Hollywood Ever After (27 page)

Another train pulled up on the opposite side of the platform. Josh turned me toward it.

“Hey, Mom!” Will bounced across the platform. “Hi, Josh.”

Little arms wrapped eagerly around my neck and I found myself burying my face against him. The sense of relief was overwhelming. I hadn’t realized that I was so worried about them until now, when they were safely in arm’s reach. “I missed you,” I said, a smile firmly in place as I pulled back to look at him.

“I missed you too.” Will kissed me quickly.

“We were crazy busy. Can we just do
nothing
for the next twenty-four hours? Please?” Natalie hugged me. “Hey, Josh. Hey, Helen.” The last two words were more of a squeal. Helen and Natalie hugged and began talking ninety-to-nothing.

My mother hugged me then. “I’m exhausted. Those women don’t know what ‘slow down’ means.”

“Like you do, Grams?” Natalie teased.

A tall blond man appeared at my mother’s elbow, holding her knitting bag. “Oh, I almost forgot that, didn’t I? Thank you, Roman.” She took the bag from him.

“I’m glad you had a good time, Mom. Sorry you had to cut it short.”

“Did you miss me, Josh?” Will asked as he stretched from my arms toward Josh.

Josh took Will in his arms. “I sure did. Your mum and I did nothing but mope about, we missed you so much,” he teased.

My mother shook her head. “I have a hard time believing that.”

While luggage was located, Will and Natalie continued to fill us in on the trip. Mom eyed the wall-like presence of the other bodyguards, but didn’t say anything. I was thankful for that. I had no doubt that the after-dinner hours would be a lengthy question and answer session. But that was fair; she had a right to know what was going on.

As the trains began to pull away, we made our way inside the station where we made sure all the luggage was accounted for. With a suitcase in one hand and Will’s hand held in the other, we jumped over puddles on the way to the van Nathan had rented.

“Did you have fun?” I asked Will as I pulled the seatbelt from between the seat cushions.

He nodded. “I did. Did you? When did Daddy get here?” Will asked as I buckled him into the seat.

It took every ounce of control I had not to react. My hands tightened on the buckle, but I forced myself to finish securing him into the seat.

“Why would you say that, Will?” my mother asked.

I felt Josh’s hand on my back. “He’s not here, Will.” My voice was surprisingly calm.

“But I just saw him. He was getting on the train.” Will shrugged.

Josh’s hand left my back and I heard him speaking in low tones to someone. To one of our security guards, I assumed. I didn’t look back.

“It was probably just someone who looked like him, Willy,” Natalie said. “Dad’s working in India, remember? He called us the other night and he sent us that picture of the elephant.”

Will nodded. “But I thought maybe he’d come here. Because it seemed like he was watching us. And he looked like Dad.”

“All buckled?” I asked.

My mother was watching me closely. “We’re all good, Claire.”

Josh waited until the van doors were closed before he spoke. “I’ve sent Roman to check, Claire. Let’s get them to the cottage. If he was here, and Will did see him, maybe he was leaving.”

I nodded. Somehow, I wasn’t reassured.

***

Nathan decided to make dinner. My mother helped. I could sense trouble brewing between the two of them immediately.

“You don’t boil them first?” My mother was questioning Nathan’s method of preparing his roasted potatoes.

“No. I prefer them not to be mush, Marty.” He wasn’t fazed.

“Mush? You’ve never had
my
roasted potatoes, Nathan. My potatoes are never
mush
.”

“And we’re not having
yours
tonight, are we, Marty? We’re having
mine
.” He smiled, a lopsided smile that made my mother narrow her eyes.

Josh and I watched them with interest.

“Are they going to kill each other?” Helen whispered.

“Or kiss each other,” Josh said.

I stared at him with round eyes before turning assessing eyes on my mother. Her cheeks were red, her eyes narrowed, and her hands were hovering above the cutting board. It wasn’t in her nature to allow anyone else in her kitchen. The fact that Nathan obviously knew his way around the kitchen wasn’t helping her mood.

“
Kiss
him?” Natalie stuck her tongue out. “Aren’t they a little old?”

Josh laughed. “Can you get too old for kissing? I hope not.”

I shook my head. “Mom, if you’re going to keep picking on Nathan, he might not cook for us again. And I think it’s very kind of him to offer to cook since you’re so tired from your trip. It’s gallant, really.”

