The Resilient Bride

by Lucy McConnell

  David careened around a corner, his messenger bag banging away as he ran. He picked Kiera up around her middle and spun in a circle. Kiera smiled down at him, caught up in his joy and happy to show Liam how happy he made them all.

  “I guess you have to call yourself an architect now.” Kiera smacked David’s shoulder.

  David set her down and grabbed Liam. “Thank you.” David sprinted off again, a child in his playhouse.

  Kiera snuggled next to Liam. He felt … content. “You’ve given him a piece of himself.” She met his gaze. “Is he your masterpiece? Are you finishing him?”

  “He’s part of it.” Liam didn’t expound, and Kiera didn’t pressure him. A man needed some space to figure things out. When he was ready to talk, she’d be there. She planned to be here until the very end, and shored herself for the task ahead.

  The chef had protested Kiera stepping in to wash dishes after dinner. Granted, he’d protested while hanging his apron in the pantry, so Kiera didn’t take him too seriously.

  Liam lounged in the couch across the room in the bay window. He had the television on, watching the Red Sox play the Redrocks, the sound turned low. She’d noticed the change in his pace, yet hadn’t brought it up. A sense of stalling the inevitable permeated the house, and Kiera hesitated to shoo it away.

  “Hey, Bugatti.” David tugged her hair before grabbing a towel and drying the dishes stacked on the counter.

  “Don’t call me that.” Kiera glowered. He had no right to grab her as he had earlier, and his assumed familiarity in her personal space now irked her.

  “Why not?”

  “I looked it up—that car is top of the line and over the top.”

  “So are you.” David tapped her nose.

  Turning back to the sink, she muttered, “Not like that.”

  David set aside the dish he was drying. “Exactly like that. More than that. Kiera, you are a top-of-the-line woman.”

  “Thank you for saying so.” She set a pot in the suds and went to work.

  “Why don’t you believe it?”

  Kiera sighed. “I’m working on it.” Liam had healed all the puncture wounds Jack had made in her soul. All of them. Not one was left. Still, she had some retraining to do. Had to find a way to see herself again. With Liam around, seeing beauty wasn’t difficult.

  “Kiera, you have two men who love you …”

  “David …” Her head whipped to the side to make sure Liam hadn’t heard. He hadn’t turned, and watched the screen as if he couldn’t hear them. “Don’t say that.”

  David placed his hand on her lower back and leaned in, bringing the designer cologne smell front and center in her attention. “I can’t help it. I know he’s my brother, and my loyalty to him is strong, but I can’t help the way I feel about you.” He dropped his hand. “And don’t think that it’s not ripping me apart knowing that it’s Liam you are free to love—to kiss! I don’t understand what’s happening between us or why, but I can’t pretend it’s not there.”

  Kiera shifted, putting space between them. Even having this conversation was crossing a line. Although, drawing some lines would be a good thing. Without activities to distract them, lounging around the house could become awkward. And the last thing she wanted Liam to worry about was competition. She would do all she could to make sure he knew he was her one and only. “Fine, we don’t pretend, but that doesn’t mean we have to act on it.”

  “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.” David pushed away from the counter. “I’m going for a drive.”

  Kiera closed her eyes, hating that she had to push him away but not seeing another path. How could she uphold her vows and hold on to David? The two ideas were exact opposites. She refused to discuss a future with David that didn’t have Liam in it. Those thoughts were as traitorous as giving in to her desires.

  For the three of them, time stopped when Liam passed. Anything that came after that would have to evolve. She would not look forward to a day when she wasn’t a married woman.

  Jackson Kimber, the Redrocks’ star pitcher, threw a sinker that had the announcer singing his praises, but Liam didn’t care to watch the replay. Instead, he watched the reflection of Kiera doing dishes in the kitchen. He listened to the clinks, the water slosh, and her feet shuffle against the tile.

  He’d watched David come in and dry. The two looked domestic. Like they belonged together. They should be together. David could give Kiera a home. Pft, he could design and build a home for her. And David could give her children. Liam enjoyed kissing Kiera, and he relished the feel of her body next to his, but he was physically unable to take the relationship further. Which was somehow fine.

