No work for you today, relax. By the way, shower, you smell. T xx
T for Trouble. I loved the nickname as much as I loved the man. I looked at my watch and was amazed to see it was already past nine o’clock. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept in. I could hear Evelyn upstairs, I reached for my phone and sent him a text.
“Yes, I smell and I love it. I can smell you on me.”
There you go, think on that one for a bit, I thought. Chuckling, I made my way to the shower. He was correct of course, I still had a sticky residue between my thighs. I stood under the shower washing my hair, reluctantly scrubbing away any trace of him. Wrapped in a towel I picked up my phone again, he had replied.
“I’m sitting in a meeting with four very boring men, hard as stone. Get it? Hard as Stone, thinking about your mouth.”
My stomach clenched just reading his text and I laughed at his joke. Whilst drying my hair the phone rang, I appeared to be popular that morning.
“Hi, Taylor,” I said.
“Hey, honey. Are you busy? We need an emergency meeting, meet at the club?”
She giggled when she spoke, I guessed the emergency was a gossip about Travis because the girls had recently found out about Caroline.
“Sure, I’ll see you there, midday? Oh, hang on. I don’t have a driver.”
“Leave that to me, I’ll come and pick you up.”
With arrangements made, I dressed and headed upstairs. As usual a cup of tea, my favourite Earl Grey, was waiting for me.
“Morning, Brooke, what would you like for breakfast?” Evelyn asked.
“Oh, I’m fine, Ev. I’m going to meet the girls for lunch in...” I looked at my watch.
“An hour and a half, so I’ll grab something then.”
“How’s Sam, have you heard?”
“No, I’m not sure what time his flight was. He’ll call me when he’s ready. I shouldn’t think I’ll hear from him for a couple of days. Anything on the Travis front? I think that’s what the girls want to chat about. Why don’t you come with me?”
“Thanks, you know what, I think I might. The girls often invite me but I think it’s nice that you all get together. You can gossip about your men without worrying I’ve heard.”
“Why would we worry?”
“I don’t know, I guess I’ve known those boys a lot longer. I could tell you some things from their past that would curl your toes,” she laughed. “It’s like sitting in front of your mom, talking about sex. But since this might be about Travis, I’ll come along.”
I told her what time we were leaving and sent a quick text to Robert, letting him know where I would be and how I was getting there. This checking in had become routine, I was no longer bothered about it and he replied shortly after.
“Sounds fun.”
***
I watched the black Range Rover as it made its way up the drive and headed downstairs for my bag. I closed the front door behind me at the same time as Evelyn made her way over. Taylor climbed out of the car and kissed Evelyn on the cheek before ushering us in the back.
“Missy, look at you. Rough night?” she enquired.
I frowned at her.
“You look like you’ve had hot sex all night. Sorry, Ev,” she chuckled.
“Well, part of that is correct, just not the all night bit,” I replied and joined in the laughter as Evelyn covered her ears.
I loved Taylor, we had become best friends, confidants, sisters even. We shared our secrets and of all the girls, she was the one I had the most interaction with. Of course I had Sam but Taylor was part of my world, knowing every last detail of it. We drove the short distance to the club chatting about the weather, her new line of clothes she was urging me to take a look at, anything other than the real reason we were getting together. Nothing of importance was ever said in front of the drivers.
“Evelyn, it’s great to see you. Can I pour you a wine?” Patricia said as we made our way across the room.
Rosa, Patricia and Susie were already seated, our usual bottle cooling in a silver ice bucket.
“I’ll have an orange juice please, Henry,” Evelyn said to the hovering bar manager.
Taylor clapped her hands after the wine was poured bringing the chatter to a halt and I laughed as Patricia rolled her eyes.
“So, Travis?” she said, looking directly at me.
I glanced at Evelyn she had known him the longest, shouldn’t she be giving the news? She smiled and nodded at me.
“Well as you know, Caroline is pregnant and Travis has flipped.”
I told them what I knew and a little about the conversation we’d had in the gym that day. I wanted them to know that I thought this went deeper than just the knowledge that he was about to become a father. Of course they all wanted to know Robert’s thoughts on the matter then each, in turn, added what they had been told and their opinions. As I sat back and listened I looked at each one of those ladies. They were taking this situation seriously. This wasn’t just an opportunity to gossip. There was an element of needing to protect our lifestyle, our men’s past, but mostly they were all concerned about Travis and wanting to help.
“I don’t really know what we can do. Robert has told him to at least speak to Caroline, let her know how he feels. If she’s got to do this alone, he should tell her soon,” I told them.
“Evelyn, what do you think?” Patricia asked.
“Same as Brooke really. I have to say in all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him this way and I’m really worried. This isn’t just about a baby though. He feels that if he does have a relationship with Caroline and becomes a father, he needs to break away from Vassago and Robert.”
“Does he love her?” Rosa asked.
“I don’t think he knows. He says he likes her a lot but his head isn’t straight at the moment, he can’t think this through,” I added.
“Maybe you should speak to Caroline, Brooke,” Susie said.
“I don’t know, what can I say? I’ve only met her three or four times myself and I think Travis might be upset if he found out I’d spoken to her, interfered.”
