“This way you have a separate work space. It has good lighting. And I figured you would like being close to the garden for inspiration. Plus, you can watch Drew playing while you’re working.”
“You’ve thought of everything.” I look around; it’s like a dream come true. “How did you do all this in a morning?”
“Well...” He smiles sheepishly and rubs his hand down the back of his neck while he looks around. “I started it a couple weeks ago after that night in the library.”
“What?” I couldn’t be mad even if I wanted to. “How did you know I would stay?”
“It was never a question. I wasn’t gonna let you go.” He distracts me by kissing me again.
“Is that right?” I laugh against his lips and he nods.
“Well, looks like we’re on the same page, because I was never going anywhere,” I tell him.
“What about the cottage house in the states?” he asks thoughtfully, pushing my wild mane back out of my eyes.
“I’ll always keep it; it’s a tie to my mother and her family. But I would like to go back and bring out things. Some can remain, except photographs and things.” I cover his hand with my own.
“Sure, whatever you want. All you have to do is say the word, and it’s done.” He presses his forehead to mine, and his hands find my hips once more. “You know, we didn’t use a condom last night, any of the times.”
“You sound so pleased with yourself,” I whisper against his lips.
“It wasn’t intentional, but if I’m being honest, I don’t regret it. But I want you to know that you don’t have anything to worry about.” His eyes gaze thoughtfully into mine, and his voice grows serious. “Willow, I want you to know that, I’ve never been with anyone without protection. I’m not proud of my history, but I would never put you at risk. There’s only ever been you without it.”
“I trust you.” I kiss him gently before continuing. “I believe you. And I’m okay with not using anything. I mean I’m not on any kind of birth control, but I’m okay with not having any either.”
His entire face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Really?” He picks me up and spins me around. “You’re sure?”
“Yes!” I laugh, and he drops to his knees and places a kiss to my stomach before wrapping his arms around my waist. I hug his head to me then warn him. “You might want to get up before Anna thinks that you dropped to your knee to do something else, or ask something else.”
“There’s an idea.” He stands and pulls me into is arms.
“What about Barrington? Do we need to call his office?” This is really happening. I’m moving home. I’m with Piers. It’s like a dream come true.
“Well...” He gets that same look on his face.
“When?” He already told him; I know it. I’m sure if it.
“The same day we left his office.” I gasp. “I’m sorry, Willow. But there was never any way I was letting you go. That’s another reason I never mentioned the loophole. The only reason I even figured out about the clause was in case you refused to come. I could inherit it under the charity name and save it for you.” Again, I’m floored at what lengths he would go to…for me. And in this, not even knowing if I would come back, not even knowing about Drew.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.” I kiss him and wrap myself around him as he lifts me in his arms before setting me on the work table and standing between my legs.
“Glass walls.” His mouth is still on mine. “Little eyes and ears.”
Kiss. “Piers, Glass.”
Kiss. “Windows. Walls.”
Kiss. “Drew.”
Finally understanding what I’m saying, he pulls back and takes a deep breath. “Sorry.”
His hands caress the tops of my thighs, and my gown rides up. “Don’t be. I want you too. But not with an audience.” I laugh.
“One more order of business. I know you want more kids; that’s obvious.” I tug at the waist of his jeans and his hand thoughtfully brushes against my abdomen. “But what about Everlend?”
“I think there’s only one choice,” he replies, no hint of joking in his tone. “Restore it to the way it was when we were kids. This place saved me. You saved me. Theo, Scarlett, so many others. It only seems fair to share this gift we’ve been given.”
“I couldn’t agree more. And we can start out small, a couple kids, and slowly grow it back. With the move and us just getting settled, I’d like some time, just the three of us.” I blink back tears.
“Me too,” he says, placing gentle kisses across my face. “How about we try for next summer. I can get my legal team on it, and that gives us some time to make any updates the house needs. We can partner with my contacts at London Lost. And that gives us time to get settled in as a family.”
“Perfect. July 16.” I smile.
“Wendy’s birthday,” we say in unison.
“It’s a date.” I take his hand in mine.
“Speaking of dates, meet me after Sunday dinner? For a walk?” He intertwines my fingers in his.
“Is that code for something?” I wink, and he laughs.
“Insatiable, are we?” He kisses down my neck and a moan escapes my lips.
“Maybe.” I tilt my head to give him better access.
Drawing back, he looks at me. “I need to take care of a few things. Why don’t you write that letter to Wendy that you wanted to? I think you’ll find everything you need in the desk.” He pats the wood I’m sitting on.
“Great idea. I’ll come back out after Drew is settled. Also, I may run to see James again tomorrow?”
“Okay. Would you like me to drive you?”
“That would be great, if you have time. What are you going to be up to?” I’m curious why he wouldn’t be in the office on a Monday.
“Well, I have a couple calls to make.” He runs his hand down his face on a frustrated sigh, and I know something is bothering him.
“Willow, I’m going to talk to Scarlett. I’m going to set the record straight once and for all, even if it means cutting ties with her, not working with her.”
“Piers. Are you sure that’s what you want?” I’m jumping for joy on the inside, even though I know it’s selfish and petty.
