The Affectionate Player - Part1 (Editing Chapters 32-34)

Chapter 31

Taken                                                                                               

A text message sounded from my cherished Chanel bag; a Christmas gift from my babies. I grabbed it and dug through a months' worth of receipts and baby wipes before finding my phone.

Hi babe - emergency meeting at mum's - Connie again. Where are you? Go straight there?

I'd had lunch with Jen followed by some mid-afternoon baby clothes shopping owing to Holly feeding like the 5,000. I really didn't feel like going to Olivia's to watch Connie be scolded for yet another of her 'inappropriate actions', which I found perfectly normal for someone of her age. It was true though that my only reason to go would be to give Max some reassurance.

He'd spent the last six months worried about his sisters and mother following their first family meeting in Scotland — 'the reunion from hell', as he recalled. Having concentrated so much on them he hadn't made time to deal with his own feelings over Olivia's reappearance into his life but he was trying. Of course, I would be there for him. I had to be. I hit send.

OK. Just 1hr plz.  Juice Bar, Oxford Street. C U in 10 x

Having got to know Olivia following her confession, she'd surprised us by being nothing short of a miracle in helping with the kids, not to mention her unexpected midwifery skills. I had witnessed the depth of his pain during our first visit to Fortrose but I knew how, once determined, he could put on a brave face; lock his feelings away until they tortured him to the point of implosion. I would always be there for him and for as long as he needed me.

"Hello, my little princess. Let's go outside and wait for daddy." I gently woke Holly who'd been sleeping for almost two hours. Her little smile and gurgling sounds as she opened her pretty blue eyes always pulled at my heart strings. I'll feed her once at Olivia's, I thought, then offered up a silent prayer that we wouldn't overstay. I wanted the kids in bed by 7pm.

"Hey, pretty girls!" Max climbed from his precious BMW and greeted me with a devilish smile. He was rocking the sexy navy jeans and grey t-shirt look that I loved so much. He leaned in for a chaste kiss before placing his soft lips on Holly's cheek, her smile and eyes mirroring his.

"She's grown from this morning, I swear it. Where's daddy's baby girl?" he said, all gooey eyed.

Monty, having nodded off in his car seat, stirred as we all settled in. He began chirping about his day at nursery, singing sweet little rhymes and, much to her delight, clasping hold of his sister's fingers. Turning my head, my eyes met Max's. "I love you," he mouthed before turning the key. God, he was perfect.

"Love you too."

                                                            ***************

As it transpired, Sophie had been unable to join us owing to the twins being ill, but discussions were in full swing by the time we arrived and emotions in the Jacobs' Pimlico kitchen were running high. I settled Monty in the adjoining den with Peppa, George and a bowl of pasta, then joined the others at the table just in time to take Holly, who'd become restless for her feed. 

Olivia stood with the letter in hand. It seemed the Donahue's lawyer had written to her, outlining the family's concerns about Connie being Marcus' biological child. Connie was being asked to submit DNA, which could only mean that they were questioning her inheritance. And if they discovered she was not a Donahue by birth, it seemed they'd have a strong case to dispute Marcus Donahue's will.

"They can't do this!" Connie cried. "I won't do it! Gil?" Connie turned to her father seeking some kind of answer. He said nothing and instead opened his arms, inviting her to fall into them.