Chapter 37
"You're telling them today, aren't you?" I heard Treena ask desperately from the other end of the line.
I sighed.
"I have to" I responded as I waited for the light to turn green. Hopefully I would get across it this time. Traffic was awful today. "After today, if the doctor says so, Will won't officially need somebody to care for him full-time" I added.
"I think Mom and Dad know he hasn't needed somebody for a few weeks now. He's been given permission to walk, and the last we saw him, he didn't seem to need assistance of any kind" she reminded me. "I've got a feeling they suspect it already, Lou."
"Have they said something?" I asked, alarmed.
"Not to me. But they aren't stupid, you know. And you and Will aren't exactly the best at hiding it" she replied. I couldn't tell if that annoyed her or pleased her. "Just tell them already. You're a grown woman, Lou. If you want to shag your boss senseless, you can" she added. I could definitely hear the irritation in her voice now. But I couldn't pinpoint what exactly caused it.
"It's not that, Treena. That's the point" I tried to clarify, but only heard silence on the other end. "I'll see you later at home" I said after a few more seconds, and clicked.
Last month, I had told my parents that Will was only allowed to walk very little until he was fully recovered, and therefore still needed a caretaker. While the first bit was true, the second wasn't.
There was very little walking required within the house, and he fended for himself quite well.
I just hadn't been ready to tell them about our relationship. I was afraid they wouldn't take it seriously. That they'd think it was fling, and I had fallen under some spell for a man who was only using me. And Will had understood my reluctance.
When he had told his parents a few weeks back, it had been a disaster, if for different reasons.
He hadn't meant to say anything yet. But he had been avoiding the conversations about what he wanted to do with his future once he was recovered, and his parents had been insistent. Will suspected they thought he had lost the drive he had had once, and wanted to make sure he would rise again in the world.
Once Will had given Steven the most vague answer he could about the company he planned to build, he continued to try to dig for more. And then began to very strongly suggest he start his new company with his cousin Joseph as partner. When Will kept putting up excuses, one way or another, Steven suspected something and asked if he meant to partner with me.
Will's shock, and hesitation to answer was all that Steven needed. And there was no point in denying it. They would have to find out sooner or later. What ensued was very unpleasant for Will, and he made up his mind that he had been right to put distance with his parents all along. I felt his pain, but had to admit that he was in a difficult position.
Will refused to tell me more about what his parents had been telling him, but from what I could catch from his responses, they were none too glad about it, as we had expected. And his reluctance to share it with me convinced me that it was much worse.
From what I could catch, it seemed his father thought I had brainwashed him in some way, and was now trying to make my way up the world through his son. It didn't seem that he could believe his son capable of attaching himself to someone long-term. Regardless of whether he believed Will when he told him he loved me, Steven seemed to think he should do with me what he wanted, and move on. But that he didn't need to make me a lasting person in his life by making me his partner in business.
I knew I was not experienced or knowledgeable in the field as he was. But I also trusted Will. And he wanted us to continue working together, to build something of our own. He had faith in me, and in us.
His mother seemed to be more kind about it, as there was less yelling once she was on the phone. But she didn't encourage him in his course any more than his father did.
She seemed to believe Will more in that he was sure this was a good idea, but she also thought that the possibility of us ending things in the future was a very real one. And that working together would be awkward and strained after that. She seemed more willing to give Will the benefit of the doubt, however, in that this might work.
And I'd be lying if I said the same thought hadn't crossed my own mind.
But I looked at our first five months together as a trial of sorts. And we had sailed over those waters as smooth as I never believed possible. I was waiting for Will to become bored with me any day, or for some of the feelings to lessen, but that day had yet to come. I woke up every morning as in love with him as the last, if not more, and he seemed to experience the same occurrence.
To say that we didn't have any sort of problems, or arguments, or adjusting to do would be lying. But the truth is the hardest argument to settle had been easier than most with Patrick. There was just something between us that had always been missing in any other relationship I'd had, which made us put the other's interest before our own, and once that was done, reaching a happy solution for both had only been a matter of working together.
We often joked that as lucky and happy as we were, we would never be able to brag about it to anyone, as none would believe us.
