Chapter 33 #2
“Hey, don’t try and charm her before me. I’m actually the more charming brother.” Bucky wrestles James off and bows at me. “Bucky Buckley. Drummer. And favourite nephew of Jude Greystone.”
Jude huffs out a laugh. They’re just about to start arguing the toss about who is the favourite, when the door slams open again, and I hear my boys shouting.
“Mum, Jude. We’re home.”
We all spin around and see Noah, Nat, and Cal come in. They stop dead when they see James and Bucky. Their eyes go wider and wider. Their mouths hang open.
Jude starts to laugh. “Drew boys, these are my nephews—James Greystone and Bucky Buckley. And these lovely lot”—he motions to the three statues—“are Noah, Nat, and Cal. There’s another brother. Ollie. He’s probably on his way over.”
My heart stutters when the older boys move straight away to high five the younger boys, asking them questions and making them feel at home. And then my heart blooms as I watch my sons become friends with pop stars.
But for all that they are, you wouldn’t know. There’s no airs or graces, no celebrity status at play, they’re simply bantering with their uncle. Jude is cooking for everyone, and looking ecstatic about it.
A knock at the door brings an older man into the room. Both James and Bucky are up on their feet heading like bullets towards him. “Grandpa Tarron.”
“Boys, boys, one at a time. You put my back out last time you both hugged me.”
Jude waits his turn and goes and shakes his hand. “Tarron, this is Emma Lincoln. Her sons, Noah and Nathan Drew, and their half brother Carlton Drew-Langford.”
Tarron’s bright blue eyes smile at me and the boys, coming over to shake my hand, then going around each boy to shake hands, which they do shyly.
I’m not surprised, the man oozes regality, respect and authority.
Yet Bucky and James are making him relatable.
He’s very quickly brought into the banter.
“Drew-Langford. Are you Philip Langford's grandson?” He looks at Cal, who nods shyly. “Why, I know your grandfather. We are very good friends.” He smiles widely at the boy.
“Muuuum. Jude.” I hear Ollie at the door, and he comes into view in a hurry. “There’s paparazzi and girls all screaming outside your door, Jude.” He dashes in, looking like he’s fallen foul of someone grabbing at him.
“Fuck, already?” Bucky states
“How many?” James asks him.
But Ollie has just caught on who they are and can’t get any words out. As he stares at James and Bucky, Noah, Nat, and Cal all rush to the window.
“There’s tonnes,” shouts Nat. “James, they’ve got placards with your name on them.”
“Are there any with mine on?” asks Bucky, pouting at him.
“Yes,” he cries excitedly. “Lots.”
Bucky looks smug—as if he’s won some sort of competition with James—and sits down, happy to have seemingly gotten one up on his brother.
“Boys, come away from the windows.” I go to usher them over, and can see the flashes as I near.
“You’ll be on camera now. They’ll know all about you.” James laughs. “I’ll probably be your toy boy.”
“Fuck off, James. It’ll be me,” Bucky snaps. He’s so cocky, but all good-naturedly. “I dated that actress last year. They’ll think it’s her. You do look a bit like her.”
Everyone is staring at me. I feel like I’m being dissected for my look. I’m nearly twitching, the pressure is so intense.
“Don’t listen to them, Emma. Why are you all here?” Tarron asks them.
“Mum’s on her way home. And we need to go sort out the suits for the wedding.
We can take everyone tomorrow. Tarron, you could come with us.
” Bucky is martialing everyone into his plan.
I can feel everyone warming to him, he pulls people in effortlessly.
Down-to-earth, smiling, enthusiastic, everyone is welcome.
“Drew boys as well. Are you going, Cal?” Bucky bumps shoulders with him.
“Er, I don’t think I’m invited,” he says earnestly.
“Of course you are. You’re with Jude, aren’t you? Jonno’s paying for everyone, and we’re all staying in the house. Mum said the house is huge, a stately home. He’s coming, isn’t he, Jude?”
All eyes switch to Jude and me. “We’ve not asked his mum or dad yet,” I say nervously. “It’s a bit… complicated.”
Cal looks down. I hate having to separate him out sometimes, but I can’t speak for Nigel and Amy. I’ll get Ollie to talk to him to make sure he knows it’s not because I don’t want him to come. It is just complicated.
