Love Thief: The Greystone Family: Stolen Hearts

Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

We’re leaving today. Tarron is sad, and he’s hanging onto Xan, so they”re together most of the day. I hear Kellen on the phone to his mother. Neither Xan nor Kell have said much about what happened in Yorkshire, but I know it’s not good for her whatever has happened.

But I’m struggling, to be honest, to be generous about it. Rowena was horrid to me as a kid, and there was really no reason for it, other than I didn’t do what she wanted me to do. I spoke my mind, and clearly that is a cardinal sin.

I hear him ask, “Has he gone?” and hear Rowena crying down the phone, obviously still traumatised. I hear her garble something and he replies, “I can”t, I”m going to Glastonbury.” She says something else and he blows up. “I’m performing, mother, not partying, it’s my fucking job. I’ll call in. We’re up in the North after that. Fetch Niamh over, or Siobhan, and I’ll pay.” He rolls his eyes. “Okay, yes, I’ll tell him. I’m seeing him in five minutes. Speak later.”

He hangs up and grumbles, “Fucking Giles, what a cunt.”

I ask, “Was it him?”

“Yep, sure was, as suspected. What a can of worms we opened, or should I say Jackson did. I don’t know why that other P.I. found nothing, unless he was on payroll. Which, to be honest, he could have been.”

“Can you say what it was?”

“Delusion, pure and simple. He was descended from a brother of one of our ancestors and had spun himself a story that the brother was Henry VIII’s best mate, not my grandfather, God knows how many greats ago. He wanted it all, but didn’t have the means to pay for it, so thought mummy dearest was the best bet. Again, why he would think that, especially when he entered the period drama and saw who was paying for it all, is beyond me. But no, he carried on his delusion, thought I was a party boy, a waste of space, a drunk, a drug addict, you name it. Convinced himself I didn’t know what was going on with my estate and monies.

“He’d already tried to steal a cool million from Ant, but Jonno had spotted that one. We won’t mention how he noticed it in private accounts on a private server, though.” He raises his eyebrows at me for that one.

“Thought Ant was an easy touch as he comes across so casual, but as we all know he is so far the opposite of that.” He nudges me. “Deception and delusion is king.

“Mother is clearly mortified, but it won’t last. The show must go on. She’ll ask the writers to invent some reason why he had to leave, but the period drama will not be cancelled due to a fucking thief.” He laughs. “She’s delusional, but she’ll get over it eventually. We might just hear more from her while she is.” He shrugs his shoulders.

Tarron comes to find me as I’m finishing my packing. “I want to show you plans for the ‘fairy house,’” he grins at me, “come look.”

We walk down the path back towards the round house, or Fairy House, as it’s locally known. Tarron has the plans that I drew up and he’s added some stuff of his own. I nod at them, they are gorgeous.

“This will be booked all day every day. And if you market it right, you could get an enormous amount of money for it due to its history and legend. People love old legends, especially romantic ones.”

“The Highlands are very romantic, we run our own rules here. Do you know, I wouldn’t have been in the same boat as the Russells. I could just nominate someone I felt was strong and healthy to lead my clan, even if they were not legitimate. As long as they have a blood connection to my family and I thought they were fit, I could pass it on to whomever, man or woman, no discrimination. I bet you never thought we would be so free thinking in this corner of Scotland.”

His tone is lighthearted, breezy, but his blue eyes are fixed on me with an intensity that belies it. I’m not sure what the intention is, however. I can’t read it.

“Oh, I don’t know. I think it was survival of the fittest, in whatever form that came. If you were good enough to lead, people would follow.” I reply equally blasé.

“True, but I wouldn’t have had to mess around with a paternity test. If Xander had said James was his and recognised the child, that would be good enough.”

I smile at him. I’m still not certain if he’s trying to tell me something, trying to pass on some subliminal message, but if he is, I can’t think what it would be. So I carry on talking lightly as we move towards the back of the stone circle.

He stops me and places his index finger over his lips. A doe is watching us from the trees. She doesn’t blink, and we dare not move. It feels like ages before a bird squawks and the doe startles off.

