26. Maddie
Maddie
T he house is filled with people in mourning, or to be more precise, people wearing black as the occasion dictates.
Hugo’s cruelty was an open secret, but in Brimstage, social obligation takes precedence over integrity, and his funeral reflects the loss of a respected member of the community.
I’ve lost count of the number of people telling me how worried they are for his little girl’s future now that her daddy’s gone.
Becks is going to be a superstar. Just like Jen.
Hunter and I had been five minutes away when my sister-in-law had called to say that Hugo had died.
Jen never questioned why we’d already been on our way over, but when she’d met me at the door, we’d hugged for the longest time.
It felt as if she were thanking me, making me wonder if she’d worked out that Hugo’s death hadn’t been accidental at all.
My suspicion solidifies as I watch Jen grasp Hunter’s hand now. “I don’t know where we’d be without you and your brothers,” she whispers.
“We’re family. We look after each other,” he assures her. “ And if you have any problems with the move, you have my number.”
“Thank you, but I think we’re all set,” she says.
“It was quite lucky that we were already set to leave, but I’ve cancelled the lease on the house Hugo had secured.
We’re going to stay with my parents in Deer Creek until I find the right place to call home.
It’s enough to be away from here.” She looks around at the large crates littering the orangery.
“I didn’t even have to arrange the packing thanks to Hugo.
It’s almost as if he was putting his house in order before he died. ”
Amongst the rumors currently circulating, there’s speculation that Hugo had turned to drugs to drown his sorrows after being forced to sell his home to clear his debts.
Thankfully, no one is reckless enough to suggest the Griffins are to blame.
If anything, Hunter is being painted as a modern-day hero for trying to bail out his brother-in-law. And he is a hero in my eyes.
“We still want to help, Jen,” Hunter insists. “And I’ll take it as a personal insult if you struggle with anything and don’t reach out.”
I can’t help wondering if Hunter will use the same line with me when our business is concluded. And it will be concluded. Ash is already talking of the Griffins’ return to Chicago.
I’ve been assured that my position as chair of the board is secure, and the Griffins’ future involvement in the company will be very much at arm’s length.
Lines of communication will remain open of course, which means I’ll know when Hunter moves on and finds someone else.
And even if he goes to bed alone every night, I’ll be torturing myself by wishing I was lying in the empty space next to him. Or beneath .
I’m not sure how I’ll bear it, and there’s a part of me that’s tempted to resign from the board, and leave them to install new management. I’d be able to move on in the same way Jen is doing. A clean slate. A new life. Without Hunter.
“Do you need some fresh air?” my husband asks when he sees my face pale.
“No, I’m–”
An ear-splitting scream cuts through the orangery, and I flinch reflexively.
It’s the high-pitched screech of a small child, and it’s quickly followed by a deep, throaty roar.
Everyone in the room turns to where Becks has just made her entrance.
She looks a little worried until Ash bends down to whisper something in her ear.
Her mouth falls open in shock as she tips back her head to look at him. He nods encouragement.
Somehow, I know what’s coming and I put my fingers in my ears as Becks takes a deep breath and releases another scream that must be even higher in pitch given the reaction around us. Brows furrow and shoulders hunch in pain.
When I hear the first mutterings of disapproval, I make a loud whooping noise and give my niece a round of applause.
Hunter follows suit and then there are more people clapping.
In a dark corner, someone whistles. There’s only one person I know who could hide away in a room full of light, and after a little searching, I catch Mace’s eye.
Ash scoops Becks into his arms and there’s a beaming smile on her face as they approach. She’s looking straight at me. “That’s some lung capacity you have there,” I tell her. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Ash made me do it.”
I glance at Hunter’s brother. He’s the perfect mentor to help the six-year-old find her voice again. “And I’m proud of you too, Ash,” I say. “I don’t know if it was a trick of the light, but I swear I caught you smiling.”
Becks jiggles up and down in his arms. “He’s been laughing too. And pulling faces at everyone.”
“Hey,” Ash says. “I thought that was our secret?”
“Did he pull faces at me?” I ask. We’ve reached an understanding, Ash and I, but I feel his disapproving glare every time there’s the slightest display of affection between Hunter and I.
“Course not,” Becks says. “Just at Daddy’s friend. The horrible one.”
