Redemption (The Bet)

by Phal, Francette

"She needs to know the truth."

  "It’s not your place to give it to her."

  "I don't care what you say. I know that he's a good person and no matter what anyone may think, he and my Mom belong together. I have faith in them. I have faith in him." Sophie walked away then and disappeared into the adjacent room.

  "Liam, Eric, Dylan, go to your room."

  "Oh man!" Liam whined, stamping his foot.

  "Now!" The children made haste in vacating the premises. The tread of their feet could be heard overhead.

  Ronnie took a moment to reign in her annoyance and anger before speaking. "Mind telling me what the hell that was all about?"

  "Don't chastise me, Ron, I'm not a child."

  "No you're not, but you are an adult and as such I expected you to have a little more tact. My God Gabe, what the hell is Ellie going to say when her daughter goes home more upset than when she came?"

  "She needed to hear the truth." He said with resolve. "Ellie is tiptoeing around the issue, you think she's just being a kid, I'm the only one smart enough to tell her how it is, no matter how painful."

  "Are you listening to yourself? What you just did wasn't smart Gabe, it was dumb and careless." Ronnie pushed a wriggling Sabrina further up her hip. "You're not helping anyone. Stop letting your hatred for Nicholas blind you to what's important. Slandering his name will only make Sophie defend him even more. You can be so insensitive sometimes." She walked away, her disappointment tolled like the bells of Notre Dame in Gabe's ears.

  Sitting alone with nothing else but his thoughts for company, Gabe was forced to admit that maybe he'd been a little too harsh with Sophie and that maybe he could've chosen a nicer way to phrase how big of a bastard Nicholas. How allowing him back into their lives, would inevitably bring about problems that none of them were ready to deal with again.

  He was big enough to admit that he could've used a little more tact, but the sentiments and where they had come from were mean and unforgiving. Gabe was not ready to abandon his hatred of the man who had ridden roughshod over Ellie's emotions and almost killed her in the process. That sort of cruelty was not something easily forgotten or easily forgiven. Because of Nicholas, Ellie's life had almost been forfeited.

  Nicholas deserved to pay, pay with his life it there was any sort of justice left in the world. Too bad it was frowned upon to take justice into one's hands. Otherwise, Nicholas would've been dead long before his cock twitched at the sight of Ellie.

  With a resigned sigh Gabe slapped his hands on his denim clad thighs and stood.

  It was time to form a game plan and do some major ass kissing. He'd be lucky if he got to sleep on the same bed tonight and if he did, he'd probably have to sleep with one eye open. Ronnie tended to be very vengeful when slighted.

  ~*~*~*~

  She felt like she was fighting a losing battle. One that even her family didn't want her to win. It was as aggravating as it disheartening and not for the first time since embarking on this futile mission did Sophie not wonder whether it was worth all the trouble. Was a reunion with a man who everyone believed far beyond redemption something she wanted to inflict on her mother? After all the pain she'd seemingly gone through?

  Mom had told her over and over again that she didn't want Nicholas Grayson back in their lives. She'd gone so far as to beg and threaten Sophie to leave well enough alone and now her godfather was involved.

  The words he had spoken had only fueled Sophie's anger because somewhere deep, where logic governed and doubts festered, she feared that those harsh words could be true. Really, what did she know about Nicholas, except that he'd been a nice guy who had stayed up on nights and built her skyscrapers made of Legos? Or that he'd been very kind and sweet when she'd been around him?

  Sure the guy had been the epitome of what Sophie wished for in a father, but was that truly who he was? Or was there a sinister man hidden far beneath the surface, who only came out when he was around her Mom?

  She didn't know Nicholas. Sophie didn't know what he'd done in that past and she didn't know what he was capable of now. What she did know was that the Nicholas now, the Nicholas who had covered for her yesterday, the Nicholas who had confessed in his town car on the way to Sophie's house, that there wasn't a day in his life that he didn't regret what he'd done, was the Nicholas Sophie put faith in. Because despite all his wrongs, Nicholas really wanted to be a good person, Sophie saw that he did and she wanted to help him.

