Life's What You Make It: Love's Great Adventure Book 1

by Troutman, Theresa

  Tess closed his bedroom door softly. Sigourney came up behind Tess unexpectedly and startled her. “Tess, what’s going on with Sebastian? I’ve been knocking on his door all afternoon and he just repeatedly told me to go away.”

  “He’s been drinking.”

  “That’s not good. It’s one thing to go out with your mates and get pissed; but drinking alone…”

  “He’ll be all right. He’s got to be all right,” Tess said. “Goodnight, Sigourney.” She turned on her heel and walked away.

  Sigourney watched Tess head down the hall toward the servants’ staircase until she was out of sight. She turned and opened Sebastian’s door, not caring to knock or announce herself. He was sitting on the sofa with the ice pack on his hand. “Dear brother, what is wrong with you?” she questioned, joining him on the sofa.

  “Please, Sigourney, just go away,” he pleaded, not turning to look at her.

  “No. I want you to talk to me.”

  “What do you want me to say? I’m a complete fuckup.”

  “Well, I know that already,” she agreed.

  “Cheers.”

  “Will you let me finish!” she interjected. “I think you were a complete fuckup, but you really are turning things around for yourself.” Sigourney grabbed the pack of Dunhills off the coffee table and lit one, letting the smoke billow up from her red lips.

  “I wish she’d go home,” he told her, referring to their mother. “I don’t want Tess involved in this mess.”

  “Tess can fend for herself. Don’t worry about her. You, on the other hand, could certainly have handled yourself better this evening. It’s shameful of you to leave the poor girl all alone with Mummy during dinner,” Sigourney admonished him, blowing another column of smoke into the air.

  “You were there,” he countered.

  “Yes, well, I may have let the cat out of the bag.”

  Sebastian leaned his head back on the sofa and groaned. “What did you say?”

  “Mummy was admiring Tess’ dress and I let it slip that you bought it for her at Bergdorf Goodman.”

  “For Christ’s sake, Sigourney. My relationship with Tess is none of her business.”

  “I don’t even know what your relationship with Tess is. Do you?”

  “Oh, bugger off.” He wanted nothing more than to end this conversation and be alone.

  “I have a great idea. Come on.” He looked at her as she stood. Sigourney roughly pulled him off the sofa, snatching the cashmere blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders. She took his good hand and ushered him out the door, down the stairs, and outside into the cold night air.

  “You’re completely mental,” he muttered as she led him across the frozen ground, past the wilted gardens, far away from the house. All they could hear was the crunch of their feet on the packed earth. The glowing moonlight was a beacon to a clear field surrounded by nothing but trees. Sigourney let go of his hand, inhaled deeply, and let out a shrill scream. Sebastian stumbled backwards. She laughed. He stood still, shaking his head in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Go on then, have a go,” she challenged him. “We’re on a private estate. There isn’t another house or person around for miles. Scream, Sebastian. Just let yourself go.”

  He paused, and then inhaled deeply. Cold air rushed down his windpipe and filled his chest. He screamed at the top of his lungs. It was exhilarating. He was in awe that something so tribal and feral could be so freeing. He repeated it and Sigourney joined in, their voices bouncing off the trees and getting lost with the wind. They let go a flurry of screams and yells until they were finally out of breath. They dropped to the ground, panting and laughing. Lying on their backs next to each other on the cold earth, they looked up at the stars.

  Sigourney turned her head to face her brother. “Don’t give up, Sebastian. Everything will work out in the end.” She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.

  Chapter 13 - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want

  Christmas Eve morning, Sebastian made his way into the kitchen. It was 8:00 a.m. and Alice and Henry were preparing breakfast for Sebastian’s family.

  “Good morning,” Alice greeted.

  “Good morning.” Sebastian poured himself a cup of coffee and selected a danish from the silver tray Alice was preparing.

  “You’re up early,” Henry observed.

  “I have some last minute shopping to do.”

  “Have you smoothed things over with Tess?”

