Page 16 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“Good boy,” she stroked his cheek. “God, I love you.”

That hit Ed in the feels. “I love you more than words. Not because of that but… this is all hard. Thank you for helping make it work for us. I know this isn’t pleasant or easy?—”

“I will always do what I need for my family, Edwin. And you’re my family. You’re my everything. Never fear. We will persist if it kills me. I know you’d do the same for me, darling.”

“I would.”

She gave him a quick kiss and said, “Go on. I will see you shortly.”

Ed took direction, winding to the kitchen. He ran into a person he had no interest in running into.

“Well, there you are!” Robbie held a plate of biscuits. “Where is my daughter? I figured you both were together… I don’t mean to pry. I suppose, I shouldn’t?—”

He looked down, eyes filtering to Ed’s hands and their contents—the syringe in one hand and the vial of medication in the other.

“I promise it’s not anything dreadful. It’s not steroids or anything,” Ed said. “I would never! I never did and?—”

“You don’t need to explain,” Robbie said. “I have an idea.”

Ed cocked his head.

“She’s been… off. And you have been, too. I worried something was wrong. Vanna and I… we struggled. I can read the vial. I’m not daft, Ed.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to say?—”

“I’m sorry,” Robbie said. “That you’re coping with it. I… it makes you feel helpless. It’s a bad feeling. And she’s a hormonal wreck, right?”

“She’d kill me for talking to you about this. She doesn’t want anyone to know. Please, don’t say anything?—”

“I won’t,” Robbie insisted. “I won’t, son. Shit. This news… Paul and Sanne. Is this hard for her? Must feel impossible?—”

“For both of us, sir, it is hard.”

Robbie patted Ed’s shoulder. “Go on, put it back in the fridge. I am not going to say anything but if you need something, we’re here.”

Ed nodded. “Natalie is the one who needs to hear that, sir, but if she finds out?—”

“I won’t say a word, Edwin.”

“Thanks,” Ed said. “I appreciate it.”

“Now, if you want some of these, flee back. Actually, take one. You need it.”

Ed picked up one of the famous biscuits The Queen made every year. They were beloved, especially by the Americans.

“Thanks,” he said.

The King left. Ed felt somehow lighter. He’d been mortified. Robbie had always been difficult to relate to. Ed realised Robbie might be by his side. The family took care of itself, but now Ed knew he was part of it. He felt a new acceptance.

“I need you to fly home. Dwight is sick. He’s not going to make it, Lucy.”

Lucy stood in the guest bathroom at Anmer watching Malcolm unfurl toilet paper gleefully. She couldn’t bother to stop him. She didn’t know what to say. They were on their way to the Christmas Luncheon. Lucy looked forward to watching Malcolm open presents for the first time. She wanted so badly to bask in those memories. He was about to turn one. He had a birthday party scheduled in London at his grandmother’s big house on Regent’s Crescent in two days. There was so much good here—so much happiness—but back in Chicago, the worst awaited.

Lucy hadn’t spoken to her mother willingly in months. It was always an emergency. After her last time in London where she poked and prodded at Lucy about everything she did wrong as a mother, Lucy wasn’t about to board a plane to deal with that treatment for anything less than a genuine emergency.

Lucy hadn’t spoken to her father since she and Winston announced their marriage. Lucy had no desire to rush to his bedside after his angry, abusive outburst. Coldhearted or not, she didn’t care what happened to her father. He was an abusive alcoholic who didn’t give a flying fuck about her. Why should she care for him?

Malcolm smiled at her. He was so perfect. He deserved a good Christmas—untarnished by her father’s passing. She didn’t want to go home and ruin all of this.

---