Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Charlie
“ I ’m sorry we have to leave early,” Jackson says as I walk him, Nessa, and Shandra to our front door.
“I know you’re busy, and I appreciate you flying in for the funeral.”
“We’re so sorry for your loss.” Vanessa stops in the doorway to hug me. “If we can do anything, we’re only a phone call away.”
“Rick is really sorry he couldn’t make it.” Shandra pulls me into a brief hug.
“He’s in New York saving lives, and that’s more important.”
Rick got called into an emergency surgery just as the private plane was due to take off from JFK. Hunt and Daniels aren’t here either because they’re on vacation in Europe. They were talking about coming back early, but I put the kibosh on that plan. I know they’d be here if they could, but there was zero sense in canceling their family vacation.
Jackson clamps a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll see you in a couple weeks at the party.” Drew and Athena are hosting a Sunday barbecue-slash-party with all the adults and kids to celebrate Olivia’s sixty-fifth birthday.
“Thanks for coming,” Demi says, materializing at my side. She hugs all three of our friends in turn. “We’ll have a proper catch-up at the party.”
“Safe flight,” I say, winding my arm around my wife’s shoulders as we wave our friends off at the door.
“How are you holding up?” she asks after we close the door.
“I’m hanging in there.”
Demi runs her palms up my shirt, cupping one side of my face. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” I bundle her in my arms, closing my eyes and just drinking her in. I couldn’t have gotten through these past few days without her. She’s my rock in every conceivable way.
“Dad.”
My eyes pop open at the sound of Jane’s voice.
“Yes, honey?” I ask as Demi slips out of my arms.
“Are you okay?” Worry lines crease Jane’s brow.
“I’m okay.” I open my arms wide. “Can I have a hug?”
Jane flings her arms around me and nestles her head against my chest. “Always, Daddy. Always.”
Demi smiles adoringly as I hug our eldest child and only daughter. I love all our kids but Jane was the first and the bond between us is that little bit extra special.
“How are you doing?” I ask. Jane was the closest of our kids to her grandma because Mom lived in Rydeville for the first six years of her life before moving to Florida to live with her eldest sister.
“I’m sad, and it hurts I didn’t get to say goodbye.”
My hand treks up and down her back. “Yeah, it does.”
“What’s going on?” Henry asks, appearing at the end of the hallway.
“Nothing, love.” Demi smiles at our eldest son. He towers over her at two inches taller than me. “We were just saying goodbye to Jackson, Nessa, and Shandra.”
“Felix is looking for you,” Henry tells his sister.
“’Kay.” She gives me one last squeeze before slipping from our embrace. “I better go protect him. He’s kinda shy around so many strangers.”
“He’s a nice boy,” Demi says, her approval clear.
“ Man , Mom. Felix is a twenty-year-old man . Stop referring to him as a boy. It’s insulting,” Jane replies.
I’m reserving judgment. Nice boys instantly raise my suspicions, usually for good reason. Though he passed the background checks I ordered, I still don’t trust Felix with my princess. And who the fuck names their kid a cat’s name anyway? Instant fucking red flag if you ask me.
“Daddy.” Jane narrows her eyes. “You need to stop that.”
I feign innocence. “Stop what?”
“Stop with the look!” She waves her hands around. “And stop glaring daggers at my boyfriend every chance you get. He’s good to me, and you need to knock it off before you scare this one away.”
Demi cocks her head to one side sending me one of her “I told you so” looks.
“I’m not apologizing for protecting my daughter or for wanting the right man for you. News flash, honey, that one waiting in the kitchen is not the right man.”
“Ugh.” She tosses strands of black hair over her shoulders. “I won’t argue with you the day of Grandma Elizabeth’s funeral, but we are gonna argue about this again. You’ve got to let me live my life, Daddy. That includes letting me make my own decisions and mistakes. How else will I learn?” Spinning on her heel, she storms off to comfort her pathetic man-child of a boyfriend.
“You just got schooled, Dad.” Henry grins. “But you’re not wrong,” he adds. “That guy is a pussy.”
Demi sighs, but she doesn’t reprimand our son for his language. It’s literally a waste of time and lung capacity.
Henry thumps me in the upper arm. “She’ll ditch him quicker if you keep out of it. Butting heads will just make Jane hold on to the relationship for longer to piss you off.”
Demi flashes me another one of her knowing looks, and I feel ganged up on. It’s not anything new. The boys are super protective of their mother and always pick her side. I wouldn’t have it any other way though.
Henry grabs his keys from the bowl on the hall table. “I’m heading out to meet some friends. I won’t be late.”
“Will Oli be there?” Demi asks with as much subtlety as a brick.
“Mom.” Henry’s sharp tone matches his sharp gaze. “We’ve already discussed this.”
“Watch your tone with your mother,” I warn.
“I mean no disrespect, Mom, but you and Aunt Abby need to butt out.”
“He’s family, Henry, and Abby and Kai are so worried about him.”
A muscle clenches in his jaw as he yanks the front door open. “Not my problem.”
Demi opens her mouth, but I shake my head. “Let it go,” I mouth. At least for now.
“Drive carefully,” Demi calls out after our headstrong seventeen-year-old.
“Always do,” Henry shouts before getting behind the wheel of his SUV.
