Chapter Thirty-Four
A Grand Gesture
I exhale loudly as I sit in front of my laptop in the library. It’s Wednesday, and I’ve spent the past few hours applying for jobs I’m either overqualified or underqualified for in the art world.
But I’m doing something, and that’s what matters.
I glance out the window. It’s nearly six o’clock, and the sun is still shining across the rich, deep blades of grass. I promised myself I would work for a good two hours after closing the gift shop, and I’ve just about met that goal.
I pick up the pen on my notebook and absently twirl it around my fingers. It’s been a rough few days here at home. There’s still some tension between me and my parents, of course.
And I haven’t been able to talk to Noah. He’s has been on a plane for like eighteen hours, leaving Perth following another win in Australia on Tuesday. I talked to him briefly when he landed this morning, and he said he was going to shower and take a nap. I haven’t heard from him since, but I can’t imagine how tired he must be right now. I know how exhausted I was after my flight. I decided to let him sleep and I’ll simply talk to him tomorrow.
But something happened this afternoon that left me feeling very hopeful.
I haven’t told Noah what Amelia is doing for me—I wanted to tell him that in person. But her mum, Sarah, was thrilled to be asked for her guidance and requested my CV straightaway. I put a very nice, thankful, thoughtful cover letter with it when I sent it to her. Then she called me. We had a long conversation—about my master’s, my job at the auction house, what periods of art I like and why. It was like an interview in itself! Sarah completely vetted me, and afterwards, she said she would like to arrange a luncheon in Mayfair with her and some of her well-connected art friends. So I looked at my schedule, gave Sarah some of my days off, and I’m going to have lunch with her next week in London, and I’m so excited about it.
I know it could still take time for something to develop—if anything at all—but this is a start. Networking. Explaining my situation and presenting my ideas.
And getting expert coaching from the Duchess of Bridgewall on how to do it.
Suddenly I hear the sound of a car coming up the drive. Curious, I look up, as I don’t think we’re expecting anyone. Amelia is back at Swallowhedge—she said she had a scheduled Connectivity Video Connect with Liz tonight.
But then the car draws closer, and I gasp when I see it.
It’s Noah’s Bentley.
“What?” I say out loud, leaping up from my chair.
Just as I’m walking towards the doorway, I hear shoes on the marble tile in the hall. I look up to find Nicholas approaching me, just stopping at the entrance to the library.
“Darby is right on time,” he says, his eyes dancing mischievously at me. “You can let him in for me if you like. Then bring him back to the den.”
Right on time? The den? What is he talking about?
“What is happening?” I ask, my brain reeling. “Why is Noah here? And how do you know about this, and I don’t?”
“You’ll find out,” Nicholas says. “And not that I need to tell you this, but that guy really loves you, Violet. I think I’ll be annoyed with you if you don’t marry him one day.”
Then he winks at me before turning and walking away.
In a state of shock, I go to the door and slide the bar across it. Then I open it and step outside. Noah has just switched off his engine, and I stare at him in complete confusion. The second he gets out of the car, I begin to pepper him with questions.
“Noah, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me? How did Nicholas know? You’re only back from Australia today—you must be exhausted—and I don’t understand any of this!”
Noah comes around the front of his car, meeting me at the door. He slides his arms around me, drawing me into his chest. “I love you,” he says simply, as if this answers everything.
“I love you, too, but I’m so conf—”
Noah silences me by putting his index finger over my lips. I immediately stop speaking.
“I know you are, Butterfly. But I’m here for you. I got Amelia’s number from Bella, then I got Nicholas’s from Amelia, and then I was able to tell your mum and dad there are things they don’t know, and I feel they should.”
“What?” I gasp.
“I’m going to tell them why you went to Australia.”
I feel my mouth drop open.
“Yes, I am,” Noah says firmly, rubbing a hand up and down my back. “I’m going to tell them everything. Because they need to know the reason. You weren’t just flying off for a fun week in Australia to watch a friendly. You didn’t do it on a whim. You did it for me. You showed up for me. When nobody else has for years.”
