CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

I was restless and couldn't sleep despite ending my day just as heavenly as I had started it – both naked and well cared for in Louisa's bed. When we retired for the evening to the attic, Louisa had softly climbed onto my lap where she began to slowly kiss and undress me. I had become intimate with every part of her body this day, and although so many thoughts and emotions were swirling through my head of what I had learned since arriving at the Clark residence just a few short hours ago, I couldn't deny her even if I wanted. "Are you sure, Clark? You're family's still up downstairs." "They won't come up here. Thomas is sleeping, that's all that matters. I'll be gentle, very, very gentle and quiet. Promise. What do you say, Will?" "Ok," I whispered back. I was hers to do what she wanted with, and I had never felt closer to another human being.

I was in deep thought as I lie awake, Louisa sleeping ever so soundly with her head resting upon my chest where a small pool of drool moistened my skin. She had her peculiarities about her, the drool being one of them, her fascinations with 1980s pop culture and the way 9 out of 10 times her clothes bore a heart on them among others. She certainly was one of a kind, and I loved her for being so different from anyone I knew.

When we had told Treena that we were moving in together, her response was so very Treena, so Louisa said. "Duh, you'd have to be dead not to expect that! " But it was another particular comment she passed in private that I couldn't get out of my head and which drove me crazy thinking about all evening. "Have you seen her work?" "Of course I have," I answered. "Her designs and costumes are beautiful!" After all, I had encouraged her to sell her designs, made the connection for her with Kat in London. If she wasn't talented, I wouldn't have encouraged that. "No," Treena corrected me. "But have you seen her sewing yet?" No, that I hadn't seen. "Then you're in for it!" she howled, not giving me any other details. When I asked Louisa what she meant by that, she only smiled and giggled, and in the sexiest voice hummed, "Look at Treen stirring up trouble. Let's just say, Will, that I have a process just like any athlete gearing up for a big game, or a business man like yourself about to pitch a deal and take an important meeting! You'll see!" God only knew what that entailed, but I was intrigued, very intrigued. And I wondered if she would allow me to become incorporated into that sacred routine.

Louisa's parents were in a celebratory mood for obvious reasons. How could they not be? "I never imagined Beech would reopen their doors!" That phone call came out of the blue they insisted, not in their wildest dreams did they believe the business would be given a second chance. "I'm going back to work!" Bernard excitedly shouted but then admitted that it was just in the nick of time that both he and Treena found themselves unexpectedly and newly employed. "Things were starting to get really tough around here. I didn't know how much more we could have tightened our belt." He shook my hand thanking me for guaranteeing the orders to furnish the great halls of the renovated Castle that made the business loan possible. "We won't let you down, Will! The workmanship will be top quality. Only the best!" I had to hand it to Josie. She was always very observant. "You three knew, didn't you?" she inquired, staring at me, then Louisa and Treena. "Your smirks gave you away!" I also learned just how bad the family's finances had gotten. With Treena unable to get any more shifts at the flower shop, Louisa had given her mum her first monthly dividend check to keep up with the mortgage payments. "Lou told us you invested her earrings from London. That was so kind of you. As was hiring Treena. She's a smart one, very resourceful. You wont be sorry. I know she'll learn a lot from you." But the one thing that stuck in my mind was the comparison she made between me and Louisa. While my mum had pointed out all of our differences, Josie Clark had honed in on one great similarity we had both apparently shared. "You're both caretakers. Lou deserves someone who puts her first, who takes good care of her while she's so busy taking care of all of us!" Too bad my mum couldn't see things her way.

But when the topic changed to moving in together, Josie expressed her apprehension much to her husband's chagrin . "Josie, stay out of the kids' business. Let them live their own lives." She apologized, insisting that she didn't mean to interfere, that she would have her say when it came to the safety of her daughter. And I knew exactly where she was going with this – my mum. Treena must have filled her in on all the glory details.

"Are you sure you want to do this, luv?" she asked Louisa, taking her hand in hers. "No offense to you, Will. You know I think you're darling."

"I am," Louisa answered, bobbing her head to reassure her mother that she had given this serious thought. "I really, really am, Mum."

