Copyright © Ashe Barker 2014. All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Totally Bound Publishing. “Eva! You mean Eva Eva?” Eloquent, that’s me. Tom too, it would seem. “Yes, Eva Eva. Nathan’s Eva. And she’s not on her own.” Just the mysterious Eva materialising out of nowhere was enough to floor me. And by the sound of it, Tom was every bit as surprised. But there’s more apparently. He’s not volunteering so I have to ask. “So, who else is with her?” “Her baby.” “Her…” Words do fail me now. I’m scurrying across the yard towards my car and I manage to drop my phone. By the time I’ve retrieved it from under my rear tyre, the obvious inference has occurred to me. “The baby, is it…? I mean How old is it? The baby?” “About ten weeks I gather. And yes, she’s Nathan’s baby.” “Ah.” Says it all really. Complicated doesn’t come close to describing this. Still, I’ve always had the distinct impression Nathan Darke likes children. I’m just wondering whether or not to offer up that optimistic observation when Tom’s voice cuts through my tangled thoughts again. “We could really do with a bit more time here, before Rosie arrives back and everything gets messy again.” Again? “Nathan needs time to talk to Eva, and I’m on my way to Keighley to get hold of a cot. Grace is babysitting, so that leaves you. Could you think up some delaying tactic, take Rosie for a burger or something, just keep her out for an extra hour or so?” “Yes, I daresay I could. Won’t she think it a bit odd though, me just turning up? I never meet her from school.” “Maybe, but she’ll be so delighted to see you she’ll soon forget.” “I take it I’m not telling her about Eva or the baby?” “I think that’s down to Nathan. Just hedge as best you can until you get back here. And, Ashley, I do appreciate this, babe. Nathan does too.” “I— You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a couple of hours or so then.” And I hang up, get the car started then I’m off, headed for Rosie’s school. * * * * She was surprised to see me hanging round the school gate, and just as delighted as Tom thought she’d be. Amazingly, she never once asked where Grace or her dad were, just accepting me as part of the family team. It’s a fairly warm, fuzzy sort of a feeling, I decide, being part of a family again—a family who looks out for each other and rally around to help in a crisis. I’m mulling that over and responding to Rosie’s excited chatter as we tootle along the road heading for McDonalds in Keighley. She’s full of stories about her day, the painting of Barney she’s half finished, the ‘Cat in the Hat’ poem her teacher read to the class and the particularly disgusting fish that was on offer in the school dinner hall. A less than enjoyable lunch seems like a good excuse to pig out on a Big Mac before we head for home, and Rosie buys that suggestion enthusiastically. So far so good. An hour later we’re pushing the empty wrappers and cartons around on the bright red plastic tray, and I’m wondering if it might be all right to head for home when my phone buzzes to signal the arrival of a text. I send Rosie to dump our debris in the huge bin while I check it. Fine to come home. See you soon. Love you. T Sounds promising. I smile, especially at the last bit. My response is short— On our way. 20 mins. Love you too. A Knowing what we’ll be walking into makes the short ride home rather fraught for me, but Rosie seems oblivious to any tension, or to my general silence. I pull up at the huge gate into Black Combe and Rosie hops out to press the buzzer. A few seconds, then the massive gate slides majestically aside, and Rosie skips alongside the car as I crunch over the gravel towards the house. I navigate the bend in the drive and the house comes into view, Nathan’s...