Chapter 28
Jamie and Dave were sitting in David’s study.
Dave was sat behind the desk, Jamie in the chair opposite, both working on their computers.
Digging through any records they could find to research Jamie’s parents.
Dave was doing a general search, and Jamie was looking into wills from previous family members.
Jamie was looking at his grandfather’s will. “I found it,” he suddenly says.
“What?” Dave asks, looking at him.
“It would seem that one side of my mum’s family came from money. My mother gets a monthly allowance of five thousand per child under eighteen living in the house.”
“So with Kitty and Karl moving out, that’s ten thousand pounds your father might no longer get. But how would whoever is sending this payment know your siblings have left home?”
Jamie shook his head. “No idea. But there is contact information for the solicitor’s office. But what I don’t understand is, my parents divorced, so why are the payments now being paid to my father? Surely once the divorce was final, the money would have stopped.
“Unless your mum insisted it was paid to him. How old is the will? Maybe the firm isn’t around anymore.”
“Looking at the date, it’s over thirty years old. I never met this branch of the family,” Jamie searched the law firm. “So, the firm is still open. It’s in Liverpool. I never knew I had relatives there. I’m going to email them and see if they can help.”
“That means, when you were living at home, he was getting fifteen grand a month for the three of you,” Dave commented.
Jamie nods. “Yeah, which could be how they could afford that house and all that alcohol.”
Just then, a phone pinged. Dave glanced at his phone, which was sat on the desk. He smiled as he picked his phone up.
“That your David?”
Dave nodded with a smile, reading the message. “David and Stefan are coming home for a while. Thank goodness, I miss my mate.”
“I can imagine. Let Thomaz and your mum know, and they can make a celebration dinner for them returning,” Jamie suggested.
“It might sound silly, as they’ve not been away that long, but yes, why don’t I?”
Jamie closed his laptop. “In that case, you go and tell them, and I’ll check up on the children and then let Ivan know what I found.”
Dave jumped up. “Let’s.”
Jamie picked his laptop and stood up. “Catch you later.”
Jamie walked outside looking for the children. He walked around the grounds, only now noticing for the first time how big they were. He was walking down a path, surrounded by roses and came across Jack, sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.
Jamie was about to leave him alone when he heard Jack sniff. He pulled his phone out and messaged Seth. That sent, he walked closer. “Jack?”
Jack wiped his eyes and looked up. “Sorry.”
Jamie knelt down in front of him. “There’s nothing to apologise for. What can I do?”
“Nothing, but thank you. Sometimes everything gets a bit too much, but I don’t want Spencer to know. He’s struggling as it is.”
“Dave told me earlier that David and Stefan are coming home today, so that should help some.”
Jack nods. “Yeah, Louise is great, but I know she misses Stefan.”
They heard running footsteps, and Seth and Gio ran over to them.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Jamie says, standing up.
“Thanks, Jamie,” Jack says to him, as Seth and Gio drop down next to Jack and wrap their arms around him.
“Yeah, thanks, Jamie,” Seth adds.
Jamie nodded and left them to it, pulling out his phone and messaging Thomaz.
“We have you,” Gio says softly.
Jack sighs. “Sorry, I was just having a moment.”
“You’re allowed to have them, Jack,” Seth told him. “Why hide?”
“I don’t want to have them around Spencer; he’s struggling enough as it is.”
“It’s all so fresh, Jack. You’re bound to have moments. Are you sure we can’t get a professional therapist in to help you both?” Gio asks softly.
Jack shakes his head. “No, but I reserve the right to change my mind.”
“You can always change your mind.”
“I know, thanks. Sorry you got pulled away from your work.”
“Like either of us care about that,” Seth replied, “We can spend all the time you need with you. Plus, we can tell you about our holiday plans.”
Jack looked between the two. “Holiday?”
Gio nods. “Yep, Seth and I were planning to go travelling for a few weeks before all this happened. Now that we have you, you can come with us.”
Jack smiled. “For real?”
Seth nods. “Yep, for real.”
“You two are the best, thank you. I’m not sure what I’ll need for a holiday, though.”
“Leave that with us, we’ll make sure we all have everything we need,” Seth reassured him.
“Plus, my parents are letting us use the royal plane,” Gio whispered as if it was a secret.
Jack grinned. “I’ve never been on a plane, and my first time is in a royal one. Nice. Jamie said, David and Stefan are coming back today, Spencer will like that.”
“David messaged me just before I came out here. I think they are all fed up with being at the council building.”
“And that’s why I’m glad to be the second son, as that responsibility will be all David’s when father steps down,” Gio said, grinning.
“Sorry to interrupt, Jamie sent me a message asking me to bring you all refreshments,” Thomaz said, walking closer, carrying a tray filled with food and drinks.
“The biscuits are lemon and ginger, there are strawberry shortbread and different flavour cupcakes.” Thomaz put the try down in front of them and looked at Jack in concern. “I can get ice cream if you’d rather?”
“Not for me, thanks, this all looks amazing,” Jack replied, smiling at the vampire.
“Yeah, it does. Thanks, Thomaz,” Gio said.
Seth grinned at him.
“Don’t say it,” Thomaz warned.
“Say what, Tom Tom?”
Jack and Gio burst out laughing.
Thomaz scowled. “That. Just for that, I’m taking the tray away.”
“But I’m sad,” Jack put in quickly.
Thomaz sighed. “Fine, the tray stays, but Seth doesn’t get any of the lovely goodies.”
“Now I’m sad,” Seth said, trying for a forlorn tone and look.
“Tough,” Thomaz replied, standing up. “Just so you know, Seth, Annie will hear about this.”
“Hey now, that’s not nice,” Seth complained.
“Too bad, how sad, never mind,” Thomaz said, walking away whistling to himself.
“I love your family, my Seth.”
Seth touched Gio’s hand. “Your family as well remember.”
Gio nods. “I know. Still weird though.”
“Why weird?” Jack asked, holding a plate of biscuits out to them.
They each took one.
“As we munch on these, we can tell you about a one-night stand, a mad witch, and a forty-year curse,” Gio said.