Therefore, it seemed an awful thing to plan for when we broke up. I didn't want the day to come. And I wanted to believe the day would never come.
How could it?
The more days that went by, the more I was convinced that when you love someone, as I love him, there was nothing that we couldn't conquer.
I didn't want to plan for awful things that I wished never to happen. And I wouldn't.
And his parents would understand, eventually, they would have to. There is no better way to prove something than letting time pass and prove it for you.
I just hoped my own parents could be more understanding.
I wasn't blind. I knew what it looked like. We had been living together for months now. Most would expect something to happen due to the closeness. And it wouldn't be the first time someone made a similar mistake.
I knew it could seem like we were in over our heads, thinking we could be a couple and build a company together when we had only been with each other for very little time, and seemingly only out of forced closeness rather than actual want to be together.
It would be even harder for my parents to cope with it, being that as far as I had shared with them, I was still only his caretaker.
They only wanted the best for me, I knew that, and they would see dangers in this.
But I'd never felt surer of anything else in my life before. Even by a long shot.
I felt Will squeeze my hand as I placed the car in park at the doctor's office.
He could no doubt sense how nervous I was.
I had told my parents we would come by after this visit to the doctor as we often did, to give them the good news of Will's full recovery, and I was sure they expected to be told I'd be moving back in, as well.
"Ready?" he asked as he motioned with his head towards the building.
I nodded with a smile, taking in his reassuring eyes, and letting the feel of his touch soothe me.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"We don't have to say anything, you know?" he asked me as he drove us silently to my parents' flat.
One look at him, and I knew he meant it.
As we had expected, the doctor had lifted all final limitations on him, and Will had wanted to take advantage of it right away, and get behind the wheel of a car. Even if it wasn't his Aston Martin.
"I think Treena will burst if she has to hold it in any longer" I said, strongly considering his offer.
"I don't care, Lou" he said seriously. "You know how I feel about her… and I know she is your sister and your best friend, but I don't get the feeling that she ever has your best interests in mind" he expressed with concern.
"She's my sister, Will" I replied, unable to think of any other defense.
"There's more that makes a sister than blood bonds. Trust me, I know" he retorted as he pulled into the building's car park.
I knew he had a point.
"It'll be alright" I said to him with a reassuring smile. "I'll have to give a reason why I'm not moving back in. They'll expect it" I said drawing close to him to cup his cheek in my hand. "Let's get this over with" I added as I drew closer to him, and placed a kiss on his lips. He returned the kiss with more intensity, placing his hand on my hip, and running it up my body, till I pulled back, before I got too caught up in the kiss.
"Will" I breathed out. "We're about to go inside" I added, my face flushed with the feelings he could ignite in me within seconds.
"I'm sorry" he said with a mischievous chuckle. "I can't help myself, you know that" he added, his eyes dropping to cover the length of my body, and stealing another kiss.
"Well, you'll have to!" I exclaimed giggling, and grudgingly trying to escape his reach. "We're in the car park!" I added, stepping out of the vehicle and walking towards the lift with Will following closely behind.
Within seconds, we were at my parent's door, all giddiness gone from my mood, and being replaced by uneasiness.
"There you guys are! Come in, come in" my dad said good-naturedly as he opened the door to us. "So, what's the good news?" he asked Will.
"All cleared!" Will answered with an easy smile.
"That's good to hear, Will" my dad responded, but all I could think about was the question that was inevitably coming.
Congratulations came from the rest of my family- my mother, my sister- who gave me a look that left me in no question as to her unchanging opinion about my secret- and finally Will saluted my grandfather who gave him a slight nod.
I hugged and kissed them all, specially thinking about what I had to say, and how it may be taken by them. Seeing their happy faces made me wonder if they were happy because they believed I'd be moving back in- whether they missed me or my paychecks.
Regardless of the answer, there was only one thing to do. As we sat down for dinner, I practiced over and over in my head what I had planned to say, but before I could find the right moment, my father beat me to it.
