Chapter 24: Panicked but Hopeful

Evylynn's POV:

I was a nurse damnit. I didn't know the first thing about hosting parties. I'd only been to a handful ever. What did people eat at parties? I honestly had no idea. Would we be having an open bar? Probably, with the James's coming. How would I invite most of the gypsy family if I hadn't met any of them, and didn't know where to find them? I was in over my head and he'd only told me about it twenty minutes ago. As for my family, no one spoke to me since I left to become a nurse. Well, that wasn't entirely true, my cousin Hadleigh and I still spoke, but we hadn't since I left my apartment to work for the James family. She had tried to talk me out of doing it as if that would work. I had already been sucked into their world at that point and was head over heels in love with Theo. She knew about parties as she'd had to partake in many of them herself as her father was significantly more well off than my parents had been before they passed away. I thought of my sweet innocent cousin. She would come if invited, but she'd shake like a leaf the entire time she was here. Maybe she would come to help me plan at the least. I certainly didn't know what I was doing. Was this a holiday party? I didn't even know if gypsies celebrated the holiday season. This was a disaster waiting to happen, I thought as I hunted down Theo's office.

When I finally found it, the door was standing open. Like he knew I'd come looking for him. How embarrassing. I could save a man's life without a second thought but the thought of planning a party gave me palpitations.

"Yes?" He said while I stood half debating whether or not to interrupt him.

"This party. I don't know what I'm doing." I stated, embarrassed to show this weakness to him.

"It'll be fine," he said as he flipped through some papers on his desk.

"That's the reassurance I was looking for," I said sarcastically. He didn't respond or look up. I sighed.

"Can I use the phone?" I asked.

"Your office is across the hall from the room. There's a phone there you can use whenever you'd like."

"My office?"

"Yes. It's an office that isn't being used. If you'd like it for planning or anything else, use it." He said once again without looking up.

"Thank you," I said because I honestly couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Mhm." He responded, barely.

I walked back out to the hallway and made my way back toward what was my office. I opened the door to a beautiful room much like the one I'd just left. It sported a large desk in the middle with windows out to what had to have been a gorgeous garden in the spring and summertime. I stared at the phone on the desk. Who would I call? I wondered as I made my way toward it. He'd likely be mad at who I called but I was scrambling for answers, so I dialed and prayed.

"Operator, how may I direct you?"

"Augustus James, on Watery Lane."

"One moment please." The phone began ringing. He likely wouldn't answer or wasn't home I thought just before the line was picked up.

"James residence."

"May I speak with Gus, Augustus I mean?" I questioned, fumbling over my words.

"Hello, Ev." I recognized the velvety voice on the other line. He'd answered his phone.

"Gus?" I questioned despite knowing the answer already.

"Yes, Evylynn."

"I don't know what I'm doing throwing a party." I spewed out in a panic. What was wrong with me?

"You could always ask Margie, she loves a good party." I could hear the smirk from the other line. He was teasing me.

"May I invite my cousin, Hadleigh?" I asked. "She knows about parties and stuff."

"Hadleigh Taylor, nineteen, on the market with a handsome dowery. The blonde blue-eyed version of you. Spends most of her time in London. Are you sure she'll have the time to help you?"

"How'd you know all that?" I questioned.

"I know everything about everyone close to me Evylynn. That includes checking out their families."

"I see..."

"Invite her if it makes you feel better. I have things to do. Give Theo my regards."

"Thank you..." I said to a deadline. I shook my head. I should call Hadleigh, she'd help, wouldn't she? But would she be safe with this family and their dealings?

"This is Hadleigh Taylor, who am I speaking to?" Hadleigh's voice was like sunshine from the other line.

"Had, it's Ev," I responded quickly.

"Evylynn? Evylynn Taylor?" She questioned as she'd always done.

"Yes, it's me. I need some help."

"I figured you be calling eventually but I don't know what help I'll be getting you away from them." She said rather presumptuously.

"I'm not trying to get away from them." I snapped, instantly feeling bad. "I'm trying to throw a party as the lady of the house and I've never done this before."

"I don't know that ill be much help either as frankly they terrify me. I don't know how you can stay in such a dangerous situation." Hadleigh said quietly over the line.

"I love him, I do. That's why I stay. I just need help planning a party. You're of course invited but I doubt you'll come." I said quickly. She was quiet on the other end for several seconds. I feared she'd already hung up when she sighed.

"I'll help you plan a party, but I can't promise to attend."

"I hope for my sake you do. It'd be nice to have someone familiar there."

"They aren't familiar?" She questioned, too smart for her good.

"They are but it wouldn't be the same without you."

"I'll consider it. Where and when do you want to meet?"

"Whenever you're available, and likely Theo's house if that ok?"

" I can be in Birmingham tomorrow. It'd probably be good for me to visit home anyways."

"Don't tell your parents where you'll be"

"Oh, I won't. I won't even be telling them we've spoken. They'd ship me off somewhere far away if they heard." She joked.

"Oh, I know they would," I replied with a smile. We chatted for a few minutes before getting off the line. I smiled as I stood in front of the desk. I hadn't heard Theo come in, but I smelled him just a moment before he wrapped his arms around me.

"Gus called." He said quietly.

"I shouldn't have called him, but I wanted to make sure it was ok to invite Hadleigh and see how this party was supposed to go. I'm sorry I bothered him."

"No, it's ok. He just mentioned you called so I came to check on you. You were in raptures, the whole time I stood there. Was that your cousin you were talking to?" He asked before he kissed my temple and he wrapped his arms tighter around me.

"Yes, that was Hadleigh. She is gonna come to help me plan the party. I'm hoping she attends the party." I said, leaning back just enough to kiss him.

"she will, but this is your house too you know?"

"I'm still getting used to that," I uttered truthfully.

"I know, but you're where you belong now. By my side."

"I know," I responded as he kissed me and leaned me back over the desk.