Page 86 of Begin Again, Part 2

"Why not?"

"Tonight is your first time together as a family. I think you need to be alone," she explained and shuffled to her room to pack his son's stuff.

Liam drifted back to the living room and sat on the couch, amazed Aiden was still out even with the commotion around him.

"Here you go. I've packed enough stuff for three days in case they stay at the penthouse the whole weekend," Brenda said when she returned with a colourful backpack Liam assumed belonged to his son, a weekender bag that could only be Eden's and a car seat.

"Thanks." He hauled the backpack over his shoulder and grabbed the travel bag and car seat in his free hand. "There'll be a security team watching the place over the next few weeks, so don't be alarmed when you see a car outside."

"Is Eden in danger?" Brenda looked worried now.

Liam gave her his most reassuring smile. "It's just standard stuff. My parents insist on having all this security for Aiden."

She nodded, but the wary look in her eyes told him she didn't believe what he said.

"Good night," he said over his shoulder as he headed out. "Don't forget to lock the door."

"Of course, Mr Anderson."

When Liam slipped inside the car, Julian and Matthew demanded to hold Aiden. But he warded them off as he strapped his son in his car seat, insisting he was sleeping and shouldn't be disturbed.

"Can we at least see him?" Julian took off his seat belt, turned around in his seat, and grabbed Aiden's limp hand.

"Are you sure he's Eden's?" Matthew asked as he gawked at the full head of red hair on Aiden. Shifting the car into drive, they pulled away from the bungalow, with James and one other car following behind them.

"Hey baby, it's your favourite uncle Jules." Julian tried to wake Aiden up, but Liam swatted his hand away, growling at him.

"Leave Kool-Aid alone! He's a growing boy and needs all his sleep."

"You are such a spoilsport," Matthew grumbled behind the wheel. "When I have a kid, I won't let you play with him."

"I'll have five more by then." Liam laughed at his nonsense. "I won't need to play with yours."

Twenty minutes later, they were at the penthouse in Green Point.

Dave and the housekeepers took Eden and his son inside, while Liam briefed his cousins on all his outstanding reports and proposals, and the general running of the company in his absence.

"We've done this before," Matthew reminded him.

"Yeah, it's not our first time on the saddle," Julian added.

"Okay, see you in three weeks then." Liam grabbed his soiled shirt, pushed his door, and stepped out. Almost as an afterthought, he turned back to the brothers and said, "take care of them in my absence. Whatever they need."

"I doubt Eden will tell us what she needs," Matthew replied.

He was right, of course. Liam knew Eden was fiercely independent and stubborn too. Why else would she choose to raise Aiden alone when he was more than capable of providing for them?

"I know that," he said. "But look after them for me anyway."

With that, he turned to the house to begin what would undoubtedly be the longest and perhaps most illuminating night of his almost thirty-year existence.

Eden sat at the breakfast counter with a cup of tea in her hands, staring at the baby monitor in front of her when Liam walked into the penthouse.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked as he closed the door behind him and turned on the security system. "I told Dave and the housekeepers to help you settle in for the night."

"They tried," she replied. "But I wanted to wait for you so we can talk."

Her calm, lucid demeanour made Liam nervous.

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