Callum was up before Eva or the girls. He hid in the study trying to sort as much work out as he could so that he could give the girls an undivided attention for a little while.
As per usual, Simon came in not much later.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Simon." Callum welcomed him. He face was serious. He looked as if he was in a deep thought. As if he was contemplating something. Which he was. "I forgot to ask yesterday. Did the girls like what I've picked?" Callum asked. Once Simon passed him a list of things girls liked, extracted from Eva, he personally went in search of new toys, clothes, and even furniture. Not only that, he also bought new things for Eva. He didn't think about her at first but when he stopped by the boutique with a beautiful green and gold scarf on the display he couldn't shake off the thought that it would suit her. He walked off at first but he came back for it later. And as soon as he picked the scarf, he picked jewellery, and luxurious toiletries, and perfume. And then pyjamas with the girls favourite characters remembering the very pyjamas Eva was wearing when she came to the villa to help with Suzie. He wasn't certain about the gifts. He didn't know Eva very well. But he felt an inexplicable urge to take care of her. Perhaps because she took care of the girls.
"It did seem like it." Simon smiled. "Both of the girls were squealing at the new room design."
"What about Evelyn?"
"She's…." Simon hesitated. "She didn't really show much of an emotion for her things. I don't think she opened any of the boxes. She was very positive to the two Misses and shared the enthusiasm for their things."
"Okay. What did you find out?" Callum looked down on his desk, as he always did when trying to process new information.
"Miss Green is twenty six years old. She has higher education, up to the Masters level. She was self-employed until just over a year ago. She's currently working in a large retail company. She's an analyst specialising in sales."
"What is her degree?"
"BA in Business and MA in Art Business. Both are from Acadia University in London. She finished both with first class honours."
"What was her self-employment?"
"She was mostly working with the ArtLife Company."
"Any personal information?"
"She's from a town near London. She moved for university and stayed in London until she changed her job. Then she moved here."
"Family?"
"None. Well, besides two Misses, of course." Simon said and Callum looked up at him. "What's on your mind?" Simon asked as he noticed Callum pursing his lips.
"You probably already know." Callum was right with his statement. "I am trying to place her in all of this. I am curious as to who she is and why she took the girls in." Callum smiled. "Girls love her to bits. She makes them laugh and puts them at ease."
"That's true." Simon nodded.
"She's…" Callum hesitated. "Intriguing."
"That's an interesting choice of a word."
"She's very set in her ways but not in a bad way. She puts girls before anything. She makes them comfortable. She's quite charming, too." Callum smiled. "And she speaks her mind. I like that."
"Hmmm… I was wondering about that. I was curious how you're dealing with the criticism that she so clearly voices."
"It hurts but she's been right about most things so far. I shouldn't expect Emmi and Suzie to recognise me or be comfortable with me straight away. She did it for longer than I did. She knows them well. She was right in saying that they should get to know me before I expected to have them. I guess, when I first went there, I expected the worst. I expected neglect or abuse. I didn't expect what I found. And she rightfully told me to back off."
"That's good, right?"
"I think so. I don't think she likes me but I think that she's trying to remain neutral to the girls which I am truly thankful for."
"And, do you like her?" Simon asked with a tilted head. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"Can I abstain from an answer?" Callum chuckled. "I can't quite put it into words but I think I like her in a way I didn't like anyone else before."
"You like her. That's already better than most of the people you meet." Simon sat down.
"I'm trying to be careful though. I don't want to expose her to the media if she were to be seen with me. Also, she is a little intimidating to me. I don't think I have met someone as fierce. She's so upfront that I'm struggling to take it all in at once. I don't know. I guess it's ridiculous that I like the person that held me at the knifepoint."
"Careful, you might fall head over heels for her." Simon smiled recognising something in Callum's eyes for the first time ever.
"Yes. That's dangerous. She's dangerous." Callum laughed. "Fuck." He uttered as he suddenly started to realise something. "I've fallen for her, haven't I?"
"No comment." Simon responded but his wide smile gave it away.
"Do not say a word about this." Callum ordered.
"Of course not."
"I barely know her. It is impossible to love someone so quickly."
"Perhaps it's a crush, perhaps it's a love at the first sight, or third. Perhaps it will turn into nothing. Or perhaps it will be something." Simon shrugged.
"I guess we'll see as the time goes." Callum agreed. "Now, I need you to work out who Marjorie is. She works at the same company that Evelyn does."
"Will do." Simon sighed knowing that he will be send for many new errands that verged on stalking.
