Secret Love (The 4Ever Series Book 2)

by Isabella White

  Lilly smiled sweetly at Jake and sat down next to him. “I’m so sorry, Jake. Kate told me what happened. I hope you gave it to that girl. Take her to court or something. She can’t do this to you.”

  He wanted to headbutt her, but he refrained. She knew nothing about Holly.

  “Are you okay?” She stroked his arm.

  “Thank you, Lilly. I’m far from okay but I’ll get there, eventually.

  “Your mom is waiting in the kitchen. And don’t you for one second believe that your mother would do this to you.”

  Well, she had. He closed his eyes. He didn’t want to disrespect Lilly even though she’d disrespected Holly a few times now. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes again.

  “Please, just keep him away from the cabin. Go to the lake for as long as you can, okay?”

  Frowning, she nodded again as Lilly took Michael and walked to the Lake.

  His mother was talking to Robin and Kate in the kitchen and Kate was laughing at something Mara said. He shook his head and glanced over at his father, and saw both Frank and Armand were sitting with him. It felt like they were his only family, along with Amelia, of course.

  Kate rushed to Jake’s side just as he reached the doorway of the kitchen, and flung her arms around him. Jake returned the hug, although he shouldn’t have as it only served to wash away all the doubt she had, doubt that was going to turn into reality and would mess her up bigtime.

  “Jake,” Mara said softly. “I never did those… those things... You’ve got to believe me.”

  Jake could feel his rage boiling up inside him. Every ounce of anger he’d felt over the past four days combined into one terrifying cloud of fury. “So… what? Holly is some sort of a sociopath who put herself and my children through hell for no reason at all?”

  “Children?” Kate gasped, looking at him. Jake released her from him and approached his mother. He looked at Frank, then his father; neither said a thing. Mara looked at both of them, too.

  “I forgot, you don’t know.” He looked back at his mother. “Holly was a twin, Mother. Her sister died when she was fifteen, so the gene was strong and yes, there were two babies. Romalia didn’t make it. One of my daughters died and I wasn’t there to help her!” He had tears in his eyes again, but he had no time for them now.

  “Romalia?” Mara repeated.

  “My little girl died nine days after she was born because you have a controlling demeanor when it comes to me. Why did you do it, Mom? Just tell me why!” he roared.

  “I didn’t do anything, Jake! That is what I’m trying to tell you. You really think that I would sit by your bedside and watch you suffer if I was at fault here?” she yelled. “You are my son. I have to admit, I wasn’t happy when she fell pregnant, but I accepted it.”

  “So, you’re telling me that Holly is lying, is that it?”

  “I don’t know why she told you that story but I swear, I wouldn’t do that to you. To tell your father his formula wasn’t working, Jake, really?”

  “Why don’t I believe you?” he said, turning on his heel to go to his room to phone Amelia. Somebody would make her crack and she would tell the truth. He knew Holly could never do that, and no doubt Robin would side with Mara again. It felt like he was never going to be with Holly.

  “Where are you going?” his mother yelled after him.

  “Just give him a minute,” Gus said.

  Amelia’s phone rang, and as soon as she answered, Jake said, “Mom is saying Holly is lying.”

  “What?” Amelia said and started to laugh. “You know what? I don’t care, Jake. I don’t want to see her.”

  “Everyone is starting to believe that Holly is some sort of a sick person here, Amelia. I need you.”

  She was silent for a second but then grunted, “Fine, give me some time.”

  Jake went back downstairs. The conversation revolved around the wedding and how Phil, Kate’s dad, had handled the guests at the venue. All that talk was giving Kate more hope, hope he should’ve shut down as soon as he’d arrived. But due to the circumstances, he needed to stall until Amelia got there.

  Kate made them all coffee. Lisa joined them with Michael in tow. He ran to Jake again, who picked him up immediately. Jake couldn’t help but wonder what Jamie had been like at two. Holly told him that that was around the time when she’d started asking questions about her daddy. Michael had hardly spoken three words, yet Jamie had already asked questions at this age. He’d missed so much.

