Page 20 of Be More Octopus

'Because of other things she's done. She doesn't care about his feelings at all.' Em was intrigued but she felt she'd shown too much interest in Isabella already.

'So that's why Jack's here then - avoiding Isabella?'

'Yes. His mother, Olivia, thought it would be good for him to get out of London to reduce the chance of Isabella persuading him to take her back again. So I offered Jack one of the cottages for the summer. Olivia's very worried about him. He's not his usual self, unsurprisingly.'

'Poor Jack.'

'Don't mention I've told you all this. I'm not meant to know some of it, but Olivia and I share everything.'

Oh no, more information that Em wasn't supposed to know. Talking to Jack was a minefield already thanks to Lucy's detective work, but now it would be even harder. Em needed to find a way to get him to spill the beans himself.

Nancy interrupted her thoughts. 'I'm glad you've been spending time with him. It's not good for him to be completely on his own. Let me know if there's anything I should worry about.'

'Yes, of course.' Em said distractedly.

'Is it done then?' Nancy waved at the portrait as Em had clearly stopped painting. 'I'm dying to see it.'

Em looked at the white splodge on the canvas where the corner of Nancy's mouth should be. It wasn't dry enough to paint over yet. 'I just want to make a few more tweaks. Then we can have the big reveal tomorrow.'

CHAPTER TWENTY

'Hello, you.' Jack had arrived at Em's front door with a mystery basket.

They'd bumped into one another in the courtyard earlier and established that they were both planning to watch the men's Wimbledon semi-final that afternoon. Mindful of what Nancy had said about keeping Jack company, Em had decided to invite him over. 'The TV in my flat is bigger than the one in your cottage,' she had said.

And now here he was. 'Do you like Pimms?' he asked as he walked into her hall.

'Yes, I love it, but I don't think I've got all the ingredients,' Em said.

'Don't worry - I've brought everything we need,' he said, indicating the basket. 'Point me in the direction of your kitchen, and I'll make us a jugful.'

He unpacked a large bottle of Pimms, along with lemonade, oranges, strawberries, half a cucumber and a bunch of mint. He'd even got a bag of ice cubes.

'You can come again!' Em smiled, enjoying the novelty of being waited on. Connor wouldn't have had a clue where to start. His idea of making her a drink was opening a bottle of Diet Coke.

All they were lacking was a jug. Jack didn't seem too bothered. 'We'll use this saucepan instead.'

'How's the book going?' she asked while he was slicing ingredients.

'Very well. I couldn't sleep properly last night, so I got up and did some more editing. I'm ahead of schedule for the first time. How's Nancy's portrait?'

'Finished! I was up early, too, doing the finishing touches. I'm showing it to Nancy when she gets back from water skiing later.'

'She still water skis?'

'Oh yes. When I looked shocked at where she was going, she informed me the world's oldest water skier is 94. She reckons she's got a good few years in her yet.'

Jack laughed. 'Can I have a peek at the painting?'

'Yes, it's at the back of the living room.' Em hoped he liked it. She was still veering between being pleased with it and finding new flaws.

Jack dropped the last piece of cucumber in the saucepan and went into the living room. Em busied herself slicing strawberries, not wanting to see his reaction. She realised she was holding her breath.

'That's amazing. The likeness is excellent, and you've captured that mischievous twinkle in her eye. There's a tenderness to it as well.'

It sounded like genuine praise. What a relief. 'Thank you. I hope Nancy likes it.'

'She'll love it. You should take commissions professionally.'