Page 81 of The Moon Sister
‘Oh Zed, that’s really hard. I’m sorry.’
‘It was probably for the best, he was very old – over ninety – and he had certainly lived a good life. He was at his desk in the office in New York to the end.’
‘What business did he run?’
‘Lightning Communications, the company I have inherited. I had been working for him for years, and I imagined I was well prepared, but it is a totally different ball game when the buck stops atyourdoor.’
‘What was your dad’s name?’ I asked.
‘Kreeg, and Eszu is our surname. You may have heard of him. He was always in the papers, pictured at some social event or airing his opinions on TV. He was a larger than life character, that is for sure. So, what did your father do?’
‘I don’t really know. He was always off travelling when we were younger, but he kept his business interests well away from all of us girls. He said that when he was at Atlantis – that’s our family home in Geneva – it was our time together.’
‘Papa first took me into his office when I was a baby, so my mother told me. And I have barely left since.’ Zed offered me a rueful smile. ‘Especially in the past few months, there has been much to sort out.’
‘I can imagine. Is your mum still alive?’
‘Sadly not, even though she was thirty years younger than my father. He always called her his child bride. They divorced when I was in my teens, and there was a court battle over who I should live with. Papa won, as he always did – though why he bothered to fight to have me when all he did was send me off to boarding school, I do not know. Mama died in a skiing accident when she was in her forties. Tragic, really. Forgive me, Tiggy, I have no idea why I am telling you all this, but thank you for listening.’ He put a hand on mine. ‘And thank you for the dinner, it was unexpectedly good.’
‘You’re welcome. I like cooking. When I was a child, I used to spend hours in the kitchen with Claudia, our housekeeper. She taught me to make lots of tasty vegetable dishes.’
‘“Housekeeper”?’ Zed smiled, and I realised I’d given myself away again.
‘Please, Zed, can we leave that subject alone?’
‘Of course. So, tell me.’ He leaned forward. ‘What is your dream job?’
‘I’ve always wanted to go to Africa, work with the big game out there,’ I said.
‘In what capacity?’
‘Conservation mainly – that’s what I specialised in during my zoology degree. Though I’ve realised recently that I’m also interested in hands-on caring for the animals too.’
‘You mean, as a vet?’
‘Perhaps.’
‘For my money, conservation is far sexier.’
‘I’m not really interested in “sexy”, Zed, only in putting my skills to good use,’ I said as I stood up to clear the table.
‘Well, you are definitely sexy,’ he said, standing up too and following me towards the kitchen. He grabbed the bowls from my hands, put them down, then swung me into his arms. ‘Can I kiss you?’
Before I had a chance to reply, his lips descended on mine. Shock was addling my brain as I tried to wriggle out of his grasp.
‘Evenin’ all.’ Cal stood in the doorway, the pile of snow on his hat making him resemble the Abominable Snowman. The vicelike grip on my back relaxed immediately. ‘Am I interruptin’ something?’ Cal said innocently.
‘No!’ I said hurriedly, as I walked over to him. ‘Zed was just leaving, weren’t you?’
‘Well, don’t do so on my account. Sorry tae disturb, but I took the spare Landy, it bloody well packed up. I had tae walk a couple o’ miles back here. I fancy a hot choccy tae warm me up. Care tae join me?’ he asked Zed, as he divested himself of his dripping outerwear.
‘No, thank you.’ Zed read the signs. ‘Right, I will leave then. Thank you for the curry, Tiggy. Goodnight.’
The door slammed shut behind him.
‘Oh my God! Thank goodness you came in when you did!’ I said, flopping onto the sofa, shock and relief racing through me.
‘Well, I’m glad my ruined evenin’ wi’ my own lady-love had some advantages,’ Cal said wryly, moving to stand in front of the fire. ‘I gather that wasn’t a welcome advance?’
