Chapter 9

In the dimly lit dining room, Jayden watched Alex from across the table. She had on his dark-grey jumper. It was way too big for her person, but she managed to make it look as though it fit her perfectly, with the sleeves rolled up to her slim forearms.

“So how’s the house renovation going, Pete?” Alex asked, glancing up from her plate of roasted pork and various veggies.

“Not too well,” Peter said. “Did I tell you about that mold?”

Alex shook her head as she popped some pork into her mouth.

“We have to take down the walls. God, more labor costs and more materials needed now,” he mumbled. “And Tracy is not very happy.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t be happy either,” Alex commented, thinking about the amount of money needed for a house renovation.

“So, Alex,” Mr. Thompson said from across the table, sipping his glass of white wine.

Alex looked over at Dr. Mark Thompson, who had only arrived five minutes before dinner. He had been busy at the Dunedin Public Hospital and at the lab. Well, a