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

Chapter 45

45

Evie

Devon

I’ve started to work, light duties, but bit by bit I get pulled back into full time. I know the phrase about women having it all, but sometimes it just seems like yes, we do the same things as the men do, but we haven’t actually lost any tasks. We also have all the other bits to still do as well. So having it all actually means doing everything.

Fair enough I have help, but there’s no way I could run my business, my home, my kids, without some sort of help. So I feel a bit like a fraud. If I moan one word, everyone would just look at me and point out the fact I have a nanny. Yes, but I go to work. If I didn’t have a nanny it would be a nursery—same thing.

I know I’m lucky to have the means, but still planning and making all the decisions is a lot on top of running a thriving business. My mind plays tricks on me, telling me I don’t have to be alone. I don’t have to make all the decisions. You can involve others—the dads.

It’s been a hard summer, watching them watch me. Their eyes asking the same questions: Will you forgive us? Can we come home? Do you still want us?

I feel their desperation starting to get the better of them, and certainly Kellen is getting exasperated that I don’t talk to him about it. He just doesn’t understand how betrayed and let down I feel. How deeply they’ve hurt me.

I’ve played nice all summer. The twins have been backwards and forwards to Marshall's old farm. I’ve had Kell and Xan here on occasion for dinner in the evening. Xander’s come over in the morning to sort the boys out for the day. I’ve never withheld the children from them. But I have withheld myself.

I’ve taken great care to not get involved with them, and at times I’ve cried myself to sleep over it—wanting to talk, wanting to touch, wanting to be loved again. But I’m terrified if I let them in again, I won’t survive it a second time around if they do something that blows it all up.

The outside pressure sits like the elephant in the room, just waiting to go on the rampage. Because they’re in Devon, near if not with me, people are already speculating about our relationships. If we restart everything again, how will that play out? I’ve been seeing a few bits of hate on-line. Everyone with an opinion, some positive, live and let live. But other stuff is downright nasty. I don’t want to hide, but nothing I’m seeing is making me want to be out in public either. It’s just too complicated. So I do nothing, hoping in a weird way that they will do something.

“I’ve got to go to LA,” Kellen tells me.

It’s midweek at the end of September. We’re in the big family kitchen at Cornhill and I’m preparing to go to London for a few days, taking the children with me.

“It’s NSM business and I need to go.” He’s playing with Sorley and isn’t looking at me. I wonder what it actually is that’s making him leave.

“Is Xander going with you?” I ask. Where one goes the other usually follows at some point.

“No, he’s staying here. He’s started the commission for Kasey for his ranch. More wire horses for him to cut himself to pieces on.” He grins. “So I’m going alone, but I’ll see James and Bucky while I’m there, so, every cloud….” He finally looks over at me, gets off the floor and comes across to stand in front of me. “Will you miss me?”

He pushes my hair out of my face. I can feel the other questions being shouted from within. I sigh but nod at him. Kell is always the one to push, he always was, he’ll not wait.

Pulling me towards him, I feel him inhale. His eyes fix on mine, and I can see the trepidation in them. “Can we talk, when I get back?”

I nod again, I can’t get any words out. I’m not even sure what I would say.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “So fucking sorry. I miss you,—”

Lochi totters into the room, with Valentina trailing behind him. Both the boys are walking in a fashion. Well they’re standing and walk unaided, but generally they have an adult attached to them.

He moves to pick up Lochi. “Will you miss Daddy? Da, da, da,” he chants at the child. “Papa will stay and love you. Pa pa pa,” he chants again.

“You’re determined they’ll say your name first.” I laugh at him, trying to distract and break the tension. Only thing is, he knows me well. And raises an eyebrow at me.

He turns and grins at the baby. “Don’t run yourself into the ground at work. You have a team, use them. Tell her off, Sorley, if she doesn’t.” The boy looks at him seriously and up at me. “He understands me,” he says. “You’re both very clever boys,” he says, kissing them. “I hate leaving them, you, it’s so hard.” He’s hugging them one after the other. “Try not to cause too much chaos in London whilst I’m gone?” he asks me. “Is Jonno back in Ireland?”

“Yeah, something to do with a money trail. Not sure why he had to go, though.”

He’s handed the babies to Valentina, and I’m escorting him to the door of the house. “Xan’s in the workshop near the coach house,” he informs me, nodding his head in that direction. “I’ll go see him then get off. Take care of him, Kitten. He needs?—”

He stops himself from saying anymore. I put my head down. This is hard on all of us.

“I’ll be back in a week, ring if you need me.”

He suddenly pulls me to him, lifting my head and kissing me hard on the lips. I gasp out at the ferocity. My body takes leave of its senses and moulds itself to him. He makes a noise at the back of his throat and holds me harder.

I finally pull away, and he looks drunk, growling out, “When I get back, Kitten.”

I stand at the door and watch him stride away. My body wants to go after him. As I touch my fingers to my lips in a trance, I look up to see they’re watching me intently from the doorway of the workshop. Stepping back, I shut the door and take a deep breath, my mind spinning around, my stomach in knots.

“Are you okay?” Valentina asks as Sorley crabs round towards me.

I smile and pick up the baby. “Phew, you are heavy today, young man. Let’s get you packed. I’m fine Valentina, it’s just…” I stop and shrug, tears springing to my eyes.

She nods her head in sympathy and understanding. “El corazón quiere lo que quiere,” she murmurs.

I understand enough by now to know what she said. The heart wants what the heart wants.

“It certainly does,” I tell her. “And I don’t think it’s waiting anymore.”

