Page 54 of On His Bride's Terms

The car came to a stop and a small blond-haired boy appeared and opened Faye’s door. She didn’t have time to react. He was holding out his hand.

‘Hi, I’m Sol. Are you my Aunt Faye?’

Faye was instantly won over. She shook his hand. ‘Yes, I believe I am. Nice to meet you, Sol.’

The woman appeared behind Sol and grabbed him. ‘I’m so sorry. We told him to wait and not overwhelm you.’

Faye got out and the woman stuck out a hand. ‘I’m Sadie. It’s so nice to meet you.’

‘You too.’ Faye smiled, feeling shy.

Then she looked to see Primo approaching his brother. Both similar heights and builds. They were wary, but then Quin moved and pulled his brother into an embrace. Faye could see that Primo was taken by surprise, but he hugged his brother back.

Quin came and said hi to Faye. She noticed he had brown eyes.

He tucked his wife under his arm and she wrapped an arm around his waist.

‘You guys must be hungry,’ she said. ‘Let’s eat and then we can show you around.’

Faye sat back and observed the brothers and Sadie throughout most of the delicious early evening dinner, served in a vast open plan kitchen/dining space.

Before they’d landed in São Paulo, Primo had told her a little about Quin and his wife. That they’d been estranged for a few years but had now reunited. In that time, Quin had had sole care for his son, Primo had told Faye.

‘I’m still not sure exactly why they had to split up, but they’re back together now.’

To Faye’s eye now, it didn’t look as if anything could part Sadie and Quin again. They touched constantly and shared little looks in a way of communicating that could only come from a very intimate union. She hated herself for feeling a twinge of envy.

They had appeared with two sleepy dark-haired babies just before dinner was served. Stella and Luna—twin girls. Faye had felt the habitual pain on seeing them, but pushed it down deep. And then they’d gone to put them to bed with the help of a woman called Madalena, their nanny, who seemed to be almost a member of the family, as close as a grandparent.

‘I can stay up for dinner with guests because I’m five now,’ Sol had declared once Quin and Sadie had returned. They’d brought a baby monitor with them, presumably to keep an ear out for the babies.

Faye had smiled at the precocious young boy. ‘You’re very grown up indeed.’

Sol piped up now. ‘Hey, do you like football, Uncle Primo? It’s my favourite.’

Primo smiled. ‘It’s been a long time since I played, but maybe you can show me?’

‘Cool! Tomorrow?’

‘Of course—if your parents don’t mind.’

Faye couldn’t help noticing that Primo was a little stiff in his exchanges with Sol. Obviously he hadn’t had much to do with children. She could see him being a good father, though. He was kind, and compassionate, and she felt that, if given the chance, he would want to do things differently from his own father.

She felt a pang of pain—because he wouldn’t ever have that chance with her.

To distract herself, she got up to help Sadie clear up, pooh-poohing the woman’s protests. She said to her in the kitchen, ‘You have a beautiful home and family.’

Sadie looked a little dreamy, and then said, ‘Thank you. I don’t take it for granted for one second.’

After Sol had gone to bed, Quin said, ‘I’ll show you to the guest house. It’s nice and private.’

He led them down through the garden, automatic lights coming on to guide their way. They walked through a small copse of trees to find a smaller version of the big house, and a pool nearby.

Quin gestured to it. ‘Feel free to make yourselves at home. There’s a pool hut with swimsuits and towels—whatever you need.’

He showed them into the guest house. Another open-plan, gorgeously decorated space. Understated luxury. A fully stocked kitchen.

‘Thank you so much,’ said Faye. ‘This is truly lovely.’

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