  The bible preached forgiveness and forgiveness had been a major part of their lives when her grandparents had returned. There'd been lots of tears and lots of shouting, but afterwards, everyone had hugged, kissed and forgiven. Sophie didn't understand why the same couldn't happen with Nicholas now.

  He was remorseful, he still loved her Mom, and there was nothing more sacred than the children they had together. All this should've spelled out a recipe for a great reunion and lots of hugs and kisses afterwards. But, none of those things would be happening anytime soon. Mom wasn't willing or even ready to try and Gabe's hatred of Nicholas undoubtedly created a major hindrance in Sophie's plans.

  She wanted to give up---wanted to, but never would. Fate had made it so that Nicholas came back in their lives and fate would guide him to where he needed to be. Fate had granted her wish once and it would do it again, all she had to do was have patience and think positively.

  "Sophie?" Sophie sniffed her tears away and spun around to face her little brother.

  Being the oldest sister of twin siblings was an honor Sophie always took to heart and ever since the birth of her half brother and sister she has continually looked out for them. She would always be there to protect them.

  Sophie sighed and continued to stare at the embossed ceiling of the bedroom that had always belonged to her, since her godparents purchased the house. Dylan bunked with Liam and Eric and Bella had a bed in Sabrina's room. "What?"

  "Are you okay?"

  Another sigh escaped her. No, she wasn't okay. She wouldn't be okay until their mother learned to forgive and Nicholas learned to perform a miracle. "I'll be okay." And that was the truth. Things would be okay, because things tended to work themselves out eventually. It sounded like a lot of crap, but Sophie needed to believe in something right now, even if it was a whole lot of BS.

  The room fell silent for an eternal moment in which Sophie believed Dylan had left, but the scrunch of cheap leather coming from the beanbag chair to her far left indicated that he was still in the room.

  "Soph?"

  "What?" Her brother had something on his mind and just like any Holbrook he'd open up when he was good and ready.

  "I met him."

  "Met who?"

  "My dad."

  Sophie's brows creased, but she kept her head down. "And?"

  "And I don't think I like him very much." Now this was intriguing. Where Sophie would’ve done almost anything to be Nicholas's biological child and on some days even went so far as to envy her siblings, it seemed Dylan didn't share the sentiments.

  Sophie finally sat up and regarded her brother. "That's because you don't know him."

  "He hurt, Mom, he doesn't deserve to be known."

  "You idiot, he's your father, and how do you know he hurt, Mom?"

  Dylan rolled his eyes pursing his lips. "I'm young Soph, but I'm not deaf. I hear things and I see the way Mom acts when he's around. I don't like him." he insisted.

  "Like I said, you don't know him. He loves Mom and even if he did hurt her, he deserves a second chance. Isn't that what Mom always taught us? People are entitled to second chances, even if they hurt us."

  "Devlin loves, Mom, he's never done anything to hurt her or any of us."

  Sophie sighed in frustration. “That’s not the point. The point is that Nicholas your father. He’s our family and families stick together. No matter what.”

  "I think you should just butt out of Mom's business, it's not right."

  "It is right, Dylan. Nicholas and Mom are like...like Allie and No
ah---"

  Dylan scrunched his face and shook his head in puzzlement. "Who?"

  "You remember that movie Mom watches every time she feels lonely?"

  "The one that always makes her cry?"

  "Yeah, that one and just like Allie and Noah, Mom and Nicholas belong together...it's like their destiny or something. I wouldn't feel this strongly about it if I didn't think so. I know it's weird and you might think I'm just doing all of this because I don't care about Mom, but I do. And that’s why I don't want to see her live an unfulfilled life with someone who isn't right for her. I mean tell me what are the chances of both of them ending up in the same place, at the same time after all these years, if not a sign from God?"

  Why was it that she felt as though she was the only one who saw things the way that they were supposed to be? It felt wrong having to defend the love of her Mother's life to their child! Seeing the traces of doubt creeping back into Dylan's face, Sophie stood and walked over to her brother. Sitting on the balls of her feet she made eye contact and held it as if life itself depended on it. "Dylan, I've never had to pull rank on you or Bella before, but this time I am. So as your older sister I'm asking, no demanding, that you help me with this...I don't think I can do it on my own."

