“I told you to tread lightly, Mara,” Frank said.
“Oh, and you know them so well?”
“Yes, I do. Holly is one of the most hard-working students I’ve ever met.”
“Student?” Jake and Gus said at the same time.
“She hasn’t told you?”
“You’ve spoken to Holly, Jake?” Mara inquired.
“Yeah, I have.”
“Jake...” She closed her eyes.
“You didn’t want the truth to come out, that’s why you begged me not to speak to her, isn’t it?”
“She doesn’t deserve you.”
“She does!”
“Mara,” Frank spoke again. “Why do you think Holly doesn’t deserve him?”
“Look at this mess, Frank. He’s blaming me for something that girl did. She wasn’t thinking straight.”
“When I asked her about the father, she told me the dad was NA—not applicable—that he didn’t want them. That he wanted her to abort. It was evident to me how much it hurt her to have to tell me that. She’s not someone who doesn’t think. She is clever, smart. And top her class in her final year of med school.”
“What?”
Frank chuckled. “She worked her butt off to get scholarships, and she’s starting her residency next year. Holly isn’t stupid. She’s just trying to give that girl the life she should have had.”
“What girl?” they all said simultaneously.
Jake closed his eyes.
“You lied to us!” Mara yelled.
He shook his head. “No, I just didn’t want to tell you about Jamie.”
“What are you saying, Jake?”
“Holly was a twin, Dad, which means there’s always a greater chance of having twins. There were two babies; one was hiding behind the other. It’s why we didn’t pick up on her with the ultrasound.”
His father swallowed, hurt and sadness evident in his eyes.
Jake couldn’t show his mother the picture Bernie had sent him, because then she would know they were here.
“I have a niece?” Amelia whispered.
“You had two, Amelia. Your mother killed one.” Turning to his mother, he said, “Why? Because you thought she wasn’t good enough for me? Because she wasn’t rich, didn’t come from a ‘whole’ family.” He emphasized the word with air quotes. “Why did you do it?”
“You were not ready. You were starting your residency, for crying out loud. Do you know how hard it would’ve been?”
“I didn’t care!”
“You don’t know what you are saying. We went through that.”
“My babies weren’t mistakes. Not like me.”
“You were not a mistake.”
“Right now, it feels like I was. You watched me give up on everything. You saw that I couldn’t cope, and yet you never once uttered the truth. Why?”
“Because of what Bernice said. I thought Holly would get an abortion, but Bernice said she would never do such a thing, and if she died… I knew what would happen. I couldn’t. I’m sorry. And that is why I had to endure your pain, but you pulled through it, and you met Kate and that wonderful boy, and you are on your way to becoming the best neurologist. I did pretty good, considering.”
“No, you are the one with the clouded brain. I would’ve done better if I’d had her, and my daughters. I’m done. You will never see her, or meet her. You’ll never get to know your grandchild. That is a promise. My mother died the minute she concocted her plan.”
“I didn’t know, damn it all to hell!”
“I don’t give a fucking shit. I told you twice I wanted my baby…them.”
“You felt obligated.”
“No! I. Wanted. Them. Open your fucking ears.”
“Bud, calm down,” Leo said from behind him.
“I’m fine,” Jake snapped. “You’re not even sorry about any of this, are you?” His eyes challenged his mother’s.
“Jake, please.”
“No. You’ve scarred me for life. You’ve ruined me. I have no mother. I never want to see you again.” He turned and rushed up the stairs. “This weekend is over. Go home.”
He strode into his room, then angrily hauled out the leather bag he’d brought for the weekend and began shoving his clothes into it. Just as he was about to zip it closed, he remembered that the ring he’d bought for Holly four years ago was in the side pocket.
He almost never used this bag, and the one time Kate found the ring, he hurriedly told her that he hadn’t bought it for Holly. He’d kicked himself mentally for not having taken it back or sold it. Kate had been upset and told him to get rid of it. In the end, he’d put it in this bag as he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of it.
