Lucas: The Hunter Brothers Series (43 page)

CHAPTER 33

“I
don’t Know, Dex,” I said for the umpteenth time to the only question he seemed
to want the answer to today. I’d dialled his number, but I’d hung up at the
last second, swinging between desperation and anger that he hadn’t even called.
He knew how important this was to Dexter and to me. Before last night it had
been a test, but now it seemed more important than ever.

Could
he put his own feelings to one side to support my son? If he couldn’t, I’d have
to rethink everything, looking up as the door to the lounge flew open.

“We
need to get a wriggle on, is Lucas coming?” Chas asked as I rolled my eyes.

Not
her as well. “I don’t know,” I snapped as she glanced up at me, tutting loudly
as she pulled on her boots.

“I
only asked. God, what crawled up your arse and died?” she quipped sarcastically
as Dexter giggled and I pulled on his coat, trying to straighten his scarf with
fumbling fingers.

“Sorry,”
I said, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. She was right, this was
Dexter’s big night and nothing was going to spoil it.

“He’ll
come, I know he will,” Dexter smiled as I ruffled his hair, wishing I could be
as confident. He was looking up at me hopefully as my heart sank.

“If
he doesn’t, squirt, he’ll have me to answer to,” Chas winked, picking him up
and spinning him around as he laughed excitedly and we headed out to the
community centre for the Sports presentation.

I
sent them inside, hovering on the path and constantly checking my phone. He
might meet us here, he knew where it was and what time, but it was wishful
thinking. I’d heard nothing since the party. The only experience I had of Lucas
being angry had resulted in a week of abstinence, and I was certain I couldn’t
face that again.

When
I was angry with him, it lasted only minutes before the guilt flooded in and I
was wracked with remorse. Maybe he was the type to hold a grudge, but I was
certain he wasn’t the type to take that out on my son.

Dexter
ran outside, looking around before his smile faded and I checked the screen
again. No missed calls, no messages; not even a damn text as I was flooded by
an overwhelming sadness that was reflected in every feature of Dexter’s little
face. This was precisely the reason I’d wanted to hold back.

“You
need to come in, it’s starting,” Chas called from the doorway. Dex ran ahead
and I forced a happy smile for my boy, switching off my phone as I glanced up
the street one final time, silently cursing Lucas Hunter.

“He’d
be here if he could, Dex,” I lied, watching as he made his way towards the
front, shoulders slumped and looking every bit as dejected as I felt and my
heart clenched in my chest.

“Come
on, we’ve done okay without him up to now,” Chas smiled supportively. I knew
she hadn’t bought the whole ‘I’m tired’ thing last night, but at least for now
she wasn’t prying and I was incredibly grateful.

I
sat through the whole presentation with half an eye on the door and a heavy
heart, perking up only when Dexter received his badge, clapping and smiling
loudly. He looked across at me, the disappointment in his five year old face
palpable as his gaze moved to the empty seat next to me.

“Fucking
dickwad,” Chas whispered as I tried to push back the tears that had been
threatening since last night. I wouldn’t tell Chas about the list, I didn’t
dare. I could imagine the verbal assault that would be unleashed on Lucas
during that conversation as I listened to the coach talking about how proud she
was of these kids. She wasn’t the only one.

I
held Dexter’s hand tightly as we left the community centre and he glanced
around, still hopeful and pointing excitedly at the sleek black Bentley that
was parked on the road outside. “That’s Lucas’s car,” he squealed, running off
before I could stop him and wondering whether he was right. It certainly looked
like it, but there was still no sign of the man himself as my eyes darted
around. I pulled my phone out quickly, switching it on and my heart leapt in my
chest as I saw the caller display.

Ten
missed calls.

I
stopped walking as Chas turned to look at me and I gestured for her to go and
watch Dex who was standing by the car. He was peering through the windows as I
pressed return call and Lucas answered on the first ring.

“I’m
so sorry about the presentation, baby” he said and I knew immediately from the
overwhelming sadness in his voice that something was terribly wrong.

