Page 58 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)

Etienne

The next day, Etienne tried to distract himself with coffees at the park with Fox and Walker. He watched Reggie and George kick dried leaves at each other and tear around the almost-bare trees.

‘Not working today then, Walker?’ he asked.

‘Going in later,’ Walker said, stretching. ‘Extra shift because of the arsonist. Everyone is on high alert and we’ve got all the normal firework worries to cope with too.’ He circled his arms; he’d done five days in a row. He looked tired. Etienne yawned too.

‘You working hard as well?’ Fox asked him. ‘Or hot date?’

‘Neither,’ Etienne said. ‘I just didn’t sleep well.

’ When he said he didn’t sleep well, he wasn’t sure if he’d slept at all.

Any time he closed his eyes, he had kept seeing the way Isabella had straightened her spine to look him in the eye.

The way that flush of colour crept up her neck, giving her real feelings away.

Her embarrassment, her hurt, because of him.

At one point in the night, he’d found himself wandering the apartment, barefoot so as not to disturb Fred snoring in the spare bedroom.

The square was quiet and empty, the glow from the street lights throwing golden circles on the paving.

Across the way, Tutto Mio was in darkness.

His chest was heavy as he thought about Isabella sleeping inside.

‘Worrying about your brother?’ Fox asked and Etienne nodded.

‘Things got more serious.’ He told them about the Dougalls now knowing who he was and thinking that Isabella was his wife. Fox rubbed his forehead on hearing Isabella’s name. Walker whistled low.

‘Does she know anything about this?’

‘No,’ said Etienne. ‘I told you, it’s only us.’

‘But they have no reason to come for you if Alex pays up as planned.’

‘Exactly. And we have less than a week to go.’ Etienne paused. ‘And even if they did pay me a visit, there’s no way Isabella would be within a mile of me.’

‘No?’ Walker said. ‘I thought you were getting on so well yesterday at the community event. You almost looked like a couple. . .’

‘Let’s just say, I’m not her favourite person any more,’ he said, ignoring the stab in his insides. ‘So, she’ll be safe and sound away from me no matter what happens.’

‘What does that mean?’ Walker probed. ‘Do you want to be her favourite person?’

‘Were things going somewhere?’ Fox asked.

‘Forget it,’ Etienne said. ‘It’s not happening.’ He pressed his lips together so tightly he felt the strain in his jaw.

‘We’re always around, Et,’ Fox said. ‘If you need us.’ He clapped a hand on Etienne’s shoulder and then stood to check on the boys, happy when he saw them on the swings, Reggie pushing George in a rare moment of sibling teamwork.

Walker stretched again, checked his watch.

‘Gotta go,’ he said, rising to his feet. ‘Staff meeting this afternoon. Police are coming in to brief us.’

‘What’s the score with Heart of Honeybridge?’ Fox asked. ‘How long will it be out of action for?’

‘One wing will be a week; the other wing will be more like a month. Looks like you’ll have Fred Barrow with you for a while, Et, as his room was worst hit.’

Etienne nodded. The thought of Fred being in the apartment in the evenings was oddly comforting, especially seeing as he had absolutely no inclination to bring any women home for the foreseeable future.

‘The Spare Room Sleepover was a massive success,’ Walker said. ‘There were only ten people that had to be housed in emergency council accommodation and that was only because they have extra medical needs. Isabella did an amazing job.’

She had done an amazing job, it was true. Because she was amazing.

Walker picked up his rucksack.

‘Seems like Fred’s room was where the fire started. Lucky he was out in the back garden.’

Etienne frowned.

‘Why would anyone want to burn down a home for old folks? I don’t get it.’

‘And especially Fred Barrow? Why would anyone want to hurt him?’

Walker hitched his rucksack onto his back.

‘The police have been trying to find a link between all recent events. The house fire that started at the Malones’.

A new hire company business that got torched overnight.

A man in Shalford that came home from work to a burning house.

An office in town that had a burning package put through the letter box.

There’s so many and they all seem so different. ’

‘And no CCTV footage that might help?’ Etienne asked. Walker shook his head.

‘Whoever is doing it certainly knows what they are doing.’

‘What are the boys playing at now?’ Fox said, standing to watch as they ran across the park and threw themselves at —

‘ Ciao, Bella, ’ Reggie cried with delight as he wrapped himself around Isabella’s legs. She bent to ruffle his hair and then tickle George under the armpit. Something leaped inside Etienne at the sight of her.

Both boys hanging off her, she scanned the nearby benches, obviously looking for Fox. Etienne saw her expression change as she spotted him there beside Fox. Something rippled across her face which was immediately replaced by a stoic resignation that they would have to talk.

‘Hi,’ she said, a boy swinging on each arm.

‘Hi,’ Etienne said, his heart plummeting.

‘Great job yesterday,’ Walker said to Isabella as he left, tucking a pound coin into the boys’ hands for lollies on the way home.

‘You smashed it,’ said Fox and she made sure she was focusing all her attention on Fox as he talked, so that she hardly glanced at Etienne. She looked pale, he thought, as though maybe she hadn’t slept well either.

‘Are you all ready for opening night?’ Fox asked and she talked for a while about Tutto Mio, last-minute arrangements, more marketing. How she was hopeful because they had steady bookings for several weeks ahead now. She was saying all the right words but her tone lacked her normal enthusiasm.

‘We’ll all be there to celebrate,’ Fox said, trying to disentangle the boys from around her legs. ‘These two love meatballs.’

‘Great.’ She squatted in front of the two boys. ‘I’ll save you both a mega portion!’

Straightening up, she finally looked directly at Etienne. Her blue eyes met his.

‘I’m sure you’ll be far too busy to come, with so many better options,’ she said and it wasn’t a question. ‘Anyway,’ she kissed Fox on the cheek. ‘See you there.’ She left to a chorus of ciao s from the boys and lots of blown kisses.

‘Wow, you weren’t wrong,’ said Fox. ‘She really hates you.’