“Sarah!” Ava’s voice exclaimed interrupting them.
Sarah stood letting herself be engulfed in a hug. It was as much for her own comfort as it was for Ava’s. Unlike Macey who had grown up in a loving household both Sarah and Ava endured various forms of abuse and neglect so intimate gestures like hugs were reassuring.
Silas released the kids into the yard where they hurried to join the others. Ben and Isaac in particular were eager to play with the puppy again. With a sigh Ava slowly released Sarah and carefully studied her expression.
“Are you really okay?”
“Ava, I’m fine,” Sarah gave her a reassuring smile. “Promise.”
“Let’s sit,” Silas gently encouraged.
Lucas stood helping Sarah to sit while the newcomers joined them. Moments later the housekeeper arrived with two glasses of tea before leaving them to talk while the kids played.
“So…” Julius hesitated clearing his throat, “as you know James confessed to twelve other attacks. Tracy is contacting the victims. We don’t know how long it will take for her to track them all down but his lawyer is sure to press the courts to hurry especially if he gets wind of what we’re trying to do.”
Sarah nodded. Tracy was a bulldog to say nothing of Tailor. Whatever tricks James’s lawyer tried to play he wouldn’t get far.
“I’m surprised he actually confessed,” Macey said. “How’d you convince him to come clean?”
Julius and Silas shared an uneasy glance. It was enough to tell Lucas exactly how they did it though the women didn’t seem to have a clue. If they were honest it was not a topic to be debated in mixed company.
“Well, I for one hope he gets what’s coming to him,” Sarah declared when the men remained silent.
“I agree, but he’s only one of many,” Ava said. “We should do something to protect ourselves.”
“This from someone who travels around with a security team?” Julius asked with a smirk earning a glare from Silas.
“Security team or not I think it would be good to be prepared,” Ava said. “What about self-defense classes? Tracy said martial arts are really good training.”
“I’m not sure any of us prepared for years of commitment and dedication it would take to follow Tracy’s lead,” Macey said, “but she did mention her gym offered self-defense classes weekly that focused on breaking holds and fending off attackers. I taking those classes would be a good idea. And Lexi and Aria too.”
“Absolutely!” Ava declared. “Sean and Theo already train with the security team so it’s only right Lexi had the same experience. What do you think, Sarah?”
Sarah bit her lip her mind hazily recalling her desperate attempt to fend off James. She had felt so helpless and the idea of preparing and training to make herself stronger had appeal. It might even help ease the anxiety causing her nightmares.
“It’s a good idea,” Lucas suddenly spoke up. “And Sarah can do anything she wants.”
Sarah blinked looking at him and blushed slightly at his earnestness. Macey and Ava fought smiles at the exchange between the hesitant pair.
“Well, at least he has his lines down,” Julius commented sharing a bemused look with Silas. The latter chuckled and Lucas felt his face warm.
Macey swatted Julius’s arm but he caught her hand and kissed it with a smile. Lucas snuck sheepish glances at the pair marveling how different Julius seemed in private compared to his public image.
* * *
“Well, it looks like Aunt Sarah is okay,” Theo commented as they watched from the play set.
The older kids watched the younger ones play while they kept an eye on the adults. Alexis in particular studied their parents with concern. After a moment she said, “Yeah, looks like it.”
“You don’t think so though,” Sean guessed.
“I don’t think Aunt Sarah was sick. You saw how frantic Lucas was after hearing she had a talk with Lidia,” Alexis said. “Something pretty serious must have happened for Aunt Macey and Uncle Jules to take Zoe home for the night.”
“So now what?” Theo asked. “The adults are being tight-lipped.”
“How’s it going with project Lidia?” Alexis asked.
“Good,” Sean said, “though I had some unexpected complications.”
“What do you mean? Someone blocking you?”
“No, beating me to the punch,” Sean shook his head. “Looks like she made someone else mad. I started noticing traces of hacking while I was poking around.”
“Are they going to be a problem?”
“No. They’re doing our job for us. I did manage to get into Stanton Inc. and poked around their finances a bit too.”
“And?”
“Looks like they’re closing Lidia’s accounts and Madeline is off their payroll.”
“Good,” Alexis said. “Seems Lucas is taking action himself.”
“Bout time,” Theo sighed. “Why are adults so slow?”
“A question for the ages,” Sean shrugged.
