by K. C. Lynn
“Of course I have. That’s all I’ve thought about, damn it. As I looked down at Lucy in that hospital bed, and watched Barbara break in fear of losing her daughter, all I was able to think about were my babies. What if this were Hope? Or Parker? If there was only one person that could potentially save their life, what would you do?”
The thought hits me like a powerful blow to the chest, squeezing my heart so painfully I want to rip it out of my goddamn chest.
“I’ll tell you what I would do,” she whispers. “I’d do everything humanly possible to save their life. I would beg, plead, scream, cry…I would die for them, just like I know you would.” Her breath hitches as she struggles to speak. “I may not have known them long, but Lucy and Piper are my sisters. My father may be a bastard but they aren’t, and I’ll never be able to live with myself if she dies and I did nothing to help her.” She drops to the ground in agony, her broken cries filling the air and completely destroying me.
Feeling nothing but the pain slicing through me, I go to her and scoop her up in my arms. “Shhh. I have you.”
She wraps her arms tightly around me and buries her face in my neck as I walk us inside, back to bed. I pull her in as close as two people can get, enfolding my body around hers, hoping to stop her from breaking any further.
“I need you, Sawyer,” she cries. “I need you by my side for this. I can’t do it without you.”
“You have me. You always have me.” As I choke out the promise, holding her in the quiet dark, my throat burns like a motherfucker. I feel something leak from the corner of my eye as I think about the possibility of losing the woman I live and breathe for.
The only one who has ever mattered to me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Grace
I stare back at Catherine and John, two people who I have grown to love as if they were my own parents, and hate the concern I see in their eyes as we tell them about my sister and the decision I have made. But not as much as the hidden pain that has been on Sawyer’s face since waking up. Somethin’ I wish I could take away but know I can’t. He’s been solemn and quiet but is trying to be understandin’ for my sake. I can tell it’s killing him and his pain only adds to my own. He’s the last person on earth I ever wanted to hurt.
“We’ll come and help you with the kids,” Catherine says, grabbing my hand.
“Thank you.”
“You sure about this?” John asks me. “It’s a life-changing decision and you don’t owe anybody anything, sweetheart.”
“I know. But I’ve thought long and hard about this. I need to or I’ll never be able to live with myself.” I swallow past the permanent lump that has formed in my throat since last night and hold back my emotions as best I can, wanting to be strong for myself and for the people around me.
Sawyer stands. “I’m going to go out back and check on Sam and the kids.”
“Want me to come?”
He shakes his head. “Nah. Stay here and finish your coffee. I’ll send them in when I find them.” After a brief kiss to my forehead, he walks out the patio door without looking back.
I glance at Catherine when she gently squeezes my hand. “Give him some time. He’s just worried right now.”
“I never wanted to hurt him,” I whisper.
“Of course you didn’t. You have a big heart, and you have to do what you need to. This is your body and your choice. We will be with you every step of the way and I know my son will be, too. He’ll take care of you and we will take care of him,” she promises.
“Thank you, your support means everythin’ to me.”
“We’re always here for you, honey. Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
I hope so, because otherwise the repercussion of what could happen will destroy my family, and that’s what terrifies me most of all.
*
Sawyer
I find the kids and Sam playing in a giant pile of leaves next to the big fishpond that they’ve clearly made themselves.
“Hey, Auntie, eat this,” Parker says, trying to shove a bunch of leaves in Sam’s mouth but of course has no success.
Their laughter and bright smiles bring the first measure of relief to the tightness that’s been restricting my chest since last night.
“Daddy!” Hope squeals, jumping to her feet and running to me at full speed.
I scoop her up in my arms, bringing her beautiful smile she inherited from her mother at eye level. “Hey, Shortcake. How’d you sleep?”
“Good. We had another great night with Auntie and ate lots of candy,” she says, rubbing her tummy.
I smirk. “That’s good, baby.”
“Where’s Mama?”
The question has my smile vanishing and the tightness in my chest gripping again like a tight vise. “She’s in the kitchen with Grandma and Grandpa. She wants her morning hug.”
Parker gets up from the pile of leaves. “Come on, Hope. I’ll race ya.”
I put Hope down to her feet, but before they can take off I pull Parker in for a hug. “Mornin’, kid.”
“Morning, Dad.” He squeezes me back.
“Make sure you hug your mom too, okay?”
“I will.”
As soon as I release him they take off, trying to shove one another to the side to win the race. I turn back to Sam and see her brushing the leaves off herself.
“You ready for a break yet?” I ask, taking a seat on one of the massive stumps in the ground next to the fishpond.
“Never. I’m going to miss them when they’re gone. I’m going to miss you all.”
“You don’t have to. You could come with Mom and Dad.”
She watches me, her expression soft. It looks like she’s about to say something but then thinks better of it. She takes a seat next to me and changes the subject. “Grace told me about her decision this morning before the kids were up.” My jaw automatically locks as I try to ward off the pain. “How do you feel about it?” she asks quietly, already knowing the answer.
