Daffodils in March (4 page)

Half way down the stairs, she realized the service was underway now and she hadn't started streaming it. Never mind. She peeked into the lounge. Marc was still happily playing with the activity frame. Leaving the door ajar, she went to the kitchen.

One of the cupboards was labeled
Marc
. She opened it to find it filled with tins of formula and baby food. Then, she pulled down the sterilizing tablets and checked the back of the packet. Two tablets per tank.

Taking the bottles, teats, and lids out, she set them on a clean tea towel and put the kettle on to boil. Then she emptied the tanks and refilled them. She needed to talk to Hanna about buying one of the new microwave sterilizers. This one was second hand and carried its own set of risks with that. But when it came to making the feeds themselves, there was something therapeutic about measuring out hot water, then adding the right number of scoops of powdered baby milk, before sealing each bottle and shaking it thoroughly.

Just as she finished, Marc started crying. Eden put the new feeds in the fridge and set the last of the previous feeds to heat in warm water. She changed the baby, and then settled down on the couch to feed him.

Looking at Marc, she could see the resemblance between him and Eric. “Your daddy would have loved you,” she whispered. “It's such a shame you'll never know him. He was a good soldier, brother and husband. He'd have been an excellent father, too.”

Sleepy eyes began to shut as Marc drained the bottle. By the time he'd finished and she burped him, he was sound asleep. Eden took him upstairs and settled him on his side in his cot. She'd barely gotten halfway down the stairs, when the front door burst open. Both Hanna and David came in. Hanna smiled a welcome.

David ignored her as he hung up his coat, missing the hook. He muttered under his breath and hung it so firmly on the second try that Eden was surprised the hook didn't break.

David marched up the stairs, brushing past her without even a hello.

Hanna's brow furrowed as she entered the lounge. She flopped onto the couch and heaved a sigh that Eden could see from where she stood.

Eden trotted down the rest of the stairs and sat opposite her friend. “Tell me about this conference. It sounds fun.”

“Far from it.” Hanna curled her legs up underneath her. “Unless your idea of fun is endless hours of debate on company policy, lots of note taking, and having to be polite to the brass and the creep from the twelfth floor who eyes me up in the lift each morning—in which case you seriously need to get out more.” She sighed. “Oh, and let's not forget the team building exercise. I just hope it isn't paintballing again this year.”

“At least being a nanny I've never had to do any of that.”

“Lucky you.”

Eden nodded. “Yep.”

Hanna raised an eyebrow. “Until now. We should have one team building activity this week, to get you and David talking.”

“Pfft, yeah, right. I hate paintballing, and I'm rubbish at the laser one, too, before you suggest that.” She paused. “Besides, I don't think anything would get David talking to me.”

“Seriously, Eden. We'll go bowling. You, me, and David.”

“What about the baby?” Eden asked, desperately trying to think of a way to get out of it. “You can't take him bowling.”

“Sure we can. Have car seat, baby will travel. We can take turns as needed and play against David. It'll be fun.”

Eden laughed shortly. “You really do have a weird definition of the word fun. Assuming David will come.”

“Oh, he will.” Hanna winked. “He isn't getting a choice in this either.”

****

David wasn't sure how he got talked into this. Suffice it to say his sister wouldn't take no for an answer, and he'd agreed simply to shut her up. He just prayed he wouldn't meet anyone from work. Headley Cross, although a relatively big town, could be very small at times—usually at the most inopportune moments.

Glaring at Hanna, he took the bowling shoes in exchange for his canvas sneakers. “This is stupid. We don't need a ‘team building exercise.' Eden and I know each other pretty well.”

“It'll be fun.” Hanna grinned at him, as she finished tying her laces. “When did we last do this?”

David scowled. “Eden and I did this a lot with you and Eric, as well you know.”

“And she always won. Well, now's your chance to beat her.”

David glanced sideways at Eden, annoyed at the way his heart sped up every time he looked at her. He had to get over her and fast. He thought he had, but being around her all the time only proved he wasn't. “Perhaps.”

