Page 94 of Charlie
I’d flown all the way from the US to get him out of this cult and when he’d finally been ready to leave, I had failed him.
If only I could have told him my reason for staying.
Bile rose in my throat from the mere thought that Charles believed I’d chosen to stay because I was attracted to Conor. Nothing could be further from the truth. My reason for staying was the safety of the children.
With the way Charles had stormed out and my still feeling shocked from the way Conor had pushed himself at me in the bathroom, I hadn’t managed to talk to Charles before he was gone.
A quick text message from the bathroom, to Mr. Robertson and Kit, was all I’d been able to do for Charles. My hope was that they would find him and explain what I hadn’t been able to tell him.
After Charles left, Conor had been determined to love-bomb me with compliments and encouragement. “You made the right decision. I’m so proud of you for setting your boundary and not allowing Charles’ jealousy to limit you. From the moment I saw you, I sensed there was something special about you, Liv. You’re meant for great things and I’m going to help you achieve it.”
Conor had misinterpreted my resentment toward him as sadness.
“You’re upset that Charlie left. I understand. It’s an awful feeling to see your relationship come crashing down like that. I promise you, though; the rest of us will take good care of you.” Conor had opened his arms to hug me but I had made an excuse and run upstairs to finish the bath I had attempted to take twice already.
I’d skipped dinner and gone straight to check up on Nathan. By nine o’clock, the five children were all in River’s and Nathan’s room. Lumi had crawled up on the foot end of Nathan’s bed and was pulling the sleeves of her purple sweater over her hands. “It’s a shame that Charles left you, but I think you broke his heart when you slept with Conor.”
I was on my stomach using my hands as a pillow, my elbows to the side. Sighing, I looked at Lumi. “I didn’t sleep with Conor and I never will. Charles misunderstood the situation.”
Lumi rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Maybe you can talk to him. If I ever find love, I’ll fight for it. My mom loved my dad and I’m sad that she let him go. She said he was the most brilliant man she ever knew.”
“More brilliant than Dad?” Atlas, who was sitting on the floor next to Nathan’s bed, looked up at Lumi.
“Yes. That’s what she said, but I doubt it.” Pain crossed her face. “I think of him as stupid for not fighting for my mom… and me.”
“Where’s your dad now?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. My mom doesn’t like to talk about it. Their relationship was forbidden.”
“How long have you and your mom lived with Conor?”
“Since I was eleven. Before that we lived in London, where my mom worked as a CPA. Conor was one of her clients but they became friends and he helped her get a better job here. Today she’s a partner in Munster and Son.”
“Yes, she told me.”
“Despite having me, my mom still graduated with the highest score from her university.”
“Wow. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You’re gifted too, Lumi.”
The girl looked down. “We all are. Atlas in particular.”
Atlas frowned. “We had the best teachers, that’s why.” Looking at me, he continued, “Charles has been more than willing to help me. He’s very knowledgeable, did you know that?”
I nodded and lowered my gaze with sadness.
“We all liked Charles.” Atlas spoke on an exhalation and I could tell he was sad too. “Over time you’ll get used to people leaving.”
“Why do you think people leave?” My question made Lumi and Atlas exchange a look.
“For different reasons,” Atlas said in a diplomatic way, but from the corner of the room, a more honest answer came from his younger brother.
“It’s because of Dad.” Maximum used a matter-of-fact tone, while touching one of Nathan’s Star Wars space ships.
Like a hunter on a trail, I turned my head to him. “What do you mean?”
All the children were quiet. Nathan, who had been woken up by the commotion in his room, was sitting up in his bed under his duvet with his knees pulled up in front of him. “You can tell her. Liv isn’t like the others. She believed me over Dad.”
Five sets of eyes were on me and it suddenly felt like a defining moment. If this had been poker, I’d been called out and it was time to show my cards. “I still believe Nathan didn’t come up with the idea to meditate in the pond by himself.”
