“Can’t ask for more than that,” smiled Neef. “But tomorrow is another day, as they say. Seen Eve?”
Miss Sayers went home about ten. She said you should call her if you turned up. She’s been worried sick about you.”
“I’ll phone her.”
Neef called Eve from his office.
“Thank God!” she exclaimed when she heard his voice. “No one would tell me anything about you except that you were helping the police with their enquiries.”
“I’m free now,” said Neef. “I’m at the unit.”
“Can you come over?”
“On my way.”
Neef held Eve in his arms for a long time. It was just so good to touch her and smell her perfume, feel the softness of her hair against his cheek.
“Your poor face,” said Eve reaching up to touch his bruised forehead.
“It’s nothing. I owe you my life,” said Neef.
“You can’t tell me about it, can you?” said Eve, sensing a slight awkwardness about Neef.
“Max and I had to agree to keep silent but you know most of it anyway. Please God I never have another day like this one in my entire life,” said Neef with obvious feeling.
“Did you see Neil?”
“I saw him before I left the unit. Lawrence tells me he’s come through the crisis thanks to you and the fire brigade.”
Eve nodded with a smile. “They were a big success. What do you think his chances are now?” she asked.
“It’s all going to be up to the Menogen vector now,” replied Neef. “But it’s going to be given a fair chance to do its stuff. We’ll start him on Gancyclovir the day after tomorrow. I’m optimistic.”
“You have to be,” smiled Eve.
“Apart from that.”
“I’d give anything for the three of us to have another picnic like the one we had down at the mill.”
Neef agreed, holding Eve closer. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “If Neil should come through this he’s still going to need love and support, ideally in a real family background. I was thinking maybe you and I...”
“Yes?”
“Well, you know, maybe we could...”
“What?”
“You know.”
“Not good enough, Neef.”
“All right,” said Neef. He took both Eve’s hands in his. “It’s true that when I first met you I was still in love with my wife Elaine.”
“Your wife?” prompted Eve.
“My dead wife,” conceded Neef. “Elaine is dead and gone. I’ll never forget her or what we had together but that’s all in the past. This is the present and I’m alive. I’m also very much in love with you. I just can’t bear to contemplate a future without you. I would be the happiest man alive if you’d be my wife.” Neef brought Eve’s hands up to his mouth and kissed each in turn. “What do you say?”
Eve smiled.
“Yes,” she said.