Always and Forever: Rugby Brothers, Book 3

by Tiara Inserto

  Food would be the last thing on anyone’s minds, but as soon as they entered her apartment, Eden headed straight to the kitchen. She pulled out the bottle of juice and a jug of water, grimacing at the loud slam of Aidan’s bedroom door. A few second later, Brandon joined her. He grabbed the sliced bread and reached for sandwich meats while she began slicing apples.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  But no words of kindness or courtesy were returned. The absence of civility at a time when she had hoped for support ignited her temper.

  Whispered words of anger flew between them. She took Brandon’s criticisms and flung a few of her own. Their voices grew loud until one of them would glance at Aidan’s room, prompting their argument to resume with more controlled tones. Logic disappeared; emotions reigned.

  The screen of Mano’s phone remained blank.

  Are you okay? Is Aidan okay?

  But he didn’t type the words into his phone. She’ll call if she needs you. She said she would.

  Even when it was crazy, if they were all together, he could understand what he could do. He could see they were fine. He could protect them.

  His notebook remained blank. Unusual. He was usually meticulous at notetaking during these meetings. Xs and Os dotted the white board in front of him. On another board, columns of paper hung loosely, numbers telling a story of the last few weeks. Spoken words washed over him.

  Brett knew what had happened this morning. Only the basic facts just in case…though now that Brandon was there, it wasn’t really his place to be there for them.

  He reached for his bottle of water. Hand held steady. Good. A question about the Men’s next opponents was thrown at him. His answer seemed appropriate. Nods around the table. Then the screen on his phone lighted up, and his attempt at a normal day ended:

  * * *

  Aidan: I need to talk to you.

  * * *

  Mano held his phone up to Brett, who nodded briefly. Outside, he prepared himself to hear anything then pressed Aidan’s number. “Hey, mate. You all right?”

  “Yeah,” Aidan whispered. “But Dad’s still here. He’s so angry. They’re fighting. I haven’t heard them argue like this ever. It’s my fault, Mano. Everything’s my fault.”

  “Mate, calm down. It’s not your fault. Your parents are adults. They’re just scared, and sometimes it sounds like they’re angry.”

  “Dad wants me to go home with him tonight.”

  “You all right with that?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t want mom alone. Could you—”

  “I’ll be there for her, if she needs me.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yeah, mate. I promise.”

  “Thanks.”

  As soon as he ended the call, heaviness pressed into his chest. But the walls of the hallway started closing in; he fought for air; suppressed the need to yell out; rejected the desire to crumble. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he scrambled towards the light shining through the glass panels of the nearby doors. Once outside, he sank to the stairs, echoes of his own voice loud in his head, the memories came rushing back.

  I’ll be there for her…I promise.

  The last time he had uttered those exact words were to Antoinette and Michael. He had fulfilled his promise to them. He knew there was nothing to feel guilty about. But the weight in his heart didn’t lift with that knowledge.

  The quadrangle in front of him began to fill as students transitioned between classes. Activity broke his reverie. He stood up. The meeting was still going on; he could still catch the tail end of it. Do his job. But his feet took him to the white domed building he had studiously avoided entering.

  The heavy wooden door swung open with ease. He raised his eyes to the rose window, its colors muted now that the afternoon sun was shining through the stained-glass triptych behind him. Yellows, blues, oranges beckoned him to move forward, down the aisle. He resisted, his heart already in his throat.

  The doors opened suddenly behind him, and he instinctively jumped to the side, pressing his body against the wall.

  A young woman walked steadily towards the pulpit before genuflecting, sliding into the first row. He should leave. He didn’t belong here. This wasn’t his church. He turned to escape but heard voices in the narthex.

  In the shadows, Mano followed the wall, his hand fingering the cool stone wall. His hand floated past the statute of St. Francis whose peaceful countenance was still brightly colored in the dimmed light of the enclave that housed him. A potted plant lay at the statue’s feet while dollar notes were squeezed into its folded hands. The earlier voices were now gone, yet Mano stayed inside.

