London Bound (27 page)

While Nadine murmured reassurances, Nathan studied his sister. While he took after his mother in coloring, Lara was all their father—dark brown curls and brown eyes. Same with Maddie. Sometimes, it took his breath away when they’d make a face, and all Nathan could see was his dad. Meg had mentioned feeling the same thing—seeing her husband in her children’s faces—and they’d talked about how the pain of that had faded, that it was now something they found comfort in.

Shaking free of the musings, he took a deep breath, stomach jumping with nerves. Even though knew he was doing the right thing, doing what he needed to do, what would make him happy, he dreaded hurting or disappointing the people he loved. He could only hope they would understand.

Both women were looking at him now—his mother curiously, Lara warily. He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. Not one to beat round the bush, he dove right in.

“I’ve made some decisions recently, and I asked the two of you here to discuss them and how they would affect the company. I hope we’ll be able to agree on how I can still be a part of the business you and Dad created, but if not, I’m prepared to hand in my resignation. Effective immediately.”

His mother’s brows lifted, and Lara gasped.

“This is about her, isn’t it?” she said. “You’re going to walk away from everything—your family, your job, your life? Nate, I know you have feelings for her but—”

“I love her.” He met his mother’s gaze. “Her name is Meg, Mum, and I’m in love with her.”

Nadine held up her hand, effectively cutting off his sister’s sputtering. “Go on.”

Nathan fought not to squirm, feeling every inch the child, again. “I’m not walking away my family. Never. And, I hope, what I’m proposing means I don’t have to walk away from this company. As for walking away from my life... I want to build a life with Meg. I don’t feel like I’m giving anything up by doing that. I’m only gaining.”

“You’re not building a life with her, though,” Lara protested. “You’d be stepping into a ready-made one. Are you really prepared for that? She’s a package deal. That’s why you’re going to her, isn’t it? Because she refuses to move her children?”

“She didn’t have to refuse, because I’d never ask her to do that,” he snapped. “I’m well aware of what I’m doing, Lara. It’s worth it.”

“Is it?” she asked, shaking her head. “Because it seems to me that you’re the only one making sacrifices.”

“Lara.” Nadine’s voice shot through the room, hard and sharp. “You will shut your mouth, and let your brother talk.”

Lara’s face paled, and she clamped her mouth shut. Nadine turned back to Nathan.

“What are you proposing?”

“Most of the work I do is done in this office on the computer,” he started. “Other than the traveling I have to do several times a year—most of which is to the States—there’s no reason I can’t continue doing my job remotely. Most of what I do is review reports on what stage projects are in and market the medical devices we develop. I have nothing to do with the research and development side of things, so it’s hardly necessary for me to physically be here every day. I can conference in to meetings when needed, and I’d fly back whenever necessary. Besides, I...
we’ll
have other reasons to visit.”

He stared at his mother, trying to gauge her reaction. As usual, she kept her thoughts and feeling successfully hidden.

“However, if you believe I can’t do my job remotely, I—”

A knock interrupted, and Nathan sighed in irritation.

“Come in,” he snapped.

Rachel opened the door, nervously shifting on her feet. “I’m sorry. I know you said no interruptions, sir, but you also said to always put Ms. Stevens through, so I—”

“Meg’s on the line?” He was already reaching for the phone, wondering why she’d be calling the company number, not his mobile.

“No, it’s an Emily Stevens, but I didn’t want to refuse to put her through after...” She cleared her throat. “I thought you might want to take the call, even if it was interrupting your meeting. She’s on line one. I hope that was the right thing to do.”

Nathan frowned. What on Earth was Meg’s daughter calling for? Panic gripped him, chilled him to the bone. His hand shook as he wrapped his fingers around the receiver. If something had happened to Meg...

“It was exactly the right thing to do. Thank you, Rachel. You may go, now,” Nadine said. “Nathan, answer the phone.”

He nodded and hit the flashing button as he brought the phone to his ear. “Emily? Is everything all right? Your mom, Aaron? Are
you
all right?”

