Vanessa stared between Max and Jackson and looked at me. “Why do you think? No, I’ll tell you. Mainly because your brothers are nosey, gossiping fishwives.”
“You were curious too!” Jackson said, turning round to face Vanessa. “You wanted to stay until she got back!”
Vanessa shrugged. “I wanted to make sure she was okay.”
“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Seph said. “It’s Killian I was concerned for. There are a lot of cornfields around here – great places to hide a body and we know Claire’s history with men. Very few live to tell the tale.”
Vanessa threw a cushion at my youngest, and possibly most irritating, brother. “Then your concern is unwarranted as Killian is back here safe and well so we can leave everyone in peace and head home.” She stood up and flicked Jackson’s ear.
“Was it a date?” Max asked, now looking at Killian. “You don’t have to hide it. Not this time.”
I sat bolt upright, as if someone had put a long ruler into my back. “What?” Killian’s hand rested on my back, fingers pressing in to reassure me. “What do you mean?”
“Your first year at university. When you and Killian were sneaking about everywhere pretending you were keeping it quiet that you were seeing each other. I wasn’t stupid, although you did do a good enough job of it that Jackson never caught on.”
Seph’s head was turning from Max to me to Killian as if he was watching a three-way tennis match. “You were together at Oxford?”
“Apparently so,” Jackson muttered, glaring at anyone who would meet his eyes.
“Yes,” I said, looking at Killian to gauge his reaction. He looked calm, unflustered, his usual demeanour. His mouth curved into a smile when he noticed me. “We were together at Oxford.”
“And that concludes tonight’s inquisition,” Marie said, smacking the back of Seph’s head. “Those that are departing need to clear off. Those staying can shift outside so Seph and Callum can help clear up.”
Max was the first to stand, heading to fridge where he pulled out a couple of beers. “You want a wine, Claire? I’m heading off tomorrow morning so there’s time for a few more.”
“Sure,” I said, standing up to head to the counter where an open bottle of merlot called my name, but Killian beat me to it, taking out a clean glass and pouring a large measure. I followed Max outside where the evening sun hung like a golden ball, swallows swinging about the sky, their silhouettes dancing shadows.
We sat on the terrace where the evening sun hit in summer. Killian had brought the bottle and an extra couple of beers, preparing for the conversation Max was clearly wanting to have. My eldest brother was watchful, studying people and in some ways a lot like Killian. He wasn’t the chattiest, unlike Jackson and Seph, but when he said something it was because he had considered it, unless he was in one of his famous rages.
“You knew and you never said,” I sat down next to Killian, accepting the glass and downing half of it. “Why?”
Max shrugged. “Because you clearly didn’t want anyone to know so I just went along with it. Granted, if K had still been bringing other girls back to our rooms like he had in second year I’d have said something then, but he never did. And you were happy. Until you weren’t.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you,” Killian said, half his beer gone already. I felt momentarily guilty. Max and Killian had been really good friends, they still were, and our relationship meant that Killian had been deceitful. I doubted Max was bothered by that – they had maintained their friendship while Killian had served with the marines and been abroad for the greater part of ten years – but still, it didn’t sit well with me.
“It was my fault,” I said. “I didn’t want anyone to know. I didn’t want you to be mad at me or Killian so I said to keep it quiet. Don’t fall out with him.”
Max laughed. “Claire, it didn’t matter. You were happy and so was he. It was up to you if you made it public or not although the noise you were both making when I came by your dorm room one night was very public, by the way.”
“Seriously?”
“I’d gone back to a girl’s room and was leaving there to go home. I recognised your, erm, voices for want of a better word. I already knew by then. But it’s your business, no one else’s. We’re good.” He knocked back his beer, my father joining us outside and the conversation turned to sport and rugby, everything feeling like normal apart from Killian’s arm around my waist.
The sky morphed through a myriad of colours, blue to yellow to red to purple and we moved inside as the midges began to bite. Jackson and Vanessa had left already, Seph and Sophie catching a lift with them. Amelie was playing cards with Max, and Callum was showing Marie photos that’d been taken for some promotional material at the zoo where he worked as one of their vets. My father was deep in a book, having passed no comment about me and Killian except giving me an amused and very knowing glance.
My phone vibrated on the table, lighting up, and I saw Katie’s name on the screen. I shifted to grab it, a sharp jab of concern impaling me.
Katie:Had a message from Dean. He wants to go into mediation before he goes on vacation for a month. I feel sick.
I shook my head. I’d heard nothing over the weekend from his lawyers and suspected this was mind games on his behalf. This week was too much of a rush given Katie’s well-being, but then if it could be managed - we wouldn’t have to wait for a month until he returned and I wasn’t sure how much emotional stress Katie could take.
Claire:I’ll contact his lawyers tomorrow and we’ll see what can be done. It’s very short notice. How are you?
The three little dots kept flashing for what felt like minutes. Killian had heard from his brother during the course of the day saying that Katie was struggling although she was trying to cover it up.
Katie:I’m okay. Just feel jittery about everything. It’s good being here though. Nick is really looking after us and I feel I’m being helpful with the girls. And I feel safe.
Claire:Good. Nick’s a good ‘un. I’ll see you in the morning about nine thirty.
