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In surprise, I reeled back. It was clear Eden had given her dead child the name that she herself had in her previous life. Simultaneously, I regretted causing such pain. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay. You couldn’t have known. Now I can talk about Elizabeth, although it took me months to get over her death. I blamed myself, although the doctors said that there was nothing that could have saved her.”

“How did Elizabeth die?”

“The umbilical cord got wrapped around her throat. By the time doctors realised, and I’d had a caesarean, Elizabeth was already gone. It was devastating. I’d so longed for a child, but it was not meant to be. Her name is Elizabeth. I have always liked that name.”

“Sorry, Eden,” I repeated, following Eden into the living room.

Eden sat down on an armchair and curled her legs up under her.

“It was a while ago. I miss Elizabeth and long to hold her, but it will never be. I try not to dwell on it. Jack, my husband, won’t talk about her. He… well, Jack does not show his emotions easily. But then what man does?”

Eden smiled and asked what I did for a living, a complete change of subject, and one that I willingly took up.

“Not a lot, I have money that allows me to live comfortably and indulge my hobbies. I like to read and am usually found with my nose in a book. I’m also interested in the paranormal and tend to be a bit of an investigator.”

“That’s an interesting life you lead. Once, I would have loved to have studied archaeology. Instead, I married Jack at seventeen, and life became about making a home for us. Honestly, I didn’t get a job till a year ago. Jack belongs to the old school where a woman’s place is in the house. After Elizabeth’s death, he allowed me to get a job as I was going slowly mad. Jack recognised my need to interact with other people and gave in. Jack has quite a good job, so we don’t really need the money.”

Another coincidence was Eden marrying a Jack. Jack-Jacques. I didn’t like the words Eden was using, allowed, old school, gave in. They spoke of a control freak.

“Isn’t this cosy?” a male voice drawled from the doorway. I turned and took an instant dislike to the bastard standing there.

Eden jumped like a startled deer, and fear flitted across her face. “Jack! You’re home early.”

“Yes, I was owed some time and thought I would surprise you,” he said. Jack’s steps were deliberate as he crossed the room and wrapped an arm possessively around Eden’s shoulders. That was a clear warning signal.

“Jacques helped me back with the shopping, and I offered him a coffee as a thank you.”

“That’s very kind,” Jack said, his tone saying otherwise.

Struggling to control my urge to rip Jack’s throat out, I rose to my feet and put my mug on the table.

“Well, I must get going,” I announced as Eden followed me to the front door.

I let myself out and strolled down the road. It was hard to force myself to leave, but for now, I had to. Eden had no idea who or what I was.

On opening my senses, I overheard Jack shouting and Eden begging him ‘not to start. It meant nothing. It was just a coffee.’

Anger rising, I forced myself away from the house and walked slowly home.Well,mate, I thought,I saw Eden first.

???

That same night, I went to the pub where Eden worked and spotted her talking to another barmaid. Eden was pale but otherwise looked okay. I made my way over to the bar and waited till she turned round. Eden’s face lit up with a genuine smile, and she unhurriedly came over.

“Jacques, I hoped I would see you again. I want to apologise for my husband’s behaviour. Jack’s day proved difficult, leaving him irritable.”

“No need to apologise, at least no reason foryouto apologise. Is Jack always like that?”

“No. Well, not every time. Jack is in a stressful job and sometimes takes it out on me. I am sorry that Jack was so rude today.”

“It’s you I’m sorry for, for putting up with that in front of guests,” I said baldly.

Eden blanched and reached out to get a glass for me. “Whisky?”

“You remembered!”

“Yes, I have a good memory of what customers drink. That’s why I enjoy this job so much. It gives me a chance to use my brains a little.”