I pull Christian through to the lounge and we sit on the sofa. I hold his hand and squeeze.
"Christian, I have some questions and I would like answers if you can" he squeezes my hand back, nods and I begin.
"You have been following Elena, right?" he nods "Was she in Aspen?"
"My trusted PI lost her just before that weekend and couldn't find her at any usual spots so I assume that it was her" he replies.
"Any clue that she may be the one posting letters and dead birds?" I ask.
"Nothing that links her to any of the incidences that have occurred" he admits "but that's not to say she isn't hiring someone to do her dirty work"
"Have you backed off from Samantha?" I probe.
"Yes and no, I have seen Seb but I have had her followed too and there is absolutely no hint that she has anything to do with what has happened" he admits "We never had a thing Ana; I was purely and simply helping her and Seb. I know she would have like more but I was too taken up with my subs that Elena provided, a 'normal' relationship was of no interest to me at that time, I wanted a hard fuck with no strings and she wanted me to be a father to Seb. I couldn't be honest to myself and trying to be a good role model to a child just wasn't an option. I don't see her being vindictive as I did support her and Seb the best I could" his eyes have not left the floor.
"I really appreciate your honesty Christian. I would find it hard to believe she could be behind this with what she has to lose but you are going to keep her under surveillance?" I ask.
"Yes I am in case someone has got to her" he tells me.
"Got to her?" I query
"Bribery is a possibility, people stoop so low to get information and will use any tool they have to coax information out" he sounds so sad.
"I wouldn't put it past Elena" I comment.
"Neither would I" Christian retorts "but I can't throw accusations around without evidence otherwise she could serve restraining orders and who knows what else at me, which would complicate any investigations into her. If it was discovered I was behind hiring a PI any evidence could lose credibility"
"Hmm true" I mutter "so there is absolutely no evidence to link Elena or Samantha to anything that has happened?"
"Nothing, nada, frustratingly little evidence all around" he tells me.
"Was the plane sabotaged?" I know the answer but have to ask anyway.
"It would appear so, the ground staff have been questioned as have the maintenance crew on that morning but all clear" he replies.
"I am really scared Christian, really scared, this whole thing is really freaking me out, I mean, Taylor, Sawyer and Peters are great, wouldn't be without them but I can't go on like this long term" I honestly say.
"I know baby, I want this sorted as soon as possible but I can't do anything unless our perp slips up" he confesses "I'm sorry pumpkin, I wish I could do more"
I slip my arm around his neck and kiss his cheek, tell him I know he is doing everything he can and that I love him. He kisses me back and promises to look after me and the blips.
I talk to Kate about the following weekend and visiting her parents; security required and travel routes that have been approved by Christian and Taylor. We chat a bit about our recent OB/GYN appointments, have a chuckle about how mobile the babies are and then say goodbye, take care and will see each other at the weekend.
The rest of the week is good, no hassle but I am still relieved to be home each evening and Christian too, I wait a little anxiously for him to get home and breathe a sigh of relief when the door opens and I see that gorgeous smile coming over to kiss me. When we are together at Escala that is the time I feel the safest. Taylor and the security team, CCTV cameras, door codes and Christian's arms wrapped around me and our babies. It's Friday evening, I have packed an overnight bag for us both, we are only staying one night at the hotel so don't need much really but I can feel some anxiety building about the journey and security but I try and reassure myself that everything will be fine.
Christian is in the office so I walk over and kiss him goodnight, it's early but this weekend is going to be draining. I pass the nursery and can't resist opening the door, turning the light on and casting my eyes over the beautiful room that's ready for our babies, everything is just perfect and just waiting to be filled with the little blips. I feel a set of arms enveloping me from behind and a whisper
"I can't wait to meet our blips Ana" he hugs a little tighter.
"I am excited too but a little apprehensive about the birth" I tell him.
"It is scary baby but I will be there with you and I will help in any way I can" I turn and kiss him, tenderly, sensuously and with total desire. I pull away and smile as I feel all tingly inside. I still feel the need to pinch myself every now and again to know it's all true, that it's real, I have this wonderful but complicated man, I am having his babies, getting married and I want the happy ever after.
I fall into a deep and restful sleep wrapped in my lover and dream a happy dream of Christian playing with the twins in the nursery, hearing laughter, giggling and voices singing together. The dream ends when the alarm goes off, Christian is not lying with me but I can hear a voice in the office. Work doesn't stop even on the weekends and I am guessing he wants it sorted so we can have a somewhat quiet weekend with Kate's parents. A shower does wonders and I am in the kitchen eating breakfast when Christian joins me.
"Morning honey, everything alright?" I ask him
"Just a few loose ends, hmm breakfast looks good, ready to go in 30 minutes pumpkin?" he munches on toast
"Sure, I will be ready" smiling as he walks away.
Thirty minutes later the car is loaded, everyone has been briefed and we are on our way to collect Kate and Elliot from the apartment. It's easier to go in convoy than separate the security team.
Elliot takes the lead with us behind and Taylor behind us. Peters and Sawyer are circling where possible or ahead and behind when we are on the freeway.
