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Evy had become interested in buying a house in the country, so obviously the entire O’Connell family—and Jonathan—loaded up in Rick’s car for a drive up north to view a property.
The scenery managed to keep Alex and Jonathan occupied enough that Rick didn’t have to threaten to turn the car around, and Evy chatted happily about her expectations for the house.
When they reached it, she stepped out of the car with a smile on her face. Before them stood a simple, two-story stone cottage. Rather like the one she’d imagined the Dashwood sisters occupied when Jonathan had forced her to get her nose out of textbooks for a moment and read Sense and Sensibility as a child.
As soon as pleasantries were exchanged with the person showing them the property, Rick and Alex requested a tour of the land. Jonathan and Evy were left to explore the house. Evy found it just to her liking—quaint and cozy. The parlor was small, but in a charming way. The house came furnished, and it was all arranged to use the space well. She paused by a window overlooking the back garden, and saw Rick, Alex on his shoulders, strolling past, pointing out something in the distance.
Jonathan paused in front of the fireplace, fiddling with the handle of the poker before glancing at Evy.
"I really don’t see why you need another house," he said, his voice a bit odd.
He’d been a bit odd since they’d arrived. Really, he’d been a bit odd since Egypt, since Polly had ended things, but at the moment—and Evy didn’t know it of course—his thoughts circled like vultures, ready to pick clean the bones of his mind, tearing forth thoughts of the past and of the future. There were always vultures, these days.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" He asked bleakly.
Evy turned from the window to look at him. "Tell you something? What would I be trying to tell you, Jonathan?"
"That you, I don’t know…" Jonathan absently ran a finger over the mantelpiece, shrugging. "...That you’re trying to get away from me?"
Evy stared at him. He wagered it was because he'd gotten very near the truth. And the very idea of living alone, of not having the noise and chaos of the O’Connells clattering around all day, it was nearly unthinkable. Polly was gone, and there was no future with Ardeth. Jonathan was convinced that without Evy and her family, there was no future where he wouldn't end up alone. But he’d leave, if that was what she wanted.
"If that’s the case," he said, "I’ll move out. It would be rather more convenient, don’t you think?"
"Oh Jonathan, I’m not trying to get away from you!" Evy exclaimed, hurrying over to him. She offered him a soft smile, the kind that made him feel ashamed for ever imagining she could think of trying to be rid of him. "I love having you around, and goodness knows Alex adores you. He’d have a conniption if you went away. And Rick, well, he may not say it, but he likes you, too."
Jonathan rolled his eyes with all the fondness in the world. "He likes annoying me, but close enough."
Evy stood on tiptoe, touching her forehead briefly to his, the way they had since they were children. "I never want to 'get away' from you, Jonathan," she said, smiling again and standing back a little to straighten his collar. "I just want somewhere quiet for us to get away to sometimes. The country air will do us all some good, especially Alex."
"Well, I suppose," Jonathan said, affectionately swatting her away from his tie before she could "fix" it. "A bit of a break from the city couldn't hurt."
"You're darn right it couldn't." They both glanced over to see Rick had entered the room in his usual unsubtle way, holding Alex’s hand. "Now I’ll have somewhere to shoot."
Jonathan scoffed. "So much for quiet." He tried for annoyance, but landed on fondness instead.