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‘Gary Cox of Glenworth.’
Ethan nodded. ‘Don’t worry, Holly. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’
Holly smiled at Ethan. He did not set her heart racing but he definitely had a calming influence. Life was such a whirlwind and calm was good. She listened as Ethan reminisced about college as they ate their lunch. It was as if the clock had been turned back to a time when she was carefree and had family around. Back to when her mum and dad were alive.
Holly’s mobile vibrated where she had placed it on the table. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at it.Tom Calling.Lifting her phone, she showed Ethan the display.‘That one can go to voicemail.’ She replaced it on the table where it vibrated for a few more seconds.
Holly tried to enjoy the chocolate fudge cake when it arrived but her stomach lurched as she wondered. Wondered what Tom wanted. Wondered whether she was going to be accused of arson. Wondered whether she would ever raise the money to rebuild her life. And then there was Mitch.Why is that man forever coming into my thoughts?she asked herself. She knew he had his own demons to deal with.
‘Are you okay?’ Ethan touched her hand. ‘You’re frowning.’
‘Oh, yes. You know what it’s like when your life’s in tatters. Little things get blown out of proportion.’
Ethan patted her hand ‘It’s not a little thing, Holly. You’re allowed to be concerned. Don’t worry, I can give you any support you need to get through this.’ He smiled.
Holly gazed at him, thinking that he was really attractive with soft highlights in his hair.Although she realised it was probably salon streaked.
‘Now, let me get you down to the health shop. I can set you up with the best supplements.’
Holly nodded and smiled.Be open-minded. Maybe a bit of a detox would be a good thing?she thought as she eyed the half-eaten fudge cake on her plate and contemplated scoffing it down in one.
Once inside the health store,Ethan seemed to be in his element and really knowledgeable on the subject of supplements. The young assistant behind the counter, looked up a couple of times from his phone and appeared to be taking notes. Holly could not concentrate. All she was thinking about was the fast-approaching police visit, but not wanting to spoil Ethan’s fun she oohed and ahhed in all the right places, trying not to gag when he asked her to sniff a jar of fermented vegetation.
Once outside she took in long deep breaths of fresh air, swinging the paper carrier containing her new supplement regime. As they walked in the direction of the car, an older guy in a tweed jacket smiled at them.
‘Ethan, my boy, is that you?’
‘Graham, hi.’ Ethan stretched out his hand, stopping to talk.
‘Glad I’ve caught you. I have a quick question.’
From the discussion, Holly guessed Graham was a client. Zoning out, she stood smiling sweetly. Remembering Tom’s call, she pulled her phone from her pocket and walked a few paces leaning against a wall. Maybe his silence over the past few days was positive, and he hadcome tohis senses? Her phone indicated he had left her a message so she called her voicemail.
‘You have one new message and no saved messages. First new message received today at one twenty-one.’ Then came Tom’s voice. ‘I need to know what’s happening. Are you selling up? Give me a call.’
Holly shook her head. ‘My life isn’t any of your business,’ she said under her breath. Her blood felt cool in her veins. She was still shocked at how much Tom had changed. It hurt that she had given him so much and he did not seem to realise it. Whenever he came to mind, she saw pictures in her head of Grace. A pretty, tummy-bulging, pregnant Grace. Sighing, she returned her phone to her jacket pocket.
Holly woke from her thoughts as Ethan approached her.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said. ‘I’m halfway through a job with him. Great guy and I’m hoping for some further work.’
Later, when they drew up in the nursery car park, Ethan glanced at her. ‘Do you want me to stay until the police arrive?’ He did not cut the engine therefore Holly presumed he was merely being polite.
She shook her head. ‘I’ll be fine. But thanks anyway and I’ll let you know what happens,’ she said. She still had over an hour until Erin was due, but she needed to prepare.
‘Don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll be fine.’ Ethan leaned over and pecked her on the cheek.
No shiver, no spark,she thought as she smiled at him and got out of the car. His Maserati crunched the gravel as he pulled away.
Letting herself into the caravan, Holly felt it certainly had a homely atmosphere to it. She felt safe here. She could see her things – even if they were new things. At least she had some possessions. She put the bag of supplements into her cupboard. Ethan had generously paid for them, although she knew he had wasted his money. She was unlikely to be using them. Picking up a notebook from the table Holly read through the list she had collated earlier for Gary, detailing all the items in the studio on the day of the fire.
As the time approached four, she heard the sound of a vehicle outside and observed the police car entering the car park. Erin Bartlett stepped out, her dark hair was tied back in a pony tail. She stopped and put her hat on. Holly opened the door before she knocked.
Erin climbed the steps into the caravan. ‘I need to run over the events of the day of the fire. I also need to make a note of anyone who was present that day. It is not formal at this stage, I’ll call you into the station, if I need to question you further.’
Holly’s mouth felt dry. Shehoped she would not be dragged in for an interrogation. Her face coloured up.Why am I acting guilty?she thought as she moved a stray curl from her hot forehead.
Erin sat on Holly’s soft seating and opened her notebook. ‘How did the day of the fire start?’
