Chapter 5 Alexander
Alexander
“This is not okay.”
“Mother—”
“No, Alexander. I’ve been home an hour to find Lando’s flown off to Los Angeles, and now you’re telling me you’re a father to a baby you’ve never met with a girl you knew for a week.
” She pauses as one of the Burlington kitchen staff walks in with a tea tray, which he places down before pouring her a cup.
She practically preens at him. “Thank you, William.”
My mother drinking her tea is the first time she’s been silent since I told her about Haven and the baby.
God, I still haven’t wrapped my head around the fact I’m a father. Or that it’s with Haven. Or that she’s here in Valentine Nook.
I hadn’t meant to tell my mother quite so soon. I’d have preferred to have come to a decision on my own before she weighed in, but I happened to be here in the kitchen when she returned from her trip to London. One look at my face and she asked me who’d died.
That was half an hour ago, and since then, Miles also entered the chat.
“To be fair, Al has been in love with Haven for the whole of this year. It’s why he’s been such a miserable bastard.”
“Not now, Miles,” my mother snaps, then shoots him one of her famous withering glares.
Not that it has any effect on him at all.
In contrast, the look I send his way is one of gratitude because, surprisingly, Miles has been both incredibly supportive and helpful. His default mode of piss taking seems to be taking the day off.
“Has she done this on purpose? Has she tried to trap you? She knew you had money.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I inhale deeply.
In fairness to her, she’s likely still traumatized over the battle Hendricks had with Max’s mother, so I’ll allow her a little grace.
“She’s staying at the bed and breakfast,” Miles continues, ignoring her, “and she’s agreed to a paternity test. It was her idea, actually.”
“I’ll bet it was.”
“Mother, she’s not after our money. She’s got her own,” I reply wearily even though I don’t know for certain.
But I doubt she’s after our money. Haven doesn’t strike me as a gold digger. Not since witnessing her work so hard to save her place, when she could have sold it for a hundred mil. And she’d only need to sell an acre or two to raise a couple of million if she were really struggling.
It’s all props to her that she’s saved it because of her family.
Family is as important to her as it is to me.
My mother’s still talking, though. “After what we went through with Hendricks, I don’t want to have to do that again.”
Miles pushes out of his chair and pours himself a cup of tea from the tray brought in for my mother, then proceeds to search through all the tins in the kitchen cupboards, which usually contain biscuits of some sort. Pierre, our chef, likes to ensure they’re filled. But it’s still early.
He comes up empty and sits back down at the table. “Well, you need to figure it out. She’s leaving on Monday.”
My head snaps up. “Monday? That’s in two days.”
“It is.”
“Two days? Two fucking days. How am I supposed to decide what to do in two days? She’s had ten months to get used to the idea, and she’s giving me a matter of hours.”
Miles shrugs.
“Why is she leaving so soon?” I press.
Miles shakes his head. “I don’t know. I’m not her travel agent. But I’d imagine as you stormed off and have yet to speak to her, she’s not inclined to change her flight and stick around.”
It gives my mother another reason to wave her authority and opinion. “We’ll have to arrange for the paternity test before then. Today is preferable.”
I groan and drop my head on the table.
Twenty-four hours ago, I was single, somewhat happy, and working hard to build the Burlington Estates international division. Now, I’m discussing paternity tests for a baby I didn’t know about, for a fatherhood I may or may not be about to take on.
“And we will,” he replies firmly. “Come on, Mum, thought you’d be happy getting another grandchild to add to the brood. And it’s a girl. Think of all the ribbons you can buy.”
“Ribbons?” she snaps. “Don’t be ridiculous, Miles.”
He sounds like he’s getting as annoyed with our mother as I am, which is rare. He’s the baby boy and usually has her wrapped around his finger. One reason I don’t mind him being here for this conversation. He can help sway her back to the middle of any argument.
Though perhaps not today.
“Why do you know so much about this girl anyway?”
“I have met her before, remember? And because after Al stormed off, the baby was sick, and Clementine took her to my place to clean up.”
I still feel guilty about leaving her there. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have handled it better.
The look on Haven’s face as I left her standing by the fountain will haunt me for a long time.
When I’m done here, I’ll find Clementine to thank her for picking up my pieces, and I throw Miles a grateful smile. Then I ask the one question I’ve been hesitant to hear the answer.
“What’s she like?”
“Everly?”
I nod. I can’t quite bring myself to say her name yet. Next to me, my mother sits up a little straighter, also waiting for the answer.