Tears immediately prick my eyes. Noah has shown up for me.
Just as I showed up for him.
“You’re going to make me cry,” I whisper.
“No, don’t cry. I’m going to make this right. It might not change what your parents think, but at least they will know the truth.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him. “This is none of their business.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. They need to see a different Violet. They need to see the butterfly who I see.”
I choke back a sob.
“I love you,” Noah says again.
“I love you, too,” I manage to say.
He brushes his lips against my forehead. “Then let me tell your parents who you really are, Violet.”
I step back from him. Noah takes my hand in his, and together, we head into the house. I’m feeling so many emotions right now. I’m moved beyond words that Noah is here. I’m shocked he made this trip to Dorset, coming here after taking a long flight from Perth. I’m anxious about what he’s going to say to my parents and how they are going to receive it, but I feel nothing but grateful that I have such a strong, thoughtful, determined man as my boyfriend.
Most of all, I feel love. I have so much love for this man in my heart, I think it might burst wide open trying to contain it all inside.
I lead him back to the family part of the house, my heart thumping inside my chest as we get closer to the den. When we reach the doorway, I find Nicholas and our parents sitting there, waiting for us to come in.
Noah lets go of my hand as my parents stand up. “Thomas, thank you for allowing me to see you tonight,” he says, shaking my dad’s hand.
“I have to admit, I’m still surprised by your request,” my dad says.
“I wouldn’t have asked to see you and Jocelyn unless it was important.” Noah turns towards my mum, shaking her hand as well. “Thank you for letting me come down.”
Nicholas crosses the room to greet Noah. “Glad to see you again,” my brother says, gripping his hand.
“Likewise,” Noah replies.
“Please, have a seat,” Mum says.
Noah sinks down next to me on the love seat, and the first thing he does is take my hand in his. I feel united by this gesture, as if we are going to face this situation together. I’m not alone in this. I have Noah by my side, and that means everything to me.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” he says simply. “I know Violet has sought opportunities to work on projects here. I also know she was denied any chance to prove herself.”
Dad immediately stiffens in his chair. “I don’t see where that is your business, Noah.”
“Sir, I would normally agree with you on that. But I do not when you don’t know the truth about Australia. That’s why I came here tonight. To tell you the real reason why Violet came to Australia. She didn’t tell you because she wanted to protect my privacy. But my privacy doesn’t mean anything if it’s hurting Violet.”
Mum exchanges a look with my dad, and Nicholas furrows his brow.
“The truth is, you have raised an exceptional, thoughtful, nurturing, caring daughter,” Noah says simply. “You raised a woman with a huge heart, who shows up for those she loves. And that is what she was doing in Australia. Violet showed up for me when nobody else has in a long, long time.”
I blink back tears. Noah squeezes my hand in his, as if to tell me he’s okay. Then he tells my family the story of his life. Everything he painfully confessed to me that night by the sea, he’s telling all over again, but this time, he’s telling it in a matter-of-fact way. His hands aren’t clammy, his voice isn’t thick.
I realise that Noah is finally free of the past that had haunted him for so long. He’s free of the guilt that was laid at his doorstep, the guilt that was misplaced and never should have been put on a sixteen-year-old boy in the first place.
I watch as my mum blinks back tears. My dad remains stoic, but I can see the compassion in Nicholas’s eyes.
Finally, Noah comes to the part about Australia and what it meant for him to see me in the stands that night. Mum is now reaching for a tissue, and even my dad has cleared his throat.
They’re all moved by his story.
“Your daughter,” Noah says, his voice soft, “wasn’t going to let me play the first friendly of the year without having someone in the stands cheering for me. Violet didn’t take this trip on a whim. She planned it to be there for me. To prove to me that I was worthy of being supported. She was there to erase the past and show me I deserve this future. That I deserve to be supported and have someone in the stands. It meant more to me than you could ever know. It changed everything for me that night. Because of Violet, I know I’m worth it.”
