Chapter 18 #3
I’d never told another soul that story. Only the four of us brothers knew.
And Mathilda, too, apparently.
I stared at my brother, and he watched me gently.
“This is what you do when you ye love someone. Ye hand over your darkest secrets and trust them to keep them safe for ye.”
“I want that.” My damn heart kept aching, and I rubbed my free hand over the spot.
“I thought as much. I’m glad for ye.”
“You are? I thought—” He’d disapproved. It had been clear on his face.
Callum shook his head. “I was wrong, and it was none of my business. I’m sorry. If ye come and tell me that you and the lass are together, I’ll be happy.”
So would I.
In my tower apartment, I left the twins—glued to my side since the bairns and their parents had turned in—watching a movie in the snug, and stepped out into the hall to call Ella.
She picked up on the first ring. “Your name on my screen gave me heart palpitations.”
“Don’t go on a date.” My voice came out too fast, before I’d even said my greeting.
“G—”
“I can’t handle it. I know what I said but I have another proposition for ye.”
Ella paused. “I’m listening.”
“See me,” I said, hoarse. “We’ll go slow, but I’ll take you out. Don’t search for anyone else.”
Then I swallowed, remembering the very reason I’d told her to go out and look elsewhere. “Unless you want to. Your choice. I’m just saying, I’m an option.”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “Yes to you. No to anyone else. We’ll do it however you want to do it.”
“Good.” I gripped the phone, my other hand at that ache in my chest.
“Aye,” she replied. “’Bout time you saw sense.”
A laugh escaped me. It hadn’t just been me. She’d wanted this. But something had changed for her, too. A cacophony sounded in the background of the call. Instruments.
“Sorry. I’m at a recording session.”
“What have they got you working on now?”
Ella took a deep breath. “Actually, it’s one of my own pieces.”
I stood straighter. “You’re recording your own work with an orchestra?”
She laughed, a happy, light sound. “Yes! There’s six of us.
Ivor and Topaz from my old group, then a few others I pulled in who had the right sound.
I’ve made so many changes this term, starting with asking to focus on production and recording.
One tutor is supporting me, the other thinks this is a temporary thing.
It’s not. It’s a practice run for where I’m heading. ”
“You’re living your dream. I’m so proud of you.”
“Almost. I just need one other thing to click into place.” She paused. “When are you here next?”
She meant me. I couldn’t stop my grin. “I’ll be in Manchester tomorrow evening. But I’ve got two weeks of night flights.” I’d had to trade my shifts in order to get the day off to spend with my family.
“I’m recording all day. How are we going to see one another?”
“How about I take you out for breakfast?”
“Yes! I can’t wait to see you.”
I couldn’t, either, and after we hung up, making a date for the morning, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t sleep much until I had Ella Fitzroy back in my life.
For two weeks, Ella and I met almost every morning.
Short, rushed meetings, but never missed.
I’d be coming off shift and she’d have crawled from her bed to meet me, the long recording sessions on top of her classes wearing her out.
Not only had she persuaded the university to let her direct her own learning and create a recording outfit using their facilities, but she was also putting out pieces to sell again.
She had contracts with other musicians and was making money.
Her drive, and her single-minded determination, fired me up more than ever.
We kissed goodbye each time, a chaste peck on the cheek that hinted at hunger and fire. But all in good time.
My past had been one-night stands, instant gratification with nothing of feelings or care. My future could be so different.
Even if work got in the way.
I had another stint offshore—a twenty-one-day trip back out to sea. Ella understood, but I could see how much she hated me going. If I’d still been serving in the RAF, my tours would take me away for months. Hard to ask someone to wait for you when life was passing them by.
The day I left, Callum called me. I’d had a letter come through to the castle. At my request, my brother read it out over the phone.
“It’s about your case against the wing commander. They are inviting ye to give evidence at his hearing.”
Holy fuck. “When?”
There was a pause as he read. “In a month.”
“I’ll be at Belvedere. I’ve got two weeks off.” James and Beth had invited me for a visit. I was going to help James with some work around the place.
“Perfect timing.”
It was. I hadn’t told Ella about the trial yet, not wanting to put too much hope on the letter I’d sent. Nor had I confided in her about the baggage I carried—the shite Callum said I needed to trust her with. I’d been serious about taking it slow.
Still, as I boarded the heli, heading out for my stint on the rigs, I shot her a text.
Come to Belvedere for the weekend when I’m back.
It was time to move things up a gear.
It’s a date, she replied.