Tarron stands to his full height, looks down on me and says quietly, “A doe is a sign for gentleness, innocence, safety, strength, protection, as well as unconditional love, if you believe in those sorts of things.” We both startle as we hear then see both Xan and Kellen coming up from the Loch side. He waves at them and whispers, “I believe in those sorts of things, what about you?”

He smiles and calls out to them before I have a chance to answer. “Come see the plans Evie and I made.”

I try to put him off adding me to it, but he won’t and insists I talk it through. I’m flushed and animated, and they’re all smiling at me when I finish. “Err sorry, I get a bit carried away. These are just so beautiful.”

“Well, feel free to come up anytime to see how we’re getting on, but don’t feel you have to help. Just come up.”

Kellen takes my hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out before the Barclay men sprinkle their fairy dust and you decide to stay.”

He pulls me away and we all walk towards the house, and away to Glastonbury.

Iam pleased to hear that Orla is waiting in Glastonbury with the boys. At last! A female to talk to. Men are okay, but they’re rubbish at chat, and at times you just need to chat.

We travel by plane to the nearest airport and then via car. The press is madness and the men are dragged off immediately to talk to the media. Orla spots me and comes straight over.

Tim spots us and I wave at him. He comes over letting us know, “They’ll be crazy busy today before tonight’s show. If you want to go round the festival sights, now is a good time to do it. Be back at the latest 6 p.m., he’ll want to see you beforehand.” He turns to chat with Tommy and I turn to Orla, seeing the Purcell Posse coming towards me with James and Bucky, and I feel my smile split my face in two.

“Boys, I didn’t know you were all here. Shall we go exploring?” I kiss them all, hugging my sons even tighter.

There’s a shout behind me and Kellen and Xander stride up, kiss James and Bucky, and wrestle with the Purcells, giving them kisses and hugs, as much as they can.

“Well isn’t this a family scene?” My hackles rise as the owner of the voice registers in my brain. “Where’s the Christmas snow and schmaltz when you need it,” Becky snipes at us. “Orla, I’m going to the bar. Are you coming?”

I smile over at Orla, not wanting to put pressure on her not to go, or feel bad about spending time with Becky. Orla doesn’t know how much I don’t like or don’t trust this woman. “You go if you want, I’m off out and about. I’ll take the boys. James, are you staying here today?”

“Yes, playing tomorrow. You staying to watch us?” he asks me, hope shining in his beautiful eyes.

“Would not miss it, boys,” I tell him.

“Jude’s coming tonight, and Jonno, I think, tomorrow,” he adds.

I nod at him. “Shall we go, James? Bucky, are you braving the site with me?”

The Purcell three are jumping around like imps. “Evie, you don’t have to take them with you. Orla’s brought a nanny,” puts in Kellen.

“I want to. They’re super fun.” They all high five me.

Eamonn has his little hands on his hips, and he pushes at Kell and states, “Uncle Kellen, let us go with Aunty Kitten. I want to go on the big chairs in the sky.” He’s scowling at Kell and I’m desperately trying not to giggle at the little boy. He’s so seriously adorable.

“Behave then,” he tells them all.

They all line up and nod, waving at their mum. Orla, who has just pulled up a bar stool with Becky and the gang, is blowing kisses at them all. The boys are on best behaviour, a well-rehearsed routine before the mayhem starts.

We have the best day. The site is huge, and you would definitely need a week here to see it all. Candy floss, ice creams, nuts, pizza, sweets, drinks, we consume the lot. The kids are all over the place, and we lose each one of them at one point or another. Luckily, James, ever thinking, has put a tracker on them, so not lost at all, I tell them, just off on an adventure.

James and Bucky are stopped a few times for autographs and photos. Of course, they’re polite to everyone, and I smile at them as they shrug. Tommy acts as their bodyguard until Darryl, James’s security, joins us later in the day. But the Purcells, to be honest, are the best distraction, as mostly we have to leave or move on as one or another has clambered somewhere they shouldn’t have.

A quick check of my watch tells me we’re ticking nearer to show time and we start to make our way to the stage. We head back tired, full, but really happy. Bug’s arrived when we get back and he has all three boys on top of him as they all try to tell him their stories.