Josie, however, wasn't entirely sold on the idea of us living together … more like living in great proximity to my mum. And she voiced her concerns. "It's not you I don't trust, Will. I know you have nothing but the best of intentions towards my daughter. It's your mum I'm not so sure about. Not after what Treena shared with me. I don't like it one bit." Her anger began to shine through, and I couldn't blame her for being protective.

"Oh Mum!" Louisa jumped in to defend me. "Don't take your angry out on Will. Pleaassssse."

"I'm not, Lou, but I need some reassurances that won't happen again. It was cruel what she did to you – deceiving you like that. No parent wants to see their child the way I've seen you this past week."

"Yeah, I know, but Mum! Pleeeeease, let's not bring this up anymore!" she begged of her as if to spare me from feeling uncomfortable or embarassed. Louisa's eyes bulged, and she gestured a definitive nod to Josie to stop talking about the matter, who only grimaced back at her daughter, not pleased by her daughter's insistence to table the subject.

"Clark, it's ok. I know who my mum is, and I'm not going to pretend she's something she's not. I was livid when I found out myself." What my mum did to Louisa … how she treated her … was entirely malicious and uncalled for. Camilla Traynor had always declared that she had taken necessary actions to protect her family out of love, but this time she had gone entirely too far. "I won't make excuses for her, Josie. What she did was reprehensible, and I've already handled her in a way she understands. I give you my word, no harm shall come to Louisa."

Like any normal parent, Josie was sincerely worried about Louisa's welfare, and her only regard was to see her child happy and thriving. She was the complete opposite of my mum who confused control and meddling with love. I could never see Louisa's mum scheming behind her back, and while she had clearly been no fan of Running Man she also hadn't been capable of fabricating and constructing narratives in an effort to manipulate Louisa the way my mum did. And unlike Camilla Traynor, Josie Clark respected her children's choices even if she didn't agree with them.

"Promise me she'll be safe. She's my first-born, Will. She's very precious to me."

"She's very precious to me too, Josie. I intend on watching my mum like a hawk."

"Ok then. Keep my girl happy," she smiled nodding. "Would it be helpful if I went and introduced myself to your mum? Have a conversation mother to mother? Smooth things over? I'm sure we can all get along."

Louisa's head shot up, her bashfulness at hearing us talk about her was now replaced with alarm as she cried out in a panic. "What? No, Mum! Just stay away from that woman," she pleaded emphasizing her words. "Please don't make things worse! Just let Will handle her! Ok?"

"I'm just trying to help, luv," Josie nodded in response, speaking tenderly to Louisa while touching her chin as a sign of endearment.

I backed Louisa up, thanking Josie for her offer but letting her know that I had everything under control. Although she reluctantly agreed to let things go, Josie issued a stern warning to us both. "Ok, but if I hear one more bad thing I'm going over there myself to have it out with that woman! She needs to know we Clarks are good people!"

The thought of Josie Clark wandering off to Granta House with a strawberry shortcake in tow and introducing herself to my mum haunted me all night long. An impromptu meeting between them would only spell trouble. I could imagine the two strong-willed mothers butting heads with a terrible, nasty row ensuing between them: my mum insulting Louisa's mum, Louisa's mum taking great offense and standing up for herself and her daughter, then defending our relationship. I could just see it. What a headache! No, no. Introductions would have to be planned, exposure limited, monitored, and Camilla Traynor babysat at great cost.

But our mums meeting wasn't the only thing that was gnawing at me. Running Man was too. He indeed was telling the truth, at least in regards to his recent Triathlon win catapulting him to a pretentious "public figure" on Facebook, his other social media accounts "verified" as well. There was even a spot from his team sponsor posted. But what Treena had found on his Instagram was disturbing and gave me great pause. Just what the bloody hell was he up to? He posted dozens of selfies strategically taken that showed me and Louisa in the background as if he had been stalking us since we entered the pub. Louisa and me kissing. Louisa and me cuddling. Louisa and me laughing. Louisa gorging on her meals and dessert. Louisa and me grimacing, reacting to him as we battled our way through his fans. He was watching us watching him. It was to say the least creepy. Louisa had said it herself though – he was a spiteful man. So what exactly did Running Man have up his sleeve? The one thing I knew was that I didn't trust him.