 
“Lucas, are you okay?” I asked quickly as my
anger washed away, desperate to be in his arms and soothe away whatever was
causing that pain.

“My
Dad just died,” he said, choking on the words as I swallowed hard, engulfed in
hurt for the man I loved and what I knew he must be going through.

“Oh
God, Lucas, I’m so sorry. Where are you?” I asked, wanting to get to him and
show him how much I cared, support him and give him every ounce of love that he
could handle. He would need it right now.

“We’re
just leaving the hospital and going back to the family estate. Will you come, Jess,
please, I need to see you?” he asked softly as my eyes filled with tears.

“Of
course I’ll come. I’ll ask Chas to have Dex,” I said, hearing his deep sigh of
relief as sadness consumed me.

“You
can bring him along, although I’m not sure it’s a great place for a kid right
now, but will you do me a favour?” he asked as I swiped away the tears that
were running in soft rivulets down my cheeks.

“Anything,”
I said sincerely and I could hear him smiling down the line.

“I
have a surprise for Dexter. I wanted to show him after the presentation. It’s
at my place. Will you take him there first? I want him to know that I didn’t
forget,” he said as warmth and affection surged through my veins.

“Of
course, Lucas,” I smiled, consumed in that instant by a wave of pure love and
it was all I could do not to tell him.

“Mrs
Kilbride will let you in and she’s offered to take care of him if he wants to
stay there. Her grandson is coming down from Scotland tomorrow. He’s seven and
it might be good company for him. I’m worried things might be a bit tense here
for a while, but I understand if you don’t want to leave him. I’ve sent my
driver for you. Decide what you want to do and I’ll see you when you get here,”
he said as I swallowed back the sob that was lodged in my throat.

“And
Jess,” he paused, “Please
hurry
.”

 
He ended the call before I could say any more,
running to the open door of the waiting car, clicking Dexter’s seatbelt in
place as he glanced up at me curiously.

“Lucas
couldn’t come because his daddy just died,” I said, squeezing his warm little
hand as he gazed up at me sadly. “He wants me to go over to the family estate
to be with him. You can come with me if you like, Dex, or you can stay at
Lucas’s house with Mrs Kilbride,” I smiled as he started bouncing in his seat.

“With
the cinema?” he grinned excitedly as I laughed gently.

“Yes,
with the cinema, and he’s got a surprise for you. He wanted to show you himself
after the presentation,” I said as hot tears stung the back of my eyes and I
swallowed hard, trying to hold them back.

“You
can stay with me, squirt, if you want to, but I’m not certain I can compete
with a cinema,” Chas offered kindly, putting her hand reassuringly on my knee
and squeezing it tight as I smiled over at her. Dexter’s face fell momentarily
as he looked at my sister before a giant grin burst across it again.

“Mrs
Kilbride gets pizza too,” he giggled as Chas laughed.

 
“Cool. Well if you want to stay there, I’ll
come and visit and make sure you’re okay. I wouldn’t mind getting a good gander
at Lucas Hunter’s pad,” she said, winking at me as I rolled my eyes.

“I
wonder if it’s as swanky as Charlie’s place,” she smiled as my jaw dropped
open.

“You’ve
been to Charlie’s place?” I gasped, wondering why she’d never told me that and
what else she might be hiding.

“Yeah,
I’ve been a few times,” she laughed, flashing her eyebrows as I shook my head.

“Why
didn’t you tell me?” I asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

“Because
there’s nothing to tell...yet,” she said as the Bentley pulled up at home. I
all but ran into the apartment, pulling together a bag for Dexter and some
clothes and essentials for myself as quickly as I could. I was desperate to get
to Lucas and had absolutely no idea how long I’d be staying.

I
kissed Chas goodbye, jumping into the back of the car and heading over to
Lucas’s beautiful penthouse apartment. Dex passed me a green card with a sad
face drawn in child scribble on the front, a lone tear escaping from one cobalt
coloured eye. From the black sticks representing hair that were protruding
outwards, I could only assume it was supposed to be Lucas as my heart clenched
in my chest. I opened the card to read the words inside that my son had written
as neatly as he could.

