It was a converted greenhouse that Eva, in a prescient move, had deliberately left till last. Her instincts were quickly proven correct. Maddy didn’t even have to say it. It was written all over her face as they walked slowly around the enormous space, weaving between tall palms and trailing vines. And then she walked into a ray of sunshine bending through a pane of glass, and paused, eyes closed, a content smile appearing.
It was astonishing. Nervous Maddy had disappeared, and Eva could see who she was when she was alone. Quite a different woman.
‘It’s more exciting to find the one after a few disappointments,’ Eva said.
Maddy’s green-blue eyes popped open, as if she’d forgotten where she was. ‘You knew I’d like this one?’ she asked quietly.
‘I had a hunch.’
‘You’re very good at this,’ Maddy said eventually.
‘I’m experienced,’ Eva replied automatically.
‘The light is really something else in here,’ Maddy said.
‘Can you picture yourself walking next to…’ She paused. ‘I don’t want to assume your father will be doing it.’
‘Good call,’ Maddy nodded. ‘He’s been gone since I was little. My mother will be walking me down the aisle.’
‘Sorry,’ Eva said simply.
Maddy shrugged. ‘Apparently, he had looked forward to this. Shame he won’t see it. But at least my mother’s around for it.’ She looked around slowly. ‘Now I just have to sell Adam on it.’
Having not met the actual groom, Eva didn’t want to give Maddy any assurances. She could only hope that, as he’d not made an appearance yet, he was easy on the details of his wedding day. Because Eva really wanted this place for Maddy. This was the first time she’d looked happy all day.
‘Can we afford this place?’ Maddy asked.
‘Just about,’ Eva told her.
Maddy smiled again. ‘Phew.’
‘I won’t show you anything you can’t have,’ Eva assured her.
Maddy looked around her and sighed. ‘I guess I can’t stand here forever.’
Eva checked her watch. ‘Not if we want to make that cake appointment.’
Maddy looked happy again. ‘Oh! I’d forgotten about that!’
As they went to leave, Maddy tripped somehow. Her hand shot out and grabbed Eva’s arm. Eva steadied her without thinking. For a split second, they were too close.
Maddy stepped back quickly. ‘Sorry.’
‘You’re fine,’ Eva said. But a disturbing heat had crept up her neck.
Seven
Eva was leading Maddy toward a small bakery she insisted was ‘underrated.’
Maddy followed, heels clicking, face still red. She’d grabbed Eva’s arm. Grabbed it! Could she not be a clown for five bloody minutes? It didn’t even make sense. Maddy was five nothing, and when you were short, you were nearer to the ground. Gravity wasn’t working against you. You had absolutely no business flailing all over the place and touching virtual strangers.
Well, perhaps it was better Eva learned now that Maddy had never been graceful for a minute in her life. Next time, Maddy would let herself face-plant, though. Eva clearly didn’t like to be touched.
The bakery was in an area that Maddy didn’t know well, Caperton. What Maddy did know about it was that every time she’d hunted for a new place to live and sorted by lowest to highest price, Caperton was what you got first. She was surprised Eva had bought her here.
That was until she entered. The bakery was shockingly nice inside. Nothing about it matched the filthy, beat-up street it sat on. It was all golden hanging bulbs and cream decor, lightjazz tinkling, the smell of heaven itself. It was like finding twenty quid down the back of your busted old couch.
Maddy hesitated just inside the doorway, uncertain. Eva, of course, slipped in as if she belonged there. She called through. ‘Mike?’