Eden picked up the car seat. “Perhaps what?”

“Perhaps David will actually beat you this time,” Hanna told her.

“In his dreams.”

Hanna laughed. “He dreams about you? This just gets better and better.”

David scowled harder. They may have been teasing, but they weren't far off the mark. Eden needed to keep out of his dreams. In particular ones where she ended up dying because of him, because he messed up and put his feelings for her before his work. Not for the first time that day, he tried to come up with a way for Hanna to give Eden the sack and for things to go back to the way they were.

“Which lane are we?”

“Twelve.” David took the car seat from Eden and set off down the building, trusting the girls were behind him. By the time they joined him, he'd set up the score board for Eden to start. He handed her the size bowl she always used. “Off you go.”

Eden hefted the bowl and rolled a strike on her first attempt.

Hanna laughed again. “Think she's going to win again.” She took her turn and also got a strike. “Or not.”

David shook his head and looked over the bowls. He chose one and rolled it slowly, deliberately missing. Twice. Just like he always did.

Halfway through the game, Hanna left to pick up their food order.

Eden picked up a bowl. “How was work?”

“It was there.” He glanced at her. Was she taking Hanna literally about “team building” and attempting to make idle conversation?

“Hanna tells me you write for one of the national papers. Must be interesting stuff. What type of stories do you cover?”

“Political ones mainly.” He shoved a hand into his pocket. Yep, she was, and already on dangerous ground.

“That would be why I've never seen any of it.”

“Probably. You've always hated politics.” David sighed as she got another strike. He picked up a ball and aimed carefully, making sure he missed again.

Eden stood behind him as the skittles reset. “Let me help.” Her hand slid over his, warmth shooting through him as her touch guided his hand to the correct position.

He'd always played badly for two reasons. One, to let her win, and two, so she'd do this—stand behind him, touching him, helping him. Yet he wasn't prepared for the onslaught of memories that flooded him. Desire poured through him like a tidal wave. He had to break contact or his resilience was going to snap, and he'd be unable to continue.

David shook her off. “Eden, don't.”

She backed away, hurt etched on her face. “Sorry. I just wanted to help.”

Guilt pierced him. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted, but he had no choice. “It's not you, it's me.”

“That's very clichéd of you, David.” Hanna put the tray down on the table. “Chicken in a basket, chips, and cola.” She looked at them. “What did I miss?”

Eden forced a smile. “It's David that missed. Again.”

David rolled the bowl half-heartedly. He dropped onto the plastic seat and put a finger in Marc's hand. His nephew smiled at him, babbling happily. Why did things have to be so complicated?

He took the food his sister offered. “Thanks.” As he ate he noticed Eden studying his hands. “What?”

“Just wondering about the tattoos,” she said.

He looked down at his hands. Each of his knuckles had a different symbol on them. “Can't explain here,” he said. “Suffice it to say each one is there for a reason.”

Each gang related and each indicated a crime he'd committed. He'd worn them so long he'd almost forgotten they
did
wash off. He only hoped the persona he'd adopted would wash away as easily.

3

Sunday afternoon, Eden perched on the edge of the bed. Her first week had flown by, and she'd enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost. David had tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible, but she wasn't going to let him win. She watched Hanna pack, dutifully listening as her friend listed the same things over and over.

“And he hates carrots,” Hanna continued. “So if you must give him them, mix it with something else.”

“OK.”

“And he won't sleep without the penguin. And he still gets real bad colic and can cry for hours and throw up after a feed.”

Eden stifled a grin. “Han, I've been looking after him almost a week now. I know about the penguin, and the duck in the bath, and how to hide the carrots, and the mobile and music he likes. I'll move his cot into my room. He'll be fine. I also have your phone number, pager number, hotel number…” She winked. “The doctor's number. And I even know how to call the emergency services if I need them.”

“I'm sorry,” Hanna said, her hands pausing as she lifted another woolen sweater into the case. “Am I making too much fuss?”

