Chapter Nineteen
Amelie
I can’t believe how quickly our time here has gone and that it’s almost time to head home. Shit, better not call it home around Aadi, they’ll blow a fuse. Smalls might be accepting of my decision to stay in the UK when everything is over, but I don’t think Aadi ever will be.
It’s been an amazing trip but seeing the boys moving on with their life and discovering that they’re no longer in our family home, waiting for my return, has given me the boost I needed.
I’ve been on the fence, worrying about committing to The Order and debating what to do after my time at Knox is over.
Now I know that whatever happens, I no longer feel obliged to come back here for someone else.
I can at least choose what I want for once.
I slip out of bed and take a shower before anyone else wakes up.
It’s sweet really that Aadi and Smalls came home to play happy families while I was here, but I’d rather have hot water.
It’ll be my last chance for a couple of days until we get home.
Kalen fucked up the flights and we have a stupid layover somewhere, and all I can think is I just want to get home to the rest of my guys.
Don’t get me wrong, being here with Kalen has been amazing, but nearly two weeks away with just him has me about ready to cry.
I need some adult company. I miss Sawyer’s wisdom, Slate’s calming presence, Onyx’s snark.
God I miss them so much. I’ve been so busy making sure Kalen had a good time, that it’s just hitting me now how much I need to reconnect with the others.
Especially Onyx. I need to see that he’s okay to believe it.
I gently tap on Kalen’s door as I make my way back to my room to get dressed. I need to finish packing but I want to check on him first. A groan of pain comes from within, so I open the door without waiting for an invite.
“Are you okay?” I ask with amusement lacing my voice. I don’t have any sympathy for him.
“I’m dying. Go away. Call my family to fly out here for my funeral.”
Yesterday was Easter, and while it’s not usually such a big deal for us, Chelsea – surprise, surprise – went all out to make Kalen feel ‘at home’.
We had a massive Easter egg hunt all around the neighbourhood, played games, and had another barbecued feast fit for a king.
Only Kalen discovered that he loves Aussie chocolate and ate the lot in one go.
As in, all of his chocolate. Then Smalls and Aadi thought it would be funny to give the kid with ADHD theirs too.
He stole mine in a sugar frenzy and when he later crashed from the high, Chelsea took pity on his huge puppy dog eyes and shared hers with him too.
Only my dad was safe from Kalen’s theft and that’s because he always has beer instead of chocolate and Kalen doesn’t really like the stuff all that much.
“Oh Kalen, stop being melodramatic. I told you not to eat so much chocolate.”
“But it tastes sooooo good,” he whines.
“Zero sympathy. Get your lazy ass up and shower before the boys steal all the hot water. They’ll do it just to mess with you, you know. And then pack all your crap. We have stuff to do today before we catch our flight.”
“What stuff? I just wanna chill.”
“You can chill on the flight. We have to go say bye to my grandmother.”
At my words, Kalen sits bolt upright in bed, wincing and turning a funny shade of green from the sudden movement. He groans again.
“Grandmother? How is it possible that I’ve been here a fortnight with you, and have met every relative, friend and hanger-on in the damn state, and you’re only just now mentioning a grandma?!”
“It’s a long story.”
“I sense dirt. And I really want the juicy details, but I feel sick—”
“Go! Get to the bathroom then! If you throw up, Chelsea will make you clean it up yourself.”
“That’s savage.”
“If it’s self-inflicted, you’re fair game.”
“Chelsea loves me, she wouldn’t do that to me.”
“She would and she will. Puke is a hard limit for her.”
“But I’m poorly!”
“Kalen, you have a damn bellyache from eating too much sugar. Suck it the fuck up, and shut up!” I snap, losing my patience with him.
“Fine.” He huffs, flinging back the covers and climbing from the bed. He’s completely naked.
“Kalen!” I hiss. “You can’t sleep naked in a guest bed!”
“Ooops, bit late for that.” He glances down at the pile of discarded clothes he’s dumped on the floor. “Can you get me my pants? I can’t bend down.”
“For fuck’s sake!”
I do it though. Anything for an easy life. Crouching on the floor in my towel, I grab Kalen’s shorts and pass them to him.
“You do it, if I bend down I’ll puke!”
Sighing, I gather up the material and tap the top of his foot for him to lift. He places his hands on the top of my head for balance and moans loudly as he wobbles.
“What the fuck!?” I jump at the sound of an angry voice behind me and spin to see Aadi standing in the doorway. “What the fuck are you doing to my sister?!”
“She’s putting my pants on. Why?” Kalen asks, confused. I snigger. He must really be feeling unwell if he can’t see how this looks. In fact, I would have expected him to be thrusting his monster cock in my face. It’s too good an opportunity to miss.
Ignoring Aadi, I tap Kalen’s other foot and help guide it through the leg hole. Done, I guide the shorts up his legs and around his waist.
“There you go,” I say, standing. “You can do them up yourself.”
“Thanks, sis,” he whimpers.
“She’s not your damn sister, you sick fuck!” Aadi seethes.
“Okay, okay, enough. Aadi, get out. Kalen, go for a damn shower.”
I leave them both and stomp back along the hallway to my own room.
Once I’m dried and dressed, I hastily throw the rest of my stuff into my suitcase.
There’s not much to take back; I left most of my things here, not needing them in the dead of winter back in England.
I’m just checking in on Elsie and the guys back home when there’s a knock at my door.
Kalen pokes his head around, eyes lighting up when he sees my half empty suitcase lying open on the bed.
