Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
FACING THE MUSIC
Taylor
A soft breeze played with my hair, and I picked my way down the heather-strewn path from the crofthouse, my best friend at my side. Ella had texted this morning then brought William and me lunch. He’d then taken her car to go to see his brothers, leaving us to walk, like I’d asked.
I wanted to explore my new backyard, but we really needed a car if we were going to make a go of living here.
My friend looped her arm through mine and pointed to a village on the other side of the loch. “There’s a lovely little church in the town. My brother had his wedding there, and it was so pretty. Just saying, you know, in case you and Wasp are making plans…”
I sucked in a breath, faking concern. “Careful, you might hurt yourself with all those fishing hooks.”
She gave a bright laugh. “I can’t believe you’re here, and staying.
I’m just going to put this out there and say I’ve never been this happy.
To have you on my doorstep, it makes everything perfect.
I’m going to need you around, and you’re here!
I can’t even…” Her voice caught, and I swung my gaze around.
“You’re crying? Oh my God!” We stopped, and I examined her face. It crumpled, her bottom lip trembling. Then something twigged. “Oh, honey. Are you…?”
A smile broke through her tears. “Pregnant? Yep. We took a test this morning. Positive.”
“Ahh!” I screamed, startling a small flock of birds from a nearby tree. “I can’t believe it! You only just starting trying!”
Ella laughed now. “We know! Gordain’s been marching around all puffed up. He’s going to tell his brothers now. But do you see why I need you? So you can’t go anywhere.”
She threw her arms around me, her dark curls against my straight blonde mane. We hugged it out on the side of the gorgeous glen that was somehow my home. My first real home.
“I’m not going anywhere. I don’t think William will let me out of his sight.” Then I quickly admitted, “And I’m worrying about him, and he’s not even left the estate. I’m beyond freaked out about all of this.”
“But it feels right?”
“One hundred percent.”
She nodded, pleased. “Then tell me, what happens next? Have you heard anything from your dad?”
“Not yet.” Earlier, lying in bed with William, I’d scanned the news, and Theo’s engagement announcement had been on a few sites, but the election plans were missing. Clearly, it hadn’t been made. “I think I scuppered his chances of running for vice president.”
“Nope. He did that all by himself by being a douche canoe.”
I snorted agreement. “William said to let Dad come to us. But he still hasn’t heard back from his agency, so what if Dad’s messing that up for him?”
“Does he have that power?”
I stooped and picked up a small stone on the track. Rolled it around in my fingers. “I don’t know. Probably? I think he treated my mom pretty bad.”
“Call her. Ask. She’ll know him better than you.”
I grimaced, but Ella was right. I’d had it in the back of my mind that I should speak to my mother, though with no real expectation that she’d be able to help. I slid my phone from my dress pocket and made the call. It rang for a while, then Mom answered, sounding a little drowsy.
“Hi, Mom, it’s Taylor.” I trod carefully down the slope, reaching back to take Ella’s arm.
“Oh!” Noises of flustering came from the other end of the line.
“Don’t panic. You haven’t forgotten anything. I just need to ask a question.”
The noises stopped. “Certainly. I’m listening.”
God, it was always so awkward with this woman. The path underfoot levelled out, but Ella kept hold of me.
“I’ve got a problem with Dad.”
Mom sucked in a breath, but I pushed on.
“He wanted me to marry one of his politician friend’s sons, but I’ve refused. He threatened my boyfriend.”
“Taylor…” Mom’s hesitant tone held a warning.
“I just want your advice.” I palmed that piece of Highlands stone in my hand. “How likely is he to go through with it? Is he as vindictive as he claims?”
“I don’t want anything to do with this. I suffered that man for two years after getting knocked up. Why are you trying to involve me with his problems again?”
I opened and closed my mouth. She’d always shut me down in the past, and now wasn’t any different.
It should hurt, but I let the rejection bounce off me.
Before, I’d pretended I was okay with this, now I knew I wasn’t, but I’d survive it.
“If you have any influence over him, now is a good time to help me out. I’m starting a new life with the man I love.
In the UK, by the way. If you want anything to do with me, I need your help. ”
Silence held on the other end of the line. I checked the screen. Call ended.
“What happened?” My friend squeezed my arm.
“She just hung up on me.” I stared at Ella. “All the times I thought we just needed an adult connection or some kind of common ground. And hating Dad couldn’t be a better bonding place, right? But no. She didn’t want anything to do with it.”
“She’s a bitch. And he’s an asshole. When you were born, I think the best of them got sucked out and put into you. There is just no other explanation.”
I sighed and commenced our walk. “What a fuck-up. Promise me we’ll never screw over our kids like that.”
Ella’s sympathetic expression lifted into a more cheerful one. “Then you are planning babies! Hurry up so ours will be the same age.”
I gave her a non-committal head shake, and we made our way over the pretty hillside to the castle.
At the heavy wooden door, my phone rang. I stopped, catching a glimpse of William inside with Callum, the two men deep in conversation.
“Go on in,” I said to Ella. “Maybe Mom had a change of heart.”
She left, and I retrieved my phone. The screen read International, and my pulse sped up.
My next move had been to call Dad. I wasn’t running scared. But if this was him, then he’d beaten me to the punch.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Taylor, it’s Stefan. I’m afraid I’m calling with some worrying news. Overnight, your aunt’s health has deteriorated further. I know you wanted any updates so I’ve just left her with her doctor to call you.”
No. No way. My hand shook; my stomach instantly cramped.
“What happened? Has she had any visitors?” If Dad had been near her…
“Visitors? No, the illness can take this course. Her pneumonia weakened her significantly. If you can, I think it prudent if you return for a final visit as soon as possible.” His gentle voice was weighted with meaning.
Final?
I couldn’t have heard that right.
“A final visit?” I choked on the words and sank hard to sit on the cold stone steps.
The little pebble I’d carried down the hill dropped from my hand.
“She just had a cold! She was recovering. I just saw her a few days ago. You can’t tell me that she’s got worse.
She’s meant to be getting better. Please. ”
Warm hands landed on my shoulders, and William dropped onto the step behind me, bundling me in a hug.
“I’m so sorry to bear bad news,” Stefan continued. “I know how much your aunt loves you.”
Aghast, I thanked him in a strained, barely audible voice, then hung up. If I’d thought the call to my mother hard, this took first place.
“They think Charity’s really sick. That she won’t make it.” I twisted and stared into William’s eyes.
For a second, he closed his eyes, then he leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine. “I’m with ye, whatever ye need.”
“We need to go to see her.”
He stood, taking me with him. Inside the castle, he explained the situation to his family, and I roused myself from my stupor to make an apology to Mathilda for having to go.
She waved me off. “I’m feeling ten times better today.”
I wasn’t sure that was true, but we had to leave.
Callum pulled something from his pocket and moved to stand in front of William. He pressed the item into his hand.
“What do ye need?” Ally—who I didn’t even know was there—emerged from the den, his expression concerned.
“I’ll look at flights,” Ella said from behind me.
“Thank you,” I whispered to all of them.
Then, in a few short hours, we’d packed, got back on the road, and were at the airport once more. Only this time, it truly felt like I was facing the music.