I had a lot of questions, and I needed some answers.
***
“Hey Mom. How are you?”
“I’m okay honey. How are you and your sister holding up?”
“I’m doing alright.” I told her. “Quinn stayed last night, she’s having some breakfast with Ells… she’s doing okay.” I couldn’t help the warmth that seeped into my voice at the mention of my fiancés name.
“Good. That’s good.”
“Mom… how did you hear about the accident?”
“Michael’s attorney called me. Apparently in the event of his death, I was to be contacted and informed, and I was to be the one to inform y’all… I took to Google after that, that’s how I knew that a woman had been killed too. It was all very vague – no names.”
“Why?” I asked bluntly. He’d never made contact before. I couldn’t understand why we would need to know that he was dead.
“I don’t know. But the attorney did say he would be in contact with you as soon as he had everything put into place.”
“With me? What the fuck for?”
“Lawson Pierce.” My mother snapped. “Don’t you use that language with me. I have no idea what your father has done or why. This is not my doing.”
I sighed. It didn’t matter how old I was, nothing made me feel like a child quite like a good telling off from Whitney Adams.
“I’m sorry Mom. I just hate not knowing.”
“I know.” She let out a breath. “I’ll call you if I find out more and I expect the same from you.”
“Of course. Take care okay Mom?”
“I will, give that baby girl of mine a kiss for me.”
“Sure thing. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I hung up and ran a hand through my hair. None of this shit made any sense. I was intrigued by the attorney contacting me. The only thing I could think of was that Michael had left Quinn and I something in his will.
I abandoned my thoughts, no doubt I’d find out soon enough.
I followed the sound of the girls talking into the kitchen. I stopped and gave Q a kiss on the head. “From Mom.” I prompted.
“I should call her.” Quinn commented nonchalantly.
El nodded with enthusiasm. “Go call her honey. Talking to your mom might help you to feel better about things.”
Quinn slid off the stool, dialing our mother as she walked out of the room.
“What did your mom say?” El asked as she pressed herself against me.
I tugged her in even closer and kissed her forehead. “She was contacted by Michael’s attorney, and asked to contact me and Quinn. I don’t understand any of it… apparently this guy plans to call me today.”
El looked up at me and frowned. “That’s weird.”
“It’s fucking weird alright.” We stood still, holding one another for a few minutes.
“Coffee?” El asked me in a hopeful voice. I knew she was trying to distract me.
“Sounds good baby.”
She poured me a cup and I’d just lifted it to my mouth when my phone rang. The phone number was blocked.
“Lawson Pierce.”
“Good morning Mr. Pierce, this is Samuel Terry speaking.”
“Good morning Mr. Terry, how can I help you?”
“I’m calling as your father, Michael Pierce’s attorney. Please accept my condolences on his passing.”
“Thank you.” I muttered. “Can I ask why you’re calling me?”
“I think that would be better discussed in person if you didn’t object.”
What the fuck is going on here?
“I’m assuming Michael was still based in Salt Lake City? Unfortunately that’s not exactly convenient for my sister and I. We’re both in Boston.”
“I’m aware of your location Mr. Pierce, I’ve actually just stepped off a flight into Boston.”
“You’re here?” I asked, shock and disbelief coloring my voice.
“Indeed I am. I was given a very specific set of instructions by your father.”
“Okay?” I wasn’t sure what the hell to do now. “Where can we meet you?”
“I’d prefer if I could come to your home, it really is a matter that needs to be discussed in private. Is that suitable?”
Jesus.
“Ah… yeah… sure?” My reply came out as a question.
“I’m very sorry for the intrusion Mr. Pierce, I have your address down as 145 Summerset Road, is that correct?”
How the fuck does he know that?
“That’s correct.”
“And can I assume that Miss Pierce and Miss Rush will both be present for this meeting?”
“How do you know about Ellerslie?” I spat, suddenly worried for the safety of my girl.
El shot me a ‘what the fuck look’ and I shrugged.
“I apologize, I can assure you that I’ll explain everything in person, is an hour’s time okay?”
“Fine.” I snapped. I was nearly shaking with anger. The sooner I found out what the hell was going on, and straightened this all out, the better.
I hung up and looked at El, I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. “I have no fucking idea what just happened. He knew our address; he knew about you…he’s coming here in an hour.”
“Well…” El huffed. “I guess we wait and see.”
4. Ellerslie
Samuel Terry was a short, bald man, who wore thick rimmed glasses. He looked around 60 years old and spoke with precision and knowledge.
Lawson had introduced Quinn and I, although I was confident Samuel needed no introductions – he knew exactly who he was dealing with, it unnerved me just how much he seemed to know about us all.
I passed him a glass of water and sat down next to Lawson on the couch. Samuel occupied one armchair and Quinn was in another.
“Once again, I offer my sincerest condolences on the passing of your father.” He looked between Quinn and Lawson.
They both nodded in response.
