CHAPTER ELEVEN

WILLOW

It wasn’t my intention to spy. I was only going to tell them that dinner was ready. But when I got to the door, and I saw them together on the floor, all I could do was stand there and watch, in awe of such a perfect tender moment. Completing the bridge, the gift...and when he hugged Piers, I couldn’t help the gasp that fell from my lips.

Piers’ eyes lock with mine, and he continues to hold Drew while mouthing the words, thank you. But it’s I who should be thanking him. If it wasn’t for him, coming and finding us, we wouldn’t here.

Drew wouldn’t be on the verge of finding out he has a father. I might not have been brave enough to come home, fear holding me back. This place could be sitting empty without toys littering the floor and laughter in the air. So it would seem, we all have something to be thankful for.

Waiting for them to end the hug before speaking, I take a second to pull myself together.

Seeing them pull apart, I gently rap on the paneled wood wall. “Dinner is served. Any hungry builders here looking for a hot meal?”

“Me, me!” Drew jumps up and runs past me.

“Hurry, Piers!”

“Don’t forget to wash up!” I call after him, stepping into the study.

Piers climbs to his feet, making his way towards where I stand, and I feel like time is moving in slow motion. Every step he takes closer to me falls in time with my beating heart.

It’s not a rapid pulse but a deep steady beat. Strong and sure. When there are no steps between us, and we’re standing toe to toe, I tilt my head back to look up at him.

Vain as it may be, my appearance flashes through my mind, and I’m thankful I put on a dress for dinner. Even though it’s a simple cotton shift, it makes me feel feminine.

His eyes stay connected with mine, but it’s as if I feel them moving over my body, my skin flushed at the nearness of him.

I nervously fidget with my hair, which is pulled back into a low knot. I attempt to smooth down the frizzies.

“Stop,” his raspy voice instructs me, and instantly, my body obeys.

“Leave it, it looks beautiful.” His whispered words stun me as his breath fans across my lips, and my arm falls at my side.

“You, look beautiful.” He leans forward, and I feel a pull to him, an invisible magnetic force, but I remain frozen in place as my back presses up against the dark wooden wall, my heartbeat growing more rapid by the second, my body feeling an ache I’m unfamiliar with.

Breaking eye contact, I let my gaze fall to the floor. “Piers.” But no other words will come. How do you say, I’m sorry? How do you explain what happened? How do you share five years of your life in a single moment?

I know there will be time for explanations and apologies...but this is the first time we’ve talked alone that I didn’t see hatred in his eyes when he looked at me.

I’m afraid I don’t know what to say, fearful if it’s the wrong thing, it’ll ruin the progress that we’ve made, and the Piers who knocked on my door, a few days ago, will return.

“Willow. Look at me. Don’t hide from me, please. Not anymore.” He lifts my chin so that I’m once again looking into his deep green eyes before placing his incredible arms on either side of me on the wall.

“Piers…” My voice trembles. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” Fresh tears fill my eyes.

“Shhhh. Not now. I’m not—” His gaze drops to my lips before returning up. “These are uncharted waters for all of us.”

His forehead leans against mine, our lips only a breath apart. “I’m still hurting, and I have so many questions.”

I nod, causing our noses to brush and his lips to gently slide across mine like a feather. A delicate tease. If it wasn’t for the zing straight to my core, I might have thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

“But tonight, can we just be a family?” The words fall from his lips and onto mine. My eyes shut tightly, afraid this is just a dream, and if it is, I don’t want to wake up.

“Okay.” My voice comes out barely a whisper. I’m careful not to nod again while his perfect mouth remains parted against my own. Fear that the tiniest of movements will have his lips sealed over mine.

“Willow?” Our breaths mingle.

“Yes?” I reply, before he’s even finished. My body starts to lean forward just a fraction, chest heaving from exerting so much willpower.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” he tells me as he takes my cheek into his palm. His hands feel soft and firm.

