Chapter 40
Jude
“Brandon’s trying to get you.” Evie keeps wafting my phone at me. “If you don’t answer next time, I will.”
She glares at me. It’s late Friday afternoon.
It’s hot. I’ve played with all the kids.
Nursed Shay until Jonno stole him back from me.
I’m currently carrying Beau, Evie’s youngest, around.
She looks the most like my sister. Her daddies will be here soon—they are completely under her spell—and I’ll likely have to surrender her to them.
Until then, I pretend the world doesn’t exist, ensconced in this happy baby cocoon of innocence and wonder.
It’s been a conveyor belt of arrivals, with wedding guests coming and going, being shown to rooms around the house or out into houses around the grounds. The kids have been my most valuable respite.
“Hi, Brandon,” I hear Evie shout. She’s waving my phone at me like the world’s most aggressive PA.
I’m sitting with my brothers Jonno, Jake, Jackson, and Jackson’s boyfriend, Carter. I shrug at Evie as I pass Beau to Carter so I can drink my whiskey.
“Why is she answering your phone? Why aren’t you?” Carter asks, amused, as he looks around at us Greystone brothers, then down at the beautiful little girl.
“He’s avoiding his life,” Jake states. “Although with the look on her face, I’d say you should have switched it off and left it in your bedroom.”
Evie’s face is going a shade of red usually reserved for high-end sports cars.
“You’re for it, Jude.” She’s lowered her hand from her ear, her face a picture of annoyance.
Jackson is laughing and shoots his hands up in a surrender pose.
“Get em up, all of you. Especially you, Jude,” he says in a stage whisper as she stomps over to us all.
“Jude, you need to ring Brandon.”
I roll my eyes at her. “I’m on holiday,” I state cockily. She knows that’s bullshit. Work always comes before a holiday.
“It’s not work. It’s Emma.” My head shoots up. The whole table goes quiet. You can hear the birds chirping in the trees. “She came to see you, but obviously you’ve buggered off here. He told her you were going to LA. She’s not good. You need to speak to her. You need to sort this—”
“I don’t need to do anything.” She snaps her mouth shut at my harsh tone.
I’m sick of being told what to do. “Emma made her choice. She chose her kids.” I raise my hands in an ‘I get it’ gesture, but then I go on, my voice raising in incredulity again.
“Her house, her business, and her fucking ex over me. I don’t need to do anything.
” I sound hard and cold. I know I’m trying to protect what’s left of my sanity.
I see Jake pout his lips. “Harsh brother,” he says.
“But true,” I counter.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s true,” Evie contends. “She came to see you. That counts. Please ring her, Jude.” There’s a plea in her voice, but I ignore it and mutinously shake my head.
My sister is so emotional at times. For a ruthless human, she is as soft as a kitten. She is so very aptly nicknamed.
“I can only get kicked in the teeth so many times, Evie. I’ll need a false set soon.” I sigh as she continues to glare at me. “I’ll think about it.” I pick up my whiskey and look away. Conversation over. She storms away into the house.
“You’ve done it now. We won’t get a minute's peace ‘til you phone home,” Jonno adds conversationally.
“It’ll be fine. Kell and Xan will be here in an hour. They’ll distract her.” I smirk as I avoid the glares from the house. I can feel the malevolent energy being thrown my way.
I watch over the next few hours as my brothers one by one gravitate towards my angry sister. Calming her down and coming out of the house to give me updates if it’s safe to go indoors.
The sun is starting to slip down behind the trees, giving us all a bit of shade and relief from the heat.
The patio area is full of happy people, everyone drinking, talking, eating.
The flurry of activity continues, with my brothers-in-law arriving to crank up the volume.
A ring of awestruck guests desperately trying not to stare at the rockstars sat at the next table with babies in their arms and kids hanging off their legs.
But my prophecy of them being a distraction has not borne fruit.
Jonno’s fiancé comes out and takes Shay from him. Heading into the house, he looks like someone just stole his heart as he trails in her wake.
“You’re in the dog house,” Xander tells me, pointing over to my sister who is talking at the next table and studiously ignoring me. When she catches me looking, she heads into the house with her nose in the air.
“I know.” I roll my eyes, grinning at them. “I have been for the past days. But she’s cranked it up in the past few hours.”
“Just do what she says. We do, and it’s a lot easier,” Kell puts in, trying to shake off one of the twin boys who look like they are trying to bite his leg.
I tug the twins off his ankles and give them all cuddles until they go to bed.
The next morning, things are no better. I’m ignoring everyone and my phone. I took Jake’s advice and switched it off, leaving it on the bedside table. I don’t bother going down for breakfast, but make an appearance for Saturday brunch out on the terrace.
“You’re still in the dog house,” Kell tells me as he brings out food for his twin boys. I think you need to go in and make the peace. Grovel big.” He nods towards the house, where Evie’s walking in and out, helping to sort luggage out with Jonno as more people arrive.
I give a big sigh and pretend to be psyching myself up. “Okay. I’m going in. Who's coming with me?” I look down at the little boys. They point at each other. Kell starts to laugh.
“They’re not daft. Go protect Uncle Jude, boys.”
They grab a hand each and we walk into the cool house, all three of us shouting Evie’s name.
When we eventually get into the hallway, the front doors are open and I can see piles of luggage on the driveway.
People are picking things up and lists are being checked.
Evie and Jonno are outside, and I can hear them talking and directing suitcases.
Another car comes down the drive just as Sorley pulls away and dashes into the dining room.
Retrieving the boy from under the table, we head back towards the front of the house just as Jonno is coming in. His eyes are wild, his agitation hitting me in the chest.
“Jude, you better get out here.” His command is harsh, and definitely not to be ignored.
“What’s the matter?” My anxiety has shot up. I’ve not seen Jonno upset for a long time.
Stepping out onto the front drive from a darkened room, the sun blinds me. I put my hands up towards my eyes, trying to get them to adjust, and I see the car door is open. I gasp in shock and hear Evie give a little scream.
“What the fuck?” I shout in panic before I can stop myself. “What the hell are you doing here?”