Little bugger, she knew exactly where she was going with that. “Whatever” I add, not having anything else to say and Ati laughs knowing she got me.
Note to self...keep Ben Adair away from my sister.
Chapter Eight
-Liam-
O’Fallon’s is the local pub in town, owned by the same Family for decades. Jimmy, the current owner, went to school with and played on the same hockey team as Kai while they were growing up, so naturally, they became best friends.
“Well, Well! Look what the proverbial cat dragged in!” Jimmy Greets.
I walk over and give Jimmy a brotherly hug, then grab a stool by the bar, “It’s good to see you, Jim.”
“Beer...we got a great one on tap?” he asks, making his way back behind the counter.
“Sounds, perfect!” I reply.
“Haven’t seen you in a while...you been in hiding, Li?” Jimmy asks with a chuckle, as he places the drink in front of me.
“Yeah, I know it seems like it. I need to get out more. Work has been keeping me busy. I was also dating a girl from Gary for a while, so I’d been spending most of my time
He looks to me, “So, you’re not with her anymore?”
I shake my head as I take a pull of my beer. “No, it ended a while back.” I don’t have to explain; guys are good that way, we don’t require the details about the ‘why.'
“How are your parents?” I ask.
Mr. and Mrs. O’Fallon are good people, which would do anything for a friend, and help tremendously within the community. Jimmy is no different; it’s no wonder my parents loved him like a son. He’s a super good guy all around.
“There good. My dad is driving my mother crazy, but it’s alright because she does the same to him.” I let out a laugh at his response.
“What about that new wife of yours?” I remember Kai mentioning Jimmy had gone off and eloped.
“Wow, it has been awhile. We’ve been married three years now, Liam.” My eyes widen at his reply.
“No Shit!” I guess I have been out of touch.
“Yep, we’re expecting our first in only a few months.” He informs me, as the biggest smile covers his face.
“No way, Wow, Jimmy O’Fallon is going to be a dad. Good for you man!” I say stunned and happy for him all at once.
I think about having a wife and family one day; the thought terrifies me. I’ve seen a lot of bad stuff in my line of work. What would happen if I weren’t able to keep them safe, or be there when they needed me?
“Jimbo, my brother,” Kai walks in, removing me from my thoughts, greets Jimmy with a light punch to the arm as he grabs the stool beside me. “Hey Liam!” he says.
“Hey.”
He accepts the beer Jimmy places in front of him, “Are Benny and Ewan coming?” I am about to answer as they walk through the door.
“Let’s grab a table,” Kai mentions, and we stand from our stools and move to a nearby booth.
“Did you know that Gwen has a sister?” I look up to Ben as he takes a seat beside me.
“Is she as hot as Gwen? Wait, is she single?” Ewan asks accepting the beers from Jimmy, handing off Ben’s to him.
“What? She’s never mentioned a sister?” Kai jumps in.
I’m with Kai, when did she get a sister? I thought Gwen had no family. I mean a Sister is usually something that would come up. “How do you know she has a sister?” I ask.
“I ran into her at the Salon, when I went to get a cut.” Ben then turns to the other two. “And she is, as hot as Gwen, and also off limits, Ewan.” He finishes.
“Why, you already claim her?” Ewan asks with a snort.
“Nope! She’s young, man, and I’m pretty sure Gwen will be looking to break kneecaps if you come near her.” Ben replies quickly with a laugh.
“How young we talking, twenty, twenty-one?” asks Ewan.
“Seventeen, turning eighteen in two and a half months,” Ben replies quickly, hoping to deter my brother from further inquiry.
Kai pops in quickly and lets out a chuckle, “Gwenie, breaking kneecaps, now that I would pay to see.”
I look over to Ewan who seems to be processing it with some consideration, but stops when Ben punches him in the shoulder, “Don’t even think about it.” She must have something special to grab Ben’s attention like this.
Kai, changing the subject asks, “So, we still all in for the annual camping trip?”
