More Than Scars (14 page)

             
I held the notebook out to him with our outline.

             
He took it from my hands, setting it on the table, and then took my hands. “You will come to this party. I want you there.”

             
My heart flipped. It wasn’t just his words. It was his touch.

             
“Please. It was your idea. I wouldn’t feel right being there without you.”

             
I smiled. “I would love to.”

             
I heard the smile in his voice. “Thank you.”

             
My head bowed, I nodded. I loved how his hands continued to squeeze around mine. His thumbs brushed the pulse at my wrists and I wondered if he could feel the thrumming there.

             
He cleared his throat and released me. “What are your plans for today?” His freed hands went right to his tie to straighten it.

             
I cleared my own throat. “After lessons, the girls and I are picking up where we left off on a book I was reading to them. I’m going now to listen to the end of their…” I stopped and reached for his hand. I felt his fingers tremble beneath mine. “You should come listen. Brianne plays so amazingly! I was told she plays as well as you did.” I paused when I felt I had said too much.

             
He grinned. “She is very good. I sit with her now and then. We have played together,” he whispered.

             
My heart leapt. “She could really do something with this if she wanted. Could you imagine if she decided to compete?” I bit my lip. “Have you ever considered entering her in a competition?”

             
Liam pulled his hand from mine and rose to his feet.

             
I wanted to groan.

             
“She gets her lessons here.”

             
“And what of her future Mr. Byrne?” I asked gently. “What about when she grows up and wants to make something of herself?”

             
“That would mean she would have to travel. She would have to leave the premises.”

             
“Is that so bad?” I held my breath.

             
“She is too young.”

             
“What about when she’s older? She will not have any experience of the outside world.”

             
“We will cross that bridge then,” he whispered but there was an edge in his voice.

             
“When? She can’t have a crash course in reality.”

             
“She is six,” he growled.

             
I swallowed.

             
“My daughters are not backward. They are smart and outgoing. I do not worry about their future,” he spoke calmly.

             
My frown could not be helped. “How do you know they are outgoing?”

             
He blew out a breath. “Look how they are with you…their tutors…the help…”

             
“With adults,” I spoke pointedly.

             
He turned to me and I quickly lowered my head. “What are you saying Miss Meadows?”

             
My mouth was dry again. I had no more water in my glass. I glanced hopefully at his and pushed aside my pride, reached for his glass and took a sip. “They only have each other. You do not know how they will interact with other children. They need friends their own age. I have been around children long enough to know this…”

             
“They are my children. I think I know best.”

             
“I think you believe you are doing your best by shielding them…”

             
“I am doing my best,” he suddenly shouted. “Do not think you can tell me you know what they need! I am keeping them from the pain that is outside those walls. I am keeping them alive!” His rage was palpable.

             
I held back my tears. My feelings being hurt did not count in this matter. “You are keeping them from living,” I whispered. “You are keeping yourself from living.” I knew there were tears in my voice and before they appeared on my cheeks; I ran from the room.

             
I did not make it far before his shout came from the room.

             
“Miss Meadows! You will come back here! Now!”

             
My shoulders slumped and I turned back, re-entering with trepidation. He closed the door and came up behind me. I felt his breath on my neck and knew he was controlling his anger. “Tell me what you mean by that,” he bit out in a low deep voice.

             
My trembling was not from fear. I was fighting the urge to cry now. To break down. I wish I hadn’t said anything. Why did I have to open my mouth and speak my feelings? Why couldn’t I hold it in? Why hadn’t I listened to Ian and waited until after the party?

             
“I am keeping my daughters from living?”

             
I closed my eyes.

             
“Are they happy?”

             
I nodded.

             
“Are they healthy?”

             
I nodded again.

             
“Do they want for anything? ANYTHING? Miss Meadows?”

             
I shook my head.

             
He sighed. “Then how are they not living?” There was defeat and confusion in his voice.

             
I turned to him. My eyes were on his tie. “There is more to life than just having your needs met and your body whole Mr. Byrne. There is so much out there that they need to experience. They don’t even know what they are missing!”

             
“If they don’t know then how can it hurt them?”

             
“Eventually what they have here will not be enough. You have made a wonderful place for them here but they will have dreams and if you confine them here those dreams will never be realized! They will want to fall in love and maybe marry one day! If you have them in a box…how will this happen? And you…you keep yourself in this box! Don’t you have places you want to go!” My heart hammered. “Don’t you want to fall in love again?”

             
He pulled in a deep breath and I watched his chest rise and fall on that breath. “That isn’t going to happen for me.”

             
“You can’t know that if you are in here…hiding in here,” I whispered.

             
He cleared his throat and his shoulders straightened. “Miss Meadows, I do not want to hear about the children leaving…about my parenting skills or lack thereof. Your job is to watch them, nurture them, and if necessary consult with me on their needs. Your job is not to debate me and it is certainly not for you to chastise me. Do I make myself clear?”

