When Kylie got to the hospital that afternoon, Richie already had a visitor. A woman was sitting ramrod straight on the edge of the chair next to Richie's bed. All Kylie could see was her black hair pulled back to a tight bun on the back of her head. Kylie looked in the porthole window in the door; neither of them had noticed her so far.
Kylie didn't go into the room. It looked as though Richie wasn't thrilled with her. She was older than Richie, maybe in her early forties. She could see Richie was talking to her. He had his business face on and certainly wasn't smiling.Kylie turned to the nurse's station behind her. Sarah, the staff-nurse, looked up from her note-taking."Hello, are you here to see Richie?""Yes, do you er, know who is in with him now?"Sarah pulled a face, "Apparently, that's his housekeeper. She was how can I put this, rather abrasive to the staff when she first arrived.""Oh dear, she was like that when she called me this morning.Jasper sat in his studio, and he could see Ellie sitting in the sun and chatting with her mum and dad. He hoped she would be pleased with the decision he had just made for them. She had three weeks. Hopefully, her face would be much better by then, and he was surprised at how much better she was looking. He knew she had been applying ice packs to her face a few times a day, which had helped the swelling. She had three weeks before they were due at the chapel in Shettleham where the village vicar would marry them. He had already sent out emails to the people he wanted to invite. There weren't many he wanted at his wedding. He would have to get her mum by herself and find out who Ellie would like there. He wondered when Richie would be let out of the hospital, and he would ask him to be his best man. He'd already phoned Nick and Gabriel, who would be ushers.He grinned when he thought about the time th
After Ellie had taken the sandwiches up to her mum, she made her excuses."My ribs are aching. I'm going to rest for a while," Ellie said to no one in particular."Are you alright?" Jasper asked quickly.Ellie nodded, "Yes, I'm fine." She mumbled, turning her head, not wanting him to see the tears filling her eyes. Once the door had closed, she could hear them all chatting away, her mother laughing. Her dad was cracking his silly jokes, probably at her expense. She knew it was meant with love, but sometimes she just wanted love without the jokes. Without her mother pushing her to do the next thing on her list. No one ever seemed to look at her list and the things she wanted to do. She had never told them about Greg about why she had left the hotel, her mother would have raised the roof, and all she wanted to do was forget. She didn't want to be reminded of that. Her mum would have just gone on and on about it.She went to get her painkillers, which were still in
Jasper legged it up to the studio. He slammed the door behind him and threw himself onto the red velvet couch. It was old and falling to bits, but it was where he thought things through, and right now, he had a great deal to think about.The past week had been a nightmare; it certainly wasn't how he had expected things to go with Ellie. Now she had this mad idea that he didn't love her and thought he was playing with her. Well, it wasn't right. He loved so many things about her; the way she looked and how she dressed; she would never wear dresses like Georgie; thank God, Ellie was far more conservative, and she left a lot more to the imagination.He loved her innocence not just in the bedroom but in other ways. He loved the way she always looked for the best in people; even after her first run-in with Tom months ago, she had said that it was just the w
Veronica Fox, Roni, was never satisfied with what she had. She had a lovely home. She had a loving, although very busy, husband, and she had a beautiful, good-natured daughter. They had enough money to go on lovely holidays, buy nice clothes and generally enjoy life, but Veronica wanted more. Her eyes were almost out on stalks as she stood on the private terrace in the most beautiful hotel in Paris, where her sister-in-law was having her surprise engagement dinner. Standing almost within touching distance were four of the most handsome and richest men, she could hope to come across.She knew that Ellie had already taken one of them, but even so, she knew her sister in law would have a job keeping Jasper satisfied. Maybe he would appreciate a more experienced woman now and again. She cast her 'professional' eye over the rest of the men. Two of them were quite possibly the most famous people in the world at the moment. Both Nick Henderson and Gabriel Swann were panty-throwing han
Molly Parkes followed the butler down the hallway; she was here to interview Jasper Neyve."This way, please, Miss Parkes," said Francis opening the door into Jasper's study. "May I get you like tea or coffee, Miss Parkes?" "Coffee, please," Molly sits on the sofa and settles back to wait for Jasper. She chews on her thumbnail and wonders if Jasper Neyve is as unassuming as he is portrayed in other interviews or on television. She admits to herself that she is quite nervous about meeting him, which is ridiculous. Molly almost feels like pinching herself to wake up to the fact that she is a hardened hack and not some love-sick teenager about to go on her first date.Molly takes a look around the room. It's very classy; tidy but lived in. There is beautiful objet d art placed around the room, and the furniture is antique. His desk is at the far end of the room; it's an old desk and well cared for but used; it holds a computer, an old anglepoise lamp, a pile of books on
Jasper knew he had to get this over with. It was quite clear this awful woman wasn't going to go quietly. He looked at the mug of tea in his hand; Ellie's mug, her unique mug she always used for her tea. She said tea always tasted better out of bone china. He loved her little quips and foibles; she made him laugh with the silly things she said sometimes. It was all part of her innocence and why he loved her. He looked up again at the woman in front of him; her perfect figure was dressed in Chanel. Her face immaculately made up, elegant cheekbones and soft pink shimmering pouting lips. He shuddered inside."Let me take this, and I'll be back," he said, not waiting to answer as he went up the stairs. He stood outside the study door, taking breaths, trying to slow his heartbeat down. He gulped and opened the door."Here you go, love." He said to Ellie, "You might get something worthwhile out of her when she has had her tea." he told Molly."Oh, you are an angel." Ellie s
Ellie picked the phone up; she was a bit nervous about calling Veronica. Jasper hadn't said anything other than that; she suddenly received a call and had to dash off. Ellie hoped everything was ok, and that Gracie was fine. Knowing Veronica, though, she must have come for a reason, that woman didn't do anything by halves.Ellie pressed Veronica's name and waited for her to answer. "Yes, Ellie?" Veronica's voice sounded sharp as if Ellie had done something wrong."Roni, are you ok? Jasper said, you had a call and had to dash off. I hope everything is alright? Is Gracie ok?"There was a few seconds of silence while Veronica registered that Jasper had kept his mouth shut about her demands. Did she wonder why? Indeed if she was him, the first thing he would have told Ellie was that her sister in law was a demanding bitch."I'm fine, er… yeah sorry I had to go, it was nothing important, and Gracie is fine.""Oh, that's good," Ellie said, feeling rel
It was early when Ellie opened her eyes; she had been waking up very early just lately, and she was glad it gave her time on her own. Just recently, there seemed to be people around her all the time, and while it was nice to have company, she sometimes wished that they would all disappear so she could enjoy a bit of peace.This morning she glanced out of the window to find the early morning mist still there. She knew it would burn off later. It had been hot over the past few days, a heatwave. The news was full of packed English sea-side beaches, one teenage girl missing presumed murdered, train fares going up, and photographs of the Prime Minister on holiday in Portugal.Ellie got up and pulled her shorts and T-shirt on; she would go for a run. No one would be up for ages yet, and Betty had today off. She strapped her phone to her arm and put her headp