“Damn it, where is she?” Dan raged. “It’s been five days. We’ve searched everywhere. Where the hell could she have gone?”
Jake swirled his drink. “She left us, it’s clear she’s not coming back. Move on.”
“Move on!” Dan yelled. “This is our wife, Jake, not some floozy we’d been fucking. Our delicate, beautiful wife who we promised to love and protect and—”
“Punish,” Jake interrupted drolly. “Obviously we didn’t do enough of that or she’d never dare to walk away.”
“Like you care,” Dan accused angrily, his fear wearing away at his temper. He couldn’t imagine life without Mari. “All you do is sit there and drink.”
Jake threw his glass at the open fireplace, the sound of smashing glass making Dan jump.
“I care,” Jake snarled. “Oh, I care so much that when I get hold of that little brat I’m going to spank her twice a day for a year. I’m going to ensure that she never even dreams of leaving us again.”
“Do you think that’s why she left? She didn’t want a domestic discipline relationship anymore?” Dan asked.
Surely she would have discussed that with them. They would have tried to compromise. But the DD part of their relationship wasn’t something they’d consciously gone looking for; it had just developed with their relationship with Mari. They’d been together four years now, why would she suddenly decide she didn’t want them anymore?
“No,” Jake said firmly. “She needs it, she knows that. Without guidance she does foolish things.”
“Like run away from her husbands,” Dan theorized.
“Yes. Like that. We obviously weren’t paying close enough attention, spending enough time with her.”
“We’ve been too busy,” Dan said with self-reproach.
“Like you said,” Jake replied. “She’s our beloved wife. We should have made more time.”
Dan heard the self-reproach in his brother’s voice. “None of this helps us find her.”
“No. But we will.” Jake had done a complete turn-around. “And when we do, I’m going to turn her butt crimson. Who could she have run to?”
“She has so many friends and none of them are going to tell us if she’s hiding with them.”
None of her friends would betray her. Mari inspired great loyalty.
The phone rang, surprising them and Jake snatched it up as Dan prayed it was Mari. What the hell had gone so wrong that their beloved wife would just up and leave them?
“Yeah, hey doc…hmm…no, she’s not here…can I take a message?”
Dan frowned. Why would the Doctor be ringing for Marly? She didn’t have an appointment any time soon. They always marked it on the calendar and made sure that one of them took her.
“That so? Yep…oh, I understand…yes, I’ll be sure to tell her. Thanks.”
Jake hung up.
“Why was the doctor calling?” Dan asked. “Why did he want Mari?”
Jake stared at the phone. “He didn’t say much. Just said he wanted to check up on her, see how she was feeling, and see how her appointment in Chicago went.”
“So she’s in Chicago?”
“Seems that way,” Jake replied with a frown. “And she’s not well.”
Dan felt a stab of worry. She was ill? And they weren’t there to take care of her. Who would look after her? Make sure she ate properly and got enough rest?
“We’ll check the hospitals,” Dan began before Jake held a hand up.
“Doesn’t Annabelle have an apartment in Chicago?” Jake asked.
Dan smiled. “Yeah, she does. And I know where it is.” He left the room and came back with a small, floral book in his hand. “I noticed yesterday that Mari left this here, it’s an address book. I thought we might have to go through the whole thing. Here it is.”
“Fantastic. Let’s go.”
Chapter Two
Mari left the doctor’s office and hailed a taxi. She’d been talking over her options with him. It was frightening, terrifying and she didn’t know what to do. The lump was small and localized. She could have a lumpectomy, save her breast. But fear of the cancer reoccurring had her leaning towards a mastectomy. Plus, if she had a lumpectomy she was looking at weeks of radiation.
She wished Dan and Jake were here so she could talk things over with them.
Blinking back tears, she exited the taxi and entered the building which housed Anna’s apartment.
Her head was down as she walked, searching frantically for her keys in her over-sized bag. Somehow she could never find the things.
“Nice to see some things never change.”
“How many times have we told you to find your keys before you leave the car, Mari?”
“I-I was in a taxi,” she sputtered, gaping at the two men leaning back against the wall next to Annabelle’s apartment door. They were two gorgeous men, so masculine they made her heart ache.
Lord, she’d missed them. She loved them so much.
“That so?” Dan said quietly as he pulled the bag from her hand and reaching in grabbed the keys. Damn man managed to find them straight away of course. He opened the door and walked inside, without waiting for an invitation.
“You wouldn’t have to take a taxi if you hadn’t left your car at the train station, now would you?” Jake drawled, straightening and with a gentle hand against her back, pushed her inside the apartment after Dan.
“It’s not my car,” she said numbly, not thinking.
“Not yours?” Jake’s voice went icy, quiet, and she swallowed heavily, knowing she was in trouble. Dan knew it too. He raised his eyebrow as he took her hand and led her to the couch. “Not yours? Everything we own is yours. You. Are. Our. Wife.”
When she was seated, Dan pulled over the foot stool and placed her feet on top of it, his gesture so caring and loving, she felt tears rise.
“Why are you being nice to me?” she asked him.
