‘I guess the kitchen’s not recovered from the sight of Evelyn in hysterics. It was your cook’s quick thinking located me and sent the boy running for you, Rud. But all’s well now.’
In spite of his friend’s attempts to calm him, Rud could not remain seated. When he paused in front of the bay window to stare out, it took both hands to steady his glass.
‘She’ll be her old self in the morning, you’ll see,’ Jim encouraged him. ‘And I’ve seen no other sign of instability in Carrie. Rather too much steady determination for her own good. But let me ask you –’
‘How much of it do you think she took in? I mean the Joss. The Baby. Baby Jo.’
Jim Conland was startled. It was the child Rud was panicking about, not the mother. Stroking his hair back off his forehead, he paused to consider.
‘I truly b
