Chapter 27
The long drive and Ava’s lack of consciousness offers me plenty of time to deal with a few things. I called Cook. He happily took on the case. In fact, he didn’t sound too confident in his colleague when he asked who I’d spoken to. His willingness was received gratefully. I gave him everything he asked for to get the case moving. I just hope he comes up with some answers before I have to take my family back to London. Disturbingly, the more I think about everything, the more I doubt Mikael is responsible. He might be a womanizing slime bag, but a criminal? I hate to admit it, but I think I was barking up the wrong tree. So... Sarah? I shouldn’t put anything past her. But, again, she’s many things—devious, hurtful, brazen—but capable of drugging Ava? Running her off the road? But she does know how to access my car.
I growl under my breath in frustration, feeling like I’m hitting dead end after dead end. And yet that horrible, niggling feeling persists. I go to my mobile and dial the medical practice in Scotland again, glancing across at Ava. She’s still conked out, but I disconnect my phone from Bluetooth anyway and take it to my ear. “Hi, yes, my name’s Jesse Ward. I’ve called numerous times about a doctor that used to work there. I’m yet to hear back.”
“Ah, Mr. Ward, yes, you spoke to me. I passed your message and number over to the practice manager.”
“Well, they’ve not returned my call.”
“She’s very busy.”
“I appreciate that.” I grit my teeth, tell myself I’ll get nowhere throwing my weight around. Especially when I’m not there in person. “Listen, this is really quite important.” Like a matter of sanity.
There’s a brief pause before a light sigh. “Bear with me.”
I deflate in my seat, despite there not being a positive outcome yet, as I tap the wheel, eyes between Ava and the motorway.
“Hello, this is Gloria Day speaking, practice manager. How can I help you, Mr. Ward?”
I sit up straight in my seat. “Ms. Day, thank you for taking my call.”
“Yes, well, you caught me between appointments.”
Get on with it. “I’m looking for a friend who used to work there. Dr. Alan Pierce.”
“I’m afraid data protection prevents me from discussing former collogues.”
“So he did used to work there?”
“Yes, Dr. Pierce is a former doctor here.”
I squint at the windscreen, trying to calculate how old Lauren’s father would be now. “Former as in no longer there, or former as in no longer a doctor at all?” Retired? Or is he dead?
“Mr. Ward?—”
“Retired?”
“I’m—”
“Moved on to another practice?”
She exhales her irritation. “Alan left a few years ago, Mr. Ward. I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Do you have an address?”
“Mr. Ward, come on, you know I can’t divulge that information,” she says tiredly.
“So you do have an address?”
“Yes, but even if I could disclose that information, it would be pointless because he moved away from the area.”
My mind races, trying to build a picture. I glance across to Ava. “And you’ve not heard from him since?”
“No, but I’m not surprised.”
I raise my brows. “Why?”
Silence. She’s said too much.
“I’m an old friend,” I go on. “I was close to the Pierces when they lost their granddaughter.”
“Oh,” she breathes. “Yes, very tragic.”
I wince.
“Look, Mr. Ward, all I will say is this.” My ears prick. “Dr. Pierce was a very troubled man. He lost his granddaughter and his daughter, and his wife was ill and required full-time care.”
I stare at the road ahead. “Lauren’s dead?”
“Yes, you didn’t know that?”
“Yes, of course,” I blurt, feeling every muscle in me relax. A weight lifted. And isn’t that terrible? She’s dead?
“Now, I really need to get back to my patients.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, cutting the call before Ms. Day. “Fucking hell.” I dial John, checking Ava again. “Lauren’s dead,” I say on a whisper as soon as he answers. “I got through to the surgery where her father worked, and they told me she’s dead.”
John doesn’t whoop his joy, and neither do I. But, again, I will ashamedly admit that I’m relieved. “Do you think?—”
I blow out my cheeks, hearing him. “She was ill, John.” And her doctor father struggled to accept that. Perhaps he thought he could fix her. Who knows.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Me neither,” I admit, as Ava stirs in her seat. “Is everything okay at The Manor?”
