We clean up, eat a yummy breakfast of pancakes with all the trimmings, and pack all our bags, ready for our flights later tonight back to Colorado. I plonk myself down on the sofa next to Jax, snuggling into his huge frame and loving it when he wraps one of his big arms around me, pulling me closer.
“So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?” I ask, looking around at the others who all seem to be staring anywhere but at me causing a slight chill to slither up my spine. “What? What aren’t you telling me?” I go to sit up straighter, but Jax keeps a firm grip around me so that I can’t fucking budge. Stupid man muscles being used against me.
“Princess, Lilly,” Ash starts, leaning forward in his own chair and resting his elbows on his thighs. He looks directly into my eyes now, his own grey and as unreadable as a cloudy sky. “When we discovered who your mother was, what her real name was, Kai looked into her family.”
“Yeah?” I ask, glancing quickly over to Kai who’s also now looking my way with a sympathetic softness to his face as he holds his iPad.
“Yes, and she has living relatives, Lilly. Well, lots of relatives, but her parents are still alive. Harold and Petunia Rochester, aged eighty-seven and eighty-four respectively,” Kai tells me, and there’s a slight whooshing in my ears at his news.
“I have grandparents?” I question softly, my fingers tightening into Jax’s T-shirt for support, glad that he pulled me so close to him.
“Yes, you do, Princess,” Ash interjects, and I swing my wide eyes back towards him. “And they live in London, Kensington to be exact.”
“Kensington?” I repeat, my mind spinning with how close they are, how close they may have always been.
“Would you like to meet them, Pretty Girl?” Loki asks me as he comes to crouch in front of me, taking my suddenly cold and tingling hands in his.
“B–But the flight?” I enquire, my mind going straight to practicalities.
“Can be delayed,” Jax rumbles underneath me, and I feel the vibrations against the side of my face that’s resting on his chest. “If you want it to.”
I momentarily flashback to when I first met Jax and how quiet he was, only speaking when necessary. He talks more now, and I love the sound of his gravelly voice.
“Do you?” Loki repeats, and I blink, trying to remember the question.
Ah, yes, my grandparents. Shit, do I want to meet them? My pulse increases as I chew my lip, thinking about the answer to what feels like a loaded question. My baby gives a small movement, reminding me that it’s not just me anymore.
“Yes,” I reply, looking into Loki’s emerald eyes, then up at Kai’s, and finally Ash’s. “I would like to meet them. Today if we can.”
“We’ve already made contact and told them that if you wanted contact or to meet we would take you there. They’re waiting for you, as long as you’re sure?” Ash questions, and although I’m slightly taken aback at how fast this is moving, I appreciate the way they’ve put things into place. Also, my grandparents are in their eighties, and I’m guessing if I just turned up, they may have a bloody heart attack given how similar I look to Mum.
“I’m sure,” I tell him, finally sitting up straight, Jax letting me go. I take a deep breath. “Let’s go now.”
Ash gives me a blinding smile as Loki stands up and offers me his hand, pulling me to my feet. He uses his grip to pull me to him, nuzzling my neck until his lips are close to mine.
“You are so fucking incredible, Lilly,” he murmurs, placing a kiss on my cheek. I feel tears prick my eyes—fucking hormones—at the compliment. He pulls back, a twinkle in his own eyes. “Let’s go meet your grandparents, older ladies fucking love me!”
I cringe, thinking back to Clarissa, and raise a brow in a did you really just go there? look. It takes a second, but his face drops, his mouth opening and closing in a grimace.
“Fuck— Shit…I didn’t mean— Shit,” he stutters, and I can’t help but laugh, covering my mouth with a hand.
“Come on, Casanova.” Ash chuckles, grabbing Loki’s shoulder and pulling him towards the door.
“Coming?” Kai asks softly, pausing in his own walk towards the door, his hand extended. I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and put my best foot forward, as Mum used to say.
“Yes,” I tell him, grasping his warm hand in mine and letting him lead me to a family that I had no idea existed until today.
We park outside what can only be described as a Chelsea mansion in Upper Phillimore Gardens in Kensington. I look up at the imposing, white building, the sun making it sparkle and shine like it’s touched by heaven. It’s an old building, Victorian I guess, with five stories, four bay windows, and white marble steps that lead to a double, painted front door, columns on either side holding up a substantial porch. Window boxes filled with colourful flowers sit on every windowsill, making the whole place feel homely and inviting.
