Jack laughed. ‘A visit from Cameron is enough to drive anyone to the Scotch bottle. I love her dearly but she goes into mom mode, and not just with you.’
‘Yes, well, she’s a great mother, but she does tend to forget we men don’t need mothering. She was forever plumping up my pillows, the cushions.’ He gestured to the scattered pieces on the couch. ‘She subscribed to just about every newspaper in the country. She’s even been instructing Maggie on “heart-friendly recipes”.’ He put the last bit in air quotes, enjoying the unusually relaxed banter and seeing Jack smile so much.
‘She left me with strict instructions too.’
‘So that’s why you’re here?’
‘I would’ve come by anyway. Hey, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s managed to link up my iPhone and track it so she knows I’m doing the right thing.’
Kent shook his head. ‘She says she’ll bring the children next time.’
‘Good, haven’t seen them in months. And it’ll ease the pressure off us if she has them to chase after. Dad, I—’
Maggie appeared with some dainty sandwiches, much like the type you were served for a fancy brunch at an expensive restaurant. There was a pot of tea beside the vintage silver tray and two cups, and without a word she left them to it.
‘You were saying?’ Kent had suspected there was another reason for Jack’s visit. He didn’t ever just drop by to see how he was, something that could easily be checked with a simple phone call.
Jack poured the tea and put a couple of sandwiches onto a plate for himself, a couple for Kent. ‘I saw Nicole.’
Kent’s hands froze as he took the plate from his son. ‘When?’
Jack popped the miniscule tuna and cucumber sandwich into his mouth before he filled his father in on both occasions he’d seen their former housekeeper and friend.
‘Why was she at the hospital?’ Kent toyed with the tiny cheese sandwich on his plate.
‘She slipped on the ice and broke her wrist, but it’s all set in a cast. It won’t be long before it’s as good as new.’
‘Oh, that’s a relief.’ He hesitated. ‘Is she still very angry with me?’
‘She didn’t really say. But it was a long time ago now.’
‘Three years,’ he confirmed, remembering it like it was yesterday. ‘And is she well, apart from the arm?’
‘She seems just fine. She was with a friend, actually.’
A male friend? ‘Oh?’
‘The young woman, Dad.’
‘What young woman?’
‘From the night of the party. Her name’s Evie.’
Nicole was a good woman. She had a heart of gold, and she was a target for someone to take advantage if ever there was one.
‘Apparently they’re very close,’ Jack continued, ‘and it’s all above board. Nicole says she knows exactly what she’s doing.’
Kent didn’t miss the undertone of his son’s remark. ‘But you don’t think so?’
Jack helped himself to another sandwich. ‘I hate to think of someone taking advantage of her. But for what it’s worth, she seemed genuinely happy.’
‘I don’t suppose it’s any of our business anymore.’
Jack didn’t say anything. Kent knew that most of the tension between them had well and truly started the night after he fired Nicole, and he’d never stopped feeling guilty for that. But he’d been left with no choice.
‘It was great to see her,’ said Jack.
‘I’ll bet it was.’ He let a smile creep across his face, relief that after all this time they knew she was fine. He knew Jack had tried to find her after that dreadful day and she’d ignored all his efforts, but knowing she seemed happy was the main thing. ‘Is she working? Did she find another job after …’ His voice trailed off.