"So, Lou when do you think you'll be moving in again? A coworker of mine offered his lorry! It's an old one. Kept it out of sentimentalism, really. Used to be his old man's. Anyways, he says for a few pounds he'll lend it to us for the day so we can move your things back in. If you can manage it, this Sunday, I can even lend you a hand. Not Saturday, though. I'm actually putting in a few extra hours. There's some work we gotta catch up on. I'm telling you, your old man isn't doing too bad in his job, sweet pea" he said with a pleased smile. "And all thanks to Will, here" he added as he gave Will a grateful look.
Well, this was the moment, then.
"Actually Dad, I'm not moving back in" I said, trying to maintain eye contact, but failing.
I could see my mum putting down her fork slowly, Grandpa was unaffected, and Treena pretended not to be interested, but I could tell her ear was perked up to hear it all.
"Why ever not, pumpkin? These London flats are too expensive. You're better off just moving back in with us. Besides, Thomas has missed you" he answered, looking to where my nephew was sitting, watching telly.
Thomas had gotten so much bigger. I had felt as if I'd missed out on so much over these past few months being away from them.
"I know, Dad. And I've missed you all so much, too!" I replied wholeheartedly, reaching out to grasp my dad's hand on the table. "I actually wanted to speak to you all about my plans tonight" I said, looking around the small table.
These were my loved ones, and yet I could start to feel the perspiration in my forehead appearing. I was so afraid of disappointing them, of causing them hurt.
"Lou and I have decided to stay living together" Will spoke up, to my surprise and relief, breaking the ice.
There were no replies for a few seconds.
Mum and Dad's faces were unreadable.
"As… roommates?" my dad asked eventually.
"Bernard" my mother called out to him apprehensively.
"No, Dad. As boyfriend and girlfriend" I added as calmly as I could.
"But you never moved out when you were with Patrick, and you all dated for years" he said confused.
"Well… Will's business advising is really taking off, and we thought we could do it together. After all, we seem to make a really good team" I explained enthusiastically.
"I didn't really know you wanted to do that long-term" my dad said, directing himself at Will.
"I didn't plan on it, but my current clients are begging me to stay on, and they're directing others to come to me. It's become quite profitable, and less stressful than what I used to do before. So I thought, why not follow it and see what happens?" Will calmly replied.
"Isn't that something, Josephine?" my dad asked my mum, with a smile, but I could tell he was unsettled by all the news.
"That's really great, Will" my mum pitched in, her smile wavering. The tension was palpable.
I knew I was making the right choice, but it seemed the only one on board with me was Will.
"I find myself the happiest when I work with Louisa" Will started, breaking the silence, "and I want to follow this with her. I know her least favorite part of our last work was when tough decisions had to be made. Unfortunately, when buying and selling companies, sometimes the only way to make a profit is to cut out jobs that aren't crucial to the enterprise, or terminating those who are being overpaid due to working for many years there. While I was able to tune that out, and do what I had to do, it was quite hard for Louisa, and I think if I want her to be happy working with me, then this business advising is a better choice" Will explained, shedding light on something he had never even told me.
I felt myself touched at the words, at the fact that he had noticed that, and had taken it into account when deciding what do next career-wise.
I tried to meet his eyes, and to say with mine how much I loved him, and appreciated his thoughtfulness.
When I went back to look at my parents, I saw something new in them as well, as if they had seen or heard something that had broken down their prejudices.
"I really appreciate you doing that for my daughter" my dad said, closing the conversation once and for all.
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As I washed dishes, and Mum dried and put them away, I took a look at Will as he sat among the rest of the family.
He was always so good with people. Even Thomas had warmed up to him over time. He seemed to be shoving his trainset in Will's face excitedly, as Dad tried to hold him back a bit.
"He's good to you, isn't he?" Mum asked me quietly as I handed her a clean dish.
"He is, Mum. The best" I replied, trying to appease any anxieties she may have.
"And he seems to really care for you, too" she commented.
"It does look that way" I said with a pleased smile.
We worked in silence for a few more seconds before she spoke again.
"If that ever changes, dear, you always have a home with us" she assured me.
"Thanks, Mum" I said, stopping my task to look her in the eyes. They seemed tired, her face older. I couldn't tell exactly what it was, but I could take a good guess at what it could be.