  “I think so. She invited me to dinner tonight.”

  “Your mother will be none too pleased about that.”

  Sebastian grinned. “Yes, I know.”

  Henry shook his head. “I don’t know what sort of game you two are playing, but if you’re not careful, things could get very messy.”

  Sebastian didn’t respond. He sat down at the table and ate his breakfast. Henry was still angry with him, but at least he was talking to Sebastian. Henry was right—things could never end happily ever after for Sebastian and Lady Irons. With any luck, maybe he still had a chance with Tess.

  Alice leaned in and looked at Sebastian’s hand. The swelling was gone and there were a few traces of yellow bruising around the knuckles, but it was healing nicely. “Your hand looks much better.”

  “Yes,” Sebastian agreed.

  “You best get going. The mall will be packed with last minute shoppers.” Henry chimed in as he picked up the tray of danish to take it into the dining room.

  Sebastian braved the mall along with all the procrastinating male shoppers to pick up some holiday gifts. Nanny had agreed to attend dinner at the Hamiltons’ later in the day, so he couldn’t show up empty handed. It was also a perfect excuse to get out of the claustrophobic house. Sebastian knew it was wrong to let his mother have this kind of control over him. He needed to get his emotions in check where she was concerned, but had no idea how to accomplish it. Maybe Nanny was right—maybe he needed to talk to his mother. But what would be the point in that? For whatever reason, he was the ‘chosen one.’ She had deemed him the heir to Irons Electronics, and the more Sebastian rebelled, the tighter Lady Irons’ grasp became.

  After picking out the appropriate gifts, Sebastian returned home. He entered through the kitchen and came to a quick stop. His mother was standing next to Alice, going over a menu.

  Lady Irons looked up. “Where have you been?”

  Sebastian looked down at the shopping bags he held and then back at this mother as if she were daft. “Shopping—it is Christmas Eve, and I can’t go to the Hamiltons’ empty handed.”

  “The Hamiltons’?”

  “Nanny and I have been invited to dinner. It’s the least I can do to make amends for not escorting Tess to your dinner party.” Sebastian smiled victoriously. Surely, his mother couldn’t deny his logic. She valued etiquette above all other things.

  “Yes, you must go,” she coolly replied. “Your behavior last evening was unconscionable.”

  “Yes, it was,” Sebastian agreed.

  Lady Irons blinked. Sebastian never agreed with his mother, and it effectively silenced her.

  She bounced back a moment later. “You’ll be here tomorrow for Christmas dinner.” She said it more as a statement of fact than a question.

  Several different retorts filled his brain: No, Mother, I’ll be joining the circus or I’m having dinner with the Queen. Instead he decided to keep his mouth shut.

  It was a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. The Hamiltons’ house was decorated with fresh garland and a small but perfect tree shining with multicolored twinkling lights. They dined on roast turkey with all the trimmings.

  “Mrs. Hamilton, the dinner is delicious,” Sebastian complimented.

  “Thank you. I’m so glad you both could join us tonight. It’s wonderful having company during the holidays. My family live in Florida and Tess and I don’t see them very often.”

  “Do you have a large family?” Nanny Jones inquired.

  “No,
just my younger sister and her husband.”

  “I tend to find that blood relatives are often quite taxing, and the close friends you choose tend to make a better family.”

  Sebastian smiled as he reached to clasp her hand. “Well said, Nanny.”

  The meal was easy and relaxed. Everyone laughed and talked at great length. When the last morsel of chocolate cake was consumed, Mrs. Hamilton stood. “Let’s go into the living room.”

  Everyone sat near the Christmas tree. Gifts were passed around. Sebastian opened his present from Tess. It was a photo she had taken of them at Edgewood back in October when he’d taught her how to ride a horse. She had placed the photo in a five by seven wooden frame.

  “I love it,” he whispered in Tess’ ear, while hugging her. It was a personal gift, something she had made, and it meant far more to him than anything she could have purchased.

