“I’ve done the smoking and the drinking. I also missed my wife, and I wanted to hear her voice.”
Warmth curled through me at his words.
“How are the bairns?” he asked.
“Everyone is good. We’re fine,” I assured him. “We’re able to handle the children without the nannies present.”
He chuckled. “Hawk could test the patient of a saint.”
“Hmm. I’m no saint.”
“No, hen, you’re not.”
I could hear the smile in his voice.
“You should get back to your night,” I said. “All too soon, you’ll be back in the thick of the craziness. Enjoy your male bonding time while you can.”
He didn’t reply with banter. Instead, he fell silent.
“What’s going on, Flynn? Are you okay?”
“Me? I’m fine.”
“Then what’s—”
“It’s them.”
“Them who? Our children? I told you they were fine.”
“Not the bairns.Them. Duncan, Ramsey. Even Sasha.”
My blood chilled at the mention of Sasha’s name.
“What do you mean?” I asked, attempting to keep my tone casual.
“Poker and drinks devolved into existential, philosophical conversation.”
I frowned. “Meaning what, exactly?”
“Where are you now?” he asked.
“Our bedroom.”
“So, you’re alone?”
“Yes.”
“Something’s going on with Duncan,” he admitted. “Something deep. Something at a core level that I’m having trouble comprehending. He’s profoundly unhappy.”
“With who? Ash?”
“He said it wasn’t about Ash, or even the bairns. He just has this…malaise.”
I debated for a few second before saying, “Ash was being weird too.”
“Was she? How?”
“She said something right before she went to bed. I didn’t go after her and demand she explain more. It just seems… I don’t know. Like she’s lost in her life somehow.”