A broad smile stretches on Miles’s face, and his eyes, which are usually full of mischief, soften. “Sweet. Very sweet, thick dark hair, Dad’s eyes. Looks a lot like you . . .”
A lump forms in my throat so quickly I struggle to take a breath. My eyes sting and my nose tickles. I’m not normally a crier, but it’s possible I’ve used up my whole year’s allocations of tears in the past twenty-four hours.
Then Miles, being Miles, dries them all up.
“. . . totally obsessed with her uncle Miles, obviously.”
My lips quiver with amusement. “Obviously.”
“Have you told Lando?”
I shake my head. “No, I wanted to tell him in person. He’s flying back with Holiday, arriving in time for the fireworks.”
A loud screech of “Fireworks!” echoes from the hallway, announcing the arrival of my five-year-old nephew, Max. “I love fireworks.”
He charges in and launches himself into Miles’s arms. Peals of laughter ring out as Miles tips him upside down, tickling him until he’s begging for mercy.
He’s followed by Hendricks, Max’s father and Miles’s identical twin. Hendricks is the calm to Miles’s storm. He’s also raising Max by himself, having been awarded sole custody after Max’s mother decided she’d rather party in Ibiza instead of care for her son.
In a reversal of six years ago when I found Hendricks in shock outside my cottage after he’d just discovered the news of Max, he’s the one I turned to yesterday after I left Haven.
He drops a supportive squeeze onto my shoulder before he sits down. “How’re you doing today?”
I shrug. “Not sure, to be honest.”
He gives an understanding nod. Out of all my siblings, only Hendricks has a shred of an idea as to how I’m feeling.
Max settles into Miles’s lap as William returns with another tray of tea and cups, plus a fresh coffee for me, along with a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies and an apple for Max.
Miles reaches for a cookie before the plate touches the table. “Oh, excellent work, Will. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sir.”
He passes one to Max, who shoves the entire thing in his mouth while my mother stares in horror.
“Maxwell Burlington!”
“Sowwy, Gwanny,” Max splutters, doing his best to chew with his mouth closed to demonstrate he has some semblance of manners.
We all watch as he slowly works his way through the cookie, then picks up his juice and rinses it all down before smacking his lips together.
“De-lish-shus.”
Not one of us betrays how amusing we find it, but even my mother hides a quivering lip behind her teacup.
“Hey Maxy, how d’you feel about having a brand-new cousin?”
Max turns in Miles’s lap and peers up at him, eyes narrowed in suspicion at his question. “What’s a cousin?”
“A cousin is a baby of your aunt or uncle. Uncle Alex has a new baby, so that’s your cousin.”
“I thought only girls had babies. That’s why Elsa and Minnie had the babies, and not the bulls,” he replies, his frown deepening.
Elsa and Minnie are Max’s favorite cows from the past birthing season.
As Hendricks is the Burlington vet, Max regularly accompanies him when he tends to the animals, and last year, he took it upon himself to name all the cows. Most of the names were forgotten, but Elsa and Minnie stuck, and when they had calves this year, Max took a particular interest.
Every day this summer began with Max insisting on a visit to the farmyard so he could check on the calves and give them extra breakfast. This would then be followed by a trip to Foxleigh Park—Miles’s polo yard—to visit all the ponies.
It’s still undecided whether Max will take after Hendricks and become a vet, or Miles and become a polo player.
“You’re correct. Uncle Alex didn’t give birth, but it’s Uncle Alex’s sperm.”
Instead of sipping my coffee, I splutter into it. Hot liquid dribbles down my chin, and I snatch the napkin Hendricks holds out to me, while displaying a wide and annoying grin. “Please don’t talk about my sperm.”
“We’re a farming family, Al. We can use the correct terminology. Max knows all about sperm, don’t you?”
God, Miles is a patronizing twat when he wants to be. I guess he’s done with being supportive.
But Max’s face lights up. “Yes. It’s what we put in Minnie and Elsa so they would have the baby calves.”
“Correct again, Maxy. Well done.”
After high-fiving Miles, Max turns around slowly, studying me with his curious five-year-old eyes. His head tilts. “Uncle Alex. Did you put your sperm in a girl?”
“He certainly did.” Miles winks, and his face splits with his signature shit-stirring smirk.
Yes, he’s definitely done with being supportive.
“Honestly, Miles. For goodness’ sake.” In the corner, my mother pinches the bridge of her nose, too annoyed with me to object any further to Miles’s crudeness, while I mouth, “You’re a dick.”
