Chapter 34
Jude
“Are we there yet?” Nat sits in the back of the car, peering out at the countryside passing us by.
School has been out for the summer for a few weeks now.
But what with cricket matches, Nigel, and work, we haven’t been able to arrange any sort of holiday.
I actually think Emma may have been trying to put it off.
I know money is tight with the new school fees, and she’s seriously budgeting.
I keep trying to pay for things, but am knocked back at every turn.
“That’s Greystone farm.” I point to the left at a winding drive up to the large farm farther up the lane.
“My mum, dad, brother Jake and his daughter Sofia live there.” I’m sweeping my hands in the general vicinity.
“All the land and fields belong to that farm.” I smile proudly over at Emma.
Nat and Noah are glued to the windows. Ollie has gone to Europe with James and Bucky for a concert. The little two are very jealous.
“That’s Marshall’s old farm.” I point out the old farmhouse sitting proudly on a slightly raised hill, keeping a protective eye out over the green fields, and the horses in them. “We keep an overflow of horses there.”
“And Marshall is your sister's dad.” Nat is trying to put everyone in their place. I’ve explained my family dynamic to them.
And they’ve also been playing Xbox with James, Bucky, and now the family Purcell—cousins of my sister's husband.
Three boys and a girl. So they are more or less up to speed on everyone.
“Yes, that’s right,” I confirm to Nat. “That’s Farm Cottage. Evie owns it, and it’s where the recording studio is, Noah.”
Noah turns his head to look. He’s been promised a look and play in there. James told him all about it, and he’s desperate to make music.
“You can’t see the house,” I state the obvious. The drive and trees obscure the building. “We used to rent it out as a holiday let. But now it’s full of musicians most of the year round, with Kell and Xan being here nearly all the time. And Jurgen the producer lives there with our chef.”
“That’s Nikki, isn’t it?” Nat checks his information. “Eamonn told me he makes the best biscuits.”
“Correct.” I grin at them. “And this is Cornhill. Where we’ll be staying, and where I’m having a house built on the grounds.”
I’m beaming. To have Emma and the boys here is a complete dream. I know she’ll love the place as well as my family. They can’t wait to meet her and them. I’ve never brought anyone here before. They know the significance of that.
As I pull off the road, I hear Nat exclaim, “Whoa, that’s huge.” He’s referring to the huge twelve foot sculpture of a rearing horse that Xander did for the outside of the gates. There’s even a few paparazzo at the bottom of the drive.
“Is that normal?” Emma frowns at me as the cameras flash as we sail by.
“Evie’s home, so Xan and Kell will be. James and Bucky have just left, so they’ll die down.” I know I sound blasé, but it’s become second nature now.
I pull into the garage space and go around to help Emma out. The boys pile out and are staring at the fields, the horses. The views.
“Look at the sea. It looks so close.” Noah is staring out beyond the hedges, the fenced-off fields full of horses, to the clifftops that drop to the beach below.
“There’s a private beach. We’ll get some surf lessons for you.” I love watching their faces change to wonderment, full excitement of the new experiences on offer. “Grab the bags, boys. We’ll go get drinks then you can go explore.”
“Uncle Jude.” I hear multiple voices shout and the Purcell male trio come into view.
“They’re here,” the youngest, Eamonn, shouts back over his shoulder. “Come get some drinks, we’ve got motorbikes to show you.” He pulls at Nat, and they head up towards the house at a run.
“Nat, wait—” Emma starts to try and stop him.
“Leave him, he’s fine. Noah, head up if you want. I can get these.” I’m grinning from ear to ear. It’s like all my birthdays have come at once. Emma and the boys with my family in Devon.
“We’ll get them, Uncle Jude.” Oisin and Colm, the oldest Purcell twins, pick up the bags with Noah.
“Cheers, boys.” I grin at them all as they head up, talking gaming consoles as they go. “Good job they already know each other.” I smile at Emma who is looking slightly nervous.
“They should have waited.” She’s shading her eyes, looking at them heading to the house.
“They’re fine. Ah, there’s Evie.” I grin wider as my sister comes into view, waving at us.
“Hey, so glad you’re here.” She pulls me into a hug and then turns to Emma.
“Emma, hi, I’m Evie. So glad you could make it down.
” She hugs Emma, her smile widening by the second.
“I’ve got rooms for you all in the house.
Hope you don’t mind little kids. I’ve got a fair few.
” She smiles and takes Emma’s arm, walking towards the house.
“I’m so excited to meet you. Jude’s been telling me about you since February.
I was so annoyed not to get home sooner.
But we're here now, and will be all summer. Apart from the wedding of course.”
She pitches her head sideways at Emma. “I heard all the boys went for fittings. I’m so happy you’ll be coming with Jude.
We need to even up the female half of the Greystones.
But so far it’s only me, you, Pat, and Sofia.
Oh, and the bride, of course.” She grins widely.
“We’re still outnumbered. But not out-gunned.
” She winks at Emma, who is looking at her with awe.
“My husbands will be home later,” my sister continues, as though that’s the most normal statement ever. “I’ll introduce you to them then. You’ve met James and Bucky. We’ve a big family, so apologies.” My sister is all warmth and light, trying to make Emma feel welcome.