The sounds of traffic are dulled here, birdsong ringing in the air but doing nothing to soothe the butterflies in my stomach or my racing heart.
“Are you doing okay, Princess?” Ash inquires, his hand resting on my waist. I have to swallow a couple of times before answering.
“What if they don’t like me?” I ask in reply, wringing my hands in front of me and not taking my eyes off the currently closed, front door. Ash lets go of my waist, stepping in front of me as the others crowd round, circling me.
“They will love you,” he tells me, looking deep into my eyes as his fingertips stroke my cheek. “Just like we do.”
“You’re fucking awesome, Pretty Girl!” Loki practically shouts, making a choked laugh escape my dry lips when I turn my head to look at him. “And sexy as hell,” he adds with a waggle of his auburn brows.
“Lilly, what is there not to like, my darling?” Kai questions me, drawing my gaze to his, the sun hitting the side of his glasses and reflecting my image back at me. “You’re smart, beautiful, funny, and a wonderful person who isn’t afraid to take on four broken boys and make them into men.”
A tear trickles down my cheek at his words, my lips forming a wobbly smile as I take a shaky breath. My eyes close of their own accord when a lemon-scented warmth coats my back, and strong, large hands grip my hips.
“And the bravest fucking person I’ve ever met, Baby Girl,” Jax declares, his deep rumble invading my very soul and making my nipples pebble as it always does. “So get that beautiful arse up those steps and show them how fucking amazing you are,” he orders, making me chuckle at his faux British accent.
I take another deep inhale, dropping my shoulders, and reopen my eyes, giving Ash a curt nod. He smiles a devilish grin at me, my knees going a little weak at the sight of it.
“Good girl,” he praises, holding out a hand as he steps back.
I take it in a firm grasp, allowing him to lead me up the stone steps. Before we can knock or ring the bell, the door opens to reveal an elderly gentleman in a butler uniform, face full of the wrinkles of a life well lived.
“Good morning, madam, sirs. If you’d care to follow me?” he asks in a well-to-do British accent, stepping back and holding a steady arm out to indicate that we come in.
I step inside the brightly lit entrance hall, loving the bright and airy feel, the old Victorian, black and white tiles shining, and the pale, lemon-coloured walls covered in mirrors and some landscape paintings.
“This way, please, Mrs Vanderbilt,” the butler says, and I startle at the name. I mean, I know that it’s my surname now, but, I guess I’m just not used to it yet from anyone other than my Knights.
“Sure,” I reply, following next to him, Ash holding my hand on the other side and the others following behind us. “What’s your name?” I ask, needing to fill the silence with chatter as my heart rate picks up with every step that we take.
“Jefferies, ma’am,” he says, dipping his head in respect which feels all kinds of weird. “I’ve been with the Rochesters since your mother was a baby.” He drops that small bombshell with a wistful smile, a faraway look in his eyes. He pauses when he realises that I’ve stopped walking. “Ma’am?”
“Oh, um, sorry,” I rush out, Ash squeezing my hand and giving me a small reassuring smile as I start walking again. “I’d, um, love to hear any stories you have one day, Jefferies,” I tell the old man, who beams back at me.
“I’d be honoured to share them with you, ma’am,” he tells me, stepping towards a door on the right and reaching to open it. I place my hand on his arm, his head coming up to look at me with a quizzical, fuzzy, grey brow raised.
“It’s Lilly,” I tell him. “Please call me, Lilly.”
His chin wobbles slightly like this is some great honour too.
“Your grandparents are waiting for you in here, Lilly,” he tells me softly, and I release his arm as he starts to open the door. “They are so excited to meet you. All of you,” he adds with what I would describe as a mischievous smile at the guys. Huh.
I’m momentarily blinded by the sunlight that streams from the room that we step into, and it takes several blinks for my eyes to get used to it. When I can finally see again, I see an elderly couple standing in the middle of the room, her hands clasped in a firm grip in front of her, his hand on her shoulder. I take them in, from their kind, lined faces, to her twinset, and perfectly set hair, and then to his dapper, fitted suit and moustache.
“Lilly, darling?” she says in a thick voice, stepping towards me. Her movements are like a little bird, she looks so small and fragile standing in the streaming sunlight, dust motes surrounding her like a halo. “You look so much like her,” she adds, reaching me and stretching out a hand as if to cup my face, but then pauses, looking a little unsure.