             
My lip trembled, so I tucked it between my teeth and bit down as I nodded.

             
“Then I suggest you go to them now and see if they are still in lesson. I have a lot of work yet to do and do not have time for your distractions. If I have to shout after you to return to my office again your job will be in jeopardy. You do not leave this office without my dismissal. Is that also clear?”

I blinked tears and nodded.

“I will not deal with the weeping and emotional state of female staff…no matter how pretty and pleasant they are. I am not my brother. Since you have him wrapped around your finger already…I suggest you go to him for such things.”

Oh, I had struck a nerve somewhere in my last few sentences. This was Liam Byrne the business man speaking. This was not the Liam Byrne I had gotten to know.

“Did you have anything else you wished to share?”

I shook my head.

He leaned in and his scent overwhelmed me. His stubble brushed my cheek and his warm breath touched my ear. “You may take your lovely self from my hiding place Miss Meadows,” he growled and moved swiftly away.

I drew in a breath and obeyed.

I have to say I was hurt. I have to say I was a little scared and I have to say I was pretty pissed. Liam Byrne was being stubborn. He couldn’t see past his own nose! He couldn’t see past his own tragedy! His girls were going to suffer for it to! And he was hiding! So my words had ticked him off? Good! He was hiding in his little hidey hole office behind his power and his money! If he were a poor man he would have had to face things long ago!

Yes, I was the newcomer but maybe that was a good thing! I was seeing things as they really were! My temper was bubbling…my anger barely tempered! I was not in the mood!

“Rissa!”

And just like that my anger evaporated. I knelt down to gather the two beautiful girls in a hug.

“Are you all better? Uncle Ian said you were sick!” Brianne’s blues studied my face. “Your cheeks are pink!”

Ian was leaning on the door-jam to the music room, looking amused. “Yes, they are quite pink
Rissa!”

My urge to stick my tongue out at him was killed when Amelia took my face in her hands and kissed my forehead. “No
feber,” she sighed. “Daddy does that for a feber.”

I kissed her forehead back. “I’m okay girls. I’m upset I didn’t get to hear you practice though!”

Brianne immediately grabbed my hand and tugged me back into the room. “I will play for you Rissa. Amie, you sit with her and make sure she’s okay.” She shoved me toward a sofa. I gladly cuddled up with the little girl. Ian joined us and we enjoyed Brianne’s playing together.

“
Bri is better Rissa. I not good.”

Ian leaned in. “That’s
cause she has blue eyes…”

I gave him a glare and then laughed. Ian was really starting to grow on me.

“What happened?” he whispered over Amelia’s head. “I saw the look.”

“I brought up Brianne competing! And other things…it was ugly.”

He sighed and gave me a look of empathy. I am sure he had been where I had been many times. Difference was…he was the brother. I was the lowly servant.

“I will talk to him.”

“I don’t want him upset with you Ian,” I whispered back. “You were right. We should wait.”

He chuckled. “I saw your face
Rissa! You are just biding your time! You are pissed off!”

Amelia struggled in my arms. “
Rissa, Uncle Ian said pissed. We aren’t allowed to say pissed!”

Ian and I burst out laughing, causing Brianne to pause in her playing. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at us and then began playing again.

“I may need spanked later,” Ian teased.

“I will let Liam know,” I teased back.

“You said Liam,” Ian chuckled.

I groaned and then laughed.

Yeah, this friendship thing was going to be a good thing for me and my spirits.

Brianne finished her mini concert and Ian had to leave for work. He was, after all, the face of Byrne Industry. I was sad to see him going. He had almost turned my attitude around completely. Now I didn’t know if I was pissed enough to walk down and punch Liam in the throat or kiss him on the mouth! My tummy did a free fall at the latter thought. I would deal with those feelings later…much
much later when I did not have small children around!

I soon had the children upstairs and we read a bit before turning on the television for their favorite morning show. We didn’t watch a lot of T.V. I tried to keep them busy other ways but since they had no other outside influence, I did not see the harm in it.

A commercial came on and the girls paused to watch.

It was just a fast food commercial and is boasted the best play land and burgers in town. It showed children going down the slides and jumping into vats of colorful balls. The girls stood mesmerized. I watched them smiling sadly. It was so hard to believe they had never been!

“Rissa where is that?”

I bit my lip.
“Down the street.”

Both pair of eyes turned to me.

I drew in a breath and gave a nod. I had a bone to pick with Liam Byrne.

I held a finger up to them and went for my phone in my bedroom. I dialed my brother.
“Hey Al? Can you meet me somewhere? I know you are probably in the middle of a shift but….you can?” I smiled. “You will be proud of me…and I will explain when I see you…I promise.” I gave him directions and hung up. I set the cell on my dresser and pushed it away. There was no way I was taking that with me…not with its tracking device! I glanced about the beautiful room and sighed. When I chose to make a point, it usually cost me! But anything worth choosing should be worth its price!

Now, the tricky part!