Chapter 42
Jude
Several minutes earlier
Noah, Nathan, and Cal shuffle out of the car.
“I don’t fucking believe it. How the hell did you get here?” I open my arms to them and they only hesitate for a minute before the little two run towards me. I scoop them both up into a huge hug, kissing them both. My eyes stay on Noah, who is still stood at the side of the car, Jonno next to him.
I hold the two boys next to my sides. “Noah?” My voice holds a question. Is he okay?
I beckon to him to come to me, and he takes a few steps forwards. I move forwards with the two boys clinging to my legs, meeting him halfway. “Get in here.” I pull him into me. He’s a bit stiff, but soon hugs me back.
We now have a crowd with us. Tarron Barclay spots Cal. “Carlton, is your grandfather with you?” The boy shakes his head.
“No one is with them. They’ve got here themselves,” Jonno states, impressed. He goes to high five Nathan, then Noah. “I knew you were Greystones the minute Jude spoke about you,” he tells them, and wanders off laughing.
Evie pulls them in for a hug. “Are you hungry? Where’s your mum?” Nathan and Noah look at each other. “Does your mother know you’re here?” They both shake their heads. “You came alone? How did you get a flight?”
“I used Jude’s credit card,” Noah states in a small voice. Jackson, who has come to see what the commotion is, bursts into laughter. “He told us we could use it. Didn’t you?” Noah looks at me, trepidation in his eyes. He’s not sure I’ll back him. But I will, all the way.
“I did. Although I didn’t envisage you using it to run away to Ireland.” I give him a look, and he puts his head down.
“Well, well-played.” Jackson turns to me.
“Can you remember when James booked all those first class flights on my card. I nearly fainted when I got the bill. And Bucky bought a boat. We all nearly died when they tried to deliver it at the house. He thought it was a model, and all the commas were a mistake.” Jackson has picked up Nathan.
“Let’s go get drinks and you can tell us all about it.
” He holds out his hand for Cal, who eagerly latches on.
I hang onto Noah, letting the younger boys go whilst being distracted by the crowd around them. “Well?” I ask him.
He pulls himself together. I can see the adrenaline in his body. He’s all over the place.
“We don’t want you to leave us. Mum doesn’t either.
She came to tell you on Friday, and Ollie said she was not good, as you’d gone to Ireland.
” He pauses. “I’m not sure what's going on with Mum and Dad, but Mum is in tears every night you’re not there.
She sits staring at her spreadsheets, and letters that come every day.
I’ve heard her talking to Louise. Please talk to her, Jude. We don’t want you to go.”
This kid. All of them. My heart is banging away in my chest. It’s like an explosion of colour behind my eyes.
I try to explain things to him, without saying too much.
“I was upset with your mum. But hopefully we can sort things out when she gets here. I’ll have to phone her.
If she doesn’t know you’re here? I assume she doesn’t. ”
He shakes his head. “We got a cab to the airport when we should have been at cricket. We brought Cal, as we were supposed to go to Dad’s. Cal told his dad we were staying at Mum’s. To give us time to get away.” He sounds a little proud of his cunning plan.
“And used my credit card for the taxi and flights?”
He nods. “We can pay it back, but we couldn’t do online without it.”
“Does Ollie know about this?”
He shakes his head. “No, he would’ve stopped us. It would upset Mum. But we had to do something.” His voice has taken on a desperate edge, his eyes pleading with me to understand.
“You could have rang me,” I state.
“I tried. You didn’t answer. And Dad said you’d gone out with Lindy. I needed to see you to explain.”
I roll my eyes. Fucking Nigel. He is so inappropriate.
“I didn’t go out with anyone. I came here. I wanted you all to come with me.” I sigh. “Your mum will be frantic if she knows you’re here, and not at your dad’s.”
“She won’t know. We set it up so we could see how you reacted, and could go back before either of them realised we’d gone. Orrr…” He looks shifty. “You could ring her now, tell her to come get us.”
“Basic plan. But a good one. Come on. We’ll get a drink, and I’ll ring. I think Evie has my phone.”
I push him into the house and leave him with Tarron, getting drinks from the fridge. I can hear the excited chatter of Nathan and Cal outside. All the kids are sat at a big table at the back of the house, regaling my family with their exploits. They have an enthralled audience.
Jonno and Evie head straight for me as I appear at the door, Evie holding my phone out to me.
“You need to ring their mother. They’ve told each parent a different story. They won’t know they’ve gone.” Evie sounds worried to death. “If Emma finds out, she’ll be distraught. Ring her, Jude,” she commands, pushing the phone at me like a weapon.