Every year the Adair men take an annual camping trip on the Labor Day weekend. It started when we were little, and Althea was only a few months old. My dad decided he was going to take all four of us boys camping the weekend before school started. We all loved it so much that it has become tradition, even though none of us is in school any longer. Althea never complained about not coming, because that was the weekend of their mother/daughter trip to New York.
“Who’s bring what this year? We need to figure this all out, so we don’t forget anything.” Mentions Ben.
“I think Mom’s already making a list. I guess Dad complained last year, that we were unprepared.” Kai adds.
Last year was the first time my Mom didn’t pack and prepare everything for us. She had said, we were now five grown men, and we should be able to take care of what one little woman has been doing for years; Yeah, no! It was chaos, we even forgot one of the tents, and Ewan and Ben ended up sleeping in the back of Kai’s truck, on only an air mattress. Good thing it never rained. Anyway, Dad was so miserable when he got home; he asked Mom if next year, she could at least make a list. Although she grumbled about it, I think that she genuinely enjoyed the knowing we still needed her.
“I’ve got a better idea? Why don’t we invite the girls?” As the words leave Ewan’s mouth, every one of us has already snapped our heads in his direction.
“What the heck, Ewan? This is supposed to be a guy’s getaway weekend, a time for us to bond.” Kai says with a questioning tone.
“Oh please! The weekend started, so Mom could get some peace away from us after Thea was born. It’s been eighteen years; I think she’s good.” Ewan adds, hoping to convince us of the idea.
I look between my brothers and see they are actually thinking about it. “Really? You want to bring Mom and Thea camping with us?” I say, trying to think of a time when Thea and Mom have ever camped where electricity and a nice cabin weren’t involved, but nothing comes to mind.
“Yeah, well, and Princess too!” Ewan adds.
When he says Princess, he is referring to Grace, Thea’s best friend. Normally, I wouldn’t even think twice about him including her because she’s like family. However, there’s something in the way he said it this time.
“Hey wait, I have a better idea. Why don’t we ask Gwen and her sister as well? I mean Mom and Dad love Gwenie, and it would be a good time for everyone to meet her sister. I think it would be fun.” Leave it to Kai to come up with that idea.
“Kai, How in God’s green earth, do you think 'that' would be a good idea?” I say trying to stop the insanity.
“Come on; think about it, it would be a blast. Bane is back in town; ask him to come out too.” Kai responds.
Bane has been my best friend since childhood. He was living out in California working at his Uncle’s company, with the legal team. He decided he wanted a change of pace when his Uncle passed away leaving his son Seth, as CEO and daughter Eugenia as majority shared holder. Bane didn’t say much but stated very clearly, that now was the time for him to make a change. Bane had initially studied for Private Law, but his Uncle pushed and pushed for Bane to join his team, so he did, but now he is back and has his practice, the way he always wanted.
“So, you all want to make this a friends and family thing? Do you think Dad will be okay with that?” I ask.
“Are you kidding, the old man hates being away from Mom. Being able to have her with him camping; he will be in all his glory.” Ewan is right about that; my dad is always happier with Mom around.
“OK! Who’s breaking it
to them?” I ask
They all look at me…Great!
***
I walk into the kitchen at my parent’s place after lunch with my brothers. Mom, Thea, and Grace are all sitting at the island looking through magazines and fabric samples.
“Ladies!” I greet as I walk in, and then give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Liam, exactly the victim I was looking for.” My mom says with a smile.
“Well, this sounds like it should be promising,” I reply.
She gives me her sweet; ‘I need to ask you something, and you are not going to like it’ smile. “Well Li, you know it’s fundraiser time coming up shortly. Your brothers and Bane have already committed to the auction, so I need you as the fifth.”
I knew it was something I wasn’t going to like, “Really, Mom! Can’t you just collect old Mrs. Gates money and call it a day?” My mom and the girls let out a laugh.