“And that’s what made a cousin?”
This time, Hendricks nods. “Yes. That’s what made a cousin.”
Max ponders this revelation. His tiny fingers drum against his cheek exactly the same as Hendricks when he’s thinking. “Hmm. Can I have a boy cousin?”
Miles shakes his head, his face a mask of solemnity. “Unfortunately, you don’t get to choose that, buddy. She’s already arrived, and she’s a girl cousin.”
Immediately, Max’s top lip curls in a snarl. “Ugh, girls are yuck.”
And with that, he throws me a withering look he could have only learned from my mother, like I’ve somehow let him down, and goes over to the playroom off the kitchen in search of his fire engine.
“Maxy, darling, don’t forget you have to have a nap before the fireworks tonight,” reminds my mother.
“I hate naps.” His response is loud enough for the entire household to get the message, and the sound of sirens going off thwarts any possible conversation following this.
“I thought Lando took the batteries out of that,” I groan because the noise is migraine-inducing.
“You’ll have to get used to it, big brother. You’re a dad now. Batteries come with the territory.”
And just like that, my reality comes crashing back down again.
“Christ.” My head drops into my hands. “What am I going to do?”
“You have to start by talking to Haven. She’s going to be at the fireworks tonight,” Miles replies. “Apologize for being a dick and go from there.”
I turn to my mother, who’s uncharacteristically silent. “Mum, what do you think?”
She puts down her teacup. “I will support whatever decision you make, but you need a paternity test.”
I respond by telling them the one thing I’ve been fixating on for the past twenty-four hours.
“The baby’s birthday is September twentieth.
” I glance around, but no one says anything.
I don’t know if they think it’s as curious as I do.
Of all the days she could have been born, it’s the same day as my father. “That has to mean something, right?”
Ignoring me, Miles picks up another chocolate chip cookie. “She’s struggling, Al. It’s not been easy for her. She’s on her own. I think it took a lot of guts to fly over here.”
I nod, trying to keep the annoyance from my voice, but it’s hard. “I know she’s on her own, and I know why she’s on her own. But she had ten months to ask for help and didn’t.”
“She’s asking you now,” he says softly.
Hendricks turns to me. “What are you feeling right now?”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. It’s a question I’ve been asking myself. Overwhelmed is probably the best answer, but I say, “Confused, I guess. Frustrated. Hurt.”
“What about your feelings for Haven?”
Again, I don’t know what my response is.
For most of this year, I’ve had to face the truth that Haven wanted nothing to do with me.
That our relationship started and ended in the space of a week.
Seeing her again brought back all the feelings I’d been trying to forget, only now they’re tangled up in this new reality that we have a baby together.
I don’t answer him, and instead, I ask him a question of my own. “What would you have done, Hen? If this had been you, knowing everything you do now about being a parent?”
His hands push through his hair, and he leans back in his chair. I see the memories flash through his head, because we all know what he’s been through. How hard it was for him when Max came along, how much he had to learn. But he also stepped up in a way I’ve never seen anyone do.
“I’d do whatever it takes to keep a baby of mine in my life.”
“We don’t know it’s his child,” snaps my mother.
“Enough, Mum,” Miles snaps back. “Wait until you see her.”
Hendricks continues, “We’re saying Haven’s now a single parent?”
“Yes.”
He pauses, taking a deep sigh, and glances over at Max, now lining up his firemen figures.
“I love Max with all my heart, and I would never change anything . . .” He huffs a laugh.
“Maybe I’d change a couple of things. But it’s fucking hard.
Being a single parent is so fucking hard.
” He sweeps his hands around the place, gesturing to the tall, mullioned kitchen windows overlooking the back lawn and beyond that the swimming pool, the fields, the stables.
The implication is clear. We have a lot.
“And look at how much help I have, and the resources at my disposal. Mum is an amazing granny, you’re all with me whenever I need you, and when we’re all busy, Max still has Birgitta,” Hendricks replies, mentioning Max’s Swedish nanny.
“From what I remember of Haven, she doesn’t have any of that.
We’re not saying you have to marry her, but I know you, Al.
You couldn’t live with yourself if you didn’t help in some way. ”
“Just talk to her,” Miles adds. “See what she has to say. She didn’t fly over here for nothing. But you have to face the truth. One way or another, your life is about to change.”
The four of us sit in silence.
Change. Precisely what I’m afraid of.