Book Two: Chapter Eighteen


    “Good afternoon, ma’am,” the butler nodded as Ava entered the kitchen. “May I get you anything?”


    “N-no. Sorry.” Ava backed a step. “I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed toe here.”


    “I beg your pardon, ma’am?” Duncan approached. “I can assure you there is no ce here you are not


    allowed to go.”


    “…I…”


    “If you are hungry please allow me to prepare anything you wish.”


    “N-no. That’s all right,” Ava shook her head. She and the kids had already enjoyed an extravagant


    lunch so she certainly wasn’t hungry. “I was just going to get a ss of water.”


    “Of course, allow me.” With a nod Duncan took out a ss, ced it under the ice maker and poured


    Perrier before giving it to her with a gentle smile.


    Ava hesitantly epted. She wasn’t used to being waited on. Normally she was the one serving. It felt


    nice to be treated with consideration but also made her self-conscience. This was Ss’s home and


    she was only a guest yet the staff was treating her like the mistress of the house.


    To an outsider it might look like they were merely being considerate but to someone who had grown up


    with servants Ava recognized the subtle nuances, little gestures that separated how staff treated family


    from guests. But why would they give her that courtesy? The children she understood since Ss was


    their father but that had nothing to do with her.


    “Ma’am? Is there anything else I can give you?”


    “…No. You don’t have to do any of this,” Ava quietly said still holding the ss. Tap water would have


    been just fine.


    “I’m afraid you are mistaken, ma’am. We are merely giving you the courtesy you deserve.”


    “…But why?”


    “It is not my ce to say. If you wish to know the answer to that you’ll have to ask Master Ss.”


    Ava flinched at the thought. How could she? How could she face him after what she had done? Wasn’t


    he disgusted with her? Would he take the kids away from her and leave her out in the cold like her


    father intended to do? Her greatest fear was being left alone…was that her destiny? To be forgotten?


    “Ma’am? Are you all right?”


    Ava blinked back tears and looked to see the butler looking at her with concern. Ava stepped back


    retreating from the kitchen clutching the ss as she went. Her thoughts were swirling. What did the


    butler mean by this was no less than she deserved? She wasn’t the Lady of the House. She had no


    status even as the mother of the triplets so it did not benefit the staff to even notice her.


    Lost in thought her wandering eventually brought her to the study. The walls were lined with oak


    bookshelvesden with hardbound novels to suit just about any preference. There were also paintings


    Ava was certain were originals and not cheap copies. At one end was arge table perfectly


    serviceable for someone wanting to work. On the other end was a seating area withfortable, richly


    upholstered furniture all situated in front of a tall picture window that let in plenty of natural light. But


    what caught her attention was the piano.


    A baby grand piano sat near the seating area. It gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the window.


    Silently she crept up to it hesitantly sitting on the bench. Setting the ss aside she lifted the lid


    covering the ivory keys. Ava let her fingers slide over the wlessly smooth surface. How long had it


    been since she yed?


    She couldn’t remember, probably not since teaching Alexis. Ava wondered if Alexis still yed. It had


    been awhile since either dragged out the keyboard hidden away in a closet. Ava missed those days


    watching Alexis learn Twinkle Twinkle and eventually Für Elise. Sometimes they yed side by side


    having fun with a Chopsticks duet as well as Heart and Soul. But any piece could be made into a duet if


    the ones ying had the skill and talent to work together. If they did the piece would be a living


    thing adapting and changing ording to their moods and whims.


    Alexis had skill and talent. She would certainly blow minds away on stage but she would never get the


    chance. Even with the right connections it was hard to enter the music world and Alexis had none. Was


    there a point to dreaming something impossible? Ten years ago Ava learned the answer was no. With


    a sigh she closed the lid and stood. Dreams like that belonged in the closet: out of the way and


    forgotten.


    “Ava, why don’t you y?”


    She froze at the deep, gentle voice. Spinning she found Ss watching her from the doorway. There


    was a look of concern on his face, almost pained. Ava bit her lip. She had been avoiding him ever since


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    their shopping excursion. All the clothes he bought her hung neatly in her closet but she hadn’t worn


    any of them besides the coat. She couldn’t afford to annoy him or take advantage of his generosity. As


    long as the clothes stayed pristine they could be returned.


    “And why don’t you wear the clothes I gave you?” Ss slowly approached as she struggled to hold her


    ground.


    Ava hugged herself. The sweater she wore had seen better days but despite its faded color and frayed


    edges it was good enough for her. It had always been good enough but standing in front of him she felt


    shabby and inadequate, ashamed she couldn’t afford better.


    “Ava.”


    She flinched realizing how close he suddenly was. When had he approached? What should she say?


