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Not Tak, of course, that would be bonkers—true bats in the belfry, as Eleanor would have said. But someone. There had been enough date offers over the years, even from men who had known she had a child.
Had she been selfish in not even trying? Claiming to be protecting her daughter from people dropping in and out of her life when actually she’d been protecting herself?
Effie shook her head almost imperceptibly and pulled her s
houlders back. No, she hadn’t been selfish. The simple truth was that no man had ever appealed to her enough for her to want to risk opening her life up for them. They hadn’t been enough.
‘Right.’
Tak’s voice broke into her reverie.
‘You’ve seen your wing and the main areas of the house. I’ll leave you to settle in at your own pace. Havers is around if you need anything.’
And then he was gone, and Effie was staring at the doorway as though it might bring him back. It seemed all she had to do now was ignore the needling voice in her head pointing out to her that none of those men had been Tak Basu.
* * *
‘You aren’t going.’ Effie was determined to remain steadfast, however torn she felt internally. ‘It’s a school night.’
It had been two days since Tak had left them to settle in. True to his word, their paths hadn’t crossed since then, although between Havers and the rest of the staff she and Nell hadn’t ever felt alone in the vast house.
But still, it was hard not to feel that their every move was being witnessed by someone. Especially when they were arguing.
As if to prove Effie’s point, Nell glowered at her in disbelief. ‘But it’s her birthday.’
‘So you already said. Several times.’
‘I thought you wanted me to make friends,’ Nell threw out, making no attempt to hide her frustration. ‘You’re the one who upended our lives by dragging us here.’
She shouldn’t bite back—she knew that—but whether her daughter realised it or not it was a low blow. Guilt scraped at her. She had uprooted her daughter, she was always telling Nell she had to make new friends, and yet she did stop her from going anywhere on school nights.
Despite herself, Effie vacillated—and that lent her voice a sarcastic note she would have preferred it not to have. ‘Yes, I’m sorry that getting a new job that earns more money and gives us a few luxuries has interfered with your social life.’
Nell tipped her nose into the air with all the authority of a teenager who knows everything. ‘It’s not just about money, Mum.’
‘Says the thirteen-year-old who has never understood the fear of receiving an eviction notice.’
‘My God, you’re being unreasonable.’
‘Who’s being unreasonable?’ Tak asked, sauntering into the kitchen as though Effie and Nell’s rather public argument didn’t perturb him in the slightest.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you were back from the hospital. We’ll leave you in peace.’
‘Mum’s being unreasonable,’ Nell announced, ignoring her.
‘I’m sorry, this really doesn’t have anything to do with you—’ Effie began, but she was drowned out by an indignant Nell.
‘There’s a girl at school and it’s her birthday party tonight. A group of girls are going bowling at that big place just outside of town? You know—looks like your games suite downstairs, only bigger, and with a lot more people? Anyway, she’s invited me, even though I’m new. It’s a really big deal.’
Effie opened her mouth to respond, but Tak nudged her discreetly. She turned to him with a frown and then, although she couldn’t explain why, decided to trust him.
‘Are these the same girls you went shoplifting with?’
‘You told him?’ Nell swung around to her mother, her face on fire.
But once again Tak answered before Effie could say a word.
‘Of course she did. She had to.’ He shrugged calmly, as though it was obvious. ‘Surely you know there are always consequences to your actions, Nell? I’ve opened up my home to you—it would have been wrong of her not to mention it.’