We ordered food and continued our conversation. This wasn’t going to be solved over lunch but one thing we all agreed on was that Travis had to talk to Caroline. It was an enjoyable couple of hours but the statement that Travis felt he might have to break away had left us all concerned. Myself more than the others. I worried for Robert.
“Want to come to the store?” Taylor asked.
I looked at Evelyn who nodded as we filed back into the car. The store was busy. A society wedding was coming up and the bride’s family had selected Taylor’s store to choose their outfits from. She was immediately monopolised by the mother of the bride so Ev and I browsed. I spotted a nice range of classic dresses and pulled a couple from the rack. Evelyn was busy looking at the items in the accessories counter. As I tried on a dress, my phone rang.
“Hey baby, how was lunch?” Robert asked.
“Good, I’m at Taylor’s, trying on a dress.”
“Are you naked?”
“No, but did you know, she has the most gorgeous range of underwear? I might invest in a couple of sets.”
“Make sure I can get them off easy,” he said with a chuckle.
“Well, since you have ruined most of my good ones getting them off, I might head to the department store and buy some plain white cotton panties.”
I could hear voices.
“You didn’t just ask me if I was naked in front of people, did you?” I asked.
“Babe, I’ve been walking around with a hard-on all day, they’ve been trying to get me to come home and relieve myself.”
I laughed so hard. “You are awful.”
“Yeah, but you still love me. Anyway, I’m going to be late home, I’m taking Trav for a beer. Don’t worry, I’ll wake you up.”
“Okay, have fun. You’ll hate this dress I’m buying by the way. Really difficult to get on and off.”
“I
’ll get it off, even if I have to cut it. Better buy a couple if you like it that much.”
We said our goodbyes and I chuckled at the thought. He had no shame, making sure everyone knew how much he wanted me. But I thought I might talk to him about that. Maybe we needed to watch how we acted around Travis for a bit. As much as it pained me and knowing how long it took for Robert to publicly display his feelings, I thought it best that we didn’t show our love for each other so obviously.
I headed to the till deciding to buy the dress. Evelyn was having her purchases wrapped.
“Girls, I might be here a while, do you want to take my car?” Taylor asked.
She was busy trying to talk the mother of the bride out of an outfit clearly too small and certainly not suited to her. Evelyn and I laughed as we headed to the car. We chatted about nothing important on the way back to the house, I didn’t know Taylor’s driver that well. We waited at the gates for security to open them before heading up the drive.
“Do you want a cup of tea?” I asked Evelyn as we made our way in.
“Sure, that would be lovely.”
Evelyn seemed to have aged overnight. As she sat at the breakfast bar lost in her thoughts, I took the time to really look at her. Her eyes were a little sunken, the skin on her face paler. She had worked hard all her life to care for her family. Being at a loss as what to do was taking its toll. She also had her sister to contend with. Maria was becoming increasingly ill with each passing day. Secretly I knew Evelyn wished for a speedy decline so she didn’t continue to suffer. In one way we all took Evelyn for granted, she was always strong, busy, organising my home and to some degree my life. She was the mum I’d never had. Always ready with a hug and a cup of tea to cheer me up. I sat beside her.
“Ev, is there anything I can do for you?” I asked. I saw tears pool in her eyes.
“He’s like a little brother to me. No, more like a son and I don’t know how to help him,” she said.
“I told you what he said in the gym, didn’t I?”
She nodded.
“I feel partly to blame. Robert and I have been so caught up with each other that neither of us stopped to think about how any of it would affect Travis.”
“Brooke, you can’t think that way. Robert was always the more troubled of the two. I’m not saying he deserves love more than Travis but when he found it, it was always going to be intense. I don’t get why Travis feels he has to leave if he has a relationship with Caroline. He can’t run from his past. I mean, fair enough, he might have to live somewhere else. I can’t see Robert accepting her here and the apartment isn’t big enough for two kids. But that doesn’t stop him working at Vassago or being involved in our lives. I feel if he gives up on Robert and on Vassago, that he gives up on me too.”
“Oh, Ev. I don’t think it will come to that, I really don’t. So he may live somewhere else, but he’ll always be family and I don’t believe he could leave Vassago, it’s in his blood now. Travis has never had a real family life; like Robert, he lived on the streets and then worked for your Dad before Robert took over. He has nothing to base a normal life, relationship or a family on.”
“I guess you might have something there but even so, he’s seen you two. He’s got this idealistic image in his head of what a relationship should be and that’s what he’s striving for. You made Robert understand that he could have a relationship with you, Caroline isn’t the person to do that for Travis,” Evelyn said.
“What if we spoke to her? I know Robert said not to, but how can we intervene without upsetting everyone?”
“If you want to incur the wrath of his lordship, be it on your head. I’m not getting involved in that one,” Evelyn replied laughing.
“I’m just thinking, Robert is looking at this from a guy point of view. What if Caroline came to Travis, made him sit down and talk? He still hasn’t called her and that’s the least he should do.”
“I don’t know, Brooke. I agree he has to talk to her but to engineer a meeting without him knowing, that might come straight back and bite you on the ass. And, think on this. What if he gets upset with you, how would Robert feel?”
