Page 141 of Painted Truths

Mission a-fucking-ccomplished!

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Olivia

Within two weeks of signing the deed to the building for Katherine’s, we are almost ready to open our doors to all those who need us. I can scarcely believe how quickly things can get done when the right amount of cash is involved, but Henry had insisted we move swiftly. I don’t think I have the heart to deny him anything, especially when his main goal is just to make me happy.

And I am. I’m happier than I’ve ever been or ever dreamed I could be. Even with the knowledge that my parents deaths are on my hands; I’m slowly making progress. With the help of Father Thomas, I’m in the process of forgiving myself, letting go of the ingrained guilt and finding peace.

After the events with Lauren DeMarco and Samuel Hastings, the police investigation had been quick and painless, though both Mila and I, as well as Alex, had struggled in the coming weeks.

I’ve been exceptionally fortunate with the bond I have with Father T. He’s like a friend, teacher, father figure, and therapist, all rolled into one.

Together, we’d thrown ourselves into the project of setting up the non-profit, Katherine’s House, and Alex had done the same with his new title at the DeMarco offices in New York. We’d both made a pact to always be there for each other as we had always been over the years, and as much as it pained me to see my best friend move so far away, I knew it was what he needed to allow himself to heal.

I’m not utterly obtuse. I know there are things both of my men are keeping from me… however, I also know, these men would take a bullet for me—one already tried to—so I’m willing to allow them to keep their secrets, knowing that whatever they’ve retained is to keep me safe.

Mila—possibly the least affected, on the outside, at any rate—is seeing a counsellor that Henry and the boys had known from his college days, a Dr Taylor Jameson, twice weekly, and he seems to really be helping her. In addition, she has become a regular overnight visitor at our apartment, where we’ve bonded over a great many similar interests and our mutual adoration of her older brothers.

And I’m entirely sure she uses me to get out and see some boyfriend called Simon she’s yet to tell Henry about—but after what Mila and I shared, we deserve to have something we keep between us.

Her relationship with Alex took flight once they eventually talked, and despite being polar opposites, their newfound closeness is apparent for all to see.

I’m in the process of sorting through RSVPs for the launch event for Katherine’s seven short days from now, when Henry strides from his studio at the far end of our apartment—shirt-sleeves rolled up to display his hair-dusted forearms, hands liberally coated in blue and white paint and a smile as wide as London Bridge gracing his absurdly handsome face.

Glancing up from the tedious work that I’d insisted upon doing myself, despite having a whole team at my disposal, I can’t help my lips lifting into an answering smile.

“I just got off a call with Cade.” I jump to my feet, my stomach bottoming out while simultaneously filling with butterflies. “Layla delivered their little girl last night. Both of them are just perfect, even if her arrival is slightly earlier than anticipated.”

Thrilled by this, I launch myself into his waiting arms as he spins me around in delight, ecstatic to hear Caden’s unbelievably good news.

“Bella Blue North. 5lbs 8oz. Can you believe North has a kid!”

“Do you think we could visit them in two weeks when we fly out to see Alex? Would that be okay, do you think?”

Having just returned from the first of his bi-monthly visits to his brother, I know he’ll be due to fly out again in two short weeks.

“Of course, baby. Cade has already asked us to come. He’s desperate to show her off. Do you think you can organise someone to stand in for you for the couple of days we’ll be away?”

What he really means is, can I bear to hand the reins over to someone else while I take a step back for a hot minute, something I haven’t done in weeks now—but he’s smarter than that. Good for him!

Having precisely zero experience in the administrative side of running a non-profit, I am heavily reliant on Martha, who is one of those people who inherently knows what needs to be done, and so I trust her judgement implicitly.

On her advice, and Father T’s encouragement, I’d decided to throw a charity dinner to entice donors to give generously to such a worthy cause, so I know immediately Martha will take the helm while I am away.

I nod, making a mental note to email her to double-check.

Martha has become infinitely more like family than a friend. Her reaction to the news that Henry and I were a couple was highly enthused, to say the very least. If I hear her talk about shopping for a hat for “the big day” one more time, I’ll kindly throttle her.

She’d also come clean on my “promotion” just the other day, telling me that Henry had never asked her to promote me to his PA, which is hilarious considering Jasper had been his long-standing PA from before he’d even taken the helm. She’d done it under her own steam in an attempt to push us together, having seen the sparks between us at the DeMarco Gala.

And so now, Henry and I have decided to nickname her Meddling Martha—not that she cares, having claimed her work was done.

Plonking my ass back down on the couch, I’m surprised to find Henry settling himself beside me, only to pick up a handful of RSVPs and begin sorting them.

“You don’t have to do that, you know.”

Raising a sardonic eyebrow, he retorts, “Neither do you, Peaches.”