Mark had gone down to the station with Verity the following morning where she had answered some more questions. He'd sat outside while Tapp questioned her and took another statement. He knew that he wasn't allowed near the interview with him being another witness as to what had happened and also a member of the force. He had sat outside of the room, foot nervously tapping on the floor. He knew that Verity was in good hands with Tapp, but Mark just wished that he could be in the room with her.
They had gone back to the apartment to change into fresh clothes after spending the night in the hotel. Verity had hardly slept, however. She had tossed and turned in the bed with Mark next to her. He'd been apprehensive to reach for her, not entirely sure how he should tread. He figured that he had to be delicate. But she had rolled over and flung her arm over him and he'd taken that as his sign to move his own arm around her.
He checked the watch on his wrist once more and saw that half-an-hour had gone by. He clasped his hands together and bent forward, bowing his head and closing his eyes. He knew that Matthew had been taken into custody. No doubt his mother would try to post his bail and one condition would be that he couldn't come anywhere near Verity. But Mark didn't want him out on bail. He didn't want to know that he was roaming the streets. He wanted him locked up for a long time. Last Mark had heard there was a string of charges against him including kidnapping and assault. Verity had bruises on her arms and on the inside of her thighs. He'd noticed them as she changed that morning and the purple hue around them and had felt a fresh bubble of rage rise inside of him.
"Thank you for coming in, Miss Daniels," Tapp's voice came from the opening door behind Mark.
He stood up and watched as Verity stepped into the corridor. She was wearing her long green mac over a simple black blouse and skirt with her ankle boots. She adjusted the belt around her waist on the coat and saw Mark with his arms folded over his chest. He had changed into a dark green jumper and jeans, his coat hanging open around his frame.
"Everything alright?" Mark wondered, looking between the two of them.
"We have everything we need," Tapp said with a thoughtful nod of his head. "Miss Daniels has been incredibly helpful and I told her that we would keep her updated with the case. At the moment, we are still holding Mr Jacobson, but he will come before the judge and could post bail. We will let you know if that happens."
"And then his plea?"
"At the moment, we suspect he might plead guilty and save us all a trial," Tapp said. "The evidence is stacked against him. It would be in his best interests to plead guilty, but we both know these things aren't always so simple."
"Don't we just," Mark muttered.
"Anyway, you're on leave for the next week," Tapp said and Mark opened his mouth to protest. He was due back on a late shift that night. "And there's no arguing, Hoffman. You're having time away. Accept it."
Mark didn't bother to argue back on that point. He just nodded his head and reached to pick up Verity's satchel she had left with him and he'd sat on the chair next to him. He handed it to her and Tapp kept hold of the folder in his grip, nodding his head firmly.
"Take care you two," he urged from them.
"Thank you," Verity said gratefully.
"Yeah, thank you," Mark added on.
He walked with Verity out towards the exit of the precinct, a hand hovering over the small of her back. Closing his eyes for a moment once they were outside and he felt the sun warm his face, Mark contemplated what was going to happen now. He had no precedent for this type of thing. He'd spoken to people who had endured horrors. He'd seen how they'd been impacted. He just never thought that anything bad would ever happen to him or anyone he cared about.
"What do you want to do?" Mark questioned as they headed to his car that was parked at the back of the parking lot. "We could go somewhere for a few days? Take some time off work?"
He placed the key into the lock of the car and turned it. He opened the door for Verity and she just stood there, looking at him. "We can't avoid the real world forever," she said to him and he folded his arms on the top of the doorframe, leaning against as she stood on the other side, satchel dangling on her shoulder and her gaze set on him. "I wish we could. I wish we could just drive off and hide forever…forget any of this happened…but we can't. I have tutoring that I need to do and bills to pay…"
"And we have enough to see us by for a month or two," Mark said to her. "Ver, you don't need to go straight back to work. I think people would understand if you wanted to take a few weeks off."
"But it's not going to go away, is it?" Verity asked from her boyfriend. "I'm not going to forget what happened and what could have happened."