‘Don’t
be sad, I love you Lucas’.

“Thank
you, Dex, Lucas will love that,” I smiled down at him, ruffling his hair and
wishing the heavy London traffic would just evaporate so I could be there sooner,
grateful when we pulled into the familiar underground car park. I grabbed his
bag, holding his hand as we made our way up in the shiny elevator, exiting to
the smiling face of Mrs Kilbride who was waiting for us.

She
pulled me into a tight hug, her red rimmed eyes betraying the fact that she’d
been doing some crying
herself
. “Are you staying with
me, Dexter?” she smiled brightly as he nodded excitedly. “Oh I am glad. My
grandson Timmy is visiting tomorrow. I think you’ll have fun.” She smiled at him
and then reassuringly at me, resting her hand on my arm in a comforting gesture
before I followed her into the kitchen.

“I’ve
made you some dinner,” she said as we sat, offering a choice of homemade
lasagne, burger or pasta. It was evident she’d been desperately trying to fill
her time and make herself useful since the news broke, and my heart went out to
her. I knew she cared deeply for Lucas and perhaps that extended to all his
family.

I
shook my head gently, smiling at her as Dexter asked for lasagne. I couldn’t
stomach a thing. It had been churning incessantly since that phone call, and I
knew it wouldn’t settle until I was in his arms.

“Do
you know what happened?” I asked as she served up Dexter’s food and he tucked
in hungrily, pouring me a glass of wine and sitting it on the table.

“Tyler
found him. He’d gone to visit and they think it was a heart attack and all very
sudden,” she said, beckoning me across to the other side of the kitchen,
whispering quietly. “I know that you’re not used to leaving him, Jess, and
especially after what happened. But please don’t worry about him, he’s in good
hands. I’ll call if he’s missing you or wants you to come for him, but Silus’s
death will have hit the boys hard. Lucas will need you. They’ll all look to him
for guidance, they always do. He’ll have to appear strong and in control, even
if he doesn’t feel it. It’ll be better when you’re there, and he has someone
looking after him,” she smiled, her love for Lucas shining through and I
understood.

“I
know he still can’t get hold of Roman. He doesn’t know where he is or how to
contact him and that is really bothering him. He’s had one of his investigators
trying to track him for months, but they’ve come up empty handed. He isn’t
saying so, but I know he thinks he might even be dead. He hasn’t shared that
with the others, but in Roman’s line of work it’s a very real possibility. I
love that boy like he’s my own and that’s why I left the estate and came with
him when he moved out. I was close to all of them, but Lucas is special,” she
said, smiling kindly. “Thank you for bringing Dexter here. It will be wonderful
to have someone I can take care of properly,” she said as I smiled knowingly.
She was a lovely, warm women and I trusted her, finding myself hugging the
sweet natured housekeeper as we both wiped away a small tear, shed for the man
that we loved.

“Can
I have my surprise now?” Dex grinned, having cleared his plate as I gasped at
his audacity. He was normally so polite, but excitement was clearly getting the
better of him.

“Dexter,”
I said, trying to chastise him, but falling short when he pulled out his bottom
lip, pouting playfully before remembering his manners and thanking Mrs Kilbride
for the lasagne.

“Follow
me,” she said happily as Dexter grabbed her hand and I was relieved he felt so
at ease with her. “Lucas wanted to show you this after your presentation, he
built it all himself,” she said as we followed her down the long corridor until
she opened a door on the left.

We
gasped in simultaneous shock as our hands flew to cover our mouths and Dex
looked disbelievingly up at me. I turned my similar gaze on Mrs Kilbride who
was grinning broadly.

In
the corner of the room was a child’s bed in the shape and design of a bright
blue racing car, whilst the rest of the space was like a magic emporium with an
enormous Scalextric weaving its way the entire length of the huge room. There
were boxes and boxes of Lego, a whole craft station with art supplies and a
giant easel and a library of films stacked on shelves that I assumed he could
watch in ‘the cinema’.