  They've never had a heart to heart before. Sure they've dealt with bullies and deciding who should tell their Mom about who broke things around the house, but they've never had to deal with matters this grave. For Dylan, it seemed a little daunting to have his sister sitting in front of him demanding for him to mess around with their Mother's life. They were just kids! Kids didn't fool around with their parents lives! Especially if said parent was strongly against it.

  Voicing his doubts as any child ought to, Dylan shook his head. "I don't know Sophie…"

  "Would you rather see Mom miserable for the rest of her life? Because that's what's going to happen if she ends up marrying Devlin! They'll send us all away. You'll probably end up in some all-boys school somewhere and Bella and I will probably end up in Germany or some other European country at an all girls' school. Devlin is going to tear our family apart, we'll be lucky if we even get to see each other for holidays after he's done."

  "I don't want you or Bella to go away."

  "Devlin will send us away if we don't do something about it."

  "Why don't we just tell, Mom?" he whined.

  "Mom and I aren't seeing eye to eye right now, so she'll think I'm making everything up just to get rid of Devlin!"

  "Are you sure that's not what you're doing? I mean, we all know you don't like the guy..."

  Sophie groaned, grabbed Dylan's arms and shook him a little. "Dylan!"

  "Alright, alright! What do you want me to do?"

  Sophie sighed in relief feeling better than she had in weeks. With her brother as an ally they were sure to accomplish the impossible in no time. "It's simple; you and Belle just have to want to hang out with Nicholas. The more he's around, the more they'll remember just how much they meant to each other."

  "Devlin isn't going to let that happen."

  "He’ll have no choice, once mom and Nicholas start falling back in love. You just make sure Mom is around whenever you and Bella are with Nicholas."

  "Do you think this will work?"

  "It has to." She uttered gravely.

  "Hey you two," The door swung open admitting Ronnie in the room. "Are you alright?"

  "We're fine," Sophie and Dylan chorused with matching pairs of duplicitous grins pasted on their faces.

  Through narrowed eyes Ronnie looked from one transparent face to the other. "What are you up to?"

  "Nothing, Auntie Ronnie, honest," and if that wasn't a bold faced lie from her godson, Ronnie didn't know what was.

  "Fine, don't tell me. But I'm going to find out eventually you know," she saw Dylan's gaze fly to Sophie's face before returning to Ronnie's with an uneasy smile. "And when I do, I'm sure your Mom will want to know what her children have been up to."

  "We’re not up to anything." Ronnie locked gazes with Sophie, the 'mastermind' behind whatever it was that they were planning and couldn't help but see a vague flash of Tony Carlyle in those dark eyes. Of course Sophie was nothing like her father, but one couldn't help but wonder whether some of Carlyle traits had been passed on to his daughter. Those undesirable traits that could possibly turn a good child into a manipulatively deceiving person who didn't care who she harmed as long as she got what she wanted in the end.

  Knowing that she was treading in dangerous territory, Ronnie abandoned her niggling thoughts and smiled at them. "Hey Dylan, you mind giving me a few minutes with Soph?"

  Dylan shook his head before rising to his feet. "Okay, I'll just go hang out with Liam and Eric."

  "They're playing downstairs with Uncle Gabe, they're waiting for you." Ronnie waited for him to leave before she spoke to Sophie.

  Sophie occupied the beanbag chair her brother had just vacated and looked at Ronnie expectantly.

  "Soph, what your uncle said downstairs...it was wrong of him and I want to apologize on his behalf. It's just that we all have a history with Nicholas and we know what he's like. Your uncle just doesn't want to see you hurt again. You were pretty miserable when Nicholas left."

  "It's okay, I'm over it. I'm going to grab something to eat."

  "Sophie...?"

  Ronnie's voice stopped her progression to the door. "Yeah?" Sophie turned around.

  "You know we're only looking out for you guys right?"

  "I know, but you won't have too anymore, we'll have someone else looking out for us."

  "Devlin?"

