Chapter 22 #2
I choked on my water. “Excuse me.” I patted my mouth with my napkin. “You must try the jacuzzi too. Also the games room is very entertaining.” Alfie squeezed my leg under the table, telling me to behave myself. I cleared my throat. “And uh…will you be visiting Harrington, Mrs Tell?”
“You can call me Carolyn, if we're going to be family,” she said without much warmth. “I will be happy to visit as soon as I receive an invitation. I think it’s impolite to go where you haven’t been invited.”
Was she implying I shouldn’t be here at lunch?
“You’re welcome to visit once it’s complete, mother. I wouldn’t want you to see it now,” Alfie said, before I could retort.
“I hope it’s up to your father’s standard. It sounds rather rustic, not exactly his aesthetic.”
“It’s beautiful,” I told her. “Alfie has an excellent eye.”
She ran her cold gaze over me. She seemed to disagree with his eye for women.
“Your sister sends her best, by the way.”
My ears perked up at the mention of Grace, the one member of the Tell family I knew almost nothing about.
Alfie nodded. “And I to her.”
I looked between them. What a fucked up family.
I remembered how fascinated Alfie had been watching me with my sister and nephew.
He’d commented that he was jealous about the old dining table, covered in Ryan's drawings. I realised he was fascinated because he’d never seen a family that loved each other before.
The more I learned about him, the more I understood.
The more I understood, the more it broke my heart.
Our food arrived and we tucked in. I did my best to be graceful but eating a burger with dignity wasn’t easy. Maybe I should have ordered something else.
“Tell me about Grace,” I said, pinning a smile on my face. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“How sweet of you. You have a sister of your own, correct?” She dodged my question, a saccharine smile on her face.
“Yes, Natalie, and a nephew too. They live here in town.”
“How nice.”
Fed up, I glanced at Alfie. His jaw was tight but he said nothing, only picked at his salad.
“She’s getting married soon actually,” I said, trying as hard as I could to salvage a conversation with this woman. I wanted Alfie to know I was trying. “She joked about us having a joint wedding.”
“How practical.” Carolyn sipped her Martini. “That would certainly be more affordable for you.”
“That's not something Lola has to worry about anymore,” Alfie said, his tone like ice.
I winced, knowing exactly what she would make of that.
“Of course, not anymore.” She gave me that sickening smile again. “What a relief that must be for you.”
Okay, I’d had enough. “Are you really going to accuse me of being a golddigger? It’s hardly original.”
“Lola,” Alfie warned me. I gave him an apologetic look. I’d promised.
“I have the right to be concerned about my son.”
“Well, I think it’s great that you’re trying something new.” Shut up, Lola. I cursed myself but when my words landed on Alfie’s mother, she flinched. Barely, but I saw it. She knew that I knew that she’d stood by and done nothing while Alfie was abused.
“Insolent little thing, isn’t she?” She tossed at Alfie who wasn’t saying anything. She looked back at me. “I merely want to make sure that my son is happy and is marrying someone who won’t take advantage.”
“I won’t. I never have. I never will. I love him very much, Mrs. Tell.” More than you ever have, I thought, but I kept that part to myself.
“I’m glad to hear it.” She stared at me for one long moment and I stared right back.
Her expression was impossible to read. Was she impressed?
Convinced? I watched cogs turn in her head just as I had with Alfie so many times and then, just like her son, she changed tack so fast it gave me whiplash.
“I hope you didn’t agree to the joint wedding, I find them rather tacky. ”
“No, I wanted my sister to have her own day,” I said cautiously. Was she giving me her approval? “We’d like to get married at Harrington.”
“Really?”
“Yes, well, it’s special because I designed a garden there for Alfie and—”
“And all of the grounds at Harrington are very impressive,” Alfie cut me off. “Riley Fitzpatrick has done excellent work but then he always does.”
I stared at him, trying not to show my hurt. It wasn’t about me. He didn’t want his mother knowing about the garden.
“Well, a country estate can be a wonderful choice for a venue. If the weather is right.”
“I’m sure Mr Tell won’t stand for rain on our big day,” I joked, doing my best to crack a smile on Alfie’s face. “Can’t you do something about that? Have a word with someone?”