  The noble thing to do would be to give them his blessing and send them to a tropical paradise. Perhaps, four months ago, he would have been strong enough to do that. But now, the fear had crept in, and his bravado evaporated like morning fog on the west coast. He needed Kiera, needed her enough that he was desperate to keep her around.

  Standing, Liam smiled at Kiera. “I’m just going to take a break. I’ll be back.”

  She waved with a soap-covered hand and a soft smile.

  Liam made his way to the closest bathroom, shut the toilet lid, and sat down. Taking a deep breath, he fished his phone out of his pocket and switched the camera to selfie mode. Hitting record, he started the movie. “Kiera and David, I pray you’ll both forgive me in time, but I’m about to do something incredibly selfish …”

  23

  The next morning, Kiera set out three plates of waffles—her grandmother’s wheat recipe, which never failed to please—and went in search of Liam and David. Those boys could eat like teenagers, and she enjoyed making them breakfast in her kitchen. Having a home was an amazing feeling. Not that her name was on anything, but knowing that it belonged to Liam, and Liam belonged to her was … enriching.

  She looked for David first, hoping to pop in and out on her way to Liam’s room. Knocking on the open door, she called, “Breakfast.” David didn’t reply, and she wondered if he slept through his morning run. Deciding to chance a peek, she pushed the door open until she could see the crisply made bed. Leaning through the arch, she checked the bathroom and found it dark. Strange … The room had a sense of abandonment, and Kiera fought a sense of dread as she hurried to Liam’s room.

  She found him in a chair by the window, staring at the huge pine trees.

  “Breakfast is ready, but I can’t find David.”

  Liam continued to stare. “He left this morning.” His voice was flat.

  Relieved that Liam knew his whereabouts, Kiera turned to go. “I’ll put them in the warmer for him.”

  “He’ll be gone a while.” Liam dropped his arm.

  Kiera’s blood chilled, making it impossible to move. “How long?”

  Liam shrugged. “He didn’t say.”

  Kiera crackled with guilt. If she had never flirted with David in that mermaid tank … Kneeling next to the chair, she took Liam’s hand. “I’m so sorry. He should be here with you, not me.”

  “I want you.” Liam brushed a tear off her cheek.

  “But he’s your brother.”

  “And you are my wife.”

  Still, Kiera couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d come between the brothers. The doorbell rang, and she got to her feet. “That will be the doctors.”

  Liam shrunk into his chair.

  “Come on, ya big baby, I’ll hold your hand.”

  Liam took her outstretched hand and she pulled him up. “Baby? You’re the one crying.”

  “Okay, I’ll stop if you promise not to start.”

  “Deal.”

  Several hours and exams later, Liam took an afternoon nap, and Kiera sat down to talk to Drs. Scott and Washington. Dr. Scott was older with a thick head of hair, and Dr. Washington was younger and completely bald. She’d worked with both doctors at the cancer institute and could imagine what they charged to make the house call.

  “The next couple of weeks will be
the hardest as he loses control of his limbs.”

  Kiera pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose.

  “I’m impressed with his stamina. Not many at this stage would have his energy.”

  “Is there anything we can do?” Kiera pled with them. On a clinical level, she was informed and prepared; on an emotional level, she was a mess.

  “Not without his consent. Radiation isn’t an option because of the tumor’s location; neither is surgery. Chemo … at this stage—”

  “I know.” Kiera held up her palms, unable to hear any more.

  “Now, I don’t want you administering medication, taking his vitals, or doing work. Your job as nurse is over, and there will be round-the-clock care for him from this time on. Just focus on being with him while you can.” Dr. Washington patted her shoulder.

  It was good advice. The trouble was, without her nurse’s role, all she had left was her love for Liam and the heartache of letting him go.

  Later that night, Kiera and Liam settled into the overstuffed leather couch to watch a movie. Liam picked, so they watched Sandlot with the screaming boys, baseball-eating dogs, and mischief.

