‘You know the magazine I write for?’ she interrupted.
‘You told me,’ he replied. ‘A few seconds before you stormed towards the front door.’
‘And you remembered? Amid the alleged “storming”.’ She made quote marks in the air.
He smiled, shaking his head. ‘What can I say? I pay attention.’
He watched her looking back at him as if she was mulling this information over and trying to work out from his expression, or maybe his body language, if he was telling her the truth. He was… even if there was a bit more to it.
‘To be frank,’ Orla picked up. ‘I think my boss is slightly more invested in a heavily pregnant reindeer this close to Christmas than you, particularly now you actually talk.’ She paused. ‘No offence.’
‘None taken,’ he answered. ‘And I agree. A pregnant reindeer would be a far more interesting subject than me.’
Was that it? Had he easily managed to navigate his way out of this interview just by admitting his life wasn’t report-worthy compared to that of four-legged wildlife he didn’t even believe was going to turn up? Delphine had avoided every one of his questions about the absence of the reindeer at the fête the night before.
‘That being said,’ Orla began. ‘And with the absence of said reindeer, I’d better cover all bases.’
Apparently he was still in this.
‘So, what do you want to know?’ he asked.
‘Currently, why you won’t sit down.’
He smiled. ‘How long I’ve lived here, wasn’t it? So, a little over two years now.’
‘Where are you from originally?’
‘You know how the reindeer is with child? Well, one night my mother?—’
‘Are you going to answer the questions seriously? Or is my being here a joke to you?’
‘Believe me, as you and your sister are the only people except Delphine and Hunter who have been in this house in a year, this isn’t a joke.’ He swallowed. Even telling her that was information he didn’t want to give out. His life was private. He wanted to keep it that way. The fact that Delphine had invited someone into his personal space without any thought for the consequences was eating away at him. His friend might not know the full extent of his situation but she should have known enough. Keeping his circle small was the only way to ensure his family’s safety. But then there was the fact that this was a reporter he admired, someone he felt a connection with through her words in the magazine, someone who wrote stories he would look forward to in every publication… and Delphine also knew that.
‘So, you’re not mute, but you’re a recluse?’
He shrugged. ‘We could blame Covid-19 if you like. All that trauma of staying inside. Would that come over better than “he hates people”?’
‘You hate people?’ She was actually writing this down.
‘No, Orla,thatwas a joke. I like my privacy. And, last time I checked, there was no law against that.’
‘OK,’ Orla said, standing up and picking up her digital pad. ‘This really isn’t going to work. Particularly as I was told youhad developed a special bond with a reindeer that isn’t here. I thought there may be something I could really get to the heart of.’
Damn it.She was going to leave. But wasn’t that exactly what he’d wanted only moments ago? And he didn’t want to do an interview. Why would he? It wasn’t just wanting privacy for privacy’s sake. He had good reasons. But this was Orla Bradbee… and she was packing up and about to head to his front door for the second time after he’d been almost as hostile as a battleground.
‘Orla, wait,’ he said as she pushed the pad into her backpack.
‘Why?’ Orla snapped. ‘Are you going to refuse to press whatever magic button you need to press to unlock the front door? Because there is a law against keeping someone against their will.’
‘I would never do that,’ he stated.
‘Good. So, it was nice to meet you but I’m going to collect my sister from the cinema room and?—’
‘Beanbags,’ Jacques blurted out.
‘What?’
‘Sorry, you’re a newcomer to Saint-Chambéry, you need context.’ He sighed. ‘Tonight in the village there’s a contest involving beanbags. I am forced to take part every year since I arrived here because, well, I am the reigning champion but, you know, if you were to come along to that then…’ He stopped talking, giving his brain a chance to catch up with what he wasactuallysaying and how crazy it was, but his mouth couldn’t seem to halt its progress. ‘I will answer whatever questions you want.’
