by Alisa Grey
I was pale and shocked. He helped me, because I was about to faint.
«I am sorry, Keir».
«I am not. I’m here now. With you. I know you are married, but I love you. You can’t change that».
«I’m sure you don’t love me».
«I’m sure I do».
His green eyes were filled with tears. I caressed his cheek. I was sorry for him.
«Is there anything I can do for you?»
«Yes. Please, look after my son».
I was stuck. He kissed my hand.
«He will have a better life, if he stays here».
Keir had really changed. He was a man, a very handsome one. He looked like an adult and he was one. He had seen the war. He had lived a very difficoult life and I was unsure whether to run away from him or stay.
«You made hard choices, Claire, and I know you can’t tell me everything about that. I don’t know where you are from, but I know you have run away from your home. I think it was because of Sam and I also believe Edward is not his. When I was seventeen, I couldn’t see that. Now I can. I’ve been thinking of you and I know that the two of you must be hiding from someone».
I started crying.
«Sam is not your only option, Claire. I’m here too... should you be in need». I couldn’t breath. He hugged me.
«I don’t want to run away anymore, Claire. I’m moving here, in Nova Scotia. I need to be next to my son. But you must take him. Please».
«How old is he?»
«He’s two».
«How long have you been married?»
«I didn’t love her. I needed to marry her. Do you trust me?».
«Maybe. Now you must talk to Sam. About your son. I’m fine with this, but you will need Sam’s permission as well».
He looked at me.
«He won’t accept».
I smiled.
«You don’t know him. He loves children. He’d do anything for any kid. He’s generous. Tell him you trust him».
«He’ll think that’s an excuse to come and see you».
«He’s not a fool. We both know you, Keir, but Sam knows me as well. He knows I love him».
«All right, then. I’ll come tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be with Anish, my son. I’ll come visit him once a month and give you my address as soon as I have one».
He kissed me passionately and caressed my back.
«I’ll see you tomorrow, Claire», and he left.
I was panicking. My basket was empty and Sam would come to look for me any moment. I decided to go back home.
When I got there and saw Edward walking with Sam and Marcus following them, I felt much better. Jasmine and Jodie were in the garden. I laughed. It all seemed so normal and quiet. When Jasmine punched her sister and Jodie started crying, Sam turned to them. I run to Jodie and asked her: «Are you okay? Jasmine! How dare you!»
«Mom, Jodie said uncle Robert is ugly».
«Jodie is too young to know that».
Edward joined us. «Mom’s right, Jasmine».
Sam started laughing. And I did too.
«Come on, Jasmine. Say you’re sorry».
«But...»
«Just do it. You should behave, you know...»
Marcus said: «Dad, shall we play now? The words game?»
«That’s for younger children, Marcus», replied Eddy.
Sam looked at me.
It was crazy. We had four kids and they were always up to something. We would have a fifth soon and I wasn’t sure how we would deal with him.
On the afternoon, as agreed, Keir came to see us. He was holding a two-year-old boy. He was green-eyed and his skin was much darker than his father’s. Keir was nicely dressed, as a lieutenant. There was something magnificent in him. He greeted Sam.
My husband looked at him. He was surprised.
«Hello, Keir. May I help you?»
«My wife is dead and I need you to look after my son».
Sam was even more surprised.
«I haven’t been talking to my parents for a long time and I don’t want my son to grow up as a sauvage anyway. I’m not sending him back to India either».
«Why don’t you keep him?»
«I’m not a good father and my life is far too dangerous. I want him to be with you».
«With us...», Sam whispered to himself.
«I’m moving back to Nova Scotia and will be able to visit him once a month. I want him to know I’m his father».
Sam remained silent for a while. Then he turned to me.
«How do you feel about that?»
«That’s up to you».
Keir looked at me.
«The kid will stay, Keir. But I need to talk to you. Now».
They left. I would have liked to hear their conversation.
They got to the oak and faced one another.
«I know why you are doing this, Keir. You must know, though, that she is free. She takes her own decisions. I never urge her to do anything».
«I know that, Sam».
«But... should anything happen to me, you must promise me that you will take care of Claire and our kids. I know you can. You’re the only one who could do that. Will you accept our deal?»
Keir was stuck.
«I will, but you know...»
«I know you have been in love with her for ten years. I know that. Should she ever be with you, you must respect her and be faithful to her».
«I will».
«Until then, you stay away from my wife».
«Deal».
They shook hands.
«Oh, and Keir... you can talk to her. But not in the woods. You can come and look for her here, in our house».
He smiled and shook his hand. They had an agreement.
«Let’s go back, come on».
Keir was still holding Anish. He was sad, in a way. When they met me, I was playing with the kids. We were laughing.
Sam called for us and we stopped. «Guys... this is Anish, your cousin. He will be staying with us, so make him welcome and behave!»