“Because I love you. And because I know you have a real good reason for what you did.”
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Jake growled. “Because I don’t expect you’ll be wanting to sit on that butt for the next month.”
She gulped again, knowing the threat was very real.
“Right, baby girl. I suggest you get talking. I want to know exactly why you left and what is wrong with you,” Dan said firmly.
“How did you find me?”
“Doesn't matter,” Jake growled. “Now tell your husbands, the men you're not supposed to lie to or leave, what is wrong with you. You're ill, aren't you? We want to know what the hell is going on, Mari.”
Mari winced at the anger in his voice, knowing it was entirely justified. She’d left them, hurt them. She could see it in their faces. Jake was pale, exhausted. Dan had new lines on his face, as though the stress of worrying about her had given him wrinkles.
What had she been thinking? Leaving them? Had she really thought they’d just let her go?
Mari sighed, she supposed she hadn’t been thinking things through at all; she’d been too full of panic. And now it was time to pay the price of her foolishness.
She shifted a little in her seat, as if she was already feeling the discomfit of a sore bottom.
“I-I have breast cancer.”
“What?” Dan went pale. Jake stopped pacing and just stared at her.
“Breast cancer?” Jake repeated. She nodded, blinking back tears.
“Y-yes. I found a lump and they did an ultrasound and a biopsy. It’s cancer.”
“Have they done an MRI?” Jake asked tensely.
She nodded. “Yes, it was caught early on and it’s very localized. I’m lucky.”
“When's the operation?” Dan asked. “Did they suggest a mastectomy?”
“Please say you’re having one,” Jake near begged her.
“Because it was caught so early the doctor thinks a lumpectomy would be sufficient. That way we could save my breast. It would mean weeks of radiation therapy, though.”
“Shit.”
Jake ran his hand through his hair. “I want to talk to this doctor. I want to know exactly what his reasoning is. What if it comes back?”
Mari could feel his panic, his fear. This was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I think they should take the breast, get rid of it.”
“It’s my breast, Jake,” she said firmly. “My decision.”
“Damn it, Mari,” Dan exploded. “How long have you known about this? Why didn't you tell us? You know we would have wanted to be here for you. When I think of how much you’ve gone through without us it makes me sick.”
“There's no reason for you to do this alone, Mari,” Jake said angrily. “Why would you even try? You had to know we'd track you down.”
“I didn’t think you'd be able to find me,” she said naively. “I left the car at the train station and walked to the bus station and I bought several different tickets. I didn't even take my cell with me.”
“We'll get to your disobedience later,” Jake promised ominously. “You've broken enough rules that I wouldn't prick our tempers by being slow to answer me, young lady. Now, when do you see the doctor next? What has he told you? And why were you out of the apartment? You should be in bed, resting.”
Jake stepped toward her and scooping her up, walked out of the room.
“Jake, no, I’m fine. I don’t feel sick.”
“You’re going to rest. You’re pale and you could use a few good meals, too.”
“I’m fine. Will you just listen to me for a moment? Stop.”
But Jake wasn’t going to listen to a word of protest. Dan pulled the covers of the bed back and Jake placed her carefully on the bed, and removing her shoes, tucked her into bed.
“You two are being ridiculous. I’m not feeling sick. And it’s eleven in the morning for goodness sake!”
“Not sick!” Dan exclaimed. They sat on the bed on either side of her, flanking her. “You’ve got cancer.”
“Listen to me.” She grabbed each of their hands. “We’ve caught the cancer early on. I just have to make a decision about treatment. I’m going to be fine. I promise.”
“Why did you run, Mari?” Dan asked. “Do you not want us anymore?”
“No. No.” She grasped their hands, holding them tight. “I love you more every day.”
“They why?” Jake asked.
“I didn’t want either of you to have to go through want you went through with your mother. It devastated the two of you and I couldn’t do that to you.”
“God, Mari.” Dan pulled her close and hugged her. “Don’t you realize that we want to be with you no matter what? That we all know there will be bad times as well as good, but we’re here forever. No matter what.”
“All we want is to be with you,” Jake said pulling her against his wide chest. They were so handsome, her men. Jake was larger, wider through the chest and thick with muscle. He had closely cropped hair and dark brown eyes. Dan’s coloring was lighter, his eyes a bright blue, his hair a dusky blond. He was slimmer, but still firm with muscle.
“How would you feel, Mari, if we did this to you?” Jake asked. “How would you feel if one of us found out we were ill and just disappeared on you? Do you know how scared we were? We had no idea if it was something we did? No idea if you were safe.”
Mari blinked back tears, realizing the extent of the pain she’d caused. “I’d hate it.” Just the thought of one of them ill made her feel panicked, but the idea of not being able to take care of them… “I know I was wrong. I didn’t think it through. I panicked and ran. Do you think you could ever forgive me?”
“No matter what happens we need to deal with it together,” Dan said. “When we married you, it was for good and bad, remember? We expected you to honor that promise.”
Mari sobbed. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know how to make this right.”
Jake tipped her face up to look at him. “I want your promise to never, ever do this again. Understand me? When times get tough we stay and talk things through. No running away.”
