Page 39 of After the Rain
I’m going to be an uncle. Fuck. Nash certainly kept that one quiet. But in all honesty, I know he’s been absolutely heartbroken over the thought that he might never get to be a dad, and I am so proud of him for going after what he wants. Children are one of those fundamental things in a relationship that you must be in agreement with. Shelley was never very maternal, but Nash has always wanted to be a dad ever since we were kids. He must be so fucking brave to go at this alone. But he knows he’s nottrulyalone. We’re all here for him. And I get to be in competition with Archer, Cole, and Wren for the best uncle (or auntie) title. Fuck, that kid is going to be spoilt rotten.
A couple of days after Christmas, we all went round to Nash’s house to help him set up Nancy’s bedroom, child-proof the house, and find out more about the newest addition to the Foster family. Apparently, she’s four years old, sassy as all hell, and absolutely the love of Nash’s life already. When he mether on Boxing Day, apparently, they just clicked. She was attached to his hip, and he didn’t want to leave her with her foster family. But the Social Worker was clear that there is a short, expedited timeline once the first introductions are made to move adoptions forward, but that the timeline must be adhered to. And so, here we all are, preparing Nancy’s new home for her arrival early in the new year. What a way to start a new year – with a new member of the family.
Corey is quietly upstairs in the bedroom painting while the rest of us are downstairs assembling furniture. Mum is, of course, focused on putting family photos in frames to go all over the room. In her words, it’s important for Nancy to get familiar with her new family. Honestly, I kind of agree, and judging by the quiet smile on Nash’s face when she said that, so does he.
After a couple of hours, we all get ready to go once the last of the furniture is assembled and just needs moving up to Nancy’s room once the paint is dry. Corey shouts downstairs that he’s notquite ready yet and he’ll see us at home. Rain runs upstairs to check he’s OK staying behind on his own, and when he comes downstairs, the small smile on his face makes me think something is going on. He shakes his head imperceptibly, and I know he’ll tell me in the car.
We say our goodbyes and head out. Pax leaps up into the back, and Rain takes his usual place in the passenger seat before he reaches across the central console and rests his hand on my knee.
“What’s going on, sweetheart?” I ask curiously.
Rain gives me a blinding grin. “I forgot that Corey was an artist. Let’s just say that Nash and Princess Nancy have a big surprise coming their way.” I can only assume that Corey has painted some kind of picture up there, and if it means Nancy will feel special when she arrives, I’m all for it.
We make the drive home, and as soon as we arrive, Pax takes off for a good sniff about, and we follow him as he makes his way down the quay heading, sniffing out all the wildlife he’s missed. We reach the dry dock, where Ladybird is now back out of the water after her ill-fated first launch, and Rain stops to stare at her. I reach him and stand behind him, wrapping his smaller frame up in my arms.
“You OK?” I ask before pressing small kisses on his neck. He tilts his head to the side to give me better access. It’s only when the salty taste hits my tongue that I look up and realise he’s crying. “Baby.” I spin him to face me. “It’ll be OK. She can be restored, I promise.” He sobs louder before he replies.
“I’m so sorry,” he cries. “It’s my fault. They had to have seen that bloody photo and followed me here and just destroyed this beautiful thing that you created. They’re not fucking human, I swear. I’m so sorry, Aidan. My love. I’m sorry.” His words trail off into sobs, and I pull him into my chest. His small body, still leaner than I would prefer despite his regular dance sessions having built some of his muscle mass back up, shakes with his sadness as his tears soak my shirt beneath my open jacket.
“Shhhh,” I soothe. “It’s not your fault. It’s nobody’s fault. They are subhuman. The way they treated you and, I suspect, Corey as well, denies them any such relation to actual people with a soul. We knew they might turn up and try to cause trouble. We just have to be aware, and now the police know what they’re like, we have a bit of recourse should anything else happen.”
We had spoken to Detective Inspector Martin yesterday, and he assured us that they had spoken to some reliable colleagues in the Met whohad paid a visit to their club and homes. Neither had been there, and so they were searching for their cars. I had a feeling we hadn’t seen the last of them, but if I let myself worry about it too much, my anxiety would take over, and I couldn’t have that. I had to be strong for Rain. This beautiful, amazing man who has slotted into my life like he should have always been there. We would take each day as it came, and if I ever saw that prick hanging around my family – a family that now included Rain, and Corey by extension – well, let’s just say he better hope that he can outrun me, or he’ll find out just how it feels to have someone bigger than you beat your arse from here to next week.