Orla comes over looking slightly tipsy, with red rosy cheeks. “Evie, the new girl with Gabe says she knows you.”

“Really? Who is she then?” She points towards the bar and my heart stutters. Lauren. “No fucking way,” I snap out before I can stop myself. Orla looks worried when I add, “Sorry Orla, not interested in talking to her. If you want to go back, be my guest, but I definitely won’t be going over. Ever.”

Orla’s face falls and she looks at Bug then back to me. “I didn’t know, Evie. She’s been talking with Becky about you all afternoon. Nothing bad. Her friend is here with Gabe as well. It’s the girl from the Chateau. Becky invited them.”

I laugh, “What, Grace? You better warn Kellen then because he’ll throw her out.”

“Really? They’ve been saying such nice things,” Orla says, totally confused. It’s then I spot Grace. I turn away and Orla looks upset.

James glares over at the women. “Do you want me to get rid of them, Mum?”

“Oh my God, really? Is it that bad? I’ve been talking all afternoon to them.” Orla’s clearly upset and Bug stands up, pulling her into to him, comforting her worry away. Always the protector.

“You didn’t know,” he reassures her. “And you never said anything to them of any consequence, so don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, but I did talk about them,” she points at me, “Evie, Marcus, Xan and you. Things from your childhood.” Tears start in her eyes. “What if I’ve said something, and they use it.”

I look at her and, even though there’s no smile on my face, I hide my anger at the women. I don’t want to upset Orla even more. “They better get ready if they do.”

Turning to walk to the other side of the area, I’m greeted by another, equally unpleasant sight. No way! Jude is staring at me, standing stock still, with fucking Isobel. I stop dead in my tracks and James bumps into me.

“You are fucking kidding me,” he shouts, looking over my shoulder. “He did not say she was coming, Mum. I promise, he did not.”

Bucky’s face changes to fury and he starts to go over. I pull him back. “No, Bucky, stay here, baby, with me.”

I turn to Tommy. “Can you find us somewhere we can go without seeing people we can’t stand? At least for a while. And then we’ll need to find a spot away from this shower of shit to watch the band. I think I need a drink.” I turn in another direction, away from the gallery of haters.

“I’ll get drinks, Mum,” says Bucky. “Get a seat over there with James, I’ll fetch them over.”

“Unbelievable. You could not get more people I loathe in one place if you tried. It’s as if someone set a list up and invited them all to come. What did the invitation say? ‘If you hate Evie, come on down’?”

“I don’t think they hate you. I think they’re jealous of you. They see what you have and they want it. But they don’t realise the reason it’s so good is because of you and you alone. With them, it would just not be that, and then they may hate you for being better,” James says with a smirk.

Jude decides to come over, Isobel behind him, just as Tim is also heading my way. “Thirty minutes to show. Evie, can I whisk you away? I’ll bring you back to watch the show. There’s a family area in the VIP section and it’s a good spot, so…”

I smile and stand up just as Jude arrives. “Hey, I’m just off to see Kell. See you later, okay.” I kiss his cheek and walk away.

I don’t address Isobel and I walk straight past the coven. “Saved me there, Tim,” I tell him. “Is it just me? or is Becky coming?”

“No, they all said just you.” I shrug at that, odd, but anyway…

He leads me behind the stage and into a makeshift dressing room area on the other side. Not glam, pure function. I walk in the door and Kellen pulls me in fast and the door is slammed shut behind me.

“I need a snog to keep me going,” he says. He’s laughing but he looks a bit pissed.

Kissing me, he backs me up against a wall. I can hardly breathe by the time he lets me go, and my knees feel a bit weak.

“All alright out there?” he asks.

Does he know about Lauren and Grace? He might, from Gabe.

“Yeah, good. We’ve just got back, so excellent timing.” I keep my face neutral, a happy smile plastered on it.

Xander walks in, kissing me on the cheeks. I can feel a totally different energy coming off him, pure excitement. “Party tonight, it’s going to be great. Gabe says he’s set up a bit of a belated birthday bash for me.”