Tarron looks at the boy, sheer kindness in his eyes. “I’ll speak to Philip. I’m sure it’ll be fine. In fact, I’ll phone him now.” He gives Cal a reassuring smile and steps out of the room to call Cal’s grandfather.
“So, suits tomorrow for us all.” Bucky nudges Cal.
“Then we’re mopping up a few dates in Europe, home for the wedding in August, touring the UK after that, then off to Japan.
” All the boys are looking at them in awe.
“But for now, let’s go play on the consoles downstairs.
What’s your favourite game, Nat?” Bucky is off and running.
Dragging all the boys in his wake. James grinning at him all the while.
They one hundred percent back each other up.
In just this brief interaction, I can see it. I hope all my boys and Cal can find this sort of harmony, if only Nigel will get out of their way. I live in hope.
“I’ll shout you all for food,” Jude calls after them, rolling his eyes, but I see the laugh in them, the love.
He seems in his element, nothing seeming to phase him.
“Is it okay about the suits? Jonno is paying for everyone and everything.” He grins at me, because he knows I can’t back out of it now.
“It doesn’t sit well, that’s all. I don’t want to be sponging from you. We can pay for the suits.”
“You don’t have to.” James startles me. He’s snuck back into the room, as I’ve been distracted by Jude’s smile.
“My uncle is a billionaire, and he wants to pay for everyone. He’ll be upset if you don’t take it.
In fact, he’s been calling Mum, setting up dress fittings for her.
No doubt you’ll be dragged in for that as well.
” He points at me. “Resistance is futile. He’ll start calling you nonstop if he knows you're not going along with his plans. Have you not clued her in yet, Uncle Jude, how barking Uncle Jonno is?”
“I don't think she believes me.” Jude’s still grinning at me, but he’s added an ‘I told you so’ to his expression.
“All sorted for Cal to come,” Tarron Barclay announces as he comes back into the room.
“Philip is cock-a-hoop Cal’s been invited to the wedding.
I heard him telling a friend before he put the phone down.
His grandson connected to the O’Clery’s.
” He’s shaking his head, then rolls his eyes my way.
“Think he wants an invite.” Jude looks at him, horrified. “I told him no, of course.”
I can feel the relief radiate off Jude. He doesn’t want any other connections to Nigel, or making things harder for me.
The conversations roll on, and the deeper I get in, the deeper they drag me in.
Plans at dinner are made, timings sorted for the morning.
We don’t even make it home to St. Albans, and end up staying at Jude’s, my boys following James and Bucky's lead. Ollie’s making plans to go to a James and Bucky B4d Intel concert.
I feel like a bit part player in my own life.
Smiling and going along with everything, as everyone else looks happy to be doing it.
But I’m not. I know Cal coming to Ireland will cause another storm of client stealing by Nigel and Terry.
I know Cal staying at Jude’s will cause more consternation about my parenting skills and decision making.
Ollie hanging around with pop stars, attending their concerts.
Which in Nigel’s world is being dragged into sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and none of it in a good way.
When I see my photograph on the internet the next morning, in relation to dating Bucky Buckley, I know trouble is on the horizon. And when Ollie is papped with James and Bucky in a bar later in the day, I know Nigel will be on the phone.
But strangely, he isn't. I don't hear a thing. But my unease ramps up. This is not going to go well.
I feel totally out of control, and know we are heading for a showdown.
I had to battle with Nigel to get my life back once already, and it’s taken me eight painful years.
Watching how the Greystones operate, I know I’m entering a similar battle in some ways, but a completely different one in others.
Jude has lovingly manoeuvred me into a situation I couldn’t say no to with the suits.
And the two younger Greystone men assume you will say yes to everything they suggest, regardless of cost and time.
They are killing me with kindness and caring.
I’ve never seen people manipulate in such nice ways before.
But manipulation is what they are doing.
I need to speak to Jude about it. He’s so indulgent of his family he doesn’t see it as an issue.
But I need to try and make him see. I need to buckle up, ditch the skimpy lace thong, and grab my big girl knickers.
Full elasticated waist, full belly warmers.
And hope they survive the Jude Greystone treatment.