Tudor Redemption (Tudor Dynasty Book 4) (19 page)

“Geez man, I’m sorry. When did she tell
you this joyous news?”

“Yesterday when I confronted her about why
she and the girls weren’t coming today.”

“That’s cold. She could have waited until
tomorrow.”

“No, she knew exactly what she was doing.
She wanted me miserable when I came out here.”

“So, what happens next?”

“She wants the house. In fact, she’s
already been to an attorney. I have to find another place to stay. She’s not
allowing me back, and I have until the end of the week to gather up my personal
stuff. Everything else stays until the damn mess is figured out.”

“You know you can stay with the girls and
me.”

“I think I’ll stay on my boat a couple
nights. It’ll give me time to think things through.”

“No, not happening. It’s getting cold at
night. Stay with us. When we get back tonight, sit down and make a list of
everything you want to leave with.”

“Which I can’t go get unless she’s there.
She’s changing the locks today.”

“You had no idea?”

“None. She’s been a little more
standoffish, but I chalked it up to her working. She won’t give me a reason
either.”

“You think she’s met someone?”

“More than likely. She has been spending a
lot of time late at work. At least, that’s what the girls tell me.”

“I don’t know what to say, man. I know it
hurts. I’ve been there, though circumstances were different.”

“Yeah that’s why I told you. You at least
understand.”

“Look, enjoy the day. Then, come back and
crash at my place until you’ve spoken to an attorney and have better knowledge
of what’s going on. I won’t listen to excuses. Don’t make me drag you off your
boat.”

“I won’t. Thanks, Dame.”

“No problem. That’s what we do. I may have
some ideas for your career situation. I suppose, though, we’d best be heading
back inside. I’m sure everyone’s wondering what we’re out here discussing.”

“Yep, and if you have any ideas on what I
can do now, I’d love to hear them. Let’s get inside and let me see what
unsuspecting soul I can prank.” He winked at me.

Zara was gathering everyone in a group,
making Angus and me eye each other. “I know it’s getting late, but if anyone,
or everyone, wants to stay, you’re all welcome. I planned for this, so don’t
try and make excuses. This is what we do, and I suppose it’s time to christen
Ethan and Beth into the family.”

Amadeus raised his hand, trying to keep
the buzz down. “I’ve got three tents that Logan, Britt, and Courtney are going
to put up when we get back. Just a word of caution Ethan, Beth. This is when
Angus loves to prank, so know you’ve been warned.”

Beth moved next to me. “I take it we’re
staying?”

“Yep, Ethan and the girls too. Unless you’d
rather not,” I added the last sentence, not wanting her to feel she didn’t have
an opt-out.

“No, I’m fine with it. I know you don’t
get to have your entire family in one place a lot. It should be fun. I like
your mother.”

Ethan approached. “I guess I’m helping
with tent duty right now.”

“Good idea,” I replied, winking at him. “Try
to give Logan a hand. Britt and Courtney in particular tend to blow him off as
a klutzy teenager. Which he is, but I’m sure he’d love some help from another
guy.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Thanks, Ethan. Welcome to the crazy
house.”

Zara caught us before I could say another
word to Beth. “I’m borrowing Beth. I need to go to town to pick up some things.
Your mother is going to watch Wolfie and Elizabeth while we’re gone.”

“Have fun,” I said, kissing Beth.

“We will. I intend we women folk are going
to have our own thing this evening.” Zara snickered, turning to Beth. “For some
reason, the men think they are the only ones entitled to have a good time. This
time, we’re going to show them otherwise.”

“But it’s just you, Mother, and Beth,” I
pointed out.

“Do we need more? Courtney and Brittney
aren’t ready to sit around and listen to us.”

“No, they’ll have other things to do.” I
grinned.

“Such as?” Beth began to ask.

“Don’t let him trick you, Beth. They
expect us to sit in the house and take care of the kids and knit or something.
Tonight, once the babes are asleep, it’s our time.”

I shook my head as Beth stuck her tongue
out at me, and the two of them walked off. I could see them becoming thick as
thieves. Zara needed a friendly female in her life. Especially if Ashley was
out of Angus’s.

Peter and I locked up the house as the
others deserted us in pursuit of something more fun.

“This is nice, Dame. It suits you.”

“Yeah, I’m liking it more every time I see
it. I still can’t believe Ethan did what he did. You know he bought Beth her
house?”

“No, I didn’t know that. That says a whole
lot for the young man. He could be completely into himself and his music.
Instead, he comes back on his days off and participates in a family he really
knows nothing about.”

“I know. I wish I could have known him
when he was younger. But I’m happy to have him in my life now.”

“I know you are.”

“How long are you and Mother here?”

“A week. Daniel and I thought it was time
for your mother to take a break. Let Mary get used to having the baby’s on her
own.”

“Yeah, I can imagine Mother being on duty
all day, every day basis could be nerve wracking. She means well, but...well,
you know how she can get.”

“Yes, trust me, I do. I’m hoping she’ll go
along with Courtney to one of her lessons and listen.”

“From what I’ve heard at home, she’s
greatly improved. And she was good to begin with.”

“I’m trying to let your mother consider
getting back into her playing.”

“Not pushing then. Smart man.”

“Aye. Sometimes, one must let your mother
think it’s her idea all along.”

“I can understand that.”

We walked into Amadeus’s house and found
it relatively quiet for once. Mother was sitting on the sofa reading to the
toddlers. Everyone else, I expected, was involved in tent raising.

