I’m not sure what’s going on with these ten people. I have no idea what kind of secrets they’re keeping, and according to Hutch, I never will. I also don’t know why there would be danger associated with them. I have a few guesses, but there can only be one at the top of my list. And if I’m right, it scares me to death to think that my husband is part of their world.
The only thing I know for sure is that I like these people, dangerous or not.
“I haven’t heard a N’awlins accent in years,” Ellison says.
“I’ve been gone from New Orleans for seven years. People tell me I still have the accent, but I don’t hear it.”
“Oh, darlin’, you might not have it like you did seven years ago, but it’s definitely there. Just like Bleu and I still have our Southern accents. It’s impossible to shake that shit completely.”
Ellison is so frank. And funny. I wasn’t expecting the wives of Hutch’s friends to be so personable.
I love Rachel and she will forever be my best friend, but she doesn’t have a lot of time for me these days. And that’s fine. She needs to work on her relationship with Claud. And I need this. I need friends in my life. And I think I just found five new ones.
“I want to ask you guys something.”
Sure, okay, and aye all overlap at once.
I can’t believe I’m going to do this. “You knew Mina?”
“Not well but we were acquainted,” Bleu says.
Damn. They’re probably going to think I sound jealous of a dead woman when I ask this. “I only know what Hutch has told me. What did you think of her?”
“We can talk about Mina, but first can I just say that I think it’s the cutest thing ever that you have given Max the nickname Hutch? And I love that he calls you Lou. It’s so adorable.”
“Ah, thanks. He’s been Hutch to me since the night we met. It feels odd when I hear people call him Max, but Maxwell is even weirder to me. It’s so stiff and formal and I don’t see him that way at all.”
“Well, darlin’, I hope you see him stiff sometimes.” Ellison shrugs her shoulders when she looks at her sister. “I’m sorry. I had to. She walked right into it.”
Bleu rolls her eyes. “Please allow me to apologize for my sister. She can be highly inappropriate at times.”
“It’s fine. I appreciate witty banter.” I haven’t laughed this much in… ever. It’s nice.
I wish Hutch and I laughed more often. But how can we when the burden of the situation ahead of us weighs so heavily on our minds?
“You want to know about Mina? I’ll tell you all about Mina. She was a rude bitch,” Lorna says.
Wow. I’m loving the brutal honesty coming from these ladies.
“Lolo, you know it’s wrong to speak ill of the dead,” Westlyn says and then turns to look at me. “But she’s right. That woman was a very rude bitch.”
Lorna continues, “She had a way of looking at you as though you were no better than the dirt beneath her designer pumps. You know the look I’m talking about?”
I know it well. “Must be a Lochridge trait because her sister looks at me just like that.”
“You have no idea how many times I wanted to say ‘Bitch, I’m married to a Breckenridge. You have no idea what I could have done to you.’”
Ellison’s statement carries a lot of weight. Normal, everyday people don’t make threats like that. Sure, we say that we’re going to jack someone up or slap them silly but not that we could have things done to people. Those are a very telling choice of words.
Bleu looks at her sister, her brow lifted. “Elli—” There’s a warning tone in her voice. It’s unmistakable.
“Sorry, Cait. I get a little fired up about shit like that and spout off at the mouth.”
“I understand. If Mina was anything like her sister, she’d be enough to make anyone get fired up. She won’t leave us alone. And she’s threatening to take Hutch’s daughter from us.”
Westlyn reaches over and places her hand on mine. “I’m sorry she’s giving you problems. There must be some way to put a stop to that nonsense.”
“Hutch has seen a family law solicitor. His advice was to establish my character as a loving wife and stepmother to Ava Rose. We’ll need character witnesses when we go to court.”
Ellison throws her hand up, waving it back and forth. “Oh no, sweetie. You need to put a stop to that shit before it ever goes to court.”
“I would love nothing better but the Lochridges are powerful. I’m not.”
“Powerful people always have weaknesses and secrets. Usually big ones. You just have to find them,” Bleu says.
“I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“It’s as simple as pen and paper. Start making lists of what you know to be facts about Mina and her family. Make another list of things you suspect. You’d be surprised by how the two lists will coincide and bring the pieces of the puzzles together.” Bleu weaves her fingers together, forming a clasp. “Each piece will build upon the next.”
“You should listen to her. She knows what she’s talking about. She used to be an FBI agent,” Westlyn says.
“FBI? Federal Bureau of Investigation? That kind of agent?”
“Yeah. Badge-wearing, gun-carrying certified badass in blue,” Ellison says.
I guess I’m being sexist in my own head, but I would have pegged her for a model before an FBI agent. “That’s surprising and impressive.”
“You should see her fight if you want to be impressed. She could literally walk into that living room right now and put any one of those men on his arse,” Westlyn says.
Lorna laughs. “True story. She put Leith on his arse in the ring one time. To this day, he still won’t talk about it.”
Wow. Leith is not a small guy.
“Did your job as an agent bring you to Scotland?”
