‘Ah, Mrs Mack from downstairs chopped everything for me so all I needed to do was put everything into the pan at the appropriate time and stir. There’s one thing I forgot to ask her to do though.’
‘And what was that?’
‘Grate some cheese.’ She took out the block of cheese from the refrigerator and the grater from the cupboard and handed both to Jack.
‘Consider it done.’ He smiled, unwrapped the cheese and began the process. ‘So, why invite me tonight, all of a sudden?’
‘It was horrible seeing you both the other day, what Braydon said to Evie. To a lot of people, it’s probably black and white: Evie is the bad, I’m supposedly the good. But don’t you think everyone deserves a second chance?’
Jack was careful with what he said. ‘I do.’
‘But?’
‘Well, are you sure you know everything there is to know about Evie? You said yourself that she’s never shared her history with you.’
Nicole thought for a moment. ‘Jackson, have you ever trusted someone enough that you don’t need all the details? Have you ever had so much faith in them that you’re willing to let them prove themselves in their own time?’ He couldn’t say that he had. ‘Well, that’s what it’s like with me and Evie. I pushed for her to let me take care of her, and believe me it wasn’t an easy job. I hope one day she will tell me what happened to her, what she’s still so scared of. But what I don’t want to do is push her, before she’s ready.’
He felt a sense of satisfaction that even though Nicole and Evie were close, Nicole was still on the ball. She suspected Evie had secrets too.
‘Now, what can I get you to drink?’ Nicole had a glass of red already poured. ‘I can offer you red wine, white wine, or a beer. I got the beers in especially.’ She opened one side of the French door refrigerator and presented the contents with a flourish of her hand.
‘You’ve twisted my arm.’ He grinned and took the beer from her. He sat on the bar stool on the opposite side of the kitchen countertop, warmed at the thought of her buying the beers for him, most likely before she even knew whether he’d turn up.
‘So, how have you been?’ Nicole asked. ‘You know, since …’
‘Since our run-in at the restaurant you mean?’
Nicole pulled a face. ‘I don’t know what that was about. Your friend—’
‘Wait a minute. He’s no friend of mine. He’s a colleague. And believe me, I wish he wasn’t even that.’
‘He certainly has his opinions.’ She cradled her glass in her hand as she leaned against the counter.
‘That’s all they are. But I do need to ask you something.’
‘Go on.’
‘I get the impression he and my father know something they don’t want to share. About my mother.’
‘I’d say that’s a certainty. But I’m sorry. I have no idea what’s going on either.’
‘Sorry, I just thought … well, I thought with you and my father being close over the years, you may have been able to shed some light on it.’
‘We were close.’ She stepped forward and put her wine glass down on the countertop next to Jack. ‘But he never confided in me, not about your mother. Oh, we had some laughs and I was there through your teenage years and when you went off to college, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything.’
Jack sighed and took another swig of beer. ‘For years I’ve wondered why Braydon is still working at the company. I always thought it was his work ethic, his performance, his ability to design and work in any area he was assigned to. I knew it wasn’t his dazzling personality. But now I realise it’s because he has some kind of a hold over my father.’
‘You think Braydon is blackmailing Kent?’
‘No, not blackmailing, at least not directly. But whatever my father wants kept quiet, I’d put money on that being the reason he doesn’t get rid of Braydon.’
‘You’re probably right. But remember we fought the last time we saw one another. I don’t think me talking to your father will help one bit. Tell me, Jackson. I know Kent apologised to me for what happened that night with Evie, with me losing my job, but has he ever shown any kind of remorse?’
Jack thought about it. ‘He has, in his own way. He’s never said anything to me, but as I’ve said before, I know he regrets what happened.’
‘No, I don’t mean with me and my job. I mean with Evie.’
‘I’m not sure I follow.’
