Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 430: Need For Tough Love

Chapter 430: Need For Tough Love

When Talia came to, she was floating and she was in the embrace of that familiar protective arms and firm chest. She could smell a strong scent of cigar combined with the scent she loved- the scent of Fred.

"Fred..." she sniffed his neck.

"Hmm..." Arthur hummed as he placed a little kiss on her forehead. He was scared a bit when Cyril received a call from their butler that a fight broke out between Talia and Lord Lockhart.

He came here at once and he was stunned seeing Jerome Brunton entering the mansion at the same time. Both of them almost came running to the greenhouse where the two of them were and they were relieved to see Talia sleeping all covered up.

Lord Lockhart took responsibility and Jerome Brunton asked Arthur to take Talia home. The moment he picked her up, she started smiling and called out his name.

How cute!

"Lord Lockhart forbade me from visiting Cyrus’ grave... Does he think I have no other graves to visit? I have plenty of graves to visit..." she said with little stutters as she was still drunk.

"Hmm..."

"I am ashamed, Fred... I am ashamed I never thought of visiting your mum’s grave. You’re so perfect and I’m... I’m so thoughtless and..."

"Iris," Arthur stopped her. He wanted to talk to her about it, but a lot of things happened and he didn’t think visiting a grave is that important. Also, she is not good with visiting graves and he didn’t want to spoil her mental health by bringing her to visit a grave. He knew she wouldn’t have refused it if he asked her, but he didn’t think it’s that big a deal.

It’s not like she purposefully avoids his mother’s grave alone. She doesn’t even visit her parents and her grandmother’s grave just in the backyard either. He really cannot blame her and that’s what he told Jerome who wanted to advise her the same.

"It is not important."

"It is important, Fred!" Talia blinked her eyes and opened her eyes widely. "It is important to get the blessings of both families before we got engaged. You did your duties perfectly, but I... I am lacking. I’m not a good daughter-in-law."

"Iris!" he interrupted her hearing the sadness in her tone.

"No, Fred. If my mother was alive, she’d have blamed me as the worst daughter-in-law. Yeah... if my mother was alive, she’d have taught me a lot of things..." she closed her eyes once more and buried her head in his chest.

Arthur placed her in the car as they’ve reached the parking and checked if she was crying, but she was already asleep and he buckled her in. He could see she is missing her mother a lot these days as she is getting close to getting married.

What can I do about that?

He couldn’t understand. He wanted to do something and wanted to figure out a way to help her.

-----

Lord Lockhart heard her telling Arthur how she has a lot of graves to visit and it made his heart clench.

No child should be saying that!

"You all let her speak whatever she wants and do what she wants." Lord Lockhart spoke in a bitter tone. "She needs tough love."

"And so you hit her?" Jerome was not at all pleased. When he heard his granddaughter’s distressed voice, he rushed here without thinking twice and he was really mad at Lord Lockhart now. But he cannot deny that he cares a lot for his granddaughter and he tried to be patient.

"Hit her? As if I could," Lord Lockhart rolled his eyes. "I just twisted her ear a little and she acted like I was waterboarding her."

"Don’t you dare-"

"Calm down Jerome... You’ve gone soft drinking too much cranberry juice. Here, drink some Scotch." He poured some for Jerome and Jerome pushed it away almost spilling it.

"My son is getting married in just days to the most amazing girl way above his level, and I have to attend the wedding alone, Jerome. She is not with me to share that moment."

Jerome who was about to hit Lord Lockhart paused as he could empathise with him. But still, "And you started a fight with a little girl? I never thought you would stoop so low."

Jerome was surprised by how he acted. This Christopher was the one who boldly criticised him when he lost his temper with his granddaughter in his daughter’s wake. For him to do the same...

"Do you think I lost my temper? I was fully in control. She should know how blessed she is. Both Artie and she went a feet closer to death and survived. She should try and appreciate every day and not mourn for someone who died eleven years back!"

Lord Lockhart emptied his drink and Jerome could see the care he has for his granddaughter. He is right and he had nothing to say to him.

"Her life’s always been tough and why should we act tough with her too?" Jerome couldn’t act tough with her for that reason even when she was young. "And she is a sensible child and accepts advice. So don’t act rude to her anymore. Your boys might understand tough love and appreciate your drill sergeant routine, but she is very delicate and gets hurt easily."

Jerome in the end couldn’t let others act harshly with his precious granddaughter.

"Is that so?" Lord Lockhart knew he was getting put in his place by Jerome. "Why didn’t you advise her to visit her mother-in-law? How many times did she visit her father-in-law? A whole nation wishes to celebrate her birthday and she wants to hide? No one can deny she had a tough life or that she is sensible, but she still is a child who needs guidance."

Jerome did find his point valid. "Artie stopped me from talking to her about visiting his mother and she talks to her father-in-law often. Did Gregory say anything to you?" Jerome asked.

Jerome does feel a little bad for taking his son to be his heir. Even his kids will have the Brunton surname. It is a pretty complicated issue and if Talia acts distant from her in-laws that could be misconstrued as being arrogant.

"No he didn’t. He is very excited whenever he talks about her. And during the recent kidnapping, he was devastated and only went to bed after she was found. He said she talked to him and he is happy with her. But Cyril said he had to stop a story on how the Bruntons made a Boswell fall in a honey-trap... It is not wrong to be a little observant, is it?"

"You’re right," Jerome agreed. "Relationships between families are delicate and considering our family histories, we have to be extra careful."

"So how are the wedding preparations going?" Jerome asked Lord Lockhart. "You’re very pleased with your daughter-in-law, I heard!"

"She’s perfect with n flaws, Jerome!..."

Lord Lockhart got excited the moment Vivian was mentioned and he started singing praises of her while Jerome listened joyfully.