She woke up in the morning and walked out of the room, at the exact same time that Callum left his room. The difference was that she was in pyjamas and he was already wearing his tailored suit of dark navy colour that only made his eyes seem bluer.
A thought passed through her mind that maybe he slept in suits. She wouldn't have been surprised.
"Good morning, Eva."
"Good morning, Cal." She responded.
"Would you like to grab a coffee before girls get up?" Callum offered. "Nanny will bring them down as soon as they're up." Eva looked anxiously at the door where the girls have slept but she nodded. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you." Eva replied. "Yourself?"
"Yes." Callum lied. His thoughts of Eva disturbed him till the early morning but he was not going to admit that. He was still trying to wrap his head around what he was feeling. He was still startled by his recent realisation.
They've sat by the very same dining table as the night before, having the fresh coffee placed before them with many biscuits and pastries.
Eva was keen to pour herself a cup of coffee and added some milk and sugar to it. She hoped that it will make her feel more alive. It didn't.
"You look tired." Callum noted.
"It's because I do not have any make up on." Eva replied jokingly. Of course, it was rather that she was far from being well and she still felt dizzy and nauseous. She took another dose of the medicine that was left for her before she came out of the room but it did very little.
Eva picked the biscuits and dunked them in a coffee before eating them. Callum raised his brows at the sight and then smiled. Somehow this simple act reminded him of childhood carelessness. Maybe it was that she still wore pyjamas, or maybe it was that she ate the biscuits like a child in a commercial. Whatever it was, he found it endearing.
Eva didn't notice as she was too preoccupied with the biscuits.
"You've managed to get girls interested in contemporary classical composers." Callum tried to strike a conversation. He still didn't know enough about Eva and her interests to be able to gauge the right topic. But he knew that speaking about girls was the easiest win.
"Believe it or not, I put quite an importance in having a whole scope of knowledge. That's why I do not limit them to classical music but I still expose them enough to it to make sure that they're aware. Last thing I wanted was for them to be narrow-minded."
"I was not as surprised by Max Richter, but throughout the evening they were able to recognise Ludovico Einaudi, Hildur Guðnadóttir, and Eric Whitacre."
"That's only a few that they know." Eva shrugged. "They were the obvious choice."
"I am quite concerned about their education." Callum started carefully. He didn't want it to sound like he was worried about Eva's influence but rather the subject as a whole.
Eva looked at him instantly and her eyes glimmered dangerously. She took it exactly as he didn't want her to.
"And what are you concerned about? They are very bright kids. They love to learn. And they get plenty of opportunities to learn."
"I am interested in knowing what they learn, the extra-curricular activities, career paths they might be heading towards."
"Career paths?!" Eva raised her voice. "Their education is perfectly fine. Their school is rated Outstanding. They have great teachers. And they are doing great. Besides, they're only six and eight."
"Maybe it is worth to consider independent school?"
"Independent school?" Eva repeated.
"Or a private school?"
"They just settled in their classes. I doubt it would be a good idea to have them change schools now."
"They're young. They'll adapt."
"Eva!!!" The girls ran in, interrupting the build up towards the inevitable argument that was yet to happen. "Did you have biscuits without us?" Emmi enquired.
"Only two. And there's plenty more for you."
"Breakfast first. Biscuits later." Callum said sternly.
"Then, why are there biscuits on the table?" Eva asked in a challenging tone, scowling at him. "You can have biscuits before breakfast if you want."
"Alright. One biscuit each." Callum caved in.
Eva's scowl made him uncomfortable and uneasy. He disliked it. He realised just now that she was going to be his biggest weakness but that wasn't the thing he disliked. He disliked that she was unhappy. He disliked it when she didn't smile. After all, she had such a beautiful smile. It was bewitching.
"Two." Eva said with such a force that he felt his knees buckle. He was glad that he was sat down.
Callum hasn't responded. All that Eva saw was his face darken. And what she interpreted it as was hatred towards her. It was a mistaken interpretation. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she only got in his way. She stopped him getting a full custody over the girls and she was on his heels almost every step of the way.
The girls excitedly ate two biscuits each before having their breakfast. They were in a good mood.
Eva sat quite phased out. She was still feeling unwell but she tried to hide it. It was okay at first but fatigue quickly started to creep on her.
She was glad that the girls were mostly talking to Callum of all the animals they saw in the zoo. Their excitement wasn't weaning off.
After breakfast, which the girls loved and Eva hasn't touched, they went back to the rooms to get dressed.
"Miss Green, I hope that you do not mind that I've got girls uniforms from your apartment? I will ensure that they will have a spare bought and kept in here for the future in case a need arises. As for yourself, I haven't dared to intrude on your privacy hence I've bought you some clothing and I hope some will be suitable." Simon welcomed her by the door to the room.
"Thank you, Mr Gold." She smiled, trying to stop her stomach from turning. "It was completely unnecessary. I can certainly manage."
"It is my pleasure to be of help for you, Miss Green." He smiled charmingly.
"Thank you." Eva rushed into the room and then a bathroom where she vomited violently. She rinsed her face in cold water ready to pretend that she's fine.
She didn't touch the clothes bought for her and instead put on the clothes that she wore a day before. She roughly put her hair up in the messy bun and then went to the girls' room to help them get dressed.
Simon found her there and let them all to the limousine.
"Mr Gold, may I ask you to drop us off a street or two away from school?" Eva asked as she looked at limousine worriedly.
"As you wish, Miss Green." He nodded with a smile. Knowing Callum's secret feelings for Evelyn he couldn't help but think of her in a positive light. He saw the charm that she possessed even more so now.
As Eva placed herself and the girls in the vehicle, Callum appeared and sat beside Suzie. Eva watched him curiously, her cheeks burning again, but she said nothing.
She couldn't make up her mind about him. She was only certain of his disdain towards her. She was only an obstacle in his life.
She laid back in the seat, letting the sun rest on her face, warming her up further. But somehow, it provided her with comfort.
The drive wasn't long and the limousine stopped about a street away from the school. Eva quickly grabbed the backpacks and rushed out of the limousine. The fresh air helped her sober up a bit but it barely touched the bouts of dizziness and increasing nausea.
"Say thank you, girls." She reminded them.
"Thank you, uncle Cal!" They shouted in unison.
"Thank you!" Eva shouted behind as she rushed with the girls down the road. She didn't notice Cal attempting to go with them or trying to speak a word.
Callum was keen to walk the girls to school and drop Eva off at her work but she didn't give him a chance.
He looked behind her, worried and in awe.
He couldn't help it.
"I will make sure to get spare uniforms for Misses Webb." Simon snapped him back.
"And Miss Green?"
"She hasn't touched a single thing that was purchased for her. I'm sorry."
"That's alright. I should've expected her to be too proud." Callum sat back down inside of the limousine, sighing as his thoughts were occupied by Evelyn.