“S’all good. Call me when you arrive in Spain.” He hangs up before me, and I drop my phone into my lap, taking the wheel with both hands.
Shaking.
Because the question remains.
Who?
I’m staggeredthat she’s still sleeping by the time I pull into her parents’ street. “What a spot,” I muse, crawling along, seeing wet-suited bodies on the beach in the distance running into the water, boards under their arms. It’s sunny but gusty, the waves reliable for the surfers. I frown when we pass a quaint graveyard. “Interesting.”
Craning my neck to see the numbers on the walls outside the houses, I slow to a stop when I reach number twelve, a tidy semi by the sea. The perfect retirement home. And now I need to load up on patience to get me through the evening and into tomorrow morning before I can whisk Ava away to Paradise.
I reach for Ava’s knee and give her a gentle nudge, smiling when she yawns, stretches, and blinks. I unclip her seatbelt. “Where are we?” she asks, squinting at me.
“Cornwall.”
“Stop it.” She wriggles in her seat to wake up her muscles. “I need a wee.” Her hand reaches for the handle but stills, and I see realization fall into her as she takes in the surroundings. “You weren’t kidding?” she breathes, injured. “You’re dumping me on my mum?”
I laugh on the inside as I pull her face toward me. “Don’t threaten me with Cornwall.”
And she bursts into tears all over me, sobbing uncontrollably. Whoa! “Baby, I’m joking,” I say quickly. “Anyone would have to slice their way through me to get to you. You know that.” Jesus Christ, is this pregnancy? Will it make her forget who I am, what I stand for, what I need? I tug her across the center console, and she’s quick to hide in my chest, wetting my T-shirt with her tears.
I feel fucking awful. “Ava, look at me,” I demand softly, trying to encourage her out. My heart melts and breaks all at once at the sight of her dejection.
“I’m going to be so fat,” she says over a snivel. “Massive.” A sniff. “Twins, Jesse!”
Oh my God, what is she saying? She’ll be even more beautiful.
“You won’t...” She swallows, looking away.
Oh no, she’s not seriously thinking that? “Desire you?” I say in disbelief, and she nods jerkily. “Baby, that will never happen.” I only have to touch her and my dick pings to attention. That will never change.
“You don’t know that,” she sobs, her face bunched. “You don’t know how you’ll feel when I’ve got swollen ankles and I’m walking like I’ve got a melon wedged between my thighs.”
Laughter rises fast and falls out loudly. “Is that how it’ll be?”
She pouts. “Probably.”
“Let me tell you, lady,” I begin, holding her face, making sure she has my serious eyes. “I desire you more with every day that passes, and I believe you’ve been carrying my babies for quite a few weeks.” I gaze at her stomach on a fond smile, circling my palm there.
“I’m not fat yet.”
“You’re not going to be fat, Ava. You’re pregnant, and the thought of you keeping a piece of me and you warm and safe makes me fucking deliriously happy, and—” I still, feeling blood drop into my dick. Oh, no. See? One touch, I lose all control. It swells in my boxers, becoming quickly uncomfortable wedged between us. Not ideal when we’re parked outside her parents’ house. “It makes me desire you even fucking more. Now, shut up and kiss me, wife.” Stupid! But can I control it? My hips shoot up on instinct, and Ava launches her attack, eating me alive, hungry and determined. Fucking hell, all she wants to do is sleep and ravish me. Amazing.
I hum. “There’s my girl.” How could she ever think I wouldn’t want her? “Shit, Ava, I would love to rip those lace knickers off and fuck you stupid right now, but I don’t want an audience.” What am I saying? I refuse to fuck her.
“I don’t care.” She lets me take a quick breath before coming at me again, kissing me wildly. Jesus, what is this torture?