“I know what you mean. Three sons, and I feel outnumbered at times,” Emma gets out, relaxing as we enter the house. Her smile settles as she looks around the warm, large kitchen, the boys already tucking into sandwiches.
“Boys, did you ask?” Emma gives the boys a stern look.
“Yes. Marshall told us to dig in,” Noah states, looking worried at his mum.
“I told them, Emma.” Marshall comes over, and kisses her cheek. “Sorry, they want to go on the bikes. So I told them to start. Hope that’s okay. It’s a bit of a free for all.”
“This is my dad, Marshall,” Evie tells Emma. “Let’s get you fed. Do you want a tea or coffee to start with?” Evie moves to pop the kettle on the AGA.
“Where are the twins?” I ask her.
“Rio and the little two are napping. Boys are with Valentina. Ahh, here they are.”
Two beautiful little boys walk into the room, squealing with delight at everyone sat in the kitchen.
“Hey, my babies.” I stoop down and pick both the clamoring boys up.
“These two lovely devils are Lachlan and Sorley. Known as Loc and Sol.” I kiss them both.
They stare at Emma with their big grey eyes.
“This is Emma, boys.” They cuddle closer into me.
“Don’t be fooled, they are not shy. They’ll be terrorising you in no time.
Won’t you?” I say to them, as they study me with their beautiful eyes, hugging and kissing me.
I watch Emma regarding me, her expression unreadable. And while I’m not exactly sure what she’s thinking, I know she’s smiling. And god I hope she likes it here.
We fall into the rhythm of the house. Up and about for breakfast. Walking, sun bathing, swimming.
Lunch for anyone who’s bothered. And dinner on an evening cooked by Nikki.
Or me. I watch as Emma relaxes, even goes out for lunch with Evie into the village on a couple of occasions.
The boys are tanned and happy, and I can see the worry lines dissipating daily from Emma’s brow.
“It’s like a dream here. Like a lovely bubble,” she tells me one evening up in our room. “No wonder your sister spends most of her time here.”
“We can come anytime. I’ve shown you the house I’m building. We can come here to this house or that one. Or any of the farms. We have an open door policy. Even if anyone is not here. We are always welcome.” I pull her into me. “I love us being here. Do you love it, do you like my family?”
She snuggles into my body, and she feels so comfortable in my arms. God I hope she loves it here. And not just Devon, but with me. I really want her too. She grins in response.
“They’re a bit mad, but yes, I love them.
I can’t believe I can say I know four rockstars, a famous pony, and Marshall.
” She kisses me. “Thanks for bringing me, Jude. I didn’t realise how much I needed the break.
” She lowers her head to my shoulder, her whole body relaxing.
The deep sigh that accompanies it makes my heart sing.
“No one ever does. I came down here most weekends last year. Kept me sane.” I grin widely at her, hugging her close. “Until I met you, of course. Then, poof.” I make a motion as if my brains have been blown out of my head.
“I want you to think of this place as yours. As ours.” I know I’ve asked about this sort of thing before, but here, with her here, I like it.
“Now don’t freak out when I say this, but I want us to be a permanent thing.
Here, London, wherever you want. I want to be with you all, as a family. Our family. The Lincoln-Greystones.”
I’m drawn into her beautiful turquoise eyes, brushing the dark hair from her face. She’s stunning inside and out. And I hope she says yes.
“Are you asking me to marry you? Or just move in together?” She gifts me a shy smile.
We hear the door bang and the sound of boys all shouting over each other to talk. I know our time together is limited, but I could really do with an answer. To put me at ease.
“It’s not the proposal I would want to do. But yes, I am asking. I’ll give you and the boys my world. I want us to be together. We can live at Greystone house. It’s huge, and near school, work, our lives… Come share your lives with me, and I promise you I will love you with everything I am.”
Tears spring to her eyes. I can see the love in her face, it shines out of her. But I also see trepidation where there should be none. I see a hint of fear and hesitation, but her words don’t match the emotion hiding in her eyes.
“I love you.” She gently touches my face, but she doesn’t say yes.
“Is that a yes?” I ask gently. I feel as if I need to start adding on codicils, and I can’t keep my mouth shut. Because no answer is coming. “It doesn’t have to be yes now, we can do it later. I just want you to know how I feel about you all.”
“I know how you feel. I can see it. Everyday.”
“Mum, Jude, come look at this.”
Nathan is shouting at the top of his lungs. Then we hear feet running up the stairs. Bang, bang, bang. His feet slap on the wooden treads of the stairs. But it’s my heart that is being pummelled.
She didn’t say yes. She didn’t throw herself at me in any way, shape, or form. She looked more scared than happy. What is going on with her? She loves me. I know she does. And I, her. We’ve told each other that lots over the past five months or so.
She steps forwards and puts her arms around my neck. “Jude—”
“There you are. Come see what I caught. Marshall says we can have it for tea.” Nat grabs my hand, and starts to pull, talking a mile a minute.
I lift my shoulders in a shrug, and start to laugh at the little boy, who can hardly contain himself. If only his mother had shown the same enthusiasm when I just asked her to be mine.