“Hi, Nathan. Everything’s fine. Well, not fine, but no one is hurt or anything. I...I needed to talk to you, and I couldn’t manage to sneak Mom’s phone, so I had to go online and find your company’s website to get the main number to get ahold of you. I hope that was all right. Are you in the middle of something? If you can’t talk, I can call back, or you could call me. But could you give me your cell phone number? I’ll give you mine, too. I just don’t want to have to go through all that again. Everyone I talked to kept asking me why I wanted to talk to you—may I ask what this is regarding?” she said in a horrible British accent.

Nathan, though still a tad uneasy, couldn’t help but smile. At the impression and the fact she was just like her mum—a bit of nerves and the words didn’t stop.

“And I sure as heck didn’t want to tell them why I was calling. It’s none of their business, really, and actually a little rude to even ask. I was really expecting English people to be more polite and—”

“Emily,” he interrupted gently. “Take a deep breath, sweetheart, and tell me what’s going on.”

After inhaling then exhaling slowly, she said, “Nathan, my mom is really sad. She’s hurting real bad, and I think it’s because of you. I’m not saying it’s on purpose or you did anything wrong, but... Well, she’s hurting because of you, so I think you need to do something about it.”

Meg’s “You broke it, so fix it!” echoed through Nathan’s mind. He scrubbed his palm over his face and didn’t miss the way his mum and sister listened carefully to his end of the conversation, such as it was, to this point.

“Emily, I know you’re worried, but it’s going to be all right,” he assured her.

“All week, she’s been sad and just...not herself. And, this morning, she was crying. Holding some necklace I think you gave her and
crying
.”

Nathan frowned. This morning? After last night, surely she didn’t have doubts about them, anymore. He bit back a snort. Who was he kidding? It was Meg. Sweet Meg, whose mind took hold of a small doubt and ran a fucking marathon with it.

“You need to do something. She was so happy when she was there. The way she smiled and the way she looked at you... It was like...like...” She cleared her throat. “I don’t remember a lot before my dad got sick, Nathan. But I remember that smile and that look. She loves you.” When he didn’t say anything, she groaned. “I probably shouldn’t have brought up my dad. That was stupid. I’m sorry. I just want you to know how serious this is. And if you feel the same way, you need to tell her and do something. If not, then... I don’t know; you need to tell her and break it off completely or...”

“Sweetheart, you don’t need to apologize for talking about your dad. That is always all right,” he said solemnly. “And...I am doing something.”

“Really?”

Christ, she sounded so young, at that moment, his chest hurt.

“Yes, really. It’s really going to be all right,” he promised.

“You love her, too, don’t you?” she asked, voice brimming with hope.

“Yes,” he said simply.

“I knew it!” she crowed. “So...what are you doing? Can I...can I help?”

“Yes, but not right now. If I’m doing the math correctly, you should be in school.”

“Class doesn’t start for...ten minutes,” she protested.

“Well, then, you better get moving. Give me your mobile number, and we’ll talk soon.” He pulled his from his pocket and opened a new contact.

“Mobile number,” she mimicked, snickering.

Nathan grinned as he plugged in the number she rattled off. Once it was entered, he tapped the screen several times.

“All right, I just texted you, so you have my direct number, now. Go to class and— Wait, do you and your brother have passports?” he asked quickly.

“Yes,” she said, drawing the word out. “Why? Are we going somewhere, Nathan?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” he said firmly. “Now, get to class.”

“Bossy,” she muttered then more clearly, “Thank you. Aaron and I just want Mom to be happy.”

“I know. Me, too, sweetheart.”

“Because you love her,” she drawled.

“Yes, because I love her.”

She giggled. “Talk to you soon. Bye, Nathan.”

“Bye, Emily.”

He replaced the receiver then lifted his gaze to the women sitting across from him. A small, soft smile curved his mother’s lips.

“Well,” she said slowly, “I believe the question of whether Nathan is prepared to become a part of that family has been answered.”

Lara stared at him with teary eyes and shook her head. “I’m not trying to be a bitch or anything. I want what’s best for you, that’s all. I don’t know that this is the—”

“Your brother is perfectly capable of determining what is best for him,” Nadine interrupted. “If you can’t accept that and be supportive, then you can go back to the lab. Your choice.”

Biting her lip, Lara met Nathan’s gaze. “You’re really going to do this? Move to the States for her?”

