Page 42 of Pack Rivals: Part Two
“She told me.” I peer over my shoulder at Mrs. Finch. Her mouth is twisted in an unhappy expression. “I went to see her.”
Mrs. Finch snatches the glasses off her nose, letting them fall on their chain, and squints at me over the distance. “Did you do something? Did youboysdo something?”
I swing my gaze back to the window and don’t answer.
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” she says and her tone reminds me of my school principal every time I did something that disappointed her. Which was, unsurprisingly, a hell of a lot.
“Is there any way things can be fixed because she was a good worker, and I found her presence to be beneficial.” High praise indeed coming from my personal assistant.
“No,” I say swallowing, “no I don’t think there is.”
“Hmmmm,” Mrs. Finch says, and when I peek at her again, she looks like she’d like to send me for a life long detention. “I’m disappointed in you, Axel York. I may not agree with everything that goes on around here, or every decision you make, but you’ve never disappointed me before. Bea is a sweet girl.”
“I don’t need a lecture,” I mumble.
“Lucky, because that’s all I have to say on the matter. I have better things to do with my time than lecture you, Mr. York.” She spins around and stomps towards the door.
My shoulders sag in relief. After the verbal bashing from Bea, I’m not sure I can take another from Mrs. Finch.
“One other thing Mr. York, your mom called.”
“Right, I’ll call her back.”
“That’s what you said yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that,” Mrs. Finch snaps. “And have you?” She glowers at me.
“No.”
“She wants you to go and visit. I told her your afternoon was free and you’d be there after lunch.”
“You did what? I have work to be getting on with.”
“Really?” she says, peering at me lingering by the window. “Looks like it.”
“Call her back and tell her something came up.”
“No. I find I’m very busy myself, seeing as I just lost my assistant.” I groan. “Do it yourself.” She reaches for the door handle. “Or even better go and actually see your mother, Axel. She sounded distressed.”
Her gaze softens and I hesitate, then nod.
I glance back out towards the sea and hear the door click shut behind me.
I’ve been putting it off for long enough. It’s about time I went to visit.
* * *
It’s the house– it’smainlythe house. The old-fashioned mansion on the edge of the city with its never-ending grounds and its view of the ocean brings back too many memories. Memories that stab at my heart. Visiting brings everything I’ve lost over the years crashing through the very adept fences I’ve built and lands them well and truly front of mind.
Happy memories. Not bad ones.
Of my dad. Of my mom. Of my brother. Endless memories of my brother. Shit, we had the kind of childhood most children dream of.
A dad who loved us. A mom who doted on us. And unrestrained freedom. Fuck, the stupid adventures we had – only a handful actually resulting in hospitalization.
It was fucking glorious. And whenever I think of it, my heart aches so much I struggle for breath.
I park up in the driveway and hover outside the door.
It’s most probably unlocked. Even if it’s not, I still have my key. But I don’t live here anymore. It’s no longer my home. I can’t just stroll right in. Instead, I pull down on the lever and a loud gong sounds out somewhere deep in the house.