"I know," Mark promised her. "Sweetheart, I know that running away isn't going to stop you from remembering, but you need time. You need time and space. No one is expecting you to be fine in a few weeks…but you might feel a bit better…please, for me."
Verity almost relented then. "Where would we go?"
"Wherever you want," Mark said to her. "We could just drive…see where we end up…go for walks…eat nice meals…we can do that if you want to do that."
Verity considered it for a moment before she nodded. She wanted that. She wanted space and time. She wanted to get away from the city and smell fresh air. "Okay," she agreed. "But we need to swing by the apartment and pack. I need to call some of my students and cancel too."
"We'll go now," Mark said and he watched her climb into the car. He shut the door behind her and went to the driver's side. Slipping into the seat, he turned the key in the ignition and began to drive them back towards the apartment. As they crawled towards the kerb, Mark was looking for a parking space near the building, focused on trying to find a big enough gap he could slip into.
"Mark," Verity's voice whispered and he watched her for a few moments before he saw that she was glancing out of her window. And then he saw it outside of the apartment building. "What the hell?" she whispered.
"Shit," Mark muttered at the sight and he shook his head before speeding up and driving quickly past the building before anyone could spot him.
"What are they doing here?" Verity questioned from her boyfriend, looking to him as he rounded the corner and drove away from the apartment, not entirely sure where they were heading to.
"I imagine by now it's been on the news, Ver," Mark said. "His father is facing time and the kidnapping of a New York socialite is going to be big news. I'd be surprised if the press weren't waiting for you outside of your apartment."
Verity hadn't even thought of being on the news. She hadn't let that cross her mind, but she guessed it would be a newsworthy event. Shaking her head slowly, she had to confess she wasn't entirely certain what they should do. There was the fire escape entrance, but she wasn't sure if they could get into that.
"I could ask Janet to grab me some clothes. She's back in the city…she called this morning while you were showering," she said to him.
"So you want to go there?"
"Just to see if she can help," Verity said and Mark nodded his head and set off in the direction of Janet's building.
There was no press waiting for them when they arrived and Verity gave the concierge behind a timid greeting. He stood up and told her he'd read the news and heard what had happened before embracing her. Hesitantly, she held him back and he called up to Janet's apartment to check he was okay to let them up. He did so after a few of seconds on the phone and the two of them made their way to the elevator.
They hadn't even gotten to Janet's floor before she had flung the door open and was in front of them. Her baby bump had grown considerably and stopped her from pulling Verity flush against her. "V, I am so sorry," Janet exclaimed, clinging onto her friend, her cheeks streaked with tears as she had been crying. "I never thought he would do anything like this…and I wasn't here…I am so sorry."
"Janet, you have nothing to apologise for," Verity promised her, pulling back and looking at her friend, clasping her hands onto her shoulders and holding them firmly. "He decided to do this. He made that choice."
"But if I had been here-"
"-Believe me, it wouldn't have changed a thing," Verity promised her with a shake of her head. "It all happened so quickly and I'm back now. I'm okay."
Mark suspected she was being strong for Janet's sake. He didn't say anything, choosing to keep quiet and let the two of them have their moment. Janet ushered them inside and once she had closed the door, she flung her arms around Mark, taking him completely off guard. He startled and Verity's lips arched for a second at his reaction.
"How many times are you going to save my best friend, huh?" she questioned from him.
"Well, I guess we're both pretty fond of her," Mark settled on saying, looking at Verity over the top of Janet's head and she gave him a rueful smile. He didn't mention how he was blaming himself for her even being taken in the first place. If they hadn't have argued then she would have stayed with him. She would have been safe and he should never have let her out of his sight.
"I get that," Janet said and she pulled back with a final clasp of his arm. "Anyway, come in and sit down. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"A favour, actually," Verity said.
"Anything," Janet said, leading them into the living room.
Mark sat next to Verity on the long sofa, once again feeling out of place in the extravagant apartment. Verity sat back and folded one leg over the other before reaching for Mark's hand, holding onto it and resting it in hers on her knee. She hoped he might relax slightly and not look so on edge. He finally reclined slightly, his arm brushing against hers.
