Hiding From the Light by Barbara Erskine

Author:Barbara Erskine [Erskine, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780006512080
Google: jq5eLr-PwNsC
Amazon: 0006512089
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Published: 2009-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

53

Tuesday October 27th

Alex dropped the children off at school early and then drove on to Emma’s. It was almost exactly nine o’clock when he knocked on her back door. It was several minutes before she answered. There was a fork in her hand. ‘Alex, hi! I’m just feeding the cats.’ She was wearing a turquoise silk kimono, her hair wrapped in a towel.

Alex blushed. ‘I’m sorry. Am I too early?’

‘Too early?’ She looked exhausted, he noticed. Her face was pinched and there was a transparency in the skin around her eyes.

‘You were still expecting me?’ He could not keep the crestfallen note out of his voice. ‘To discuss the business?’

Smiling, she stepped back and waved him towards the table. ‘Grab yourself some coffee. I’ve only just made it. I had forgotten, to be honest. I had rather a late night last night.’ She scooped some disgusting fishy stuff out of a tin onto two small china plates and put them on the floor. The cats, who had been weaving round her ankles, pounced in obvious delight. She washed the fork and then her hands, sniffing at them fastidiously. ‘Ugh, the smell of that stuff is awful, but Max and Min love it.’ Grabbing her own mug off the hotplate she came and sat opposite him at the table. ‘I was hobnobbing with Mike Sinclair at getting on for midnight. Some gossip is bound to tell you!’

Alex looked up. He raised an eyebrow. ‘I see.’

‘No, you don’t, but it doesn’t matter. Alex,’ she started, then took a sip of the strong black coffee. ‘I’ve had no chance to think about the herb nursery since I saw you. None at all, to be honest. I’ve had a lot on my mind, what with one thing and another.’

‘Ah, yes. Piers.’ He nodded. ‘Paula spoke to him yesterday.’

There was a second’s total silence. ‘She did what?’

‘She was a bit upset about the row and everything. Didn’t want him to think we were taking sides and getting involved, so she gave him a ring. Sort of asked if there was anything we could do to help you two get back together, you know …’ He suddenly noticed her expression. ‘I’m sorry, Emma. It didn’t occur to me – to her – that you would mind.’

‘Well, I do mind! I mind a lot!’ Emma stood up. ‘Would you please tell her to mind her own business.’

Alex bit his lip. ‘I suppose it was a bit presumptuous.’

‘I’ll say.’ Emma was furious. ‘Look, Alex, if you and I are going to have any hope at all of working together at some future date, there are going to have to be some ground rules. And your wife interfering between Piers and me is absolutely forbidden. Do I make myself clear?’

Alex stood up. He was hot with embarrassment. ‘Perfectly. I’m really sorry, Emma. She meant it for the best.’

‘No doubt.’ Emma was still angry. She took a deep breath. ‘I’m sorry, but this morning is not a good time after all.

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