Maybe I was interfering too much. But Evelyn had a valid point. The last thing I wanted was to be the cause of any conflict between Travis and Robert. I would however, talk to Robert about it.
***
Evelyn left to collect her car, she had shopping to do and Maria to visit. I told her not to bother cooking for us, I would prepare something for Robert when he got home. I decided to take a walk. It was chilly but wrapped in a coat, scarf and knitted hat, phone in pocket, I made my way to the chapel. I didn’t want to find solace in God, I just wanted to sit in the place that I had married, in the place that had given me the greatest day of my life.
The air was crisp, the trees and bushes were sprouting small buds in preparation for spring and the dry, fallen leaves crunched under my feet. There was a wonderful, earthy smell as I walked, listening for rabbits and foxes, we had an abundance of both. I texted Robert as I walked, I was missing him and feeling a little low. I hadn’t heard from Sam and decided I would call. Pushing open the doors to the chapel, I took a long, calming breath. The cool space soothed me, the sight of that stained glass window with the angel comforted me. Not in a spiritual way, just that it was such a work of beauty. The day Robert had been brought home from New York, while he slept, I had crept out and sat in the front pew. I did pray that day. I thanked God for keeping him alive.
Checking the time, I dialled listening to the long distance ringing of Sam’s phone.
“Hi. Sorry I haven’t called,” Sam said.
“It’s okay, I wanted to let you know I was thinking of you. How are things?” I asked.
“Not good. The doctors did tell me the name of his cancer, I don’t remember it but he has it all over. He woke earlier and we had a chat. He was annoyed mum had flown out to get me. He didn’t want to worry me, silly old fool. I don’t think he’ll go home. We’re talking to his consultant later about a hospice.”
“I’m sorry, Sam. I don’t really know what else to say. Will you give him my love? How are you bearing up though?”
“I think I’m in shock to be honest. I haven’t seen him in three years and I can’t believe how different he looks. I didn't recognise him, Brooke.”
I could hear the catch, the sadness in his voice. I wished I was there to hug him. Scott would be joining him soon and I was pleased, he would have someone to hold him.
“Have they said how long?” I asked.
“No, weeks rather than months, but no one can give us a definite answer. I need to call Jonathan and have a chat. I might be here a bit longer than I thought. I look at dad though and all I see is bones. His cheekbones, his shoulders stick out so much and he’s so frail. I don’t know how mum didn’t notice.”
“Maybe she did, Sam. Maybe she was waiting for him to tell her. How is she coping?”
“Amazingly well, considering. We go to the hospital every day, it’s a pig to get to but she chats to him, tells him all the gossip and makes him laugh. She told him she met Scott and that he was coming over.”
“What did he say?”
“Only that he was sorry. He wished he had met Scott before this happened.”
“Well, at least they’re meeting now.”
I could hear Sam being called in the background.
“Honey, I have to go, mum’s calling. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, love you, Sam,” I said.
I sat for a while gathering my thoughts, watching the last of the sun’s rays filter through the window. A rainbow of colour flooded the stone floor underneath. The creak of the door startled me and I spun on my seat. I smiled, a big smile when I saw Gary enter the chapel.
“Hey, Robert told me you were here,” he said.
“Oh Gary, it’s so good to see you, how are you?”
“Fine, back on duty,” he chuckled.
“With me?”
“Yep, M
r. Stone has requested your presence for dinner. I’m to collect you in an hour but thought I would come for a chat.”
He took a seat beside me.
“How’s Pat?” I asked.
“He’s good, but it’s great to be back to some normality. I was getting bored sitting around all day.”
We chatted a little about his recovery, laughed at how clued up he was on day time soaps before he thanked me.
“For what?” I asked.
“For transferring me back so I could be with Pat. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Gary, of course I did. If I hadn’t had walked into that warehouse, you getting shot might not have happened.”
“How are you? I heard what happened, what you had to do.”
“I try not to think too hard about it. I made a point of telling myself that I saved lives that day, Robert’s, girls that could have been picked up and, well, you know what I mean.”
“You did the right thing, you were very brave. Rumour has it you were scarier than Robert,” he said with a laugh.
I shook my head and laughed with him. I was protecting my man, the reason I want to wake up in the morning, the person that occupied my thoughts, my mind and my heart. I would do anything for him, even kill a man. Gary walked me back to the house and waited for me to take a shower and change.
It wasn’t a long drive before we pulled to a stop outside a rather swanky restaurant, one I hadn’t been to before. I waited for Gary to text Robert that we had arrived and we waited in the car until he appeared. His smile was broad as he opened the door and greeted me.
“Hey baby, I thought I would surprise you,” he said as he took my hand and led me through the restaurant door.
“Well it’s a lovely surprise, thank you. This is a great place but I thought you were meeting Travis,” I said, looking around.
“Never been here, someone recommended it and Travis didn’t feel like going out, so I got us a table.”
We were shown to our table and I noticed a few heads turn, a few whispers behind hands. Robert either didn’t notice or simply ignored it. We sat facing each other and I smiled as he took one of my hands in his.
Fallen Angel, Part III Page 5