by Dee Palmer
I remember taking my plate to the clearing station, slipping into the kitchen and the staff locker room. I stole a coat and someone’s bag and walked out. I never looked back but I always look over my shoulder and I never told a soul. I can’t go back, Ethan…I’ll never get Pip back if they take me away.” My voice stutters with the sudden gulps of air I desperately need. My face is streaming but I don’t feel the tears, all I feel is Ethan’s hold, protecting me, cherishing me, loving me. His lips kiss my forehead and he speaks against my skin.
“No one is taking you away, angel, not ever.” I close my eyes and let the certainty of his words and the conviction of his tone wash over me. “I love you, Ada…I didn’t think I would ever fall like I have with you…not like you’re supposed to. I’m smart enough to know love like this doesn’t happen every day so there is no fucking way anyone is taking that from me.” I shift in his arms, my soapy body sliding easily over his. My cheek is swollen, my nose is bruised, and I have the start of two black eyes but I couldn’t be happier. He covers my mouth and sweeps his tongue inside with as much possession as I have ever felt course through him. He pulls back and kisses the tip of my nose, flashing the most wickedly gorgeous smile.
“So, marry me and we get Pip back…and lots of make-up fucking. We have got a busy time ahead of us!” He tips my jaw shut as I gasp.
“What?”
Three Months Later
“I THOUGHT YOU would look more scared, son, or nervous maybe?” Dad straightens my tie and ruffles my hair; his smile is almost as wide as mine.
“I’ve only been scared once before, which is why I’m not nervous now. I thought I’d lost her.” I shake the image away as quickly as it grips my heart with utter terror. “I have never been so frightened. It’s why I’m not in the least bit scared now… This is without a doubt my best decision.” My jaw is going to ache if I continue to sport this grin all day. I don’t care though, not one bit. It’s the same grin I have had since Ada agreed to marry me that night. She might’ve thought it was the emotions and drama of the night, an adrenaline induced proposal. But I took her for walk the next day up to the headland and a place that could be mistaken for the ends of the earth with its rugged rocky cliff face and untamed ocean, crashing relentlessly against the land. I held her for a moment like we were the only two people in the world and slipped my mother’s engagement ring on her finger. Her eyes pooled and she seemed a little hesitant but then the most amazing smile lit her face and I knew she was mine–forever.
So today, for me at least, is more a formality and an excuse for a party.
“If I’m honest, I think I am nervous. I never actually believed this day would happen, so I didn’t even have it in my reserves as something to consider.” Dad jokes and I don’t blame him; I did kind of spring the best man role on him last minute. He would’ve been my choice regardless but he assumed since we were getting married in Cornwall I would’ve picked Buddy. Buddy, however, is stand in father of the bride. Ada’s father, and I use the term in its loosest possible sense, isn’t fit to kiss the ground she walks on.
It took a week to convince Ada that nothing–and I mean nothing–was going to happen to her. That I would not let anyone take her away from me, least of all the monster that she had the misfortune to call Father. I wanted to meet him and get the all the details about the adoption from him. My lawyer had said it was the best approach. If everything was done correctly her father would have all the documentation and we could trace the new parents easily that way. Even if everything was done legally from that point. It was still not an overnight fix. Having her declared mentally competent was simple enough, even if she was more angry than anything else at having to prove herself ‘fit’. But it was essential to get a clean bill of health, if she was to stand a chance at getting Pip back. Patrick had found Dr. Burrows working for Doctors without Borders in Africa, which is why she seemed to have disappeared. She had left the facility under a cloud of suspicion and threat of having her practising license revoked. Allegations of malpractice were all bogus, but they scared her enough to quit like she did. She told Patrick that she did try and make sure Ada continued the programme of rehabilitation she had started against Ada’s father’s wishes, but she was told Ada had been discharged. She didn’t think to check whether that was true, she was in another country and knew if Ada needed her she would no doubt find her. Which we did and she was more than happy to corroborate Ada’s story, which is all helpful if this thing goes to court. Turning an adoption is obviously fraught with complications and even though Ada’s situation was the worse type of coercion it still wouldn’t mean the courts would rule in her favour.
I am not naive when it comes to fucked-up family situations, but you could not have prepared me for meeting her parents. I shudder at the recall.
“You can wait here, have some lunch, and I’ll pick you up after. You don’t have to see him, Ada. I can do this.” It’s only been a week since that traumatic night she was kidnapped but she is doggedly determined to meet this equally challenging encounter head on. I park the car at the village pub and pull her clenched fists into my hands, easing the curled fingers free.
“I want to do this. I want closure.” Her jaw grips and her fingers start to curl again, and again I pick them free.
“Angel, you don’t need anything from him. Even if he doesn’t have the documents we need, we will find another way and you don’t have to put yourself through this at all…let me do this.” I lift her fingertips to my lips and watch as her face registers my touch, her eyes soften, and her lips curl in a warm smile.
“You do enough just being here but I want to see him…them. One last time.”