Bleu smiles. “In a roundabout way, it did.”
“And you met Sin while you were on a job assignment here in Edinburgh?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds like something out of a movie rather than real life.”
“Our story would make a great novel.”
“Maybe I should write it.”
“You’re an author?” Bleu asks.
I shrug. “Aspiring author.”
“Writing and publishing a book must be exciting.”
“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t completed one yet, but I can tell you that the writing process definitely isn’t what everyone believes it to be.” It’s so damn hard.
“Are you working on anything now?”
“My most recent work in progress was a modern-day fairy tale. But I abandoned it.”
The truth is that I haven’t felt motivated to write anything since my miscarriage. I open up my laptop and stare at the screen, but no words come into my mind.
“I’ve not been able to find time to write because our lives have been a whirlwind for the last several weeks. I’m still a student at uni, and I had to study for finals. And then we got married the Saturday before Christmas. It’s been crazy busy for us.”
“I’ve never seen him look so happy. We’re absolutely thrilled for the two of you.”
“That’s sweet of you to say. Thank you.”
“I’m sorry you’re having these problems with Mina’s family. No new bride should have to deal with that kind of problem in her marriage,” Bleu says.
“I knew what kind of bullshit I was getting into when I married Hutch. None of this is unexpected.”
“Which proves how strong you are,” Bleu says.
“I think she’s going to fit in perfectly with us,” Ellison says.
I think so too. I feel comfortable with these women. Like they are my tribe.
60
Maxwell Hutcheson
Ava Rose’s entrance into the world was nothing like this one. Mina’s pregnancy reached the thirty-eight-week milestone and a cesarean section was done. My daughter was plucked from her mother’s body and handed over to me. And
I instantly became a father. It was exactly that cut and dried.
Ian’s experience of becoming a father is much different from mine.
He and Shannon were asleep when her water broke. They rushed to the hospital believing that the baby could fall out at any minute. Needless to say, they were let down to learn she was dilated only two centimeters. That was hours ago. Per Ian’s reports, the poor lass is in agony and exhausted. Still at two centimeters, they have little hope that the bairn will be born anytime soon.
All of us sit taller when Ian comes into the waiting room.
“Please tell us that poor lass has made some kind of progress,” my mum says.
Ian shakes his head. “Still no change.”
My mum sighs. “Have they given her anything for the pain?”
“She finally gave in and took something about ten minutes ago. She’s resting, so I thought it would be a good time to step out and update you.”
“Her mum is sitting with her?” my dad asks.
“Her mum and sister.”
“You shouldn’t worry, Ian. The same thing happened to me when I was in labor with Max. My water broke and I made no progress for hours and hours, and then all of a sudden the wee jobby decided to come. The doctor barely made it into the room in time for his delivery.”
“She’s becoming discouraged. She thought she’d be like the other women in her family and deliver the baby quickly.”
“She shouldn’t compare herself to other women. We’re all different. Just keep encouraging her. Tell her to not give up. Tell her she can do it.”
“I will, Mum.” Ian sighs. “I should get back to her.”
“We’ll be right here, son. We aren’t going anywhere.”
Lou leans against me, resting her head against my upper arm. “Tired, mo maise?”
“I am.”
I lift my arm and wrap it around her. “I’ve got you. Close your eyes and take a nap if you want. Sounds like we’re going to be here a while.”
“I don’t think I can.” She lowers her voice. “Every time I close my eyes, I remember being here.”
I know it must be painful for her. “Do you want to leave?”
“No. I’ll soon have new memories connected to this place. Happy memories to replace the sad ones.”
“My brother is about to become a father to a wee one. I’m not sure if I should be proud or frightened.”
“Ian will make a fine father.”
Ian has matured a lot. “He’ll be a better father than I was in the beginning. But then again, I’m not sure that’s saying much. He wouldn’t have to be very good to be a better father than I was.”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“You have to admit that I was awful in the beginning.”
“You were dreadful when we met, but that’s not who you are today. You are a wonderful father to Ava Rose and she adores you.”
“She adores you too, muh muh.”
“I love that little girl so much.”
“I know you do. She couldn’t be blessed with a more loving mum.”
I don’t know if Mina would have been capable of loving Ava Rose the way Lou unconditionally loves her. Mina was a selfish woman. I believe she would have grown bored with a bairn after the new wore off. Spit-up and dirty nappies wouldn’t have suited Mina’s style.
Lou doesn’t know yet, but I have plans for our family other than adding new members. I want her to be Ava Rose’s mum. Her legal mother. And when our problems with the Lochridges are over, we’re going to explore that possibility.
Darkness turns to light, and the sun turns into a moon again. I’m not sure how many hours it took, but baby Pearl has finally arrived.
The wee lassie is lying on Shannon’s chest when we enter the room, her head covered by a beanie. But Shannon and the baby aren’t the ones who catch my attention. It’s my brother. I can’t remember ever seeing him look so happy.
“Isn’t she grand?” Ian asks.
“Oh, she’s a bonnie one,” my dad says.
