Jill stopped. She sat down again and gripped Eve’s hand. ‘Oh, don’t start thinking like that.’ Her voice quavered. ‘I promise I’ll find the note and we’ll answer as many of your questions as we can. But, darling, please concentrate on yourself and the baby for the moment. It’s all in the past. Your health is the most important thing. Alex said you were exhausted last night.’
‘You’ve spoken to him?’
‘Dad rang him when you were asleep. Just to check you were all right.’ Eve’s face must have shown what she was feeling because Jill touched her cheek. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve said something wrong.’
Eve tried to smile. ‘No, it’s fine.’
But it wasn’t fine. Alex hadn’t mentioned the call, and she didn’t like the idea of them all discussing her behind her back. She followed Jill to the door and after they’d hugged she went into the front room, standing away from the window so she couldn’t be seen, and watched her mother heading along the street to her car.
At the car door Jill turned to stare back at the house, her knuckles pressed against her lips. And the chill that had settled in Eve’s stomach turned to ice.
Stella
Houghton’s was closed, but Ben let them in through a side door. David appeared and helped take the pictures inside. He leaned one against the reception desk and spread the others out along the pale wall. For a few silent minutes he stood, arms folded, looking at them. Then said one word, ‘Superb.’ And finally Stella was able to breathe.
‘Thank you,’ was all she could say, and it seemed to make David aware of her for the first time.
He shook his head at her. ‘No, thank you, Stella. These are beautiful. Fresh, original and so full of life. Just what we need as the centrepiece of the exhibition.’
Ben had disappeared into the office and came back with a bottle of champagne and three glasses. Stella stood in a daze as he popped the cork and poured the foaming wine into her glass. They clinked and Ben and David both kissed her on the cheek.
David raised his glass to her. ‘Here’s to our new star.’ He laughed. ‘I love the signature by the way.’
Stella grinned, too shocked to say anything. Her nan had always called her a little star and that’s why she used the shooting star as her signature. Ben had obviously not noticed it because he bent down to study the bottom of one of the pictures. ‘Ha!’ His laugh was loud in the big empty space. ‘A star for a star. Very clever. And I predict you will soon be stellar, Stella.’ Another booming laugh.
Stella glanced at David, not sure why she felt embarrassed, but he just swallowed the last of his champagne and said, ‘Well, I must get home, lots to do tomorrow. It’s times like this when I wonder if we were right to move down to the coast.’
Ben laughed and slapped his back as he walked away. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ but David gave a cheery wave.
Stella finished her wine, coughing slightly because it was so bubbly, and Ben went to fill her glass again. ‘Thank you, but I’d better get away too. I’m going out tonight.’ It wasn’t true, but she knew she wouldn’t feel comfortable alone in this big space with him. Silly really because he could obviously have his choice of women, so would hardly be bothered with an ordinary girl like her.
‘I dragged you over here, so you must let me take you back. Anyway I want to talk to Maggie.’ He rubbed her shoulder. ‘Think I annoyed her this afternoon.’
Stella had been so nervous on the way that she hadn’t noticed how fast he drove, but in the car going back he obviously guessed she was worried and put his hand on her knee.
‘Relax, it’s quite safe.’ She must have tensed because he gave her a little pat and said, ‘I’ll slow down.’
He began talking about her work. Full of enthusiasm. ‘I’ve never seen David so excited. We see a big future for you, Stella. And we want to feature your picture on the cover of the catalogue.’
It was all so amazing she just sat staring out of the window seeing nothing but a blur. Finally she realized he was waiting for her to say something and she blurted out, ‘Which picture?’ flushing because that sounded stupid.
Another of his loud laughs, making her feel idiotic again. ‘No, I mean your photograph. You’ll be the perfect poster girl.’ Another pat to her thigh. ‘I’ll be honest with you, we were going to use Maggie, but you’re much the better artist.’
His large hand was still on her knee as they drew up outside the house and it was impossible to move without seeming rude. Still tongue-tied she could only manage a strangled, ‘Thank you.’ She put her hand on the door.
‘And of course …’ he gave her thigh a little squeeze as he opened his own door, ‘you just about beat Maggie in the looks stakes, too.’
Before she could get out he was round her side taking her hand to help her. She moved quickly away, planning to run straight up to her room with the excuse that she had to change for her imaginary night out.
But as she reached the gate he said, ‘On second thought, I won’t come in just now. Let her ladyship cool down.’
Then, before she could move, his hand was behind her head and he was kissing her hard on the lips. It only lasted a second then he turned away, heading back to the car as if nothing had happened.
In the driver’s seat he rolled down the window and said, ‘We need to do those photos ASAP. So I’ll collect you in the morning and take you to the studio. Eight sharp.’ That loud laugh again, echoing down the quiet evening street.
When he roared away Stella stood one hand still on the gate the other pressed to her lips. She was almost afraid to let go of the gate because her legs felt like jelly. What had just happened? And was it really true that her work was set to be a success? She couldn’t think and told herself the only thing to do about that kiss was to pretend it had never happened.
But as she gave herself a little shake and opened the gate, she realized the curtain in Maggie’s bedroom was pulled back and Maggie, her face a frozen white mask, was standing there staring down at her.
Eve
When Alex got home Eve was checking the cod roasting in the oven. It took her a while to straighten up nowadays and Alex laughed and came behind her to haul her upright. Then he lifted her hair and kissed the back of her neck. ‘Sorry I’m late. They cancelled my usual train and the next one was a packed.’ He opened the fridge and poured himself some milk, holding up the carton. ‘Want some?’
She shook her head determined to get it out right away. ‘You didn’t tell me about Dad’s call last night.’
He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Oh yes, I completely forgot in the rush this morning. He only wanted to check you were all right. I told him you were asleep and that was it.’
She wanted to say that she didn’t like them discussing her as if she was a child who needed looking after, but the way she was feeling she knew it was likely to turn into an argument. Besides she had something more important to tell him.
It was difficult, but she forced herself to wait until they were eating. ‘I’ve decided to go to Newcastle this week, to see that exhibition.’
Alex swallowed a mouthful of potato and took a drink of water. ‘The train tickets will cost a fortune this late, if we can even get any, and I have work commitments.’
‘You don’t have to come and I was planning to drive.’
He put down