Page 88 of Thick as Thieves
Finally Jonno acknowledges my feelings, taking my hand and giving me a squeeze, then pulling me into a hug. I half sob, half laugh. I’m getting hysterical. Jonno makes a noise in his throat, pulling me harder into his body. He hates to see me upset.
“It’ll be fine, baby sis. You’ll see.” His voice is calm, but I can feel his heart banging at an amazing rate of knots under his shirt.
“Do you think we should tell him first? It feels a bit underhand, this,” I finally push out. “Can’t I just say I saw the photo, and ask him?” I’m trying to think things through. Be considerate of Marshall. Put him first as he always does me.
“You could, but what if we need to act quickly? There’s a lab in York, where this came from. I’m planning on going tomorrow, so cover for me at school. It’s computers and Mr. Latimer lets me do anything I want. I’m so far ahead of him, he knows I could get a degree at this point.” He looks smug at that.
“Jonno, this is serious. I feel like I’m violating him. He loves me, and I him. I don’t want him to hate me. What if he finds out he’s my Dad and decides he’s not bothered about the job either?” I don’t think I could bear it. I feel completely sick, and it’s not just from my overfull stomach and lasagne. My mind’s spinning, and panic is setting in.
“Evie,” Jonno snaps at me to break my spiralling. “That man is your dad in every way your other one is not. He looks after you, looks out for you, he would do anything for you.” He stops and then confidently states, “I think he knows, especially if you think about his behaviour over the past twelve years. Why would he have stayed all this time? His family are in Ireland. I heard Mum once say that Marshall went home and came back for a woman. What if that was your mum? And besides, if it’s true, he’s probably as worried about it as you are. You’re like two peas in a pod.”
“Yeah but?—”
He shakes his head at me. “If they come for you, Evie, to take you away, we can pull this rabbit out of the hat. State Marshall is your dad, therefore your legal guardian. He will not make you leave, no way.”
On that note we’re agreed. I am not leaving. My resolve hardens. It needs to be done to protect me and Marshall, as I don’t think he’d survive anyone taking me from him.
“Do it. Let’s find out. It makes a lot of sense. I cannot believe this photo. She’s like me, or I’m like her. Dervla O’Clery. Marshall says she was the boss.” I grin. “Bit like me then.”
41
Evie
London,
We visit Marshall every day.His heart is fine, they’re not sure about his blood pressure. It’s still not right, and they don’t want to release him. He was very dehydrated and stressed. My crazy exit from Mexico, and him rushing to get to me, leaving behind a stressed Irish family, has caused his body to take a break. They’re unsure about diabetes and keep testing him. He’s getting very annoyed and is on the verge of bolting. I decide to take the twins to see him today. To cheer him up.
I’m armed with my double buggy, which on the streets of London is a problem on a good day. But today is not one of those days. Some idiot has also released a story about my being here with the twins. How I’m causing trauma to my husband and his lover by leaving them high and dry in Mexico. I can’t win. So I’m subjected to stares and some brave people stopping me to talk. Some are supportive, but some—which Tommy had to deal with—are not. I feel like I did when I was pregnant with the twins. Hunted. Prey for a bloodthirsty mob.
I reverse into the room, dragging the buggy in behind me, trying to hold the door with hip then bum cheeks and manoeuvre through it as I mumble to myself. “I’m buying baby tasers.” I continue talking as I enter the room backwards, struggling not to smash the buggy into anything or run over my own foot. “I’m training these two plus the Purcells to taser people who ask intrusive questions. Oh, and stupid ones.”
I stand up, swinging the buggy round to face Marshall in the bed, and stop dead. Kellen and Xander are here, one on each side of Marshall, who looks well guilty.
They don’t say anything, neither do I. The only noise is coming from the buggy, where I hear a bit of a squeal, and Sorley puts his arms up, followed by Lochi. They want out. And they spot people who would carry them around in an instant. Both men have their eyes locked on me. Kellen only breaks the stare to look down at his sons, moving forwards as if in a trance. I hear Xander make a strangled noise, and he too moves towards us.
I step back. No. They’re not coming for me. They stop moving instantly. My lungs have stopped working. I must be going blue with the lack of oxygen in my body. My head is swimming.
“Evie, please, we need to talk,” Kell says, his voice low and desperate. His eyes haunted.
I shake my head, it’s all I can do. I’ll cry and break down if I say a word. I waft at the twins and go to move out of the room.
Marshall opens his mouth as if he’s going to shout my name, and I stop in my tracks.
“I’ll leave these two and come back in a while.” I don’t look up, or look at them directly. I don’t turn to face up to any of them. I close my eyes and stumble towards the door. Finally getting out in a rush, “It’s fine, Marshall,” I leave them to it.
42
Xander
London
My heart stops beatingwhen I see the back of her coming through the door. Tasering people? She must be getting hassled. My blood pressure starts to boil. Who the fuck is driving these stories? It’s relentless and all aimed at her.
She stands up and smiles towards Marshall. It’s as if the sun has finally come out on a cold, dark winter's day. The rays of light warm your blood, your mind, and soul. Showing you where you want to be. I can’t move, I can’t speak. I see Kellen from the corner of my eye, trying to get some words out. But no, her face falls instantly the minute she spots us.
Oh shit. We should have come later. She needs more time.
But I don’t want to give her any. I need her to speak to me. I need to be able to tell her what happened. She never gave us a chance to say anything, she was off and running on full meltdown. Winding everything up to its crisis point.
