A Matter of Truth (Fate Series 3)

by Heather Lyons

  “So,” I say, keeping my voice light. “Were you out for a stroll or something?”

  He closes his eyes for a brief moment, and I kick myself for counting my eggs before they are hatched. But then, he opens them back up, and I lose myself in the cerulean that I couldn’t replicate anywhere even if I tried. “If by stroll, you mean I walked directly here from my place, with several detours back home and then back this way, then yes. I’m on a stroll.”

  I can barely contain my giddiness. “Do you want to come in?”

  He looks up, like he can see the window to our apartment above. “No, but—can we take a walk? Would you be up for that?”

  I blurt out my assent before he can even finish speaking.

  We walk side-by-side, not touching like I want, but close enough to be considered a victory to me. For several minutes, nothing is said, but it’s okay. This is enough.

  Even still, I eventually break the ice by saying, “Did you ever get Astrid to tell you what’s going on with her and Cameron?”

  He chuckles under his breath. Oh, lords, do I love this sound. “No. Not yet. But I do know she still has strong feelings for him, is conflicted and sad over what’s gone down between them, yet is ecstatic about what’s happening now. She’s glad to have her friend back.”

  “Hmm.” I keep my focus on the road ahead of us. It’s hard, because I want to totally stare at him, which sounds creepy but when you’ve gone without looking at the face of the person you love the most, sometimes you get a bit desperate. “I’m no Emotional, but I think I can say that Cameron is the same. He loved his wife a lot, but I think that spark with Astrid might still there. If you know what I mean.”

  He’s quiet for several minutes. “Have you seen your parents?”

  “My mom,” I admit. “She came over once, and we’ve sent some emails back and forth. My dad—I guess now he’s upset with me because of what I did. Which I get.” I let out an exasperated puff. “It’s funny; for a long time, I suppose I never really understood the relationship between you and Astrid. How you considered her to be your mom when you had a mom. I get it now.” I give in and look at him now; I’m rewarded because he’s staring at me, too. Enough to cause him to blush when I catch him. I bite back my grin. “My own mom is . . . I won’t say coming around, but she’s trying, though. Whether or not we ever get to a place where she and I are close, I think I’m finally okay with it.” The grin escapes anyway. “Sometimes family is more than blood. Sometimes a family is built on love.”

  He stops on the sidewalk. “I’m glad you found that with Cameron and Will. I really am.”

  “Yeah. Me too.” Oh, I’d give every last cent I have to touch him right now. “I’m glad you found that with Astrid.”

  He bites his lip, and my heart kicks into triple time. “Look, Chloe . . .”

  I hold my breath. It’s ridiculous, but I literally hold my breath. My name never sounds better than when coming from his lips.

  He takes a step closer. I’m lightheaded as I stare up at him. “I’m not saying I’m over what happened.”

  Reality crashes down upon me like an Acme piano from three stories up.

  “But,” he takes another step closer, his hand lifting to touch my cheek, “the truth is, I miss you.”

  I lean into his touch. Thank the gods, we’re finally touching after months and months of not doing so. Tingles zip up and down my body. I swear, if he keeps this up, I just might have an orgasm right here on a public sidewalk in the middle of Annar. “I miss you, too.”

  His eyes pin me to the sidewalk where I stand. “You’re not with Kellan.”

  I want to laugh, but know it’d send the wrong message. “No.”

  “Why?”

  I let the emotions slamming around my heart spill out so he can feel them. And then I lay it all out for him like I wanted to the day I came back from Anchorage. “Because I want to be with you, Jonah. Even if you don’t want to be with me anymore, I know my truth. And I’ve learned the hard way that a person has to be true to themself if they want a chance at happiness in life.”

  I think he’s holding his breath, too.