“Oh honey, she does love you!” My Mom can hardly finish the sentence; she is laughing so hard.
I shake my head, “I will do it, but only because it supports the Women’s Clinic. When did you talk to Bane about it?” I inquire.
Thea is the one to reply, “I asked him the other day. He’s my sparring partner at the gym, and I mentioned the fundraiser, and that he should volunteer; seeing as how he likes to be involved with anything that helps support the community, and he said yes.”
“He’s back at the gym? I really need to make some time and get together with him.” I say more thinking to myself, but my Mom answers.
“Yes, you do! I always loved that boy; so well mannered, smart, and good looking. That’s probably why Thea always had a thing for him when she was younger.”
Thea was in love with Bane growing up. She used to write their initials all over her books and on the back of her bedroom door. She never hid it; actually told my parents that she would marry him one day. Bane always thought it was cute, and would humor her and tell her, that yes, one day when she was all grown up, he would marry her. She was ten, so that made her day!
“Pfft, had a thing for him? That crush is still in full effect. Have you seen him lately? He is one fine specimen.” Thea adds, with no care in the world.
“Really, Thea, he’s not a piece of meat, and he’s also thirteen years older than you.” I shoot back.
“Please, that doesn’t matter when it’s true love and meant to be.” Grace pipes up trying to reason it all out.
“Gracie, you into an older man?” I say with a grin. Grace shrugs and continues to look at her magazine.
“I agree with Grace; age is merely a number.” My mom adds.
I lower my head and accept that I will never win this argument going against these three. Thankfully, Ewan walks in and saves me from having to continue the conversation further.
“Hey,” I say greeting him.
“Have you asked them yet?” he asks wasting no time. I shake my head in response.
“Ask what?” Thea inquires immediately.
“Well, we were all talking, and thought this year, for the camping trip, you, Mom and Princess could join us. Kai also mentioned about asking Gwen and her sister,” Ewan announces.
“Sister?” My mom asks as she swiftly turns to Ewan confused.
“Yep. Ben met her earlier today.” He responds with no explanation.
“When did she get a sister?” My mother probes, as my father walks through the door.
“When did who get a sister?” he asks joining the conversation.
“Gwen!” My mother answers.
“Oh, Yeah?” My father replies as to show interest, but with a look of confusion in his eyes, as though something is not right.
“I’m calling her; I need details. Boys fill your father in about your plans. I’m good with whatever everyone else is.” She breezes through the kitchen; phone in hand, off to call Gwen.
“What change in plans?” My father asks.
“We were all thinking about making the camping trip more family and friends, rather than a guy’s weekend? What do you think?” I fill him in and wait for his response.
My dad pauses for a moment, then answers, “I think it would be fun. Whom are we taking?”
“The boys, Mom, Thea, Princess, Bane, and possibly Gwen and her sister, but we need to ask them first.” Ewan clarifies
My father shrugs, “Works for me!”
Finishing her conversation with Gwen, My mother floats back into the kitchen. “So apparently, Gwen does have a younger sister. She was away at school but is living with her now, and she will be starting Emerson High in September. She’s in the same year as Thea and Grace.”
“Did you ask her about the camping trip?” I ask out of curiosity.
“I did, and she said it sounded wonderful, and she and Matilda, that’s her sister, are in.”
Well, that settles that. Apparently, I will be spending a weekend with Gwen in the wilderness…This should be interesting!
***
Later that afternoon I head back into the station. The Chief had called informing me; they got more information on Eric Connors, the escapee from New York.
“Chief what are we looking at?” I ask as I enter the conference room.
“Not good Adair. Looks like he’s headed this way. We now have more info on the daughter, but it’s of no help. Her name is Morgan. She would be thirty years old now, but that’s it, that’s all they have. She has been missing for seventeen years.
“Was there ever an investigation done on her disappearance?” I ask.
The Chief looks through the file in front of him, “There was, but she was never found. They looked for eight months, and then it got filed with all the other missing children, only looked into once a year.”
