44. Marlowe
CHAPTER 44
Marlowe
I ’m sucked rudely back into consciousness by a gentle hand shaking my shoulder and a familiar voice whispering in my ear.
‘Marlowe? Babes, it’s me.
’
I jerk upwards with a shocked gasp from where I’ve been face-planted against the bed, adrenaline flooding my system.
Athena? I look up and to my left, and there she is, a vision of well-groomed serenity in the midst of this zoo.
‘Oh my God!’ I croak.
I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
‘What are you—how did you?—’
She jerks her head towards the door with a knowing smile, and I follow the gesture.
Oh God oh God oh God.
Now I really am dreaming.
Because standing right across the bed from me, looking like a walking thirst trap in a dazzling white t-shirt and jeans, is Brendan.
I blink and reflexively reach up to brush my hair out of my eyes.
I must look like shit.
I must smell like shit.
I haven’t showered in days.
I’m groggy as hell from that nap, and I’d put money on having blanket creases on my face, and this guy looks perfect.
Just perfect.
We stare at each other for a moment.
The expression on his gorgeous face is so far from the usual easy smugness.
It’s more akin to total devastation, and I realise in a rush that the very fact that he’s here means he knows.
He knows everything .
Instinctively, I reach my hand up to grab Athena’s for comfort.
She squeezes hard.
‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ I say lamely to both of them, but mostly to Brendan.
‘We came on Brendan’s jet.
’ Athena bends and kisses me on the cheek.
‘He was worried about you. We both were.’
I brave eye contact with Brendan again.
‘I hope it’s okay that I’m here,’ he says.
He sounds far more subdued than normal.
Rather than open that can of worms, I shoot him a look I hope communicates my conflicted feelings about seeing him.
‘How did you find out? Did you tell him?’ I ask Athena.
‘No,’ he says. ‘I called you last night and one of the nurses answered the phone. She wouldn’t give me any information except that you were in intensive care, so I called Athena.
’ He pauses. ‘She filled me in.’
‘So you found out my secret and decided to just show up?’ I can feel the defensiveness rising.
‘After what happened at that lunch, you think you can just fly across the Atlantic and everything's fine?’
Even as the words leave my mouth, I know I’m being a bitch. Dropping everything to fly over here is a massive deal for him. But I’m so exhausted, and I’m all out of fucks to give. He doesn’t get to erase all that nasty shit he pulled last week with one grand gesture.
‘No. No . Not at all. I know’—he clears his throat—‘I fucked up. But I was hoping I could come and lend a hand anyway.’
He turns to Tabby, who’s still sleeping. I watch as he takes her in, watch as my two worlds collide in a way I could never have imagined. The man on my Instagram feed, the man who knows me more intimately in some ways than anyone else on the planet and from whom I’ve kept this side of myself a secret, the man at whose hands I’ve had my highest highs and lowest lows, has flown across the Atlantic Ocean to be by my side, and I can’t compute it at all.
‘How is she?’ he asks gruffly.
‘She’s good. It’s all gone smoothly. The surgical team has been amazing. We got out of the ICU this morning.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks around the chaotic ward. For a childless guy with a lifestyle like his, this must feel like the Twilight Zone. ‘Oh,’ he says. ‘She’s?—’
I turn towards Tabby. She’s blinking sleepily and reaching for her headphones. I smile at her and lean over so I can get them off her. ‘Hey, sweetie! Look who’s come to see us!’ Her look of shock is downright comedic.
Athena squeezes behind me so she can get to Tabs. ‘Hey, darling!’ she cries, leaning over her for a careful hug, because Tabs is still hooked up to various monitors. ‘Oh my goodness, I’m so proud of my brave girl! Surprise!’
My daughter gets the most animated, most demonstrative side of Athena. They have such a special relationship. I watch as she wraps her little arms around her godmother’s shoulders to hug her, my heart filling with warmth at what it will mean to Tabs to understand that we are not alone, that we are loved, that we have people in our lives who will cross oceans to be with us.
‘How did you get here?’ she asks with wonder in her voice.
Athena releases her and straightens up. ‘I flew here in Brendan’s jet! Imagine that!’
Tabby’s mouth drops open. ‘Cool!’ She swivels her head to Brendan and takes him in, going instantly quiet. I’m not surprised she’s shy around a huge, bearded stranger.
‘This is Brendan, my love,’ I tell her. ‘My boss. Isn’t it so kind of him and Athena to come and visit?’
‘Is it your jet?’ she asks quietly, and I stifle a grin. Brendan may have found a rapt audience to show off his toys to.
‘Well, it’s my company’s jet,’ he says a little awkwardly, but then he winks at her. ‘I kind of stole it.’
Her jaw practically hits the bedcovers, and I can’t help but laugh.
‘You see, your mum is a very good friend of mine. She’s very important to me.’ He clears his throat. ‘So I wanted to come out here and see if you ladies needed anything, and also to remind her that her friends are here for her. And you. Because, sometimes when we have rough weeks, it’s nice to have some friends around to keep us company, isn’t it?’