  When the student left, he made his way down the side aisle to the front of the church. He paused at the front pew, indecision stopping his movement. Years of faithful worship still resided in his subconscious, and it reminded him of holiness of the location, even if his soul was not quite mended to trust in the message of religion.

  He knelt, and a wave of humility swept through his being. He sat in the pew quickly, its hard surfaced welcomed. Time disappeared, but his past continued to burden him. Mano pressed his head to his hands.

  “Mr. Palua?”

  Mano blinked. Soft lights were now lit; the dancing colors that had welcomed him earlier had disappeared, replaced by elusive shadows.

  “It’s Father Brian. We met a few weeks back.” The priest had slid into the row in front of Mano. “I hadn’t realized anyone was in here. I’ve just locked the front doors.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Just past six.”

  Two hours? But he just came in….

  “Is there anything I can help you with?” Father Brian smiled gently.

  Mano exhaled, clasped his hands tightly then lowered his head. “I’ve been asked to help someone, to be there for her. I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be the right thing to do?”

  “Because being there for someone caused a lot of pain last time.”

  Father Brian frowned as he absorbed Mano’s words. “Tell me something, Mr. Palua…Mano. Did you know it was going to end like that? With all that pain?”

  Mano looked up. “No. No one did.”

  “Will supporting this person now also end in a lot of pain?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. I hope not.”

  Father Brian looked toward the altar. “There’s bravery that comes from facing one’s fears. There’s also bravery in going forward not knowing what’s ahead. I don’t know you well, Mano. But I saw the way you look at Eden. I also saw the way both Eden and Aidan look at you. There’s a lot of love there. I’m guessing this has something to do with them. Trust yourself. Because they trust you.”

  He knew they did. A kind, compassionate woman and her brave son gave their friendship freely to him from the first moment they met.

  Mano inhaled. The heaviness was still there but he knew how to push through pain. The question was whether he wanted to. A hand appeared in front of his face. Mano took it and met the priest’s eyes. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.” Father Brian stretched as he stood. “These seats are so uncomfortable. Take your time. The doors will lock automatically when you leave. I trust you won’t steal any of our candlesticks. I don’t know why, but they’re popular with the college crowd.”

  The light from St Anne’s guided him back to the trail. He stopped in front of Eden’s apartment building. Soft light flared through gaps in the balcony curtain.

  He checked his phone. No messages.

  He had made a promise to the boy. More importantly, he had made a promise to her.

  * * *

  Mano: Need a friend tonight?

  * * *

  He wasn’t going to move until he heard from her. The curtain pulled back slightly; he could just make out a figure.

  * * *

  Eden: Yes.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Eden would come to think of the next few da
ys as some of the most stress-filled in her life. She spent hours on the phone: talking to various representatives of the school district, the school, doctors, psychologists, therapists…everyone and anyone she thought could help Aidan.

  She spent an afternoon helping Charles pack the children’s clothes and collecting favorite toys and books. There was a degree of finality in the manner in which Charles slammed the trunk of the car, though he insisted this was just temporary. Mrs. Henderson appeared suddenly with a container and handed it to Charles.

  “Banana bread. With chocolate chip streusel. Matt’s favorite,” she said. “Tell that boy he’s made of sterner stuff. I’ll keep a look out on things. You have my number, if you need anything.”

  “Thank you. I want to be back by Christmas,” Charles said. He looked up and down the street. “This is our home. We’ll be back. Patty just needs a break from being worried all the time.” He turned to Eden. “We’re staying at my brother’s for the time being. It’s not too far from Brandon’s place. I think it’d be a good idea if the boys caught up whenever Aidan is in the city. What do you think?”

  Eden nodded enthusiastically. “Aidan would love that.”

  Charles waved out of his car window as he drove away, first to her then to Mano who was just walking into the cul-de-sac.

  Mano kissed Eden on the cheek when he reached her, then did the same to Mrs. Henderson.