“There has to be more to this story. Something is missing here.” I say.
“I agree, but where could we even start to look. The FBI has had more time with the background and history of this case and the people involved, and even they are lost.” The Chief explains, clearly as frustrated as I am.
Like any other secret, eventually, it will come out. I hope this one will come out sooner, then later.
Chapter Nine
-Gwen-
I sit patiently in Maia’s Livingroom, waiting on the last few arrivals for the weekly meeting of the Emerson Women’s Society. Maia asked me to attend this week so that I could tell the women about what I have in mind for donations from the salon. Maia seems to think that they will do well, and is excited to share it with the other women.
I’ve never been to the Adair home before, so needless to say I was awe stricken when I first pulled up to the beautiful house. Surrounded by the most stunning, grouping of seasonal native flowers and greenery, it is like a place of refuge, where you could quickly lose time escaping in its marvel. The interior was equally impressive. Vaulted ceilings opened to an interior adorning some of the lushest warm-toned fabrics and sophisticated stonework. Maia definitely found her calling in interior design. Although I was a little nervous coming here today, I look around the room and notice these are all women I regularly see at the salon, most of which I would consider friends.
“Good morning ladies! I believe that we are all here, so let us begin. I would like to start by welcoming a new face to our group, Miss Gwen Batin.”
A round of light applause sounds around the room as a greeting. “Gwen we are hoping that maybe we will win you over and you will consider joining us permanently. I know how you love ulterior motives, and we certainly had one today.” Maia’s face illuminates with a guileless smile. She knows I can never say no to her.
“So, the fundraiser is shaping up to be a good one this year. Lynne, would you update us on some of the local business’ that are participating this year?”
Lynne, the wife of the Chief of Police for Emerson, is a lovely woman in her late fifties. She is very active in the community and known around town as the 'go to' when some creative finessing is required when the women want something done.
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“Yes, as of right now we have about seventy percent of the local business’ getting involved with either a donation for the auction or offering services that can help with the new addition required for the clinic. I met with Aldric and Ben Adair last week, and they are ready to go ahead with anything we need for the build and are willing to help with any carpentry work we need for the fundraiser. I suggested a small stage be built for this year’s auction, and they said they would be able to get it done in time for the day.”
Aldric is the owner of one of the largest contracting companies that build custom homes in Emerson and the surrounding area. Ben, an architectural engineer, is considering taking over the business one day but is presently working in Gary, at a prominent Architectural firm there.
“Yes, I do believe the stage is well underway from what I saw in the shop,” Maia adds. “Gwen, would you be able to fill us in on what you have planned?”
I sit up in my seat, and look to the women in the room, “Um yes. Well, I have a few options, all of which I believe will go over well. The first package I have will be a good starter. A thirty-minute scale massage and hydrating hair treatment, cut and style. The second is an aesthetics package, geared to after summer care with a Raid Facial – This is perfect for someone with a busy lifestyle. It’s a great way to attain all the basic facial skincare needs which include cleansing, exfoliating and toning, with a naturally formulated mask to help improve hydration and to aid in the reversal of sun damage. Third, there is a combo package, which incorporates the first two packages, and I have included a color application in that one. Lastly, a wife and spouse package. This is the one that I feel will do well. It’s a full day of pampering for a couple that includes, cuts for both the wife and spouse, with style. Also, in this package there will be a deluxe facial and Massage Combo – this is a luxurious facial, integrated with all premium natural skin care products, formulated to give you the best results for your skin type, along with custom techniques for facial muscle stimulation. I will add massage techniques with deep breathing, focusing on core muscles along the face, back, scalp, and arms. Then the day will finish with a deep soak in my newly added mud bath which helps to add antioxidants into the skin and also hydrates and soothes the skin, all while you relax in a meditative and stress-free environment.” I look around the room, and I think I won them over.
Liam & Gwen - Entirely Yours: A Romance Novel (The Adair Series Book 1) Page 8