“Oh good! Have you finished packing?”
“Pretty much, why?”
“My case is full. Can I put some stuff in yours?”
“Sure. So long as it’s not drugs or anything that’s going to get me stopped by security.” I laugh.
“I did that to Onyx once. He beat me so bad I’d never do it again,” Kalen says seriously. I can only imagine.
“Fine. Get in here. But if I’m over the weight limit, you’re damn well paying for it!”
“No problem, sis!”
“Not your damn sister, Kalen,” I sigh, like a broken record stuck on repeat.
Kalen just gives me a quick peck on the cheek before dumping the armful of crap he’s holding down into my case in a heap.
It’s a total mess, but I’m not exactly Marie Kondo when it comes to packing and folding anyway so I don’t whinge at him.
“What is all this crap?” I frown, staring at a wooden boomerang that’s somehow got tangled around my pants.
“Souvenirs. Presents. Authentic Aussie mementos. You know. Stuff.” Kalen shrugs. I finger the inflatable life-sized kangaroo and raise a brow at him. “It’s for Onyx.”
I shake my head and decide it’s best not to ask.
“Listen, are you ready? We have to go see—“”
“Your grandma! Of course I’m ready! I can’t believe you’ve hidden her away from me this whole time. Old people love me! We’re going to be besties, bonding over knitting and blue rinses.”
I snort at the visual image of the poised and elegant, yet tiny and terrifying lady I met a few days ago doing knitting while having a blue tint put on her hair and getting a perm.
Kalen’s in for a rude awakening if he’s expecting my grandmother to be a frail little old lady.
Even without Baxter’s insight, I could tell right away that she isn’t someone to mess with.
“Mmm-hmm,” I reply noncommittally. “Since when have you had a blue rinse?”
“One year I convinced Slate to dress as a Samurai warrior for Halloween, but didn’t tell him I was ordering him the Mulan costume. His revenge was to dye my hair blue. I looked like a freaking Smurf for weeks.”
“I would have loved to have seen that.” I laugh.
“I’m sure we can dig out the pictures. Slate rocked a kimono.”
We’re interrupted by Smalls poking his head around the door.
“You ready, kid? Car’s here to take you to Camilla’s and then straight on to the airport.”
I glance over my shoulder at Kalen who is sitting on my case in a desperate attempt to close it. Jesus, how much crap has he been buying on those trips out with Chelsea? I shake my head in exasperation at him and give Smalls a smile.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
I leave Kalen and Smalls to get the bags and head downstairs to say goodbye to my dad and Chelsea. Aadi too if he’s calmed down enough to stop being an ass and come say goodbye to me.
In the kitchen, everyone assembles and I say goodbye to them all. It’s a lot less painful than last time because I’m at peace with my decisions now.
We head out and Kalen plugs in, before laying his head in my lap and groaning.
I run my fingers through his hair, grateful once again that it’s growing back.
I loved his hair when it was longer. Not everyone can pull off shoulder length hair, but Kalen with his carefree attitude and good looks can pull off anything.
“Why did you cut your hair?” I whisper to him, curious.
“Didn’t.”
“Kalen—” Why is he lying to me?
“Branson did it. He beat the shit out of us in your honour or some shit. Knew cutting my hair would hurt worse than any punches he could throw.”
I blink in surprise at that snippet of information. I recall Baxter’s split knuckles and the guys’ injuries but I never considered Kalen’s hair being connected to that event. I also didn’t really understand why Baxter would do that.
After that, the drive is quiet and as we pull into Camilla’s driveway I notice it’s very different to the other day. This time, the front door is guarded by some skeezy looking gang bangers and goosebumps rise on my arms. Surely this isn't a trap?
Kalen sits up beside me, squeezing my hand and giving me a look of concern.
“Your granny isn’t a sweet little old lady, is she?”
“No, Kalen.”
“Is this safe?”
I hesitate. I really want to say yes, but I don’t know this woman at all. Just because she used some Italian terms of endearment and hugged me, doesn’t mean she cares for me.
I consider texting Baxter, but what can he do from the other side of the world? Maybe I should ring Smalls or Aadi. My father’s earlier warning rings in my head. I shouldn’t have brought Kalen here.
Shit. The gates close behind us and I realise it’s too late to leave.
As the car pulls to a stop at the top of the driveway, the front door opens and my ‘sweet little old lady’ grandmother steps out. She looks taller than last time. She’s dressed impeccably, head to toe in black, with a diamond necklace glinting at her throat.
She smiles warmly at me but I can’t help but feel that it doesn’t reach her eyes. The driver gets out and opens the car door for me. I slide out and am about to greet her when she turns to speak to someone just inside the house.
“Amelie?” Kalen asks. In my peripheral vision I see him turn to face me but I can’t tear my eyes away from the newcomer as she steps out into the light. “Do you know who that is?”
The newcomer looks exactly like she did in the photographs I once saw. She hasn’t aged at all. I can’t believe that when I glanced over the images, I thought I didn’t recognise her. Now I feel like I could be staring in a mirror. Only one that shows my future in twenty years’ time maybe.
“Amelie?” Kalen asks when I fail to respond. “Do you know this woman?”
“Fuck,” I manage to croak out. “Yeah, I do.”
“Is that…” I turn to Kalen and his eyes are saucers, flirting back and forth between me and the woman standing beside my grandmother. “Is she…?”
“My real mother?” I croak out in disbelief as I stare at the ‘dead’ woman in front of me.
“Yeah?”
“Fuck. Yeah. She is.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.”