"There's press waiting outside of the apartment," Verity said. "I just didn't want to face them but we were thinking of going away for a while…a few weeks…"
"Of course," Janet said and she sat down on the chair across from them. Her long dress flowed over her bump as she tried to angle herself in a comfortable position but struggled. "Where were you thinking of going? Our house in the Hamptons is empty if you would like it? Outdoor swimming pool…big bathtub…enough space not to be disturbed and no one would know where you are."
Verity glanced to Mark and he guessed she liked that idea. A part of him would have preferred just driving and motel hopping. He liked a sense of freedom and he already had a conception about the Hamptons despite never having been there. But he was going to do what Verity wanted to do and, judging by the look on her face, she wanted to go there and relax.
"Whatever you want," Mark promised her.
"You're sure?" she checked with him.
"Positive," he said to her and she looked back to her friend and nodded her head once. "Thank you, Jan."
"Least I could do," she assured her. "Now, why don't you stay here and me and Mark will run back to the apartment and do some packing?"
"Is there anything in particular you want?" Mark wondered from her and she shrugged, not entirely certain what she would need or want.
"Just some books," she said and Mark's lips quirked upwards at that. She was such a bookworm that he was hardly surprised. He nodded his head once, silently assuring her that was fine before kissing her again on the cheek. "And I guess my swimming costume if there's a pool."
"I'll pack for you," Janet assured her. "Honestly, if you let men do all the packing then all you'd end up with is swimming costumes and uncomfortable lingerie."
Verity knew that Janet was making a joke and she tried to force herself to smile. There was just something about the mention of lingerie that suddenly made her feel uncomfortable. She felt Mark grip hold of her hand tighter at it, his fingers squeezing hers and silently telling her that he was there and he understood. Jacobson might not have been able to get what he had wanted, but he had still had his hands on Verity. The threat had been there. It had been enough to scare her, just as it would anyone in her position.
"I can drive us then," Mark declared.
"We may as well go now. When we get back, I'll give you the key to the house and you can stay for dinner before you go…miss the rush hour traffic," Janet decided. "Robert is away for the night at some gala that I didn't want to go to so the apartment is yours while we're gone."
"Thanks, Jan," Verity said.
They bid their farewells for the time being, Mark pecking Verity on the forehead and leaving her alone as Janet talked his ear off on the way down to the car. Verity stayed where she was, leaning back into the sofa cushions and suddenly acutely aware of how quiet it was. Standing up, she had to make some kind of noise as she moved around the apartment, just humming to herself and admiring the views over Central Park. She loved being alone usually. For her, alone time was bliss and it gave her a chance to do what she wanted. She obviously loved having Mark around the apartment, but everyone needed their own space.
She didn't want to be apprehensive about being alone. She didn't want every noise to make her jump. She tried to keep herself calm, knowing that there was nothing out there to hurt her. The apartment was safe. She was safe. She just hated how she counted down until Mark and Janet returned.
…
"You've been quiet the whole drive out here."
Verity looked over to Mark as he kept a hand on the steering wheel and used the other to change gear as they drove down the highway. Verity had tugged on one of his sweatshirts over her blouse that had been in the back of the car. It had turned chilly and the car's heater wasn't exactly doing much. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.
"I'm fine," she promised him.
Mark let out a deep breath and she arched a brow as he moved both hands on the wheel, foot steady on the gas pedal. Shrugging her shoulders again, Verity wasn't sure what more he wanted from her and she waited expectantly for him to respond.
"You don't have to be fine, Ver," he said to her. "You don't need to try to downplay what happened, okay? What happened was scary and I understand that entirely…just…if there's something on your mind, no matter what it is, you can tell me, okay? I don't want you to close yourself off to me."
Verity kept quiet, lacing her hands together and bowing her head. She took a moment to consider telling him and then finally she opened up with a soft voice. "When you and Janet left me…I struggled," she confessed. "Every noise made me jump. I just…I couldn't sit still. I couldn't relax."
"I didn't think," Mark said, shaking his head vigorously. "I should've thought about what leaving you alone would do."