“Can you tell us about what happened to him?” Quinn asked as she crossed her legs.
“I can.” Samuel nodded. “Michael was in a car accident yesterday morning. The vehicle was struck by a truck, he and his wife Cassandra were both killed instantly.” His face was solemn.
“Hold on, back up a minute… his wife?” Lawson frowned.
“Yes his wife. Michael Pierce married Cassandra Rose two years ago.”
“Huh…” Quinn thought aloud.
“How old was she?” I asked when neither Quinn nor Lawson spoke again.
“She was only thirty years old.” Samuel shook his head, his grief obvious.
“That’s younger than me!” Lawson hissed.
I grabbed his hand in mine and squeezed. I could feel how angry he was becoming.
“I still don’t understand why you’re here Mr. Terry?” Quinn asked, narrowing her eyes at the small man in front of us.
“Yes… well. I’m afraid there is more.”
We all stared in silence, waiting for him to go on.
“Michael and Cassandra had a child, a daughter named Stella.”
Samuel’s words hung in the air. I gaped at Lawson. His jaw had dropped and he stared directly back at me, lost for words.
The crash…
“Oh god.” I whimpered. “She wasn’t –”
“No.” Samuel interrupted me. “She wasn’t involved in the accident. She was with a sitter at the time of the crash.
I let out a relieved breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Lawson and Q have a sister…
“What will happen to her? Does she have family to go to?” Quinn asked hurriedly.
Samuel nodded, sweat beading on his forehead. “She does.”
Quinn’s body sagged in relief.
“That’s actually why I’m here. Michael and Cassandra had very specific instructions should anything happen to the both of them.”
I felt Lawson tense next to me. “When you say that’s why you’re here…”
He nodded. “Mr. and Mrs. Pierce requested that their daughter, Stella Pierce, be placed in the care of you Lawson – you and Ellerslie. They wanted for you to adopt her.”
The whole world froze around me.
Me and Lawson… a baby? What the fuck?
“What? No. Fuck… what?” Lawson stammered. “Surely Cassandra had some family?”
Samuel shook his head. “She did not. Her parents were quite old when she was born and they have both since passed away. She was an only child. Your father’s mother has also passed away, and his father has Alzheimer’s. He was also an only child.” He gestured to Lawson and Quinn. “The two of you are her only other living relatives.”
“I’m confused.” I blurted out.
“What are you unsure about Miss Rush?”
“Call me El.” I told him instinctively. “You said they appointed Lawson and I as her guardians. How did they know anything about me?” Why would they trust a stranger with their child?”
“Michael has kept a very close eye on both Lawson and Quinn. He was made aware of the fact that Lawson had proposed marriage to you Ellerslie, and he only very recently adjusted his will accordingly.” He picked up a folder from the coffee table. “And like I said, they didn’t have any other family to consider.”
The room fell silent as we all digested his words.
A baby?
Well fuck me dead.
I didn’t know how on earth this would work, what changes we would have to make. But we’d do it… we had to.
“How old is she?” Quinn asked quietly.
“She’s five months old. She was born on the 10th of May.” Samuel replied just as quietly.
She’s just a baby.
My whole body shook. She would never remember her parents; she would never know their love for her.
“What if I can’t take her?” Lawson asked suddenly. “I mean, what happens if I can’t do it?”
“Lawson.” I whispered. “She’s your family.” I hadn’t even considered the possibility of Lawson saying no.
He angled his body towards mine. “I can’t ask you to do this El. It’s too much… we’re just starting out and this… it’s too much.”
He turned back to Samuel. “What would happen to her?”
“I’m not sure. I guess she would have to be sent to foster care until something else could be arranged. Quinn would be an option.” He nodded towards my stunned looking best friend.
I almost laughed – almost. Quinn wasn’t the most maternal person in the world. I tugged on Lawson’s arm. “Can we please talk?”
He nodded and faced Samuel. “Would you excuse us please?”
“By all means.” Samuel agreed.
He gripped my elbow gently and led me out of the living area and into his office. The door wasn’t even shut before he started pacing.
“Sweet baby Jesus.” He muttered. “What the fuck am I meant to do with this Ells? Huh? What the fuck is going on here? I thought the bastard must have left me a painting or something… not his baby… Jesus Christ.”
I sat down in a seat and prepared myself to wait him out. He would pace back and forth, cursing and swearing until he calmed down.
It took him 10 minutes.
He sank down in the seat next to me. “What the fuck do I do pretty girl?” His voice was broken. This decision was tearing him up.
“I’ll tell you what’s going to happen cowboy.” I grasped his hand and entwined our fingers. “We’re going to go back out there, and we’re going to tell him that we’ll do it. We’ll take that little girl.”
Lawson looked like he wanted to argue so I pressed a finger to his lips.
“We’re all she’s got in this world Lawson. We can’t send her into foster care. We can give her everything she needs. You’ve got so much love Lawson, she needs some of it.”
