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“Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? ‘Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.’”
It’s only when I’m making up the sofa bed that I realize I didn’t ask him why he wanted the house so much.
There’s something about his reasoning that doesn’t ring quite true. He’s not telling
me everything—but what is it that he’s holding back?
He leaves and I sit down at the table. Something isn’t adding up. Leo seems paranoid about my fictitious reporter. And his behavior yesterday when I first confronted him had been over the top. He’d looked as if he’d been about to pass out. But his reason for not telling me—that he wanted this house because it provided him with security—doesn’t stand up.
His panicked reaction wasn't about the house or Nina. It was literally about the past he was hiding from Alice.
But they say that, don’t they, that sometimes, when easy-going people explode—well, they really explode.
“I think time has no meaning when it comes to grief.”
“Do you know what Henry David Thoreau believed? ‘Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.’”
I turn to Tamsin. “Eve said you used to be a model. Is that when you met Connor?” “Yes. We met at a party during London Fashion Week. I wasn’t at all interested in him, he was too brash for me, so when he asked what I was looking for in a man, I told him I wanted someone who would take me to the theater, listen to classical music with me and spend hours reading books by my side. I felt safe saying that; it was a polite brush-off because I didn’t think
he’d be interested in any of those things. But he told me I was in luck and a couple of days later, he sent me a ticket for The Tempest. I really wanted to see The Tempest, so I went along. Then came the concerts and the weekends away, where we would spend rainy afternoons curled up with a book. He suited me so perfectly that there was nothing to stop me falling in love with him.” She takes a sip of coffee. “I should have told him that I wasn’t looking for a man, then he’d have left me alone.” “But it’s lovely that you both enjoy the same things,” I say, surprised at the vehemence of her last
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came to an end. If there’s something I want to see, he tells me to go with a friend.” She gives a little laugh. “It’s hard to realize that the man you ma...
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She is a woman at peace with herself. But we all have darkness within us and the deeper it’s buried, the more interesting it is.
“Do you know what Henry David Thoreau said about happiness?”
“Bye, Edward,” I say distractedly. I start to move off but he shuffles closer. “Don’t tell anyone when you’re leaving,” he whispers. He pitches his voice back to his normal level. “Bye, Alice.”
Now I know why Edward warned Alice not to tell ANYONE!
First Lorna, now Edward. Two warnings, don’t trust anyone and don’t tell
Ohhh Alice you trusted to the wrong person.
anyone.
Unfortunately, there are more cases than the judiciary would like of homeless people pleading guilty to just about
anything so that they can get back inside. Being on the streets is far more frightening to them than being in prison.”
Personal view
And I realize—she wouldn’t have seen him because, apart from today, Thomas always comes to see me on Wednesday afternoons, when Eve goes to yoga with Tamsin and Maria. Nina used to go with them but she stopped, because on Wednesdays, she saw her therapist. And that’s when I know. He is the therapist.
I can't believe it took ALICE 87% OF THE BOOK TO REALIZE WHO HE WAS!!! To be honest, I was shocked too.