She nodded, tears running down her face. “I promise. I’m sorry.”
She cried, sobbing out her apologies as her men surrounded her, holding her close, letting her feel their love.
“Jesus, I love you, Mari-girl,” Dan whispered. “But it’s going to take me a while to trust you again.”
She stiffened. “I understand if you don’t want me anymore.” Her heart broke at her words, but she knew she’d let them down, broken the trust in their marriage.
“Hush,” Jake ordered. “Of course we want you. I can understand that you thought you were doing what was best, that you didn’t think things through.
Jake stood and scowled down at her. “Are you sure you don’t feel sick?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Shouldn’t they remove the breast, to make sure?” Dan asked. She looked over at him, knowing that was what happened to their mother.
She shook her head. “No, there’s no history of breast cancer in my family and the doctor doesn’t think that was necessary. I’m going to be fine, Dan.”
“Oh God,” he whispered as he pulled her into his arms, rocking her slightly.
“I want to speak to your doctor. I want to make sure you’re getting the best treatment possible. I want to hear about this treatment plan,” Jake demanded.
Mari nodded, unable to refuse him. “Of course.”
Jake stared down at his wife, barely able to breathe.
Cancer.
Old memories of his mother sick, dying washed through his mind. He blinked and looked at Mari. She looked even thinner. She needed some care and attention.
“I’ll ring the doctor, arrange a meeting,” she told them.
Dan moved to get the phone, while Mari stared up at Jake.
“I’m really sorry,” she whispered.
“Finding you gone, it was devastating, Mari. We didn’t know where you were, if you were all right, what it was we’d even done. You may have thought you were doing the right thing, but it wasn’t, Mari. You made a mistake, and it’s going to take me a while to forgive you for that.”
“Do you want to spank me?” she asked quietly.
“I never want to spank you, Mari. I love you. But because I love you, I have to stop you from making foolish decisions—like leaving your husbands so you could cope with breast cancer on your own.”
Tears filled her beautiful green eyes. “I didn’t want you to have to go through it again.”
“We had a right to know,” Dan said as he returned. “A right to look after and protect you.” “I wanted to protect you.”
“No,” Jake snarled. “That’s not how this relationship works. We protect you. We look after you. Guide you. You broke so many rules, Mari. I won’t have it. You are not to run in order to protect us. You are not to run. Ever. You tell us what is happening, you open up to us, be truthful with us or there is no us.”
He saw her take a deep breath.
“And I am not going to give you up. Not without a fight,” Jake promised.
“Me neither,” Dan interjected then handed her the phone. “Ring the doctor.”
*****
Mari crossed her arms over her chest as she left the doctor’s office behind her husbands. Luckily, he’d been able to fit them in for a visit. She tucked her hands under her elbows to stop herself from reaching for them.
Dan turned as though hearing her thoughts and held out his hand. She took it gratefully as Jake unlocked his SUV and opened the back passenger’s door. She climbed in and closed her eyes, feeling emotionally exhausted and let Jake guide them home.
Once inside the apartment, she sat on the sofa and looked up at them.
“What now?” she asked quietly. She felt their pain, their hurt like a knife to her gut. How could she ever make this up to them? She hadn’t wanted to leave them. But she’d thought she was doing what was best for them.
Jake sat across from her. “Well
, you’re going to have to decide what you’d like to do, baby. And either way we’ll have to stay here for a while you’re getting treatment. Is Annabelle expected back any time soon? Shall we get a motel room?”
Mari shook her head. “No, she won’t be back for another month. But what about your work? You can’t stay here with me.”
“Can’t we?” he asked silkily.
“That’s the good thing about having two husbands, Mari-girl,” Dan explained, sitting beside her. He slipped her onto his lap.
“I’m going to go back and Jake will stay here. Then when he brings you home, he’ll work and I’ll take care of you.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me, I’ll be fine. I—”
“Stop.”
Mari looked at Jake. He sat forward, staring at her intensely.
“You don’t get a say in this. That may sound harsh, but when you ran you showed how poor your judgment is. So this is the way things are going to happen. Things are going to be stricter for you, my love. You lost a lot of our trust, even though your heart may have been in the right place. I don’t trust you to tell us when you don’t feel well, when you need help. So we will be with you in order to judge for ourselves.”
Tears tracked down her cheeks. She slipped from Dan’s lap to kneel beside Jake’s seat.
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “Please, can’t you just spank me?” With punishment came instant forgiveness.
She rested her head on his lap and he ran his hand over her hair.
“It’s not that simple, darling. Yes, there will be punishment. When I’m certain you’re feeling well enough. But it can’t erase everything.”
She raised her face. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He gathered her up into his arms.
“Hey, don’t forget about me,” Dan exclaimed, joining them. “I love you, Mari-girl.”
“I love you, Dan.”
“Come on, time for a nap,” Jake said, his eyes glinting with heat.
Mari let him grab her hand and pull her along behind him. She looked over her shoulder to find Dan right behind them. He stripped off his clothes as he moved.
Trouble Comes In Threes Page 2