He nodded. “I’d do anything for her—for us.”

She blew out a long breath. “All right. If that’s what you really want, I can...”

“Just accept that it’s what I want. That’s all I ask right now. And, eventually, you’ll see this is what I need.”

Lara gave a shaky nod. “I can do that.”

Nadine smiled at her then looked at Nathan. “It’s a good thing you’re coming to dinner tonight, because I need to hear more about this woman and her family. I’m assuming you asked about passports because you plan on bringing them here, and I’ll have an opportunity to meet them myself?”

Nathan nodded, swallowing around the lump in his throat. Her instant support was something he’d hoped for but couldn’t bring himself to count on.

“Yes,” he said hoarsely. “I’ll have to talk to Meg, of course, but I was hoping, perhaps, over Christmas, when the kids are on break from school.”

“Brilliant. Now, it seems we have a number things to work out,” she said brightly, “because I won’t be accepting your resignation any time soon.”

“Yes, Mum.” He grinned.

“Have you booked your flight, yet?”

He glanced at his computer, where the airline’s website stared at him. “Not yet, but I’d like to leave before the end of the week.”

“Then, we’d better get to work.”

“C
alm down. Wearing a trench in the floor isn’t going to make her ready any sooner,” Aaron pointed out from where he was sprawled on the sofa.

Meg rolled her eyes and stopped pacing. “We’re supposed to be at the restaurant in twenty minutes.”

“Aunt Caro is always late. It’ll be fine. If they somehow make it there before us, they’ll get a table. Relax.” He tipped his head back and closed his eyes.

Meg stared at him. He was usually the one yelling up the stairs for her and Emily to get a move on. Usually impatient and ready to walk out the door without them. She shook her head and sat on the chair across from him, leaning back with a sigh.

She rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the tension. Everything was good, except she hadn’t been able to connect with Nathan all week. Other than texting. While she understood he was busy with work and the time difference royally screwed them, she couldn’t help but feel disappointment. And not a little doubt. She tried to shove that aside, she really did, but if the first week they were making a go of this they couldn’t even manage a phone call, it didn’t bode well for the long term. Though, the voicemail she’d woken up to had certainly helped.

Hello, love. I just wanted to hear your voice. I guess I’ll have to make do with the recording. This week... Well, fuck this week. It’s going to be better, I promise. I’d give anything to see your gorgeous smile, right now. Soon, though. Sleep well, darling girl.

She’d probably listened to that damned message a dozen times through the day. Desperate for some reassurance as her texts went unanswered and her calls went straight to voicemail. She was proud of herself, though, because she wasn’t obsessing. Much. Though, she was worried that something was wrong. Maybe with his sister. Meg knew his mother and Maddie had returned to London, and she hoped everything was all right.

The doorbell sounded, and Meg sat up with a jolt. She glanced at Aaron who hadn’t moved so much as a muscle. Footsteps thundered down the stairs.

“I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it!” Emily called, racing for the front door.

“We were meeting them at the restaurant, right?” Meg asked, pushing to her feet.

“Yep,” Aaron answered, eyes still closed.

She crossed the room and stuttered to stop. Nathan. It was Nathan. Standing just inside the foyer with Emily, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet, looking back and forth between the two of them.

“Nathan?” Meg whispered.

“Hello, love.”

She stared, unable to move for the shock of it. Her mind, though, oh, her mind was racing, putting it all together. Emily taking so long, Aaron relaxed and uncaring, Emily running for the door...

“You knew,” Meg gasped. “You knew he was coming.”

Emily pressed her lips together and nodded. “He was late, though, so I had to stall.”

Nathan lifted a shoulder. “Connecting flight was delayed.”

“He kept texting me updates,” she said brightly. “I thought he’d never get here. Or I’d have to tell you and ruin the surprise.”

Meg shook her head. “You have her number?”

Another slight shrug. “She managed to track me down. Very resourceful, your daughter, and determined.”

“I see. And you’re here for—” She didn’t know how to finish that, what she was asking, really.

“For as long as you’ll have me,” he finished for her. “You asked me if I’m serious about us and making this work. This is my answer. I’m here for as long as you’ll have me, love.”