He’s white. And I feel a bit white.
“Thanks.” I swallow. “Thanks for…Thanks.”
My head is spinning. I’m going to be sick. Am I going to be sick? No, maybe not. I take a deep breath and give a weird, shaky laugh as I survey my limbs.
“Not even a bruise,” I say. “Not even a scratch. You’re good.”
“Can you move everything?” Joe demands.
“Um…” Experimentally, I jiggle my arms and legs. “Yes, I can. How about you?”
“Yes.” Joe flashes me a grin. “Thank you. Now, get up slowly. And tell me if anything hurts.”
I obey him, standing up and cautiously shaking out my limbs. “I’m fine. My ankle’s a bit twisted. But I’m fine.”
“Good.” He breathes out. “Good. Might want to get that railing fixed.”
All this time, there’s been a deathly silence over the rest of the group, as they’ve watched us, but now Lacey points at me in sudden recognition.
“Kate!”
“Effie,” Gus corrects her. “That’s Effie.”
“Effie?” Lacey’s eyes narrow in disbelief. “That’s Effie? I knew you weren’t really a doctor. I knew that was all a load of bollocks!”
“Kate?” Bean goggles at me, and I can see everything falling into place in her brain. “Oh, thank God! You’re Kate! That’s one weight off my mind, anyway. So you…” Her eyes dart between Joe and me. “You two…？”
“You can stop lecturing me about inappropriate workplace relationships now, Bean,” says Joe, taking my hand and kissing my fingertips. “How do you feel?” he adds to me.
“Bit shaky,” I admit. “But…you know, OK. Bean, are you OK?” I add anxiously.
“Not really,” says Bean. “But I’ll survive.”
“Have some water.” Joe pours me a glass and watches me as I drink it down. “And take it easy.”
“Look at the lovebirds,” says Lacey, her voice acid. “So, you came to the party after all, Effie. Couldn’t stay away? Your ears must have been burning!”
“Oh, believe me, they were.” I shoot a scathing little glance at Humph, who turns hastily away.
“Yes, nice of you to drop in, Effie.” Gus cracks up at his own joke. “Get it? Drop in.”
Krista hasn’t said anything yet, and as I turn to face her, I can feel the old animosity crackling between us. But I don’t mind. I’m going to be the bigger person. Calmly, crunching over the ravaged crockery, I walk up to her with my most dignified expression.
“Thank you for your kind invitation, Krista,” I say formally. “On reflection, I find I am able to accept.”
“Well, you’re very welcome, Effie, I’m sure,” says Krista, her mouth tightening. “You always were.”
“Thank you,” I say for good measure. “Most considerate of you.”
“My absolute pleasure,” says Krista, folding her arms.
And now there’s just Dad. Finally, Dad. I haven’t even looked at him yet. I haven’t got to that. But now…
As I turn to face him, I feel a lurch, because he’s so pale.
“I thought you were going to die,” he says. “I thought…Oh God…” He makes an inarticulate sound like a rusty music box, then breathes out sharply. “But you’re OK. You’re OK. That’s all that matters.”
“Dad…” I swallow hard.
“Oh, Effie.” As his eyes meet mine, they’re the eyes I remember from my childhood. My dad’s warm, twinkling eyes.
“Dad…” I try again. But I don’t know how to continue. Where do I start? “Dad—”
“Ahem. Excuse me.” A man’s throat-clearing noise makes us both jump. I swivel my head dazedly to see a balding man in a suit standing on the terrace, holding a briefcase, staring at us awkwardly. “I’m sorry to interrupt this…um…family moment.” He takes a few steps forward, carefully avoiding all the bits of shattered crockery. “My name is Edwin Fullerton. I’m from Blakes Estate Agents. I’m here on behalf of the Van Beurens.”
“The who?” Gus wrinkles his brow.
“The Van Beurens. The buyers of this property.” He gestures at the house, and we all glance at one another uneasily.
So the buyers are called the Van Beurens. I’ve never heard their name before, I realize, and to my ear, it sounds instantly sinister. No wonder they went around the house stealing all our stuff.