  “You next.” Sebastian handed her a square package with an ornate bow. Tess opened the LP collection and was very happy with his selection.

  As the evening wound down, Tess picked up some empty glasses and looked at Sebastian. “Come to the kitchen with me?”

  He followed, picking up a few empty plates as he went. Once they were in the kitchen and the dishes were placed into the dishwasher, Tess leaned against the counter. “Tonight was perfect. Thanks for coming and for bringing Nanny Jones.”

  “I love my photo.”

  “I love my records. I’m so glad you didn’t do something extravagant.” She leaned in and kissed him. Something hard pressed against her chest. She slowly pulled back and carefully patted the breast of his suit coat, feeling something small and square. “What’s that?” she asked.

  Sebastian smiled. “Something extravagant,” he slowly responded. “May I show you?”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “I should make you return it right now.”

  “But the stores are closed,” he fretted. “Tell me you’re not dying of curiosity.” His hand closed around hers, which was still on the box.

  She rolled her eyes in exasperation and gave in. “Go on.”

  He pulled the small, blue Tiffany box out of his breast pocket and offered it to her as it rested on his open palm.

  She pulled on the white satin ribbon and it unraveled in her shaking hand. Slowly, she pulled off the box top. Inside was a black velvet box. Tess lifted the hinged top to reveal a pair of exquisite solitaire diamond earrings. She held her breath. Again, he had left her speechless.

  Sebastian watched as her expression changed from trepidation to relief. “You can breathe now,” he playfully reminded her.

  She sucked in a big gulp of air and then closed the lid on the box.

  “Oh, God, you hate them,” he lamented.

  “No! I just thought…” She could not finish her sentence.

  “Thought what?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Do you like them?”

  “They’re beautiful. How could I not like them?”

  “You’ll keep them?”

  She didn’t answer him verbally. She merely leaned in and kissed him again.

  Sebastian was happy and he wished he could stay like this forever, in this cozy little house, with the girl he loved. When they pulled apart, Sebastian said, “My mother is throwing this big New Year’s Eve bash. Say you’ll come. I need your company or I fear I might not survive the evening.” He knew his mother already suspected Tess was more than just his tutor, but he didn’t care. All he knew was that he needed her by his side. Tess didn’t respond. “Don’t tell me you have a date with some other guy—someone better looking and richer than me.”

  Tess chuckled. “I don’t think that’s possible. Yes, I’ll come to the party.”

  Tess and Sebastian stood in the corner of the room as the guests mingled at Lady Irons’ annual New Year’s Eve gala. “It’s amazing how many people your mother knows. Does she actually get a chance to talk to all of them?” Tess wondered aloud.

  “Yes, it’s amazing the number of people she has in her exclusive circle,” Sebastian said, scanning the room.

  Lady Irons made her way across the room to their private corner. She gave Tess the once over, examining her from top to bottom, as if ready to judge her in a beauty pageant. “Tess, you look lovely this evening.” She was wearing the Calvin Klein dress Sebastian bought her. Her hair was slicked back in a ponytail with a black satin headband to show off her sparkling diamond earrings.

  “Thank you.”

  “Sebastian, come with me. I want to introduce you to a few people.” Lady Irons took him by the elbow. He shot Tess a helpless look as he was pulled away from her.

  Tess watched as Lady Irons escorted Sebastian through the crowd like a prized show dog on a leash. She stopped at a small congregated group of partygoers to make introductions and then moved on to the next group, pulling Sebastian along. He looked miserable. Sigourney walked up beside her and sighed. “I see the horse and pony show is under way,” she said as she tilted her head toward them in emphasis.

  “Does she always do this?”

  “Every chance she gets. She’s grooming him to take over Irons Electronics,” Sigourney explained, taking a sip from her crystal champagne flute.

  “But what if he doesn’t want to take over the company, Sigourney?”

  “It’s his duty,” she simply replied.

  “But what about your older sister and brother? Don’t they work for the Irons Electronics? Why not one of them?” Tess inquired, a bit confused.

