in the British press. The Elliot Corp. PR department are working on damage control, but basically we’re all instructed to say no comment.”
“Has anyone warned Henry?” asks Beck.
Emma nods. “I called him.”
“Okay,” says Beck. “Well, he can have one of the bedrooms upstairs. I don’t want him going back to Bertram Street on his own again.”
“On that we agree. I’d be happy to have him at my place, but we always end up arguing for some reason.”
“I can’t imagine why,” says Matías.
Emma just flips him the bird.
“Sounds like you’ll be busy enough with the baby.” I set aside the remains of my dinner. It was yum, but I’m full. “And there’s plenty of room for Henry here.”
The doorbell rings again and Emma smiles. “That’ll probably be Penny and River. They were worried after the drama the other night, so I told them to come on over.”
Beck just looks at her.
“What? It’s like a housewarming and you didn’t even have to organize it. You’re welcome.” She rises from her chair. “Come on through, guys!”
It’s sweet really, how much they obviously missed him while he was away. How much they want to be around him now. For all of the hijinks and shenanigans, some of his family are great.
Along with the two ladies, Ethan walks in carrying a bottle of wine. He looks around, taking in the room. “Not bad. Though there’s no real view, to speak of.”
“I like it,” says Aaron, entering behind them holding a bouquet of flowers. “It’s got character.”
Emma immediately confiscates the flowers. “They’re beautiful.”
“They’re not for you.”
Mrs. Francis gives us a concerned glance before helping Emma out with the vase. I just smile and nod. The poor woman. Guess she’s used to actually announcing guests. Perhaps even dealing with people who show some sense of decorum. But she’s rolling with it, which is great. Winston the majordomo would be having a meltdown by now. He’d probably attempt to send us all to bed without dinner regardless of age. Soon music is playing and more bottles of wine and sparkling water are being opened and we have a small party underway.
Beck leans closer to whisper in my ear. “Sorry about this, beloved.”
“Don’t be. This is nice.”
It’s been a while since I’ve been comfortable with people in this way. Surrounded by friends. And it feels like that’s exactly what they’re becoming. Penny and I talk about the foundation Beck has set up while River (who, it turns out, is a pediatrician) answers a barrage of questions for Emma and Matías. Ethan, Aaron, and Beck discuss his plans for the Boulder hotel among over things. It’s nice to belong. To be a part of a close group. After the boyfriend from hell experience decimated my self-esteem, I shut myself away. That’s the truth. I got hurt so I made my world small and safe. And being lonely was the price I paid. But I don’t need to do that anymore and it’s such a fucking relief.
Even with Mom coming, and his grandmother hating me, and the various disparities between us—I think everything’s going to be okay. I really do.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Mom?”
Smith escorts her in midafternoon the next day and I’m sad to say that the vibe is more dismayed than happy reunion. Guess after the phone call it’s not a surprise.
I had started the day up in the library (huge, amazing, and full of a variety of books and lots of polished wood) working on a site for Matías. Beck could have the office, I preferred the big mahogany desk, comfy work chair, and general vibe of the library. And having coffee brought to me on a regular basis was beautiful. Housekeepers are the best thing ever, especially when they’re combined with your own personal library. Brian, Beck’s executive assistant, sent me a steady flow of emails regarding various charities. News of his father’s passing and the inheritance that followed had obviously created a lot of interest from various groups hoping for help. So I read through some of those and made notes as well. Just in case.
But then Mrs. Francis asked for my opinion with regards to a few things. Those few things turned out to be dinnerware, silverware, crystal, linen, and a ridiculous amount more. Rachel sent over a sales specialist (not Selah thankfully) along with a bevy of people to carry things back and forth from the vans parked downstairs. A household of this size apparently requires a lot of shit.