My bar was engulfed in roaring flames. Tears streamed down my cheek as Veronica tried to deviate when the fire department arrived and finally extinguished the fire. I stood there, listening to people speak about property insurance and the time it would take to rebuild everything that had burned.
"Ivy!" Zeus hollered, running up to me.
"What are you doing here?!" I panicked, "Aodhan-"
"Ariel called your phone, and she told me what happened. She's watching him," he reassured.
His eyes widened in shock, and he looked at the catastrophe the fire left behind in its wake. Zeus was about to speak when he pulled aside the man trying to talk to me about the building. My blank expression spoke volumes.
Hours passed in a blur, and Zeus returned home with me.
"So it seems, perhaps three years, the bar can be rebuilt. They have to tear everything down and start from scratch," Zeus explained.
"So, I lost everything?" I whispered.
"No, Ivy," Zeus looked at me, trying his best to comfort me, "You still have everything. The insurance company will pay for everything-"
"No," I sniffled, "It's done."
"Ivy-"
"Sell the lot," I coldly interrupted, "I'll sell the house, and we'll go to Ireland with you."
"Ivy-"
"Stop," I put my hand up, "Make it happen."
Five years later, my boys and I were still in Ireland. I told Dimitri and Reign what had happened, and they both agreed it was a bad idea, but they didn't get a choice. Zeus welcomed them with open arms if they ever came to visit, of course. Aodhan was now turning ten years old and was already as tall as I was. Rowan was growing just the same.
Dimitri, Reign, and Zeus always end their relationship in a fight whenever they visit. Zeus recounts the events his way, and Dimitri his. Reign must always separate them when they nearly come to blows. Living here wasn't the worst thing, but it would mysteriously no longer be available whenever I was about to purchase a home. I suspected Zeus had something to do with it.
About a year ago, Ariel moved in with us both. I see him stealing glances at her, and I feel something. I'm uncertain if it's jealousy.
"Mom? Can Rowan and I play outside?" Aodhan asked.
Aodhan was so handsome for being only ten years old. I have a gut-wrenching feeling that Zeus is his father—the pictures I've seen of Zeus when younger look nearly identical to Aodhan. Then again, he seems like Reign, too.
"Of course, don't go in the woods," I reminded.
"We know," they both replied in unison.
They happily ran outside to play in the vast, green fields surrounding the Chateau. Truthfully, the silence was so loud; I never knew it could be this quiet. Being around Zeus was straining my relationships with Reign and Dimitri. I think they knew Zeus had the upper hand when it came to sex, which frustrated them. It was a matter of time before they came to blows. The question was, when?
"Look, I don't care if you think it needs to be done here!" Dimitri hollered at Zeus, "It can be done anywhere! You want to be controlling like always!"
"Still upset?" Zeus taunted.
Dimitri sneered.
"I apologized over and over again," Zeus added.
"Shut the Hell up!" Dimitri growled, "Next time you bring it up, I'll kill you."
"Can you calm down?" I groaned, "I have a headache the size of Texas, and my whiskey hasn't kicked in yet."
"He's insufferable, it isn't my fault!" Dimitri whimpered.
"Look," I sighed, "I'm going to rebuild my bar."
They both stopped arguing and looked back at me in surprise.
"When did you decide this?" Zeus questioned.
"About a week ago. I love it here for the boys, but I'm ready to return to work and rebuild my bar. I'm unsure where yet, but I'm ready now, which you need to know."
"So you plan to take the boys from me?" Zeus pouted.
"You can choose to follow me if you want," I offered. I will be rebuilding in the States, not here."
"You think you can simply tell me -"
"Yes, I do," I interrupted, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to look for Ariel; I need to fuck something."