The Fractured Wife

Chapter 17

Grant was exhausted by the time he had finished explaining things, he sighed and threw himself back on the couch with relief flooding through his body. “I don’t know why I told you that as I don’t want you to think we’re a sob story or to feel sorry for us dude,” Grant said sheepishly. He looked down at his feet as he was intending to say as much as he did. Lucien had made him comfortable enough to be able to share his secret with Lucien. “I’m sorry, dude, I actually meant to come over and find out if you want to take my mum out on a date this Saturday?” Grant asked quickly so he could leave and to stop feeling embarrassed. 

“Grant sit down for a minute there’s a couple I need to say before you can go, OK?” Lucien pointing to where Grant was originally seated. Grant shrugged his shoulders and sat back down. “Firstly, thank you for telling me what you and your family have been through. Secondly, you shouldn’t be feeling guilty about not helping your mum. You helped her by taking care of Conan and protecting him as your mother was protecting you and him.” Lucien saw Grant dip his head and wipe tears away with his sleeve. he continued,” You are a very brave young man who has been through a lot and you all came through the other side as stronger people. Your father is the guilty one here as he never knew the blessings that he had in you and Conan and your mother,” Lucien paused before he started again, “If you would like I would be happy if you would see me as a friend instead of someone you think will take your mother away from the both of you. I want to see her happy and the same goes for you and your brother. I will admit that I do have feelings for your mum but I will not act on those feelings unless you and Conan give the thumbs up.” 

Lucien stood up and sat beside Grant and put his hand on his back. He felt Grant flinch under his hand and he felt his anger rise again. His fangs threatened to come down and his eyes had hardened with the thought of this boy suffering at his father’s hands. He quickly recovered his control before continuing “I’m always around if you need some man time or wanting to chill out or whatever.” Grant smiled at the offer and nodded his head but didn’t say anything. “Plus I would love to take your mum on a date on Saturday.” Lucien finished as Grant shook his hand and had started walking up the path.

Grant felt better now that he knew Lucien had offered to be a friend and grinned when Lucien agreed to take his mother out on Saturday. “Now all I have to do is get mum to agree to be free Saturday.” grant thought as he ran home. 

Grant burst through the door to his home “MUM,” Grant shouted as he looked around for his mother. “I’m upstairs reading your brother a story before he goes to sleep. What is it?” What’s wrong?” Roma asked when Grant came into his brother’s room sweaty and out of breath. “Nothing is wrong but Auntie Jane wants to have a girl’s night on Saturday and she’s not taking no for an answer. Uncle Stefan is going to watch us.” Grant said as he caught his breath and leaning on the doorframe. 

Roma looked at her son suspiciously but nodded her head as heaven knows the last time she was able to relax and be herself. “It may be just what I am needing, thanks Grant,” Roma closed the book and kissed Conan on his forehead gently before tiptoeing out of his room turning the light off and leaving his bedroom door ajar. She hugged Grant and walked down to the kitchen to make herself a hot drink before she went and watched TV. Grant watched her go downstairs and with a sigh, he went to his room to relax before he went to bed.

The following days were chaos for Roma as Conan has split his shoes so she had to take his shoe shopping and shopping with a six-year-old is not pleasant for anyone. “Mummy, I don’t want new shoes,” Conan whined at his mother as she walked into the store. “ You need new shoes as your old ones have holes in them,” Roma stated looking down at Conan as he pouted up to her. “Tell you what you be good with the shop assistant and we will get ice cream afterwards OK?” Roma said hoping that Conan would calm down after hearing the magic word ice cream. “Can we really? I want an ice cream cone with all the flavours in the whole wide world and it will be so high that you won’t be able to see the top,” Conan started to describe how his ice cream will be to the shop assistant as she measured his feet to get the right size of shoes for him. Conan did as he was told when getting his new shoes and rambled on about what his ice cream will look like till they were outside of the ice cream parlour. 

As they walked in Roma bumped into Lucien coming out of the store with an ice cream wafer. “wow what’s that?” Conan asked his little eyes wide as he stared at Lucien’s ice cream waffle. “Mummy, can I get that instead pretty please?” Conan begged his mum. Roma was struggling as she looked up at Lucien as she hasn’t seen him since that fateful night. 

“Hi, How are you?” Roma asked Lucien while Conan was pulling on her arm desperate to go and get his ice cream. “Guess what I got new shoes today, want to see?” Conan asked Lucien and before either of them said anything, Conan runs into the parlour and was shouting what flavours he wanted. “I’m sorry, he’s a bit of a handful when he gets excited. You are welcome to join us plus I want to apologise about what happened.” Roma said unsure whether Lucien would take up the invite. 

“I would love to, plus I was promised to be shown the wee man’s new shoes,” Lucien said with an amused smile playing on his lips. 

As Roma paid for Conan’s ice cream they went over to a table and sat down. “I am so sorry for what happened Lucien, I didn’t know what overcame me. I was embarrassed and didn’t know what was going to happen. I also couldn’t face you and that’s why I was avoiding you.” Roma looked down and played with the napkin she was holding. 

“It’s fine I understand that it was all so sudden and I felt your frustration that morning that’s why I left when you were still busy,” Lucien said nervously running his hand through his hair and then rubbing his neck. “I shouldn’t have dropped in on you like that and I want to apologise for it.” A look of shame crossed Lucien’s face as his hand fell onto the table making them all jump. 

Roma looked at the man that sat across the table from her and reached out and took his hand. “Let’s forget it and start again, shall we? Get to know each other better.” Roma said hopefully as she caught Lucien’s eyes and smiled. “Darn I could get lost in those eyes,” Roma thought as he smiled and nodded his head. 

None of them noticed the figure in the car taking pictures of them sitting there. The man took the pictures and sent them to Frank clarifying what she looked like now. 

“Oh Roma your so naughty, but he will be here soon to deal with you.” the man laughed to himself as he started the car and driving away.