Chapter 19 Autumn #2
I glanced out the window at the lights that twinkled in the darkness. The city was vast, spread out before us in the night. And without Sully around, it was going to feel scarier.
Sully tucked me closer to his side. He was thinking the same thing.
The next day, Sully took me to Lynn’s. “I can have this cleaned out and moved to the other side of the building in a couple of hours. We can deliver your boxes from the storage unit there, and you can—”
I cut him off by touching my finger to his mouth. “I will let you move the big items. The rest, I will donate or sell. The funds can go into her account here for haircuts and incidentals. Since this unit is on the third floor, it will be easier to come and go than up on the tenth.”
“Give it all away, and I’ll replace it.”
“Sully, I still have to wait until she is in here and settled.” Impatience filled my tone, and I flung up my arms. “I can’t leave her, you must understand that.
She is my priority. I’m not a millionaire able to do whatever I want whenever I want.
Toss out perfectly good items so I can run off and have hot sex with an Irishman because he’s impatient.
I have responsibilities I have to see through.
I have to sort out my life here. My job.
I can’t just leave!” By the end of my tirade, I was almost yelling. Sully lifted his eyebrows in surprise.
“Well, lass,” he began, “that was quite the tongue-lashing.”
I crossed my arms, tapping my foot in agitation.
He sighed and stepped closer. “And I deserved it. I’m sorry.
You’re right. I’m an impatient bastard. I hate the thought of leaving you here—even if it’s only for a month.
I know you have responsibilities. I want to make this easier on you—not harder.
So tell me what you want, and I’ll do it. Tell me to shut up, and I will.”
“And if I tell you to leave?”
“No. That I can’t do, mo fhiadh beag. That’s not what you want either, is it?”
“No.” I let myself rest my head on his chest. “Just help. Stop trying to do everything. Arrange to move the furniture for me. Order me some boxes. When you leave, I am going to stay here.”
“I’d prefer you at the hotel.”
“But if I’m here, I can work on my sorting anytime I want.”
He frowned.
“There is a locked front door. And there’ve been no sightings of Alan. I’m sure he’s lost interest. You told me that happened before.”
“Davey will drive you wherever you want to go. Stay with you when you’re out. I’ll not be swayed on that.”
“Fine. I need to ask Georgia for the okay to stay here.”
“I’ll handle that. It’s as good as done.”
“What did you say to her to get her to be so cooperative?”
He grinned. “She and her husband are the majority owners of this place, so she can bend the rules.”
“I know, but she usually doesn’t.”
“They love to gamble. Finn says they’re regulars.
I happened to mention he is my cousin, and he’d be happy to treat them to a weekend in the VIP suite.
Perhaps the same in Niagara Falls—he’ll call in a favor there.
I also mentioned front-row spots to see Una sing.
She was almost salivating. I think you’ll find her much more agreeable to many things. ”
I rolled my eyes. “Poor Finn.”
“Don’t be daft. He was too happy to do it. Don’t you get it, Autumn? You’re not alone now. You have all of us.” His eyes crinkled as he held back a laugh. “A trio of Irish mobsters to ease your life.”
I slapped his arm, and he pulled me close. “Now, I think someone mentioned hot sex with one of those mobsters? The impatient bastard.”
“Sully, we can’t.”
He ran his mouth down my neck, swirling his tongue at the juncture. “Think of it, lass. I doubt this place has ever had someone defile it. Totally sexless.”
“It’s a care home, you pervert,” I muttered, trying not to laugh.
“The counters in the kitchen look pretty sturdy. We could baptize them.”
He was lifting me, even as I protested. Even as my hand yanked on his belt. I couldn’t resist him. I wasn’t sure I ever could.
Sully stood in front of me, his voice low and serious.
“You keep in touch with Finn and Niall.”
“I will.”
“The girls want to help. You let them.”
I nodded.
“You don’t go anywhere without Davey. Not even the corner store. You keep your phone with you.”
“Okay.”
“You use the numbers I gave you or call Niall when you’re ready for things to go. No lifting heavy shite and hurting yourself.”
I tried not to roll my eyes at that one, but I made a sound that seemed agreeable.
“You call me every goddamn day. Twice a day.”
“Twice?”
“If I don’t hear from you by ten in the morning and three in the afternoon your time, I’m sending someone in.”
“That’s, ah, not necessary.”
“I disagree, and I will not be moved.”