  About halfway through, Liam kissed her hair. “You know what I love?”

  “What’s that?”

  “I love that even though I’m the sick one and you’re the nurse, you still want me to put my arm around you.”

  Kiera brushed her fingers through his hair. “You’ll always be my husband first.”

  Liam’s gaze traveled lazily down to her lips. Kiera, anticipating his desire, leaned in, and when their lips met, she melted into his tenderness. Liam took his time, moving slowly and thoroughly over her mouth, building the intensity. Kiera reacted to his skill and softness, arching into him. Moving to her neck, Liam left a trail of heat from her shoulder to her lips and back again. “Tuck me in?” he growled into the soft spot behind her ear.

  Kiera giggled.

  “Right here.” He pulled back. “I want to fall asleep with you in my arms.”

  There was no question. “Of course.”

  She pulled a fuzzy blanket off the top of the couch and laid it over both of them. Liam leaned against the armrest, and Kiera slid one arm between his back and the couch cushion and laid her head on his chest. “Is this okay?” She hoped her weight wasn’t too much for him.

  “It’s perfect.”

  They watched Squints fake-drowning for a kiss from the beautiful lifeguard, and slowly, they relaxed into the couch and drifted off.

  Sometime in the night, Kiera awoke to a bright blue screen. She got up to turn the TV off, not sure where the remote ended up, and Liam shifted on the couch. Instead of moving him so she could rejoin him, she repositioned the blanket to cover his feet and curled up in the recliner. David may have left Liam, but she wouldn’t.

  24

  Kiera puttered around the house while Liam slept for most of the next day. He woke up around dinnertime and was able to eat some chicken and salad before going back to sleep on the couch. The nurses took turns giving him shots, most of which he slept through.

  Worried that they were overmedicating him, she called his doctor.

  “Does he look like he’s fighting to come out of it?” asked Doctor Washington.

  “No, he’s peaceful.”

  “What about when he did wake up, was it a struggle? Was he groggy?”

  “No.” Kiera’s shoulders slumped.

  “I think we’re fine, but I’ll come up first thing in the morning to check on him.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kiera hung up the phone and hung her head. She settled on the floor next to the couch and held Liam’s hand while she watched Sleepless in Seattle. When her legs were asleep, she made a bed on the floor and slept.

  True to his word, Dr. Washington was at their door at seven in the morning. Kiera leaned over and kissed Liam on the forehead to wake him up. To her relief, his eyes fluttered open. He smiled up at her. “Your hair’s-citing.”

  Kiera’s hand flew to her head. It felt like a giant bird nest.

  Laughing, he allowed the nurse to help him sit up. “You’re lill butifl, Ra.” Liam kissed her hand.

  “What?” Kiera asked.

  “You’re butifl.” Liam scowled. “You are be-u-ti-fl,” he said, much slower.

  Dr. Washington leaned forward. “How long has his speech been impaired?”

  “This is the first time I’ve noticed it.”

  “Me. Too.” Liam gripped Kiera’s knee, a frightened look on his face.

  The doctor held out his hands and asked Liam to squeeze them at the same time. “You’re weaker on the right side.” He released Liam and took off his glasses. “I’m afraid the tumor may have grown. We can do scans—”

  “No.” Liam looked up. “I. Know—knew. Dis. Happ’. No. Schans.”

  Kiera bit her cheek to fight off the tears that sprung forth at Liam’s bravery. He submitted with a grace that defied understanding, while Kiera kicked like a petulant child.

  “Okay.” Dr. Washington patted Liam’s knee. “You okay?”

  Liam shrugged.

  “I’ll see myself out. Please call anytime.”

  Kiera sat by Liam. “Are you hungry?”

  He shook his head.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?”

  “No. I. Sleeeeep.”

  “Liam.” Kiera put both hands on his cheeks. “I’m sorry. This has got to be so frustrating for you.”

  “Not. You. Fault.” Liam kissed her, his lips pulling to the left.

  “Well, you’re still a great kisser.”

  Liam smiled. “You. Great. Wife.”

