“She’s your one. I can see that, Francis. Did you think I wouldn’t understand?”
“I don’t really know, Mum. With her being back and it being so complicated, I wasn’t sure what to tell you, so we decided we shouldn’t until we were sure of everything.”
She squeezed my hand.
“Are you sure now?”
“The only thing I’m sure of is the five of us being a family and her. I’m sure of her. Scar gets me. We take care of each other like it should be, you know… a partnership. And so what if she shares those things with Drake, Pres and West too? Doesn’t make her love me any less. She doesn’t make me feel second best… ever.”
Mum dropped my hand, only to stroke my hair back from my face. She smiled when she noticed it wasn’t gelled. I didn’t wear it any longer. Not when it made Scarlett happy to run her fingers through my hair. I couldn’t deny it made me feel good too.
“You were never second best, Francis.”
“I know but having her makes me see that clearly.”
“If being with her this way makes the four of you happy, then it’s all that matters. I won’t pretend to understand it, but all I want is your happiness in whatever form it comes.”
I almost shook my head. That was the thing about my parents. My mum was so easygoing and accepting. Probably why she and Drake’s mum were friends. Eliza was the calm in the storm that was May Ackley.
“There’s something I do have to ask you to do though.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“You can’t tell May she’s back.”
Mum’s eyes widened.
“You are not seriously asking me to lie to her?”
“It’s not lying, it’s withholding the truth. I think Drake deserves a chance to tell her himself. It’s his life, Mum.”
“He never tells her anything.”
I snorted.
“Are you surprised? I know she’s your best friend, but May is kind of scary when she gets going.”
Mum rolled her eyes but smiled.
“I suppose you’re right. And Drake does need to tell her himself. I hope he does soon.”
“When he finds out you know, I don’t think he’ll have much of a choice. Neither Pres with Rosie. She’s going to be…”
“Angry you kept Scarlett from her.”
“Yeah.”
Mum nodded and dragged her fingers across the kitchen counter.
“I hate to ask this, Francis, but where has she been?”
I shifted on my feet. The question I didn’t want to answer. Mostly because I couldn’t. There wasn’t an easy or simple explanation for her disappearance. Not without revealing things better in the past. They didn’t need to know their son was a killer, nor the type of shit I enjoyed.
“I can’t tell you, Mum. It’s not my place to talk about it.”
“Do the police know she’s no longer missing?”
I shook my head.
“Francis…”
“We will tell them when Scar is ready to. She’s still working through things, you know. She’s spent ten years without her memories. It’s difficult for her.”
Mum looked over at Scarlett and Dad.
“I can imagine it is. Well, you have my word this will stay between me and your father.”
“Thank you.”
She pulled me in for a hug. I looked over her shoulder at Scarlett, who was smiling at me. Seeing her happy made my heart lurch. She was so fucking beautiful. Nothing in the world mattered more to me than her.
Mum pulled away from me and saw me staring at Scarlett.
“Go.”
I couldn’t help but be pulled by the thread binding me to Scarlett. When I arrived next to her, she stood up and put her arms around me. I stroked her cheek and smiled. Then I pressed her face into my chest and breathed her in. Her cinnamon scent surrounded me, soothing every part of me from the inside out.
“She’s happy you’re home with us,” I whispered.
“Doesn’t think I’m crazy for wanting all of you?”
I laughed.
“No, I think you’ll have more trouble convincing May and Rosie than Mum.”
Scarlett shuddered before clutching me tighter.
“I’m not looking forward to that part.”
They would have to accept it eventually because no matter what, we were sticking together. We’d promised each other as much. No one in this world could tear us apart except for Stuart Carver. And we had a plan to make sure he never did.