‘I’m afraid we can’t bear to dismantle Jeremy’s beloved train set,’ she said. ‘It’s permanently set up in one of the spare rooms—to give it some use Megan’s four grandchildren come over and play with it from time to time.’ She paused and looked across at her son. ‘And when no one’s looking I’m sure Jeremy gets it going now and then,’ she said fondly.
Cryssie didn’t look across at Jed as she listened to what Alice was saying. It was difficult to imagine the masterful Jeremy Hunter on the floor playing with his toys!
Fortunately, the Hydebound question didn’t arise in the conversation, which pleased Cryssie. She wanted to forget all about work today and concentrate on enjoying herself, and seeing that Milo had a good time. So, presently, the three of them went outside, where Jed and the little boy started to play an enthusiastic game of football while Cryssie admired the thousands of spring flowers that carpeted the lawns.
Wandering around in the surprisingly warm sunlight, and hearing Milo’s shrieks of delight from nearby, Cryssie felt an almost overwhelming sense of sadness. For herself and for Milo. Here, there was everything that anyone could possibly wish for—a perfect place for a child to grow up. But she could never match it—hard though she tried to get everything right. Milo needed a man’s influence, she thought miserably. Not just for things like playing football, but for the deeper, more important things in life. The years were flying by, and before they knew it Milo would be growing up and away from her. Would she be able to cope then, and with all the teenage problems that were bound to occur?
Although it was not cold, she shivered suddenly, and went back to join the others, stopping for a second to take in what she was seeing. Tall, elegant, and sophisticated Jeremy Hunter was throwing himself across the grass to stop her little five-year old from kicking the ball between the makeshift goal-posts they’d erected! But she reminded herself that this was not the only time she’d seen the man in a less than businesslike position…Her mental picture of him stretched out on the bed, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, refused to go away!
‘You must pick some daffodils to take home with you later,’ Jed said as she came up to them. ‘And I’m fed up with playing with Milo, because he’s scored more goals than me.’
Milo, hot and breathless, ran up to Cryssie. ‘I like it here,’ he said. ‘It’s fun. Can we come again soon, Cryssie?’
‘Of course you can,’ Jed said, answering for her. ‘In fact, I shall insist on it!’ He threw a glance at Cryssie, and for the millionth time his eyes held her captive and sent her blood rushing. He looked younger than she’d ever seen him, his hair tousled and damp, his wide brow moist with exercise, and when he suddenly scooped Milo up and put him on his shoulders to go back into the house she almost burst with an indescribable feeling of happiness. Milo was having a fantastic day! And so was she!
Presently it was announced that lunch was to be eaten in the kitchen.
‘We usually have it here in the middle of the day,’ Alice explained. ‘It’s cosier, and more convenient for Megan, rather than taking everything into the dining room.’
They all sat together at the long wooden table and began to enjoy the beautifully cooked lamb and spring vegetables. Milo ate every last scrap of his, to Cryssie’s relief. He usually ate most of what she cooked for him, but you could never be sure that he would like someone else’s cooking, she thought. And when ice cream and hot chocolate sauce was presented for pudding, the little boy’s eyes shone even brighter.
‘I didn’t think Milo would necessarily appreciate apple pie,’ Alice said, as she cut Cryssie a generous slice. ‘But ice cream is usually safe. Megan’s grandchildren eat here sometimes, when she has to look after them.’
Cryssie smiled her appreciation, thinking what a lovely family this was. Moneyed they might be, but pretentious they certainly were not. They seemed as ordinary as anyone else, liking the same things as everyone else. It was perseverance and hard work that had brought them to their position in life, she thought.
Glancing up, she saw Jed looking at her, and he gave her the merest wink as their eyes met. She’d love to know what he was thinking, because their relationship—such as it was—seemed to be taking more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. What on earth was she doing here, lunching with the Hunter family, in their vast home? And what was she doing here with Jed, the employer from hell, the destroyer of people’s careers and hopes? And none of it was her fault! No one could say that she had manoeuvred herself into this position!