I jump as it starts to ring, and I drop the damn thing. Of course, it rings off. I’m scrabbling about in the gravel to pick it up. It was Emma calling. Jesus, I hope she doesn’t know.
I call her straight back, and the instant she answers, I know she knows. The anguish in her voice is unmistakable.
“Jude. Oh God. Jude. The boys have run away. We don’t know where they are.” She takes a breath in. “Can you help? I’m sorry to ring. Jude I—”
My heart aches for her, and all my anger melts away. I soften my voice as I say, “They’re here. They’ve just got here. They’re safe, Emma. I’ve got them. All three of them. Cal’s here as well. We were just getting the story, and were going to call you.”
I pause for her to digest all that. The fact that Cal is here must be another total surprise.
But then again, they needed him for the deception to be complete.
“It’s okay, Em,” I coax her. I can hear the strangled sobs.
Jesus Christ, my heart is breaking. I open my mouth and let my heart speak.
“Come over. I’ll send the plane. They’re safe.
” I need her to know she is safe. They are all safe with me.
I will guard them all with my life. Love them for the rest of my days.
“Jude.” I hear everything in that name. Her worry. Her longing. I need her here. I need her with me.
“Don’t cry, baby. Come over. Come to me. I’ve got you all. They’re safe, Emma. I’m sending a car for you now. Mark will pick you up. Go to London City Airport.” She starts to sob, but I can hear the relief in her voice as well as her panic.
“Jude. It’s Brian. What do you need us to do?” I can hear Emma sobbing in the background as her father takes over the conversation. I rattle off the instructions, ask Brian and Elaine to come to Ireland as well, and hang up quickly to make the arrangements for them all.
“I called Philip Langford.” Tarron has collared me, pulling me to the side as I watch Evie's twin boys latch onto Noah. “He’s gone to the house and is coming over with Emma. He’s told me Nigel wants him to collect Carlton and go straight home.
” He rolls his eyes. “The boy will be distraught if he has to go. Why is that man so obnoxious?” Tarron is shaking his head in disbelief.
“He feels threatened. He’s realised his hold on Emma is waning.
And he’s worried the same will happen with the kids.
But if he’s not careful, he’ll push them away all by himself.
I don’t want to come between the boys and their father.
It would be hurtful for them. But Nigel just can’t see it.
” I shrug. I’m done trying to figure out that man.
But I have to consider the boys, and Emma, as they will still have to deal with him.
And then there’s Cal. I look over at him, totally engaged with all the kids. Fitting in, being part of our family. Tarron follows my stare.
“You’re a good man, Jude. He’ll be safe with you. They all will.” He nods and wanders off to chat to the boys.
We have a running commentary on their journey.
It’s just before 10:00pm, and Mark lets us know they’re only a mile or so away.
All the little kids have been packed off to bed, and I signal to Noah, Nat, and Cal to come to the front of the house.
Evie, Jonno, Jackson, and Jake all come and stand shoulder to shoulder with me.
I can feel my heart banging in my chest. And I must be sweating—even though the evening is not hot, just nicely warm—as Evie takes a tissue out of her pocket and wipes my forehead.
It’s not full dark, and there’s a slight breeze rustling the trees.
The headlights on the car sweep through the tree-lined drive, getting brighter and brighter.
I feel Noah stiffen, and Nat comes and takes my hand, Cal at his other side.
Jake moves to hold his hand, and the boys all smile up at him.
The car stops, and I can see Philip in the front seat.
The boot door opens and Ollie jumps out.
I step forward and pull open the back door.
Emma and her parents are sat on the seats, their expressions a mixture of lingering fear and new relief.
Emma has her seat belt off and flings herself at me, my name a cry on her lips.
I pull her out, holding her in my arms. Talking nonsense, talking love. The boys rush forward and pull at her. Noah is taller than her. Nathan not far off. She pulls them both closer to her. Hugging and crying.
“I thought you left. I thought—” She can’t form coherent sentences, as sobs get trapped in her throat.
Nathan starts to cry. Noah is pale. Ollie muscles in, and pulls Noah in for a hug. He shouts to Cal, who is hugging his grandpa. He rushes over and they all hug. They surround Emma and she disappears in a hugfest of her boys.
Jake stands with his arm over my shoulder. “Well brother, looks like your family just arrived.”
The smile he gives me warms every part of my body. I look over at them all, and I know he’s right.