Keir was looking at Sam, who looked calm. Keir was thinking that he had given his word he would stay away from me.
«Will you have dinner with us, Keir? You should put Anish to bed, tonight».
«Sure».
Eddy looked at me.
«Do we have cousins, mom?»
«No. But Anish will need your affection. So be kind».
I took Keir to Eddy and Marcus’ room.
«I can see why you love him, you know. He is good. He really is... he asked me to take care of you, should... and he told me I should behave».
«He is right».
«He said I should come look for you here, instead of the woods...»
«I think that’s wise».
«Claire, you know what I’d love to do right now?»
«No need for me to know that».
«Let’s go downstairs, then».
It was a nice dinner. Keir told us about India. Sam listened to him and asked him many questions. When we put the kids to bed, Sam asked him if he wanted to sleep at our house. He seemed to be thinking about that, then he accepted.
We all went to our rooms and I undressed. I went to bed, where Sam was waiting for me.
«Why are you doing this?», I asked him.
«I want you to be safe. We got lucky, but who knows how longer we will be. He might find us... he loves you very much and he might find us».
He was talking about Alex. I caressed his cheek.
«I love you».
«I love you too».
«You’re the only one I could ever be in love with».
«You’re mine...»
We kissed and made love.
Keir was our ally, thanks to Sam. He had been wise enough to turn the situation in our favor.
On the morning after, we had breakfast with Anish and Keir.
«What does Anish usually eat, Keir?»
«I’m not sure... but he’ll get used to what
you usually have for breakfast».
Sam and I were confused. How could he not know what Anish liked most for breakfast?
When Sam went out, he found Bruce McVey waiting for him. The day has started and many things needed the Laird’s attention.
«Keir, shouldn’t you know your son’s habits a bit better?»
«Oh, Sam’s the perfect father, right? He’s always perfect at everything he does, right? I married my son’s mother to do her a favor. We didn’t share the same house and I never got to meet Anish, when she was alive. I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me. I chose to take him here. I could have been promoted in India, you know? But I chose to come here because of Anish. I want him to be okay».
I was moved.
«I feel like I am just some fading ink on old letters... I want to be important for someone. I can mean something to Anish...»
«We all love you, Keir. This is your home and you can come here anytime you like. I’m sorry if I offended you».
«Why don’t you open up with me, then?»
«I need time. I’ve been scared for such a long time...»
«Scared?»
«We’ll talk about this some other time».
When Keir left, Sam asked me if everything was fine. I shook my head and told him about our conversation.
«I feel sorry for Keir. At least now he has somewhere to come to».
«Should I tell him about Alex?»
«Just do what you believe to be right».
Few days later, Sam brough home a huge dog. It was black.
«Who’s this?»
«Kjiku brought it to me. It’s a very good dog. Likes to protect the people he loves... it is four months».
It was huge.
«It’s for our security, you know», he added.
«What’s its name?»
«Dubh, which means black».
«What will it eat?»
«Meat, fish, anything...»
«What about the kids?»
«It was used to Moon’s kids... it will he happy with ours».
Dubh headed the kids. They were happy to meet the dog.
Before dinner, I asked the kids to go bath. They were covered in grass and dog’s hair.
«Sam, you will help them».
The task was hard. Five kids were a lot to deal with.
When Sam and I got to our room, he kissed me and said: «You’re so hot. Your shirt’s terribly wet... I think I have an idea».
We were willing to undress each other.
«But the kids», I said.
«We won’t be long».
«Oh, Sam...»
~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~
Paris, June 1903
«Michelle, I told you you can’t stay!»
«Mon amour, why? No one is coming to visit you».
«I am waiting for my wife».
«It’s been ten years, mon amour».
«Just go. Now!»
«Très bien. Will you come tomorrow night? At the theatre, remember?»
«I don’t know. Things could happen before tomorrow».
«Bonne nuit, mon amour».
«Bonne nuit, Michelle».
~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~
CHAPTER 22
SURPRISE SURPRISE
Prince Edward Island, June the 30°, 1903
It was the end of June, when Keir came to see Anish. The kid was perfectly well, he was tall and he liked our food very much. He had grown up quite a lot. When Keir came to see him, he was playing.
«Good to see you, Keir!», said Sam, Dubh behind him.
«I can see you are all doing great»
«Oh, kids will be kids, you know...»
Moon’s sons were climbing a tree, while Jodie and Anish were trying to catch them.
«Is he behaving?», Keir asked.
«He is and he has quite an appetite. He’s always playing», I replied.
«I’ll go fetch Edward. Claire, will you stay here with Keir? I’ll be back».
«Eddy stop it‼», I heard him screaming as he went away.
«So are you officially back to Nova Scotia?»
«I am. I live in Charlottetown, in the Prince Edward Island Regiment. Given my single father status, I’ve had a few privileges, so I’m still a lieutenant, even if I’m not in India anymore. My career is at a stop, by the way. But I don’t care. I need to take care of Anish and become a good man. I want to be here».
