Chapter 25 Still Question This
STILL QUESTION THIS
“It’s not a big deal,” Ethan said as they waited at the docks. He could see that Nora was nervous, but he wasn’t sure the cause.
The helicopter ride that she’d never taken before. Or meeting his mother and siblings.
“Not for you,” she said.
He pulled her close and tucked her under his arm. Her head swiveled around quickly to see if anyone was looking while he hid his sigh.
The only person in the office was Egan’s staff at the desk. He didn’t give a fuck if they knew he had a girlfriend. It’s not like anyone here would know Nora was his assistant and they were bound by confidentiality over who was on the flights anyway.
“Is it the flight? It’s not even twenty minutes long. Maybe fifteen. I don’t know that I’ve clocked it that often.”
“That’s a little scary. I’ve only flown once in my life and it wasn’t fun.”
“What about it wasn’t fun?”
He hadn’t known that. She said she didn’t have a problem traveling for work. It’d been asked during the interview.
“It was windy and the plane moved around more than I thought. People were gasping and others were crying.”
“Sounds like you had a bad one,” he said.
“There was talk that it was the worst flight many had been on, so yeah, not the best experience to have.”
He licked his finger and held it up. “Well, you’re in luck, no wind.”
“Very cute. We’re inside.”
“But it made you laugh. And I’d do the same if we were outside. Lincoln is great. He’s funny. He’ll take your mind off of it.”
“Lincoln is Egan’s best friend? Is he like the fifth Bond son since you said Griffin is the fourth?”
He rubbed his hand on her arm. “Yes, but not the same as Griffin. Griffin has no family. Or hadn’t for years, but his sister lives on the island now.
Lincoln is close to his parents and sees them as much as he can, taking a helicopter at off times to make it quicker.
They live in Pennsylvania. But he’s a great guy and was welcomed in the Bond house. ”
“Is your family always so open like that?”
He shrugged. “I want to say yes, but the truth is, not really. Most have to earn it. I think the fact that Griffin never felt worthy made my mother dig her feet in more to prove him wrong. He was a project in the best way possible. He’s opened up and healed some.
Long story. Lincoln felt the same way too, just was very respectful and my mother was determined to get him to lighten up around them. ”
“That’s nice. My mother was like that with my friends. I don’t remember having too many friends around my father. What about you? You never talk about close friends. Do you have any?”
“Not like my brothers.” Even if he wished he had. His brothers and he were just distinct personalities. Different lifestyles.
“I haven’t heard many names at all,” she mumbled.
“Most of my friends now are more like acquaintances. I guess it’s easier to say the few that I was close to in adulthood have married and have families. They don’t live in the city but the outskirts. I try to not get close to anyone that I work with.”
She looked up after jabbing him in the side with her finger. “That’s not making me feel any better.”
“We are talking about men, not women. And if we were talking about women, I’ve told you before, you’re the first. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my family. They won’t lie.”
“I believe you. I think that’s why I still question this.”
“I want to tell you to stop, but that’s easier said than done.”
Because he was still questioning it himself.
Would she eventually grow tired of working for him, of answering to him half the day, and pretending none of what they felt for each other mattered the other half?
It wasn’t a game. Not one either of them could win.
More than once, he’d almost slipped and mentioned something from their life outside of work, but he always caught himself just in time.
She was right. If word got out, no one would say a damn thing to him.
But they’d go after her.
They always went after the softer target.
Which made him want to get it out now, not later. Tackle it head on and put it to rest so they could move forward.
She wouldn’t be on board with that, which meant this had to be the first step.
“It is, but I’m trying. I think I can hear the helicopter? Is that right?”
“Yep,” he said. “Let’s go meet it.”
It was seven thirty, Lincoln was returning some guests from the casino last night, then he’d be back on the island to pick up some tours. This was the easiest way to catch a flight over, even if it was early.
Since he and Nora were normally up and running at this time, he didn’t think it’d be a problem other than they didn’t get their workout in.
They’d be flying back around four and could do it then if she wanted.
As much as he would have liked to spend the night, his parents were there and he’d never had a woman spend the night with others around. The casino was out because Nora was too worried they’d be recognized.
There was too great of an opportunity of someone employed at Bond Enterprises seeing them.
They walked out together, the helicopter coming down on the landing pad and shutting off, everyone departing, then Lincoln climbing out.
“Well, well, well, about time,” Lincoln said.
“Don’t be a dick,” Ethan said, shoving at Lincoln’s arm. “This is Nora Jones.”
“Nice to meet you,” Lincoln said. “Been hearing a bit about you.”
The smile dropped from her face, and she pinched his arm. “Ouch.”
“You said no one knew but your brothers and then your parents.”
Lincoln laughed even harder. “I told you he’s like a brother and Griffin knows. But Lincoln isn’t talking about that, right?”
