Chapter 53 #2
I’ll have to ask Tom if he knows a spa that treats family-burned-out souls like me. Preferably with saunas and hot springs. He owes me that much for dragging me into this circus. Besides, it might be nice to be the one on the massage table for once.
A chair scrapes. Jay stands. “My apologies. Please start. We’ll be back.”
He leaves with Sergei at his side. As Jay passes, his fingers brush Cheryl’s and Effy’s shoulders. Two more chairs scrape back. They follow him toward the office, or so I assume when I catch a final glimpse of them turning at the stairs.
Janice rises and shuts the dining room door.
“That’s weird…” Joan says, her comment sparking conversation.
Tom nudges my arm. “This isn’t usual. It’s best we stay alert.”
Janice claps her hands. “Everyone, back to your plates!”
She must be third in command, the authority in her voice leaving no doubt.
Meanwhile Finn slips in through the kitchen.
How the hell did he get there? I wouldn’t be surprised if the North House was built like a Clue board.
Hidden stairs, secret passageways. It wouldn’t even shock me if Jay was watching us right now through a peephole in the painting above the sideboard, a medieval Scottish family poses in front of their castle. Not a castle, a broch, part of a dún.
I skim the bricks, half expecting to find a pair of eyes.
Am I getting paranoid? Or rather, more paranoid?
Suddenly I feel a very impatient finger tapping on my shoulder.
“How did you guys happen?” Joan’s watching me and Tom with her brightest, glinting smile.
My eyes snap to Tom.
“Tom, how did we happen?”
He gives her the kind of mysterious smile a girl like Joan can’t resist. Of course she’s falling for it, she’s so easy to tease.
“Yosh was teaching yoga in the meditation garden. I was admiring him from a distance.”
Joan grins. “Stalking, you mean.”
Tom waves his hand. “Shh, don’t ruin it.”
I roll my eyes, bracing for the bullshit.
“His skin was glowing, high ponytail swaying in the wind. And God, the way he moved. So damn graceful. I fell hard that day and decided he was going to be mine.”
Heat creeps into my face. It’s ridiculous, but also…sweet. My fingers lace with his as we share a brief look.
Tom continues. “Next day. I had my first appointment with him. I poured my heart out about my sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll life. And, of course, this crazy family. You know, the usual.”
The usual.
Joan nods solemnly. “Same. Same.”
Tom wets his lips. “After an hour of me doing the talking, I asked Yosh if he had a boyfriend. I figured he owed me at least one answer after all that personal trauma.”
That’s not how it went, but sure. Joan is hanging on every word.
“Yosh got pissed, asking if that was a problem. And I said, ‘Hell yes, that’s a problem. Because now we have to find a new boyfriend for your boyfriend.’”
Joan screams. The whole table watches her topple backward into Alex’s lap.
Alex pushes her back our way. He turns to Luca and Calvin, circling a finger by his temple.
I take Joan’s hand. “Don’t listen to him, sweetie. As usual, Tom’s full of shit.”
My guy grins at me, dimples cutting deep into his cheeks. Infuriating things. They make me forgive him every damn time. His hand finds my hip, a bit of damage control. Unnecessary, but I’m not complaining.
“I know,” Joan says with dramatic flair. “But could you imagine? That would’ve been so scandalous.”
“So, so scandalous,” Luca murmurs behind her ear.
Joan spins around, swatting him in the side.
“Fuck off, Gianluca di Marzio! Wait until I slash your tires and you’re begging your mum for a ride to town.”
“Oh yeah? Like when you poured water in my gas tank and it turned out to be Cheryl’s car?”
The boys nearly fall off their chairs laughing. Joan lets out a very guilty giggle.
I laugh too. It’s that or crying, because this family keeps finding new ways to prove they’re completely insane.
Tom takes both of Joan’s hands.
“Baby, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Yosh and me. That’s why you were upset yesterday, wasn’t it?”
She shrugs. “I’m sorry too, for running away from the dinner table, I just thought…
Tom and Joan don’t keep secrets from each other.
That’s what you’ve told me ever since I can remember.
Whenever I was dealing with stuff and too scared to say it out loud, you’d remind me of that. So I always told you everything.”
She looks away. “We were one.”
Tears gather in her eyes. Her long lashes try to hide them, but they’re there. Tom sees them too. I can’t say I didn’t see this coming.
The moment I watched them together at SeaBreeze, I knew what they had was something rare. My head was filled with questions. And yes, there was the occasional stab of jealousy that night.