She had never really gotten used to the city. She had lived in a small quiet town all her life. I remember how she enjoyed the clean air, and the neighborly community we lived in, how she enjoyed caring for our garden, and cleaning our house.
And she wasn't the only one. While Treena was loving the city life, and Dad was really proud of his job, I could see the sadness in Grandpa's eyes. He no longer had a porch or yard to sit on, or a pretty view out of his living room window. He was cooped up in here all day, just existing, every second of every day wilting away a bit more.
I wouldn't be surprised if in the future, once Treena could be on her own, or when she was done with Uni, that they would take off and move back to Pembroke. And I couldn't blame them. Even if it would mean missing them madly.
"Have you been back to visit, Mum?" I asked her.
"Not yet, but I've kept in contact over the phone" she said, her eyes glued to the cup in her hand.
"You should take a weekend, and go see your friends" I suggested, as I held out a container for her to dry.
"We'll see" she replied pessimistically, as she took it from my hand.
"Why don't we all go together?" I asked, reaching to place my hand softly on her arm. "Just take off one weekend and go? Will hasn't been to see his parents in a few months, and his sister might come home sometime this year, we could make a trip of it, and go together! Will and I would have to spend time with his family, but you guys could visit all your friends, and see our old house" I added, trying to muster some enthusiasm from her. "What do you say?" I asked excitedly. I could see her thinking about it, and the prospect seemed to lighten her mood.
"Would Will be alright with that?" she asked apprehensively.
"I'd have to ask, but I don't see why not" I replied positively.
"I'll mention it to your Dad" she said, with a small smile.
"It'll be so great, Mum!" I exclaimed as I turned back to the sink.
I hated what this change was doing to her and Grandpa, and wished I could know it was only temporary.
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The drive home was pleasant. We had done what we had to do, and at the end of the night, everyone seemed pleased enough with it. Even Treena seemed satisfied that she no longer had to keep the secret.
The road had become so familiar, and I could already imagine myself missing the house we had spent the last six months living in- the house that had seen so many firsts for us, had witnessed our growing together, our first months as we discovered what it was like to be with someone who complimented you in every way, and whom you could love entirely, and in spite of their faults.
I thought I would even miss Nathan, who had become such a close part of us in these last few months, and hoped he and Will could remain close, no matter what happened. He was a good friend to Will. Not like Rupert, or his other mates, who had proved themselves to be as shallow as they come.
"How much longer do you think we'll stay in this house?" I asked Will. "I know you must be desperate to move back to London" I added, remembering how much he had missed the city at first.
"I was thinking a few more months, till the company is more established, and then we can rent a working space in Southwark, or perhaps Canary Wharf, and live nearby. For now, we have a good setup at the house, and renting a flat with space for the office would be a bit out of our reach for the time being" he explained, as if he had been giving this a lot of thought already. And knowing Will, it wasn't surprising at all. "What do you think?" he asked, as an afterthought.
"Me? Um, that sounds great!" I said, a little surprised at his question. "I like the house. I wouldn't mind it for a few more months" I added.
"I have to get used to asking you these things now" he said between serious and teasing. "You're going to be my partner, not my assistant anymore" he said giving me look out of the corner of his eye.
"You know, I was thinking about that, and… shouldn't we change the name of the company?" I asked.
"Whatever for? The website is familiar to our clients, and rebranding might throw them off, or make new ones skeptic" he replied, all businesslike.
"Perhaps when we are more established, then? When we have our offices in London, and all?" I asked kindly.
"What would you like to call it?" he asked me curiously.
"I like the idea of my name being up there, too. At least when we get a real office with a sign, and all, right? Isn't that how partnerships work?" I pried, testing the waters.
"Traynor & Clark, then?" he asked.
"Hmmm… I think Clark & Traynor sounds better. Or 'Clark, Traynor & Company', once we have more employees" I suggested.
"So, you just want your name up there, basically?" he asked, after a few seconds pause.
"Yes" I replied with a smile.
"Consider it done, darling" he said with a wink and smile.
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A/N: Sorry once again, that this chapter took forever to update. It's getting harder and harder for me to write as we near the end more and more. I do apologize, but I hope you guys enjoyed it (:
Much love! And thank you to all who continue to read and review! (: