Page 40 of Broken Beyond Repair

“My mum was in a lesbian film. Nancy was the name of her character.”

“Oh,” Sydney replied, scrunching her face.

“All the boys have watched it at school, for obvious reasons, and my mum was topless in it. It’s been described to me so many times that I feel like I’ve watched it.”

That answered a question Beatrice had long been harbouring as to whether Alex had watched the film. Although hardly sexually explicit, there were scenes in it that would have made anyone uncomfortable watching their mum perform. A bit like Sydney’s face was now. If she thought a lesbian film was disgusting, she’d be horrified if she knew the truth about her employer.

Alex stood and made his way up the steps. “I’m getting a drink, Syd. Want one?”

Syd. How could two people who’d only known each other for a week be so familiar?

“No. I’m good, thanks,” Sydney replied as Alex disappeared into the kitchen below, still sporting his unkempt hairstyle.

For someone who appeared competent in many respects, Sydney failed in the basic task of ushering a child into a barber. Beatrice didn’t even want to know what clothes he’d bought, they would no doubt be unfit for purpose.

She couldn’t prevent her eyes from wandering as Sydney leaned backwards and closed her eyes, soaking in the sun. Her body was well toned with a flat stomach, shapely hips, and long legs lightly tanned. By the time her gaze worked its way back up as far as Sydney’s perfectly proportioned breasts, she realised Sydney was staring back at her. She sucked in a breath.

“You are neglecting your duties, Sydney,” she said once she regained her train of thought.

“I’m on a break.”

“Well, your break is over,” Beatrice replied firmly.

“A break from writing. Ever heard of burnout?”

“Then you can assist me with a bath. If it’s not too much trouble.”

It was time for her assistant to refocus her attentions where they were needed.

Emerging five minutes later from her dressing room in a bikini, she could hear the bath already running. Her obedient assistant was leaning over it, testing the temperature with her hand. Although she’d thought to cover her bikini with a T-shirt, she hadn’t thought about how far it would cover — or wouldn’t in this case. She averted her eyes as Sydney pulled herself upright.

“Sit.” Sydney pointed at the toilet as she fetched the cast cover from where it was resting on the radiator.

Beatrice complied. “You are taking a keen interest in my son.”

“Someone needs to.”

Beatrice could see the regret in Sydney’s eyes as soon as she spoke the words.

“What does that mean? Are you suggesting I’m neglecting him?”

“I’m suggesting it can get quite lonely up here, and you are indisposed,” Sydney quickly added, looking up from her crouching position in front of the cast.

“I am only too aware of both of those facts, Sydney,” Beatrice said, more sharply than she’d intended.

Out of all her PAs, she needed this one, and she was growing fond of her, even though it was too late now to be trying to form a friendship.

“Mrs Clarkson called,” she said. “She won’t be coming to assist us after all.”

“Oh.”

She tried to gauge the meaning behind thatOh, but Sydney was frustratingly sphinx-like.

“Yes. Her daughter was admitted to hospital last night with a pulmonary embolism, so she’s needed to help take care of the baby. It is very inconvenient yet… necessary. We’ll have to find a way to soldier on without her. With Alex away this week, I’ll be relying on you to cook until he returns. Will that be acceptable?”

Sydney remained silent for a moment as she smoothed out the cover around Beatrice’s thigh.

“I would rather not bring a stranger into the house,” she added.