5. Lawson
“We’re all she’s got in this world Lawson…”
El’s words flew through my head.
She wants her.
I’d instantly assumed that El would be too shocked to say yes – that she’d want to say no. I should have known better.
“You would take her?” I asked, the words coming out in a rush.
El nodded slowly, a look of determination on her face. “I don’t think there was ever a choice.”
I grabbed her face in my hands and kissed her – softly at first, then passionately. I told her how much I loved her, how much she meant to me through my kiss.
I panted against her mouth, almost entirely out of breath. “Are you sure Ells? I would never ask this of you.”
Hell, I wouldn’t have asked this of myself.
“You didn’t.” She replied simply. Her lips were swollen and sexy from our kiss, her cheeks blushed. I’d never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
We walked back into the living room hand in hand – our minds made up. We would honor the final wishes of Stella’s parents and be the family that she needed us to be.
I gave Quinn a nod. She widened her eyes in surprise, tears beginning to stream down her face.
“We’ll do it.” I spoke directly to Samuel.
His whole body relaxed and he smiled at us in obvious relief. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear you say that.”
He began searching through his folder, pulling out sheets of paper. He leaned over and showed one to me.
“This document outline’s their wishes for their daughter.” He indicated to the page. “Basically, they would like you to raise her as your own, and they request that you make their existence known to her when she is of an appropriate age to understand. Their entire estate has been left to Stella, with you, Quinn, having the controlling interest until she reaches twenty one years of age.” He glanced briefly at Quinn.
I nodded. “That’s all fine.”
“There’s just one more thing.” Samuel pointed towards the bottom of the page. “They have stated that they wish for Stella to be formally adopted by the both of you… but only once you are married.”
“We’re due to be married in a few months. Can it wait?”
“It’s possible. It’s also possible for you to request to adopt her yourself Lawson and have Ellerslie included later.”
I frowned at the suggestion.
“It’s likely we can find a loop hole and override the condition. The sooner this happens, the easier it will be for everyone.” Samuel added quickly.
“Could we meet her first? Can we worry about that when we get her home?” El asked.
Samuel nodded. “As you wish. Is there any chance of the three of you getting to Salt Lake this week?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but El got in first. “We’ll leave on the next available flight.” She told him.
Samuel beamed at her. “If I may say so, I think they made a fine choice with the two of you.”
They couldn’t have picked a better woman than El. As for me… I wasn’t so sure about that decision.
“Do you have a photo of her?” I was suddenly desperate for some type of connection with this new relative of mine.
Will she look like me?
“I have a photo here of Michael and Cassandra, but not one of Stella I’m sorry.”
“Can I see it?” El asked him with her hand already outstretched.
“Certainly.” He flicked through his folder. I didn’t need to see the photo of my father; I only needed to pick up a mirror to see what he looked like. It was his young wife I was curious about.
Samuel passed El the photo and I gazed down over her shoulder at it. They were dressed to the nines, my father in a tux, and Cassandra in a stunning blue dress. I studied her face, her likeness to Ellerslie was uncanny. She wasn’t as tall, or as curvy, but they were similar in their hair, their eyes, and the shape of their lips.
I heard El gasp. “You’re just like him.”
I had barely even glanced at Michael. “She reminds me of you.”
Samuel cleared his throat. “It w
ould appear, in this instance, that you and Michael share at least your taste in women.”
El passed Quinn the picture.
“Well that’s just too fucking weird for words.”
I chuckled at my sister’s bluntness. It felt good to laugh again, even Samuel cracked a smile.
El still looked shocked. “Now I know how you’ll look in twenty years.” She whispered.
I squeezed her thigh lightly.
“What do we need to do from here?” I asked him, getting back to business.
“Well, as Ellerslie suggested, you should all come as soon as possible. Stella is being cared for by the sitter she was with at the time of the accident. The service for Michael and Cassandra will be held on Tuesday, so you can attend that if you wish. Then there is just the matter of their belongings, and bringing Stella back to Boston with you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think we’ll need to attend the service.”
“Lawson.” El scolded me. “Stella needs to be there. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go, but we need to put her first.”
I froze. She was right. Already, she was able to put Stella first.
How would I ever be able to be a good dad to her?
“You’re right.” I stood quickly. “Please excuse me, I just need a minute.” I strode out of the room and headed up the stairs.
“I’m sorry.” I heard El say. “He’s panicking.”
Panicking…
That was a fucking understatement.
“Maybe it’s true that we don’t know what we have until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’re missing until we find it.”
- Author unknown
6. Ellerslie
I found Lawson exactly as I’d expected to – pacing the room and running his hand through his hair.
I stood silently in the doorway and watched him. I knew he was aware of my presence – he always was.
“I’ll fuck it up.” He spoke without looking at me.
He was freaking out. It was fair enough. This was a hell of a lot to take in. We were about to become parents, and without the nine months to prepare for the change. This was going to turn our lives upside down.
Pierced (Love like Yours Series Book 2) Page 3