  “Mummy has her sights set on Sebastian. There will be no changing her mind. There is no escaping his fate, I’m afraid,” she mused with an air of sadness.

  “Can’t you do anything to stop her? He doesn’t even like her. Why is she so persistent?” Tess shook her head and continued to watch the farce. “I don’t understand your family.”

  “Of course you don’t, you poor thing.”

  Suddenly breaking free, Sebastian came toward the girls at a brisk pace. He took Tess by the hand and led her out of the room and up the staircase without a word.

  They stopped at the top on the landing. Sebastian grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing waiter and handed one to Tess. He downed his in one gulp, putting his empty glass on the waiter’s tray. His hands tightly gripped the railing. Tess certainly couldn’t deny him a glass of champagne after the scene she had just witnessed. In fact, she took a drink herself.

  “That was intense,” she muttered, referring to his mother. He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, blowing a long stream of smoke out above his head and watching it disperse in the air. Tess put her arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Smoking is bad for your health, you know.”

  “Yes, but I’ve given up drugs and I’ve cut back on the alcohol, so please leave this one vice,” he pleaded.

  “I just care what happens to you,” Tess reasoned. “And I don’t like kissing you after you’ve had a cigarette. You reek of smoke.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m sorry she’s making you unhappy. Isn’t there anything you can do?”

  “If I knew what to do, I wouldn’t be in this predicament. If only that NYU acceptance letter would come in the mail.”

  “When it does come, will that change her mind?”

  “No, but at least I’d have a plan,” he explained. He waved a server over and helped himself to another glass of champagne. Finishing again in one gulp, he extinguished his cigarette in the last few drops of alcohol with a sizzle. Sebastian set the glass on the carpeted floor.

  The crowd began to count down to midnight and usher in 1986. At the stroke of midnight, the crowd erupted in cheers. People hugged and kissed, others made champagne toasts. “Happy New Year, Tess,” he whispered, slowly pulling her into him and kissing her. Neither realized that Lady Irons was watching them from the foyer below. “Let’s get out of here,” he suggested, still locked in their embrace.

  Tess nodded her head in agreement. He took her hand and ste
ered her away from the party, down the long hallway, toward his bedroom. “I can’t run in these shoes,” she laughed as she stumbled, grabbing onto his arm for support. The champagne had made her a little giddy.

  “No problem,” he responded, lifting her up and placing her over his shoulder. Her hair fell forward and her black satin headband landed on the floor. Sebastian opened his door with his free hand and kicked it closed with his foot. He set her softly on the leather sofa and lay on top of her. He hadn’t bothered to turn on any lights.

  He was slightly out of breath, and their proximity made the mood suddenly serious. He leaned in and kissed her glossy lips. She tasted of strawberry lip gloss and champagne. Sebastian was heady with excitement as their kissing became more urgent. They heard footsteps coming down the hall. Whomever it was stopped in front of each door to open and then close it. Sebastian placed his finger over Tess’ lips to silence her. His bedroom door suddenly opened and the light from the hallway flooded the room. They were completely silent, still lying on the sofa, hidden away in the deep shadows since the back of the sofa faced the door. Whoever was on the other side of the door didn’t find what they were looking for. A few moments later, the door closed. Sebastian assumed it was his mother, looking to pull him back to the party and away from Tess. They remained quiet until they could no longer hear the footfalls.

  They looked at each other and began to chuckle. Sebastian sat up and removed his tuxedo jacket. Tess slowly pulled on his bow tie until it unraveled and fell around his neck. She took hold of the loose tie and pulled him toward her. They continued kissing, their soft lips touching and parting to allow the tips of their tongues to touch. Sebastian was so aroused he couldn’t think straight. He was operating on raw instinct as he reached for the zipper on the side of her dress and started to pull it down.

  Tess quickly pushed him away. “No! Don’t do that,” she exclaimed, struggling to sit up, his tie still in her hand.