A cold shiver runs down my spine. “Morgan’s still here?”
“Mace and Reid have eyes and ears on him,” Ash tells me.
I glance back to where I’d last seen Mace, and trace where’s he’s now looking. Morgan is with a group of businessmen, most of whom I recognize. Whatever schemes he’s formulating, he’s not going to give himself away in here. Not unless someone provokes him.
“Could you excuse me?” I say to the others. “There are a few people I should say hello to.”
I’ve taken only two steps when I feel a hand on my elbow. “I’ll come with you,” Hunter says, because of course he would.
I ingratiate myself into Morgan’s little group, and once we’ve dispensed with the usual condolences, the mayor of Brimstage tugs Hunter to one side for a private chat. I hear the words ‘investment,’ and ‘local businesses.’
Morgan stays with the main group and so I do.
He hasn’t spoken directly to me yet, which is fine.
I wouldn’t trust anything that came out of his mouth.
I hone in on the two men I do want to hear talk, if only to see how Morgan reacts.
The men are both from Lancelyn Heights. Joshua runs a saw mill, and Theo recently took over his father’s plant hire firm.
“I appreciate you coming today,” I say to them. “I know we haven’t done much business in recent years, but now that the mill is going from strength to strength, I hope that can change.”
“Hugo was never keen on keeping things local. He liked to aim big,” Joshua says, making it sound like a compliment when we all know it’s not. “But it would be good to reinforce the bonds between our towns. John Cooper sends his deepest sympathies, by the way.”
“He couldn’t make it?” I ask. I’d been surprised not to see John. He’s retired now, but he’d supplied timber to the mill in my father’s day.
“We don’t see that much of him either. He can go months without coming into town,” says Theo.
“I’d like to say it’s old age, but he never was one for being sociable.
He’s still keeping himself busy though. He’s looking to clear some of his woodland.
” He glances at Morgan. “Did he tell you what he has planned for it?”
Morgan simply shrugs, and shuffles his feet. Interesting. He didn’t want me to know that he’d paid a visit to John.
“Clearing woodland won’t be cheap. Or is he working with investors?” I ask, pushing for another tell.
Morgan’s prepared this time, and makes a show of looking disinterested.
“Why, is there anyone you’d recommend?” asks Theo. “I hear your husband’s putting a lot of money into updating the mill.” He barely hides his smirk when he adds, “Good catch.”
I quirk an eyebrow because I know he’s baiting me. Theo had been on the original short list that Hugo had drawn up of my potential suitors, but he hadn’t made the final cut.
“Yes, I am a good catch,” Hunter interjects. He would choose now to tune back into my conversation.
Theo isn’t quite as tall as Hunter, but he’s the only one in the group who doesn’t look intimidated by his presence.
“You’re a lucky man. And Barrett’s loss, of course,” says Theo.
“I wasn’t surprised to hear someone snapped her up again so quickly.
” He gives me a knowing smile when he adds, “I think it took Maddie longer to turn me down than it did to say yes to you.”
“Is that so?” Hunter says, putting an arm around my waist.
I’m not sure who I’d rather kick in the shins, Hunter or Theo. I need to bring the conversation back to John Cooper, but I can’t do that while I have two idiots engaged in a dick-measuring contest. Damn it. I’m sure I was on to something.
“You never actually proposed, Theo,” I clarify.
“Only because Hugo wouldn’t let me. But it’s a valid point,” he concedes. “Looks like we’ll never know if you would have said yes.”
“I guess not,” I say impatiently. I realize too late that it’s not the answer Hunter was expecting.
His hand disappears from my hip and he grabs my hand. “Apologies, gentlemen, but my wife is needed elsewhere.”
I’ve barely had the chance to say goodbye when Hunter pulls me away.
My husband guides us through the scattering of mourners as we make our way across the orangery and back into the main house.
I’m trailing behind, and Hunter’s only response to my mutters of complaint is to tighten his grip on my hand.
He pulls us into the drawing room, and the moment I step inside, he whips me around so my back is pressed against the closing door.
The room is empty except for the furniture Hugo agreed to leave, and another stack of packing crates. I take it all in just before Hunter’s face looms in front of mine. His eyes are ablaze.
“You guess not?” he says, repeating my words to Theo. “What the fuck does that mean?”