"No," Verity said firmly to him with a shake of her head. "Don't blame yourself, Mark. Please. I don't want you to do that."
"Easier said than done," Mark admitted. "But we'll work through this, alright? We can work through all of it together."
"I know," Verity said and she saw him reach across for her hand. He quickly took hold of it, squeezing her fingers inside of his before kissing the back of her hand and holding onto it for as long as he could until he had to change gears. They approached the house in the Hamptons and Mark slowed down, looking out for it behind large wooden fences and hedges. Finally, they found it and Mark climbed out, unlocking the main gate and then driving down the driveway, whistling lowly at the sight of the house.
"It's Robert's house," Verity commented as Mark drank in the white washed walls and the lush green lawn with colourful flowers. It was a two-storey house with a double entrance and a wrap-around balcony. No doubt the inside would be just as luxurious. He shook his head slowly and chuckled.
"You know, I never thought I'd be staying in something like this," Mark said to her and Verity considered that. This was what she had grown up with. She had always known luxury. She knew that made her sound spoiled and, she guessed, to a certain extent she was. "This place is impressive."
"It's nice," Verity offered and Mark parked the car before climbing out.
Verity followed suit and walked to the trunk. He popped it open and grabbed the duffle bag that contained both of their clothes. He didn't let Verity grab anything, but he did hand her the house keys. She walked up the steps of the decking and slid the key into the lock. Switching the light on, she looked at the double heighted hallway with the chandelier dangling down the staircase that split into two and onto the landing.
"I take it I'd best not break anything," Mark said.
"Not sure we'd be able to afford to pay them back," Verity said and she managed a soft smile to him as he dropped the bag. "Come on, we may as well be nosy while there's no one here."
…
The first few days had been nicer than Mark had expected. The next morning they'd gone out and done some grocery shopping. Mark had almost balked at the mark up on some of the prices, but he didn't say anything on it. They'd gone for a walk along the beach one day, sitting on the sand and peering out over the water, talking about everything and nothing. Verity had spent her morning swimming in the outdoor pool, doing laps and then floating aimlessly, eyes closed as the sun shone down.
Mark came out dressed in jeans and a jumper after having spoken with his sister to check she was okay. "You not cold in there?" he asked from her.
She stopped floating on her back and began kicking in the water to stay afloat, arms making large circles around her. Her hair was wet and slicked back on top of her head. "It's a bit chilly, but it's nice," she responded. "How's Angelina?"
"Good," Mark said. "She's actually on vacation at the moment. I think exams are kicking her butt. I was thinking I might head back to the city sometime next week just to see her if you wanted to come?"
Mark knew he had to be back at work at the end of the following week. Verity nodded and swam towards the edge of the pool, arms crossed on the edge of it. "Or," she began, "how about you invite her here for a few days? There's a train station nearby and it might be nice for her to have some time away after exams?"
"You sure?"
"I'm sure Janet wouldn't mind," Verity said. "Besides, we'll leave the house as we found it and Angelina is no bother."
Mark crouched down and perched on the edge of a sunbed as Verity pushed herself out of the pool and stood up, water dripping down her body and Mark tried to ignore how the black one-piece clung to her body. He had tried to be as respectful as possible, not entirely sure how she felt about physical contact. He let her peck him on the cheek and they slept in the same bed, but there had been some distance between them.
Handing her towel to her, he watched as she wrapped it around herself and then sat down next to him on the end of the sunbed. "What do you want to do today?" Verity questioned from him.
"Whatever you want to do," Mark said to her.
"If I say that there's a really nice bookshop in town…" she trailed off and his lips quirked.
"Then we'll go and spend as long as you like there."
…
Mark wasn't entirely certain if he should leave Verity alone for a prolonged period after what she had said, but she had insisted she would be fine. She was in the kitchen and preparing a homemade lasagne. Angelina's train was due in and Mark had told her that he would go and pick her up, but Verity didn't want to leave dinner. She promised him she would be okay, quite happy to stay in the kitchen and cook while the radio hummed in the background. She continued cooking by herself, trying not to listen for any noise.
