A Perfect Home by Kate Glanville

turned out to be someone who wanted to order a cushion. When I answered the first thing they heard me saying was “Emily, love” so they thought that was my business name and it just sort of stuck.’
    â€˜So it could just have easily have been called Turn That Bloody Racket Off?’ said Stefan, looking at her through the lens.
    Claire laughed and Stefan clicked and clicked.
    â€˜That’s better,’ he said. ‘Now tell me where you get your vintage fabrics from.’
    â€˜Oh, all over the place. I buy bundles from local auctions, cut up old clothes and curtains from charity shops; friends send me bits they find.’
    All the time he took pictures: from the side, from the front, moving to the other side of her.
    â€˜Now let me think. What else can I ask you?’
    Would you like to kiss me? The words popped into Claire’s head.
    â€˜Would you like …’ Stefan began.
    Yes please , said Bad Claire in her head, I’ll just take my apron off and I’m yours for the rest of the day .
    â€˜Would you like to move somewhere else in the future, or would it be too difficult to leave such a lovely home?’
    For a second Claire found it hard to process what he’d asked. She felt sure he’d notice a sudden flush on her cheeks and the disappointment in her expression.
    â€˜William would never want to leave,’ she managed to say, trying to banish Bad Claire to the outer reaches of her thoughts. ‘He adores the house.’
    â€˜I’d imagine you could feel a little jealous,’ Stefan said.
    â€˜Of what?’
    â€˜Of the house.’
    She felt surprised and slightly annoyed by his comment. ‘William’s put in a huge amount of work to make us somewhere so beautiful to live. I’m very lucky.’
    Stefan started to look back through the shots he’d taken. ‘You’re also very photogenic.’
    â€˜I bet you say that to all the housewives you photograph.’
    â€˜No,’ he said, ‘I don’t. You also have a very photogenic house and I think there’s a lot more of your hard work and talent in this house than you give yourself credit for.’ Claire could feel him looking directly at her, even though she had her back to him as she took off her apron. ‘The little touches; ornaments, flowers, the general welcoming atmosphere – they are all you. They’re the things that make it such a special home. Not the holes drilled for the damp-proof course or the varnish on the hardwood floors or the monumental bed.’ Claire turned around and was struck all over again by how beautiful he was with his strong features and sun-tanned skin. There were laughter lines around his chocolate brown eyes but also a deep groove between his eyebrows that she hadn’t noticed until now. ‘I’m sure you could make anywhere you lived lovely.’
    Claire didn’t say anything but started tidying the table. She took a piece of scarlet ribbon and wound it round and round her fingers.
    â€˜It must be fantastic for your children growing up here,’ said Stefan. ‘The sort of home all children should have.’
    â€˜I think it’s important to give them a nice environment to live in.’ She slipped the ribbon from her hand and put it neatly into a drawer. ‘And as much stability as possible.’
    â€˜Yes, you’re right,’ he said, slowly packing away his camera equipment. ‘My father left when I was five. I came home from my first day at school and he was gone. I didn’t see him again for years. The house we lived in, the house I’d been born in, was sold; my mother married again and again and again – we lived in a series of houses; my sister and I got used to moving schools and having a succession of different step-brothers and sisters. I always knew there was no point settling down anywhere; before long we’d be off. I used to be angry with my mother for