  “Oh my!” Mrs. Henderson grinned as she fanned herself dramatically. “Don’t go anywhere. There’s another loaf of bread with your name on it.”

  Mano held Eden’s hand as he led them back to his house. “How did the meeting go this morning?”

  Eden groaned. “Adulting sucks. Overall, as good as it could be. It was tense and awkward. I felt for one set of parents. Who wants to hear that their kid is a bully and is capable of such horrible, angry behavior? Said they’re working on getting help for their son. Hope we’ll allow him to apologize directly to Matthew and Aidan. But the other two? It was like they live in a bubble. Thank goodness Charles was there. He was doing his full lawyer thing.”

  “What happens next?”

  “Those bullies are suspended for a week.”

  “Just a week? Not expelled?”

  “No. And our boys are allowed to keep up their schoolwork through distance learning for as long as we feel it’s in their best interest.”

  “Seems like the bullies got off easy.”

  “Honestly? And maybe I’m just being a wimp about it, but I don’t care about them. I just need Aidan to be okay. Has he talked to you?”

  “He sends me a message every day. He wants to come back to Seven Hills.”

  Aidan repeated the same desire when she met him, Brandon, and his family at the airport. They were leaving for Louisiana to spend Thanksgiving with Lisa’s family. But she didn’t have a definitive answer for Aidan. She couldn’t leave her job; the rents in the city were higher than before she moved into the suburbs. Brandon was there but… “Your dad and I have a lot to talk about, okay, bud?” she said as she hugged him.

  A few days later, it was her time to board the plane to Los Angeles and meet the people who meant the world to Mano. She had initially been reluctant to join what should have been a private reunion. Then Liana Murphy called and sealed the deal with a name.

  “I still cannot believe I’m going to meet Mark Johnson,” Eden said. She would squeal but it was a full flight so she redirected her energy into giving Mano a side hug. “I’m going to meet the Sexiest Man Alive in less than a couple of hours.”

  “Maybe longer if L.A. traffic lives up to its reputation.” Mano adjusted the air vents. “Mark’s really more of Liana’s friend. One of her best friends, actually. He was a bit annoying when we first met him, but he has grown on us. And for the record, he hasn’t been the sexiest man in a few years.”

  “He’s still hot! Silver Fox hot! And we’re staying at Veronica Boyd’s house? The Impulse albums were the only non-Motown ones Pop would let me play in the house, and he still has them!”

  “Now, Veronica’s nice. Very generous.”

  Eden studied Mano. “You really are famous, aren’t you?”

  “Not in this country.”

  “Mano, the rest of us aren’t used to rubbing elbows with people who have their own entries in Wikipedia with multiple paragraphs.”

  “Brandon and Jordan both have fan clubs,” Mano pointed out.

  “Okay, that’s true.” Eden’s smile softened as she placed her hand on top of Mano’s, squeezing it slightly. “Thanks for inviting me. Getting away is probably what I need right now. With Dad and Pop working over Thanksgiving, I wasn’t looking forward to being alone.”

  “I would have stayed.”

  Eden shook her head. “And miss seeing your godson? I wouldn’t have let you.”

  Mano took her hand, still in his, and lifted it to his lips. “I know.

  They continued to hold hands until the moment they drove through large metal gates and parked in front of a mansion the likes of which Eden only saw on TV or in high end real estate magazines.

  “Come on! None of my friends live in places like this!” She eyed Mano suspiciously. “Do you live in something like this in New Zealand?”

  Mano shook his head. “Far from it. My house is about the same size as the one I’m renting in Seven Hills. But no backyard. I do all right. Rugby players don’t make the kind of money your professional athletes do.”

  She continued to stare at the front of the mansion when its large front doors opened and she felt the rush of blood to her face. “I think I’m going to die….”

  Eden had followed Mark Johnson’s career since he burst on the scene as the star of the “Skycatcher” action series. A couple of shirtless pictures of him was still on her phone somewhere, and here he was, walking toward her with a smile that left her immobilized.