I give him a look I hope conveys exactly what I think of his sudden transformation from demanding boss to concerned "friend." That's quite a change of heart from the man who treated me like his plaything a few days ago. That said, this isn’t the guy who tried to get me to suck off his random mate in front of a roomful of leering, jeering blokes.
This is the real Brendan, the one I’ve seen glimpses of.
The one he does a very good job of keeping hidden most of the time.
Honestly, he gives me whiplash.
‘Did he really steal it, though?’ Tabs asks me.
‘I think it’s supposed to be for business use,’ I tell her.
‘So it might have been a bit cheeky of him to use it for a personal visit, but he’s the big boss, so I don’t think he’ll get into too much trouble for it.
’
‘I don’t care if I get into trouble,’ Brendan says, looking straight at me.
‘Because your mum is a very special friend of mine, and she’s worth it.
That’s what friends do.
’
I stare at him wordlessly for a moment, drowning in his big blue eyes and trying to work out whether he’s genuine or full of shit.
Maybe he doesn’t want me seeing into his soul, because he averts his gaze and clears his throat.
‘Why the hell are you on a ward, anyway? This place is horrific. Tabby can’t get better in here.
You should be in a private room.
’
Ahh, there he is.
The belligerent boss-hole, intent on looking down on everyone and everything.
‘Why do you think we’re not in a private room?
’ I ask him, keeping my voice neutral.
There’s no way I’ll let Tabs know I’m counting every penny of this already extortionate experience.
That’s what it feels like.
Extortion.
He frowns, message received.
‘Yeah, well not for much longer. Give me a minute.’ He turns back towards the entrance of the ward, but Athena stops him.
‘How about this? I’ll speak to the nurses and get your accommodation sorted.
Brendan’s right. You can’t heal in here—either of you.
Now, I would very much like some time with my goddaughter.
’
She bends and tenderly tucks a matted lock of Tabby’s bedhead behind her ear.
‘Maybe we can play hairstylists? Tabs, how do you feel about Brendan taking your mum out for a couple of hours for a little break? We’re staying in a lovely hotel nearby.
I think she deserves a shower and a square meal—how about you?
And then you and I can have a proper catch-up and you can tell me all about your operation.
’
I’m about to protest, because I don’t want to leave Tabby here in this strange hospital, even with Athena, and I definitely don’t want to be alone with Brendan, whose presence is causing all sorts of unwelcome hormonal upheaval in my body and with whom, I remind myself, I’m very, very cross.
Even if the concept of taking a shower might be the most decadent thing I’ve ever conceived of.
Right now, even clean underwear would be decadent.
Tabby, however, interjects before I can speak.
‘Yay! Can we, Mummy? I want to play with Athena.’
‘I’ll stay here,’ I say firmly.
Personal hygiene is overrated, I’m sure.
Besides, there’s a crappy parents’ shower somewhere that I can brave while Athena watches Tabs.
‘Please come and take a break with me,’ Brendan says, his face beseeching.
‘God knows, you deserve it.’
I can’t have a frank conversation with him here.
Not in front of Tabs.
I can’t tell him where he can stuff his hot shower and fluffy towels and real food.
‘I don’t want to go anywhere with you,’ I say as quietly and menacingly as I can pull off in a noisy children’s ward.
‘“Good friends” wouldn’t try to ambush their mates, would they?
’
‘I get that,’ he pleads, ‘but I’m not trying to ambush you, honest. I have—there’s a lot to say, I know that, but this is about you.
If you want me to give you my keycard and wait for you in the lobby, I will.
Just do yourself a favour and take a break, please.
’
I consider. He doesn’t seem to have an ulterior motive, but it’s hard to tell with Brendan.
He’s fully capable of manipulating people for his own ends even without realising he’s doing it.
And there’s the shower factor.
I bet the parents’ one is grim AF.
‘Fine.’
He grins. Smug bastard.
‘I’ll get you back here by dinnertime.
’
‘Bring sushi, please,’ Athena tells him.
‘I’m not eating a single thing in here.
’
I sigh, feeling outnumbered and vulnerable and even shy.
‘If you’re sure?’ I ask Athena and Tabs.
‘Positively,’ Athena says.
Tabs grins. ‘Go, Mummy.’
‘You need a break, Marlowe.’ Brendan sounds weary, and I realise he and Athena must have had a pretty early start to have got themselves here by lunchtime.
He reaches into his pocket and slides a platinum Amex from his wallet.
‘If you can sort out the room situation, I’d be grateful,’ he tells Athena.
‘Whatever it takes. I want a decent bed for Marlowe too, okay? None of this armchair sh—rubbish.’
She takes it from him and nods briskly.
‘Leave it with me. Now go. You’re no use to anyone if you run yourself into the ground.
Brendan—take good care of my girl.
’
‘I will,’ he promises, his face solemn.
I’ve definitely been ambushed, but I’m not sure it’s a bad thing.