Callum then went to breakfast where Evelyn already sat with the girls. Evelyn's cheeks were still flaming red. This morning she started to feel unwell. She was shivering and she felt fatigued. But as many times before, she hid her illness well. Or so she thought. Callum noticed her glasses over eyes and distant gaze. He noticed that she barely ate. And the red cheeks seemed more like rubies than her usual pinkness.
After breakfast they went to the living room. Callum pointed Eva to the sofa and she took onto that offer without a single word. She watched as Callum played boardgames with the girls, smiling at the girls determination to win.
Callum put on some music in the background which started lulling Eva to sleep.
"I know this song!" Suzie said happily to Callum's surprise. "It's by Max Richter!"
"It is!" Callum smiled. "I didn't think that you listen to classical music."
"We do. Mostly at bedtime. But also Eva is teaching us about all kinds of music."
"Yeah, we listen to different music." Emmi nodded eagerly.
Eva smiled. Callum might've judged her choice of music just a day before but she still ensured that the girls were exposed to all kinds of music and their knowledge was extensive.
Eva listened to their conversation for a while before she fell asleep. She felt cold although her body was burning up.
Callum noticed her eyes close but he let her be. She looked exhausted.
It was only once he finished a game with the girls that he noticed her skin turning ash sort of white, aside of the cheeks which were ruby red. He walked up to her and touched her forehead. It was burning hot.
"Eva." He nudged her but she only grunted.
"Eva?" Emmi looked worried.
"It looks like Eva is not feeling well." Callum spoke to the girls in his stoic and calm voice although he was screaming internally. "I'm going to take her to her room so she can rest, and we can get her some medicine. She should be like new in no time."
Girls nodded in agreement but their little faces turned into slight frowns.
Callum scooped up Eva into his arms, careful with his movements. Her hot forehead rested on his shoulder, just under his chin. Her body naturally moulded to fit his.
She was barely responsive. Beside light grunts she didn't react to being picked up. It worried Callum immensely.
He placed her with extra care on her bed.
It was her room and her bed now, even if he didn't make it clear.
He glanced over the sideboard where the gifts were still wrapped and untouched.
But he didn't dwell on it. He felt slightly hurt but right now he called the housemaid to bring medicine for cold as soon as and contacted his doctor.
Once the maid brought the medicine, he helped Eva drink it. She barely did.
The doctor confirmed that it is quite likely just a bad cold made worse by exhaustion and quite likely poor diet.
Callum was angry at himself. She was completely soaked a day before because he insisted that they didn't need raincoats. It was quite likely what caused the cold and he was to blame for it.
He requested the housemaid to watch over Evelyn as he distracted the girls. He went to check on her at least once an hour to see if she was getting better. Thankfully, her temperature eased off soon enough.
And Callum ensured to take a good care of Emmi and Suzie, realising very quickly how exhausting it was to run behind two energetic kids. The girls seemed much more open to him and allowed him to do their bedtime.
Evelyn was pretty much knocked out until the night. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around in confusion. And then she started panicking.
She wasn't sure how long she was asleep for. And at first she wasn't even sure where she was.
She got up in a hurry, running out of the room. Just in time to bump into Callum who just left the girls' bedroom after their bedtime.
"You're awake." Callum smiled at her.
"I'm so sorry!" Eva was quick to apologise. "I'm going to pack up the girls and…"
"Emmi and Suzie are already in bed. They're fine." Callum interrupted her frantic speech. "I don't think we should be getting them up now. You haven't had anything to eat since morning. Let's get you some dinner." Callum said decisively.
"But they need to go to school tomorrow… and work."
"Eva, I'll send someone to get their school uniform from your apartment and they will be dropped off directly to school in the morning. And I'll make sure you will get dropped off to work."
"No… no… no…" Eva shook her head. She felt dizzy from the recent fever and her body was weak. But she still felt like she failed. She failed to look after the girls. She failed to ensure they went back home and readied for school and work.
"Eva, it's okay." Callum spoke again. His voice almost seemed reassuring and kind. Almost. His sternness and firmness in his voice made it sound more like an order in Eva's ears, even if the intend was to be reassuring. "You are sick. You need rest and food. Would you like your dinner brought up or…"
"I don't want food. We need to go home." Eva was still distraught.
"Evelyn, it's alright." Callum's voice now had sharpness to it which managed to cut through to Eva. He grabbed her arms and squeezed them. "Girls are asleep now. Let's go and get you some dinner. Then you can continue on with this nonsense."
"Nonsense?"
"Well, yes. It's not the end of the world. Even if you make it sound like it is." He let go off her.
"It might not be the end of the world but it certainly is not good."
"Dinner, now!" Callum decided. Eva took a step back, startled by his slightly raised voice. She nodded unsurely and followed him downstairs.