  “I love you.” I reach up and touch his face, too. “I’m not saying it because I expect you to say it back. I’m saying it because it’s one of my truths. When I was in Alaska, pretending to be somebody I’m not, I realized something. I love you, I’ve always loved you, and I always will. My life is crazy. I’m going to be asked to do awful, terrifying, exciting things, and sometimes it scares the crap out of me. I have two Connections, which seems impossible at times to comprehend. I’m obviously immature and don’t know how to deal with all this stuff at all times, but I’m finally trying to get a grip on everything. There are these sick and twisted creatures trying to kill me all the time, and I’m having to deal with that. But when I was working at a diner, serving pancakes, wondering what it was I wanted in my life, who I wanted to be, and where I wanted to be, I realized that one of those things was you.”

  It hurts to see the skepticism in his eyes—it’s small, but still there. But I know it’s there because I put it there. And even though he must feel all this in me, sometimes emotions, even from an Emotional, aren’t rational.

  “Here’s the thing. I love your brother. I do. I always will, thanks to the Connection. He’s one of my best friends. I hope he always will be. And . . .” I swallow. I have to get this right. This may be my last chance. “And the truth is, if there was no you, there’d be no doubt in my mind that I’d be with him. But there is a you.” Our feet overlap, we’re standing so close. I stare up into his eyes, so much love filling me up right now that it’s amazing I haven’t exploded in a shower of glitter and flowers. “Jonah . . . you’re more to me than just my Connection. You’re the person I’d want to be with even if there were no Connection.”

  It’s out there now. I’ve said it. I want him, I’ve chosen him. There will be no more indecision. I’ll struggle with my feelings toward Kellan the rest of my life, there’s no doubt about it. But I’ve finally chosen and Jonah now knows it.

  He doesn’t say anything, which makes me anxious, but I remind myself this is a lot to throw on somebody who’s still smarting from desertion. I can’t expect him to just roll over and say, “Well, okay. Let’s get married tonight.” Although, come to think of it, it’d be really great if he did.

  Finally, in what I can best describe as hushed awe: “You actually mean that.”

  Before I can assure him of this truth, both hands are on my face and then his lips are on mine and I am finally, after wandering for so long that I got lost, exactly where I want to be.

  I am deliriously, wildly, fantastically, ecstatically, giddily in the throes of bliss due to love. I cannot even begin to hold back my joy, even when faced with a moody Will and a pair of groggy, middle-aged men who haven’t had their coffee yet early the next morning.

  I’d spent a good, long time kissing Jonah last night before he walked me home. Like I’d done in high school, I’d made him promise to come over bright and early in the morning so we could have breakfast and then talk. So here I am, banging pans around as I attempt to make said breakfast, while the men I live with watch with amusement.

  “For Christ’s sake, let me cook,” Will eventually says when I apparently do not crack an egg properly. “We don’t want him running away due to food poisoning or anything.”

  I gratefully relinquish control so I can set the table.

  “Hen, it does my heart good to see you so cheerful,” Cameron says, pressing a quick kiss against my head.

  Erik grunts and pours himself a cup of coffee. “So this is why you were acting like you’d lost your mind last night. I should have figured it had to do with a boy.”

  I sigh happily, thinking of my boy. He should be here in less than a half hour. “You guys don’t mind him joining us for breakfast?”

  “You’ll have to do without me,” Erik says. “I’m to go to Anchorage for a couple of days to talk with colony represent
atives.”

  “Of course we don’t mind,” Cameron assures me. “I’m quite looking forward to finally getting to know this Jonah of yours.”

  “Dad, you say this like you haven’t ever met the bloke,” Will calls out.

  My eyes widen; Cameron chuckles quietly. “Fair enough, son. Yes, I’ve briefly met Jonah a few times whilst visiting Astrid. And he’s been at a few of the meetings Erik and I have had with the Council concerning Métis matters. But I am looking forward to getting to know the person you’ve given your heart to, hen.”

  I can’t help but give him a huge hug.

  We say goodbye to Erik; minutes later, a knock on the door tells me that Jonah’s here. Cameron insists on getting it, so I wait nervously in the living room, practically bouncing on the balls of my feet until I hear Jonah’s voice in the hallway.

  And then there he is. And I melt all over again.

  I check the impulse to tackle him in front of Cameron and instead allow a ridiculous grin to overtake my face. It’s beautiful to see that it’s mirrored on his face, too. Good lords, do I love Jonah Whitecomb’s smiles. He’s got this adorable dimple that appears that I just want to lick.

