Bad Decision: The Carter Brothers

by Stella Andrews

  I think we sit there for a good twenty minutes before we hear footsteps. Charlie slips from the room and I make out whispered voices outside. My heart starts thumping so hard I think they will hear it and I feel so hot I think I’ll explode.

  Then the door opens and as I look up my breath hitches as I stare into an identical pair of eyes to mine. Joseph Carter.

  I see nobody in that brief moment but him. Everyone else melts away as I stare at a face that looks so familiar to me. I can’t look away and neither can he.

  He is a good-looking man who wears his age well. He must be 6ft tall and stocky, with dark hair and those piercing blue eyes. He is dressed immaculately and I see the shock in his eyes as he says in a rough sounding voice, “Leave us.”

  No words are spoken as the three onlookers leave the room until it’s just the two of us.

  I’m not sure what to do and stand awkwardly.

  He continues to stare and I watch as something lights in his eyes that makes my heart shake. That look says it all. He never knew.

  He approaches me slowly, staring the whole time. As he reaches me, he lifts his hand to my cheek and gently touches it as if checking I’m real. Then he says softly, “You are so like your mother.”

  Once again, I feel the pain shoot through me as my lip trembles and I struggle to hold on to any strength I have left.

  Then he reaches for me and pulls me to him and wraps his arms around me as any father would. I feel his emotion as he says gruffly, “I swear to god I never knew. When Meg left, I didn’t know where. I was in prison for a long time and when I got out heard she’d moved to the states. I was never told I had a daughter because I promise you that if I’d known, I would have come for you.”

  I start to shake as the sobs move their way through my body. This is too much - he’s too much and as I break down in my father’s arms, I know I’m home where I belong.

  Maxwell

  There is nothing else to do but wait. I pace up and down the corridor outside my office and curse my bad luck. Tracey just stands leaning against the wall looking worried and I do nothing to reassure her. Charlie looks as wretched as I feel and shakes his head and says softly, “I’m sorry, man.”

  I let the comment go because he knows how I feel. We have a sixth sense where the other is concerned and he would have seen the way I looked at Summer. I never look at women like that. I take my pick and never have to try hard. It was different with her because she didn’t know who I was—or so I thought. Turns out she knew exactly who we were and was using us for her own purposes.

  I make a fist and my brother looks at me with concern.

  “You ok?”

  I nod, trying desperately to control my anger. I’m not sure why I’m so angry but I can’t rid myself of the nagging voice in my head that’s telling me Summer’s off limits. Why should I care? I’ve just met the girl but I know she’s different. I knew that the minute I laid eyes on that sexy ass swaying to the music. She lit up the place like a ray of sunshine and at that moment, I knew I had to have her. This is a fucked-up situation because as it now turns out, she’s the last girl in the world I can have.

  I hear Charlie say to Tracey, “You ok, babe?”

  She shrugs. “I think so. You know, Summer doesn’t know about your family, only what my mum told her. She came here looking for her father and that was all. As it happens, that was easier than we all thought and now I’m worried.”

  Charlie says in surprise. “Worried about what?”

  She sighs heavily. “She’s vulnerable. Her whole life just crashed and burned and she’s floundering. I can’t even begin to understand how she’s feeling and this, on top of her grief, might send her crazy.”

  Charlie smiles reassuringly. “Listen, you may have heard a lot of bad shit about our family and most of it true. But we put family above everything and if Summer’s Joey’s daughter she will be loved with the fiercest kind of love possible. Joey doesn’t have any kids of his own. He spent so long in jail he didn’t exactly have the opportunity. Then he met our mother, and she had lost the ability to have kids a few years previous. If Summer’s his, then she’s his only biological child. You don’t need to worry about Summer’s future, Trace because nobody will be as loved as much as that girl by her father. She is a gift from God as far as he’s concerned and he will give her the moon if he could.”

  I’ve heard enough and say angrily. “I need a drink.”

  I storm out and head straight to the bar. I need to clear my head because Charlie’s words, although meant to soothe Tracey’s worries, just added to mine. Of course, Joey will be protective of his daughter. The trouble is, I’m the one she needs protecting from. In my heart, I know this is a battle I will surely lose. With Summer in our lives, things are going to get messy pretty damn quickly and I’m not sure what the fuck to do about it.

  The bartender takes one look at me and spins my usual drink my way. Double scotch on the rocks and I need it more than anything tonight. I lean on the bar and down it in one and nod for another. I don’t miss his worried expression. I’ve got a reputation for being a crazy bastard when I lose it and they tiptoe around me when I’m in one of my moods. Charlie usually gets to wade in and calm me down but not tonight. Tonight, I need to forget and fast.

  As I drown my sorrows, I try to get it together. If I know my father, he will welcome Summer into the family with open arms. The fact that his only blood relative is a girl will make it all the harder. If it had been a guy, it would have been fine but Joey will be insufferable where it concerns her. I know I should back off immediately but already know in my heart - I can’t.

  Sighing, I spin on my heels and head back the way I came. It won’t look good if I’m drowning my sorrows in the bar when my dad calls so, I return to wait like the obedient puppy dog I am.

