“She thinks she’s pregnant. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do yet though.” I filled her in on the details Katie had given to me, along with her concerns.
“Oh, Claire,” Marie said, concerned for both myself and Katie. “You want her to stay in the cottage?” There was a sigh. “That wouldn’t usually be a problem and we’d have taken no issue with that, but Killian’s brother is staying there with the twins. If she doesn’t mind sharing, then that’s no problem. I don’t think Nick would mind, even about the security detail.”
“She’s using his firm anyway,” I said. The security firm my brothers had commissioned was owned by Nick and Killian O’Hara, two ex-marines. My eldest brother, Max, had been roommates with Killian at university, which is how I had met him when he came back to our house for some holidays.
I had successfully avoided Killian for ten years while he was serving our country. He’d occasionally surfaced at large family gatherings but then disappeared to wherever he was based. Only Marie knew why I tried to avoid him. Even Killian didn’t understand.
“That might make it smoother. Nick’s got the place like Fort Knox with having the twins there. Let me speak to him and I’ll ring you back in five,” Marie said, a plan clearly forming in her head.
“Marie,” I said quickly before she could put the phone down.
“Sweetie?”
“Is Killian there this weekend?” I said, anxiety drowning my voice.
“Yes. Claire – he’s Max’s best friend, he’ll be an usher at Jackson’s wedding. You need to let yourself move on. Try to come tonight. We can talk,” she said. “Now let me speak to Nick.”
She hung up and I decided it was time to get some coffee, needing some form of sustenance. Voices were echoing around the corridor my office led out on to, specifically the voices of my two older brothers.
“You need to choose, Max. This person is going to be working for you. Not me.” Jackson stood with his hands in his pockets, top button undone and tie abandoned. His hair was mussed but his beard neat. The similarity between him and Max was difficult to miss: Max was slightly taller, slightly wider. His hair was shorter and thicker, his beard longer but just as styled.
“But who do you think will be better?” Max said. “They’re both qualified legal execs; they both have experience in this sort of field…”
“You’re wondering which one will cope with your moods and you treating them like they’re not fit to breathe the same air as you, brother?” I said. Max did not like anyone who couldn’t keep up with his rapid thought process and would tell them so in no uncertain terms. “Who wore the higher heels?”
They both looked at me as if I had just landed after a trip to Jupiter.
“Seriously. The weather’s wretched. Whoever had confidence to wear heels in this will have the confidence to endure your bullshit,” I said, aware that I was sporting decent four-inch stilettos, trying to boost my meagre height and lengthen my legs. My brothers had been given the height gene. It hadn’t been shared with me.
“That would be Jeanne,” Max said. “She wore red heels. Everything else was black.”
I nodded. “A good combination. Powerful. Go with her and keep the other girl’s information on file in case Jeanne doesn’t work out. What time are you leaving for our parents’?”
Jackson beamed, his thoughts clearly focusing straight on Vanessa and the wedding. He looked ridiculously happy and it made my heart expand to see him that way.
“As soon as we can. You are coming, aren’t you?”
“I need the moral support to get through this,” Max said. “He’s becoming unbearable with all the sex he’s getting. I keep telling him that once they’re married and Van’s inevitably pregnant he’ll have to be content with his porn stash and right hand again.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Maxwell. You need to get over this and find a girlfriend who can broaden your horizons beyond Ed Sheerin and the missionary position. I know you don’t have the confidence… I know, maybe we could hire you someone. Not a hooker – maybe a sex therapist? Consider it my gift to you…”
Max’s back slap on Jackson’s back was a little too hard.
“Remember you’re at work,” I said, knowing how easily they could get out of hand when winding each other up. “Yes, I’m coming. I might have company on the way there though.” My phone started to ring, Marie’s name flashing up. “Two seconds,” I said and bolted back into my office.
“Claire, sweetie,” Marie said as I answered. “It’s fine with Nick. She can have the room with the large ensuite on the other side of the house, so she’ll be away from the twins and Nick for most of it. She’s already sent him an email about security so he’ll be able to sort that easily. I just hope having Nick’s kids about won’t make any decision of hers harder.”
“I don’t think it can be any harder, Mum,” I said, my chest experiencing the familiar slice I’d become accustomed to over the years. “I’ll ring her and let her know. If she agrees can you let Doctor Brien know and have an appointment scheduled for her? I know it’s for her to organise, but I think she needs as much help as possible at the moment.”
“Of course. Text me with what she says.”
I said my goodbyes and phoned Katie, who agreed within seconds, her voice full of tears once more.
“Are you sure the housemate plus kids won’t be too much for you?” I said, feeling agitated and unsure myself.
“No,” she said. “I’ve just spoken with Nick and we’re going to speak more over the weekend. I know you’re referring to his twins but…”
I let the silence fall as thick as snow in the mountains. “You’re wanting to keep it – if you are.”