Nathan smiled at me.“Quite right, Claire. I pride myself on my more gentlemanly qualities.”

My mother rolled her eyes. Wait. My mother…rolled her eyes… Was she
flirting?

“I might be a little rusty in the gallantry department, but when did insulting a person’s culinary skills fall under gallantry?” she asked, smiling a little too sweetly at Nathan.

“If I’ve insulted you, dear Marty, I apologize.” He inclined his head while peeling a potato. “I was only clarifying the proper way to prepare roasted potatoes—”

“
Proper?
” Now her entire face was red.

“Grams?” Natalie called, concerned. “It’s your turn. We’re all waiting on you.”

Our game of Monopoly had paled next to the drama unfolding at the kitchen sink. But Natalie was right; enough was enough.

“I can’t believe Will is sleeping.” I glanced at the clock.

“He wasn’t in bed until ten last night. He’s probably wiped out.” Natalie rolled the dice.

I shot a look at my mother. “It was his vacation, Claire,” my mother explained. Then it was her turn to roll the dice. “Aha! I want to put houses on Park Place and Boardwalk.”

Helen and Natalie groaned. “Is it okay if we declare bankruptcy?” Natalie asked.

“Can I take Natalie in to one of the shops? Just for a bit?” Helen asked.

I looked at Josh, who was looking at me. “Yes, but you have to take Roman with you.”

“That’s fine with me.” Natalie was all smiles.

My mother moved back to the sink as Josh went off to find Roman and the girls prepared to leave. She hovered, silently watching Nathan prepare the roast.

Josh came back in and settled beside me, taking my hand in his and kissing me.

“What happened, Claire?” my mother asked without preamble. “One minute we’re sitting around the table playing Mahjong and the next we need a bodyguard.”

“Daniel showed up,” I said.

My mother turned, Nathan and the cooking forgotten. “
Here?
” I nodded.

“I bumped into him in the pub. If I’d known who he was—”

I cut Josh off. “I’m glad you didn’t. Anyway, he just kind of disappeared.”

“Did you call Regina?” Mom asked.

“Who is Regina?” Nathan cut in.

“My lawyer,” I said. “Yes, I called her. She contacted Daniel’s office and they said he had been checking in remotely from the drill site he’s stationed on.”

“But how can that be? Since you’ve both seen him here,” she asked.

“She’s trying to verify his presence with the site manager, Marty. Without proof that he’s not where he’s supposed to be, Claire doesn’t have the legal grounds she needs to pursue things,” Josh said softly, rubbing my back with long, soothing strokes.

“Hasn’t he broken his probation by coming here?” my mother asked.

“Yes. And the restraining order, too.” I paused.

“The flowers were from him. He’s been doing his best to make this trip as miserable as possible for Claire. And scaring the shit out of her as well.” Josh squeezed my hand.

Marty looked back and forth between the two of us. “So what will you do, Claire?”

“I’ve asked Regina to look into how we go about suspending his parental rights. He needs help, that’s obvious. But I know he won’t look into getting it on his own.”

“I know I’m going to sound like a bastard for saying this, but you don’t need to help him get help. You need to take care of you and the children. Your safety is all that matters, Claire,” Josh said urgently.

“He’s right, Claire. I know it’s instinctual for you to try to make things better for the kids’ sake, but that’s not going to work this time.” My mother shook her head as she spoke, her face troubled.

“It sounds like he needs to be locked up. For some time.” Nathan regarded each of us. “Is he dangerous?”

My mother nodded. “Very.”

“Then it’s a good thing you’ve acquired the giants to look after everyone, Josh.” Nathan turned back to the sink. “Marty, do you know how to make proper Yorkshire pudding?”

My mother turned narrowed eyes on the man’s tall back. She stood and went to his side. “I know how to make
delicious
Yorkshire pudding, Nathan Wiley. Whether or not it’s
proper
.”

I stood, shaking my head at the two of them. “I need to wake up Will or he’ll never sleep tonight.”

Josh smiled up at me, looking mischievous as he said, “We can’t have that.”

“I’m hoping a long hike will wear him down. If you’d like to keep us company?”

He stood. “Might as well look for a dragon or two while we’re at it.” I laughed. “Marty, care to join us?” Josh asked.

