Page 75 of Gideon
Eli looks up at the walls which are a rich aubergine colour. “What’s wrong with that? It’s a lush colour, that is.”
Oz laughs. “Niall didn’t do colour in this house when he was on his own. The boldest he got was painting the lounge grey, and I think he had to have a sit down after that. Now, he has red on the walls in the kitchen, bronze in the bedroom, and the downstairs loo is yellow. This is all Milo, and because it’s him, Niall is of course adamant that he likes it.”
Eli looks at me as if expecting me to wince at the mention of Niall’s devotion, and I shake my head at him. “I keep expecting him to grow a handlebar moustache and crack a whip,” I muse.
Oz grins. “He’s definitely bossy enough to run a circus.”
“From what I’ve heard of the men he employs, he’s already achieved that dream.”
“Is one of them called Phil?” Eli asks. “Because Niall sent him to prune the rose bushes in the back garden yesterday. It was while you were up at the big house.”
“Did he do it?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, he dug up a big bush in the field and then chased the sheep for a bit.” He pauses. “He didn’t catch any, though, so that’s okay.”
“Of course he didn’t,” Oz says, pushing the back door open. “Because the sheep are far too wily for Phil. They’ll have told him they were tourists.”
“Probably better behaved than the tourists on this estate,” I say, blinking as we move out into the garden. It’s changed since I was here last. The patio of York stone has been extended, and on it they’ve set a long patio table with eight chairs around it. The rest of the garden is a riot of colour with a big silver birch tree bending elegantly over everything.
“This is nice,” I say as Milo comes towards us, smiling happily.
“Thank you,” he says, hugging me and then letting me go to hug Eli too. Eli blinks but tentatively returns it, and I smile as I look at the two men who mean the most to me.
“Welcome,” Milo says to Eli. “You’ve been locked up in that house with Gideon forsolong.”
“He wasn’t locked up,” I say indignantly. “He could leave at any time.”
“Not until the Stockholm Syndrome had passed,” Niall offers from his position next to the barbecue.
I raise a middle finger, and Milo laughs before turning back to Eli. “Still, do you need anything after the last few days? A drink, some Valium, a psychiatrist?”
I shake my head as everyone including Eli bursts into laughter. “Wankers,” I say calmly and make my way over to where Silas is sitting in a patio chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. His hair is wild, his beard even wilder, but he looks contented and slightly sleepy.
“I’ll sit with you,” I say decisively. “At least I’ll get some relief from the constant piss-taking.”
He grins at me. “You seem happy.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t been round to see me,” I say, taking a bottle of Bud from Milo with a nod of thanks.
“Oh, I called round.” I look at him and he winks. “The window was open and there was a lot of very loud groaning and shouting. I presumed you were rearranging the furniture.”
Milo laughs loudly, and I shake my head. “Why did I think you’d be a bastion of mental stability?”
“It’s beyond me,” Niall offers. “Have you met his husband?”
Oz settles down into the chair next to Silas and raises a lazy middle finger at Niall, who laughs and turns back to the food.
“I was thinking today that it’s been a bit like having Errol Flynn on the property,” Silas muses. “We were just missing the sword fighting. I bet you could do a cracking Australian accent, though.”
Oz snorts and I shake my head. “How old are you? I know you’re nearly forty, but inside you must beat the heart of an eighty-year-old.”
“While you have Jim Morrison’s.”
“I’ll take that.” I kick out a chair for Eli as he comes over to the table. “Come and sit down.” I smile at him. “Although I’m apologizing in advance for this lot.”
“How rude,” Oz sniffs and spoils the impression of indignation by winking at Eli. “How are you enjoying Cornwall, Eli?”
He hesitates and then gives his wide, lazy smile. “Well, I haven’t seen much of it, to be honest. What with Gid chaining me to his bed and all. But it’s been a nice holiday and a bit of a rest for me.”