  "Nicholas." That one name alone decimated Ronnie's hope and as Sophie exited the room. Ronnie was left standing alone with a horrible sense of foreboding clutching her chest.

  Chapter 13

  "Oh it’s you.”

  "Sorry to disappoint." Keeping his voice leveled, Nicholas fought down the urge to rise to Ellie's provocation.

  "No, no…uh, I just wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Again, I apologize for any disappointment.”

  Ellie shook her head and looked up with a tight smile. “Why don’t you just come in from the rain?” She stepped aside, allowing him entrance inside her home for the first time in so many years.

  He murmured his gratitude, folding the umbrella and setting it by the door.

  "I came to see the children, Ellie. You said that you would not deny me. I hope that still stands true."

  “Of course.” She said a little too quickly.

  She had no intention of keeping him from his children. Ten years, was ten years too long.

  "I don't plan on denying you the right to see your children, Nicholas, but now is not a good time."

  "Who's at the door, Ellie?"

  "He's here."

  "Yeah he's here, where else would my fiancé be on his days off?"

  'Snug between the jaws of life.' Nicholas cleared his throat before answering. "That isn't a particular concern of mine, I assure you."

  "Ellie, who's at the door?"

  "The father of her children!" Nicholas was prompted to yell back before Ellie could open her mouth to speak.

  Ellie glowered. "You just have a knack for pissing the hell out of people, don't you?"

  He derisively grinned. "It's a gift.”

  "Right." Ellie mumbled, turning on her heel she headed for the living room, leaving Nicholas to trail after her.

  Before she had the chance to clear the threshold from the foyer to the living room, Devlin chest greeted her nose and Ellie would've taken a step back was it not for the hands that instantly fell to her hips.

  "Grayson." Devlin said in ways of greeting. A greeting that was nowhere near as warm as the first time he'd met the man who he'd once held in high esteem.

  He still believed Nicholas Grayson was a man of exceptional intelligence and power, but those attributes were quickly overlooked when the matter involved his family. A family that he was extremely protective of and would no s
ooner let them go then cut a limb from his person. This man...this pretty faced, self-assured man, posed a threat and Devlin did not take too kindly to threats.

  Nicholas appraised his substitute, because in Nicholas's opinion that's all Devlin Westport was; a very poor, muscled, egotistical substitute of himself, who, much as he tried would never measure up to the real thing. They were cut from the same cloth in a sense, which was why Nicholas wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating his alternate. Because behind that broad physique was an astuteness that went far beyond the aptitude of a muscle bound idiot.

  Devlin had what was once belonged to Nicholas. He’d given it all up once before. Taking for granted what had been so eagerly offered. But he was learning from past mistakes, was paying for them in spades and he would fight for his place in this family even if it took the rest of his life to do so.

  "Westport." But what was life if not a challenge to overcome? Nicholas had been through hell, getting rid of Ellie's lover was something he was more than apt to handle.

  Ellie felt like she was some unfortunate soul trenched in a battle of two warring Titans, with nowhere to go but down. Looking between both men temporarily locked in a power of wills, she realized they would draw blood if she did not interfere.

  "Mommy?" Nothing sounded sweeter than the soft voice of her baby girl calling for her. Ellie thanked God for small favors, before moving past Devlin and crossing into the living room.

  "Hey sweetheart," Ellie scooped her up. "How you feeling?" she brushed her hand against her cheek. "Bella you're burning up." She said worriedly taking a seat with Bella in her arms.

  "Mommy I don't feel very well."

  She sounded so young and helpless and Nicholas chest ached as he watched on powerlessly.

  "I know, baby." Ellie kissed her forehead and looked up as Devlin came into view with a children's Tylenol. "It'll be okay, here open up." Devlin poured a spoonful of the pink medicine and aimed it at Bella's mouth.

  Bella vehemently shook her head, refusing to take it. "Bella open your mouth, you need to drink this." This was nothing new. They always went through this fight whenever medicine had to be imbibed. After all the fuss with Sophie when she'd been younger, dealing with Bella was a cakewalk. "Isabella, you open your mouth right now and drink this or you can't hang out with Jennifer." A parent just had to master the art of threats.