“I fucking hate it but it seems I don’t have a choice so…” I trail off with a shrug when what I really want to do is beat the shit out of something.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, putting a hand on my shoulder. “But you know Grace. She could never turn her back on someone if they needed help. She’s too good of a person for that, and it’s one of the reasons you love her. Why we all love her.”
Maybe, but not when it comes to risking her life. I’m trying to accept her decision but knowing it’s a choice that could potentially take her from me is making it damn difficult. I decide to steer the subject back to her, not wanting to talk about it. “Tell me about this Grant.”
Her eyes fall to the ground. “Not much to tell. He’s a guy I met a few months back and we hit it off.” Her simple shrug doesn’t fool me.
“Dad doesn’t seem to like him much. He thinks he treats you bad.”
She scoffs. “Well you know how Dad can be. His perception can be skewed at times.”
“Yeah, sometimes, but usually he’s a pretty good judge of character.” Her eyes remain on the ground as silence fills the air. “Sam, look at me.”
Her chin lifts defensively. “What do you want me to say, Sawyer?”
“I want to know that he’s wrong and this guy is good to you. Tell me you wouldn’t be with someone that didn’t treat you right.”
“I wouldn’t be.” I watch her carefully. She’s not doing a very good job of convincing me and she knows it. “Look, things may not always be perfect but I like him, okay? He makes me feel good about myself. With him I’m not following in other people’s footsteps.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means, for the first time in my life I’m being seen as me—Samantha Evans. Not Sawyer Evans’s youngest sister—the less attractive and least talented of the bunch.”
I rear back in shock. “Who the hell ever said that?”
“Everyone thinks it. They always have.”
“The
hell they do! No one thinks that. We’re all a good-lookin’ and talented bunch. Everyone fucking knows that.”
She stares at me, a long moment of silence stretching between us before she bursts out laughing. “God you’re so arrogant,” she says, but can’t hide her smile, which is what I was hoping for.
“I’m serious, Sam. No one thinks that. If anything, you’re the best out of us all, and I want you to consider moving with Mom and Dad. Come to Sunset Bay. You can work with Grace at the bakery or better yet…you could be our nanny so I can get my woman alone whenever I want.”
She shakes her head; a small smile still on her face but it’s dimmer. “I don’t know, Sawyer. I think maybe it’s time for me to be on my own. Be my own person. You left long ago and Jesse a few years back. Maybe this is my time.” She shrugs, looking really sad. “It will be hard at the beginning, but I need to grow up at some point and be my own person.”
“Since when are you not your own person? Just because you’re close to family doesn’t mean you aren’t independent.” Her eyes fall to the ground again, and I notice her visibly swallow. “Just think about coming. We’d love to have you closer and you know the kids would, too.”
“I’ll think about it,” she says vaguely. “Anyway, you don’t need to worry about me. You have your own beautiful family to worry about.”
“I’ll always worry about you. You’re my baby sister. Nothing or no one will ever change that.”
Her head snaps up in surprise, tears in her eyes, and it makes me feel like shit.
Does she really not know this?
She throws her arms around my neck, hiding her face in my shoulder. “I love you, Sawyer. You’re the best big brother a sister could have.”
I pull her in close. “I love you, too. I’m always here for you, Sam. Whenever you need me, I’ll be there. No matter where that is.”
“Grace and the kids are lucky to have you.”
She’s wrong. I’m the lucky one, and I vow to make sure nothing takes them away from me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sawyer
After talking with Sam, I decided I needed to meet this guy myself before I leave. I’m not convinced my dad is wrong about him and I need to make sure she’s going to be okay when I’m gone. Especially since my parents are coming to help with the kids. It’s the last thing I want to worry about when I get home, when all of my focus will be on Grace.
I enter the swanky office building and head toward the receptionist. A guy in a suit is bent over the desk whispering in the chick’s ear, making her giggle. The sound of it makes me cringe. When she makes eye contact she quickly stands, her eyes flaring with interest as she sticks her chest out. Fake tits spill out of her suit jacket, making it look like she’s not even wearing a shirt under it. It’s clear to see where the asshole in front of me was staring.
“Can I help you?” she asks, her voice as annoying as her laugh. Or maybe it’s just the bad mood I’ve been in since last night.
“I’m looking for Grant Fleming.”
The guy in front of me tenses then turns around. A sick feeling forms in my gut at the way he sizes me up, his head barely coming to my chin. He crosses his arms arrogantly. “I’m Grant.”
My bad mood just got a whole lot worse. “I’m Sawyer Evans, Sam’s brother.”
The bitch has the decency to look ashamed, her head dropping in embarrassment, but the dickhead in front of me doesn’t. He remains standing tall with his chest puffed out, but can’t hide the flash I saw in his eyes. It wasn’t remorse, though I’m not sure what it was.
“Ah yes, of course. The brother who’s in town visiting, which is why I haven’t been able to see her over the past few days.”
My eyes narrow at his response. “Yeah, she’s been a little busy catching up with her family, especially her niece and nephew.”
“So she said. Unfortunately, she never told me you were stopping by.”
“She doesn’t know. I was in the area and figured I would stop by to meet the guy in my sister’s life.”
“I see.”