But meeting the rest of this family clarifies things, such as the two wild souls of Tom and Joan McKenna only ever had each other. In the wolf pack they were pushed to the back. Denied the space to shine, even though they’re the most artistically gifted of them all.
Jay rules. Tom fails.
Effy chosen. Joan abandoned.
She was right. They were one. And she probably thinks I’m the one who broke them apart.
“Baby, I—”
Joan cuts him off, laying a finger on his lips.
“Shh, babe. Please. I want to say that I’m proud of you for choosing your own path. And for finding a cute guy for us along the way.” Her smile widens bright and big.
“I think it’s time we become two. And not only that, three! Three is better!”
There’s a lot happening before I can process that fully. Joan throws her arms around me, pressing her cheek into my neck.
“Bestie!” she chirps against my chest.
My hand finds her hair where I give a few hesitant pats. She’s kind of wrecking her own point by dragging me into their bond. But hey, at least she doesn’t want me dead, so I’ll take the win.
My lips form a small smile. I belong to Joan McKenna now. I like the sound of that. Nothing here is perfect. These people are far from it. Still, I’m relieved not everyone in this house is against me.
What if I can finally stop running? What if loving Tom and our small circle of people could be enough this time? What if Heatherfell isn’t something I need to survive, but something I can learn to live in on my own terms?
But what if it’s all an illusion, and I’m nowhere near safe?
Tom wraps his arms around my back for a group hug with our little starlet. “I love you guys so much,” Tom exhales, his face glowing so bright the chandelier above the table might as well stay off.
Forget the doubts. Forget everything. This feels good—but is it enough to lower my guard? I don’t think anything ever could. And I’m right not to, because the moment I let myself lean into the warmth, the door opens and a wave of tension sweeps in before Jay even steps inside.
The ladies follow, hands folded and eyes to the floor. Sergei closes the door behind them. Everyone falls silent. We watch as they return to their seats, our attention fixed on Jay as we wait for his word. It’s crazy how fast I’m falling into line.
“Sorry for the delay,” Jay says, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on me a beat too long. “Everyone, enjoy your soup.”
Apperently he’s not to address whatever that was. Probably business. Urgent, maybe, since it dragged them away from Christmas brunch. Hopefully, it won’t affect the rest of the day.
What about Effy?
She’s staring into the void, eyes open, but whatever she’s seeing is somewhere far behind those sapphires. A lighter blue than her father’s, their depth a mirror of his.
Her soup remains untouched, and something in me tightens. Under the table, Tom’s pinky hooks around mine. When our eyes meet, I don’t need words to know he sees it too.
Pineapple cookie.
I scrape the last spoonful of soup from my bowl just as Mary claps her hands and announces it’s time to reset the dining room for the main course.
We all rise, chairs scraping in unison. I follow the pack back into the living room.
People are getting loud. When I move closer to see what all the fuss is about, I notice the present on the coffee table.
Right. The family tradition Tom told me about.
Red velvet wrapping, green velvet bow—It looks as if it was made to sit in that exact spot by the fireplace.
My fascination must be showing, Tom’s voice is suddenly in my ear.
“Magpie.”
“I’m not—” A breath slips sharply through my nose. “I like visually pleasing things, okay?”
Tom chuckles, tugging me with him. “Come, my visually pleasing thing. Let’s get us some tea.”
We walk to the bar where a couple of big pots are steaming. Little nametags read Earl Grey, Sencha Apricot, and Christmas Blend. I go for the last one, maxing out the aesthetic. It smells cinnamon-y with a hint of orange.
I take a first sip, warming my hands around the mug as we gather around the present.
Eli arrives last, placing an empty bottle of Scotch on the table.
I do my best to hold my laugh. It’s always one surprise after the other in this place.
Jay claps his hands. “Everyone ready?”
“Three, two, one… GO!”
Eli spins the bottle like we’re playing truth or dare. I have no idea what’s about to happen, so hiding behind Tom feels like the safest move.
The bottle spins, slows down, then stops pointing at Alex.
More claps and cheers.
Alex picks up the present, showing his trophy around.
Time to unpack. He starts carefully with the bow, but patience runs out fast with the encouragement of the pack. He starts to rip off the paper as if shredding prey. I dip over Tom's shoulder to get a better look.
It’s a board game; practical, fun, a little odd. It’s very McKenna.
I take slow sips from my tea as I watch the room explode. They all dive on top of the present like… wolves.
“Eli, what’s this about?” Jay sounds amused.
“As you can see, it’s a McKenna board game. It’s got all our businesses and careers on it, along with little pawns of us. The goal is to collect properties and squeeze money out of them. Basically what Jay does every day.”