Chapter 24
24
Orla had made small talk the whole walk back to his cabin and Jacques didn’t get it at all. This woman made her stories about habitats and humanity come to life with her words, yet when he’d asked her to tell him her thoughts and feelings on things she had seemed terrified . It didn’t fit with the type of person he’d assumed she was. Coupling that with the knots of stress he’d felt across her shoulders earlier, it didn’t make for a healthy mix. When they had arrived back she had greeted Erin and Tommy with smiles and a very basic version of seeing the foxes and then she had gone to the guest bedroom and closed the door. That was over an hour ago now and while Erin and Tommy were sat on opposite ends of the sofa slating YouTube videos and teasing Hunter, he had washed up the breakfast things and wondered what he was going to do to entertain his house guests for the rest of the day, let alone any longer. He wiped a plate with a tea cloth and put it back in the kitchen cupboard.
‘Could I borrow your truck?’
It was Orla in the kitchen now, her coat on.
‘To drive?’ he asked.
‘What else can you do with it?’
‘ You want to drive it?’
‘Why is it so difficult to do anything around here? Why are there always so many questions?’
‘I think I have asked you something similar,’ Jacques answered.
‘Well, can I borrow it or not?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because you have not driven in this area before.’
‘Well, I’ve been in the back of a car with Gerard who must have spent his whole life driving here and he didn’t seem that accomplished, so how hard can it be?’
‘Hard enough that I have to say no for your own safety.’
She was angry. He could see it written on her face and through her body. It was like she didn’t know what to do with her arms. They looked almost like a scarecrow, awkward.
‘You seem very safety conscious for some reason. The foxes. Your car. This fortress of a smart home you seem to love and hate in equal measure.’
OK, she had pretty much nailed how he felt about this house. He kept his expression blank. ‘Who doesn’t want to be safe?’
‘Me, right now,’ Orla answered. ‘Because “safe” doesn’t sell magazines and I need photos and videos and something I can make an article out of until either this reindeer turns up or I get sick of waiting and get on the next flight out of here.’
Her breathing had quickened. There was a whole mix of anxiety, frustration and irritation pooling in her eyes.
‘OK then,’ Jacques said. ‘Let me get my coat.’
‘What? I can take the truck?’
‘No,’ Jacques answered, heading to the hallway. ‘But I can drive you wherever you need to go.’
‘That wasn’t what I meant,’ Orla began. ‘Because I don’t know where I want to go and having someone with me will… make me lose focus. And I’m sure you have lots of things to do other than take me out.’
‘Did someone say we’re going out?’
It was Tommy speaking and he and Erin were suddenly in the space too.
‘Orla needs to get some photos,’ Jacques began. ‘And I want to see Delphine’s window project for myself.’
‘Does Delphine still make those hot Christmas milkshakes?’ Tommy asked.
‘If they are not already on the menu for the tourists I am sure she will make one for you,’ Jacques said.
‘She never offered me a hot milkshake,’ Erin answered glumly.
‘Want me to teach you how to charm Delphine?’ Tommy asked her.
‘I’m not sure I could stand to watch bad rizz used on someone old enough to be your grandma,’ Erin replied.
‘No deliciously, melt-in-your-mouthy, chocolately, caramelly, brown-sugarly, honeyly, creamy, hot milkshake for you then. Did I say melt-in-your-mouthy?’
‘Oh God!’ Erin exclaimed. ‘I swear if it’s not as good as you just made that sound then I am going to shave your eyebrows off later.’
‘Well, I haven’t had her make one since last year so she’s another twelve months older.’
‘Ready with your excuses?’
‘No, I have faith in Delphine. She won’t let me down. And I really want to keep my eyebrows.’
‘Right,’ Orla said. ‘So, we’re all going. Fantastic. I’ll get my laptop.’
And with those words said with a deep sarcasm no one could possibly have missed, Jacques watched her leave the kitchen.