“Come on, honey.” I close the door. “We better get back to our guests.” Thankfully, it’s only our close friends left at this stage. It’s been a long, tiring day, and I’m ready to call it a night.
Demi wraps herself around me as we walk down the hallway toward the kitchen. Earlier, we hosted the wake between the formal living room and formal dining room, but we moved to the cozier kitchen-slash-living area a while ago.
The kitchen is at the top of the large square room with a sizable dining area in the middle, and then we have a few couches and chairs at the back of the room facing out over the rear gardens. We’re more comfortable in this space and spend most of our time in this room. While the adults are all on this level, the remaining kids are in the basement downstairs with Jamie and Charlie playing games on the Xbox.
When we reach the kitchen, Athena is vacuuming the floor, Olivia is standing beside the glistening countertops with a cloth in hand, Emery is covering all the leftover food, and Abby is putting the dishwasher on.
“You didn’t have to clean up,” Demi says.
“But we’re grateful,” I add.
“You’re family, and we’re here for you.” Olivia drops the cloth in the sink and then washes and dries her hands.
“We couldn’t have gotten through today without all your help,” Demi says. “Thank you.”
“She was a lovely woman, Charles.” Olivia clasps my cheeks in her slightly damp hands. “Taken far too early, but at least she’s with your father now. Draw comfort from that.”
“I do.”
She pulls me into a hug, and I go readily.
“I’m here when you need me,” she says, breaking our embrace. “You know how much I adore your babies. Jane, Henry, Jamie, and Charlie are as much my grandkids as any of the kids. They aren’t grandparent-less. Just remember that.”
“We love you.” Demi kisses Olivia on the cheeks. “And the kids love you to bits. We’re lucky to have you in our lives.”
“It keeps me young,” she says with a cheeky wink. “Now, I’m going to head home. I’m sure you’re exhausted, so I’ll get out of your hair.”
Darcy is having a sleepover at Grandma’s, so she rushes over carrying a backpack and wearing a big smile. All the kids love sleeping over at Olivia’s palatial home. She has plenty of space and several guest bedrooms with bunk beds. She’s built a huge playground and obstacle course on the grounds, and she also has a tennis court and a massive outdoor pool.
Demi shows Olivia and Darcy to the door while I grab some fresh beers for Kai, Zayn, Drew, Arlo, and me and a fresh bottle of white wine for the girls. The pussy and Jane have made themselves scarce, and I hope that means Mr. Nice Guy has gone home and isn’t up to things I don’t want to think about with my daughter in her room. I drain half my beer in one go, forcing those hideous thoughts from my mind.
“To Elizabeth,” Kai says, lifting his beer in a toast.
Demi slips onto my lap with a glass of wine as we all clink glasses and celebrate my mom.
“I still can’t believe it,” I confess as we sit companionably, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows, while sipping our drinks.
“We had no time to prepare, so this doesn’t feel real yet,” Demi explains.
“It’s scary.” Abby’s eyes glisten with compassion. “Your mom was fit and healthy. If she can have a heart attack just like that, then it could happen to any of us at any time.”
“Life is unpredictable,” Drew says. “All you can do is hope for the best.”
“I think she died of a broken heart,” I admit.
“I agree,” Lillian says. “She never got over Dad. She didn’t go on a single date after he died and trust me, she wasn’t short of offers.”
I gulp over the lump in my throat as pressure sits on my chest.
“It’s not your fault,” my sister adds, skillfully reading the expression on my face. “You were not responsible for Dad’s death, Charlie, just like you’re not responsible for Mom’s.”
“A small part of me will always feel responsible.” I’ve gone to a few therapy sessions and talked it over extensively with Demi over the years. The logical part of my brain knows Michael Hearst is responsible and even if I hadn’t hand-delivered my father on a silver platter he would’ve found another way to take him out, but the nonlogical part will never stop beating myself up for making all the wrong decisions. For choosing to believe a narcissistic psychopath over my own father. For letting him manipulate me into betraying the man who gave me life. I know I’ll die still feeling that regret. There are so many things I wish I’d done differently.
Demi circles her arms around my neck, kissing me softly. “Your sister is right. Don’t do this again,” she says in a low voice only I can hear.
“Why is your blouse buttoned up all wrong?” Emery blurts, and every head whips in her direction. Her cheeks stain red as she stares at my sister. Lifting her hands to her burning skin, she adds, “Shit, I didn’t mean to just blurt that. Sorry, Lillian.”
My gaze flits to my sister, and sure enough, her black silk blouse is buttoned all wrong. I arch a brow but don’t share my suspicions or question her on it. If my sister is grabbing happiness wherever she finds it, you won’t hear me complaining. Not after the shit show of a marriage she’s just gotten out of.
Anger surges through my veins like every time my thoughts turn to her ex-husband. He’s lucky he fled overseas, but it won’t protect him should I decide to handle him once and for all. The only reason I haven’t gone after that fucker is because Lil asked me not to.
Zayn catches my eye, grinning, but he says nothing as he drinks his beer even though the all-knowing glint in his eye tells me he’s aware too.
“Crap.” Lil darts to her feet, looking flustered. She sets her wineglass down on the table. “I need to use the bathroom.”