‘Are you disappointed?’
I shake my head as I slip into the backseat again, smiling like crazy on the inside. I look across the car when I hear the door open, and Miller slides in, getting comfy in his seat. ‘You’re coming to mine,’ he states matter-of-factly. ‘William has spoken to Gregory. Everything is fine.’
I’m abruptly strangled by guilt. I haven’t thought about Nan amid the crazy events of the best part of today. ‘I need to see her.’ She’ll be out of her mind, and now I’m remembering all sorts of disturbing things she has said. She knows Gracie is back, and I’m not going to even bother thinking she won’t want to see her. I need to get home and prepare her for that.
‘No, you don’t.’ Miller looks to me, his eyebrows high, and while I’m delighted that he’s back with an infuriating bang, I’m not so pleased he’s insisting on keeping me away from my grandmother.
‘Yes, I do,’ I retort, throwing my best try me look. I’m pleading to God that he doesn’t push this. I’ve only just got him back. I don’t want to start off on a disagreement.
‘We need some alone time,’ he says quietly, yanking at my heartstrings. I screw my face up, feeling defeat muscling past my determination. How can I refuse after what he’s been through? ‘I need you in my arms, Olivia. Just us. I beg you.’ His hand creeps towards me and settles on my knee, flexing and stroking. ‘Give me my time, sweet girl.’
My shoulders sag on a sigh. The two people I love most in the world both need me now, and I haven’t a clue which one I should centre my attention on. Why not both? ‘You can come home with me,’ I suggest, solving my predicament instantly, but my satisfaction slips away when he slowly shakes his head.
‘I need my home, my things . . . you.’ He means his perfect world. His perfect world has been turned up on its head, and now he needs to restore some of it. He won’t feel completely settled until he can do that. I get it.
‘Miller, I—’
I’m cut short when William leans into the car. ‘I’m taking your mother to Josephine’s.’
I panic, starting to scramble from the car. ‘But—’
‘No buts,’ William warns, stopping me.
I snap my mouth shut and shoot him an indignant look. Not that it even minutely dents the hard authority he’s exuding.
‘You’ll do as you’re told for once and trust we’ll do right by your grandmother.’
‘She’s delicate,’ I protest, making to exit the car again. I don’t know why. I’m not stupid enough to think I’m going anywhere.
‘Back in.’ William almost laughs, pushing me down to the seat. Then Miller joins forces with him, pulling me across the seat until I’m a prisoner in his arms.
‘Hey,’ I gripe, wriggling in a futile effort to escape.
‘Really, Olivia?’ Miller grumbles tiredly. ‘After everything we’ve been through today, are you honestly going to hit me with your sass?’ He squeezes me in. ‘There is no choice here. You’re coming home and you’re going to do it without a fuss, sweet girl. Shut the door, Anderson.’
My stunned eyes look to William, who shrugs on a smile and goes to shut the door, but a well-manicured hand rested on his forearm halts him. He turns to find Gracie’s pleading face. He visibly sags and turns a similar pleading face to Miller. I complete the party and do exactly the same. My poor, exhausted man has three sets of beseeching eyes rooted on him. I can’t even feel guilty for the defeated look that replaces his sheer determination to have me to himself. He releases me and flops back in his seat on a sigh. ‘Just . . . fucking . . . perfect,’ he breathes.
‘I need to see her, Miller.’ Gracie steps forward and William doesn’t stop her. ‘And I need Olivia with me. I promise you, I’ll never ask for another thing. Just give me this.’
I gulp down my pain and watch as he slowly starts to nod. ‘I’m coming, too,’ he states, short and sharp, ensuring all involved know it’s not up for discussion. ‘We’ll meet you there. Drive on, Ted.’ Miller refuses to look at me.
‘Certainly, sir,’ Ted confirms, looking at me in the rear-view mirror, smiling brightly. ‘With the greatest of pleasure.’
The door closes next to me and as we pull away, I see William escorting a shaky-looking Gracie over to Tony’s Audi. I don’t waste time trying to prepare for what’s to come once we arrive at Nan’s. Nothing could possibly work.
I don’t want to go in. I know William and Gracie haven’t arrived yet. Not even a stunt driver could beat Ted in London traffic. I’m just standing on the pavement, staring at the front door, willing Miller to encourage me onward. I know he won’t, though. He’ll leave me forever if he has to, unprepared to make me rush something monumental that I thought would never happen. But it is going to happen. And I really have no idea how to handle it. Should I go in now? Should I prepare her, let her know Gracie is on her way? Or should I wait and take my mother in to see Nan? I really don’t know, but I’m halfway to my decision being made for me when the front door swings open and Gregory appears. It takes a few confused moments to register that he’s not alone, and his companion is neither Nan nor George. It’s Ben.
‘Baby girl.’ His greeting rolls out on a gush of relieved air and he moves in fast, taking me in his arms, with not so much as a look at Miller to gain approval or permission. It’s not needed anymore. He squeezes me tightly and I look over his shoulder to see Ben smiling fondly. It doesn’t even fall away when I watch his eyes cast over our cuddling forms to where Miller is standing. ‘Are you OK?’ Greg asks, pulling me from his embrace, scanning my face and wincing at the sight of my cut cheek. I try nodding, knowing speech isn’t something I’m capable of right now, but even my bodily functions are failing me, so Gregory looks to Miller. ‘Is she OK?’