She was wearing a plain navy shirt tucked into light blue jeans, hair tied into a ponytail and white socks on her feet. She had just put dinner into the oven when she heard the front door open.
"Ver!" Mark called her name.
She smiled and almost skipped towards the foyer. Mark was holding the door open and Angelina was behind him, walking into the house with a bag on her shoulder. But behind her there was another woman. She was short and wearing dark trousers with an off the shoulder jumper. She had dark brown hair that was in a short bob. Her face seemed almost gaunt and her arms were folded over her chest defensively. The smile on Verity's face faltered and she noted that Mark's lips were pinched, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Verity, this is my Aunt Doris," Mark said.
"Angelina said that her brother had invited her for a couple of nights away and I thought that I would finally come and meet the woman he has moved in with considering he hasn't bothered to introduce us," Doris said and her voice was terse. Angelina rolled her eyes behind the woman's back. Verity just nodded her head once and forced a smile onto her face as she extended her hand towards the woman.
"It's nice to meet you," Verity said. "I'm-"
"-Verity Daniels, yes," the woman responded and she looked at Verity's hand, sniffing once before shaking it limply. "I've heard all about you on the news. You come from the Daniels family, correct? My nephew is clearly doing well for himself."
Verity wasn't sure how to respond to that.
"Verity doesn't really see eye-to-eye with her parents," Mark interjected.
"Well, she must be doing something if you're staying here," Doris said.
"It's my friend's house," Verity answered back. "She's letting us stay here for a little while for a break."
"Well, having friends in high up places is always nice," Doris responded. "Now, I hope you don't mind me staying. I'd love to freshen up before dinner."
"Of course," Verity said. "I'll show you to the guest room."
Verity shot Mark a look as she walked to the staircase with Doris and he just mouthed 'sorry.' Mark looked to his sister then and shot her an accusatory look and she just shrugged her shoulders, long hair bouncing down her back.
"She decided last minute. I couldn't find a phone to call you and I didn't have the number for this place anyway," Angelina defended herself. "You have no idea what she's been like since she ready the news and asked me if it was your Verity who had been kidnapped."
"I can imagine exactly what she's been like. Why did you think I didn't tell her?" Mark retorted, arms folding over his chest. "I didn't want Verity having to deal with any of this. She's had enough people who have used her in the past."
"I know," Angelina promised him. "And I didn't want to say anything, but she basically cornered me."
"I know it's not your fault," Mark promised his sister, but he was annoyed. "It's just that Verity has been through a lot. She's been through so much and this week was supposed to be relaxing for her…she's…she hardly sleeps…hardly touches her food…and jumps at most noises."
"I guess that's to be expected though, right?" his sister checked with him. "I mean, some psycho kidnapped her."
"Yeah," Mark said. "But we're not going to bring it up, okay? I need your help, Ange…to control Aunt Doris…keep her from saying something she shouldn't."
"Pinky promise," she said and Mark rolled his eyes but smirked as he took her pinkie into his.
He showed Angelina to her room before coming down to the kitchen and finding Verity laying an extra place at the table. She had a bottle of wine open and a can of cola next to a glass of ice on the table. The lasagne was bubbling along in the oven nicely and Verity had also made a side salad she'd put into a bowl and set on the table.
"I'm sorry," Mark said to her. "I had no idea she would be coming along."
"It's fine," Verity promised him. She had to admit that she was slightly anxious, but she didn't know why. There was something about his aunt that put her on edge. "It's just unexpected. I was going to meet her at some point though, right?"
Mark scoffed and poured a glass of wine for her before pouring his own. "Not if I had my way," he replied.
"What do you mean?" she questioned him.
"I mean that my aunt is…I just…you come from money, Ver," Mark said. "And that's never mattered to me. Your last name is meaningless. I love you for who you are, but my Aunt Doris…she's always tried to be friends with people who have status. It's embarrassing, really. She was the popular girl in school and has always been a social climber…but she has also so pious and judgmental."
