Chapter Twenty-Five Evie’s House
Chapter Twenty-Five
Evie’s House
Evie had been up since daybreak working on the portrait of Freya that was to be her special eightieth birthday gift. She hoped Freya would hang it in her sunny front room beside the one she had painted of her more than twenty years ago.
Evie was painting from memory and a couple of favourite photos as she wanted this to be a genuine surprise for Freya, but as always when she painted someone’s portrait, the hands were giving her endless trouble and driving her crazy. She was feeling the pressure as this had to be perfect for Freya.
She stepped back and took a good long look at her work so far.
Evie was happy with the eyes that glowed with kindness and wisdom, and she had swathed Freya in bright purple like an empress.
She had toyed with the idea of a crown and a cloak of ermine but decided Freya didn’t need those trappings to look like royalty.
Evie was tired and in need of a break and was surprised to see it was already 2pm. She was meeting the others later to plan the final details for Freya’s party so didn’t have as much time as she would have liked.
She put down her brush and went into the kitchen to make herself a coffee, when she heard a car drive up and Amelia calling her name.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you, Evie, but I just wanted to pop in and see if you needed anything in town. I’m getting dinner in for Freya.”
Evie almost dropped her mug at the sight of a newly blonde Amelia.
She quickly shut the door on her painting, she didn’t want anyone seeing her unfinished work, least of all Amelia.
She was still annoyed at not standing up to her and insisting on seeing Freya when she was ill, and they hadn’t really spoken since.
“Your hair …” Evie said faintly.
“Oh, you haven’t seen my new hair style. Do you like it? I asked for the same as you and I think Agnes has done a great job.”
Evie was taken aback. There was something vaguely creepy about Amelia’s transformation. Imitation was supposed to be a form of flattery, but Evie just felt uneasy.
“It’s very nice,” she said quietly.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to think I’m being a copycat, but I just love your hair. Do you think it’s a bit too much that it makes us look so alike? I can change it.”
That was exactly what Evie was thinking but instead she heard herself say unconvincingly, “No, it’s fine. It was just a bit of a shock. But it looks good on you.”
Amelia nodded. “Well, that’s a relief. I’d love a coffee if there’s one going and it’s not too much trouble.”
‘Why does she always make me feel so uncomfortable and on the back foot?’ Evie thought. Then said out loud, “Course not. I was just about to offer.”
“I smell fresh paint. What are you working on? Can I take a look?”
“Oh, I’d prefer you didn’t …”
But Amelia was already through the kitchen door and into the sunny front room which Evie used as her studio and stood admiring the portrait.
Wincing, Evie followed. She felt so exposed.
She hated people seeing her work before it was ready.
But Amelia had her hands clasped over her mouth theatrically.
“Oh Evie, it’s amazing. You’ve really caught Freya’s likeness. I’m expecting her to talk to me.”
Evie wished she could believe Amelia was being sincere, but to her ears the praise came across as false and patronising.
She managed to say, “I’m reasonably happy with it but I’m having trouble with her hands.
I need to get a move on if I am to finish it before her birthday.
Don’t let on though as she really doesn’t know about it.
I want something to be a surprise on her big day. ”
“I think it’s perfect already and I won’t say a word.
I promise. You are so clever. It must be incredible to be so talented.
” Amelia was laying it on thick and Evie found herself feeling uncomfortable again.
“But look, I’m also here to run something past you.
Ross Isbister has asked me out and I just wanted to make sure that you are alright with that. ”
Evie was about to reply when Amelia added hastily, “You see, Freya thought the two of you had something going on and obviously there’s no way in the world I would want to step on your toes. One word from you and I will just back right off.”
Evie didn’t know what to say. She supposed it was decent of Amelia to ask if she was OK with it, but truth be told, once again this strange woman had unsettled her.
Evie swallowed hard and uttered faintly, “Don’t be silly, Amelia. Ross and I are just friends, that’s all. I have no claim on him or him on me.”
“So, I have your blessing then?”
Evie winced. It was a date, not an engagement. She also sensed Amelia was enjoying herself. “You don’t need my approval to go out with Ross,” Evie said evenly. “You are both single.”
Amelia giggled and went on, “You know it was so funny. I was in the deli and he thought I was you for a minute. He was so embarrassed he asked me for a drink and then you know how it is. One thing led to another, and he wants to see me tomorrow night.”
Amelia hugged herself, “Between you and me, I am so excited but also a bit nervous. He really is the most delicious man I have ever met. You could drown in those brown eyes. And I don’t mean to be crude but he has the very best butt.”
Evie thought, ‘ She’s right. The first time I met Ross I thought his bum was like a perfectly ripe peach and wondered what it would be like to sink my teeth into it.’ She stopped herself from going any further down that particular road.
Instead, she said, “Yes, a lot of women seem to think he is handsome, but he doesn’t do it for me, I’m afraid. And he’s a workaholic. You know he still lives with his parents.”
Actually, Evie admired how Ross looked after his mum and dad and she also completely related to how absorbed he was in his work. He created beautiful pieces and spent hours making sure they were perfect. She knew exactly how that felt. It was the same when she disappeared into one of her paintings.
She had a fleeting vision of Ross making one of his beautiful chairs in the corner of this very room while she worked on a nude portrait of him. She shook her head to get rid of such thoughts.
She heard Amelia say, “Well, I happen to think it’s really swell that he still lives at home. It shows what a nice man he is.” She added, “You know I can’t tell you how glad I am you don’t fancy him. I wouldn’t have had a chance if you were interested.”
She drained her mug of coffee. “Now, I need to go and get the shopping. Freya’s got the offer of a lobster and we are having her famous Cullen Skink tonight.”
Evie watched her go out the door full of joy about her date with Ross and looking forward to enjoying one of Evie’s favourite meals cooked by Freya.
She was surprised at how crushed she felt that Ross had asked Amelia out. She told herself that she didn’t want him as anything other than a friend, but she really wasn’t happy he was going out on a proper date with Amelia.
Ross Isbister didn’t go out on dates. True, he had asked her out for a drink once, but he never followed up on that properly, and he always looked as though he would rather be anywhere else when she ran into him.
She had thought for a brief moment at the gallery that he was going to ask her out again, but she must have been mistaken.
‘Well, he’s transferred his affections pretty bloody fast for a man who apparently had a crush on me. That was obviously a load of old bollocks,’ she thought to herself bitterly.
And another thing that really was hard to bear: Freya always asked her over when she nabbed a lobster. It was their ‘thing’, but Amelia had taken that away from her too.