“Grandma?” I whisper, seeing a familiarity in the shape of her face, and the thickness of her grey hair.
“Oh, darling girl,” she murmurs back, her eyes glistening, and without thought, I let go of Ash’s hand and step into her embrace, the scent of violets engulfing me as I wrap my trembling arms around her and hug her tight. Her thin arms go around me, encasing me in her loving embrace, and it reminds me so much of my mum that I burst into tears, sobs wracking my body as she holds me tighter to her. “My darling, darling girl,” she whispers, stroking my hair and planting kisses on the top of my head. “You’re back now, that’s all that matters.”
I feel another set of arms envelop us, and I look up with tears still running down my face to see my grandfather’s cheeks wet as he holds us both. He leans down to kiss my cheek, mumbling in my ear, “Welcome home, Lilly.”
Clearly not wanting to miss out on the reunion, my baby gives a mighty kick, causing my grandma to let out an oomph sound. She pulls back, looking down at my rounded stomach.
“Harold, oh, Harold, look!” she exclaims, more tears dripping down her cheeks as she laughs and places a hand over my baby. “We’re going to be great grandparents! Oh, you clever, clever girl!”
I laugh as my grandfather loosens his arms and steps back to have a look, his face wreathed in smiles too. “And who’s the lucky father?” he asks, looking behind me, and I can’t help the slight cringe at the question. I’m not ashamed about our unconventional relationship, just the thought of trying to explain it to my newly-found grandparents…eek.
“I am, Mr. Rochester,” Loki steps forward, hand out to shake my grandfather’s.
“Congratulations, son,” Harold says, pumping Loki’s hand enthusiastically. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr Vanderbilt.”
“I’m Mr Vanderbilt, Lilly’s husband,” Ash says, holding out his hand, and I bite my lips together at the confusion on the old man’s face. Harold drops Loki’s hand and automatically takes Ash’s, shaking it with a befuddled frown on his face.
“Ash is my husband, Loki, Jax, and Kai are my…” I pause, trying to think of what to call them. Boyfriends doesn’t feel like it adequately describes our relationship. “Soulmates. They’re all my soulmates.”
My grandfather’s grey eyebrows go almost into his receding hairline, his eyes wide.
“Oh, don’t look like that, Harold,” my grandmother scolds, finally letting me go and stepping towards the guys. “Have you forgotten the Woodstock of sixty-eight?”
“Petunia!” my grandfather exclaims, a blush tinting his cheeks as he looks at his wife. She just gives him an innocent yet calculating look, one perfect, silver brow raised. Loki looks on amused, while I can’t help wondering what she might be referring to. The nineteen-sixties were wild according to all the stories, a time of sexual freedom.
“Let he who is without sin, my love,” she tells my grandfather, placing a gentle kiss on his lined cheek, grasping his arm in her hands. He looks down at her with such love that my heart swells, feeling like it’ll break free from the confines of my chest.
He looks back up, taking in each of the guys in turn with a serious look.
“You take care of her? All of you?” he asks, tone firm and unwavering. I’m suddenly hit with the thought that he’s asking out of concern for my well-being, that he would take them all on if their answer isn’t satisfactory. Warmth suffuses my limbs at having more people in my corner.
“With our lives,” Ash tells him solemnly, not breaking his gaze until my grandfather looks at Loki.
“And our hearts,” Loki declares, and there goes my own heart again, trying to escape once more.
“She’s our souls,” Kai adds, glancing my way briefly before looking back at my grandfather, who nods, then looks towards Jax.
“And we’re hers,” Jax states in that gruff voice of his, and I’m nodding, my cheeks wet again. Fucking hell, I’m surprised there’s any water left in my body at this rate.
“Well, all right then,” Harold confirms, his head bobbing. “I would have hated to have had a chat with my friends down in Vauxhall,” he adds, still looking at the guys. Ash gives a respectful nod, although fuck knows what the old man is waffling about.
“Harold!” my grandmother chastises, whacking him in the chest. “Don’t threaten Lilly’s beaus with MI6!”
Oh shit. My grandfather has connections with the British Secret Intelligence Service. Good to know, and possibly, dare I say it, may come in handy too?
“Well, now we all know where we stand, Petunia,” my grandfather reasons, patting her hand, my grandmother rolling her eyes at him as they walk back to me. “Let’s have some tea, shall we?” he asks, holding out his spare arm, and I slide my hand into it, a sense of lightness filling up my entire being at being here with them, my blood family.