“The doctor and nurses told us that she looks healthy. And even if they hadn’t, I’d know by looking at those cheeks.”
“That’s such a relief to hear. How do you feel, Shannon?” my mum asks.
“I’m exhausted. And sore. Very sore.”
“As to be expected, but you’ll feel better in no time at all.” My mum leans closer for a better look at her new granddaughter and lifts the beanie. “Lots of dark hair, just like Ian when he was born.”
“I’m glad she took after him. I was bald.”
“I think she looks like me,” Ian says and his voice reflects the pride and happiness he feels about his new daughter. And while I’m happy for him, I’m also envious.
Shannon insisted that Ian take a prenatal paternity test so he’d know without question that Pearl is his daughter. She didn’t want him to ever have doubts about it. And he won’t because the test proved he is the bairn’s father.
Unlike me, Ian will see himself within his daughter. That’s a precious gift that I’ll never have in Ava Rose. But I won’t love her less because of it.
When it’s Lou’s turn to hold Pearl, she takes her into her arms and holds her closely, pressing a kiss against the top of her beanie-covered head. She instantly shifts her weight back and forth between her feet, humming a soft melody, just as she does when she’s trying to get Ava Rose to go to sleep.
Lou was born to be a mother.
She was born to be the mother of my children.
And I can’t wait to give her what her heart longs for.
61
Caitriona Hutcheson
Powerful people always have weaknesses and secrets. Usually big ones. You just have to find them. I haven’t been able to get Bleu Breckenridge’s words out of my head.
She said that I should make a list of facts and suspicions, and the two have a tendency to coincide, bringing the pieces of the puzzles together. That each piece will build upon the next.
The problem with that? I don’t know the Lochridges. And I’m not sure Hutch truly does either. Not really. I believe those people have many secrets and they are buried deeply.
“What are you thinking so hard about, mo maise?”
I look up from my partially eaten breakfast. “I’m not sure you want to know the answer to that question.”
“That answer makes me want to know even more.”
“Did you know that Bleu Breckenridge was an FBI agent before she married Sin?”
“I did.”
“The wives and I were discussing our problems with the Lochridges the other night, and they believe we need to put a stop to it before it has a chance to go to court.”
“I would love nothing better. Believe me, I would if I knew how.”
I’m going to toss this out there and see what Hutch says. “I think they were suggesting that we blackmail them so they won’t seek custody of Ava Rose.”
“Blackmailing a Lochridge?” Hutch shakes his head. “That’s a terrible plan.”
“Is it really?” I can’t imagine anything being a terrible plan if it means we don’t have to fight to keep Ava Rose.
“Aye, a very bad idea.”
“You’re banking everything on a judge giving Ava Rose to us because I’ve proven my character. And the truth is that simply may not happen.”
“I know very well, Lou. It’s on my mind night and day.”
“There is no danger of losing Ava Rose if they don’t sue for custody. We can assure that they don’t if we gain the right kind of knowledge about them.”
“I have knowledge about them. I know things about Thomas Lochridge that would send him to jail for a very long time, but we can never use any of it against him.”
What is Hutch thinking? “We’d be crazy not to.”
“What happens to my daughter when Thomas takes me down with him?”
“What does that mean?”
“If I rat him out, he’ll never let me go free while he sits in j
ail. His life ends and so will mine.”
Oh, I see. “Because you did illegal things for him?”
“That’s another one of those questions that you shouldn’t ask because I’m not going to give you the answer.”
“I’m your wife.”
“Aye, you are. And it’s my job to protect you.”
“I don’t care what Thomas made you do. I’ll always stand by you.”
“I know you will, but knowing that kind of information is a burden I’ll never place on you. I love you too much to do that to you.”
I understand. I do. And that’s why I too will not burden Hutch by telling him what I plan on doing to get us out of this colossal mess.
Hutch gets up from the table and comes to kiss me goodbye. “It’s Monday. Are you cooking tonight?”
“I can if you want me to.”
“I do.”
“What would you like?”
“Mmm… surprise me.”
I’ve had an idea simmering in the back of my mind for a while. “What time should I have dinner ready?”
He kisses my forehead and I melt. I do every time he does that. “I’ll be home by six.”
I go to the window and pull back the drape, watching the black luxury sedan disappear over the hill. For good measure, I wait a few more minutes to be sure that Hutch doesn’t come back to the house before I make the call that will hopefully change this course we’re currently on.
“Hi, Bleu. It’s Cait Hutcheson. I know it’s a bit early. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.”
“No, it’s fine. The kids just finished breakfast and they’re watching their favorite show. How are you?”
“Not great.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m not surprised.”
“I’d really like to meet with you and talk more about what you said the other night. Are you free today or tomorrow?”
“I’m free today. Can you meet for lunch?”
“Absolutely.”
“I have a good idea about what you’d like to discuss. I think you could benefit from having Shaw join us today. She has connections you would find helpful.”
Beautiful Illusions Duet Bundle: Eighty-One Nights and Beautiful Ever After Page 37
