Cat forced herself to speak.“You know I’m not staying.I can’t stay.I’m heading back to Michigan right after New Year’s.”
Rhys jaw hardened, his expression becoming remote.“So, you did make the decision for both of us.”
Her heart fell, and her eyes prickled and she felt stupidly close to tears.“I thought I was doing what was best for Jillian.That’s why you hired me.It’s why I’m here.”
The silence was even longer this time and more painful.
Finally, Rhys reached for his book.“At least I know now where things stand.Thank you, Catriona.”
The formality in his voice cut, and she drew a quick breath, holding it, holding in the rush of panicked words.
After an agonizing moment, she stood.“Good night, Rhys.”
“Good night, Cat.”
Chapter Twelve
The next fewdays passed in a kind of outward calm, everyone on their best behavior, but beneath it all Rhys’s professional courtesy left her feeling isolated and cold.Rhys was polite, and perfectly respectful, but the warmth had vanished, along with the teasing.He spoke to Cat only when necessary, leaving her to maintain the pretense that everything was fine so the girls wouldn’t worry.
Cat was glad it was the weekend, as Rhys had promised to cut his hours back, in part because the house tours started earlier and lasted longer, but also because Christmas was just five days away and he wanted more time with his girls, not less.
Cat was grateful he’d have them for longer as she’d depleted her ideas for fun, festive, inexpensive holiday activities.She couldn’t think of another craft to do, or a simple Christmas biscuit to make.If anything, she was tired of trying to make the holidays festive when she didn’t feel festive anymore.The joy she’d begun to feel here with them all was gone, replaced by a pain she couldn’t explain.This wasn’t her family, and this wasn’t her future, and the sooner she’d be gone, the better.
As one o’clock approached on Saturday, the girls begged to collect their dad from the big house, and Jillian had even texted her father to confirm he’d be done at one as promised.When he said yes, he’d see them all at the cottage at one fifteen, Cat made sure the girls dressed warmly, and they set out to arrive at Langley Park precisely at one.They hadn’t been up to the house in nearly a week, not since the brief tour by Mrs.Booth last Sunday, and were surprised by the field that had become a car park, with throngs of people swarming the estate grounds, all eager to see the house and have a holiday tea in the cottage adjacent.
Cat had allowed Olivia to skip ahead until she saw all the cars pulling in and out of the lot.“Let’s go this way,” Cat said, steering the girls toward the frosty big lawn that stretched up to the house.In the wan winter light Langley Park rose from the white fields, the elegant Georgian windows catching the pale gold sunlight.It was a beautiful house, restrained and balanced, hiding that dramatic medieval hall which had captured Cat’s imagination.
“But we might miss Daddy,” Olivia protested as they changed course slightly.
“No, we won’t.This is the only way to get to the cottage.They’ve blocked this road off with those barriers up there, which means cars have to go the other way, through the front entrance.But there are a lot of people coming and going and we don’t want to be run over on our way to surprise him because that would be a very bad surprise.”
Rhys was just stepping from the side door of the house when the girls spotted him.Both raced toward him, throwing their arms around him.
A pair of elderly women passed Cat, one saying to the other, “I think that is the earl,” referring to Rhys.Cat swallowed hard, hating the lump in her throat and the awful aching in her chest, a feeling that felt far too much like grief.It was stupid and annoying to have fallen so hard for him in such a short period of time.She certainly would have never taken a temporary job if she’d known it would break her heart.
Cat hung back to give Rhys and the girls time together but after a moment Olivia gestured to her.“Come on Cat, we’re going to see where Daddy lived!”
Cat closed the distance between them, intrigued that Rhys was going to show the girls around a bit.“You all go ahead.I’ll be here waiting.”
But Olivia shook her head and held her hand out.“Come.You’ll like this too.”
Cat glanced up at Rhys, half hoping he’d discourage her, but his expression was blank and he almost immediately began speaking to the girls.“As you know, my parents, your grandparents are Welsh.I consider myself Welsh, even though I’m raising you girls in London, and I’ve realized you probably don’t know how proud I am of my heritage.I also realize it’s been too long since we’ve seen your granddad.”
“That’s because Granddad lives in Wales,” Jillian said.
“Which is just a three hour and a half drive from here, or four hours from London.Not a terrible drive.”
“Texas is a lot farther away,” Olivia added.
Rhys smiled.“That is true, which is why I think we should go see Granddad after Christmas, before we return to London.He would love to see you girls, and I would like to see him too.He’s my father and I haven’t been a very good son lately.”
“You talk to him on the phone sometimes,” Jillian said.
“But that’s not the same as a proper visit, is it?”he asked.“Imagine if I just spoke to you once a month on the phone.You’d miss me after a while, I think.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen,” Jillian shot back.“I’d make you see me.Every day.”
Cat felt like an intruder, so she held herself back as much as she could with Olivia keeping a tight hold on her hand.