Christian reaches over, lays his hand over the top of mine and squeezes, I look over at him and smile.
"I'm sorry Ana; I know I don't pay you much attention. I have never been a touchy feely type of person especially in public and I am aware I don't fuss over you enough but I think I am conditioned to hide my feelings. It's almost as if showing feelings is a weakness, I have a vague memory of my mother being beaten by her boyfriend for crying so I learned not to show I was upset, sad, happy or excited as I knew it could result in punishment" he reveals.
I squeeze his hand back
"It's ok Christian, the fact you have acknowledged your feelings is enough. I will take you anyway I can have you and anything you can give me but I love you, need you and want you" I tell him and he looks back at me and smiles again.
We pull up outside 'The Four Seasons' hotel. We are booked in under Mr and Mrs White, whilst Kate and Elliot are Mr and Mrs Wallis so our presence has so far gone undetected but in the foyer the Grey brothers and their pregnant girlfriends start to attract attention. We hurry to our rooms and freshen up before heading to Kate's parent's house.
It's a little after midday when we pull up to the house. It's a beautiful building on a large plot of land. I am sure they must have a gardener as the lawn at the front is perfectly mown with stripes, flower beds are neat and colourful and the topiary has been trimmed to perfection. The front of the house reminds me of an English Cottage with roses growing around the front door, a solid, heavy oak door with a huge brass knocker. I love this house!
We are shown in by the housekeeper and directed to the lounge. The inside feels like a step back in time with the interior mirroring a Cottage in the country, it's quaint but tasteful and the quality of the furniture is obvious. The huge fireplace in the lounge is surrounded by ornaments and a portrait of the Kavanagh family hangs above.
Ziggy, the family Irish Wolf hound bounds into the room from the garden and she is massive, almost a horse but very friendly followed by Pepper, the very much smaller Jack Russell Terrier who is equally pleased to see visitors until a whistle from the garden entices them back out of the door and into the distance.
Kate greets her parents and they in turn hug, kiss and fuss over their pregnant daughter before welcoming Elliot. Kate introduces Christian and I greet them having met them many times in the past when Kate and I first started out at Uni. Lots of general banter follows including babies, weddings and work.
I see a tall figure approaching with the dogs rushing around him. I smile and wave as he comes into the room.
"Hi Ethan, how are you?" I stand up and kiss his cheek. I have known Ethan as long as Kate but he was older, further ahead in education than me and he left to travel.
"Hi Ana, goodness you look err" he blushes "pregnant" I laugh
"Yes Ethan, well spotted" I giggle and lightly nudge his shoulder and he blushes again. Then Kate introduces Christian to her brother and we all head into the dining area for lunch.
"So Ethan, Kate tells me you spend a lot of time in Paris now and that must be fantastic" I ask
"It is very beautiful" he replies. Typical Ethan, still a man of very few words.
"I would love to go there some day to see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees and the Louvre; it's supposed to be so romantic" I clasp my hands together.
"My sister Mia spent some time in Paris and she was very enthusiastic about it all" Christian pipes up "We will get there one day baby" he smiles at me and I blush.
The Kavanagh's have a housekeeper but Mrs Kavanagh decided to cook for us all and it is delicious. Chestnut, roasted butternut squash and Bramley apple soup to start, Juniper pork fillet with potato's and smoked sausage and Chocolate Hazelnut Terrine with Raspberry Sauce to finish.
"That was absolutely delicious Mrs Kavanagh" Christian comments as we sip our coffee.
"Thank you Christian, It's my pleasure, I love cooking but rarely have the time these days" she tells us.
"Kate has inherited some of your cooking talents, she can whip up a mean dinner at a moment's notice" I look over and smile at Kate.
"Ah Ana, you over state my talents in the kitchen" she laughs "you forget the number of burnt pans we've cleaned and trial dishes you have endured" we all laugh at that thought.
"They certainly were much better than the dishes I made, do you remember the spaghetti bolognaise?" I raise my eyebrows.
"I do now, I seem to recall the spaghetti wasn't cooked properly and the bolognaise was sliceable" Kate giggles at the memory "but it tasted ok though" she adds quickly on the end and everyone laughs again.
"You forgot the sliceable custard" I add with a big grin.
The afternoon continues in the conservatory and Mrs Kavanagh has got the family pictures out much to Kate and Ethan's protestations but I love seeing pictures of a young family, then a few of Kate Ethan and I at college. Christian takes great interest in those but then again he hasn't seen many photos of me at all. I must remember to ask Mom to e-mail some over.
The evening draws to a close, I feel happy but tired and when I look at Kate I can see she is feeling exhausted too so we say goodnight and head back to the hotel.
A/N: Yes, once I managed to make sliceable custard. Mind you no clumps or lumps, just sliceable. Never had managed to repeat that success again. Ziggy was one of our pet dogs when I was growing up, he as such a ugly little creature but very friendly. Pepper was also one of our dogs, she was a greyhoud lercher cross and loved to run. She passed a little while ago. Hope you are enjoy the chapters with Kavanaughs.