“Fantastic,” I say sarcastically, my mask slipping slightly.

He looks at me sharply. “Really? that didn’t sound like it.”

“It’s just?—”

I’m saved from my non-apology over my lack of excitement when Gabe rushes into the room, shouting, “Hey where’s the party at?”

“Where are our shots?” calls Levi from right behind him.

“All good, Evie?” Gabe asks, and I can see Levi, Xan, and Kell watching for my answer. They all know about the girls. What a set of spineless bastards.

I continue to feign ignorance and smile, saying, “Amazing. Been out and about, it”s totally fantastic. Knock ‘em dead tonight, I know you all will.” I move towards them all and give them each a peck on the cheek. Kellen looks stunned, Xander suspicious.

Oh, yeah, they all definitely know about the women. Never thought my skill of reading my brothers would come in this handy.

Ifeel sick. The back stabbing gits. I smile, wave, and walk out the door.

My face drops instantly. This is not for me. I am not dealing with this shitshow. They can’t even support me, even Kellen and Xander. Grace and Lauren, really? Both of those women have caused me pain. And they know it. All of them. If I feel like this now, and we’re only one festival in, I know this is not for me.

Walking really quickly to try to make sure no one catches up with me, I barrel out of the room, intending to get as far away as quickly as possible. I hear the door open, and footsteps running. I know it will be Xan, he knew I knew. Kellen shouts and I hear him charging up behind me, both of them skidding to a stop as I turn to address them.

“You knew about those women and didn’t veto it,” I state, not a question. They look at each other. “Yep,” I say, turning to walk away.

“Evie, for fucks sake stop,” Kellen says as he grabs my arm. “They’re our brothers, we couldn’t tell them no. It’s not for us to decide who they fuck.”

“But I’m your wife. I should be your first priority. And I don’t have to stay and watch it go on, waiting for the shit they cook up to hit me with.”

“They want them here. Apparently they’re all together,” Xan confirms.

I start to laugh. “Of course they are. The spectator sport, how could I forget. Look, go back, you’re on in ten minutes. We’ll sort it all out afterwards.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Xander asks concerned

“It means I’ll sort it out when you’ve done your show.”

“Will you be here to do that, or are you doing it from Devon?” he asks. I say nothing.

“Should I be worried?” Kell demands.

“No, go, I’ll speak to you later.” I smile in what I hope is a placating manner and walk away.

This is getting ridiculous. “Was that a good smile, Tommy, or what?” I ask him.

“Good, to a point. They both looked more worried after it though.”

“Aww drat, guess I better work on that. I need to make a call, wait for me?” He nods.

I dial Jonno, who of course answers on the first ring. “Baby sis?”

“Can you come here tonight and not tomorrow?” I ask him.

“Why?”

“Yes or fucking no Jonno,” I screech, instantly annoyed at him.

“Why?”

I hang up. I’m never ringing him again.

“What do you want to do, Evie? Are we going or staying?” Tommy asks me.

“No fucking way. Don’t you dare, Evie.”

Kell stands in the shadows, near the corner of the building. I look at him, and up to the skies as he continues.

“Are you annoyed we haven’t insisted they ditch them?”

I don’t say anything. I don’t know what to say, so I stand there, helplessly looking at him.

“Give us a minute, Kitten,” he sighs. ”Let us try and sort it before you put the hammer down.”

“I’ve said I’ll stay, I’ll be here,” I say, my voice flat, not even sure what I feel anymore.

“Why are you calling Jonno?”

“Jude’s here and he”s brought Isobel.”

“Fuck me, it never rains.” He shakes his head, “Stay put, we can sort it all. Just give us a fucking chance.” I nod at him and move to stand with Tommy.

“Make sure they don’t get to her,” he implores Tommy.

“Always. Darryl’s with me as well tonight.”

Kellen nods and reluctantly moves away. I can see he is not reassured by my words.

“Am I being unreasonable, Tommy? She voice recorded stuff to wreck my marriage. The other one puts out shit on the internet about me.” I blow out a breath, trying to calm myself down. I’m so frustrated and angry. How could they?