  She tucked him in and played with his hair until he fell asleep. When his breathing was even and his face peaceful, she went into the bathroom, turned on the faucet to block out noise, and crumpled to the floor. Pounding her fist into the ground, she cursed David for leaving her alone. As angry as she was that he left Liam, she was just as angry that he’d left her.

  Her mom had often said, “The trouble with being a strong woman is that everyone assumes you can handle anything and everything.” Kiera never worried about everyone before everyone included David. If he thought her capable of doing this on her own, he was hugely mistaken.

  Taking her phone out of her back pocket, she found David’s number.

  In case you care, Liam isn’t doing well. He’s slurring his speech and his right side is weak.

  The moment she sent it, Kiera wanted to bring the text right back. Dreading his reply, she folded a towel and tucked it under her head.

  Can he talk at all? David texted back.

  Kiera let out a breath. David hadn’t taken her bait to argue. Yes.

  Tell me when he can’t.

  Kiera wanted to throw her phone. If David wouldn’t come back for Liam, maybe he would come back for her.

  I can’t do this alone.

  She held her breath, waiting for David’s response. Laying it out there, feeling vulnerable, weren’t things she did in her everyday life. She burst out a breath and glared at the screen. Nothing happened, and lacking the emotional energy to throw a proper fit and smash her phone into tiny bits, Kiera gave up and went back in to be near Liam, where she fell asleep in the chair, her heart aching with the emptiness of abandonment.

  Waking to the doorbell, Kiera bolted to the front door, waving the nurse and a maid off from answering. If this was David, and it had better be David, he was going to get a piece of her mind before he crossed the threshold.

  Swinging the door open, Kiera planted her hand on her hip, drawing herself up for a good tongue-lashing. It wasn’t David, and she leaned over as if she’d been punched in the gut. Instead of David, Kiera’s mom stood on the doorstep, a small suitcase by her feet. Falling into Amelia’s embrace, Kiera asked, “What are you doing here?”

  “A nice man called and said he was sending a private plane to pick me up—he said you needed me.” Amelia patted her back and ran her hand down Kiera’s hair. “Af
ter our last phone call, I could only assume it was true.”

  Kiera craned her neck to look down the driveway and saw the back of an apple-red Lamborghini growing smaller as it drove away. “David,” she whispered. He hadn’t abandoned her; he’d gone for help.

  “Yes, that was his name. He’s such a gentleman.” Amelia stepped back. “Picked me up right where the plane dropped me off.”

  Kiera hung her head. “He should be here. And he’s not because I’m weak.”

  Amelia put one arm around Kiera and steered her into the house. “He said you needed some time with your husband, but that you might need your mom too.”

  “I do.” Kiera hugged her once again. Feelings of gratitude that her mom was in remission warred with feelings of guilt that she couldn’t do anything for Liam. Liam! The need to introduce her husband to her mother jolted through her heart. “I want you to meet Liam.” She pulled her through the grand entryway and into the living room. With a little prodding, Liam stirred and woke up.

  Kiera sat on the floor next to the couch. “Liam, I’d like you to meet my mother, Amelia.”

  Liam’s eyes brightened as they shook hands. “Tan you for Ra.”

  “You are so very welcome. Thank you for taking care of her. She’s a different woman—so confident. You’ve obviously been good to her.”

  Liam closed his eyes, soaking in her words.

  Kiera took his hand between hers. “Liam, do you mind if Mom stays with us?”

  Liam shook his head. “She welcome.”

  “Thank you.”

  Later, when Kiera had a few minutes to herself, she texted David.

  Thank you for bringing my mother. I don’t feel alone … She paused. I miss you. She added and sent before she lost her nerve.

  The reply came immediately. I’m not far away if you need me.

  She knew he wouldn’t be.

  The household revolved around Liam’s waking moments, which grew fewer and fewer as they increased his meds to cover the pain. A week in, he had a bout of nausea that took them a day or so to get under control. Kiera could tell he was mortified by the messes he made, but she assured him that, as a nurse, she’d seen much worse and that it in no way changed her love for him.