This was fate.
The door opened, and he quickly zipped up the bag.
Kate stood behind him. “We need to talk.”
“I’m done talking, Kate.”
“I love you. Please don’t do this. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“You can’t leave me like this,” she cried.
“Kate, I can’t carry on like this, either.”
“We’ve had no problems, Jake.”
“Excuse me?” He frowned. They had a shit load of problems.
“What, what problems? Please, tell me.”
“Okay.” He put the bag on the bed. “I can’t breathe, Kate. Huge fucking problem, isn’t it? I feel trapped, pretending every fucking day to be happy. Another problem, don’t you think?”
“You’re making stuff up.”
Jake clutched his hair. “No, I’m not. I just never told you about them because I didn’t want to hurt you, didn’t want that pain to resurface But I see now it’s inevitable. And just so you know, there are many more problems. You speak to me as if I’m stupid. I’ve fucking cheated on you so many times, and you know about it! Don’t you think that’s reason enough to end this? You force me to do things I don’t want to. I’m not that person, I never was, but I did them, because of the shit I put my family through four years ago. You wanted to know what happened, now you do. If you still think we don’t have problems after everything I’ve just told you, or understand any of it, it’s the number one reason as to why we shouldn’t be together. If you are still okay with keeping me here, you don’t love me at all.” He stared at her.
She had tears in her eyes. “It’s not the same. I’m fighting here, Jake.”
“I don’t want you to. Move on. I have a family Kate; it’s not you and Michael. It was never going to work. I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head.
“Jake please,” she begged, gripping his forearms, but he turned and walked away, dislodging her hold.
She ran after him, begging and pleading with him, but he didn’t stop and he didn’t look back. He just continued on his way.
Frank and Gus were still speaking to Mara.
Amelia was yelling like a banshee, crying, cussing, fighting with her mother.
He might not have done what he wanted—hurt her physically in some way—but maybe the others would, or so he hoped.
He just wanted it all over and done with. He wanted to breathe, he wanted to become human again and live like he’d never lived before.
Eight
HOLLY
The boat trip was magnificent, and they enjoyed a lovely brunch on it. Jamie was completely taken with Bernie, who’d told her that she had a little girl named Layla, a year younger than Jamie was.
Holly hadn’t even known about that. The web of lies had caused her to miss so much of her best friend’s life.
She touched Bernie’s hand and Bernie winked at her while she showed Jamie pictures of Layla. After brunch, the boat docked and lowered jet skis and a huge blow up podium onto the water. Jamie and Bernie jumped on it a few times.
Holly’s mother had gotten Jake’s number earlier from Bernie and saw this as a great opportunity to phone him. She needed to get things off her chest before he met Jamie.
; They hadn’t told Jamie he would be joining them later, because Holly wanted it to be a surprise.
She watched her mother chat on the phone, but then decided to join Bernie and Jamie as she didn’t want to hear her mother’s conversation.
Jane had a right to be concerned. After all, Jamie wasn’t a puppy or a toy, and Jake needed to realize that. If he wanted to be a part of her life, he couldn’t be present only when it suited him.
She ended up going for a swim with Jamie and Bernie. The thought of how expensive this boat trip had to be made her cringe—they had the entire boat to themselves. She knew Jake had paid for it.
Holly looked back at the boat and saw her mother standing by the railing. She was surprised to see that Jane was laughing and smiling, so she had no choice but to assume that the conversation was going well.
Once they got back on board, they snacked on finger food, and made conversation with the helmsman, laughing at some of the things he had to say.
A few hours later, they made their way back and docked. Holly thanked the helmsman for the lovely day, and Bernie tipped him generously.
“Do you think it’s over?” Holly asked her mother anxiously.
“It’s been over for hours, sweetheart,” Jane answered.
“Really?”
Jane nodded. “And you’ll be surprised at the outcome.”