“Oh, Noah,” Mum says, sniffling. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for everything you’ve gone through.”
“Don’t be sorry for me,” he says quickly. “I didn’t come here seeking that. I came here for Violet. For you to see what she did for me. Don’t penalise her for that. If this is what is keeping her from having any kind of opportunity here to launch her career, I beg you not to do it. She proved herself in Australia in the biggest way she could. All I ask is that you see her as she is now. The way I see her. Not as a flittering butterfly moving from idea to idea. See her as the beautiful, strong butterfly who has emerged from her cocoon. See her as the butterfly who is determined to fight through her fears to find her future. Because that is what I see. Violet deserves a chance. All I’m asking is for you to please give that to her.”
Now I’m crying.
“I—I don’t know what to say,” Dad says, obviously blindsided by the truth.
“Violet is ready to fly,” Noah says simply. “And I hope now you’ll give her a chance to do it. But even if you refuse, I know she’s going to be a success with or without your help. I believe in her. And more than that, she believes in herself.”
I wipe away the tears that are falling down my cheeks. Noah just gave me a grand gesture, the grandest gesture of love he could ever give me. Not only did he show up for me, but he believes in me.
And he wanted my family to know it.
Dad looks as if he’s seeing me for the first time, and even Nicholas looks like he’s fighting back emotions, too.
Noah immediately stands up, and I join him. “I have to go back to London. I only came here to tell you this because it’s important. Thank you for your time.”
“Noah, please, stay for a bit,” Mum says. “Have dinner with us.”
He shakes his head. “I appreciate the offer, Jocelyn, but I haven’t been home since the tour started. I need to be in Surrey and take care of my dog. But I will take you up on that in the future, if I may.”
“Yes, of course,” she says.
He says goodbye to everyone, and then we leave the den. As soon as we pass from the family side of the home to the side that is open to the public, I stop Noah and wrap my arms around him.
“What you did for me—what you said …” I pause, trying to find the right words to say to him.
“Shh.” Noah brushes a lock of my hair behind one ear. “You don’t need to say anything.”
I shake my head. “I do. Because you showed up for me in the grandest way possible. Thank you for that. Thank you for loving me so much.”
He reaches up and wipes away the tears that are falling down my cheeks again. “Even if your parents don’t relent, you’re going to be fine. You’re going to find the right job and start your career. I believe in you, Violet.”
He believes in me.
And I believe in me, too.
“I feel the same way. In fact, I have some news for you,” I say, smiling up at him.
“What?”
“Amelia called her mum. She’s got my CV and we’re meeting for lunch in Mayfair next week with another friend of hers who is also connected in the art world. She wants to help me network and find a job.”
Noah’s eyes completely light up at this news. “Violet, this is brilliant!”
“I know, I’m trying not to be too excited about it, but I am.”
“You should be. It’s a sign. Everything is lining up for you, sweetheart.”
“I think everything lined up for me the moment you told me you liked milk teeth and stretchy snakes,” I say, framing his gorgeous face in my hands.
His mouth begins to curve up in a playful smile. “Who knew that’s all I had to do to win your heart?”
I laugh at that. “I think some very special people made sure we found each other, Noah. Lady Lily and your dad.”
“I think so, too. I love you, Violet.”
“And I love you, Saucy Shorts.”
Noah cringes in the most adorable way when I call him Saucy Shorts, and I can’t help but laugh at how cute he looks right now.
“Daddy Darby?” I ask. “Is that better?”
“Violet, I’m going to have to kiss you to make you shut up,” he teases.
As his mouth finds mine, I kiss the man who has brightened my world. Made me believe in myself. Given me courage and caused me to see myself in an entirely new light.
And Daddy Darby will always be my Saucy Shorts.
The man I love.