Verity took the glass of wine he handed her and had a sip. She took a moment to nod her head and compose her thoughts, wondering what she should say in response to him. "You've met my parents too, right?" she replied and Mark's lips arched. "If they didn't scare you away then I'm not going to let your aunt scare me away."
"I know," Mark promised her. "I just didn't want this week to be anything but relaxing for you."
"And I love you for that," she replied. "But I'm fine. I promise."
She pecked him on the cheek and his sister bounded into the room then, her arms wrapping around Verity's waist and clinging tightly onto her. Verity laughed and embraced her back as Angelina garbled about how happy she was to see her and how she was excited to be out of the city. Mark watched the two of them chat as they sat at the dining table and waited for dinner to cook. Angelina told Verity all about her exams and her college application and Verity took a genuine interest.
When Doris entered the room, Mark sensed a shift in the atmosphere. It was like she had the power to chill it. Verity offered her a glass of wine which she gladly accepted and drank almost too quickly, making Verity offer her another one. Mark helped Verity serve dinner, carrying plates to the table as she dished up. They finally all sat down to eat at the ten-person dining table on the other side of the kitchen island, patio doors open and leading onto the deck and pool.
"So, I understand from Angelina that you're a piano tutor," Doris declared.
Verity sat next to Mark and Doris opposite her with Angelina next door.
"I am," Verity replied. "I've always loved playing the piano and studied composing at college. Anyway, I tutor and play in orchestras across the city…sometimes musicals if they need me."
"That sounds like quite the profession," Doris said. "And it was your former student who kidnapped you, right?"
"Aunt Doris," Mark mumbled in a warning.
But the woman's bright blue eyes widened and she shrugged, her nose wrinkling and lines appearing in her forehead. "What?" she asked. "I mean, it's almost like it's the elephant in the room. I just want to check that your girlfriend is doing okay, Mark…considering you never tell me anything."
"It was," Verity answered, sensing there was about to be some kind of argument between Mark and his aunt and she would prefer to avoid that. "And I'm doing fine, thank you for asking."
Mark took a long gulp of his wine, annoyed with his aunt as Angelina shot him a knowing look over the table.
"I can only imagine how horrible that must have been for you," Doris said, hand clasping the silver cross she wore around her neck. "That kid's father is up in court too for fraud…and your parents must be relieved that you're safe. Even if you don't get on…they're still your parents and family is everything."
"Is it really?" Mark questioned, a sense of sarcasm in his voice.
"I haven't heard from them," Verity said and that had been the truth. They hadn't tried to make contact with her. They had left her alone. She hated that they had done that. In the back of her mind, she hoped that maybe they'd be able to make amends, but she knew that wasn't going to happen. "But I'm fine. I just want to try and move on, you know? Forget it ever happened."
"And I suppose that it is easier to do when you have friends like this," Doris said, glancing around the room and Verity bit down on her tongue. "Do you often come out to the Hamptons?"
"I used to as a kid, bit not so much now," Verity said.
"Well, it's very nice," Doris commented. "I tend to holiday in Europe for the summer if I can. I've been to Rome, Madrid, Paris and Lisbon…but I am thinking that this year I might see if Jonathan, he's my partner, would prefer somewhere like Croatia."
"I've never been," Verity said and she looked to Mark for a second out of the corner of her eye.
"You should, I've heard it's lovely," Doris said. "Then again, I imagine you've holidayed in some very nice places what with your family being in such a lucrative business."
Verity just nodded tightly. "I was lucky enough to go to Europe some summers," she admitted and Mark knew that he had nothing to contribute considering he hadn't even left the country. The furthest he had gone had been Vegas for Eric Matthews stag-do with a big bunch of his friends.
"Mark and Angelina…well…I've often thought about taking them with me, but I feared that they would be bored," Doris said, taking another mouthful of lasagne as Verity picked at the salad on her plate and Angelina kept silent. "I'm not sure culture is for them sometimes. Museums…art galleries…they never grew up with that."
"Well, I never particularly enjoyed art galleries," Verity said. "And it was actually classical music that we bonded over."
"Really?"
"Mark is quite the expert," Verity defended her boyfriend and she could sense the tension inside of him. "And Angelina wanting to become a doctor is quite something. She's really clever. Mark's so proud of her."