“Fuck, he is staying with her, isn’t he?”
“What? No, Holly. When I spoke to him, he was waiting for those in his family who had nothing to do with Mara’s lies to join him, he resigned from P&E, and he’s been looking at houses in Seattle online.”
“What? He told me once that he didn’t like Seattle.”
“A price, I think, he doesn’t mind paying.”
“Oh, Mom.” She sighed.
“Your what if truly existed, sweetheart. I really can’t wait to meet him. He looks quite dashing in the pictures I’ve seen of him.”
Holly laughed. “They don’t do him justice.”
“I can imagine. Hence, why I cannot wait to meet him.”
“Mom, do you think more of the Peterses were in on it?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. We’ll find out later.”
“He’s really moving to Seattle?”
“Yeah, he is.”
“Wow.” She grinned.
Jane hugged her all the while laughing. “Might be a good thing for us at the hospital in that we might not end up losing our teaching status.”
“Seattle is going to lose their teaching status?”
“Holly, relax. There’s been rumors, that’s all. But if Jake applies there, it might not happen. He is seen as the best neurologist in the making.”
“Yeah, Rod can’t stop gushing about him.”
“Rod is going to flip, Holly.”
“I’ll explain it to him. It will be fine.”
“I hope so.”
“If Bern was able to forgive me, he will, too.”
She watched Bernie and Jamie playing hopscotch as they walked along the dock.
There was still no sign of Jake.
Holly and Jane went back to their cabin, where Frank was sitting in the lounge.
“Hey, Frankie,” Jane greeted him with a kiss. “You okay?”
He shook his head and Holly heard him sniff. “Let’s go talk in the room.”
Bernie entered with Jamie shortly after Jane and Frank left. “Where’s your mom?”
“In the room with Frank, probably finding out about this morning’s fiasco.” Holly put her bag down.
“Oh, I also want to hear.”
“Bernie,” Holly protested, but it fell on deaf ears. Bernie slipped into the room, regardless. Jamie was about to follow, but Holly quickly stopped her with a big smile on her face. “We are going to draw, paint, or whatever you want to do.”
“Can I go to the swimming pool?”
“Not now, sweetie, we just came from the big boat.”
“Fine,” Jamie whined.
Holly laughed. She really looked like Jake when she sulked. She brushed a strand of hair behind Jamie’s ear. “Did you enjoy today, baby?”
Jamie nodded, a grin stretching from ear to ear. “Is Santa still here?”
“I don’t know. Was there something you wanted to ask him?”
“Yeah,” she said shyly.
“Well, ask Mommy, and maybe when we see him, we can ask him.”
Jamie shrugged her little shoulders.
“What is it, munchkin?” She picked Jamie up and settled them both on the couch with Jamie on her lap.
“He got the boat, right? Santa.”
Holly nodded.
Jamie nibbled on her finger. “Could he get Daddy?” she asked.
Holly hugged Jamie tight to her chest.
Four years old and she already knew so much. Were all four-year-olds like this? Holly didn’t think so.
“I don’t think that’s a question for Santa, sweetheart.”
“Then for who?”
“Maybe Jesus. Santa gives us all that’s possible, but Jesus gives us the impossible. Like granting wishes, but wishes money can’t buy. Santa grants wishes money can buy. Do you understand?”
Jamie nodded. “So, getting Daddy out of the rainbow can’t be bought.”
Holly shook her head.
“Okay, I’ll ask Jesus.”
“You do that.”
Jamie jumped off her lap. Holly knew she should tell her, but how? It was better to make her faith in the Lord stronger than to spoil the surprise.
The Bible didn’t say that we should all believe the way children do for no reason.
Jamie gathered her things and began to draw, while Holly’s eyes constantly glanced over at her mother’s still closed door.
She was desperate to know what had taken place today, in detail. Had Mara confessed, or had it all been just back and forth name calling?