“Are you sure?” I don’t bother asking whether that is the right thing to be thinking. I can’t make that judgement for her and I don’t question hers, because if that was me, I wouldn’t forgive them either.
“I’m here for Pip and to end his hold on me.” Her fingers entwine with mine and I squeeze her hand in understanding and nod.
The house is about two miles out of the village and from what I can tell, the whole area belongs to her family. We turn up a driveway and the car judders as it passes over the cattle grid. The vast rolling parkland on either side of the tree-lined road is teaming with sheep. There is a slight incline and it’s not until we reach the brow that the house comes into view. I say house but really this stately home looks more like a castle. She was being modest when she said her home was slightly bigger; it easily blocks out the horizon. Lucky I don’t give a shit about this type of bullshit appearance, especially when I know what insidiousness lies beneath the facade. I look over to Ada and she has an aura of steely resolve that warms my heart. Her fear and uncertainty has been eradicated by the few steps we have taken together to secure her future–a future free from her father. She is the strongest person I know, but meeting him in the flesh is a huge deal. I just hope she is strong enough to get the closure she feels she needs.
I round the car and open her door, she takes my hand and we walk to the main front door, which actually has a portcullis. I briefly wonder why he didn’t keep her here, they probably have a real dungeon, they certainly have a tower.
The door opens and an elderly man in a uniform greets us with what I assume is his attempt at a smile.
“Good afternoon…Lord and Lady D’Aubeney are expecting you. Would you kindly follow me?” He steps back and I flash a glance at Ada.
“Hey Nana…no need for that with me.” She nudges the old man and he raises an eyebrow but not a smile.
“Lord D’Aubeney was very specific. I am to show you to–” Ada interrupts.
“Oh I don’t doubt that Nana, but he doesn’t have cameras and we both know he won’t come out to meet me, so how about you loosen that stuffed shirt and give me a hug?” She juts her chin high and the old man freezes for a moment. I happen to think she has read him all wrong, when I see the corner of his lips fight a losing battle with a knowing smirk. Ada rushes forward and h
e wraps his arms around her like she is his a long lost daughter. She giggles and hugs him right back. “That’s better.” She sighs and I find I let out a breath I had been holding. He straightens after a while and holding her shoulders away from him he takes his time appraising the vision before him. His eyes glaze and he shakes his head slightly.
“It’s good to see you, Missy…really good.” He pushes out a heavy sigh, laden with unspoken words.
“You too, Nana.” She tips up on her toes and kisses the old man’s cheeks. He blushes before he checks himself and stiffens once more.
“Very good…Now, if you would like to follow me.” He turns and slowly leads us across the hallway and along a dark wood-panelled corridor, complete with ancient tapestries and a series of fully armoured mannequins. I lean in to whisper then remember I really don’t care who hears me.
“So, Missy…another name for you…how many is that?” Ada starts to open her mouth, but surprisingly the rough laugh of the man leading us cuts in.
“Oh, Missy had many names I can assure you. That one we both agreed was the least offensive if her father heard. He would assume it was an abbreviation of Artemis…not Little Miss Trouble.” Ada winks at me and I can see the mischief flash in her eyes, the same that no doubt got her the nickname. She counters his clarification.
“And I only wish Nana was my real Nana. I called him that for as long as I remember. When I was little, before we had dogs he would play with me and look after me, and I would make him dress up like Nana from Peter Pan.” I do a double take at the stiff old man in front and he coughs out a grumble but his lips are smiling with the memory.
“You made him dress up as a dog?” I bite my lips to stop a full belly laugh. Honestly, this man looks like Alfred the Butler and she had him playing dress up on all fours. I’m impressed if a little cautious of her latent negotiating skills.
She falls silent, her colour drains and her lips form a fixed thin line. The man’s eyes soften and he leans down to open the door to the day room. As she passes through the old man whispers.
“He’s more afraid of you, Missy.” She flicks her eyes wide and draws in a steadying breath. God, she is strong. I don’t know whether I could stand in front of my tormentor like she is, after the brutal betrayal from the man who is supposed to love and protect her above all. I step to her side and thread my arms around her waist. That’s my job now.
“Artimis, lovely to see you looking so well.” Her father stands, his posture is cautious, no open arms but he does moves forward. Ada steps back and walks over to the fireplace where two dogs are fiercely wagging their tails but obediently remain rooted to their blanket. When she gets too close they explode in a riot of fur and yelps. It takes a good five minutes to calm them enough for Ada to stand and walk back to me. Her father is seated once more, next to her mother. I can’t get a read on her at all. If I was pushed, I would say she was three sheets to the wind already, glassy-eyed and with a vacant expression. He, on the other hand, hasn’t taken his eyes off Ada.
“Why don’t you sit, darling?” Her mother points to the sofa opposite with a tight smile. “Have some Pimms or tea, if you would prefer.”
“It’s not a social call, Mother. I want the information Father says he has.” Ada’s calm delivery is at odds with her tiny clenched fists. We need to finish this quickly, I can see she is struggling just being in the same room as these people. I cup my hand over hers and wriggle my fingers so they interlock with hers.