    What did he want from her?


    His expression was soft nothing like the stern one he always used for pictures and certainly nothing like


    the enraged voice from ten years ago. Gently he raised his hand brushing her hair from her face before


    stroking her cheek. Ava blinked not certain how she should take his kind gestures or the smoldering


    desire in his gaze.


    “You are so beautiful,” Ss softly said.


    Ava’s brow furrowed. Did she hear him right?


    “Why don’t you ept the things I can give you, the things I want to give you?”


    Ava opened her mouth to reply then snapped it shut. How could she exin to him? Could he ever


    understand?


    “Ava?”


    Frustrated tears blurred her vision and she couldn’t keep her voice from trembling, “It’s all…so easy for


    you. You don’t know what it’s like to walk down the grocery store aisle debating over a carton of milk or


    orange juice…or putting back a pack of chicken for $6.47 because you found one for $5.97…or having


    to listen to your children beg for Nikes? knowing they would have to settle for some cheap athletics


    brand. You’ll never know what it’s like to try so hard knowing you’ll always be inadequate…that


    someone else could do a better job…”


    “Ava stop!” Ss suddenly pulled her into his embrace. “Just…stop. Is that what you think? You think


    buying the kids some clothes and games makes me a parent? Do you think anything I could buy them


    would be close to the love and care you’ve given them?”


    Ava shuddered.


    “You are their mother, Ava. They love you more than anything in the world. Do you think one shopping


    trip is enough for me to earn that kind of loyalty? You are a good mother, Ava. I could not ask my


    children to have a better one. And I’m in awe of you.”


    Ss fell silent as she shook with sobs. She tried to keep them in but her entire body trembled. His


    embrace tightened. He ran his fingers through her hair as his heart pounded in his ears. She was


    hurting with a deep seeded pain and he was to me. He didn’t have the knowledge to heal her. All he


    could do was hold her andfort her.


    “I’m here Ava. I’m here. You’ll never be alone again. I swear it.”


    It was a long time before her sobs quieted and she leaned against himpletely exhausted. He


    scooped her up cradling her bridal style as he carried her out of the study. Ss headed up the stairs


    toward the bedrooms.


    Theo and Sean stumbled down the hallwayughing as Alexis followed a step behind shaking her


    head. They came to a halt as their gaze fell on Ss carrying their exhausted mother in his arms. Her


    eyes were red from crying and she seemed to have cried herself to sleep.


    “What happened?” Theo demanded.


    “She just released some much needed tears,” Ss said kissing her forehead. “She needs to rest now.”


    “Here,” Alexis said opening the door to their mother’s room.


    Ss carried Ava inside. Sean hurried to pull back the covers allowing Ss toy her down and tuck


    her in. Ava stirred as he kissed her forehead again wishing her sweet dreams. Her brow furrowed and


    she reached out for his sleeve as he tried to pull away.


    “…Please…don’t go…” she whispered barely loud enough to hear. “…I’m afraid…to be alone.”


    “Shh,” Ss hesitated only a moment before lying beside her. Pulling her into his arms he held her as


    he ran his fingers through her hair. “You’ll never be alone again, Ava. I’ll always be here.”


    She shivered but snuggled into his embrace whimpering quietly. Without a word Alexis climbed into bed


    alongside her mother and snuggled close to her patting her shoulder.


    “We’re all here mom,” she said.


    The boys followed their sister’s example until all were crowded around their mother offering her


    support. Their loyalty and care brought a smile to Ss’s face but it was overshadowed by his own


    concern. Just what had her family done to her to make her so self-deprecating? How many years had


    she suffered in that hellhole?


    His embrace tightened. He would never forgive them. One way or another they would pay. Ss held


    Ava close as her breathing slowed and she fell into proper sleep. Right now her wellbeing was more


    important.


    * * *


    Ava stirred. The room was dark. How long did she sleep? Surely she hadn’t slept the whole night. Her


    memory was hazy but she recalled the piano and Ss finding her…


    Oh god! Did she actually yell at him? What would he do now? She tried to live quietly and avoid his


    attention but now he would certainly have something to say. Ava had to do something before then.


    Maybe she could still escape his wrath.


    “Shh…sleep,” a husky voice said and she felt a warm embrace tighten around her.


    Ava realized she was snuggled against a warm chest. Startled she looked up to see Ss’s face close


    to hers. Lazily he opened his eyes to meet her gaze. He raised a hand and gently stroked her hair with


    a small smile softening his expression.


    “Sleep Ava.”


    “…Ss.”


    “Shh.” He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “We’ll talkter. Sleep.”


    Perhaps it was wrong but she sumbed to his suggestion. It felt good to be held. For once she was


    not alone. This was what her heart longed for.