"That's if she gets into college," Doris said.
Verity frowned. "She'll get in," she said and saw how Mark's knuckles had turned white around his fork. He was annoyed. But he was being quiet. It was almost like he was too apprehensive to defend himself and Verity wondered why.
"Well, then there's the fees," Doris scoffed. "College is not cheap."
"There's always ways," Verity said and she almost wanted to ask the obvious. Doris clearly had some money or, if she didn't, she knew someone who did and they were funding her relatively lavish lifestyle. But she wouldn't ask for money for her niece and nephew. She was too selfish and Verity understood now why Mark had tried to keep the two of them apart. There was no chance that they were going to get on.
"Well, I suppose for you money is no object," Doris said with a shrill laugh.
"As I said, I don't entirely talk to my parents."
"Well, yes, but I am sure they didn't cut you off," Doris said.
"I make my own money," Verity said. "And I'm happy with that. I don't need summer vacations in Europe or expensive clothes. None of that brings happiness, not truly."
Doris frowned and shook her head once. "You truly think that?" she asked her. "I'm not sure what I'd have to look forward to if I didn't have my holidays."
Verity took another mouthful of her lasagne and said nothing back. Instead, Angelina spoke up, eyes glancing over to Verity as she sensed her brother was on the verge of either snapping or just leaving the room. As a kid, he had argued with their aunt, but after a while he stopped arguing because it never got him anywhere. He always just found himself leaving her alone and stewing alone in his room.
"Mark told me there was a bookstore in town," Angelina said.
"There is," Verity said. "And I forced Mark to spend almost an hour looking round."
"Is it that big?"
"It's huge," Verity said.
Doris smirked once more. "Do you really want to spend your entire time in a bookstore here? There's so many nice places to eat and wine bars too…not to mention boutiques. Plus, have you seen the pool here?"
"I like books," Angelina said deadpan.
"Nothing wrong with that," Mark spoke up.
"These two," Doris rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure what my sister was thinking when she had two kids. Have you two spoken about kids yet? You're already living together and a part of me wondered if that was because you might be in a delicate condition, but I see no engagement ring on your finger."
Verity almost choked on her wine and she shook her head slowly. "No," she said. "We're living together because we want to, but we haven't discussed kids."
"My advice would be don't," Doris said. "They just get in the way of things…stop your plans…become a nuisance."
"I don't think we ever got in your way," Mark said, voice low and dark.
"There were things I'd have been able to do if my sister hadn't have gotten herself killed," Doris sniffed and Verity's eyes widened, unable to believe that she had just heard her say that. She shook her head slowly and looked between Mark and Angelina. "I am just saying that you two can have freedom if you don't have kids. Besides…look at you…do you think you'd be a good father if you ended up like your father? You're too young to remember, but he wasn't exactly present. He spent most of his time in bars and left your mother to raise you."
"Aunt Doris, that's not fair," Angelina spoke up.
"I'm just telling the truth," Doris defended herself. "They're young and in love. They're likely to make mistakes just like your parents did."
It was then when Mark stood up and left. His knife and fork clattered against the plate and his chair squeaked on the tile floor. Angelina sighed and Verity watched Mark storm out of the kitchen and head upstairs, his footsteps echoing off the staircase. Verity sighed and moved to her feet too.
"I'm looking out for him," Doris said. "For both of you."
"You don't need to be so cold," Verity settled on saying to her. "Mark is nothing but kind and sweet."
"You haven't seen the other side of him," Doris warned her. "He has a dark side. He's not all sweetness and light."
"We're all not perfect, but that doesn't mean you can talk to him like that…or Angelina," Verity said. "Maybe we should just call it a night? I'll clean up and talk to Mark."
"Fine," Doris said defensively. "I suppose I will leave him to sulk like he did as a child."
She stood up and left the table. Angelina remained where she was and Verity went to sit down in the spare seat next to her. She reached a hand out and laid it on her arm. "You okay?" she asked her.
"I'm used to it," she admitted.
