Presley Estates, Wesbury
‘What are you up to? It’s nearly eleven, you know,’ Aisling’s voice comes through the phone. I’m holed up in the study, its dim light throwing shadows all around. She’s right. It’s late, and I can hear the worry in her voice. It just adds to my own stress.
‘Yeah, I know,’ I say.
‘Why are you still in your study? You’re usually not there this late when I’m around,’ she says, curiosity in her tone.
‘Just clearing some stuff off my desk,’ I tell her, glancing at the mess of papers. ‘I’ll be done in a bit.’
‘Okay,’ she replies, sounding a bit more relaxed. ‘Hey, I heard you went to the café today.’
‘Yeah, I stopped by,’ I admit.
‘Why didn’t you mention it earlier when we talked?’ she asks, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
‘Uh, must’ve slipped my mind,’ I lie, feeling a bit embarrassed.
‘Really?’ she probes, her voice teasing.
‘Do I have to report to you every time I visit the café?’ I try to dodge her question.’Do you expect a call every time someone goes for coffee?’
‘Some people actually do,’ she laughs, her laughter a soothing sound in my ear. ‘Seems like it.’
‘That was nice of you to drop by,’ she says, gratitude in her voice. ‘Thanks.’
‘How are you? Everything okay?’ I ask, shifting the focus.
‘Yeah, I’m good. Couldn’t make it to the hotel, they insisted I stay,’ she tells me.
‘What about Bianca?’ I ask, wondering about her maid.
‘She’s at the hotel,’ Aisling says.
‘Got it.”
‘She’s got the whole suite to herself,’ she adds, a hint of amusement in her voice.
There’s this pause on the line, and then she whispers, ‘I miss you, Duke.’
Hearing the longing in her voice, it pulls at something deep in me. ‘Then come back home tomorrow,’ I half-joke, half-hope.
She laughs a little. ‘You’re serious?’
‘I’m not joking,’ I press, trying to sound as convincing as I can.
‘But, Duke…’ she starts, then hesitates.
‘But what?’ I cut in. ‘You don’t have to tell them you’re leaving.’
I can almost see her smiling through the phone. ‘I can’t do that to them, Duke. They’ve planned so much this week. It would crush them. It’s been forever since I’ve been back here.’
‘Alright,’ I say.
‘You’re making me cry,’ she suddenly says, her voice quivering.
‘Why?’ I ask.
‘Because I wish so badly I could be with you tonight,’ she says, her voice thick with emotion now.
‘It’s okay.”
‘But I need to do this,’ she insists. ‘I haven’t visited in so long. Thursday’s just around the corner, and I’m really looking forward to it.’
Her excitement is infectious, and I can’t help but softly laugh.
‘I’m excited for our vacation, too,’ she goes on, her voice full of anticipation. ‘I’ve been dreaming about it…’
In the master suite of the Chateau, I’m suiting up for church, feeling a surge of sadness engulf me. The room’s quiet, just my thoughts buzzing around. I adjust my tie, feeling the smooth silk slip through my fingers, and take this deep, uneasy breath.
Then the phone rings. I walk over to where it’s ringing by the bed and see who’s calling.
‘Good morning, Granty?’ I answer, my chest heavy with this sense of foreboding.
‘Duke?’ It’s my grand aunt Emma on the other end.
‘Yeah, it’s me.’
‘How are you doing?’ she asks.
‘I’m alright. How about you?’
‘Not too bad. Listen, I need you to handle something for me.’
I let out a sigh, a sense of dread settling in. ‘What’s up?’
‘Simone’s going to need to move out of Knoxville as soon as we get the IVF results,’ she tells me.
‘Why’s that?’ I ask, puzzled.
‘Duke, we can’t take any risks,’ she says firmly.
‘Risks? What risks?’ I push for more, feeling my frustration build.
‘She’s likely going to be pregnant this cycle. Her numbers look good,’ she explains.
Feeling this mix of frustration and unease, I yank off my tie and clench it in my hand. ‘So, what do you need me to do?’
‘Start getting her moved out of Knoxville. We need to start planning now,’ she instructs.
I’m silent for a moment, processing all this, feeling the weight of it all on my shoulders. ‘Okay,’ I finally say, not exactly thrilled. ‘If that’s what you think is best.’
‘Put her in a house or a penthouse. She doesn’t know yet, and she’ll have her say in it,’ she adds.
‘Got it,’ I reply, my mind already racing with the logistics. The call leaves me feeling even more unsettled.
As I hang up the phone, I realize my life is about to change, and a deep sense of unhappiness wraps around me. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m losing control of my life.
‘They want what now?’ Leonard’s voice crackles through the phone, dripping with disbelief.
Right after I hang up with Emma, I dial Leonard, my fingers shaking a bit from all the tension.
‘They’re saying I need to buy her a house, like, right now,’ I tell him, with frustration.
‘But we planned that for after the baby,’ he argues, and it’s exactly what I’m thinking.
‘Nope, they want it done now,’ I repeat, feeling my frustration rise.
‘She’s serious about this?’ he asks, clearly shocked.
‘Yeah, I just got off with her. She’s not taking no for an answer,’ I say, feeling this heaviness in my heart because of all this.
‘So, are we doing this?’ he asks, sounding unsure.
‘Just do it,’ I mutter, feeling totally defeated.
‘You sure about this, Duke?’ he asks, real worry in his voice.
‘Yeah,’ I reply, the word barely more than a whisper.
‘I’m not liking this at all,’ he confesses, sounding uneasy.
I feel like everything’s spiraling out of my hands. Frustration, uncertainty, doubt, fear – they’re all swirling around inside me, like a storm I can’t control, threatening to swallow me whole.
It’s noon when Nora and I get back from church to her place, and I’m just emotionally spent. I help her up to her bedroom, being extra careful and gentle with every step.
‘Thanks, Duke,’ she says softly, sounding really tired.
I gently take off her shoes and help her get comfortable on the bed. ‘I gotta get going now,’ I tell her, feeling the exhaustion of the day catching up to me.
‘When’s Aisling coming back?’ she asks, and I can feel the question pulling at my heart.
‘Thursday,’ I say, and just saying Aisling’s name brings this small, sad smile to my face.
‘She’s gone the whole week, huh?’ She remarks, and it’s like she’s voicing my own sense of longing.
‘Yeah, grandma,’ I confirm, my voice heavy.
‘And how’s it going with that other woman?’ she asks, looking at me with this searching gaze.
I nod, not really wanting to get into it. ‘It’s going okay,’ I say, but the words taste bitter.
‘I’m sorry, Duke. I’ve been trying to find a way to stop this,’ she admits, her eyes full of concern.
‘It’s okay, grandma,’ I reassure her, but inside, my heart’s hurting.
‘Anthony’s looking into something for me,’ she goes on, her voice shaky.
‘Isn’t it too late now?’ I ask, feeling skeptical.
‘It doesn’t matter, Duke. A firstborn isn’t supposed to be the heir,’ she says, and I’m totally taken aback.
I just stare at her, trying to process what she’s saying. ‘I didn’t know that,’ I admit, feeling this mix of confusion and curiosity.
‘Especially if it’s born out of wedlock. The chances are higher if you’re married to the mother,’ she adds.
‘I see,’ I respond quietly, my mind spinning with all these new questions and doubts. The whole situation feels like a thick fog settling over me.