  “Lisa, please, could you take Michael to the beach or something for a bit?”

  “Jake…” Kate started. “…It’s his house, too.”

  Jake gave her a look. “I don’t want him to be surrounded by people fighting, Kate.”

  “Fighting? Your mother just told you she didn’t do it. Did you forget what this girl put you through five years ago?”

  Jake shook his head.

  “Answer me.”

  “I’m not a child,” he gritted through clenched teeth at Kate. Turning to Lisa, he repeated, “Please.”

  She huffed.

  “Don’t talk to Lisa with that tone,” Kate said.

  “It’s fine, Kate.” Lisa smiled. “We all know this Jake very well.”

  She took Michael as Jake grinded on his teeth.

  What was so wrong with who he was with Holly? He was happy, all of them were, except his mom.

  “Come on, bud, let’s go take a boat ride.” She took the boat keys that hung on the wall.

  “Safety jackets please.”

  “Don’t worry, I am actually very responsible.” Lisa sneered. Jake stared at his father.

  “Ignore it,” Gus said.

  Jake shook his head and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and stared at Kate. “I can’t believe you’d want to keep him here. If you think I’m done fighting, finding out the truth as to what happened, Kate, you better fucking think again.”

  “Your language,” she scolded.

  “One of the reasons I don’t want Michael inside the house… I’m sorry, Kate. I’m not angry with you. I’m just at breaking point here.”

  He sat on the stool and buried his face in his hands. “Mom, I’m begging you. Please just tell me the truth,” he asked again.

  “I already told you the truth,” she said. “Jake, ever think that maybe Holly doesn’t like me?”

  “Mom? I don’t get any of this.”

  “You hardly knew her when she fell pregnant, Jake. Even after I begged her to go on the pill. She was irresponsible then, and irresponsible when she left, putting those babies through hell. That just goes to show you: she is not mentally stable.”

  Jake laughed. “So, that was you.” He tried his best to ignore his mom’s last statement. He wasn’t going to believe that Holly was sick for one minute.

  Mara flinched. “She told you that she was going on the pill, didn’t she?”

  “Stop putting words in my mouth, Mom. She spoke to me about thinking of going on the pill. I found her reading up on it. Yet, you of all people, knew how bad that could be for someone like her. Her sister died of cancer. I didn’t want any of that for her. So we argued about it. She never mentioned it was you, but I an inkling you were behind it. Like I said, you compulsively need to control every aspect of my life.”

  “No, I don’t. Damn it, you are a grown man.”

  “Then why did you do what you did?” He smacked his hand down on the table, making everyone jump from fright.

  “I’m not going to confess to something I didn’t do just to make you feel better, Jake. Holly is lying.”

  Amelia’s voice screeched from the doorway “Ohh! So, that’s what you are going to go with, is it?” She entered the kitchen. “Why on earth would she lie, Mom?”

  Jake hadn’t even heard her pull up. By the jump from Armand in his chair, neither had he.

  “Amelia, please. I never said those things, damn it. Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” His mother face froze when her gaze fell on something behind Amelia.
“What is she doing here?” Mara asked, looking at Jake.

  “Holly? This is the same Holly who’s the mother of your child?” Kate said, confused.

  Jake turned to see Holly squinting at his mother, ignoring Kate completely. They’d already met, and even liked each other.

  Holly just stood there, not saying a thing.

  Mara looked at Kate. “You know this girl?”

  “Yes, she—”

  Holly cut right across whatever Kate was going to say. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I heard you say I’m some sort of psychopath, Mara. Is that right?” She was livid, yet sounded utterly calm.

  “Holly,” Jake said softly. He wanted to get her out of there. She didn’t need to be there. He was more than capable of sorting the whole mess out.

  “Don’t, Jake.” She gave him a glare, one he’d only seen once from her—at the stairs when he’d learned about Jamie. She glared at Mara.

  His mother sniffed primly. “I don’t know why you are telling my family lies, but you will tell them the truth.”

  “Whose truth, Mara? Your version of the truth, you mean? ’Cause you’re forgetting one thing. I don’t have all the details of your version. So, I’m sorry, but that is not going to work, either.”

