‘My mum,’ came the quiet reply.
‘Ah, I see.’ Madeleine came and put an arm round her shoulders. ‘Yes, Felix explained that she passed away some years ago. It must have been hard for you,non?’
Emma was touched by her concern. ‘To be honest, me and Dad usually cope OK. I think it’s because things are different now, with me living here.’
‘But you like living here, do you not?’ Madeleine gently enquired.
‘Oh, yes, very much,’ Emma hastily replied.
‘Good, because I know Felix likes you living here.’ She stared straight into Emma’s face, then hesitated before saying, ‘Tell me—’
‘Need a hand?’ Felix suddenly appeared, making them turn round sharply. He rubbed his hands together. ‘This looks terrific.’ He looked at them both. ‘Thanks, much appreciated.’
‘Yes, Emma is worth… how you say, her weight in gold,non?’ Madeleine smiled affectionately at her.
They all carried the buffet to the dining room, where the actors, camera men, runners, costume and make-up assistants eagerly awaited them. Felix wanted a celebratory gathering and had supplied several bottles of wine. Once everyone’s plate was full and the drinks flowed, Polly suggested some music.
‘Emma, why don’t you sing for us?’ she asked.
‘Good idea,’ smiled Felix, who was standing nearby. ‘I’ve heard her latest set and it’s amazing.’
‘Hmm…’ Emma wavered.
‘Oh, go on!’ cheered Polly, full of bonhomie.
‘Alright then,’ she grinned and went into the hall to the piano. She was soon followed as her voice began to fill the place. Felix fixed his eyes on her. She sang with a natural confidence, no awkward inhibitions, just an innate talent shining through. Her sweet voice was breath-taking, making all who heard it stop in their tracks. His gaze once again travelled down her swan-like neck to the swell of her breasts that rose and fell with her singing.
Polly, who’d had quite a few glasses of wine by now, clocked how Felix’s gaze once more locked onto Emma. Sidling over to him, she murmured, ‘So when are you going to make a move then, Felix?’
Without turning he gave a slow smile. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ he replied.
‘Oh, I think you do,’ Polly chuckled softly.
Madeleine had also witnessed her son’s look of yearning and gave a calculated smile to herself. A sense of liberation passed over her. After the nightmare which had been Anika Genness, it was such a blessed relief that Felix had met Emma. She had warmed to the girl immediately and a mother’s intuition was never wrong. Madeleine had never liked Anika, but had remained silent in her opinion, until Felix had come clean about his relationship with her. She’d been both appalled and angry at what her son had had to endure. Emma, it was blatantly clear, was the polar opposite to Anika. She was down-to-earth, uncomplicated. The fact Emma was Felix’s housekeeper Madeleine found rather amusing. Where better to meet someone than on your own doorstep? Much preferable then at some fancy film premier, full of pretentious or fame-hungry actresses. No, Emma was just what Felix needed. It never occurred to Madeleine that Emma might not see Felix in a romantic light. Which girl in their right mind wouldn’t?
After a few more songs, the party lunch was winding down. The cast and crew were mindful of the tidal road and wanted to get back to their hotel to pack and go home.
As Emma locked the front doors, she bent down to collect the post. A few envelopes were addressed to Felix, apart from one, which was addressed to her. Surprised, she carried them into the hall and put the envelopes on the piano stool and opened the one with her name on it. Unfolding the white A4 paper she inhaled sharply. There, in bold black writing read the words:
Stay away from him, bitch. Or else.
The nasty warning couldn’t have come at a worse time. Emma was shaken to say the least and she had to perform that evening. The gig at Red Rose Brewery loomed and instead of feeling upbeat and energised like she usually did, Emma was extremely nervy and unable to focus.
After showing the message to Felix, he had gone ballistic and rung the police immediately. Madeleine was horrified and anger seethed inside her. HowdareAnika Genness continue to ruin her son’s life and threaten Emma?
‘I… I don’t know if I can sing tonight,’ Emma stammered. They were all sat in the drawing room.
‘Of course you must. Do not allow this woman to distress you, Emma,’ Madeleine said firmly.
Easier said than done, thought Emma, knowing Anika’s past behaviour. Like it or not, the fact was that Felix’s deranged ex was nearby. She was clocking their every move. Her warning of ‘keep away from him’ meant that she had obviously seen her and Felix out together. She must be watching the place, their comings and goings. Fear tingled down Emma’s spine. Flashbacks of her and Felix going shopping in Lancaster came to mind. Anika must have witnessed it. Was she spying on them now? Her eyes dashed to the big bow window, but darkness was falling and she couldn’t see very much.
Felix, following Emma’s stare, got up to draw the curtains. He, too, had been thinking along the same lines.
‘This is all my fault,’ he said in a flat tone, sitting back down to face them. He hated seeing Emma like this, so pale and drawn, and tonight of all nights, when it was the gig she’d been building up to.
‘It isnotyour fault, Felix,’ interrupted Madeleine crossly, losing patience, the whole situation beyond absurd. ‘What exactly are the police doing about this mad woman?’ she demanded.
Felix gave a hard sigh and ran his hand through his dark hair. ‘They’ve taken it very seriously. This time Anika has made actual threats, physical threats, and it’s classed as harassment under the Public Order Act. Technically she could be sent to prison for this,’ he stated.