My throat suddenly got tight.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“And you’ll wear this.” He slipped a hand into his pocket, holding up a pretty necklace. It shimmered in the light, a Celtic symbol with a central ruby that gleamed a deep red. It was surrounded by tiny diamonds and other rubies—delicate and beautiful.
“I know you don’t like bracelets, but you wear necklaces.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Is that a tracker like the girls wear?”
“It is.” He turned it over, showing me the back. “That flat piece there—you push it, and it sends a signal.”
“To whom?”
“Finn and Niall. Evan. Davey. Me—at least for now. Once I’m overseas, it won’t reach that far. But this makes me worry less.” He paused, meeting my eyes. “Will you wear it?”
“Yes.”
He put it on me and studied it with a satisfied nod. “Beautiful.”
Then he made me press the button. His phone pinged and almost instantly rang. He answered quickly. “Evan—yes, just the test I told you I would do. Yes, tell them to stand down. Davey too. It’s working. Thanks.”
“Evan was meeting with the boys and they all got the alert, so I know it works,” he explained.
“Okay.”
We stared at each other. Emotion welled in my chest, and I had to look down for a moment, worried I would start crying.
His voice suddenly became thicker. “You come to me as soon as you can.”
I lifted my head, meeting his eyes. “I will.”
“Take care of yourself, mo fhiadh beag. Don’t forget to eat. And if you need me, I’ll get back as soon as I can.”
“I love you.”
Instantly, I was in his arms, his mouth on mine. He kissed me until I was breathless.
“I will miss you, Autumn, and count every day until you come back to me.”
“I’ll hurry.”
He stepped back, and I knew he had to go. Our gazes held, and I saw the love we shared in them.
He picked up his coat and tugged it on, then headed for the door.
He turned when he got there. “If you take too long, I’ll come back for you.”
“Promises, promises.” I tried to smile, ignoring the tears running down my cheeks.
“Don’t test me on this.” He gripped the door handle. “I love you. Always.”
And he was gone.
Later that week, I sat in the boardroom at the office, my boss across from me. “I’m sorry?” I asked, unsure if I had heard correctly.
My boss, Marvin, smiled, crossing his ankle over his knee, looking relaxed. “I think you heard me. I understand you want to move to Scotland. We have decided we want you in that office, so we are prepared to help you with your paperwork and the Skilled Worker visa. On one condition.”
“Which is?” I asked.
“In the future, we may want to send you to another office briefly if we need to repeat this sort of overhaul. We’ve had nothing but glowing reports on the way you’ve handled this process. We may need it again.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. He continued to talk.
“We noticed how much vacation you had in the bank. We would like you to take some of it now in half days. There are some odds and ends you need to finish here, but they could easily be done in a couple weeks, I think? That gives you lots of time to wrap up your personal life and be able to move.”
“That works.”
“We hate losing you here, but it is good to know you will be part of the team over there.”
“Thank you, Marvin,” I murmured.
“How is your aunt?”
“Doing well. She’s been moved to a physio hospital. She’s determined to walk again—even with a walker. The fall caused damage to other parts of her leg, but she is pushing it.”
I didn’t mention the mental challenges. The fall had caused some short-term memory loss, and it remained to be seen whether she would regain it.
“Good.” He stood. “We’ll meet later with all the particulars.”
I shook his hand. “Thank you again.”
I headed to my office, trying to tamp down my excitement. Another hurdle cleared to get to Sully. He would be so pleased when I told him. It had been less than a week, and he complained about time going slowly whenever I spoke to him.
I called him, but it went straight to voice mail.
I walked to the window, looking down at the busy streets.
I wouldn’t miss the craziness of the city.
The constant hustle and bustle. The noise.
Edinburgh, although a major city, had a peaceful vibe.
I could walk to work. Where Sully lived was a quiet area, yet so close to everything we needed.
And he was there.
My days quickly fell into a rhythm. Mornings at the office, afternoons spent visiting Lynn, and then to her place or to spend some time with Anna and Una.
We had become quite close, and I was going to miss them.
They liked to come to Lynn’s and help me sort through everything.
I had a pile of things to give away, but there were a lot of items I could sell.
“Can you have a garage sale in the winter?” Anna asked.
“No. I’ll put stuff on Marketplace and on the board in the local grocery store.”
Una frowned. “Is, ah, that a good idea? Does Sully know your plans?”
“No, but it will be fine. I’ll use Lynn’s profile. Alan never met her and doesn’t know her last name. I’ll vet everyone and make sure Davey is here when they want to pick up the item. I take cash only,” I added. “And Davey will meet them at the front door. There’s a camera and a security guard.”