This Could Change Everything(78)

‘But maybe in a few months from now?’ Frustration turned to hope.

Conor was beginning to feel trapped once more. ‘Maybe.’

‘I wouldn’t be a nuisance, if that’s what bothering you,’ Evie suddenly blurted out. ‘I promise!’

‘What?’ He was taken aback. ‘That isn’t bothering me. You aren’t a nuisance.’

‘OK, well that’s good.’ He could hear the relief in her voice. ‘I thought I should say it, just in case.’

‘No need.’

‘And just so you know, no pressure or anything, but if you’d been wondering how I’d feel about you and Belinda getting married or whatnot . . . well, I’d be all in favour.’

Moved, Conor said, ‘Thanks.’

‘You wouldn’t have to be, like, a stepfathery kind of person if you didn’t want to. Just a friendly grown-up, that’d be fine.’

‘Right.’

‘And I wouldn’t mind if you had babies either. That’d be cool.’

‘Well, that’s jumping ahead . . .’

‘Yes, I know, I’m just putting it out there. Plus, she’s not getting any younger. You don’t want to wait too long, do you?’

‘OK, enough for now.’ Conor was smiling, because he might have problems in his life, but Evie wasn’t one of them. ‘Will you have a quiet word with Caz?’

‘If I have a quiet word, chances are she won’t hear it.’ Evie laughed. ‘No worries. I’ll be firm with her, make sure she deletes it.’





Chapter 37


Lucas knew he had to tell Essie the truth when she arrived early for work on Monday morning waving a bag and calling out, ‘Hi! Is Giselle here?’

‘Sorry, she isn’t.’ He felt simultaneously sick and energised, because the need to talk to someone about the situation was becoming overwhelming. Whether it was better or worse for that someone to be Essie, he had no idea.

‘Oh, let me show you what I picked up for her yesterday. Have a look at this, isn’t it just perfect?’ Excited by her find, Essie opened the bag and, with a flourish, pulled out a lavender velvet skirt with a bias-cut swishy hemline. ‘I spotted it on one of the vintage stalls at the market and knew Giselle would love it. And look, it has an elasticated panel at the front because it’s an actual maternity skirt!’ She held it up against herself and gave a shimmy to demonstrate the swinginess of the material. ‘Room for growth!’

‘It’s . . . great.’ Lucas paused; he needed to say it. ‘Giselle’s gone. She’s left Bath and I don’t even know why.’

Silence. Essie’s green eyes widened with shock. Finally she said, ‘Oh God. Did she tell you she was going?’

‘Not face to face. I got a text saying she was sorry, but she needed time away from here, time to think. I don’t know what she needs to think about. I have no idea what any of it means . . . I just know I can’t stay here any longer doing nothing.’ Lucas shook his head. ‘I have to talk to her, find out what’s going on.’

‘You mean it hasn’t just happened? When did she leave?’

‘Saturday.’

‘Two days ago? Oh Lucas.’ Essie’s hands flew to her mouth.

His stomach churned. ‘You’re the first person I’ve told.’

Her look of sympathy was almost worse than the dismay. ‘Do you have any idea where she is?’

‘Pretty sure she’s gone home. I’d added her to my phone-finder app because she kept losing hers. When I checked it, the signal was coming from just north of Glasgow. On the train, I’m guessing. But then she must have switched the phone off. There’s been no signal since.’ He raked his fingers through his hair. ‘It’s the not knowing that’s killing me. I mean, this is Giselle. Why would she do this?’

Essie was torn between being lost for words and brimming with questions. The questions were so sensitive, she couldn’t bring herself to ask them. As Lucas had just said, this was Giselle they were talking about. She simply wasn’t the type to do something so dramatic without explanation. She was straightforward and sensible and just . . . open. Yet clearly something had been troubling her . . .

‘What?’ Lucas was watching her closely.

‘I don’t know, I’m just trying to think. When I bumped into her last week, she seemed a bit distracted.’ Essie struggled to recall the details. ‘She asked me to go for a coffee with her but I couldn’t because I had to start my shift here. So we arranged to meet up for lunch on Saturday, but then on Friday night she messaged to say she couldn’t make it. I just assumed it was to do with work. But now . . . Well, it did seem as if maybe there was something she wanted to talk to me about—’

‘Morning!’ The door swung open and Jude arrived, ready to start her shift. When she saw them, she stopped in her tracks. ‘What’s up?’

Lucas didn’t look dreadful because he was simply too physically attractive, but there were dark shadows beneath his eyes and the palpable tension around him made it clear that something was very wrong.

Essie made coffee for them while Lucas told Jude everything he knew. When he’d finished, he said, ‘I’m going up to see her. I have to.’