“Go on, boy, Marty and I have a bit of cooking to do yet.” Nathan shot a smile at his son, winking.

I felt my eyebrows rise but didn’t say anything until we’d left the room. Then I turned to Josh. “Really? My mother and your father?” My tone was disbelieving.

He shrugged. “Da’s been alone for a long time. Marty’s a handful. I can understand his interest.”

I shook my head. “
Really?
”

We headed to the room I would share with Will. We opened the door to find him sitting up, playing his video game. “Hey, Mom. Hey, Josh. I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t.”

I sat on the side of the bed. “How about we go for a walk? It’s not raining right now.”

“Okay!” He jumped to the floor and bent, reaching under the bed for his boots. “This looks like a place for dragons.”

Josh nodded. “That’s just what I was telling your mum.”

We headed out a few minutes later, an umbrella under my arm. Angus followed at a safe distance, amazingly unobtrusive for someone his size. As we crested a sizable hill, we stopped to enjoy the view. A patchwork quilt of color greeted us, shades of yellow, cream, green, and red, all neatly manicured squares. Several small houses and farms broke up the pastoral vista, adding to the quaint sight.

“It’s like a painting,” I murmured, ignoring the slight drizzle that had begun.

“It’s like your quilt at home, Mom.”

“Is it?” Josh asked.

Will nodded. “Only it’s mostly blue.”

“Because your mum’s favorite color is blue,” Josh added.

“Yep.” Josh was looking at Will with obvious affection. Will smiled broadly in return. “Want to keep going?”

Josh nodded. “I saw my dragon over the next hill.”

They ran on ahead, holding hands and charging down the hill and up the next. The rain picked up a bit, but they trudged on, splashing through rain puddles in sturdy galoshes. I followed, content to watch. Will was giggling as Josh splashed him. Will jumped next, splattering a fine spray of mud over Josh’s jeans. Will stared up at Josh, momentarily horrified. Josh burst out laughing and ruffled Will’s hair before pulling him up the rest of the hill.

When they reached the top, Will took Josh’s hand in both of his. Everything about him grew perfectly still. Josh turned to me, a huge smile on his face. He knelt beside Will and pointed, saying something softly to the boy. Will was like a little statue, transfixed by whatever he saw.

I hurried in spite of myself, running to reach them at the top of the hill. And I froze too.

The tip of a green tail, iridescent and reflective under the white-gray sky, was disappearing slowly into the forest. Its scales, oval and regulated, flexed as it flicked once. Then it was gone, swallowed by the trees.

I didn’t know what to say. I stared at Josh, amazed by the excited pleasure on his face as he regarded Will.
He’d
done this. Somehow, he’d given Will his dragon.

I too stared down at my son. His eyes were round, staring at the trees in wonder. “Will?” I whispered, watching his amazement.

As if waking from a trance, he turned his bright eyes toward Josh. “It
was
a dragon, wasn’t it?” His voice was hushed, awestruck.

Josh’s smile seemed to grow brighter, if possible, making my knees a bit wobbly. “What do you think, Will?”

Will stared back at the forest, considering the question. Josh’s eyes met mine, held mine. My heart thumped and I moved to him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. His arms caught me to him, his eyes still burning into mine.

“Thank you,” I whispered ever so softly.

“It
was
a dragon,” Will said, his little face serious and considering.

Josh nodded. “The same dragon I saw, I bet. They live for years and years, or so my father tells me. He was a dragon hunter too when he was a boy.”

“Has he seen this dragon, Josh?”

“I’m not sure. This was his family’s cottage when he was a boy, so I suppose it’s possible.”

The sky rumbled ominously. “I say we go find out,” I offered.

Will stared back at the forest. “Okay. Let’s go.” He turned and ran down the hill, a peal of laughter rising up behind him.

“Is he happy?” Josh asked.

I stared at him with astounded eyes. “Do you need to ask?”

His hand caressed my cheek, pushing the hair from my shoulder. “Are you happy?”

“I’ve
never
been happier than I am right now.”

His face grew flushed and he kissed me tenderly.

“Aw, come on, Josh. You can kiss Mom later.”

Josh laughed against my lips. “I look forward to it.” And he ran down the hill after Will. Will squealed and started running again.

***

“It was huge and green.” Will was still bouncing with excitement.