Page 32 of Mending Hearts at the Cornish Country Hospital (The Cornish Country Hospital #6)

‘If there’d been other children there, they might have said it for real.

They’re brutally honest and I still remember my father flying into a rage when my younger cousin came for a visit and asked him if the reason he didn’t have any hair on his head was because it was growing out of his nose instead.

’ Drew laughed as he set the plates down on the kitchen worktop, his warm brown eyes crinkling in the corners in a way that made it very hard for Eden to remember she was only here for Teddie’s sake.

‘He’s such a vain man and it really hit him where it hurt.

It made Mum and I laugh for ages afterwards.

Whenever he started another affair, she’d make the same comment about him making an extra effort to keep his stray hairs under control for his latest girlfriend.

God knows what she saw in him, or any of the other women for that matter. ’

‘You’re clearly nothing like your dad.’ Dangerous feelings were welling up inside Eden again.

She didn’t want her feelings for Drew to deepen any more than they already had, but she seemed powerless to stop them.

She loved it when he opened up to her like this.

He’d gone from a buttoned-up, very measured person, who’d communicated with the fewest words possible, to someone she could have long, meaningful conversations with.

He also had a knack of sharing snapshots of his life with her in a way that made it feel as if she knew him better, and liked him more and more, every time they met.

But she couldn’t afford to let him get under her skin if she was going to stick with her plan of keeping this all about Teddie, so she had to try her hardest to keep things light.

‘At least you’re nothing like him in the nose hair department, thank goodness. ’

‘Well, that’s a relief.’ Drew laughed again and, despite all her good intentions, Eden’s eyes were drawn to his mouth, remembering what it felt like to kiss him.

She’d considered telling him it couldn’t happen again, because she valued their friendship far too much to risk losing it.

But he hadn’t brought up the topic of them going on another date again, so the kiss might not have meant nearly as much to him as it had to her.

She suspected he’d only asked her out for a second time because it was what was expected of him.

If she mentioned the kiss, she could end up making things far more awkward than they’d be if they just pretended it had never happened.

‘I can’t believe how well Teddie and Marmalade are getting along.

’ Eden turned to look at where Teddie was sitting on the floor, playing with the bubble tubes that Drew had bought for him, drops of coloured liquid flowing from one end to the other, like a lava lamp, when he turned them over.

Drew’s cat, Marmalade, was stretched out on the floor next to Teddie, basking in the sunlight streaming through the windows, and every so often Teddie would reach out and rub a hand against his fur.

Eden had been worried that the cat would react as cats often did to unwanted affection and sink his claws into Teddie’s hand, but Marmalade just lay there, purring softly, and soaking up whatever attention Teddie wanted to direct his way.

‘I think they’re kindred spirits.’ Drew looked across at Teddie and Marmalade.

‘Cats are the perfect pets for people with autism; they’re not as needy as dogs, and they’re happy to exist in their own little bubble for a lot of the time, as long as they get their basic needs met, although they can be really affectionate.

Marmalade does sometimes bring me the most disgusting gifts, though.

This morning it was a disembowelled mouse. ’

Eden wrinkled her nose at the thought. ‘It’s a good job you’re not squeamish.’

‘I don’t think I’d be very good at my job if I was.

’ Drew laughed again and a wave of contentment washed over Eden that felt almost more dangerous than the attraction she had towards him.

It was such a perfect moment and she wanted this, for her and Teddie.

A warm kitchen, ringing to the sound of laughter, a happy little boy busy with the things that brought him joy, and someone who loved them both, who they loved in return.

Except Drew didn’t love them, and she couldn’t let herself build up a fantasy where he was part of that picture, otherwise she’d be getting ideas that were just as ridiculous as her mum’s crackpot conspiracies.

She turned away from Drew so her face didn’t give her away.

‘His gifts might leave a lot to be desired, but Marmalade is a very handsome cat and you chose the perfect name for him.’

‘Strictly speaking he’s Marmalade the Second.

Flora always wanted a ginger cat and she’d already chosen the name Marmalade for when she eventually got one.

But she died before she had the chance, so as soon as I had my own place I bought one.

Marmalade the First lived for fifteen years and the one over there is his replacement.

It’s probably weird to give both cats the same name, but it makes it feel like Flora is still around in some way. ’

‘It’s not weird, and you’re a really lovely man, Drew, and I like you more than I’ve liked anyone in a very long time.

’ The words came out before she could stop them, but they were true and it didn’t matter how risky it was, her feelings for him had already tipped over into something she could no longer control.

She’d tried to keep the conversation light, but no matter how hard she tried to push down the feelings she had for him, they just kept coming back up.

She couldn’t pretend any more that this was just friendship, not on her part at least.

‘Thank you. You’re…’ He was obviously struggling with what to say in response, and she held up her hand. The last thing she wanted was to make him feel awkward and she knew how hard this kind of thing was for him, but suddenly it felt incredibly hard for her too.

‘You don’t have to say anything in response.

I just wanted you to know.’ Eden didn’t want him to look at her and see the emotion betrayed in her eyes.

She’d put her feelings on the line and his response hadn’t been what she’d hoped for, exactly as she’d feared all along.

Embarrassment burned in her throat, but she needed to act as if her comments had been no big deal, otherwise the risk of losing his friendship could become very real.

Turning away from him, she crouched down on the floor next to her son.

‘What have you got there, Teddie, look at the pretty colours.’

Tipping the bubble tube upside down, she focused on the droplets of liquid falling in slow motion, doing her best not to think about anything else.

She’d told him the truth and she couldn’t take it back.

Deep down she didn’t want to, because it would have come out one way or another and he’d always told her how much he valued honesty.

All she could do was hope that it hadn’t ruined their friendship, because she wasn’t sure what she’d do if she lost that.