Page 40 of Elijah

Amy

aged 28

As the weather was warm and there was a smell of paint inside, I opened up all the windows to let some fresh air in. I believed in natural smells, preferring fresh flowers and baking bread to the smelly candles and reed diffusers that a lot of people used. But, as there was no bread baking and the wild flowers I’d bought previously had almost broken my heart with the memories they’d evoked, I figured some clean air was the best option.

“What time is Sophie coming over?” Claudia asked, standing back and looking at the yellow and white bunting that she’d just hung in the baby’s room.

“About four. She’s picking Lorenzo up from school and then dropping him and Angelica with her sister.”

“She obviously doesn’t want them hurtling around here.”

“No and apparently Tino is playing an away game tonight, with her sister’s husband.”

“He’s a footballer too?” Claudia grinned. “Could be some more business there.”

“Maybe,” I replied, straightening the patchwork quilt in the cot. “He’s got a couple of restaurants too. You know Joe Bennett.”

“Oh yeah. England captain. His wife got kidnapped by her ex didn’t she?”

“Yes a few years ago now. She’s got a good life now though, married to England’s golden boy, with a four-year-old daughter.” I didn’t mean to sound like a miserable old bitch but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t know Joe Bennett or his wife, but I just knew they’d be blissfully happy with a gorgeous child and an equally gorgeous house – probably had a cute dog too.

“You could ask him out for a drink you know.”

My eyes shot to Claudia who was nonchalantly adjusting a teddy bear on the nursing chair that I’d positioned by the window.

“What?” I snapped.

“You could always ask Elijah out for a drink,” she repeated, finally lifting her gaze to mine.

“And why would I do that?”

I cleared my throat and shoved my hands into my trouser pockets to hide the slight shake. Her words had unsettled me, that along with the thought that I was totally jealous of a couple I’d never even met, just because they were exactly that – a couple.

“Because you look at him as though you wish you could turn back time.”

“I do not and there’d be no point anyway, he’s moved on. We both have.”

Claudia blinked slowly and then nodded. “Okay. Oh and by the way, I’ve decided to go on a date with Bob.”

I glared at her. “You’re not funny, Claudia, try and remember that.”

She started to chuckle to herself. “Me going on a date with that hairy arsed idiot is about as believable as you and Elijah moving on, i.e. it’s not.”

“You know nothing about it. You weren’t around, so just keep out of it.” I picked up some discarded boxes from the floor and stamped past her. “When you’ve finished in here, make sure that Angelica’s room is ready too. The lamp I got is in those boxes on the landing.”

“Right,” she sighed. “But Amy, I’m only saying what I see.”

“Yeah, well don’t.”

As I walked away, my heart pounded in my ears as the truth of her words hit home.

* * *

“What the hell is that smell?” I cried, walking into the lounge to do a final check before Sophie arrived.

Claudia trailed in after me and groaned. “Shit, it’s smoke. Is something on fire?” She rushed over to a lamp standing in a corner, stooping down to look at the plug.

My eyes wandered to the window. Only a few feet from the open patio doors, a fire was burning on the area that was soon to have grass laid on it. Elijah was throwing wood and branches onto it, causing thick, black smoke to billow up, with the wind blowing it in the direction of the house.