Ocean Of Need

❤️ 73 💋 Reconciliation?

12th June Continued...

One hand on the wheel, one hand on my thigh, Mac drives us back to the safe house. The vineyards pass by the window in a blurred stretch of viridian green. As if someone took a paintbrush and brushed right through the tress, turning the landscape it into one long canvas.

I mull over the pieces of my last day with my mother. The cage in my mind that was so sinister was just a play pen. It was meant to keep me safe me but it couldn't protect me from the loss of her.

I fiddle with my phone, looking for music to pull me back to today, to our plans for the future. I find The Kills, Fire & Ice album, click onto it. Echo Home echoes around the pick up.

Mac smiles over at me. 'Good choice Miss Lilah.'

Tomorrow morning we will board a chartered plane from Napa to LA. In the evening we'll fly to London. Together. Once I grieve this last piece of my old story there's a future to be excited about.

I relax into the journey, staring out at the green canvas. I love this part of the world. If things ever get sorted out with my family, maybe we'll come back one day. Live in a rambling old farmhouse, get a dog. I'll write poetry, maybe try my hand at a book, make sculptures, watch Mac as he paints.

The music cuts out as Roxy's name flashes on my phone screen. My stomach drops. Heart starts hammering.

'Roxy? You ok?'

'Hey Lilah, how you doing?'

'I'm ok.'

'You with Mac?'

'Who wants to know? You? Or my Father?'

'Your Father's not here right now.'

'What's going on?'

'He's going to let you do your own thing for a while.'

'So you've replaced me huh?'

'Kind of. He wants me to go to Scotland with him. Meet the rest of my family.'

'And you want to go?'

'Fuck yeah. Jesus - you've seen the house. I can't believe you ever left.'

'It's not that simple. You sure you want to get involved with my family?'

'My family,' she hisses down the phone.

'Your family,' I say softly back at her. 'Honestly, you're welcome to them. Just be careful what you wish for. They'll give you everything you want and nothing you need.'

'Well, you say that, but...' there's a smile in her voice and I can't help but take the bait.

'But...'

'Your father's bought something for you.'

'No. Nope. Absolutely not interested. Every gift comes with conditions.'

'No conditions. I promise. He wants to make up with you. He wants you to have time to concentrate on your art and write your poetry. Just for you. Not for the family business.'

'No, Roxy, you don't know him.'

'Can you meet me? I can tell you all about it. You can bring Mac too. I bet he's with you right now. He's next to you listening isn't he?'

'No,' I lie.

'Lilah, I know he is. I'm glad my sister is with someone like him, he's a good guy. I'm sorry for all the chaos I caused you both. I didn't know we were sisters. If I had things would have been different.' She sighs and says quietly, 'Everything would have been different if I'd known my father.'

'Roxy, promise me you'll be careful. He's not the man you think he is. Please promise me if anything goes wrong, you'll call me first. Not Freya, not Jameson, call me. I'm the only one without any skin in the game. Will you do that?'

'Ok.'

'Promise?'

'Promise. But Lilah, this gift - it's a gallery in New York. It's got a loft apartment too. It's beautiful- like really fucking beautiful, and the deeds are in your name - outright. No one can fuck with that.'

'You're kidding? In my name? Straight up?'

'Straight up,' she says in a terrible British accent, that makes me laugh. 'Your Dad said it's the least he can do. His exact words were, "My sons have cost me an arm and a leg these last few years, it's about time my daughter had some bloody cash before those fuckers dry me out completely." So yeah, heartfelt words.'

'That sounds like him,' I grimace, wondering which daughter he was talking about. I keep my voice light, keep playing the game as I say, 'New York? I was planning on going to Asia. But New York... That could be fun. As long as my Dad doesn't take it as an invitation to visit.'

'He won't. He's taking Freya to Scotland. They've been glued together since he arrived. He's way more interested in her than he is in business. She keeps trying to get him on track with the business marriage but he just stares at her all gooey eyed every time she says marriage. I'm sure it's driving her crazy. She's started calling it a merger now.'

My heart twists. Seems like my father got what he wanted all along. But does Freya actually want him, or does she just want a powerful partner? If my mother hadn't got so blue her life turned to black would she have left him? Would he and Freya have ended up together anyway?

'Lilah? Did I lose you?' Roxy says.

'I'm here, the connection cut out for a minute but I'm back now.' I pull my mind back to where it needs to be and say, 'And you? Are you going to Scotland with them?'

'Yeah. For a while. He wants me to learn the family business.'

'And Jameson? Is he going too?'

'Jameson? Why would he be coming with us?'

'He works for my father now, right?'

'No, fuck no. They can't stand each other. Jameson already left. I'm surprised he didn't call you. I thought you two were as thick as thieves... Like literally,' she giggles. 'So Lilah, will you meet me? I can give you the deeds to the gallery, we can have a few drinks, go dancing...'

'Where?'

'Jamie's Bar? Tomorrow. Nine pm?'

——

Hey Wild Ones,
There is one more chapter to go!
What a journey this has been.
Thank you for being here.

Next chapter will be up in one week.

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Always with Love,
Violet
❤️