“Keep an eye on it for now,” Alexis said.
“Yes, boss.”
* * *
“Back to the matter at hand,” Silas cleared his throat, “about last night…did Alan find anything?”
“No,” Lucas admitted. “We have Lidia soliciting Sarah and leading her out of the crowd but that corner is a blind spot so we don’t have any footage of her being part of the attack.”
“What about phone records?” Julius asked.
“I don’t know if it will help,” Lucas shook his head. “Lidia’s been friends with James for years so talking on the phone or even meeting in public is not unusual.”
“So circumstantial at best,” Silas said.
“Maybe in court,” Lucas agreed, “but I know the truth and after I told her to stay away from Sarah.”
“She clearly didn’t take your warning to heart,” Julius said.
“It’s my fault for always bailing her out of trouble,” Lucas sighed. “She expects it and thinks she’s untouchable.”
“I’m sure there is plenty of blame to go around,” Silas said. “You weren’t the one who raised her after all.”
Lucas grimaced. There was that but it wasn’t much.
“Which brings us to your grandmother,” Julius announced.
“What about her?” Lucas asked.
“Have you spoken to her lately?”
“No.”
“I think you should,” Julius said.
“Why? She’s been retired for years. She doesn’t know anything about this.”
“Are you sure?”
“What exactly are you implying?” Lucas demanded.
“Only that my father always warned me to tread carefully around the infamous Alice Stanton,” Julius said.
Lucas frowned.
“You don’t find it the least bit strange that of all the women in the world she chose one with genuine feelings for you to be your bride?” Julius asked. “That it is just a coincidence?”
Lucas opened his mouth to protest then snapped it shut. He had never given it much thought but now that Julius pointed it out it did sound suspicious. Why did his grandmother insist on Sarah being his bride enough to speak with both of them to ensure it?
“But if Alice knew what was going on why didn’t she step in?” Macey asked.
“That would be my fault,” Sarah sighed.
The others looked at her curiously.
“Part of the agreement I made with her was that she wouldn’t interfere,” Sarah admitted.
“Interfere?” Lucas repeated.
“I don’t know how she knew, but she knew everything,” Sarah blushed, “about what happened in the schoolyard. She said she had her eye on me ever since and thought I would be a perfect partner for you. She said she’d fix everything and that I shouldn’t worry but I told her no…I said if you and I were going to be together she couldn’t interfere. No matter what.”
“A Stanton honors every agreement to the letter,” Julius nodded.
“Unfortunately not everyone got that memo,” Silas added.
“Yeah, the in-laws interfered.”
They glanced at Lucas who looked pensive and deep in thought. Sarah nervously looked in his direction wondering what he thought about her agreement with his grandmother. Realizing his expression must look dark he shook his head and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“Sarah, did your agreement with her include confidentiality?” Lucas asked. “I mean, did you stipulate she wasn’t allowed to say anything about it to me?”
“Um…no. I didn’t mention anything like that.”
“I see.” Lucas looked at Julius who seemed to understand his concern. “I think you’re right. I do need to talk to my grandmother.”
Julius nodded. It wasn’t the first time a family made plans for someone’s future without properly consulting them about it. Even if done with the best intentions it only caused problems later if everyone wasn’t on the same page from the start.
“Come with me?” Lucas looked at Sarah.
“Me?”
“You and Zoe. I know our agreement said no contact with my family without your approval…but you were always her favorite. She’ll be thrilled to meet Zoe provided the news doesn’t give her a heart attack. She’s wanted great-grandchildren for years.”
Sarah blushed. Alice was the only Stanton who welcomed her and defended her against constant attacks from Patricia and Lidia. The Stanton matriarch’s home was also the one place she was guaranteed never to run into Madeline as Alice couldn’t stand the latter and banned her from the property.
“We can make a weekend of it,” Lucas said. “We can take Zoe to the aquarium, Luna Park, the beach. Just us.”
Sarah thought it over. The New York Aquarium was already on her list of places to take Zoe and she had also considered the famous Coney Island Amusement Park as well. She was also curious what the Stanton matriarch would say when presented with her great-granddaughter. After everything that happened they could use a getaway. Finally she nodded.
Lucas breathed a relieved sigh. As much as he wanted to consult his grandmother he didn’t want to lose any time with Sarah and Zoe in the process. He wondered what his grandmother would say when he confronted her.