Chapter Seventy Five

Chapter Seventy Five
Elliot

After making the kids clean up the table and forcing Sia to help we said our goodbyes to him and Cameron as they got ready to go home. Andi came home from shopping during the middle of it and shook his head as if he was disappointed but with the smile on his face. I don’t think he really cared all that much that his daughter and grandsons got spoiled.

“Shiri, go upstairs and get ready for dinner. Wash your hair!” He calls out as she runs up the stairs to follow his orders. “Mrs. Macabee, make sure she doesn’t drown herself please.” He sighs to the housemaid.

“Of course, sir.” The old woman quickly follows her young charge.

“Are you staying for dinner Tristan?” Andi asks as he plops all his bags on the table while the guards who were with him hauls grocery bags into the kitchen.

“More than likely.”

“Good. I love it when you and the family are here. I keep telling Axel you all should just move in with us, lord knows this house is big enough to comfortably live in, but the boy just won’t relent.” he pouts.

Tristan smiles. “I think he prides himself in secretly buying that house all on his own without anyone noticing. It’s his first home that’s just his. I can see why he doesn’t want to leave it. Besides, the small town is like family to us. Cameron and Sia live there as well.”

“I get it. This place is big enough for all of them too by the way. We literally have a room for each and every one of us if we wanted our own space.”

“I’m sure they would be overjoyed to hear that but I’m sure its more of a territorial thing between the Alphas.”

I snort at that. “If it was up to Lincoln he’d force you all to live here, especially with all these threats happening.” I mumble so the kids couldn’t overhear me.

They both agreed.

“Do you need help with anything?” Tristan asks as Andi heads for the kitchen to start going through the bags.

“I’m just going to pull out the things for dinner. Toby and Micheal will put everything away for me. Elliot, can you go out and tell the gardeners that on my way in I’ve noticed the grass on the west side lawn looks like its starting to die. Can you have them check on it please.”

“Sure thing.” I walk out to the back to head for what used to be called the servants quarters.

It was where my father decided he wanted to stay. When I first entered here after coming back I was shocked on how much of it has changed. It used to be a little run down and cramped. Typical for the lifestyle of underlings of Han Nolan. But once Lincoln took over he completely remodeled the old building and made it bigger, more spacious. All the rooms were upgraded to twice their original size; the kitchen was widened out where all the men can fit into comfortably without feeling cramped and they had a dining room when there hadn’t been one before, just a little table in the kitchen.

Not just that, he gave them a rec room for days they can relax, a full size bathroom when before it was just a small room fitted with a toilet and shower that could only hold one person in it. There was a den and a living room, and he even gave them a pool behind the building.

He even rebuilt the shed where all the equipment was held. Instead of a rundown shack where it was difficult to get through and stuffy during the summers and cold as hell during the winters, he completely rebuilt the entire thing. Brand new and painted. It was spacious with metal railings and panels to organize and stack all the equipment. And best of all he upgraded everything. All the tools they needed were brand new. They even had a new lawnmower with a full seat and that could cover more grass than the one I remember I had to push along that took hours just to cut one side of the lawns.

They were also equipped with protective gear. Protective goggles, gloves, work vests, hats from the heat, winter gear to keep them warm and even got them cooling cloths for the days of extreme heat. When I first came in here I couldn’t help the overwhelming emotion hit me. Honestly, I didn’t think I would have such a strong reaction to it. But having had lived in these quarters, feeling the lowest of the low, and seeing how much he cared for the workers, it made me so proud of him. These men, who were still here after all these years, finally got something very well deserved.

I knock before entering seeing my dad and Charles sitting in the living room talking. “Hey.”

“Oh hey son. I see you’re home early. How was school?” He gets up and walks over to me.

“Yeah we decided to come home early today. With all the guards its kind of hard to do anything normal.”

“It’s only temporary. And I for one am glad they’re there.” He gives me a look that made me want to roll my eyes.

Even my dad had bodyguards whenever he went out. He didn’t complain once, just happy knowing that Lincoln thought of him too.

“Anyways, Andi wanted you guys to look at the west side lawn. The grass is dying over there.” I mention to Micheal.

He scratches his head. “Yeah, we saw it earlier. I was told one of the boys accidently dumped too much feed in that area and then forgot to tell Ricardo about it and he ended up dumping more.” He shakes his head with a long sigh. “Now that area is ruined and we’re going to have to redo the whole thing from scratch. It’s going to look ugly for a couple of weeks. I already informed Master Lincoln on it.”

I nod my head. “Okay, no problem. I’ll let Andi know.” I look to my dad. “We’re having Axel and Tristan for dinner, you’re welcome to join.”

“I think I will.”

After talking a few more minutes I leave the premises and start heading back. But then I slow down as I look over at the old maze of hedges. It’s been weeks since I’ve been back and with everything going on I have yet to venture out to the old hidden spot that Lincoln and I used to frequent quite often. Only hesitating for a moment, I steer myself in that direction. I couldn’t help the slam of nostalgia hit me while I walk the same path I would always take.

Remembering exactly where it was located I find the hole that was still there. I was afraid that overtime it would have grown over but it looked like it was kept intact making me wonder if Lincoln came here often over the years. I wouldn’t doubt that he did. Slipping through the hole, I could have sworn it was a lot bigger than I remember it being, but it was probably because I was just a young teenager back then. Now I’m a full grown adult making the feeling a little strange.

But the place was just as I remembered it. Nothing was different. The cemented fountain was still there. Still covered in dead leaves, dust and dirt from it being unused. The grass in this area was still overgrown, wildflowers growing in patches. Walking slowly to the spot we would always sit at I reach down and tenderly graze the rough surface, ignoring the dust and dirt on my fingertips. I look around, the feeling of longing and familiarity swimming through my heart. One point in time this place meant everything to me. And it seems it still does.

“I’ve always wondered what was here when we were little.”

I spin around to see Axel standing at the entrance of the hole, looking around as well.