Page 16 of Dominate
Vaughn purses his lips, tears filling his eyes as he covers his face to conceal his reaction. He sniffs loudly and looks away, trying hard to compose himself. “Thank you for telling me that.”
Gareth shakes off his father’s thanks, seemingly uncomfortable with what’s shifting between them.
Suddenly, Vi’s voice bellows, “We’re going to the beach.”
“What?” Gareth turns a confused look at his sister.
“We’re going to the beach to have a wake for Mum.”
“Vi, I don’t think…” Gareth begins.
Vi is undeterred. “Her funeral was horrible and we were all too young to grieve her properly. This is what Mum would have wanted.”
She looks back at her brother hopefully with bright, blue, begging eyes, but it’s her father’s response that gives her the permission she’s longing for.
“I think that sounds like an excellent idea,” Vaughn states with a stoic nod. “You’re right. It’s exactly what Vilma would have wanted.”
“Exactly,” Vi replies, then adds in a rush, “And I’m going to marry Hayden while we’re there.”
Gareth’s face goes white. “You want to do a wake and a wedding?”
She nods firmly, not at all fazed by his expression.
Freya’s voice chimes in next. “I think it’s a lovely idea! The end of one love story, the beginning of another!”
“Thank you, Freya!” Vi exclaims and turns her eyes back to Gareth. “Life is short, Gareth. I don’t want to wait anymore. This can work, but you have to be there for me or I won’t do it.”
Gareth scoffs and shakes his head from side-to-side, then begins nodding just as quickly. “If you want me there, I’ll be there, Vi. You know that.”
A wobbly smile spreads across her face. “Brilliant. You boys all have winter break coming up and the doctor should clear you to travel by then, so this will work. This is important enough to make work.”
Vaughn nods firmly and reaches out to hold Vi’s hand. “Whatever you need, Vi, I’m here to help.”
Gareth stares at his father, still greatly confused. This is a very different man sitting in front of us than the guy who showed up at the hospital. But this entire day has been confusing. Never in my life would I have expected to have some of the Harris family sitting at my table, so maybe that’s just what Manchester does to them.
And maybe this is all a good thing. Maybe this is the start of some Harris family healing that Gareth so desperately needs.
THE NEXT DAY PASSES RATHERstrangely. For over ten years, I lived a life of seclusion in Manchester. It was my own little world where I worked out, trained, ate my prepared meals, and travelled with my team. I took the train to London on Sundays for family dinners when I could. I fielded calls from my siblings on a daily basis. It was a simple life. One that I appreciated because it kept me in a routine that I had complete control over. But when Vi suggested everyone fly in for Christmas Eve at my home in Astbury because of my travel restrictions, I could tell it was the beginning of a shift in our family.
So, once the police cleared my home, I said goodbye to Sloan, who was prepping for Sophia’s return. I respect her space and I’m glad I’m not going to infringe on their Christmas together. I realised when I left that I probably wouldn’t be hearing from her for another week. But it doesn’t bother me as much as it did before because I know the reasoning behind it now.
By this afternoon, my entire family had flown in to Manchester on a private jet. My brothers moaned about how they’d have to leave for training really early tomorrow, but being together no matter what is the Harris way. The silver lining is that they’ve kept me too busy to give Sloan and her daughter much thought. Everyone filed into my house with arms full of presents, though. My dad, Vi, Hayden, and Rocky. Camden, Indie, Tanner, and Belle. Even Booker and his pregnant girlfriend, Poppy. She’s not due for another three months, but she looks like she could tip over with that football attached to her stomach.
Thankfully, the damage to my house from the attack was minimal. My house manager, Dorinda, was quickly cleared of any involvement, so she was able to help get everything back to normal before I returned home.
Walking back into my house after knowing someone was in there was an eerie feeling. It was an even eerier feeling to look at the front door knowing that’s where Sloan and I were knocked out and I still can’t remember a fucking thing. The doctor said that something might trigger my memory someday or it may never return. Regardless, the police are working diligently to catch whomever did this. For now, I’m just grateful to have my family here with me to distract my thoughts.
My brothers made themselves at home in the theatre room right away, flicking through old football games and wrestling on the floor like animals, even pulling Rocky into the madness. Vi took over my kitchen like she’d cooked in it a thousand times before. It was madness but kind of nice. After seeing Sloan’s home and Sophia’s bedroom and hearing my dad talk about how he enjoyed the chaos of a big family, it made me long for a bit more mess in my life.
“Gareth, where’s Sloan the Stylist today?” Tanner asks in a bouncy tone as he plops down next to me on the sofa in the living room.
It’s a proper relaxed holiday as the telly blares some old film while Rocky plays on the floor with Hayden and her new toys. Booker and Camden are on the other end of the couch while the girls are all huddled in the kitchen, sipping wine. Dad is upstairs napping like he’s been here a million times before and this isn’t the first time he’s stepped foot inside my house.
“She’s celebrating at home with her…daughter,” I reply, feeling my three brothers’ eyes on me along with my brother-in-law’s.
Tanner strokes his beard slowly. “So you guys aren’t ‘Christmas official’ yet? Is that because you’re still celibate and she won’t buy the bull until she can sample the…milk?” His face falls in disgust over his own euphemism gone horribly wrong.
“You can fuck off,” I grumble and shove him in the arm.
