Killing Shadows by Jay Gill

Author:Jay Gill [Gill, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Emma got back from Oxford around eight-thirty and it was dark out. She hadn’t stopped for dinner and was feeling hungry, but during the drive she had made the decision to go to see Declan and apologise for spoiling his party.

She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. While she waited for the door to open she ran her fingers through her hair, adjusted her clothes, checked her breath in a cupped hand and wished she’d thought about mints and lipstick. She stood up straight as the door slowly opened.

‘Hello, Emma. Are you okay, love?’ It was Declan’s mum.

‘Hello, Sue. I’m okay. I’m sorry to bother you so late. I was wondering whether Declan was home. I think I owe him an apology.’

‘Really? Oh, okay. Come in, sweetheart. Declan’s here. In fact he was just telling me off for getting up to answer the door. He does fuss. I tell him I need to keep moving but he says I’m doing too much.’ She stepped back and held the door open. ‘He’s a good lad, just don’t tell him I said so. You go first. I’m a bit slow on my feet, what with the hip op. Just through there into the sitting room. Where’s Deccy? He was here a second ago.’ She yelled upstairs. ‘What are you doing up there? Emma’s here. Emma from next door. She wants to talk to you, I hope you haven’t been breaking the law again. Have you washed your face, cleaned behind your ears and brushed your hair today? And put on a fresh t-shirt.’ She joined Emma in the sitting room. ‘I do love embarrassing him. Can I get you a cup of tea, love?’

‘No. I’m fine. Thank you. I can’t stop long, I just need to have a quick word.’

Declan appeared. He looked flustered and sounded breathless.

‘I’ll make myself scarce. Give you two some privacy.’ As she passed Declan she gave him a wink. He gave her a ‘pack it in’ look.

Emma didn’t notice.

Declan closed the door and sat down opposite Emma. She fiddled with her watch. In an instant he noticed how slim and feminine her wrist was. His eyes traced her neckline and moved to her small ears, where a pale blue earring twinkled. Her eyebrows were fine and her lips and skin looked soft.

‘I came to apologise. About what happened at the party. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought my problems to your doorstep.’

He shook his head and looked confused. ‘There’s nothing for you to apologise for. He’s your boyfriend and all that, and I probably shouldn’t say, but he behaved like an arse.’ Declan shrugged. ‘He was disrespectful and you put him in his place. As far as I’m concerned you did the right thing.’

‘The truth is, I’m embarrassed. It put a downer on your party. It ruined the evening, it must have.’

‘You didn’t ruin anything. Your being there made the party for me. Talking to you and us laughing together, that’s all I remember from the evening.

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