"That doesn't make it alright," Verity said to her. "I didn't realise…I knew Mark said she wasn't maternal…but that…I had no idea about the holidays or how she felt."
"Since Mark turned thirteen, she'd leave us alone for weeks in the summer and go away," Angelina said. "But I loved it. Those were the best times we had. Mark would take me to the zoo and we'd eat pizza and stay up late. It was great. I didn't care about going to Europe with her. I'd rather spend time with Mark…but when he left…moved out…I hated it. I hated being alone in that house. But I knew why he left. I'd go too if I could. I will, anyway. As soon as I get into college."
"And what she said about your parents?"
"I was too young to remember them," Angelina said. "But she's wrong about Mark. He'd be a great dad."
"I don't doubt it," Verity promised. "Listen, Angelina, I'm going to go and check on Mark."
"I might head to bed. I'll tidy up first."
"No," Verity said. "Leave it and I'll do it in the morning. You sure you're going to be okay?"
"I learned to block it out," Angelina said. "Mark was the one who always reacted. You go to him."
Verity nodded and embraced Angelina before the two of them headed upstairs. Angelina went to her guest room and Verity headed to the room she was sharing with Mark. Opening the door, she found him sat at the foot of the bed, head buried in his hands. He had shrugged out of his jumper and was wearing a white tee tucked into his jeans. Verity closed the door behind her and moved to kneel down on the floor in front of him.
"You okay?" she asked him.
"I'm sorry for ruining dinner."
"You didn't ruin dinner. Your aunt did," she replied. "Mark, I never knew about the holidays…her leaving you…and what she said…"
"I don't know why I let it bother me," Mark confessed. "I left. I got out. I don't have to deal with her…but the things she said about my parents…my father…I remember. I remember him and my mum arguing. I was just a kid, but I used to sit in my bedroom and press my hands to my ears to try and block them out. I know they loved us. I know they did in their own way."
"Everyone has fights," Verity promised him. "That doesn't mean anything bad."
"I know," Mark replied. "But what she was saying about you…us having kids…I can't pretend that I haven't thought of it, Ver. I don't want to scare you or rush into anything, but I have thought of it. I've thought of us with kids…married…"
"You think I haven't?" Verity asked him. "I want that too one day."
"You do?" Mark asked her.
She laughed gently and moved her hands to hold onto his. "Mark, you're it for me. I want marriage…kids…one day…but we haven't discussed it because we're taking things steady and these are things for the future, right?"
"Right," Mark agreed with her. "But then what she said…I guess it got to me…because I don't want to be like my father, Ver. I never want to be like him."
"You won't be," Verity replied. "Because we don't have to be like our parents. I'd like to think I'm nothing like my mother or father. And you…I know that you'd be a great father, Mark. Look how you are with Angelina. You're so kind and loving with her. I don't doubt it and I don't want her to make you doubt it either."
Mark looked her in the eye then, his gaze softening as he drank in her soft and pale features. "I love you, Verity."
"I love you too," she whispered back and up to kiss him.
Mark let her take the lead, kissing her back as she moved to straddle his waist. He moved his arms to her waist to steady her, holding her softly as she reached for the hem of his tee and tugged it over his shoulders. Her hands moved to his belt buckle and he pulled back for a second, lacking breath and his hair falling messily around his head.
"Ver," he panted once. "You sure?" he asked from her and she nodded her head before pressing her lips against his once more.
….
Tangled up in sheets, Verity rested against Mark's side. She hadn't bothered to go downstairs and clean up, but she figured she would leave that until the morning. She thought about what had just happened at the dinner table and tried not to dwell on it. It didn't mean anything to her. What had happened didn't change how she felt about Mark. But there was something niggling at her. Doris had mentioned his dark side. She'd seen it. She'd seen it back in the cabin when he had almost killed Matthew. But he had been angry. He had been beyond angry. But that didn't mean anything. Everyone had an evil streak. It didn't make them bad people. She was certain that Mark wasn't a bad person. He couldn't be.
...
A/N: Would love to know what you think so far! Not sure anyone is reading so would be great to get your thoughts!