  Charlie looks at me with concern when I return and moves across to me swiftly and snarls. “Get your shit together, bro. If Pops see you like this, he’ll guess you’ve got an unhealthy interest in your new sister. What do you think would happen then?”

  I nod and lean against the wall and sigh heavily. Lowering my voice, I whisper, “This is a fucked-up situation and I can’t deny I want Summer. In fact, she’s the first girl I’ve wanted to get to know properly in what seems like forever.”

  Charlie looks at me sympathetically. “I’m sorry, man. Really, I am but you know it’s never gonna happen.”

  He leans in and whispers, “My advice would be to go and get laid and fast. You need to fuck your way out of this until you have no energy left. Either way, you’re screwed brother, so take my advice and fight fire with fire.”

  Groaning, I sink to the floor and sit with my back against the wall. “You know, Chas, I wish I could wake up and do this day again. I would probably change every fucking minute if I could but one.”

  He sits down beside me and says, “Which is?”

  I laugh softly, “I would still meet Summer and there would be nothing standing in our way.”

  Charlie shakes his head and whistles. “You’re fucked man.”

  I don’t need my brother to tell me something I worked out the minute she told me why she’d come. Now I just need to work out what to do about it.

  9

  Summer

  My father is nothing like I thought he’d be. The man who sits beside me is charming, funny and everything I could have wished to find. He wants to know everything about me and tells me of his family and what happened between him and my mother all those years ago.

  I’m not sure how long we spoke for but it only felt like seconds when he says ruefully, “We should call this a night. Rose will be worried and you need your sleep.”

  I feel the panic setting in as I fully expect him to shake my hand and tell me it was nice to meet me. However, he just looks at me with so much pride and says hoarsely, “I’ll get one of the lads to take you both home and come and pick you up at lunchtime tomorrow. I want you to meet my wife, Summer because now I’ve found you,
I don’t want to lose you again. Your place is with me now - with us and as soon as I’ve squared it with Rose, you’re moving in.”

  His words hit me like a thunderbolt and I hear the storm breaking all around me. He smiles as he sees my expression and says softly, “Of course, it’s your choice to make. The trouble is, I don’t want to miss out on another minute of your life when I’ve missed out on so much already. I suppose that’s the selfish bastard in me but you’re the only blood relative I have and I need to know everything about you.”

  He reaches across and takes my hand and squeezes it. “You may have heard some terrible things about me, Summer but that’s not who I am with my family. I don’t want you to fear me, babe because you have no need to. Some may call me a fool for taking you in without documented proof. Those eyes and that look are all the proof I need. You’re my little girl, it’s obvious. You have your mother’s looks and my eyes. I see a lot of me in you, sweetheart and I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me what I know in my heart. If you want the DNA proof, we’ll get it but I think we already know the answer.”

  I nod and feel the ever-present tears behind my eyes as I say softly, “I knew as soon as my Aunt spoke of you. I don’t know why—I just did. Now I’ve met you it just reinforces what I already guessed. I hope this won’t cause you too much trouble. I just wanted to find answers when I came here and didn’t mean to invade your life.”

  The tears in his eyes shock me as he pulls me once again into his comforting hold. “You’re the best kind of trouble, babe. Like I said, I want you with me so I can catch up on every second of the years I’ve missed. I can see your parents brought you up well and I want to play my part in caring for you now where they can’t. Maybe your mum is watching over you and sent you to me—I like to think so.”

  Biting my lip to stem the tears, I nod. “I like to think so too.”

  Sighing, he pulls back and heads to the door. As he opens it, I hear him say, “Come inside.”

  My heart flutters as I see the boys follow Tracey in. Her face is a mixture of fear, awe and concern and I smile at her reassuringly. Charlie’s expression is curious but not angry and I almost can’t bring myself to look at Maxwell but as soon as I do, I know. He’s destroyed. It’s like a swift kick to my heart and I can only think he hates the fact Joey has a child. Maybe he feels threatened, jealous or just plain angry that I came in here and kicked all their feet from under them. The flash of anger I see in his eyes makes me tremble inside, however, despite what my head is screaming at me, I still want him.

  My father smiles at Tracey. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting, love. I hope the boys have made you feel welcome.”

  She nods shyly and says in a whisper, “That’s ok, sir. I know you had a lot to talk about.”

  He nods and looks across at me and I watch his eyes soften. Then he turns to the guys and says in the type of voice that expects no answer, “Take the girls home. Make sure they get there safely and then pick Summer up at 12 tomorrow and bring her to meet your mother.”

  They nod and I see the curiosity in Charlie’s expression as he looks at me and smiles briefly. Then Joey says, “Charlie, take the girls to collect their things and Maxwell, I need a word.”

  Even I shiver at the tone of his voice but if Maxwell notices anything, he keeps it well hidden.

  We follow Charlie out and as we reach the corridor outside; I welcome the change of air and take a deep breath as I walk away a changed woman.

  Maxwell

  I couldn’t look at her. I knew that one look would be all it took to seal my fate. I just need to work out a way around this and can’t do that staring into her gorgeous eyes that cruelly remind me who she is.

