She stepped forward, catching Madelon’s eye. ‘You have another brother, don’t you...?’
The momentary silence felt like a glitch, then Theo spoke. ‘That’s right.’ His eyes held hers for a long second, searching, then softening. ‘Ash told you?’
She nodded. ‘He was over during the week, seeing your technical team.’ She turned to Madelon. ‘Ash is my brother and, for the record, he’s a massive fan.’
‘I’m always grateful for fans...’ Madelon smiled, lifting her chin slightly. ‘Theo told me they’re working together?’
‘Yes. Ash writes computer programmes...and that’s all I know!’ She glanced at Theo, then back to Madelon. The atmosphere in the room seemed altered. She hooked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ‘So, what does your other brother do?’
Madelon pressed her lips together. ‘He’s a chef.’
‘Cool!’ She looked at Theo. ‘Did he give you lessons?’
‘As a matter of fact, he did.’ His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked at his watch. ‘Do you girls want a drink, something to take upstairs with you?’ His gaze rested on Madelon. ‘I’m just thinking, you should probably make a start...given that you can’t stay long.’
‘You’re not staying for dinner?’
Madelon shook her head. ‘Sadly, I have other plans, but I said I’d do the interview.’ Her eyes slid to Theo, suddenly mischievous. ‘Theo wanted to give you something so that you’d know how much he—’
‘Wine? Beer? Mineral water?’ Theo jostled Madelon aside, started tickling her. Madelon was laughing and squirming, then she broke free, grabbed Mia’s arm.
‘Come on. Let’s go upstairs and let the chef have his kitchen back.’
They watched Madelon waving from the taxi as it pulled away.
‘She’s so lovely.’ Mia slid her arms around his waist. ‘Thank you so much for arranging it, Theo. Honestly, I’m buzzing!’
He closed the door, wrapped her in his arms. ‘It went well, then?’
‘It did.’ Her eyes were shining, her cheeks slightly flushed. ‘Usually I’d have researched someone before interviewing them, but Madelon was amazing. She filled me in on all the shows she’d done, and the movies, right from the early days. She was sweet and generous and interesting and so...well-earthed.’
He couldn’t help smiling. She might have been describing herself. He released her, guiding her down the hallway. ‘So, what happens now, in terms of placing the interview?’
‘I’ve got a couple of editors who’ll be interested for sure.’ She stretched up, kissing his cheek. ‘I can’t wait to write it up! I was thinking that maybe I could catch Madelon when she’s here again, so that Lotte could take pictures to go with the piece. Wouldn’t that be great?’
‘Yes...’ That was Mia, already thinking about how she could share the glory. What he couldn’t let her share with Lotte was his own connection to Madelon. He bit back a sigh. Madelon was right; living under lockdown was tiresome. He’d talk to Mia about all the provisos later. At that moment he just wanted to enjoy her company, live a little. He brought her to a halt. ‘So, while you’ve been hanging out with the glitterati, I’ve been hard at work...’ He opened a set of double doors and moved aside.
She stepped into the room then looked back at him, her smile full of happy light. ‘Wow! Theo, this is lovely.’ She crossed to the middle of the room. ‘Is this the table from the hall?’
He nodded. After she’d gone upstairs with Madelon, he’d paced around the kitchen, frustrated with himself for telling Ash that he had a brother. At the time he’d simply been answering a question; he’d had no way of knowing that in a matter of weeks he’d be in love with Mia, that she’d be bringing up the subject of Bram at such an inopportune moment.
Restlessly, he’d paced out of the kitchen and along the hall, spotted Direk’s table and suddenly realised that it would make the perfect dining table for two. After he’d shifted it into the room the ideas had kept on coming. He’d found a bag of tea lights, set them up around the room then put a few on the table, using drinking glasses as holders. The candlelight had transformed the huge, empty space. Now it felt intimate. A little bit special. Worthy of his very special dinner guest.
He pulled out a chair for her. ‘I thought it would be nicer to eat in here than in the kitchen.’
She settled herself, touching the linen napkin. ‘Candles, music, table linen... Direk would be proud of you. Excellent romantic visualisation!’
He laughed, taking his place opposite her. ‘It’s much easier to visualise a room when you’ve got a reason to use it...’ The light in her eyes was soft and glowing. Maybe it was the candlelight. He reached for the bottle chilling in the ice bucket. ‘Wine?’
Her eyes flicked to the water glass he’d set out for himself. ‘Are you having some?’
‘No.’ He drew a slow breath, held it in his lungs. Maybe it was time to tell her. ‘I don’t drink alcohol, Mia.’
‘Ever...?’ He could see her taking it in, turning it over in her mind. ‘Why?’
‘I’d have thought it was obvious.’
Her tongue touched her lower lip. ‘Understandable, perhaps, but not obvious.’ Her eyes held his, questioning.
‘Look, my grandfather was an alcoholic...my father was an alcoholic. There’s clearly a gene, a weakness that runs in my family, and I’m not interested in putting myself to the test.’
Bram, eyes dulled with drink, knuckles white around the hilt of a cook’s knife, slashing at shadows.
He refocused. ‘I prefer to stay sharp.’
Eline’s taunting eyes... ‘Lighten up, Theo.’
He pushed the images away. ‘I like to be in control. Is that so wrong?’
She covered his hand with hers and squeezed it gently. ‘No, not at all.’