Elizabeth, however, curious as ever, saw
me walk in with Peter. “Uncle Dame, you know what?”

“What, Elizabeth?”

“Granny’s reading to me and Wolfie.”

Glancing over at Peter for help didn’t do
any good. He was all but laughing over Mother being called granny. I tried to
suck it in. “That’s fun. You enjoy it.”

“Where you going?”

“Um, I’m going to see if they need any
help outside.”

The late afternoon progressed into
evening. The kids had settled into their activities, and the little ones were
in bed. About the only sanctuary we had was the living room. That or the
studio. Zara had been threatening us with board games or charades. We took that
as a push for us to let them have the family room. So, we headed outside. Give
Ethan his first look at what my brother had.

My new stuff hadn’t been heard by anyone
except the girls, Beth, Amadeus, and Zara. Not counting Peter or people in his
organization assigned to it.

They were all equally blown away. Angus
and Ethan especially.

“No wonder there’s Grammy chatter,” Angus
said. “You’ll be nominated for sure once this hits the stores and airwaves.”

“That would be icing on the cake,” I
replied. “All I’m interested in is getting it heard.”

Everyone sat around chatting about various
stuff. I was glad to get the heat off me. I knew my stuff was good, and yet at
the same time, I was nervous as a cat, wondering how it might be viewed.

The following morning I reluctantly let
Beth leave with Ethan. It was his last day before rejoining his tour. Though
she’d invited me to come over later, I felt like an interloper. They had a
routine, and I didn’t wish to disturb it. Soon enough, there would be changes.

Instead of wallowing in my sadness, I
reminded myself that Angus needed to get settled in. If I hadn’t gone out and spoken
to him, he’d have quietly gone and lived on his boat until he figured things
out.

The girls were running around per usual
when I arrived. I called them into the living room.

“What’s up?” Britt inquired sitting down
across from me.

“Did we do something we shouldn’t?” Court asked.

“No, but I need to share something with
you, and for right now, it can’t go beyond this house. No one knows.
Understood?”

“Sure,” they grumbled.

“Uncle Angus is going to be staying here
at least for a few days. So, I need one of you to give up your room.”

“Why? Did Aunt Ashley kick him out?” Britt
asked.

“You might say that. She’s filing for
divorce, and never bothered to tell him until just before the party.”

“That’s why he was so quiet at times,”
Courtney mused.

“Yes, and if I hadn’t forced it out of
him, he’d have gone to live on his boat until he can make other arrangements.”

“That’s so cold. Is she taking the house?
The Tudor family house?”

“It looks as though she’s going to try,
Britt. Anyway, just wanted to let you know. Please keep it quiet. He’s not
ready to tell the whole family yet.”

“Well, what’s he going to do if Granny
Grace goes over to visit? Or if she comes here. Unannounced.”

“Excellent questions. I’ll discuss with
him. I’m sure his head is running over, so give him his space. If he doesn’t
want to talk or joke around, it doesn’t have anything to do with either of you.”

“Okay. Well, he can crash in my room. I
just cleaned it and the sheets are clean too,” Court offered.

The doorbell rang. “Go get whatever you
need out of your room Court. This is probably him.”

He stood at the door like a lost puppy.
Holding one bag, he walked past me.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

“There’s more in the car. This is all I
felt like hauling upstairs.”

Britt grabbed the bag after hugging her
uncle. “You’re going to stay in Court’s room. She’s getting some stuff she
needs right now.”

“Thanks, Britt,” he replied.

I watched as she walked out of sight. “Come
on in. You hungry?”

“No, not right now. I just came from the
house.”

“How about a beer at least?”

“Sure, why not. I take it you told them,”
he said, as he followed me into the kitchen.

“Yeah, I felt I’d better. If I hadn’t,
they might have called Destiny and demanded to know why you were staying here.
I thought hearing from me was the wiser choice.”

“You’re right, and I appreciate you doing
this. I just need a few days to figure out what is what. Where my finances
stand, which isn’t too hard.”

“What do you mean? She clean you out?”

“The checking account and the smaller
savings we kept handy. I think she knows better than to mess with anything else
until a judge hears the case.”

“Still...”

“I have my secrets as well, Dame. My
checks from the tour went into another checking account. In another bank and in
my name only.”

“How did you pull that off?”

“I’d just deposit money into our joint one
on a regular basis. Told her the rest was put into my IRA.”

“Smart move in the long run, all things
considered.”

“Yep. She thinks she’s going to walk away
with everything,” he said, taking a long swallow off the beer I handed him. “I
think she’s going to be a little shocked.”

“Hard to believe her attorney wouldn’t
have informed her better. I mean, this is one of those states where things are
usually split fifty-fifty. Community property.”

“He may have, and knowing Ashley, she
chose to hear what she wanted to hear.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I would like to keep the house, since it
is our family home. I’d be willing to give her money for what would be her half
of fair market value.”

“Talk to an attorney, man.”

“I am. Tomorrow.”

Court walked in and put her arms around
Angus. “I’m sorry you’re having to go through this. But things will get better.
Look at Daddy.”

“Thanks, girl. I know it will turn around.
Just a huge unexpected adjustment.”

“Oh, I put clean towels on the bed for
you. Just so you’d know which one is yours when you hang it.”

I gave her a look, letting her know I
needed to talk to him. Smart girl got it.

“Thanks, Court.”

“You’re welcome. Anyway, I have an
interview at an antique music store. You two have fun.”

“What sort of artifacts do they deal in,
old relics like your dad and me?” Angus joked.