“I don’t see what good it will do. It is better this way. This way you have a clean slate for a suitable husband, if I will ever be able to find one that is, but more importantly our name isn’t sullied with your sordid past.” Her father states with misplaced authority. My incredulous laugh makes him scowl but I don’t say anything…not yet.
“Listen to your father, Arti…. It is really for the best if you leave well enough alone. You can come home, darling.” Her saccharin smile is a pathetic attempt at an expression of motherly affection. “You are very young, darling, and it is incredibly hard raising a child.” Ada snaps out a bitter laugh.
“How would you know that, Mother?” Ada’s disdain is abundantly clear when she practically spits the last word.
“That is enough, Artemis. I won’t have you upset your mother.” Her father barks his disapproval and I squeeze Ada’s hand when she flinches.
“No, you’ll just have her in an alcoholic daze for the rest of her life. God, you two deserves each other.” Ada shakes her head but her mother gasps in horror at her daughter’s accurate accusation. She wobbles to her feet and rushes from the room. Ada looks at me and shrugs off the theatrics for what they are…insignificant.
“I am not going to give you what you want, Artemis, and I will tell you why…you are going to return home and I will have my name–”
“No! “ She cries out but not with sadness, with utter rage. “You can’t keep her from me. I’ll tell everyone what you’ve done…Everyone!” Ada bites out through gritted teeth, but he sniffs derisively.
“You won’t do that because you wouldn’t want the scrutiny, my dear. No matter how futile it is, you will always harbour hope, and you won’t risk what a scandal like that would do to your little bastard.” Ada crumples and clutches her chest. I’ve had enough.
“Listen very carefully.” My voice is quiet, but the tone silences the room. “How an abomination of a man managed to produce such a beautiful person is unfathomable to me, but you did and for that I will grant you this one clemency.” I drop Ada’s hand and walk directly in front of him as he stands to meet me. We are eye-to-eye, a cold, flat, inhuman gaze meets mine. “You don’t need to worry about your name being sullied, because Ada will have my name in two weeks’ time and her daughter…your bloodline will have it too. You will give us what we came for, what you have in that envelope.” I point to the manilla package he has placed on the table beside the drinks. I pull a similar envelope folded in half from my back pocket. “Or making sure this goes viral will be my next project.” I hand him my envelope. It only takes a moment for him to flick through a barrage of images that would make excellent tabloid fodder. Not that a sex scandal with a Lord is particularly shocking, but Daniel’s security team were a little more thorough in their investigation once they had a name. The Lord’s membership to the same club Daniel once belonged to was revoked for undisclosed reasons. However, the owners of his new club were less discrete about their members’ privacy. Lord D’Aubeney it appears has very specific tastes for underage looking boys and that would most certainly taint his precious name, if it ever came to light. His face loses all his colour and he numbly hands over the package. He flops down in the sofa. “I have the digitals so let’s not go changing our mind anytime soon.” I turn to Ada. “I just want to check, angel…Will you ever forgive him…them?” She shakes her head. “Do you ever want to see them again?”
“No…never.” Her fiery determined answer leaves no chance of misunderstanding.
“Ok…just wanted to be sure.” I turn back, looking down at her father. “Just so you completely understand, you go against her wishes this goes viral…You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as her, so stay the fuck away.” I don’t waste another breath, grabbing Ada’s hand we leave, only briefly stopping at the door for Ada to hug Nana…That poor man, but despite his ridiculous moniker he seems happy to be on the receiving end of all the affection that comes with having a pet name.
“Good luck, Missy, and you, Sir…Good luck to you both.” He gives a curt nod before he closes the door.
She lets out a deep relaxing breath when we finally pull away from the main gate. “Happy?” I ask because that was something else. She clutches the package to her chest likes it’s the crown jewels.
“I am.” She shuffles so she is facing me. “Thank you, Ethan…I–” Her breath catches.
“Have nothing to thank me for, angel.” I can see her eyes start to pool and I pull the car over. The second it stops she has her belt unb
uckled and is on my lap. Her body trembles with emotion: relief, happiness, maybe regret; I don’t know but it’s radiating off her like a palpable force.
“Hey…hey…talk to me, angel…I need to know you are okay with what just happened…if you regret–”
“No, no God, no. Unforgivable…I will never regret walking away. I just…for the first time in a long time…I think I may actually get Pip back.” She worries her bottom lip, her eyes filled with hope and love–so much love.
I am just rearranging the tie my Dad has so carefully straightened to the point of choking, when the bedroom door flies open. Ada is standing there breathless and sexy. She flushes with embarrassment when she sees my Dad beside me because she is covered wearing only low-rise lacy shorts and a skinny vest that skims the swell of her breasts but fails epically to hide her sudden arousal. She quickly crosses her arms and I raise a curious brow. I’m not superstitious, but I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t actually see her until she’s at the altar, wearing something a little more traditional.