This Could Change Everything(109)

He still looked wary.

‘Trust me. I’m not wrong. Why are you so scared?’

Lucas pushed his fingers through his dark hair and said simply, ‘Because it matters so much.’





Chapter 52


It was one thing knowing you were going to be seeing Lucas at work and getting yourself mentally prepared beforehand. And quite another opening your front door and finding him, with no prior warning at all, on the doorstep.

Oh God, look at him, look at those eyes . . . except no, don’t look at those eyes . . . Her heart racing, Essie blurted out, ‘I’m busy.’

‘Not a problem.’ Lucas surveyed her with an easy smile. ‘I’ve come to collect Zillah.’

‘Ah, you’re here. Marvellous!’ Zillah materialised in the hallway behind Essie, wearing her turquoise turban-style hat and carrying her oversized silver handbag. ‘Thanks so much, Lucas.’

Essie stared at her. ‘Where are you off to? What’s going on? I’m in the middle of cooking dinner.’

‘Oh, I just fancied some company and a change of scenery.’ Pausing in front of the mirror in the hallway, Zillah produced a lipstick from her pocket and expertly applied it, then smacked her lips together. ‘Lucas is walking me over to the Red House.’

‘I could have done that,’ said Essie. Also, wasn’t she company enough?

‘Except you need to be here to cook the dinner.’ Zillah’s dark eyes danced as she took Lucas’s arm. ‘You just carry on, my darling. I won’t be late home, I promise!’

Bizarre. So that was who Zillah had been exchanging texts with when they’d been in the kitchen, catching up on an episode of Pointless while Essie put the chicken into the oven to roast and made a start on the vegetables.

She headed back into the kitchen now, slightly miffed that Zillah had chosen to leave her on her own to carry on chopping carrots, simmering the bread sauce and making the stuffing and gravy. Oh well, may as well get on with it.

Last night Zillah had suggested they both drop into the Red House for a couple of drinks, but Essie, knowing Lucas would be there, had persuaded her that they’d be better off staying here, playing Boggle and watching a film. It was still a tiny bit irritating, though, being left here on your own while the person you were supposed to be looking after waltzed off on the arm of someone else.

Someone else who happened to be Lucas.

Five minutes later, as she was peeling apples for the stuffing, the doorbell rang again.

Essie headed out into the hallway, then paused at the door and called out, ‘Who is it?’

In case this time it was a burglar.

Well, a polite one.

Then a voice said, ‘It’s me,’ and Essie felt as if she’d touched an electric fence.

It was hard to catch her breath. ‘What do you want?’

‘Could you open the door?’ said Lucas.

‘Is Zillah with you?’

‘No, I’m alone.’

Essie’s heart broke into a panicky gallop. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Opening the door might help,’ said Lucas.

‘And what if I don’t want to?’

‘Well, Zillah did give me her front-door key.’

OK, she needed to get a grip. Essie unlocked the door and opened it. ‘Did she forget something?’

‘No.’

‘Where is she?’

Lucas shrugged easily. ‘No idea.’

‘You what?’

‘Joking. She’s sitting in state on the red velvet sofa, surrounded by adoring fans.’

‘You shouldn’t joke,’ said Essie.

‘And you probably shouldn’t answer the door brandishing a knife,’ Lucas replied with a faint smile. ‘Look, now that I’m here, can I come in?’

Essie stared down at the paring knife in her hand and placed it on the rosewood table beside the door. ‘Why?’

‘OK, two reasons. One, because you’re driving Zillah mad.’

‘I am not!’

‘You are. Scarlett told me, and now Zillah has too. She’s feeling a bit smothered.’

‘I’m taking care of her. That’s not smothering!’ As she said it, a group of people made their way past the house and eyed her with interest. Outraged, Essie hissed, ‘Oh God, and now everyone’s going to think I’m a murderer . . .’

‘Shh, no they won’t.’ And now he was in the hallway, closing the door behind him.

‘Honestly, I can’t believe Scarlett. What’s she been saying about me? She’s got a nerve.’

‘Don’t be cross. It smells fantastic in here. Oh, I heard all about this.’ Lucas paused at the entrance to the kitchen to admire the bunting that was still strung up. ‘It looks great.’

‘And I still don’t know what’s going on.’ Essie’s mouth was dry. It was too much to take in; having practically forced his way in here, Lucas was now telling her that everything she’d done was wrong, and it was confusing enough that he was speaking to her in the confident, cheerful tone he’d always used before Zillah’s accident had changed everything.

‘Well I think you’re cooking a roast chicken, aren’t you? That’s what it smells like.’ Briefly opening the oven door, Lucas said, ‘Yes, looks like a chicken to me.’