“I want you to feel comfortable. I want you to know you’re first. You’re my life, my love. She’s my friend, but the way she treated you is inexcusable.” His voice is tinged with anger.
“At the very least, I’m going to suggest she take some time off. Let things cool down, give you and me a chance.”
I’m floored.
“Piers, I don’t know what to say. I—” This isn’t how I wanted it to go. Okay maybe I did, just a little. But Wendy’s letter comes back to me.
“Wendy said to forgive Scarlett. She gave her a chance. And if we’re going to be in the business of second chances, we can’t pick and choose.” I worry my hands in my lap. “Don’t get me wrong, I mean I did just slap her, but—”
“Wait, back up.” Piers stops me and looks shocked. “You slapped Scarlett? When?”
“Oh, ha. Forgot to mention that, did I? Oops! And it was last night. She said you were only with me because of Drew. It was a reflex.” I shrug.
He takes my palms in his hands and kisses them both. “Don’t worry, if it would have been another guy saying those things about you, I would have done worse. I just didn’t know you had it in you. My little fire cracker.”
“It was out of character for me, no doubt.”
“Regardless. We need to talk. I think I’ll give her a ring before dinner.”
“Whatever you want to do.” I offer my support, knowing this will be difficult for him. And loving him all the more for being willing to help
“I’ll grab Drew and get him washed up.” He smiles, stepping back. “Wanna fly?” He lifts me into his arms.
“Sure, lost boy. Lead the way!” I wrap my arms tightly around him.
“Think happy thoughts,” he reminds me.
“That’s all
I have are happy thoughts.” The smile on my face is perfect evidence.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
PIERS
After cleaning up our dinner mess, Drew and I head to the study to play blocks for a bit. Anna argued – she’s a bit old fashioned like that, but if I’m going to be a part of this family, I want to contribute. And not just financially.
Plus, I wanted to give Willow a chance to spend time writing a letter to Wendy. I think it’s something that she needs to do, to find some peace and lay some ghosts to rest. I know she hasn’t been back to the garden, at least not to our spot anyway.
I hate that what was once her favorite place, her safe haven, was tarnished by pain that I caused. I’m hoping that after tonight, she will have new memories to replace the old ones and it will once again be a happy place. A magical place...full of hopes and promises, the way it once was.
Drew yawns and climbs over into my lap. His affection is something I’m still getting used to. It makes my heart so full it could burst. I’ll work every single day to deserve it, to be the best father to him I can be.
“Ready for bed, lad?” I ask, hugging him closer. He had a busy evening chasing Pete the pirate cat.
“Yeah.” He yawns.
“Okay, then. Up we go.” Standing with him in my arms, I carry him upstairs to his room.
“Happy thoughts,” he whispers to himself sleepily.
“Here we are.” I gently lay him down, tucking him in. “Sleep tight, son.”
“I’m glad it was you.” His eyes flutter open and he studies me. “I’m glad you’re my dad,” he adds.
Turning on his bedside lantern, I kneel beside his bed and smile. I’m too choked up to speak, but I try anyway. “I’m glad too. You’re the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. I’m sorry it took so long to find you, but I promise we’ll never be lost from each other for as long as I live.” My hand gently moves a wayward curl from his forehead as his eyelids grow heavy. “I love you, Drew.”
“Love you too, Dad,” he replies, yawning once more, he closes his eyes.
Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away to watch him sleep just a few moments more.
Knowing how much I love him, I can’t imagine how a person could leave a child. Their own flesh and blood. I could never leave him...but it’s not my place to judge. Their story isn’t my own.
My pocket vibrates with an incoming call. Standing, I place a kiss to Drew’s head and quietly walk from his room, leaving the door cracked the way Willow likes.
Stepping into the hallway, I remove my phone and see it was from Scarlett. She didn’t take my call before dinner, nor respond to any of my messages.
Walking to the study, I ring her back. Finally, she answers.
“Piers.” Her is voice flat. At least she’s not trying to pretend she doesn’t know why I’m ringing.
“Why?” I jump right in, tired of the secrets. Tired of pretending.
“Why what?” she huffs out. “Why tell your precious Willow the truth? Why ask her about the loophole that you lied about? Why say I knew about her children’s books? Why admit I picked out her mask? Why point out she can’t make you happy, be what you need? Take your pick.” She rattles off, sounding annoyed I’m questioning her about it.
My jaw clenches as she continues spitting her venom, and it makes me sick to think that it was directed at Willow.
“Because she can’t...regardless if you agree, it’s the truth.” Her voice lowers.
“Scarlett, you’re really not giving me much choice here.” I sigh.
“I’m surprised she’s even letting you call me. I’d be jealous too if I was her. She sees what we have Piers.” The more she talks, the angrier I get.
“What we have? What we had...was a friendship, Scarlett.” I grit my teeth, heartsick at how she betrayed me.
“Had? Let me guess; she’s making you choose.” She sounds shocked, appalled even.
“No, actually. Quite the opposite. She wanted me to give you a second chance. Even after all you subjected her to. Hell, last night alone! But you have yourself to thank for this. It’s you who’s forcing me to choose.” I struggle to keep my temper in check, knowing Drew is asleep upstairs.