  Cameron winks at me, not doubt amused by how I’ve been rendered nearly speechless by the sight of our guest. “I think I’ll go and check on Will’s progress with the baked French toast he’s making.”

  I wait until he’s gone to say, ever-so-eloquently, “Hi!”

  He laughs and runs a hand through his wonderfully messy hair; the silver ring on his thumb glints in the early morning light. I missed that ring. I’ve missed his laugh. I’ve missed that dimple. “Hi,” he says in return.

  It’s the perfect come-on line, because I can’t help myself. I take three steps forward; he meets me with the same. And then my hand goes to the back of his head, my fingers curling in his lovely black hair, and I’m tugging his mouth down to mine. His arms go around me, which is a good thing, because once his tongue touches mine, my knees give out.

  I think I could kiss this man all day long and never get tired of it.

  We’ve obviously got a lot of work to do. Just because we’re here kissing, doesn’t mean everything that’s happened in the past two years is swept under the rug. I don’t want it to be ignored. I want us to deal with it once and for all. There are discussions still to be had, decisions to be made, more apologies to be spoken. But those can wait until after breakfast. For now, it’s heaven just to be able to kiss Jonah once more.

  Minutes later, Will calls us in for breakfast. Smart boy for not coming in and interrupting. I don’t bother blushing, because there is no part of me right now embarrassed to be with Jonah.

  Today is a good day. Today is all about new beginnings.

  In the small dining room off the kitchen, Cameron motions to the table. “Come have a seat, you two.”

  “Will’s a great cook,” I tell Jonah as we sit down. My voice is shaking again. The hummingbirds are back, clamoring in a panicked frenzy against my ribs. My mouth goes dry. He’s here. He’s really here with me, having breakfast. “His pancakes are the best. You’ll love them.”

  Will sets a casserole dish down in the middle of the table. “Baked French toast, remember?”

  Okay. Now I blush.

  “Do you like to cook?” Will asks as he sits down on the other side of Jonah. “Because we all know how rubbish Chloe is at it. Five months at a diner, and she’s ace with coffee but can’t cook a meal to save her life.”

  I worry that all this instant familiarity with Will and Cameron will rub Jonah the wrong way, that he’ll look at them and our shared history as yet another representation of my mistakes and choices. But he’s all ease when he says, “Astrid’s been teaching me recently.”

  I cut a wedge of French toast out; it smells divine. “Really?”

  He nods, his grin so adorable I melt into a blissful puddle once more. Before I completely become a useless lump of contentment, he turns back to Will. “I wouldn’t say I’m any good at it yet, though.”

  “Unlike surfing.” Will leans back in his chair and chuckles. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt quite as inept at something as I did surfing next to you and your brother.”

  “Were you awful?” I ask Will.

  “Actually,” Jonah says, “he’s a natural. Surprised both me and Kel quite a bit.”

  Will grins lazily at me.

  “I went surfing a few times when I was a lad.” Cameron sets his coffee cup down. “Nothing exciting, just small waves, and I was shite at it, but I can definitely see its allure.”

  Will’s intrigued. “When was this?”

  “Oh, let’s see. I went on holiday to Cornwall with some schoolmates shortly before I enlisted in the RAF. Borrowed some boards and tried to impress some of the local lasses.” He chuckles, dark eyes sparkling. “Tried being the operative word. Crashed more than I stood, that’s the truth.”

  Will laughs heartily. “Did it work?”

  Cameron matches his laughter. Father and son sound so much alike. “I didn’t try too hard, son. You mum was waiting for me back home, and she would’ve skinned me alive had I done anything other than look.”

  “Was this before or after Astrid?” I ask slyly.

  As Cameron studies me, I school my face to radiate innocence. He eventually chuckles. “Obviously after.”

  Will passes his father the syrup. “And look at you now, coming full circle.”

  Cameron groans and throws his hands up.

  “You and Astrid have lunch an awful lot lately, don’t you, Dad?” Will winks at me. “And send the kids out to get ice cream when you do. Chloe? Don’t you get the feeling ice cream is code for something?”