  As the door closes behind them, I know what Pops is going to say before he even opens his mouth.

  He says roughly, “Look at me, Maxwell.”

  I try to look at him with indifference but know that I fail miserably when he says in a sinister voice. “I will only say this once. Summer is family now and tonight you gained a sister. You will treat her with respect and welcome her into the family like the brother you are. Make sure nothing happens to her and I’m including you in that.”

  I make to speak but he silences me by raising his hand. “I don’t want to hear it. I see it in your face and that’s why I called you back. You have perfected the blank look over the years. You keep your emotions in check and never play your hand. That all changed tonight which is why I’m warning you. Stay away from Summer because if you touch her in any way other than family, I will kill you.”

  My heart sinks. I don’t know how he does this but he can always see right through me. Now I know I’m fucked because I’m not sure I can do as he says. I’ll try, I’d be a fool not to but even now I see the torture in my future. Seeing Summer every day, sharing our home, our lives and living so closely will destroy me. Then there are the guys she’ll bring home that I’ll want to murder on the spot. I won’t be able to bear the thought of seeing her touched by any other hand than mine. How did this lightning bolt strike after just a chance meeting? Destiny is a cruel bastard because in one hand he has delivered me a goddess and taken her away with the other.

  So, I just nod and say simply, “Consider me warned. I’ll treat Summer like family, you can count on me.”

  He nods and I hope I’ve done enough to call the dogs off because I know I’m going to break his goddamn rule so fast I may not have long to live. When I said I’d treat her like family, I meant every word. My family. The woman I want to call mine in every sense of the word and I know the only barrier in my way is standing before me. It’s just up to me to change his perspective because I’m not giving up without a fight.

  With my resolve set, I head out to carry out my orders. They are already waiting in the car and Charlie sits tapping the wheel tied up with his thoughts. I look at him sharply because, like me, he’ll be struggling with this. I know him though and he’ll fall into the role of the older brother quickly and easily. Knowing him as I do, I only hope this doesn’t turn him against me because Charlie is loyal and won’t want to upset the family, unlike me who is set on a path to blow it apart.

  I slide in beside him and he starts the engine. I don’t even look behind me because I’m not prepared to deal with more feelings tonight. Instead, I let Charlie do the talking for us and just listen, although every word she utters is like a blow to my heart.

  We drop them in a familiar neighborhood with none of the wealth of ours. As we pull up outside, Charlie jumps out and opens the passenger door like the gentleman he is. Cursing my bad luck, I realize I need to get a grip and do the same. As I open it, Summer exits quickly and says hesitantly, “I’m sorry.”

  Just the fact she is so close makes me forget to breathe but feeling her breath on my face pours petrol on a lit fuse. I say gruffly, “For what?”

  “For making life difficult for you.”

  I test the waters and look into her eyes and see the worry and anxiety mixed with something that makes my heart lift a little. I may be fighting my own demons here but we appear to be fighting the same ones. I see the longing mixed with desperation reflected back at me and itch to pull her close and never let her go. Reassure her that everything will be ok and I’ll deal with it. Instead, I shake my head and say dismissively, “You haven’t. Make sure you’re ready when we come to collect you. Pops doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

  I watch the pain intensify in her eyes as she hears the coldness in my voice. “Of course, thanks for the ride.”

  She moves past me and I see Charlie reach out and pull her close and whisper something in her ear. She nods and smiles at him warmly and I turn away before I kill my own brother. I don’t move until I hear their front door slam and then get back in the car like a sulky teenager.

  When Charlie joins me, he says in a hard voice. “Sort it out, Max because it’s written all over your face.”

  I sigh, “What is?”

  “The fact you want to fuck your own sister
and are already working out a plan on how you can pull it off without getting killed.”

  I laugh darkly. “That’s quite an accusation, bro.”

  He laughs. “You forget, I know you so well. I saw the look in your eye when you saved her from that druggy. I saw your expression when you tried to chat her up—badly I might add. Then I saw the look on your face when you realized who she was. I’ve never seen that look on your face before and if I know my own brother, you won’t give a fuck about that lecture Pops just gave you. Do you want to start a war because if you do you had better be sure it’s one you stand a chance of winning? If you do, you know I’ll back you up but I must point out, it’s the dumbest thing you’ll ever do.”

  I stare broodingly out of the window and say darkly, “I’m not sure what I want. Let’s just see what happens and if the shit hits the fan, it’s been nice knowing you.”

  He turns the music on and drowns out the expletives that shoot from his lips like bullets from a gun. Charlie knows me better than anyone and even he knows I won’t back down because I’m a selfish bastard. Always have been, always will be.

  10

  Summer

  I’m not sure I slept a wink all night. Tracey fell asleep almost immediately but all I could do was stare at the ceiling and replay what happened in my mind.

  My father was different from what I imagined. He was softer, more approachable, with none of the fear I thought I’d feel given his reputation. When I walked into his open arms, it felt right. Maybe that’s what biology does. Makes us realize immediately when we’re home. We share the same DNA which is probably why he seems so familiar to me. I see myself in him as well as my mom. There was no question that I would become a part of his life. I want that more than anything because he completes me.