‘I could.’ Eve breathed out slowly, before taking two steps closer to Max. ‘So do you need anything?’
‘An upgrade to my PlayStation.’
‘You know your mum wants to get you that next Christmas.’
‘Yeah and she should know I’m not a bloody ten-year-old. I’m a grown man and if I want a new PlayStation, I shouldn’t have to save up for it with my Christmas money like a little kid.’
Eve was wearing an expression that suggested she might agree with Max, but she didn’t say so. In all the times Felix had interacted with the family, and even when he’d spoken to Eve on her own, he’d never once heard her say anything to challenge Annie’s opinion.
‘Why don’t you talk to her again?’ Eve’s tone was reasonable. ‘But in the meantime, is there anything I can get for younow?What’s on the menu for dinner? I can go and pick up a takeaway for you if you don’t like what’s on offer.’
‘Yeah, I’ll have a McDonald’s.’
‘Are you just asking for that because you know the nearest one means I’ll be out of your hair for forty-five minutes?’
‘That’s just a bonus.’ Max didn’t even look up.
‘The usual?’ Eve asked. ‘A Big Mac meal with a strawberry milkshake?’
‘Yep.’
‘Right, see you in forty-five minutes, then.’ She turned to look at Felix and he wanted to tell her that it didn’t have to be like this. She didn’t have to keep doing this when it clearly hurt her as much as it did, but he knew his words would be futile.
‘I’ll walk out with you,’ he said instead. ‘See you again on Tuesday, Max.’
‘Yeah, okay, shut the door on the way out. I don’t want to hear that old woman next door watching theYorkshire Auction Houseon bloody volume fifty all night long.’
When they got out into the corridor, Eve was the first to speak. ‘I wish you’d known Max before all of this.’
‘He’s quite the character and his sense of humour is still sharp, so I can only imagine.’ As Felix replied, he tapped in the code to release the door to the reception area.
‘It used to be sharp, but now it’s mostly vicious.’ Eve sighed. ‘It’s like the sight of me brings out the worst in him and I’m at the point where I think trying to carry on like we are is bad for us both.’ She turned to face him after they’d walked through another set of double doors into the car park. ‘I told Eden and some of the others about us.’
‘Did you?’ He smiled, but her face clouded again in response.
‘Yes. Should I have asked you first?’
‘Not at all, I’d tell that guy getting into his car over there if I thought he’d listen. I want us to be able to go out and be openwith our friends and my family about all of it, but I know it’s not as straightforward for you and the last thing I want is to put any kind of pressure on you.’
‘Being with you,’ Eve slipped her arms around his waist, ‘is the part of my life that has the least pressure. It feels easy and right. It’s all this stuff that feels hard, but if I thought Max got something out of it, I’d battle on. Except I’ve realised I’m not doing this for him, any more, I’m doing it for Annie and I don’t think that’s helping her. So I’ve decided I’m going to tell them. I just need to pick the right moment.’
‘That’s really great.’ He couldn’t keep the smile off his face, but he needed her to know he wasn’t going to force her hand in any way. ‘Although if you change your mind, I’ll understand.’
‘That’s exactly why I won’t change my mind.’ She kissed him, seeming as reluctant to let him go as he was to leave. But he was going to dinner with his parents, and Eden and Drew, to celebrate his dad’s birthday. Introducing Eve to the rest of his family might be a step too far, too soon, even if she hadn’t promised to go on a lengthy errand for Max.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then?’ He held her hand as he spoke and she nodded, before finally pulling away.
‘See you tomorrow.’
He watched her for a moment as she climbed into her car and then turned back towards his own, just as a text message pinged through. It was from Ashleigh.
Just wanted to let you know that Dad had a stroke the day after the funeral. It was scary as hell, but they’re pretty sure he’ll make a full recovery. I’m certain it was the stress of losing Merri, but he told me the thought of the twins carried him through and that he’s determined to get better for them. We’re all trying to look forward to the future and we want you to do the same, I know Merri would. Take care, Felix, and come visit us soon xx
Felix hit the reply button and typed out his response, wishing Don a speedy recovery and telling Ashleigh he was only ever at the end of the phone if she needed someone to talk to. Meredith’s family had been through so much and yet they were still focusing on what the future could bring them. He hoped for Eve’s sake that Annie and Nigel would be able to do the same, because if anyone deserved to move on from the past it was her.
19
Eve had planned to tell Annie about Felix the next time they got together, but Annie had been even more highly strung than normal. The verdict was due in from the Court of Appeal about Brandon Moorcroft’s sentencing. It had taken over a year for the case to come to court in the first place, so that reports could be compiled on the extent of Max’s injuries, and the doctors had needed to be certain that they’d reached a finite point in his recovery. Annie had appealed to the Attorney General’s Office against the leniency of the sentence straightaway, her job meaning she was well aware of the twenty-eight day window open to the family to do so. She’d pinned all her hopes on the case being referred to the Court of Appeal and while they were waiting for the outcome she’d made herself ill again, barely sleeping and not eating at all.