“Nope,” Lincoln said. “That’s your guilt coming out, but I get it. I meant how happy he is to have an assistant. Boy, he was whining for a solid month when he found out Blair was leaving.”
“Oh.”
“See,” he said, pulling her close and giving her a kiss on the forehead. “You’re the one that is going to give it away, not me.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Don’t be. This is Nora’s virgin flight. She’s a little nervous. I said you’d distract her and take it easy.”
“I’m your man,” Lincoln said. “Climb in. We’ll get the headsets on. If we had Egan’s baby we wouldn’t need them, but only he gets the joy of that one.”
“You get Betty now and again,” he said of his brother’s favorite aircraft. “When he isn’t using it.”
“This one is mine now,” Lincoln said. “I only get Betty when things are tight and Egan is off. Your brother has us running nonstop now and I love it. Makes the time go by faster.”
He helped Nora up, buckled in the back when normally he’d ride in the front, then put the headsets on while Lincoln talked her through everything.
By the time they landed, she was laughing, her shoulders not as tense and the lightness in her eyes visible for all to see.
“Thanks,” he said, waving to Lincoln, then moving out of the way while other people came out from inside. The island charter getting ready to take off.
“Is someone picking us up?” she asked. “Or is there an Uber?”
“My parents left their car and they will bring us back later for them to keep it.”
They climbed in and he drove the fifteen minutes to his parents’ home. Only a few miles away on the water.
“Holy cow. I’m not sure what I thought this house would look like but not that.”
He laughed and looked at the massive colonial. It didn’t look like a normal one to him. Not with the additions on each side that jutted out making it look more like a U shape now.
“It wasn’t always this big. It started square, but when my parents bought it they had an addition put on one side, the garages under, then their primary suite over it.
When I was about eight, they put the other addition on for us boys to give us separation.
There is another primary on the first floor that they are in now, but upstairs turned into our area away from everyone else. ”
“I’m not used to this. Not that my father is hurting by any means, but places in Boston aren’t like this. How big is their Boston home?”
He got out of the car after he pulled into the garage, then smirked. “Bigger. Victorian on the outside and most of the inside but modern at the same time.”
She inhaled and then exhaled, then did it again. She was still sitting there.
Maybe he should have warned her, but didn’t think he needed to.
He opened the passenger door and put his hand out. She grabbed it and he pulled her up and into his arms, just holding her, his hand rubbing her back.
“I’m being a baby and I know it. You’re probably thinking where the heck did that confident woman go?”
He was, but he got it. “She’s in there and needs a moment to reset herself. This is new to you. I know. It’s complicated on top of it.” The garage door quietly opened and he shook his head over her to his mother, hoping she knew to give them a minute.
“I’ll be fine. Just your hug was enough.” She stepped out and shook her arms, put a smile on her face and said, “Okay. I’m good. I’m being silly.”
“You are, but I get it. Meeting the parents for the first time is hard. You’ve done it before, haven’t you?”
They never really talked too much about her past relationships because bringing hers up meant he’d have to share his too.
She’d asked once and he said he’d tell her in time.
Maybe that time should be soon.
“I have,” she said. “And I was nervous then too. You’re right. It’s natural. Have you done it?”
“I have,” he said, “but it’s been a while.”
“Let’s go in before your mother thinks I’m weak. Thanks for letting her know to give me a minute. I’m embarrassed enough as it is.”
Guess nothing got past her.
“She’ll understand. I know it’s early and she’s got a big breakfast she’ll put out, then we’ll chat some before everyone else gets here around noon.”
It was easier for his brothers to come over for a few hours for a meal than go to Boston with the kids. Since they had business to talk about, getting the three of them with his father together wasn’t always easy.
He opened the door in the garage to the mud room, then walked down the hall that opened to the back of the informal living area that was used the most. His parents hardly went on the second floor anymore. When he stayed, he was in the second primary that had a small kitchen in it.
There would have been more than enough separation for him and Nora to stay, but he was glad he hadn’t asked with the way she was feeling. Next time he’d consider it. Or maybe they could come here alone when his parents weren’t around.
“Nora,” his father said. “Glad you could make it.”
“Thank you for having me. I know it’s early in the morning.”
“We are all early risers,” Ethan said. “My mother included. It smells as if she is opening a bakery in here.”
“Nonsense,” his mother said. “Introduce us again. Though I remember you as a child.”
Which reminded him he’d thought she’d been here before, or maybe not. His parents didn’t always have the gatherings here at the house. Sometimes they did it at one of the hotels when they were getting bigger.
It was probably that.
“I don’t think I look the same. No more glasses, and I learned to tame my hair.” She was smiling and walked to his mother who gave his girlfriend a hug rather than a handshake. Nora returned it openly.
She was fine. He could see it. She just needed that moment and he had to remind himself that there were parts of her she’d worked hard on overcoming.
A life he knew nothing about but wanted to.
If she’d open up.