“They’ve grown so much,” Claire said, her hair was tousled from the twins having fussed it. “Your brother’s doing an amazing job.”
He’d had no choice. The twins had been the result of a one-night stand with a long-time friend. She’d been a little older than Nick and when she found she was pregnant she’d wanted to go ahead with the pregnancy. Three months after the twins were born she’d been killed by a drunk driver coming home from a day out shopping with friends. The twins had been with Nick, as they had ever since. He had a nanny of sorts to help him out during the week when he needed to arrange meetings, but he was as hands-on as he could be, working around them. They’d meant he had taken a strategic role, a bit more along the lines of investigative work, while I had organised the employees who worked for us. It was working well, we made a good profit that enabled us to live a comfortable lifestyle with a few investments along the way. “He’s mastered the art of accessorising toddler food on designer sweatshirts,” I said. “And never open a cupboard or a drawer because you probably won’t be able to shut it again.” There was plenty more I could say; my brother had made being a single dad look easy, but I knew it hadn’t been. There had been days when the twins were still infants and he’d been drowning in nappies, bottles and projectile vomit and I’d found him staring out of the window, despite the yelling from the cribs. But after those early days had been conquered, thanks to our parents and the employment of a nanny, he’d started to survive a bit better.
“Maybe I can pick up some tips,” Katie said, the smile now more genuine.
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “I think so but it’s not confirmed yet. I’m seeing a doctor next week. My ex doesn’t know. In fact, you’re the second person I’ve told.”
There was a yell and a holler from upstairs. “You know, if any of you three wants to experience a bath time feel free to help,” Nick shouted. “They’re only slightly demonic at the moment.”
Katie stood up. “I’ll go. I may as well be useful seeing as I’m crashing your brother’s holiday.” She left the room, living me alone with Claire who refused to meet my eyes.
“How are you?” I said to her. “I’ve not seen you since your dad’s retirement ball.”
Her father had officially retired a couple of months ago and a large ball had been held in his honour with the who’s who of London’s business community attending. I’d been going anyway as Max’s friend and I’d always gotten along pretty well with Marie and Grant, so I’d kept an eye on Claire for most of the night. It was the same night that Jackson had proposed to his girlfriend, Vanessa. After that, I’d slipped away, not being able to look at Claire without remembering and thinking about what could’ve been.
We were too young when we were messing about with each other at university, but even then, I’d known I wanted her to be mine, that she was it for me. I’d thought about how long I’d need to wait to propose, about not joining the marines like I’d always planned, about telling her brothers that we were together and facing their interrogation and threats. But before I’d been able to suggest it all to her, she’d blocked my calls and ignored my texts. No explanation.
I’d joined the marines and gone off around the world, trying to forget in the tits and asses of women I met along the way. Not that it had worked.
“I’m good, I suppose,” she said, looking anything but. “Working hard. This case is going to be difficult.”
“Are you looking after yourself?” I asked, noticing the dark shadows under her eyes and wanting to pick her up and take care of her. I tried not to notice her soft curves or remember how her skin felt under my hands.
“Kind of. Things are feeling crazy at the moment with the rebrand and we’ve had an influx of work. Plus, Jackson and Van are mad keen on getting married early next year and, well, you know,” she said. But I didn’t. She looked sad, those doe eyes wide and uncertain.
“I should head off back to the house. Are you staying there?”
“I am,” I said. “I arrived yesterday. As much as I love my nieces it’s nice to be able to walk away and leave my brother drowning. I want to catch up with Max too. How is he?”
We were on safe ground discussing her brother.
“He’s good. They appointed a legal executive to work for him yesterday. I’m hoping she’ll make it past a month. He needs to pick up some of your Irish charm,” she said, standing up and stretching, a few inches of flat stomach visible as her t-shirt rose up. She gave me a shit eating grin as she caught me staring. “Eyes up here, K.”
I raised my brows at her, stifling a smile. “We’ve spent half an hour together and you haven’t tried to verbally maim me yet,” I said. Claire had for the past three years insulted me any chance she’d had.
“I’m saving it for when my brothers are present. Let me say goodbye to Nick and the twins,” she left me at the bottom of the stairs and I heard splashing and giggles coming from the bathroom. A ripple of laughter from Katie echoed down and a retort from Nick who was clearly taking a bashing from all the oestrogen that was swimming around.
“Thanks for abandoning me, K!” Nick hollered. “Freaking awesome of you!”
“You can handle it, man. Jackson needs me more than you do for all this wedding shit!” I yelled back as Claire returned, her eyes shining. She had adored the twins since she had first seen them when they were just a few weeks old. “See you tomorrow.”
We left to the sounds of excited screaming from the twins and laughter from the adults to the peace of the countryside. An owl hooted somewhere nearby and there was a rustle in the bushes in the garden. The walk from the cottage to the big house where Claire’s parents lived was only about five minutes, enough distance to give privacy and enough trees and shrubs to dash in for a quick kiss and feel away from everyone else. That was how it had been in the past and I kept having to remind myself that it was the past, as the urge to wrap myself around her and bury myself in her warmth was still the same as it had been when I was twenty.
“You think Nick is okay with Katie staying?” she said after a couple of minutes.
“Nick’s okay with anything,” I replied. “If she helps with the girls he’ll be appreciative. She’s attractive too, which he won’t mind.”
Claire laughed. “I remember your brother and his manwhoring ways. She’s a bit too delicate for that at the moment so please warn him off.”
“He’s more careful now he has the girls. You needn’t worry,” I said. “I will warn him though. He could do without any complications.”
Claire nodded. “Relationships do complicate everything, don’t they? I’m surprised at Jackson. I never thought he’d get married and be this excited about it.”
Her words cut at me and I wondered if she was warning me off her. “I think a relationship with the right person isn’t a complication. In fact, it makes everything simpler.”
Her eyes dropped to the ground, away from me. “With the right person.”
