Jefferson is the first person I see, followed by the same two big guys who were flanking the door the last time I was here. I don’t miss the ample space Jefferson gives Theo to get out of the car, nor the fact that everyone keeps a safe distance from him.
Theo reaches in and takes my hand, helping me from the car, and Jefferson smiles brightly as he waits for us to move away before he closes the door and follows a few paces behind. ‘Your mother called,’ he informs Theo’s back. ‘Said she couldn’t reach you on your mobile.’
I shoot a look up at Theo, but he doesn’t entertain my curiosity. Theo’s mother? My mind is quickly rampant with mental images of women, trying to imagine what she would look like. And what is she like? Smiley and loving like my mother was? Devoted and encouraging? Did she used to stroke Theo’s back when he was a boy until he fell asleep, like my mum did? Did she make him eggs sunny-side up in perfect circles? Did she ever use her very last pound to buy him the latest issue of his favourite magazine? I smile sadly to myself, wishing her back. It was just me and Mum. We didn’t have money, but we were rich with love. She adored me, and I adored her. We were a team. The terrible twosome, she used to call us. And then that wretched illness stole her away from me too soon. I swallow and blink back the memories, fond memories that are masked by the horrid final days before she finally gave up.
‘I’ll call her back later,’ Theo says, coming to a stop in the centre of his huge, elaborate entrance hall. The sweeping staircase holds my attention for a moment, a flashback to my first time here capturing me in a daze for a fleeting second. Once again, the woman appears with a tray in her hand, except this time there are two glasses – the familiar tumbler with amber liquid, and a glass of white wine. Theo shrugs his big shoulders out of his jacket and takes the two paces needed to close the gap between them, handing her his coat before lifting the two glasses from the metal tray. He knocks back his drink and places the empty glass down. The lady nods and backs away before turning and leaving us.
Then the sound of the front doors closing fills the space, pulling me around. I find the two men who were flanking the entrance now flanking the exit. It’s all so well rehearsed, the same routine as before.
‘Izzy?’ Theo’s soft calling of my name turns me back around. He holds out the glass to me. ‘Drink?’
I accept, taking the glass by the stem. In all honesty, I’m too tired for wine. It could finish me off and have me falling asleep here where I stand. ‘Thank you.’ I force myself to take the tiniest of sips, not wanting to be rude.
Jefferson approaches, nodding politely to me before turning to Theo. ‘Can I get you anything else, sir?’ he asks.
‘I think I’m fine for the rest of the evening,’ Theo says, coming closer to me and slipping an arm around my waist. ‘Tell Callum I won’t be at the Playground tonight.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Jefferson bows as he backs away. It’s all so old-fashioned and formal. I feel like I’m in a modern-day Downton Abbey – butlers, serving staff and all.
‘Your home is run with military precision,’ I say as we take the stairs. I watch them carefully, each stripy step blending into the next. ‘Is your life one big controlled environment?’
‘It’s best for everyone,’ Theo says, simple as that, yet I’m guessing it isn’t that simple at all, and I look up at him to gauge his expression. Even when his face is blank he’s still a certain kind of prime stunning, the kind that I’m certain could never be matched, least of all topped. Right now, he’s handsome but unreadable, yet his eyes are glossy and thoughtful.
‘Better for everyone, or better for you?’ I ask, slowly trying to work my way closer to the core of Theo.
He drops those deep blue eyes on to my curious form, a small smile tickling his full lips. ‘Primarily me, yes. But it’s best all round. No mistakes can be made.’
‘Mistakes?’
‘For someone who’s so tired, you’re firing questions rather sufficiently.’ He raises his eyebrows at me, and I look away, a little shyly. I’m assuming by mistakes he means unexpected touches. It’s all quite strange, and if I hadn’t touched Theo myself, I would think he had some kind of rare condition that would kill him if he came into contact with another human. I shrug off his observation as we reach the galleried landing, Theo leading us to the right.