“What was that for?” she says. He’s already eating again.
“Nothing. Grandma Jane said yes. But she wants to see you,” he says between mouthfuls. “She’s upstairs in her room.”
“Ahhh,” Holly says. Still, she’d brave the lion’s den a hundred times if it meant getting that reaction from Jack. She steals a glance at her watch. It needs to be quick.
“Okay,” she says. “And then I have to head out for work. Behave. Especially if you have this Ed kid over. Hang in the library and watch a movie or something.”
“Of course,” Jack says, giving her his best wide-eyed and innocent look.
“I mean it,” she says. “And so will your grandmother.”
Upstairs, Jane is sitting at her dressing table, brushing her hair. Long, slow strokes, as if she has all the time in the world.
“You wanted to see me?” Holly says. She strives to keep the impatience out of her voice.
“Such a strange day,” Jane says, gazing out the window. Her voice is low, as if she’s speaking to herself. “Sunny this morning and now such dark skies. And the paper said a flock of starlings flew through the city, so many that when they landed on the hour hand of Big Ben they stopped the clock. Stopped time, for a brief moment. A murmuration, they called it. Can you imagine that?”
This is unsettling. Jane isn’t given to flights of fancy except for Peter. “Mother. I’m sure you didn’t call me here to discuss birds with you.”
Jane doesn’t turn around, but she squares her shoulders. She meets Holly’s eyes in the mirror. “You do realize what an awkward position you’ve placed Nan in, having this boy over? The poor girl works for me.”
“You’re the one who said yes.”
“I refuse to play the role of bad policeman to my grandson,” Jane says. “That’s your job. And I have no problem with them socializing outside of the house. But I expect you not to make a habit of it here.”
“Right,” Holly says, biting back a smile at her mother’s botched American expression. “Got it.” She knows from past experience that agreeing is the fastest way out of the room.
“And don’t expect me to supervise. It would be too awkward. Besides, I have a tour and lunch at the Tate scheduled.”
“I need to run out for about an hour or so. Work,” Holly adds in answer to her mother’s raised eyebrows. She has no intention of telling Jane about the private detective until she’s sussed out the situation herself. She leans forward and pecks her mother on the cheek Jane proffers. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”
Downstairs, Ed has arrived and is sitting in the kitchen with Jack and Nan. He’s handsome, with dewy skin any of the Darling Skin Care models would die for, as if he has his own supply of Pixie Dust, and a wide build. He stands up when Holly enters the room, and it’s impossible to miss the pride in Nan’s face when she looks at him. A quick, sharp pang stabs Holly’s heart. Jack would have been like this with Eden. With Isaac. He’s been robbed twice over. Left with nothing but shadows of memories.
“Hey, Dr. Darling,” Ed says. “Thanks for having me over.”
“Our pleasure,” Holly says, pulling herself back to the present. She eyes Ed again. Someone has certainly taught him good manners. “It’s very kind of you to come.” She turns to Nan. “I need to run out for a bit. I know the boys will probably be fine, but would you please keep an eye on them, just in case?” She ignores Jack’s eye roll. “And here’s some money for lunch. They can order takeaway from wherever they want.”
She kisses Jack’s forehead. “I’ll be home as soon as I can,” she says. Despite the eye roll, he doesn’t duck away. She takes it as a good sign. With a little luck, this detective will be skilled enough to bring Eden home soon too. And maybe, just maybe, Jack will get a chance to be a brother—and Eden a sister—again after all.
Chapter Fourteen
Holly takes the Tube to her meeting. On the ride there, she checks her phone. Barry has texted the address, as promised, as well as another reminder to call him when she’s done. Maybe he’s forgiven her for her sins of omission after all. She hopes so. She can’t imagine life without Barry. It’s one of the reasons she’d slid them toward friendship after those few times together, away from the flaming disaster her love life inevitably becomes on the rare occasions she’s tried dating since Robert. As her friend, he’d stay.