He shakes his head. “They have a strange life. They’ve not really changed, but you’ve had to.”

I look up at him, and I know he can read the sadness in my eyes. This is not what I wanted to happen. I know I’ve changed, but is it for the better or worse? I don’t know the answer to that question. I’ve gone over to their lives, and abandoned my own. I’ve tried to hang onto my sanity, my code of ethics, but feel like I’m battling all the time—them, other women, one thing after another. I feel like if they want something, they go for it and take it, life as they know it.

Was it only months ago I told my brothers they were good at taking what they wanted? I thought it would be James, turns out it could be me instead. And my sanity.

I ring Marshall.

“Midarlin’ how are things?”

“A mess, Marsh. A total mess.”

“Do you need to stay there and sort it or can you come home?”

“I’ll stay and sort, then come.”

“You know best, midarlin’, trust yourself.”

I close my eyes. The man is a total god. How does he know that’s what’s bugging the hell out of me, not trusting my own judgement. I know I’m right. These women need to be taught a lesson, and those men are too weak to do it. If they won’t, or can’t, then I will. I will not allow them to get the top side of me, not in this lifetime, never again. I need to warn James and Bucky, I need to see what they think.

I spring into action. “Tommy, fetch James and Bucky to the bus will you?”

“Really, Evie? Now? The band is on in five minutes.”

“Please just fetch them,” I implore him.

I step into the bus and wait, knowing if this doesn’t go well, I’m out of here. No point staying or playing happy families if we’re not, nor ever will be.

The boys come in at a run. “Dad’s just about to go on, what’s going on?”

Bucky rushes in.

I sigh and look at my sons. Jesus, can I do this? Do I really want to? Are they worth it? Is he?

“Mum, just tell us whatever it is, please. You’re killing us here.”

“You know Lauren and Grace are here,” I state.

“We know. We’ve seen them, lording it up in the fucking bar,” James snarls.

“They’re all together with Gabe and Levi.” I wobble my head at the ‘together’ gesture. “Your Dad and Xan knew they were here and in what capacity, and see no reason to get rid of them, regardless of what they both did to me. Because Gabe and Levi want them here.” Both boys just stand and stare at me.

“They want your Dad and me over and gone. There’s a party for Xander tonight, and I’m sure they’re up to no good. Becky invited them here, and it was totally planned. Whatever comes, I need you with me, backing me up, whatever I do. Can I rely on you both?”

They both crack a smile. “Whatever it is they do, stick it to ‘em Mum. Go for it,” Bucky says.

“I love it when you do. It’s usually the best entertainment. Just don’t blow anyone up, though. I don’t want to come visit you in prison,” James snickers and grins.

I kiss both of them, pouring my relief and love into it. Thank god for these boys. I’m feeling energised and empowered as I give them both a cheeky grin. “Let’s go have some fun, boys.”

“Yes,” Bucky shouts, “she’s got that look in her eyes. Like the day she blasted my teacher for saying my project was useless. We”ve got your back, Momma, all day every day.”

“Do Dad and Xan know you’re pissed off with them? Is that why Tommy looks nervous, and Jonno keeps ringing me?” asks James.

As if on cue, my phone rings. I don’t even look at the screen before I answer. “I’m not talking to you, Jonno. Stop asking me why when I ring. If I ask, you do, that’s Greystone law.”

“You should have said it’s the internet trolls. Those two are fuckheads.” He hangs up and I’m feeling pretty smug and vindicated at this point.

I’m not sure which two he’s referring to, could be any two from six, in my view. But I have a feeling. “He’s listening in again,” I say laughing. “He told me he’d gone to rehab on that stuff, but obviously off the wagon again.”

“He never got on any wagon, just loitered round the wheels,” James says. His phone pings with a middle finger from Jonno and we all laugh.

“I love you boys. Please tell me, though, if I get too much.”

“That’d have to be a lot. We are Greystones, remember.” James laughs hugging me.

Bucky joins in. “Love you, Ma. Go for it.”

“Ditto,” says James. “I suppose we better go watch Dad’s show and wait for yours later.”