Finally, the door opened. Jane and Bernie walked out, but not Frank.
“Is he upset?”
“He is, but not with us, sweetheart.” Jane touched Holly’s face.
“Are you sure he isn’t upset with me because I didn’t tell him about Jake?”
Jane shook her head. “He’s more upset with himself. But don’t worry.” She turned to Jamie. “Oh, honey, that is gorgeous.”
“Mom, don’t call her that.”
“It’s only you that has a problem with it.”
Bernie laughed. “Still?”
“Yeah, it’s bee puke.” She laughed as she remembered the nickname Jake had given her, but her laughter quickly died. “Why did she do this?”
“We’ll talk about it later, sweetheart.”
Holly nodded, getting up to go change out of her bikini. When she walked back out of the room, she saw Leo was there.
“Mommy, look!” Jamie pointed at Leo. “He is big.”
Holly chuckled.
“A giant,” Bernie said as she tickled Jamie from behind.
“He’s Bernie’s husband, baby. And his name is Leo.”
“Hi, I’m Jamie.” She held out her hand.
Leo swept her into his arms and spoke into her neck. “I don’t do handshakes, young lady. And you are so cute.” His phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket, putting Jamie back down. “Hey bud.” He laughed. “She is going to kill you, you know that, right?”
What now? She turned to Bernie and quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming. Hold on before you buy the entire fucking store.”
Holly groaned.
He shoved his phone back into his pocket. “First time, Holly. Just leave him be, okay? And tell your daughter,” he whispered.
When he was gone, Bernie looked at Holly expectantly.
“No. I told her it’s up to Jesus. She needs to have more faith in him than in Santa.”
Bernie giggled. “You do know she is going to pee herself, right?”
“I know.”
Holly looked at her daughter, who had gon
e back to drawing, and her heart clenched with the love she felt for her.
“Do you know when he’ll be here?” Holly asked Bernie.
“Leo just said ‘soon’. So, I guess you can expect them any time now.”
“Them?”
“Those who had nothing to do with Mara’s ploy. They’re all dying to meet her. Frank said Amelia was in a state.”
Holly blew out a deep breath of air. “She never mentioned what Mara said she did, did she?”
“No, Holly. She was just as panicked as him. She didn’t know you as well enough as I do, so she fell for Mara’s lies. It took a bad toll on her.”
Holly shook her head and looked up at the ceiling, blinking away the tears. She didn’t want to cry anymore, but the tears just kept on coming.
She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. A knock on the door had her looking to Bernie, just as Frank and Jane hurried out of their room.
“Who could that be?” Jane asked in mock surprise.
“Maybe Leo. He’s a giant,” Jamie said, not looking up from her drawing.
Jane laughed, but Holly found it hard to laugh with her. Her heart pounded, and the blood rushed through her veins. She lowered herself to the floor next to Jamie and stroked her daughter’s back.
When Jane opened the door, she burst into a laughing fit at the funny voice coming from the doorway.
“Who’s that?” Jamie asked, excitement lacing her voice. But she didn’t wait for a reply. She got up and ran to the door.
The comical voice was speaking to Jamie as Jane opened the door wider. A huge teddy bear blocked the person behind it.
Jamie wrapped her arms around her grandmother’s leg, suddenly shy.
Then the bear lowered and Gus’ face popped up. “Hey sweetheart,” he said.
“Grandpa Gus?” Jamie gasped, her voice filled with awe.
“Yeah, it’s me.” His voice was gruff with emotion. He opened his arms but Jamie ran to Holly and flung her arms around her neck. “Jesus listened to me, Mommy.”
“He sure did.”
Gus entered and locked eyes with Holly.
Sorry, he mouthed, wiping his eyes. He looked at Jamie. “Do you want this teddy?”
Jamie’s eyes grew wide as saucers. “It’s for me?”
“Well, he’s not very friendly with me. He told me he wants to be a little girl’s teddy.”
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