Haunted by the past

Chapter Twelve

A/N Sorry at the delay. Been a hectic weekend. Hope you're all still eagerly waiting!

Evan avoided the issue of where she would move when her friends left for the next few days. The revelations had seemed to mellow her, but he knew that Cindy and Steve felt as hopeless as him about the whole thing. The resentment he felt for her family was immeasurable, he was torn between wanting to confront them, and wanting to take her away so she’d never miss them again. But still the issue of her moving in with him hung unsaid between them. Instead he threw himself into his work, avoiding talking of the future.

Ten days later he was overseeing the air-conditioning system being fitted into his new building when his sister came looking for him. Hugging Adele he gave her the guided tour, trying to detail his dreams, his vision, how everything would play out.

                “I’m amazed little bro, but then you never do anything by half.”

He laughed, “If a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing well.”

Shaking her head ruefully she couldn’t help but laugh, “you are so anal on times! Now come on, I want to buy you coffee, I haven’t come here in Jimmy Choo heels to walk around a building site!”

                “Let me change, I’ve got some clothes in my office.”

Nodding she looked him up and down, “was hoping you could change out of those work boots. I’ll be in the car.”

Adele was married to a high flying journalist who flew from one political crisis to the next, and was away from home a lot, but he worshipped her, and their three children, and whilst she was left alone for large chunks of time, she went without nothing, that was the compromise. They’d always been close, born a year apart, and when their father died when they were eight and seven they’d supported each other. Their mother struggled to cope when she lost her soul mate, and it was a difficult time, but she’d survived and ten years later met Malcolm, a widow with two boys, Mark and Simon, who were still only young. The family had merged and despite a few teething issues their mother and step father were happy, supportive and amazing role models to the four of them, a rarity in his social circle.

In his office Evan changed out of his steel toe capped boots into leather shoes, he figured his jeans and sweater would suffice, his hard hat hung on a hook behind the door. Emerging into the gloomy street he looked left and saw the sleek black car half mounted on the kerb, jogging across he opened the door and gave a wolf whistle.

                “Nice wheels! Now we find out exactly why you came a-calling.”

She had the decency to at least blush before patting the seat beside her and beaming, “jump in.”

Adele hit the gas and he was glad he was wearing a seatbelt. She didn’t stop until she parked outside her favourite coffee shop a few miles away. Dragging him she pushed him to a window seat and gestured to the girl behind the counter for two coffees, she was a regular there.

                “So spill darling bro!”

It was Evan’s turn to feign an expression - surprise, “what do you mean?”

She smiled at the waitress who deposited the coffees in front of them and ordered a couple of sandwiches, before finally turning back to her brother. “Four weeks ago we went for a run, you said you'd be my training buddy until the half marathon in three months, you promised. Instead, you chase a woman in hot pursuit and don’t answer your phone again. So I ask again, what’s going on bro?”