I tilt my head, leaning into his touch, waiting for a kiss that doesn’t come.

“Mum! Piers!” echoes down the hallway as Drew calls us to dinner.

We pull apart as if we’d both been electrocuted. He has a hungry look in his eyes, and I can barely catch my breath.

Quickly composing ourselves, we step into the hall just as Drew reaches the study. “Come on you two! We’re waiting to say grace. And there’s bread pudding, so the sooner we eat, the sooner we get dessert.”

He rambles as he bounces back to the kitchen with us following behind, keeping a careful distance.

“Aren’t you guys hungry?” Drew asks as we enter the dining room.

Piers looks over at me and replies, “Starved.”

Thank goodness I’m holding onto my chair because I might have collapsed from the buckling of my knees. His words are powerful enough, but combined with his intense gaze, I’m reminded I have no defenses when it comes to this man.

§

PIERS

We take our seats. Drew sits proudly at the head of the table, little charmer. Willow sits across from me, busying herself with placing the napkin in her lap. When I see she seems flustered, I’m glad I’m not the only one left affected by our near kiss.

I shouldn’t have invaded her space like that, but I couldn’t walk away from her siren’s call. It’s always been her for me. And now that she’s back, and we’re in this place...it’s stirring up all kinds of emotions.

Trying to keep my mind and my body in line, I take in the lovely table setting, tapered candles, the fresh bouquet, Wendy’s best silver and the good dishes...a fancy set up for Sunday dinner. Then I notice the table is only set for three.

Anna comes bustling out of the kitchen, carrying a tray, placing it on the table.

“Dinner is served,” she announces fairly dramatically.

“Anna, so wonderful to see you!” I rise from my chair to give her a hug. The years have been kind to her with barely any grey showing even though she could be my grandmother.

“Piers, my sweet boy! It’s been too long.” She holds me briefly before pulling back. “My, my, you certainly have bulked up. No wonder Willow can’t keep her eyes off you, lad.”

My own widen in shock, and I look over to see Willow about to crawl under the table. At least I know I’m not alone in this.

Sitting back down, I start to help Anna uncover the dishes. “Now, now. You just keep your hands back. I’ll do this.” She shoos me away.

“You’re not joining us?” Willow asks, sounding almost disappointed.

“Not tonight. Mr. Roderick and I already had our supper. We’re just finishing up in the kitchen.” She starts to excuse herself before adding, “And we’ll be taking a walk later, seeing what supplies are needed and making the shops list. So, you’ll have the house to yourselves for a bit.”

“Did she just wink?” I ask Willow, who is staring after Ms. Anna in shock.

She smiles and shrugs. “Wonder what has gotten into her lately?”

“Glad to have you home, I suppose,” I offer as we pass the dishes and fill our plates with a heavenly smelling Shepherd’s pie, fresh greens from the gardens and bread.

“That I am,” Anna calls from the kitchen. “Bread pudding is on the counter.”

Willow shakes her head in amusement as she rises to help Drew with his food. I watch as she mothers over him, and there’s not a doubt in my mind, she’s an incredible mum. Selfless, brave, kind...strong.

“Time for the blessing,” she announces, and Drew clears his throat and places his palms together. Seeing Willow has done the same, I follow suit.

“God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed, thank you for our daily bread,” he prays. “Amen.”

“Amen,” Willow and I, reply in unison.

“And God Save the Queen!” Drew chants, causing Willow to choke on the water she was drinking.

Laughter rumbles low in my belly, and I can’t help belting out my amusement.

“Drew!” She scolds, “Mind your manners.”

“Mother, we are in England; this is the Queen’s country. I was only showing respect,” he argues.

She looks at me as if to say, I have no idea...I bet he is a handful.

I think of all the other dinners I missed and struggle to remind myself to stay in the now. It’s what I asked of Willow. But I’m enjoying it so much, hanging on every word he says.

I don’t want to miss any more of this. Ever.