  I smother my laughter and look over at Jonah. He’s focused on Cameron. I wonder what he feels in him. Cameron always comes across as so strong, so together, despite the blows he’s been dealt.

  Cameron tugs at his collar. “William, I love you, but you are an arsehole.”

  Will and I laugh and laugh. It’s easy to laugh now, with Jonah sitting here next to me. My laughter feels free.

  Just as Cameron is about to take his first bit of French toast, Jonah says, “You should ask Astrid on a date.”

  A good three seconds of stunned silence fills the room. Cameron doesn’t even put the fork in his mouth. Then Will and I crack up all over again.

  “Or even,” Will says, “ask her out for ice cream.”

  I’ve got tears now. Cameron sighs heavily, even though it’s obvious he’s amused with us.

  Will points his knife at his father. “I’m just saying, if her own son—an Emotional, no less—says it’s a good idea, maybe you ought to just do it already.”

  Cameron pours himself another cup of coffee. “I believe we were talking about surfing, not my love life.” He realizes his slip of a word with a massive groan, and Will and I are relentless with our teasing.

  Once we’ve calmed down, I say to Will, “I have to admit that I’m surprised that you’re okay with all of this.”

  He angles his eye roll toward Jonah, as if to say, can you believe her? “I’m not a total boor. Besides, won’t it be fun to see how Callie reacts to it?”

  At Callie’s name, Jonah’s eyebrows lift. I try not to giggle. “Maybe you two ought to go get some ice cream, too.”

  A true miracle happens: Will Dane turns bright red. Now I have to resist the urge to cackle outright.

  “What’s this?” Cameron asks gleefully, no doubt thrilled at the idea of his son taking an interest in anybody who is not Becca.

  “Yes, Will,” I say innocently, “what is this?”

  “I haven’t the slightest idea of what you’re talking about,” he tells me coolly. But he’s attacking his French toast like there’s no tomorrow, so I know he’s all riled up. “That girl is insufferable. She’s practically a princess.”

  Amazingly, Jonah’s eyebrows lift even higher as he turns to me. There’s a question in his eyes—apparently, Kellan never shared this info
rmation with him.

  I pop a piece of syrup-soaked toast in my mouth and mumble, “Yep.”

  He turns back toward Will, the corners of his lips tugging upward.

  Will glares at me. I smile serenely in return. It’s Cameron’s turn to laugh. But then Will’s phone rings, and the moment is broken.

  He chooses to silence it rather than answer.

  I chew on my lip, deciding how best to approach what I’m about to suggest. It’s something I’ve been considering a lot lately, especially now that Cora’s back in town. I eventually just say it. “I can fix this, you know.”

  “Fix what, hen?” Cameron asks quietly.

  “I can call in a favor.” My voice is steady and sure when I address Will, but I reach under the table for Jonah’s hand. Gods, I hope this doesn’t backfire on me. “I can send a Shaman to Glasgow and I can fix this for you.”

  Will simply stares at me.

  “Technically, we’re not supposed to meddle in these sorts of circumstances,” I continue, “but I will do it for you.” I take a deep breath. “Cora will do it for me. She’ll go to Glasgow and heal Becca. She’ll—all the damage from the accident will be healed. Or at least most it. A lot of time has passed, so. . .” I swallow. “I mean, she can’t bring back the baby or Grant, but Becca shouldn’t be a problem.”

  I love that Jonah squeezes my hand. He doesn’t have the slightest clue what’s going on right now, but he’s showing me he’ll support me in this.

  “Meaning . . .?” Will’s voice is so low I barely heart it.

  But mine is steady. Confident. Loving. “Meaning you can finally have the closure you so desperately deserve.”

  Cameron puts a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Is this true, hen?”

  “I haven’t talked to Cora about it yet, but I’m fairly confident she’ll do this for me.”

  Will leans back in his chair, rocking it back on two legs, eyes on the ceiling for a long moment. Just when I think he’s going to tell me to go to hell, the chair drops to the ground.

  “Okay,” he tells me.