of beer. The two babies were being looked after by the Maynard brothers’ father and his husband, giving their parents a rare night off. Sadie Grace and Harry had been taken there also, tucked into a den made in the front room with promises of horse riding in the morning.
Keren’s smile was sneaky as she passed the beer. “I saw where Alex’s hand was.”
“You sure Scott hasn’t spiked your drink?”
Keren laughed. “Pretty sure he’s done just that. There was far too much alcohol in that punch he made. I feel like a teenager at a party.”
“Enjoy it. You have a night off. What time do you have to pick up Eden?” Keren’s daughter was one of the sweetest babies Abby had met, all big eyes and dark hair and lacking in all of her dad’s grumpiness.
Keren sighed. “We don’t. We have a whole day to ourselves, but I can’t see us getting beyond lunch time without coming to pick her up. Scott’ll get angsty and start making work to do and I’ll start to fret without her. It’s weird, you pray for a bit of time to yourself because having a child is so all-consuming and as soon as you’re without them, you don’t know what to do with yourself.”
“You can enjoy missing her. Because you know she’s safe and she’ll be happy with her cousins and grandads.” Abby patted Keren’s knee. “And you get some time alone. Maybe to make another Eden.”
Keren looked over at her husband who was strumming his guitar, singing quietly. “But the next one is bound to be a demon. Eden is an angel – there’s no way we’d get two like that.” She looked round at Abby. “I know what can take my mind off missing Eden. You telling me about Alex…”
“That was an interesting evening.”Alex had hold of her hand as they walked back through the fields towards the main road that would take them to his house. Holding hands was new for her, it felt new anyway. There had been boyfriends, lovers, but never someone to hold her hand because they were always climbing or she was the only woman in a group of men and public displays of affection weren’t right for that setting.
“I guess people know we’re not just friends, then.” She looked at Alex’s profile in the moonlight. “We kind of outed ourselves.”
“We did.” His voice was quiet.
“Thank you for including me. The people who live here are so kind and I…”
Alex stopped walking suddenly, pulling on her hand so she turned to look at him.
“You are included. You’ve always been included, Abby. This town’s small and sometimes insular and everybody knows what you had for dinner let alone just your name. Even if I hadn’t fucked you senseless you would’ve been there.”
The description of what they’d done sent a wave of heat between her legs. Her body liked the idea of being fucked senseless again, thank you very much, but her brain wasn’t sure she understood what Alex was trying to say.
“I’d have been covering the bar or doing a shift at Sorrell’s hotel.” Because that was what she did. She hid behind work.
Alex pulled her closer. “Yeah, you’re right. You would. So none of us got to know you.”
“I couldn’t risk it getting out who I was.”
“Was? Who are you now Amelia Hope?”
She found there were no words waiting to come out.
“Because you’re still brave and intelligent and kind. You’re still determined and ambitious, just not for yourself anymore – but you should be. You can do that and look for your sister.”