“Just a tad. We'll be fine.”

“You know I
do
trust you—it's...”

David that I worry about.
Hanna's furrowed brow said it all without her having to voice a single word, and Eden knew why. David's behavior was erratic at best and downright unstable at worst. Hanna hadn't needed to say anything. All the measured looks and heavy sighs let Eden know Hanna didn't feel safe in her own home or around her own brother. Another reason for her to stay here, despite David's snide comments and the devious ways he'd used to try to get rid of her for the past few days.

“It's just...I've never left him over night before.” Hanna finished.

“It's no different to the day time. Just darker.”

“What about David?”

Eden managed a cheeky grin. “David is a big boy now. I'm sure he won't cry too much when you leave. Is he taking you to the airport?”

Hanna shook her head as she closed the suitcase. “No. He has another meeting.”

“Not anymore.” David leaned against the doorframe.

How had he sneaked up like that? And how much of the conversation had he overheard?

Hanna jumped and spun around to face the door, her hand on her chest. “Oh, you scared me.”

“I didn't mean to. I was being quiet in case Marc was sleeping. I cancelled my meeting, so that I could take you.”

“Thank you.”

He actually smiled. “What time is the flight?”

“Four thirty. Although the conference doesn't start until Monday, so maybe I cancel the flight and go up tomorrow instead.”

He shook his head. “You've had it booked for ages. No sense in paying a late cancellation fee on top of another flight. Besides, this way you can spend tomorrow in that spa you've been talking about. Or catch up on your beauty sleep.”

Hanna tossed her teddy bear at him. “Are you saying I'm ugly?”

David caught the bear and laughed. “Pretty ugly. Aren't you taking him?”

She shook her head. “No. About time I travelled without him.”

“Awww, look at that.” He grinned and stuck the bear at the end of Marc's cot. “My baby sister has finally got
all-growed-up
. Should probably leave soon, if you're going to make check in.”

For a moment, he seemed to be the David Eden knew. The full, rich laugh, and eyes that sparkled as he teased and joked with his sister. Then the shutters came down again and the dark, sinister man stood there once more.

He took the case and flight bag. “I'll go put these in the car.”

Hanna hugged Eden. “Call if there's a problem.”

“I will, but there won't be. You're only going to be gone a week.”

“OK.” Hanna picked up the baby. “Mummy's going to miss you.”

Marc smiled, reaching out and tugging her hair. He gurgled happily.

“I don't want to go.” Hanna hugged Marc tightly.

Eden smiled. “You'll be back before you know it.”

“Come on, Han,” David's voice echoed up the stairs. “If we hit traffic we're stuffed. I don't want to have to speed either. It's raining cats and dogs out here.”

Hanna kissed the baby one last time and handed him to Eden. “Be good for Auntie Eden.”

“He always is.” Eden sat Marc on her hip and followed Hanna down the stairs. She stood in the doorway, helping Marc wave 'bye. She watched the car disappear then shut the door. “Let's go and put some music on.”

She headed into the lounge and shook her head, seeing Hanna's favorite cardigan tossed onto the back of the sofa. “So much for taking it with her. Your mum would forget her head it if wasn't screwed on.”

****

David parked in the short-stay car park.

Hanna looked at him. “You don't have to stay. These places cost an arm and a leg and I'm sure you've got better things to spend your money on.”

“I want to.” He pulled the case and bag from the boot.

“You need to be nice to Eden while I'm gone.” Hanna picked up her flight bag and put it over the handle of the rolling case.

He rolled his eyes. “Why?”

“Because she's my best friend and Marc's aunt, that's why.”

“Is that why you employed her?” he asked, walking towards the departure hall with her.

“Partly. Her previous employer dumped her with only a week's notice and she needed a job. But there is no one I trust more with Marc than her.” Hanna sighed. “And you've been on her back since she moved in. You complain about her every move. She can't even breathe without annoying you. What went wrong between you two? I honestly thought you were going to propose when Eric did.”