Thick as Thieves (The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts #3)

Chapter 43

43

Evie

London

“Marshall, I love you, but you’ve gone too far this time.” My hands on my hips, I chastise him. Jonno is at my side, looking from one to the other.

Marshall flops back onto the bed, suddenly looking very ill and vulnerable. “Midarlin’, what could I do? They looked like puppies abandoned at the side of the road. The twins were hugging them, they were kissing them like it was their last day on earth. I felt sorry for them.” He’s trying to explain away his actions.

“Exactly. That’s what they wanted you to do. I’ve told you what they did.” I shudder remembering that conversation.

He nods slowly. “I’ve rented it to them for a year. Only one year. If you’re not all sorted one way or another in that time, they hand back my keys and away they go. I won’t renew the lease.”

“But your old farm is so near us, Marshall. Let them rent in the village. At least I won’t have to pass the gate end every day.” I’m so agitated at his actions I’m having difficulty staying still, and start pacing the length of the small room.

“I’ve given my word, midarlin’. I can’t go back on it,” he says, all dewy eyed, from his mountain of pillows.

“This is your fault, Jonno.” I turn on him sharply. If I can’t have a go at Marshall, he can bear the brunt.

He looks at me in amazement. “How could I be blamed for Marshall caving in and giving them his farm for a year?” His mouth is wide open, he’s flabbergasted.

“You should have told me about the paternity test, the vasectomy plans.” I’m checking his misdemeanours off on my fingers. Marshall makes a strangled noise in his throat. “Sorry Marshall,” I laugh, as Jonno also looks squeamish.

Then Marshall drops a hand grenade into the conversation. “Well, it won’t be the first time a test has been done without all the parties involved being in the know, now is it?” Marshall looks at both Jonno and me, his grey eyes sparkling.

“You know?” I ask incredulously. I flop into a chair defeated. Fear of rejection is starting to bleed into my psyche.

He simply nods. “You should have told me, but you didn't. You both kept it a secret. I knew you knew. I could tell by how you acted, midarlin’. Differently. I couldn’t make it out. Until I saw an invoice at the farm office. You weren’t quick enough, Jonno. It came in before you got to the post.”

Jonno raises his eyes to the sky and immediately launches into justifying our actions. “We didn't want Evie to be taken away. Her step dad had gone. Then he was found dead all those months later. Look at how hard my mum fought to keep her with us. We needed insurance and protection, so we did it.”

“Henry Russell kept you there. No one was prepared to go against him. Lord Stockton, he vouched for you and the Greystones, so it never came to the authorities getting fully involved. I know that young Russell hounded his life out to help. Told his dad he would disinherit himself if Henry didn’t step in.”

I look at Jonno. I never knew Kellen had gotten involved, Kell never said. But I can see Jonno knew.

“Why did you not tell me you knew, Marshall?” I ask quietly, lots of emotions hitting me at once. Maybe he didn’t want to believe it. Maybe it was too much for him to take on officially.

He pauses and looks into my heart. “I have loved you, my daughter, for all of your life.”

Tears well up, and Marshall puts his arms out to me. I move instantly into them as Jonno starts for the door.

“Stay, Jonno,” Marshall implores gently. “If you had not ordered that test, I might not have been brave enough to acknowledge what I always knew in my heart.” He stops and gazes lovingly into my face. “Your mother never confirmed it, midarlin’, but she hinted. And her dying written wishes confirmed it to me. I didn’t need a test to prove I loved you, Evie.” Jonno comes and takes my hand, my other one in Marshall’s.

“Sometimes things are done. It’s not right, but it is for the right reasons. We protect as we think best.” He lets that one sink in. “I have protected you by not saying, and we have protected each other. But I have acknowledged you in lots of ways, Evie. You and my grandsons are my world. I have backed you with money, love, and, I hope, support.”

I nod at him. He has unequivocally done that. He has moved his life for me.

“I know you have, Marshall. You’ve moved heaven and earth for me. And I hope you know how much I, we, love you.” I step forwards and hug him. “Can I call you Dad? Can the boys call you Grandpa?”

He gifts me his big slow smile, saying, “I would love that more than anything in the world.”