A very Corporate Affair 2(20)

"None at all. Why, have you?"

"No, of course not. I wanted you from the moment I saw you. I'm just relieved we finally got together. I was worried that Oscar would claim you as his."

I laughed, "I was told you only dated supermodels, so I didn't think you'd be interested in a little swot like me. Plus I thought I'd upset you by challenging you in that first meeting."

"You didn't upset me, I was impressed, and intrigued. I knew from that moment that I had to get to know you."

An hour later, we got back to the house. The sun had begun to blaze, so we decided to swim before lunch. I went upstairs to change into the bikini Jo had thoughtfully provided. As I walked into the bedroom, I heard my phone buzzing in my clutch. I pulled it out, but it had rung off. Frowning, I noticed I had 22 missed calls from my mum. I called her back straightaway.#p#分页标题#e#

Ray answered, "Elle, I've been trying to get hold of you all morning. It's your mum," he paused, "I found her dead this morning." His voice cracked, "I'm so very sorry."

I went cold, my spine prickling, "What? How? What happened?" I was struggling to get the words out. I sat down on the edge of the bed.

"We don't know yet, but the early indications are that she had a brain aneurysm. I think she got up in the night, I found her in the hall." He let out a sob. "I called an ambulance right away, but the paramedics said she had been dead several hours....Elle, I don't know what to do."

"Where are you?"

"At the flat. They took her away in the ambulance. They're going to want to do a post mortem, and the police need to come and interview me, as it was a sudden death."

"When did all this happen?"

"I found her about an hour ago. We had a late night last night, didn't get home till nearly two, so I had a lay in."

"Ray, I'm on my way. I'm coming from Sussex, but I'll be as quick as I can. Stay there."

"Will do, and Elle,"

"Yeah?"

"I loved her too."

"I know." I rang off, and sat for a moment, reeling from the shock. Ivan wandered in to see what was keeping me. One look at my face wiped the smile off of his. "My mum’s been found dead. I need Roger to drive me to Welling, if that's ok."

He wrapped his arms around me, and said; "Baby I'm so sorry, whatever you need. I'll call Roger. I'll come with you."

The dam burst, and I sobbed into his chest. He held me with one strong arm, while he pulled his phone out of his pocket with the other, and called for Roger to bring the car round, and someone to take care of the dogs. He sat me down on the bed while he threw on a T-shirt, and some shoes, and gathered up my house keys and mobile, before leading me out to the car.

He let me cry into his chest, and simply sat stroking my hair, and passing me tissues. He felt solid and steadfast, a strong man who didn't shirk away from emotional difficulties as well as practical ones. We sped along the M25 towards the place I had tried to airbrush from my life, but needed now that it was gone. Roger negotiated the traffic like the professional he was, and before I knew it, we were pulling into Lovell Avenue.

I cringed slightly as the Bentley pulled up outside the tiny maisonettes, and parked alongside the elderly Fiats and Fords. I had hoped Ivan would never see where I came from, but at that moment, I just wanted to be inside my childhood home. The police were already there, in the living room, sitting with Ray, asking about timings and circumstances. The neighbour from downstairs had been making everyone cups of tea, and no doubt earwigging. A death in the estate was big news that would keep the gossips occupied for weeks.

"That was quick," said Ray, pulling me into a hug, "officers, this is Elle Reynolds, Debbie's daughter." The officers stood, and offered their condolences. I sat down on the scruffy velour sofa, and listened to the rest of the interview. Ivan disappeared into the kitchen.

It seemed that mum and Ray had been to a 'do' the night before. Both had been drinking and dancing, although Ray said neither were terribly drunk. They had got home around half one, had toast and a cup of tea, and gone to bed. He had woken up at ten, got up, and discovered her on the floor in the hall. At first, he'd assumed she'd fainted, so had wrapped a blanket round her while he waited for the ambulance. They arrived within fifteen minutes, and told him she'd been dead for several hours. The police made notes as he spoke, raising no concerns of foul play. To be fair, Ray looked shell shocked, and kept breaking down into sobs. The police took my details too, before again, murmuring their condolences, and promising to be in touch once the cause of death had been ascertained.#p#分页标题#e#