Actually, he doesn’t, but he’s about to find out.
“Heidi, hold my calls please.”
“Yes, Mr. Fleming,” she obeys.
“Follow me.” He leads me down a long hallway, passing by a few offices before entering in the last door on the left. Of course it seems he has the most elaborate space of the bunch.
Not surprising.
He props his hip against the large oak desk, his stance relaxed when I can clearly see he’s feeling anything but. “Samantha told me you were in the navy.”
The way he refers to my sister as ‘Samantha’ pisses me off, because I know for a fact she hates to be called that.
“Used to be,” I reply, wondering why he’s bringing it up. I have a feeling it isn’t to thank me for my service like most people would.
“She’s spoken quite a bit about you.” He doesn’t elaborate what she’s said and I’m sure it’s to purposely get under my skin. This motherfucker and his head games are getting old fast. I get the urge to knock him on his ass. I’ve only been in his presence for two minutes and I can see why my dad hates him. He’s a prick, and definitely not someone I can see my sister with.
“I’ll bet she has. Sam and I are close. My whole family is, but I’m sure you know that.”
“Actually, I wouldn’t have guessed.” His response and smug smirk have me closing the door to his office and moving a little closer.
“Let’s cut the shit, Grant, and get to why I’m here. My dad doesn’t like you and after being in your presence for only a few minutes, I can see why. He’s worried about my sister and now so am I.”
“Yes, I already know your father doesn’t like me, and to be honest, I don’t really care. All I care about is what Samantha thinks.”
My fists clench at my sides. Every second that I’m near this asshole shreds a little more of my composure. “You should care about what we think because I’m not someone you want to fuck with, Fleming.”
He doesn’t heed my warning. “Look, if you’re so concerned why don’t you just ask your sister about us? She’ll tell you.”
“I did and I don’t believe her. She’s not the same girl I’ve always known and I think that’s your fault. So I’m going to make this as clear as possible for you. My parents plan on moving to South Carolina and we want her to come. It’d be wise of you not to interfere with that.”
His eyes narrow but his smirk remains. “Well I’m sorry to disappoint you but that’s not going to happen. Samantha has already made her choice and that’s me. Nothing is going to change that. What goes on between us is our business and no one else’s. Now I can appreciate your concern being her big brother and all but you don’t need to worry about her. She’s in very good hands.” The little wink he adds shatters my control.
Grabbing the back of his neck with a swift hand, I slam his face down onto the desk. A howl of pain explodes from him followed by blood spraying out of his nose. As he struggles to get free, I grind his face even harder into the oak and lean in close.
“Now that’s where you’re wrong, Grant. My sister is my business and always will be. So you listen closely, motherfucker. If I find out you made her shed one goddamn tear I will come back here and rip you apart, limb from limb. Then I will hide every piece of your fucking body so no one will ever find you. Do you understand me?”
When the only response I get is painful breaths, I lift his head only enough to slam it back down on the wood, drawing another howl from him.
“Answer me, asshole. Do you understand?”
“Yes! I understand.”
Flipping him over, I smile down at the mess of his once perfect face. “Good. Make sure you don’t forget, you won’t like the consequences otherwise.” I let the threat hang in the air for a moment before giving him a few hard slaps in the face. “Glad we had this talk, Grant. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
Pushing away from him, I walk out of his off
ice, feeling a little lighter since I got to take out some of my aggression. I don’t bother looking in the receptionist’s direction as I leave, knowing I won’t be able to keep my mouth shut. The whore isn’t worth my time.
When I arrive home I head right over to the guesthouse, wanting to wash away the blood that splattered on me before seeing anyone. But as I step inside I see Grace folding towels and cleaning up. That tightness in my chest comes back with a vengeance when I can tell she’s been crying.
“Hey,” she greets me softly.
“Hey, baby.”
“Where’ve you been?” she asks, moving toward me. Her eyes drop to my chest and narrow. “What on earth is on your shirt?” She gasps when she realizes what it is. “Is that blood? Are you bleeding?”
“Yeah. I mean no. Yes, it’s blood; no, it’s not mine.” I reach down, taking my shirt off, then move to the kitchen to wash my hands and up my forearms.
“What happened?”
“Went and paid a visit to good ol’ Grant. My dad’s right, the guy is an asshole.” I shut off the water and begin drying my hands.
“Oh lord, Sawyer, please tell me you didn’t kill him.”
I turn around to see her hands on either side of her face, looking panicked. “Calm down, Cupcake. I didn’t kill anyone, as tempting as it was. I just made myself clear where Sam is concerned.”
“So your dad’s right about him, huh?” She shifts nervously, looking unsure, and I fucking hate it.
With a breath I lift her up and place her on the counter in front of me before stepping in-between her legs. “Yeah, baby. He’s a first class asshole, but I’m pretty sure my message was loud and clear. At least it better have been. Let’s hope Mom and Dad will be able to convince her to come with them.” My hand goes to her cheek, my thumb stroking her soft skin.
She encircles my wrist and leans into my touch, her sad eyes telling me everything she’s not. “I love you,” she whispers. Slightly turning her face, she kisses the palm of my hand.