AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Well, it’s not. I’ve called a halt, and I mean it. It’s up to me to set my stall out. They’re all so alpha. It's tiring, but I’ve started now as I mean to go on. No turning back.
I drag myself out of my room and go to wake up the eager students, but they’re both spark out. 9 a.m. I’ll get breakfast on the go and then rouse them. They have a week or so before the exams start, no slacking now.
I WhatsApp Grace to see if she got back ok and if she wants to go out for tea tonight. I intend to go out as much as possible. It won’t be many weeks before I’m down in Devon and Grace and I literally go on a summer hiatus. She comes down for a few weeks in the summer holidays, but due to exams and the boys finishing school early to go on tour, I know I won’t be in London much beyond the end of May.
A pattern of sorts emerges over the next week or so, with the boys hard at the books and me hard at moving the build along. We work, we eat, we go to bed, we go out at the weekend. I feel bad that the boys have no outlet, so allow a few nights out. Clubs don’t open till midnight, and close at 6 a.m., so they tend to lose the next day as well.
Sometimes, rather than go out, they choose to stay in. Get the other lads over and jam and make new music. It doesn’t, however, change the pattern for the next day—still a dead loss on the studying.
Needless to say, on those nights, I do go out. Four lads blasting music, drinking and whatever else, even if it’s just to Grace’s house, I make myself scarce.
“Hey, James, looking smart son,” I tell him, impressed, as he comes towards me in a suit. “What’s the occasion? It’s not for an exam, is it?” I didn’t think there was a dress code.
“No, I'm meeting Dad in town at some lawyer’s office. Some legal stuff to do with the estate, I think he said.”
“Do we need to come with?” I point my tea cup at him. “I know you’re an adult but do you want me to send someone with you? A lawyer for you?”
“No, it’ll be fine. I won’t be long. I told Dad my exams are starting, so I couldn’t stay. I’ll take an Uber, and they can drop me and wait, so I can get back quicker.”
“Okay, is your dad here for long?”
James looks at me, quirking his eyebrow. “Do you want me to ask him for you?”
“No, just wondered, as his tour starts in a few weeks, does it not?”
He smirks at me. “Yeah, it does. They’re at some recording studio outside of London. I told him about the Farm Cottage studio, but they decided on this other place. I thought it sounded a shit hole compared to Farm Cottage, but what do I know?” He shrugs, leans forward and kisses me. “See you later, Mum.”
I watch him walk away. On the outside, a confident, charming, good looking human. A totally caring man, thinking of others as much as he does himself, on the inside. And I am so proud of him.
I briefly spare a thought about what Kellen could need James for, but to be honest, I don’t care. I’m as interested in that estate and all it entails as a poke in the eye. I’m amazed James is interested. I’d heard him on the phone with Bug and Kellen over the past week or so, discussing estate business. I suppose it was something he ought to know for the future. But way, way into the future, if ever. I’d hoped he would walk away, but just like Kellen hasn’t been able to, so it seems James is in the same boat. Duty, in whatever form, seems to run deep. Even though Kell has found an ingenious way to avoid it.
Kenny calls me late into the afternoon to let me know they want to take the other building.
“Do you want to come over to discuss plans?” he asks me. “Tomorrow maybe?”
“If it’s tomorrow, it’ll just be me. The designer I have in mind for the flat is in Italy at the minute. She’s back in a fortnight, and I’m happy to wait for her if you want her there.”
“No, you’ll be fine. I’m sure we can talk about layout and everything. I’ll talk about designs for the flat with her, that’s not so much of a hurry.”
“Has something happened, Kenny, that you need to move quicker? I thought you owned that building you’re in?”
“Yes, but there’s an issue with some of the rooms, and I’d rather not have to sort that out with a building full of people.”
I’m sure I’m being lied to. I sense Marcus Russell is up to something, but what it is, I’ve no idea. I can’t see the angle.
“You’re lucky, Kenny. I’ve got a breakfast meeting in town with Jude about some consultancy work at 8:30. I’ll come as soon as that’s finished.” I smile as James walks back in, waves, and goes into his room ‘to study.’ I see Bucky come out of his room and go into James’s. Not a minute later I hear the Xbox fire to life. So much for studying.
“Ah, that’s great. See you tomorrow. I won’t do breakfast if you're breakfasting with Jude.”
“I did like those custard filled doughnut things you had at yours. I’ve not seen them anywhere else, so don’t get scrimping on those.”
He starts to laugh, “I’ll order a hot batch for you.”
“Looking forward to it now. See you tomorrow.”
I hang up and wander towards James’s room. I can hear them talking, but not loud enough to be clear. I knock and push open the door. “Are we eating out, boys? Or do you want me to cook?”
“Can we have spaghetti? I’ve been dreaming about it all day,” says Bucky, “and garlic bread.”