  Jake had never seen Holly so upset. And that was saying something.

  “Well… I’m certainly not going to admit to something I didn’t do,” Mara retaliated. “Get her out of here, now!”

  “No! I’m not going anywhere, not until you tell your family how you managed to work your son into that surgery of a lifetime, just so you had the time to remove me from his life. I’d always thought I wasn’t good enough for someone like Jake, but for you to make a decision like that on his behalf—”

  “Holly,” Jake said again.

  Ignoring him, she continued. “I loved him with all my heart. I walked two miles in heels with your daughter, who by the way wanted a baby of her own so badly. You made me believe she wanted me to abort, too.”

  Jake looked at Amelia and saw the muscles around her jawline clench. Armand got up from his chair and went to her. Holly was a few feet away from his mother now.

  “I went through hell and almost died, but that was probably your plan all along. You knew I would run because I told you that day about my family. You, of all people, are so good at reading others and what they will do, aren’t you? You knew that those nine words would make me run, and you hoped I would go against my beliefs and abort my baby, which I’m sure by now you know turned out to be twins. Well, I’ve got news for you, Mara Peters: I didn’t. And I am not some pathetic loser who would make up this lie just to get what I want.”

  “You became a doctor!” Kate snapped, which had Holly staring at her in disbelief.

  “What?” Mara gasped, looking at Jake. Shaking her head, she looked to the ceiling. “How long has she been back, Jake?”

  “What does it matter?”

  “Of course, it matters,” she hissed. “You became a doctor?” she asked Holly, looking down her nose at her. “For what purpose? Just so your path would cross with Jake’s again?”

  “Not at all. I made damn sure that wouldn’t happen, but I guess the truth always have a way to come out just at the right time.”

  Mara opened her mouth to say something else.

  Holly didn’t let her. “I became a doctor to help women so that they never had to go through what I went through. But then, Gus released his other drug, and I didn’t have to. So I joined Somers’ free clinic and fell in love with hearts. Funny how we have that one thing in common, don’t you think? To think I was so afraid of you and what you were going to say. Bernie was right—you are the psycho, who is now lying through her teeth to cover her own ass because none of your cards turned out to be safe, Mara.”

  “To hell with you and Bernie. I don’t care what that girl said about me. I’m not going to listen to this any longer.”

  “Wrong! You will listen to me.” Holly grabbed Mara’s arms and pushed her back against the fridge, knocking magnets to the floor. She was inches from Mara’s face. Jake wanted to jump in, but Frank stopped him. Taking a step back, she pulled something out of her pocket and slammed it down hard on the table. It was two pictures. Pictures he hadn’t seen.

  “This is Jamie Bernice.” She pointed, glaring at Mara. “The baby you wanted me to abort. She almost didn’t survive, not that you care. She struggled her little ass off to hold on to life and if you don’t believe me, ask Frank.”

  By this point, Jake thought that Holly was going to hit his mother. He felt on edge and didn’t like it.

  “No, my boy,” said Frank softly, clearly reading Jake’s frame of mind.

  “Just know that she was looking forward to meeting you, but I will never allow that to happen. This…” she picked up the other picture, “…is Romalia.” Jake hadn’t seen it before. “She died nine days later. We tried everything to help her, prayed she’d live. Everything. But she developed little black spots all over her body…” Holly’s voice broke.

  Jake knew how extremely hard this was on her. It was hard on him too, as he didn’t know all the facts yet. He fought back tears.

  “But still she fought, wanting to stay alive. She would press my little finger until the white of her fingers showed, and I didn’t even feel a thing.”

  Jake’s eyes caught Armand who was hugging Amelia hard as her whole body shook.

  “That was how tiny and weak she was.” Holly started to cry, which made it so hard for Jake, but she didn’t back down. “Without Gus’s shake, I couldn’t hold them in longer than 25 weeks!” she yelled. “Twenty-fucking-five weeks, and I’m the psycho!”

  Tears rolled down Jake’s face, and he saw tears threatening to spill from Frank’s eyes; he’d been there.