“Have you ever met the Queen?” Drew asks me curiously while gobbling his Shepherd’s pie.

“No, I’m afraid not,” I tell him. “But I’ve been to Buckingham Palace. Would you like to go there and see it sometime? See the guards?”

I quickly look to Willow, not wanting to overstep any lines. I find she’s smiling at me and nodding.

I was afraid she would hold Drew so tight I’d have to fight for a little time with him. But I can see now that she’s willing to share. There’s no need for threats. Remembering some of the things I said to her that day, I’m ashamed of the way I behaved at her house, treating this like a business merger.

“Yes! Of course!” Drew exclaims. “They have the tall hats. I’ve seen them in pictures and books from Aunty Wen,” he goes on, never missing a beat, eating his food quickly.

The mention of Wendy has left both Willow and me quiet, lost in thought. I haven’t heard anyone call her Aunty Wen for ages, since Willow was a girl in fact.

Drew takes up the silence, telling me all he knows about London, the red buses, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the Queen, pirate filled pubs. The food and the culture. I fill in a few blanks. It seems Willow has done an outstanding job of showing him where he comes from. Whether he knows it or not.

“I’m not eating black pudding!” he throws out, and I get him laughing by making gagging faces, Willow joins in the laughter, and it takes my breath away.

“You seem to know a lot about London, Piers.”

Drew draws my attention back to him. “But you don’t say all the funny words like Aunty Wen did?”

Willow nods, adding, “I was also a little curious that your accent seems a little more...polished. I mean I get mine changing. I was originally from the states and then between school and going back...” her voice drops off, and she hesitates. When she went back...when she left.

I reply, trying to put her at ease, “Well, I traveled a great deal for work. All over the world. My accent still had that bit of brogue in it. No matter how hard Wendy tried to refine me, it was pretty thick. So when I started traveling for business, I worked on having a more westernized accent to blend better.”

“That makes sense.” She smiles and leans over to remind Drew to use his napkin. “Did you ever have business in the states?”

“Several times in New York, once in Chicago, and a handful of times in Seattle. All really cool places.” She nods thoughtfully, and I think how when I was in New York, I never dreamed she was just a short distance north.

“Wow! You’ve been all over!” Drew lifts his head before putting it back down, all but licking his plate clean. I notice neither Willow nor I have barely touched our food.

Digging in, I let Drew tell me about all the places he visited in the US, mostly east coast, and all the places he still wants to go.

He excuses himself to put his plate away. Such wonderful manners. I’m very proud although know I can take no responsibility. Another reminder of what I missed.

The food is mouthwatering, the rich smell, the hearty taste. “This is the best. I forgot how much I love Anna’s Shepherd’s pie! One of the best I’ve ever had!”

“Indeed it is.” She eats a few more bites before adding, “I would have thought, being the successful man you are, that you would have had a cook or keeper of your own by now. Or went out on the town, dining at the finest places.”

“Well—actually...” I start, but how do I explain, my flat isn’t a home? It’s a place I pack and repack my bag. It’s a glorified storage bunker.

“Oh, God. Piers, I’m sorry.” Her fork clatters to her plate, her expression horrified. “You must think me terribly rude. That came out all wrong.”

“Willow, I do have a keeper but no cook. There’s really no need, since—”

Her eyes go wide, and she cuts me off. “Oh, of course.” She shakes her head. “It never occurred to me that you didn’t live alone. Or have a roommate or, uhhh...I mean girlfriend.” She stands to take her plate, reaching for mine. “It’s none of my business.”

I cover her hand with mine. “Willow, relax. There’s no one. I’m just not home enough to need a full time cook.”

She nods and refuses to make eye contact. Her ivory skin flushes red. “Oh, okay.”

I release her hand, not wanting to make her even more uncomfortable. “Here let me help,” I offer, taking her plate with my own.

“I better check on Drew. I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s getting into the dessert.” I follow her into the kitchen...I would follow her anywhere.