Chapter Text
Suki was sitting on the edge of the sofa cushion, her hands clasped between her knees. She had taken her coat off and thrown it over the armchair. She looked up at Eve as she lingered momentarily in the doorway. She took the proffered cup and smiled.
“So shall we take this from the top?” Eve asked as she sat down. "I have about a million questions."
Suki smiled, a closed mouth uptick of her lips. “You’re not the only one...I didn’t know where to turn.”
Eve patted Suki’s knee. “I’m glad you turned to me.” She looked into Suki’s stunning brown eyes and held her gaze for a few moments.
Suki caught hold of Eve’s hand. “I shouldn’t have though – dragging you back into my orbit isn’t fair on you...or me.” She smiled ruefully. “I chose this situation over you...”
“This is a bit more than you nipping over to have a moan about Nish leaving his pants on the bedroom floor.” She squeezed Suki’s hand and then moved to pick up her mug of tea. She looked down at the steaming beverage as she continued. “And besides...I didn’t just fall out of love with you.” She heard the hitch in Suki’s breathing. “In fact, I think I’m going to have ‘Still waiting for Suki’ written on my gravestone.” She looked up at Suki and smiled gently at her. “So don’t worry about me...just tell me exactly what’s happened...Slowly this time!”
Suki took a deep breath to steady herself and then proceeded to relay the course of events that had led to her sitting in the Slater house rueing her decision ever to walk away from her wonderful Eve, in order to stick by a family she didn’t trust.
Eve was quiet for what felt like an eternity to Suki. She finished off the remainder of her now cold cup of tea. Then she stood and after picking up Eve’s cup, she wandered into the Slater’s kitchen to make them another brew while Eve continued to process – or whatever she was doing in the midst of her prolonged silence.
When Suki walked back into the living room, mugs of tea in hand, Eve looked up at her and smiled sheepishly as she took the mug Suki held out. “Sorry” she said as Suki sat down next to her. “It’s just a lot to get my head around.”
Suki laughed mirthlessly. “You’re telling me...I still don’t really understand...But I know I believe Denise...It was Ravi who killed Ranveer.”
“Why did he let you carry on thinking it was you who’d killed him?” Eve asked. “I mean, I know why...but it’s just so cold-blooded...It’s sociopathic!” She continued, answering her own question.
“The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.” Suki replied as she wrapped her hands further around her mug. Finding comfort in it’s warmth.
“No.” Eve agreed. Her blood boiling. She’d watched Suki torture herself. Become ill with guilt. And comforted her as she crumpled in Eve’s arms, her heart breaking as Kheerat had given up his chance of a life, for her. “What has Nish had to say about things?” She fought hard to keep the venom from her voice at the thought of that heinous man. The knowing look Suki gave her, suggested she hadn’t quite managed it.
“He says Denise is lying. That she’s a scorned woman with a vendetta against Ravi, who’d stop at nothing to get revenge.” Suki took a deep breath before continuing. Her expression changed very slightly, a flash of fear before her hand subconsciously moved towards the side of her neck. Eve noticed the look and the movement. The cogs of her brain turning as Suki continued. “He says her saw the video. He saw me kill Ranveer. And as far as the outside world is concerned Kheerat killed him and disposed of his body.” Eve watched as a strangled sob left Suki, followed by a stream of tears. She took Suki’s cup from her and once again drew her into an all encompassing hug. Suki’s body fell into hers and she gripped a chunk of Eve’s jumper in her trembling hands.
Fifteen minutes later, they had fallen back into the sofa cushions. Suki, snuggled against Eve’s side as her sobs slowed and she wiped her eyes and nose with the cuff of her black jumper. Any other time, Eve might have quipped about the uncouthness of the act, but not today. She lifted her feet to rest on the ottoman and Suki drew her legs up onto the sofa. Neither woman spoke for a long time. Eve knew that she was Suki’s safe person. The only one who got to see this vulnerable underbelly. She gave the woman she adored, time and space to just be with her thoughts and feel protected.
They would resume their conversation once Suki was ready. Eve knew that Suki had more to say. And she had questions forming an orderly cue in her mind – but her main thought was to wonder why Suki’s hand had risen to her neck when she mentioned Nish. Had her hurt her?...Was he still?...Red hot rage flashed through her at the thought of him hurting Suki in any way. It took a herculean effort to calm herself, but she knew that Suki needed her support and her flying off half cocked at Nish would do no good. But if the full story was what she thought it was – God help him...