Argylle - The last chance

Chapter IX

During the flight Tam didn't say another word. She didn't eat anything and had her headphones in her ears. By ignoring everything around her and staring out the window she was sitting next to, she hoped to forget the misery she was about to face.
Aidan sat to her right and didn't try to talk to her again. Not just because she was wearing headphones and an expression on her face that was enough of a warning, but also because he understood that now was not the right time to try and bond with her. So, he left her space and texted with Alfie and his girlfriend for a couple of minutes before he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
About three hours later, the airplane touched down in Porto and although they had a little delay, they left the airport only half an hour after their scheduled arrival.
"Come on, Tam, we got to go to Alfie's or else we will miss the lunch. And trust me- or don't, but you will not want to miss lunch at Alfie's. He might not be the best Italian chef, but his Portuguese food is amazing," he said and lead her to a parking lot, where they entered a grey Audi and drove through Portugal.
Because she hadn't seen Alfie since her last experience with the Italian Mafia, she was quite excited. And even though she was still mad at him for sending Aidan to her saving, he was the person that was like an uncle or grandfather to her – maybe even both.
They drove for another hour before arriving at an old-looking farmhouse with dozens of sunflowers growing on the fields around it. The house didn't look quite as wealthy and beautiful as the house he had had in France, but still it was great to look at and Tam had to admit that Alfie was a man of great taste.
"Here we are," Aidan said, stopped the car and switched off the engine. Without answering, Tam left the car and stood in front of the building for a couple of seconds. Her heart was beating in excitement and when the door opened, and Alfie stepped into the sunlight she couldn't help but start to smile.
"Look at that!" Alfie said and his smile was just as big as Tam's, "The future of the spy world has come to help."
They walked towards each other and when they reached each other, Alfie opened his arms and Tam let him pull her into a tight hug. For a moment everything she wanted was to stay in this hug for the rest of her life, because for the first time in years she felt safe. It was like her inner child was finally able to rest. As if Alfie was able to protect her from all the bad things in the world. As if she was not almost an adult and had to face the biggest challenge in her life.
"It's good to see you," she said quietly, and he let go of her to look in her face.
"It's good to see you, too, kid. I'm glad we could convince you," he nodded in Aidan's direction. Her half-brother was standing next to the car, looking at them with an expression on his face that Tam couldn't interpret. "I can understand you're mad at him, and you don't have to forgive him. But I hope by now you understand that it's the best for everyone if we all work together for a bit."
She looked at him and sighed. It was just impossible to be mad at him for too long.
She had known him for almost her entire life and even though she had spent most of her lifetime far away from him, on the other side of the planet, he had always been there for her. Whenever she needed help or just someone who'd listen to her, she could always call him, and he would take some time to help her.
"Now we better get inside, I cooked lunch for the four of us and I want to eat before it gets cold."
She wanted to nod, but then she realized that he had said four. For a moment she considered that she was too stupid to count, but she believed that counting to four was among her capabilities. She was confused.
"Uhm, Alfie?" she asked, "Four? Who else is here?"
"You'll see," he grinned and turned to Aidan. "Get your ass up there, Wylde. Someone is waiting for you, and I don't mean the cat!"
With a slight chuckle Aidan walked past the two of them and entered the house. Tam watched him vanish into the building before she turned around to have a look at the sunflowers around her. They were not blooming – after all it was only February and sunflowers were not due until the summer.
She didn't want to go inside just yet. She was afraid of who was waiting in there and wanted to stay in the sun as long as possible.
"Sunflowers?" she asked, "No grapes anymore?"
"I took over this farm some time ago and these wonderful little babies were already growing here," he explained, "I couldn't kill them. Maybe I'll even stop the wine business for a while and get into the flower market. I think that would be a lot of fun."
"If not you, who else?" she grinned, "They look wonderful."
"Yes, I think so, too. Sunflowers fit you. You should definitely make a business out of them," she said and after giving her a strange look from the side, Alfie gave her a tap on the shoulder, as if he wanted to say, that they'd continue talking about it another time. Then they followed Aidan into the house.
Alfie led her through the entrance and even before they got into the kitchen, she could hear a cat meowing.
"Since when do you have a cat?" she asked, genuinely confused because ever since she had known him, Alfie had never owned a pet.
"It's not my cat. It's Rachel's cat. Funnily enough, the name's also Alfie."
"You're joking!"
"Do I look like I am joking to you?"
"Aidan's girlfriend is here?"
"Well, yes, I said so, didn't I?"
Tam didn't answer but entered the kitchen just to see Aidan and a red-haired woman standing next to the kitchen table, kissing. Seeing this, Tam felt the urge to turn around and run far, far away. Instead, she just stopped and blinked in shock.
"Excuse you!" Alfie shouted and Aidan and Rachel jumped apart as if they were two teenagers who had been caught by their father making out. "Make out as much as you want, but not in my kitchen!"
"My bad, sorry, Alfie," Aidan grinned and grabbed Rachel's hand. "Rach, I want you to meet my sister, Tamara," he pointed at Tam, and she forced a smile on her face.
"Hi" she said, and Rachel smiled shyly at her.
"Hello, nice to meet you. Aidan has told me quite a lot about you," she admitted and immediately Tam's expression hardened.
"Charming" she said and turned to Alfie. "You said you made lunch?"
He nodded and walked over to the oven. "Be prepared for bacalhau à brás," he said and then looked at the three of them. "Will you start and put the dishes on the table, or should I do everything by myself?"
Immediately the three of them jumped to help him and a couple of minutes later the table was prepared and a casserole dish filled with becalhau a brás spread its smell through the room. Before sitting down next to Alfie, Tam went to the sink and started washing her hands.
From behind her she heard Rachel whisper, "I don't think she likes me."
And Aidan answered, "Right now, I don't think she likes anyone of us. Except for Alfie, maybe. Not the cat. But don't worry, love. It's not your fault. It's probably mine."