  “Breathe, Eden, breathe,” Mano whispered into her ear.

  “I’m dying….” she whispered back.

  “Hi! You must be Eden,” Mark said when he got close. Eden didn’t know what possessed her but she started to cry.

  He shouldn’t have laughed but it was rare to see the actor known for being the epitome of suave and sophistication look completely confused.

  Mano reached for his pocket and pulled out a packet of tissues. “Eden. Are you all right?”

  Eden dabbed her eyes and inhaled deeply, her attention now on Mark. “I love your movies! Both my fathers love your movies, and they don’t usually agree on many things! My son loves your movies! His father loves your movies! Now that I think about it, you’re the common love in all our lives!”

  Mark grinned. “You could very well be my new favorite person. I haven’t been greeted by such enthusiasm in a long time.”

  After years of knowing Mark, Mano was no longer suspicious of the actor’s smooth manners. He took the hand Mark now offered, genuinely pleased to see the actor again. “Good to see you, mate. I understand Natasha is here as well.”

  “Yes. It was a last-minute thing. She wasn’t planning on coming but suddenly wanted to see everyone before the baby arrives,” Mark said.

  Mano nodded. The actor and his veterinarian-wife had been trying for over a year to get pregnant. “Then I’m especially glad I flew down.”

  Voices, screams, and a yell of “Don’t drop the baby!” drew the collective attention of Mano, Eden, and Mark to the entrance of the house.

  Before Mano could blink, a little body flew into him. Joy immediately flooded his being as tiny arms wrapped themselves tightly around his neck.

  “Uncle Mano, you’re here. You’re really here!”

  He blinked back unexpected tears. “Yeah, mate. Said I’d be here, didn’t I? Have I ever broken my promise to you?”

  He felt his godson’s head shake before a pull on his shorts claimed his attention. He looked down to see dark blue eyes peering at him.

  “My turn.”

  Jayne Molloy held her arms out, but Fred tightened his h
old on Mano’s neck. “He’s my godfather, Jayne. You didn’t let me hug Uncle Mark for ages.”

  “You’re being mean, Frederick Dane. It’s because I beat you at footy, isn’t it? You’re such a sore loser. You’re not my best friend anymore!” Jayne stuck out her tongue and ran toward the house.

  “I don’t want to be your best friend! Who wants a girl for a best friend anyway?” Fred yelled before returning his face to Mano’s neck.

  “It’s been like that all week,” Connor said as one arm embraced both son and friend while the other carried Fred’s younger brother, Levi. “Cat said I’d better get used to it. I told her we’re moving to Auckland if this continues when they’re both teenagers.”

  “You’d never leave the South Island.”

  “A man can pretend to have control.” Connor studied Mano. “You all right?

  Mano met Connor’s eyes. “Yeah.”

  Connor glanced at Eden who was playing peekaboo with Connor’s youngest son. “You brought her,” Connor said, under his breath.

  Mano nodded.

  “I’m glad.”

  Despite her star-struck reaction to meeting Mark, Eden seemed comfortable and relaxed with people whose names were more common in popular media and the gossip news. As part of New Zealand’s national rugby team and especially after he became captain, Mano had access to celebrities from most walks of life. The more they won, the more famous people they would – and could - meet. Success was always attractive.

  Fortunately, his teammates kept it real. As did their wives, bringing them down to reality whenever their egos got too big.

  “Mitch, help with the bags, will you? They just arrived.” Liana ordered.

  “Steve, you help, too,” Veronica added. “Into the casita.”

  Mano held out his duffle bag for Mitch.

  “Just today,” Mitch muttered as he grabbed the bag roughly.

  Liana’s delight at seeing Eden was reciprocated. Whenever he looked over, she seemed engaged in conversation with an adult or child. Little Levi Dane seemed particularly enthralled by Eden, content to stay in her arms when she read to him later that night.