Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
“Let’s try putting them down again,” Arro suggested loudly to be heard.
Robyn nodded, and Lachlan leaned in to take his daughter. “I’ll do it.”
With Vivien in his arms, he and Mac tread upstairs to the nursery to try once more to get the girls to fall asleep.
My sister-in-law shared a weary smile with my sister.
“It’s going well, then,” I teased, raising a glass to them.
“It’s worth it,” Arro said, even as she rested her head against the armchair and closed her eyes.
“Oh, aye, it looks it.”
At my sarcasm, Robyn quirked an eyebrow. “Just you wait until it’s your turn. You’ll understand then.”
“Never going to happen,” I said with absolute conviction. Fatherhood was not in the cards for me. Ignoring the pang of loss at the reminder, I searched for distraction elsewhere.
As my siblings talked about nappies and bath times and all that shit while Eredine sat on Arran’s lap and they happily listened, I zeroed in on my nephew. Lewis sat on the farthest-away armchair, his headphones on and a tablet in hand.
Smart man.
I sauntered over to him, and he looked up at me as I sat down on the armrest. Lewis removed one side of his headphones.
“What are you playing?” I glanced down at his screen.
“All Star Tower Defense.”
Never heard of it. “Right.”
Lewis smirked at me. “It’s on Roblox.”
He was speaking a foreign language. “Of course it is.”
My nephew grinned. “You want to see?”
“Sure.”
And so until dinner was ready, my nephew played and explained to me what was happening with his anime character and the mission he was on. I’d never been a gamer, but I could see the appeal.
To everyone’s relief, Mac and Lachlan got the girls to sleep just as Regan and Thane delivered dinner to the table. We talked quietly (although Eilidh had to be reminded to lower her voice multiple times) to not wake the babies. All in all, I thought I was doing a grand job of shaking off the encounter with Monroe … until Eredine asked the kids how school was going.
Eilidh gave us a full five-minute rundown of life in primary three. By the way she told it, she was the benevolent leader of her class and champion of the underdog. No bully was getting past Eilidh Francine Adair. The kid was so bloody cute, it killed me. I grinned down at her the entire time she talked, watching her gesticulate with her little hands. Her stepmum gently hushed her anytime her voice rose with excitement.
Then it was Lewis’s turn. “School’s good.” He shrugged. “Ms. Sinclair is the best teacher I’ve had.”
My gut clenched, and I stuffed a piece of roast chicken in my mouth so I didn’t have to look at anyone.
I felt their attention on me, anyway, but waited patiently for someone to change the subject. Lewis wasn’t particularly talkative, so I was sure we were done with it.
“Why is she the best?” Robyn asked.
Fuck, thanks, Robyn.
“Uh … I don’t know. She just is.” Lewis shrugged again.
Eilidh grinned at her brother. “Lewis fancies her.”
Lewis went beetroot. “I do not, Eilidh. Shut up!”
Nearly every single adult at the table hurriedly shushed him. Thane gave his son a warning look. “Don’t tell your sister to shut up.”
“Well, tell her to stop lying.”
Eilidh grinned wickedly at her brother. “I only speak the truth.”
Before Lewis could launch himself across the table at his sister, Lachlan leaned his head toward our nephew and said something quietly that made Lewis relax. From there, thankfully, the subject of Ms. Sinclair was dropped.
But it was too late.
I kept seeing her expression in the window reflection when I’d walked away as if she’d never spoken. And not for the first time, I wondered why she was still Ms. Sinclair. Why hadn’t she married? Why on earth was Monroe still single? It made no sense. All Roe had ever wanted was a simple life. She’d told me she wanted a job she cared about, a husband who loved her, and children they’d adore, breaking the cycle of abuse and loneliness in her family.
Yet she was still alone?
Needing some air, I excused myself after dessert and stepped out into the back garden, closing the sliding doors behind me so I wouldn’t let in the chill. Outdoor lights illuminated the deck and a small portion of the garden.
The moon, mostly obscured by clouds, danced in broken shards across the black water beyond the cliffs. I could hear the sea crashing below, and though I shivered against the cold night, I closed my eyes and focused on the present.
Slowly, my tension eased.
Then the door opened behind me, and I turned to find Arran stepping outside to join me. He closed the door and shoved his hands into his pockets. “It’s fucking Baltic. What are you doing out here?”
“Just needed a minute.”
“William McLoud supplies the bar at the Gloaming with its more expensive alcohol,” Arran said abruptly. “We’ve become friends.”