s she could, as if afraid she might catch something.
‘You want a coffee?’
She shot a glance at the kitchen, where the breakfast dishes were neatly piled next to the sink. ‘I’m fine, thank you.’
Adam poured himself out a cup, adding some milk before joining her over by the fire. What was it about Mia and Everett that always put him on edge? Maybe it had something to do with the fact they were always walking in when he was half naked. That was enough to put anybody off.
Remembering the reason for his dishevelment, a surreptitious grin split his face. Mia glanced over at him, a question shaping her features.
‘What are you so happy about?’
Her question made him want to laugh out loud. Adam imagined telling her exactly why he was smiling. That he’d spent most of the last two hours making love to her nanny. But that little slice of heaven wasn’t something he wanted to share, and he planned to do whatever it took to protect it.
‘I was just wondering why you’re here.’ He tried to bite down his amusement.
‘You don’t waste any time on the niceties, do you?’ She sighed, leaning back on the chair. ‘I just wanted to talk to you about Everett.’
‘What about him?’ Adam asked, uneasy. If there was one thing he liked less than talking to Everett, it was talking about him. Especially with his wife.
‘He’s having a hard time,’ she told him. ‘After everything that happened with the two of you. Can’t you just make up with him? It’s eating away at him, and making everybody’s lives a misery.’
He took a big mouthful of the coffee. It scalded his tongue before slipping down his throat. ‘I don’t know what you mean. What happened between Everett and me has nothing to do with anybody else. How does it affect you?’
‘Because he’s biting all our heads off. He’s upsetting Jonas, he’s barely spending any time with your parents, and, well, he’s not exactly being nice to me, either.’ She wrinkled her nose up. ‘Maybe if the two of you made up, he’d be a bit easier to live with.’
‘Seriously?’ Adam asked. ‘You want me to make up with Everett because it’s inconveniencing you?’ He wanted to laugh at her gall.
‘I want you to forgive each other because you’re ruining Christmas. There’s an atmosphere in that house so thick I could cut it with a knife. He’s angry and bitter, and he’s being hateful to everybody.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Even your mom’s noticed.’
‘Maybe he should have thought of that before he called the police.’
She looked down, suddenly entranced by her fingers. ‘Yeah, about that. He didn’t call them, I did.’
Adam frowned. ‘You did? Why?’
Finally she looked up. ‘Because you were a madman. You destroyed his office, and I was scared you were going to hurt him. Did you see that black eye you gave him?’
‘No.’ Adam shook his head. ‘Because by the time it came up, I was on a plane to DC.’ He sighed, running his hand through his hair. ‘Look, I don’t know what you want me to do here. I did everything that was asked of me. I moved back here, I complied with the agreement we all made. You’re the ones who decided to come and stay here. It’s not my fault if it’s causing problems with you and Everett.’
‘We didn’t ask you to live in this shack.’ She glared at him with disapproval. ‘Why on earth aren’t you staying at the big house? You’re behaving like a madman, some kind of hermit. You’re not living, you’re making a point.’
He dug his nails into his palm to stop him from blowing up at her. ‘This is my home. I’d like you to show it some respect.’
‘You know, I’m not about to tell you how to live your life. I simply wanted to tell you that Everett is having a hard time. He’s tried to apologise to you, and you threw it back in his face.’
‘There’s nothing else to say.’
Mia threw her hands up with frustration. ‘It was just business. Why should he apologise for doing what he does? You’re making this all so difficult for us. Why can’t you just get over it?’
Adam wanted to laugh – but not out of humour. No, it was bitterness that made his chest hitch up and his tongue start to rise. Just get over it. Was she being serious? After everything that happened, he was supposed to just forgive and move on.
He kept his voice low and even when he replied. ‘That’s not going to happen.’
‘So what are you going to do? Stay here for ever? Waste away in this godforsaken hut while your brother beats himself up?’ She shook her head, her nose wrinkling up. ‘Is that it? Have you just given up?’
‘Do you care?’
‘Not about you. But I care about my husband, and you’re making his life miserable. He’s your big brother, he cares about you. People keep asking us questions. Where’s Adam? What’s happening to his documentary? When’s Adam coming back to LA? How do you think it makes us feel when we have to shake our heads and say we don’t know?’