Page 97 of Love is a Harmony
“Bollocks.” Noah snorted.
Ava nudged him. “Let her have her little fantasies.”
Nan leveled them both with a glare. “You two have always been daft children.”
“Didn’t you used to say we were too smart for our own goods?” Noah shared a look with Ava.
“No.” Nan crossed her arms.
“Can’t lie to us, woman.”
“I always thought you three were going to be the death of your mother.”You three. Noah, Ava… and Carson. It didn’t feel right without the final side to their triangle. Nan’s lips curved up as she continued. “But you always put the life right into me.”
“Well then.” Noah reached out to poke Stella’s shoulder. “It’s a good thing there’s a new generation to help an old woman live forever.”
The conversation abated, and Noah stared out the window as they left the city behind, heading to the outskirts. It was a familiar, yet foreign place to him, the place of his childhood, where he’d dreamed of bigger things than following his family’s legacy.
Ava’s hand found his, and he was grateful for the strength he knew he’d need in the coming days. If he’d had a choice, he wouldn’t have brought Stella here.
But this was her family too, and she deserved to know where she came from, she deserved to put her father to rest one final time.
A sigh rattled from Noah’s lungs, and he caught Nan watching him with sad eyes, all joking now gone. They knew those playful moments couldn’t last, that there would be a lot more pain before this was over.
And he couldn’t feel it. Numb might not have been the best way to describe Noah the last few days, but it was like nothing touched him. Nothing good. Nothing bad. Last night, he’d spent almost the entire night on the deck of his house staring out at the fathomless sea, a sight that normally reminded him how inconsequential individual actions were. It was why he lived near the ocean. The world was much bigger than Noah Clarke. It kept him grounded through his successes and moving forward through his failures. None held too much weight.
But last night, all he’d seen was how dark his world had become.
Melanie’s words were on constant replay in his mind.
She didn’t love him, but he should be used to that. In his entire life, the only people who’d always been there were Nan and Ava.
He’d never been enough for anyone else.
Not even Carson.
His eyes found Stella across the limo. She was a puzzle he hadn’t been able to figure out. Noah would probably never know why Carson left her to him.
By the time they reached the gates of the familiar estate, the sun had started to sink behind the trees on the horizon. Past the tall, white gates, manicured lawns spanned the distance to elaborate gardens—his mother’s pride and joy, not like she actually got her hands dirty in the gardens herself. Flowers of every color dotted the landscape, winding around stone paths to the stables.
Noah closed his eyes, picturing himself racing across the lawns on top of a prize-winning horse with Carson at his side. Not everything about growing up at the Clarke estate had been bad.
When he opened his eyes again, the limo pulled across the circular drive, stopping near the steps to the mahogany doors in the red brick house. House was an inadequate word for the sprawling building before them.
Noah almost laughed at Stella’s awed expression. She hadn’t exactly been living in squalor in L.A. But this was different.
This was the life of a noble, people of fairytales to American children.
The driver opened the door. “Welcome home, Mr. Clarke.”
“Thank you.” Those words were better than the ones he wanted to say pleading to go straight back to the airport.
Instead, he reached a hand in to Stella, helping her out. He didn’t release her as the front door opened, revealing a man in a coat and tails. “Mr. Clarke.” He nodded. “Lady.” He dipped his head lower for Nan.
“Kinkaide.” Noah led Stella up the steps. “Please make sure our bags are taken to my rooms.” He walked by him without another word, cringing at how easily he could slip back into lord of the house mannerisms.
But Kinkaide had never been fond of Noah or Carson. He’d served as the butler of the manor since Noah was a child, always ordering them around, never kind. Well, Noah wasn’t a child anymore, and he would never let anyone treat Stella like she was unwelcome in her own home.
“Noah.” Nan put a hand on his arm. “You look exhausted.”