“Come on,” I say, nodding towards the house. “Let’s go in, make some cheese and crackers, curl up with Pax, and watchDogma?” Rain looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes and a wobbly smile.
“That sounds fucking perfect.”
Corey returned home a little later, his cheeks flushed, presumably from the walk back. He grabbed a quick bite to eat and then, without making much eye contact with either of us, but especially me, he took himself up to bed. I actually think the fire had scared him more than Rain, butthen I guess he’s had less time to settle in here. I hadn’t had much time to talk to him yet about staying here, and I want to reassure him that webothwant him to stay with us for as long as he needs.
We head up to bed not long after, and, after kissing Rain until my lips were sore, I press inside his body and make love to him. It isn’t fast or hard. It isn’t sex or fucking. It’s slow, gentle, tender. This is love – pure and simple. I touch him everywhere I can, and I swear I can feel his own emotions pouring back into me. I only hope he can feel mine, too. This kind of love is the stuff of romance books and epic films. He came into my life in a way that neither of us was expecting, and he has completed me so fully, so entirely, that a day without him is unimaginable.
He holds me close and whispers words of love to me, and I reply with my own. We speak of our future, our hopes, our plans. It is, quite simply, the greatest night of my life.
Afterwards, we fall asleep, holding onto each other like we’re both terrified to let go and yet safe in the knowledge that neither of us is going anywhere.
The next day, we decide to go to Poppy’s for breakfast. Corey joins us, leading Pax down theroad on his harness since Pax has decided that Corey is now the best thing since sliced bread. God save me from fickle dogs.
As soon as we enter Poppy’s, she corners us.
“Have you spoken to Wren?” she asks, a concerned tone in her voice. Instantly, panic rises in me. Pax reacts and comes to my side immediately, leaning into me – not so fickle after all, I guess. Rain’s hand sliding into mine calms my rising panic in seconds, so I’m able to reply.
“No, not since we were at Nash’s a few days after Christmas. She didn’t say much at all. Why, what’s happened?” Wren had been very quiet that day as we helped prepare for Nancy’s arrival. But after Sam’s surprise arrival on Eve Eve, I wasn’t surprised. I was just glad she was there for Nash.
“We were meant to head into Norwich yesterday for coffee and sale shopping, but she sent me this cryptic text about not being able to make it, then her phone went off, and now no messages are going through.”
“What the fuck?” I mumble, confused, then pull my own phone out and call Wren. No answer. I look up to see four pairs of concerned eyes pointing in my direction, since Chris has now joined us from the kitchen, a smudge of flour on his cheek from where he’s been baking. “No answer,” I say.
“Babe, do you think…” Rain looks worried.
“I don’t know what to think, baby,” I say, wrapping my arm around his shoulder and kissing the top of his curly head. “But I think I’d better go up to the farm and check on her. Are you and Corey OK if I leave you here?” He smiles at me indulgently.
“Of course.” He leans up on his tiptoes and presses a kiss to my lips. “We’ll eat, and head home, and see you there. Do you want me to bring you some food back?”
“Uhm, maybe just one of your granola and yogurt pot things I can grab quickly when I get back?” I speak in Poppy’s direction, and she nods before I head out.
I walk home quickly and jump in the Land Rover, starting the engine to connect my phone before trying Wren again. Mum and Dad are over at Nash’s helping him set up for Nancy’s arrival, so there’s no point calling them. Mum will only worry, and I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. I fucking hope not, anyway. Wren is my baby sister, and I’m kicking myself for not checking in with her about this Sam situation. Yes, we’ve had a lot going on, but she’s just as important as anyone else in the family. As I make the drive over to the farm, I call Cole. He and Archer are together, and neither of them has heard from her either. I tell them I’ll let themknow what’s going on when I know more.
I pull up the drive at the farm and park up before making my way into the house. There is no sign of Wren anywhere, apart from her phone, which is switched off on the table in the kitchen. I breathe out a sigh, then open the back door and walk over to the metal barn she uses as an office space and workshop for her engines and things. She’s not there, but the quad bike is missing.