  “I thought that I was going to die when she gave up. I pray you never go through that, as no one can explain that kind of loss to a person who has never had to face losing a child. My mom and dad had to sit with Jamie because I couldn’t. It is your fault that Romalia is dead, you hear me? Your fault, your fault!” Holly screamed louder and louder.

  Jake couldn’t handle it anymore and he got up, whether Frank was going to tell him to stop or not. Holly had been through enough.

  “It wasn’t my fault, you crazy lunatic! I told you to get an abortion that day. You should’ve listened to me.”

  Jake stopped halfway toward Holly. Everyone sucked in a collective breath, and Holly stepped back to give her space. Jake stared at his mother. For a second he couldn’t breathe. He should’ve known that it would feel like this. She’d finally confessed.

  “I didn’t… mean it like that.” She looked at Jake, guilt tarnishing her face, tears in her eyes.

  “Whatever. I’m done.” Holly turned and walked out, leaving the pictures where they lay on the table. When she walked past Jake, she didn’t even spare him a glance. He wanted to leave, too, but he still needed to tell Kate that the wedding was off.

  Everyone flinched when the front door slammed shut. Amelia stood frozen to the spot, staring at her mother. He felt Kate’s eyes on him, but couldn’t bring himself to look at her.

  “I can’t have children and you told her to abort…” Amelia cried, “…and that I was okay with it?”

  Mara had the most awful look on her face, one mixed with sorrow and guilt.

  “Amelia...”

  “Don’t you dare Amelia me.” Her voice rose. “I hate you. I never want to see you again.” She ran out of the house. Armand rushed after her.

  “Just wait for me, please,” Robin begged, and Armand nodded.

  Jake looked at Robin as she walked over to her mother. He knew how badly she believed her mother didn’t do this. “You know how hard that was for her to come here.” Jake didn’t know who she was referring to. Amelia or Holly.

  “Robin, I don’t give a shit about that girl.”

  “No, you don’t. You’ve made that perfectly clear to us all, Mom. But, you see, my
brother does and you have betrayed him. You broke him and then rebuilt him into something he is not.” She sniffed. “How could you have stayed with him like that? Watched him disappear. You lied to all of us, told Daddy his formula didn’t work.” She started to cry too, something that Robin hardly ever did. “Made us hate Holly when she was fighting not only for her life, but for her babies’ lives, too. I can’t even look at you right now. The sight of you makes me sick. I never want to see you again… don’t ever contact me.” When she turned, Mara grabbed her by the arm. Robin swung back and slapped her mother in the face.

  As if they were one man, Frank, Jake, and Gus were on Robin. “I mean that. You are not my mom. My mom would never have done that to any of her kids.”

  “It’s okay, it’s okay,” Jake tried to calm Robin down, at the same time leading her out as tears continued to fall. “Let me see your hand.” It was red; the palm was a bit swollen. He started to chuckle.

  “It’s not funny, Jake.”

  “I disagree. It was a little bit funny, Robin.”

  “She deserved it, though.”

  “Okay, hooligan, let’s go.” He led her to Amelia’s car, opened the passenger door, and helped her get in. “Make sure she gets some ice on that hand of hers.”

  Amelia and Armand stared at Robin.

  “What happened to your hand?” Amelia asked from the front seat.

  “I slapped Mom. She made me so angry.”

  Jake crouched and looked across Robin at Holly, who was staring out the window.

  “Look at me,” he said, but she shook her head. “Holly, I’m sorry that you had to go through that again.”

  “Just go, Jake,” she said. Armand looked over his shoulder and gave him a chin lift, echoing Holly’s words with the action. Amelia turned around in her seat and touched Holly’s knee softly.

  Jake got up and closed the door. He stood watching as Armand drove away. He knew what was going on in her mind. He couldn’t even get his mom to confess. How the hell was he going to break off this wedding? As soon as the gates closed, he ventured back inside to find his mother holding a packet of frozen peas against her cheek. Kate stood next to her. Glancing down at the table, Jake picked up the photos Holly had left behind.