“You don’t mean that.” Panic laces her tone now. “You can’t.”
“I’m sorry Scarlett.” And I truly am.
“Piers. I love you. I— I thought maybe you felt the same. And I thought with her out of the way, you could finally see it. See me, see an us. But it always comes back to her. Why?” I’m shocked by her confession. It’s never been like that with us.
“I really don’t know why, Scarlett. It’s always been her. I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression. But with or without Willow, there would never be an us. Your blame is misplaced.” I feel guilt that she ever thought there was a possibility of anything more than friendship between us.
“What about PAN Industries? BlackHouse? Are you firing me too? Cutting me out of every facet of your life?” She’s desperate now, and I’m back to being the lost boy, the one who’s loyal to a fault.
“Of course not. I’m going to take a bit of a leave. Focus on my family, the London Lost and some other endeavors. Things will be business as usual.” For the first time the thought of not being in complete control at the office doesn’t terrify me.
“And Anderson’s deal?” She sniffles.
“You can handle it; you said so yourself. It’s been your baby from the start. I’ll be checking in from time to time, but I think it’s better if we don’t work so closely together...for a while.” Silence hangs heavy on the line, then I hear her crying.
“Piers. Please, don’t. Don’t do this to me.” It’s hard to hear her crying. One of my oldest and best friends. It guts me to put a wall up between us, but regardless of what Willow says, I need to do this, at least for a while.
“Scarlett, I’m sorry. I’ll be in touch. Let’s just take some time.”
“Don’t cut me out. I’ll apologize to Willow. I’ll fix it,” she begs.
“It’s not that simple.” I take a deep breath, remembering how she treated Willow. Reminding myself of what a good actress Scarlett is. Anything to ease the guilt of pushing her away. But one thing sticks out in my mind, the thing that hurt the most. Her lies.
“I have no one else,” she sobs.
“I have always been there for you, and I thought you were there for me too. But lying to me after Willow left, not telling me she called. Making her think I was with you. Putting me on the phone pissed out of my ever loving mind, letting me tell her that I had forgotten her...when you knew I had been searching for her. That I was lost without her.” Her gasp, followed by silence, confirms what I already knew. “You contributed to me losing out on five long years with my son. So, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a little time while I sort all this out in my mind.”
“I didn’t know,” she whispers. “I swear I didn’t know that’s why she was calling.” I don’t know why, but I believe her.
“Scarlett, I know you can’t see it now. But what we have, isn’t what you think it is. It’s love, the same love I have for Theo. It’s because we were all we had...for so long, a family unit. I’m sorry that my keeping you so close all these years possibly hindered you from finding the other kind of love. But there is another kind, and it’s all consuming, and it doesn’t go away over time or fade across the miles. I hope you find that love, Scarlett. You deserve it. We all do.” My voice waivers, and I think about how lucky I am that Willow came back, that our love survived...that we got our second chance.
“Goodbye, Piers.” She ends the call, and I hope I did the right thing. It’s as much for her as me, even if she can’t see it. Scarlett needs to be able to spread her wings, and to do that, she needs to be out of my shadow.
§
WILLOW
After dinner, I sit down to pen my first letter to Wendy. At first it’s hard, but once I clear my mind and talk to her like she�
��s sitting next to me, the words just flow.
Dearest Wendy,
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write this. I didn’t want to say goodbye. And so I won’t.
Thank you for bringing me home. I don’t know exactly how you managed it all, but I know that you’re responsible. So thank you for giving me my life back. My home, Piers, a family.
I thought about what you said, about forgiveness. I’m trying. Scarlett may take the most work. I’m not going to make any promises. But I’ll try. Because if you saw good in her, she couldn’t have been all bad.
Also for Piers. It’s so hard to think about sharing him, knowing she wants him as more than a friend. But I don’t want to be the person who draws lines in the sand, who robs someone of one of the few constants in their life. So I’ll let this thing with Scarlett go. Forgive her for taking him away, support his friendship with her. Because that’s what love is, right? Putting another person’s needs or happiness before your own? And I do, love him. But you already knew that. Even before I did. So I’ll try.
I’m going to see James again this week. To tell him that we’re staying and that I forgive his actions. He’s not doing so good, Wendy. Anna said it’s a broken heart. We both know a little something about that, huh? I was thinking maybe now that I’m home, I can keep an eye on him for you.
Who am I kidding...you’re keeping an eye on all of us.
I miss you Aunty Wen. I wish you were here, and I could tell you all this while we sit and talk to the roses. You could impart your wisdom on me using makeup or flower analogies.
I’m nowhere near the woman you were. But I hope someday I’ll get there. I look forward to finding more letters throughout the house. As we go through your things and prepare to reopen Everlend.
Yep, you heard that right. We’re going to reopen Everlend and give Drew some brothers and sisters. Maybe a few the old-fashioned way too...if Piers has anything to do with it, it’ll be soon. I want that for him. To see me with child, to hear a baby’s first cry and rock them to sleep on restless nights. He is incredible with Drew.
Happy Ever Never Page 17
