Page 80 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“Can we not be as violent or disturbing with the imagery?” Lucy winced. “I get your point.”

“You expect dark from me. Admit it.”

“You should have seen her wielding a sword at dinner the other night.”

“Sad I missed it,” Lucy laughed. “Invite me next time.”

“I will because you’ll be here with us. We can build a commune and raise our kids together.”

“I love that idea,” Sanne admitted. “Always another set of hands.”

“I missed this,” Lucy said. “Remember when we watched the TV endlessly and worried about nothing?”

“Those days are gone, but we still have one another,” Natalie said. “I’m about to be a mum for the first time in my late thirties, so I need all the help I can get.”

“You’re going to be great,” Lucy said. “Not that my opinion counts for much these days.”

“It does, Lucy. You did what you needed to get help,” Sanne said. “And sometimes, that means doing something drastic.”

20

MEDDLING

Lucy hated being pregnant at an inconvenient time. The admission pained her, but she knew it to her core. It wasn’t her intent to keep this from Winston forever but she wasn’t sure what she wanted or needed. She was prepared to discuss the next steps with Winston. She’d been gone a week and missed her boys. Even though she longed to put them to bed at night, she’d needed the escape. Running away may have been cowardly, but Lucy’s batteries needed the charge.

Iona slept in a travel crib by the bed when she rang Winston to talk for the first time. She knew the boys were asleep and planned to discuss a ceasefire and what happened next. She didn’t owe Winston more than honesty, but she loved him and he deserved to know the truth.

“Luce, hi,” Winston said, voice worried and tired.

“Hi,” Lucy said. “Um, so I don’t want to make this a big thing. I’m not sure I could do that over the phone.”

“Oh, well, okay,” he sounded suddenly deflated. “So, you aren’t coming home?”

“No,” Lucy replied. “I haven’t decided what I want to do yet. I want us to decide things together, Winston. If we’re still together, that is.”

“Of course,” Winston said. “Lucy, you’re my wife. I’m frightened you’re never coming home. I never wanted you to run off and leave.”

“I needed to,” Lucy said. “Which was selfish, but you must understand how fucked up things were. I was afraid if I went home, I might do something I couldn’t take back and didn’t want to do. I’m feeling better here. Natalie is taking care of me. I have help with the baby—help I sorely needed.”

“That’s good,” Winston said. “Just so you can sleep or… what?”

“Just in general. George and Patrick are staying on for a bit, long story. Patrick took Iona out in the jogging stroller this morning. It was wild. I went back to bed and rested. I feel like I’ve been sleeping a million years, but… I haven’t slept properly in years, Tony. That’s the issue.”

“Oh? We can get help?—”

“I want to talk and discuss the next steps, but only in person.”

“Alright. So, come home.”

“No. I am home. London is my home. Windsor was our home. I will meet you in one of those places—no children—and we can discuss it. You can bring the boys but… we need to talk.”

“How can you just leave them?”

“Tony, don’t start!” Lucy’s voice was sharp.

Iona stirred. Lucy waited for her to go back down.

“I’m… I’m sorry. I don’t understand. I want to but I cannot, Lulu. This hurts me.”

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