Page 24 of Endgame

‘No I won’t. And don’t ask her because you’ll get me into trouble. She’ll tell you when she’s ready.’

‘I’m going to ask her,’ Dahlia says defiantly.

‘Don’t you dare, or I’ll tell everyone about that time we caught you in the barn with that boy from church.’ Gigi smiles.

‘Go ahead. I’m more than happy to share what happened in Vegas on your last church trip. Especially with MrRamon. I follow MsMaribelle on Instagram, you know.’

‘Dee Dee!’ Gigi threatens. ‘Stop your nonsense. You will, under no circumstances, tell Ariella anything.’

‘It was Dominic’s brother…’ I seethe, putting the pieces together as I feel the fury rise.

Ariella’s father puts his paper down and rises, his knuckles pressing hard against the tabletop.

‘The “Dominic” from her birthday?!’ he asks. I mentally prepare to fall in line with whatever vengeance Hugh Mason is planning.

‘The same,’ I confirm angrily.

‘Caleb, Hugh. Behave. She said it was his brother, not him,’ Dahlia interrupts.

‘It just goes to show, Dahlia—’ Hugh starts, but doesn’t get to finish.

‘Goes to show what? Your family called me much worse in the beginning and you told us about your family’s hobbies, Caleb,’ Dahlia says casually, and then takes a tray of warm croissants out of the oven. Damn. I love how understanding Dahlia is, but this is the one time I need her not to be fair.

‘What did your family say to my child, Hugh?’ Gigi asks.

I see Hugh Mason immediately shrink back before he sits down. I already know he’s not going to answer the question, so I deflect.

‘Gigi, I’m Caleb. I’ve heard so much about you. Is it all right if I give you a hug?’

I get an accepting smile and a single nod, so I walk round the table, bend to her height and give her a quick hug. I give Dahliahers next, then help her move the warm croissants to the centre of the table.

‘I’m really grateful for the breakfast invitation, but sadly I can’t stay. I’ll nick a croissant though. It’s a full day today and I’m already three hours behind,’ I explain.

‘Thank you for the text last night, Caleb. Did something happen?’ Dahlia asks as she hands me a platter of sliced fruit to take to the table.

‘Sophia asked Ariella to stay away from Jasper and not contact him again. Ariella promised that she would.’

Hugh Mason’s forehead creases in frustration at the news. ‘That seems rather unfair,’ he grumbles.

‘Perhaps, but Sophia is pregnant and it seems that Jasper chose to honour her request for an alcoholic drink rather than tell Ariella.’

‘Oh,’ Dahlia and Hugh acknowledge at the same time.

‘I suspect she has been asking him to tell her for a while,’ I add.

‘How is she?’ Hugh asks.

‘Fine. I wasn’t there when it happened. I caught her as she was leaving. She was crushed, so I brought her home.’

‘Maybe it’s for the best. I didn’t like the way they followed each other around,’ Gigi says.

‘It can’t be easy for Sophia. Ariella casts a long shadow with Jasper,’ Dahlia adds.

‘But to ask her to stay away from him? It’s a bit extreme.’ Hugh isn’t taking the news well.

‘They are going to start a family, Daddy. Her needs come first,’ Ariella says quietly as she enters the kitchen. She goes straight to Hugh, who is already standing with his arms open. She disappears into his hug and stays there.

‘Ariella…’ Dahlia starts and I watch Gigi scowl at her daughter. ‘Are you okay?’

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