Noodles

‘Oh my!’ Joe’s face revealed his pleasure as he scooped up the last of the buttery noodles. ‘That was absolutely delicious Xavier, thanks.’

Kim had to agree and tried not to resent how Joe was so much more appreciative of their visitor’s cooking skills than he sometimes was of hers. Somehow Xavier had managed to conjure a gourmet meal out of store cupboard ingredients in the space of ten minutes and everyone had enjoyed it. And then he had suggested the others decide who was sleeping where, while he cleared up the kitchen. He knew how to ingratiate himself, that was for sure.

‘I could go home,’ offered Jean-Claude without conviction.

‘It’s an hour’s drive,’ said Kim, ‘and you still look a little wobbly. Probably best if you stay here with us, so someone is on hand if you feel ill again?’

It didn’t take much persuasion - he could feel his pulse jumping uncomfortably from time to time and although he wasn’t keen on sharing sleeping space with the clone, he didn’t feel well enough for the drive home. He couldn’t rid himself of the suspicion that his collapse had had something to do with Xavier. He determined to adjust some of Xavier’s controls first thing in the morning, to be sure

• the safeguards were properly in place.

In the end, it was decided that Delphine and Emma would share the bed in the spare bedroom, with Jean-Claude sleeping on the sofa downstairs. Xavier volunteered to take the camp bed in the utility room, on the principle that the room was cool and would suit him if his temperature rose again. He also preferred privacy it seemed.