London is full-gas. The very moment I get to my apartments, I’m inundated. Lori has my schedule and is at my door as soon as I arrive. Meetings with my team and clients, site visits, requests for buildings—I feel like I’ve climbed into the washing machine and forgot to get out before the spin cycle starts. I try to see the boys through the day, but it’s snatched visits.

As I head out for dinner with clients and the rest of my team, I realise my super idea for a time saver is a time stealer from my sons. I’ve finished feeding them a month shy of their first birthday, and I still feel guilty about it. I know I made the decision based on practicality, but the guilt eats away at me, everything seeming to be an unsatisfactory compromise.

I’ve booked Vincenzo’s, so we spend a lovely evening—but also a productive one—sorting issues and creating solutions in a far more pleasurable space than a meeting room or building site. Tommy has come with me, and after I’ve air kissed everyone goodbye, I clamber into the car to realise I’ve forgotten my shawl. Leaving him holding the door, I jump back out again and head back in. I’m trying to catch Vinny’s eye to collect it for me, when I’m tapped on the shoulder.

“Hello, Everett. I didn’t know you were back.”

Her clipped, cultured tone makes my ears bleed. I don’t even bother to turn around to acknowledge her. If she can’t get my name right, she can get lost.

I ask the waitress to pass across my shawl, smiling and waiting as she goes off for it. Again I’m tapped.

“I’m sorry, Everett, did you not hear me?”

I ignore her again.

“Evie—”

I finally turn around and smile. “Oh, hi Rowena, how are you?”

She looks really annoyed that I obviously ignored her, and in front of her group of friends who are scowling more aggressively than her.

“Is Marcus here?” she asks.

I shake my head. “LA,” I say, taking the shawl from the girl and thanking her.

Rowena surprises me with, “Do you think you could come for lunch tomorrow? I’d like to see the boys, and you, of course.” She says it with the most ingenuine smile I’ve seen in a long time. She’s not even a good actress. But that might be on purpose, in case I was in any doubt that she disliked me.

“Orla’s here with the baby and the boys,” she continues. She knows that may draw me in.

I think about going to see her and placating her, but then I think why should I. She threw James and me out of her house. Twice. Didn’t bother to tell her only son he had a son. Has tried to get Kellen married off to any number of women, as long as they didn’t have the surname Greystone. Too bad she’s failed spectacularly.

“I’m sorry, Rowena, you'll have to wait for Kellen to come home. I’m completely flat out trying to get work things sorted whilst I’m here. I’m back down to Devon shortly, so I won’t have time to come. I’m sure Kellen, when he gets back, will sort out visiting.” I match her ingenuine smile. And raise it.

She practically sneers at me. “So you’re telling me no.”

The woman is obviously a genius. My face shows my thoughts. “Well, for now, but obviously not forever. Kell will sort it when he comes back.” I continue to smile as fake as her.

“When is that exactly? And can you make sure James comes, please. As his grandmother, I’m getting lots of requests for appearances.”

I’m not sure if she means they’re asking for James, or if she thinks people want to see her because of James. I’m sure it will be the latter with Rowena. She thinks she’s the crowd puller. I decide to deliberately misunderstand her. She’s looking down her nose at me. The Dowager Countess Rowena Russell in full flow.

“I’m sure you’ll do fine with the appearances. I’ll be sure to mention it to him when I speak to him next. But he’s not due home for another month.”

She looks more put out at James’s timescales than she did at Kellen’s. Obviously James is pulling in the punters. I nod, and walk past the hostile posse.

“You ought to be grateful she’s speaking to you, after what you’ve done,” Chrissy, the ever faithful lieutenant, snarls into my face as I pass.

I look at her in bewilderment. “What exactly have I done?” I ask, mildly politely, looking seriously confused.

“Huh, you know. And so will everyone else soon enough,” she threatens.

I roll my eyes at her. “Whatever.” I really can’t be bothered with these women.

As I stomp past her, she grabs my arm. “Mark my words, you won’t get away with it.”

I roll my eyes at her again, this time with an exaggerated sigh so she doesn’t miss it. “Chrissy, I’m not sure what on earth I’m supposed to be getting away with, but if you grab me again…” I stand my ground and stare at them.

She pushes by me and follows after Rowena and I shake my head and walk out to the car.

“I just had the weirdest conversation with Rowena and Chrissy. I’ve done something to upset them, but damned if I can think what it is, other than breathing of course.” I grin at Tommy, unconcerned as I clamber into the car. “Asked me for lunch then insulted me. Well I’m desperate to go now. Sign me up for a quarterly event.” I’m shaking my head in bewilderment.

“You do know she’ll be straight on the phone, winding Marcus up,” he says confidently.

“Honestly, yes, she will. I don’t mind her hassling him. In fact it’s quite the entertainment to watch how many shades of red he can go before he turns purple. He can handle her though. It’s if she wants to see the babies, James and Bucky, I don’t want the extra mileage. You know what, give me a sec.” I jump back out of the car and head back into the restaurant before I can come to my senses and not bother.

Vinny grins at me. “Back so soon, Bella? What have you forgotten now?”

I smile at my friend. “Nothing, I just need a quick word with that party,” I tell him, pointing to the table from hell, all air kissing and talking over each other.

He waves me in and I walk up to Rowena, pushing the most ridiculous smile ever onto my face. “Rowena, a slot just opened up in my diary for the day after tomorrow. Is lunch still okay?”

She eyes Chrissy and then purrs out, “Perfect. See you at 12:30,” turning away immediately to talk to another friend.

Clearly dismissed, I smile, swaying my way out of the restaurant. What a pain she is. But if I get her over and done with, I can go back to Devon and not have to consider her ‘til after the new year. If I’m lucky.