“Ava,” I gasp, trying to free my mouth from hers as she pins me to the seat. “Cut it out or I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
“I won’t hold you responsible,” she breathes, relentless, thrusting onto me, grappling at my T-shirt. I growl, bite down on my teeth, close my eyes, try to talk reason into myself. Not here. Not now.
My dick doesn’t agree.
Here.
Now.
“Fucking hell, woman.” I’m a fool to think I can say no. Look at her, begging for me. Wonderful.
Rap, rap, rap.
Ava gasps, shooting back, and I look out of the window, breathless, finding a copper on the pavement with impressively high brows. Ava’s quickly dying on my lap, her face beetroot. “That’ll teach you,” I whisper, putting her back in the passenger seat and releasing the window. “Sorry about that. Pregnant. Hormones. Can’t keep her hands off me.” I laugh when she wallops me, but wince at my dick still throbbing behind my fly. “See?”
“Yes... well... urm... public place. Move on, please.”
“We’re visiting.” I give Ava my attention, smiling madly as she looks at me all wide-eyed. “Ready?”
“I thought you were taking me on a plane?”
“I am,” I say, getting out and rearranging myself. “After we’ve told my delightful mother-in-law that she’s going to be a grandmother.” I close the door on her mouth hanging open and circle the car, pleased with myself. “Out you get.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” She remains in her seat, eyes closed, trying to find some courage.
“They need to know.”
“No,” she grumbles as I help her out. “You just can’t wait to advise my forty-seven-year-old mother that she’s going to be a gran.”
Absolutely. “Not at all.” I walk her up the path, feeling her resistance between our extended arms.
“How did you know where to come?”
“I called and asked for the address.” I nod to the Mercedes. “And I believe that’s your father’s car. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
I reach into my pocket and pull out some cuffs, lifting her hand and kissing it.
She smiles. It falls the moment I secure the cuffs over our wrists. “What are you doing?” she gasps, wriggling her hand. “Jesse!”
I don’t have a chance to explain, not that I need to. Elizabeth appears, delighted to welcome us. “My girl’s home!”
“Hi, Mum,” I say cheerfully, waving at her with my cuffed hand, dragging Ava’s heavy arm up with it. Her face. It’s another I’d like to box and unwrap when I need a laugh.
“Get those cuffs off my daughter, you menace,” she hisses, hauling us inside while checking the street for witnesses.
I chuckle when Ava rolls her eyes and shoves me playfully. Okay, I’m done. Time to play the perfect son-in-law. So I remove the cuffs and rub life back into Ava’s wrist.
“Happy?”
“Yes.” I’m pushed aside by Elizabeth. “It’s so good to see you, darling,” she sings, hugging Ava fiercely. “I’ve got the spare room ready for you.”
“We’re staying?” Ava frowns over her mother’s shoulder at me.
“We fly out in the morning. I thought we’d run a visit in before your mum starts thinking that I’m keeping you from her.”
I’m surprised when Elizabeth gives up her daughter for me, hugging me hard. “Thank you for bringing her to visit.”
“Make the most of it,” I say, embracing her love for me. She might change her mind when she hears our news. “Because I’m kidnapping her in the morning.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Joseph,” she screeches in my ear. I wince, breaking away. “They’re here! I’ll make tea.”
Ava leads me into the kitchen, where Joseph is at the table. “Hi, Dad.” Ava leaves me to greet her father, and I take a seat.
“Ava, how are you?” He accepts her affection, albeit with a mild cringe, before offering me his hand. “Is she keeping you on your toes?”
I laugh on the inside. “Of course.”
“I need a wee,” Ava says, scooting off, leaving me with Joseph and Elizabeth.
“So how’s married life?” Joseph asks, pushing his newspaper aside and relaxing back in his chair.
I smile up at Elizabeth when she slides a cup of tea in front of me. “Blissful,” I say, taking a sip, smiling.
“And you two are okay?”
I smile wider around the rim of my mug. “All okay.”
All four of us.