«You can come here anytime you like. Will you be staying for a couple of days? You can’t leave in the afternoon, Anish wouldn’t like that».
He shook his head.
I knew he hadn’t been talking to his parents for a long time and I was sad about that. He was alone and he needed to face a father’s responsibilities on his own. I was happy to help him, and so was Sam. They were very similar, I thought.
«Claire, you know why I’m doing all this, right?»
«Sam and I are taking care of Anish», I said.
«You made me a promise. Will you keep it? Sam left us alone for a reason... isn’t it time you told me everything about you?»
«Are you sure you want to know?», I whispered.
«I am».
«I’m from London and I belong to the upper-class. Some ten years ago I fell for a very rich man. He has many friends and... many secrets. I am one of them, even if I don’t really know why. Anyway, he made someone follow me for over two years. This man is, or was, also part of a... sect, I believe. We were in France and I saw him during a meeting. It was then that I met Sam. We fell in love and run away. My former husband is still looking for me, but Sam will protect me in case...»
Keir was shocked. I had been very brief, though.
«What’s the man’s name?»
«Alexander Wilson».
He turned pale.
«I’ve heard about him. The general knows him very well and I know they kept in touch... maybe now I know why».
I turned pale myself.
«Do you think he knows I’m here?»
«No, but I will keep my eyes open... just in case. So is Edward his?»
«Yes».
«Did you know that?»
«I found that out right after Sam and I left London».
«So... you are double married?»
I took a deep breath.
«I was young».
«So... you married Sam, right?»
«I did. He is special on many levels».
He was stuck. Then he became angry.
«I would have married you, Claire! I could have done that. I could have accepted anything».
«I know that, but Sam looks after me and he loves me».
«I could do that too. How can I stand... us? I mean, my trying to... he’s a good man, you’re right».
I turned red.
«I love him».
«But he’s not from London, right?»
«He’s Scottish. His mother is Scottish. She’s a lady».
«Oh, well...»
I laughed.
«Let’s go fetch Anish».
«Claire!»
I looked at him.
«What shall I do, so that you can love me?»
«I already do».
And I did. Just not in the way he wanted. He was like a brother to me. He needed me and he needed affection.
When I got to Sam, he asked me: «Keir seems to be shocked. What did you tell him?»
«The truth. He will help us».
«Why?»
«Because we are looking after Anish».
«Are you sure it’ll be enough to him?»
«That’s what he will get, Sam».
I kissed him.
He looked at me and hugged me. His eyes were very close to mine.
«I won’t let him get between us, Sam».
«I love you».
In the meanwhile, Keir was trying to make friends with Dubh.
On the day after, Renny was still not there. But we got a v
isit from Mr Jackson Turner. We had met him so many years before. He came to our farm without knowing that it was us, the ones who now run the estate.
He was elegantly dressed, he was even wearing an ascot. He loved London’s fashion, I could tell that.
«Claire?! You didn’t change a bit, my word».
«Good morning», said Sam. Keir was with us.
Mr Jackson talked to me as if we were good old friends, which we weren’t.
«Good morning, Sam. It’s nice meeting you again. I’m here on business. We are building a railway nearby. Who’s this? A relative? A friend?», he asked alluding at Keir.
We all looked at Mr Turner.
«My cousin», I replied.
«Handsome guy, really».
Keir was clearly on the edge of jumping to Mr Turner’s neck and strangle him.
«He’s a lieutenant. He’s been in India for a while. Now he looks after our island».
«I see. So, may I come in, Claire? I wonder how you can live here. It’s such a quite place...»
I laughed. My life wasn’t quite nor peaceful. Not at all.
«Do come in».
Sam took him inside.
«Go fetch the kids. Look after them. I’ll be back», I said to Keir. Then I followed Sam inside.
It was way too much for one day.
CHAPTER 23
THE MONEY IN THE WELL
«So, Mr Jackson Turner, what have you been doing during these past few years?», Sam asked.
«Same stuff. Been travelling all over Europe, but now I feel like moving to New York. Things are quite different over there».
Sam and I looked at each other.
«How did you like Europe?»
«Paris is great. I met many interesting people, like artists. I bought paintings and... well, French women are... something. Of course they are not as beautiful as you are, Madame Claire. Your skin, your hair, your eyes... you are charming, you know».
«So. French women», said Sam.
«Dinner’s delicious. Just like Madame Claire», Jackson said.
Sam turned red.
«What about theatres?», I asked.
Jackson smiled. «I like cabaret most. They danced can can. Music is fast and the dancers uncover their legs. It’s great fun and...»
«What does the name mean?», Sam asked.
«It means scandal. It’s due to washerwomen in Montmartre. I went to the theatre, anyway. I saw Galop infernal. It’s devilish and exciting. Have you ever been to Paris?»