Noah's POV:Eden is sitting at her desk staring at the little chair she made like it's the best thing she's ever seen. The workshop might have been my best idea this year, if not even longer."I have a present for you," I say as I come to lean against her desk."Present?" she asks, looking up at me."First, I should warn you, I really can't carve," I tell her."I'm sure it's amazing." Her encouragement is appreciated. I'm not exaggerating when I say carving isn't something I'm good at. Not only that but I don't have the patience to learn."Open your hand." She does as I ask and I tell her to close her eyes.Her hand outstretched and her eyes closed, I'm tempted to kiss her but I definitely shouldn't do that here. Glancing around, I check that we're alone before dropping my lips to hers. She opens her eyes to tell me off. It's written all over her face, I shouldn't kiss her at work. Before she can say anything, I drop her present into her still open palm.Looking down at it, she
Eden's POV:Why the hell has Noah got me carving little woodland creatures? I would have thought he realised from my terrible little chair that carving isn't one of my greatest strengths. Sure, I'm getting better but I'm still not exactly a master craftsman.Stacey says it's an important task for the spring line. She says we're actually going to be selling them. But who is she kidding... Who is going to pay for these little bunnies and deer? Then again... people buy all sorts of crazy stuff so maybe there's a market for wonky woodland animals.I've barely seen Noah in the last few weeks. He says he's been busy with work and to be fair, I've been crazy busy trying to get the Clancy house finished in time for grandma's party. That's what I'm calling it... A party. I don't understand why she wants to make a song and dance about the house. It's not going to be as good as the one's my dad used to make and so it's hard to believe that this isn't going to just be a great big disappointment
Noah's POV:Forcing Eden to stay in the kitchen might have been taking things a step too far... Now spending her time in my office instead of the kitchen, she seems slightly happier. Mostly because at least now they have a window. The problem is that she can see through the windows into the department.Which when everyone is working in the conference room isn't really a problem. But when the first of the houses are finally finished and we have to move them to the store room things get a little complicated. I ask Stacey to distract Eden, take her out for lunch or something but my girlfriend only refuses everything the other girl suggests."Boss, maybe you should take her out?" Rob tells me. "You like her, right? So, here's your chance..."I frown because we don't have time for this. There's no time to waste but his suggestion might be the only thing that will get her out of the building, unless I were to ask Mrs Clancy for help. But then I'd have to admit that I already know that E
Eden's POV:Standing in the doorway of my childhood bedroom, I stare at the latest Clancy house. I have to admit it does look pretty impressive. To look at it from here, you wouldn't know that I did it instead of my dad. But that doesn't mean much; everything looks better at a distance."Oh, you're here again?" Grandma asks, coming to stand next to me."Yeah...""I thought you'd finished the house?""Yeah, just double checking it," I tell her, not taking my eyes off the house."It looks good to me," she says dismissively. She doesn't understand the pressure I feel."Are you sure about this?""About what dear?""The memorial service.""I don't really know what there is not to be sure about."Of course, she doesn't. She doesn't understand at all. It's not her that has been lying to everyone... What will Noah think when he sees me on that stage next to grandma? He's going to be so angry."Well... what about the fact that no one knows I'm your granddaughter?""I don't think t
With only two days left before the memorial service, time is running out to tell Noah but I still haven't worked out how to go about it. I'm terrified that he'll be hurt... or that he won't forgive me. I've been avoiding him. Well sort of... He's been busy with work. He's been up to something for weeks and I have no idea what it is but it means that avoiding him is surprisingly easy.Unable to sleep, I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling. It's been days since I had a decent night's sleep. Instead, I've been tossing and turning as I try to think up a solution. Grandma would say I'm overthinking it.I almost texted him twice with a single sentence, "My real name is Eden Clancy."Of course, I can't actually tell him by text. He definitely wouldn't forgive me if I did that. But I've considered all the options... writing him a letter... taking him out for dinner... putting a post-it note on his desk... using sign language or a foreign language - personally that's my favourite. I get a cle
On the morning of the memorial, I still haven't told him and I'm panicking about it. I've spent the last two days trying to get five minutes alone with him but it's been impossible. He's been so busy that I've barely seen him, except in passing and never long enough to have a conversation. I'm not even sure he's been eating and my usual morning coffees have suddenly stopped appearing.If I was paranoid, I'd think I'd upset him but I know better than that. He's just rushed off his feet with work. If anything I should be the one getting his coffee under the circumstances, not to mention I'm also his assistant. I'm on the tube, heading to my grandmother's house and I'm wondering if there's enough time for me to go and find him before the event. But I don't know where he is. I know he's working today. But he could be anywhere... At the company or the venue that grandma chose or even back at his apartment. He says he signed up to help with the planning for the memorial and it's kept him
Barging into the house, I shout out for grandma. I'm completely panicked and you can hear it in my voice so I'm surprised when she doesn't immediately come out to meet me. It's not like she's not expecting me."GRANDMA!" I call out again at the top of my lungs but still nothing.The house is quiet. Too quiet. It's as silent as it would be if grandma were at work. Is she even here? Making my way into the living room, I go looking for her but she's not there. I try upstairs but still I can't find her. Grandma's house isn't small and growing up I'd lost her in it more than once but still I begin to feel uneasy.I look at my phone, checking that she hasn't messaged me to change our plans. It's completely possible that something came up at the venue but there's nothing there.After the email I just read, I really begin to worry. She's supposed to be here. What if the email is write? And even if it's not... even if it wasn't Martin that killed my parents, the fact that it's been suggeste
"You need to go to the memorial."He must be insane. There's no way I'm going to the memorial. I'm going to the hospital to stay by my grandma's side where I belong."I need to go to the hospital," I tell him."No, you don't. I'll look after your grandma but you need to go to the memorial," he says. "I know it's not what you want to hear but we need to do what your grandma would want.""What grandma would want?"I don't understand why it matters. We all know my grandma is a complete workaholic. No one would blame me for going to the hospital when my grandma is sick - only my grandma."If people hear that she's sick..." he begins but I don't hear anything after the word sick. I need to know what is wrong with my grandma, not go to the memorial."I'm going to the hospital," I say firmly. "We're wasting time."He doesn't disagree with me this time, giving in."I'll drive you there.""Thank you," I tell him as we lock grandma's front door behind us. The sound of the ambulance's s