“Of course, I’ll make sure rain is rescheduled for another day.” He laughed and I didn’t miss Carolyn looking at him like he’d grown another head. I picked up my burger and took another bite while she continued picking at her salad.
“Will your father be joining us for the wedding?” she asked. “I heard he’s recently back in your life.” I glanced at Alfie, he must have mentioned it.
“I’m not sure. He’ll be at my sister’s wedding though.”
“How sweet. I think it’s wonderful that you’re so willing to forgive and forget.”
“I could say the same for Alfie,” I snapped back and Carolyn stiffened. This time, Alfie didn’t try to intervene. He just sat, staring at his salad.
However Carolyn thought this conversation was going to go, this clearly wasn’t it.
This was a woman who wasn’t used to people biting back.
She reminded me of Alfie when I’d first met him and his confusion when I said no.
‘You’re refusing me?’ It made me smile to think of it now, though not right now.
Right now, I was too angry that this woman was more interested in insulting me than she was in celebrating her own son.
“You’re lucky we’re in public.”
“No, bitch. You’re lucky we’re in public,” I hissed with so much venom she shrank back in her seat.
She looked at Alfie, her eyes wide. “I’m sure I don’t know what I’ve done to upset her so much.”
“Nothing. You did nothing.” I could feel the tension radiating from Alfie.
I’d promised to behave myself but now this woman was in front of me, all I wanted was to rip her face off.
Carolyn turned to Alfie again, feigning helplessness.
“Don’t look confused. You know what you did, you know what they did to him, and you did nothing. ”
“You’re interfering in things you don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
“Alfie has a duty to his family, to uphold what his father built. He needs the right kind of woman at his side and that woman is not you.” With that, she stood. I didn’t mind. She was running scared. I sat in silence as she said her goodbyes, air kissed him again and left.
I didn’t feel like finishing my lunch. Alfie didn’t seem hungry either.
“I’m sorry. I tried.” He didn’t respond. “Please say something.”
“It’s too fucking loud in here.” He stood up. I thought he was going to storm out but he paused to pull out my chair and take my hand.
My heart pounded as he led me through the lobby. What kind of punishment was I going to get for this?
Outside, we barely had to wait a moment for the valet to bring his car around.
It was too hot as I slid inside. The valet had parked it in the sun.
A major fuck up that for once, Alfie didn’t seem to care about.
He switched on the AC as he drove us away.
I watched the Carlton Hotel sign disappear behind us, leaving old memories with it.
I sat quietly, Vivaldi accompanying us until we arrived back at Harrington. Still, he said nothing. Hand in hand, he stalked across the grounds, I had to hurry to keep up.
I knew where he was heading. Without me having to ask, he kicked off his shoes before stepping into the Evergarden. Once there, he let go of my hand. He paced the space in bare feet, taking in deep breaths.
I watched him. He looked on the verge of explosion. “Are you mad at me? It’s okay if you are.”
He shrugged out of his jacket and threw it on the ground. I stared at the crumpled garment. I’d never seen him leave a piece of clothing unfolded in his life.
“No one has ever stood up for me before. To her. To any of them.”
I wrapped my arms around him. He buried his face in my neck, I felt his tears dampen my skin. I held onto him, swaying us gently in the golden afternoon. This is what the Evergarden was for. For him. To feel safe enough to do this.
“You know I’ll always protect you, right? You have the money to protect your lifestyle and a security team to protect you from physical harm but this,” I placed my hand over his chest, “I’ll always protect this.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. Alfie had never been a man that accepted affection easily but it was getting better each time.
“So, are we done with her? Do you want to see her again?” He didn’t answer. “She at least seemed to care, even if it is just about money.”
“She’s lying. Playing it sweet to get between us.
If she can make herself look like the caring one it makes you look like the difficult one.
I’m nearly thirty seven years old, Lola, not once in my life has she ever said that she cared about me.
Convenient now that you’re here all of a sudden she’s the doting mother. ”
“Why bother though? I’m hardly a threat to her wealth.”
“You make me happy and I hold the purse strings. That’s a threat in itself.” He sighed, shaking it off. “Tonight. Dinner. It’s your turn. I’ll be on best behaviour with your father. Promise.”