by Kelex
Parker grinned. “Two of the dads both had too much to drink and started an argument over football in the adult lounge. We could all hear it out in the park. Mimi tried to break it up and one of them hit her, so Mimi socked him in the jaw and knocked him out cold. He was out for almost thirty minutes. It was epic.”
“Children and alcohol… such a great idea.” Maybe they hadn’t needed Lex for security after all. Geena had one hell of a right hook.
“Right?” Parker asked with a grin.
“Otherwise, how you doing?”
Parker smiled up at him. “Excited.”
“I realize you’ve always wanted to meet your brother.”
Parker nodded, but his smile that was so much like Stacey’s faltered. “I hope he comes.”
“Is there reason to imagine he wouldn’t?”
“No, I guess not. I know how sad him not being here makes mom. If he doesn’t come, she’s going to get really upset.”
Brody loved that this almost teenaged boy was concerned with his mother’s feelings. “That’s why we’re here. To help her if that happens.” He ran his hands over Parker’s hair again. “Especially you, bud.” In some ways, Parker had helped heal his mothers. He wasn’t sure if Stacey would’ve survived Noah’s loss without his son there. Parker had given the woman purpose when she’d been lost.
“Yeah,” Parker said before he blew up another balloon.
“How’re you doing, Riley?”
Riley smiled up at him. “Good, Mr. Roark.”
“Parker’s a Roark. I’m a Preston.” He grinned at her confused look. “Why don’t you just call me Brody.”
Riley frowned and gazed at Parker. “Why does your dad have a different last name than you?”
“Because I’ve got my moms’ last name.”
“Cool,” Riley mumbled and went back to blowing up her balloon.
“Okay, Stace—what else do you need done to get ready?” Brody asked, rising from where he’d crouched beside Parker.
“I was hoping you might put your talents in the kitchen to good use? Maybe we can have an early dinner? I recently bought a big pack of steaks and we have a bag of potatoes. Geena just got back from the grocery store with a birthday cake, some chips, dip, party trays, and drinks.” She threw up her hands. “Though, I have no idea what he likes. What he doesn’t like. If he has any new food allergies since he left here. What if he’s a vegetarian? Or vegan? I know nothing!”
Brody grasped her by the arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
Stacey nodded, but it was clear she was nowhere close to being okay.
Brody sighed. “How long until you think he’ll get here?”
“No idea,” Stacey answered. “I offered to pick him up, but he said he needed some fresh air. Fresh air? I now assume that means he’s walking. I’m not even sure where the bus stop is or how far he’s got to go.” Stacey sighed in frustration. “It would’ve been easier to go get him. Why didn’t he let me go get him?”
Something whispered in the back of Brody’s mind—gone before he got a good hold on it. Stacey’s near meltdown was of more concern.
Geena wrapped an arm around Stacey’s shoulders. “I’m sure he’s fine and he’ll be here soon, and in one piece. Let’s finish getting ready for this party of his, okay? That’ll keep you occupied.”
Stacey nodded. Brody jumped in, trying to stay busy for her sake. He spent the next thirty or so minutes straightening up the kitchen and prepping the potatoes for the oven, and helping with balloons and streamers, all the while helping Geena keep Stacey from exploding into a mass of tears. When they were pretty well done, Parker asked if he and Riley could go play video games in his bedroom until Noah arrived.
“Sure, hon,” Geena said, urging them on. “We’ll call you if he gets here.”
“When,” Stacey corrected. “When he gets here.”
Once the kids were upstairs, he turned to Geena with a grin. “A girl, alone in his room? He is thirteen now, you know?”
“He and Riley have been friends since they were six. I don’t think he sees her like that,” Stacey said.
“Either way, I gave him the talk,” Geena said, finally done fidgeting with her end of the streamers. She came down her stepstool. “No worries.”
“I gave him the talk,” Brody corrected.
“Oh yeah? And what did you two talk about?” Geena asked.
Brody winced, suddenly as uncomfortable as he had the day of the conversation. “He said he understood how babies were made and freaked out when I brought it up. I still went through and ensured he had his facts straight. I also said I’d love him no matter who he loved, be it a man or a woman. That he should follow his heart and mind. I told him to use protection—no matter the partner.” He shrugged. “I guess that was the extent of it.”
Geena came over and patted his cheek. “You big, beautiful oaf. It wasn’t as terrible as I expected—but you missed the biggest thing.”
“Which is?”
“I bought him a big box of condoms—which I soon realized he had no real idea how to use. I gave him a banana tutorial and forced him practice—and then told him to come to me if he ever needed more and was too scared or too broke to buy more.” Geena eyed him with a grin.
“He’s a baby!” Stacey cried, appearing stunned.
“He’s a teenager! And kids his age are having sex,” Geena replied. “I’ve seen girls as young as eleven come into the hospital, no idea they were pregnant.” She turned to Brody. “So yeah. I gave him the talk. Somebody had to.”
Brody scoffed. Geena was an RN. She’d nursed him back to health after his surgery and was damned good at her job. “You’ve probably given that talk a thousand times before.”
Geena nodded. “Not exactly. But I am pretty comfortable talking about the human body and how it works, in all its magical ways. Which is why I made absolutely sure he knew what he was doing. I can’t allow our son out in the world clueless about protection. I’ll remind him every year or so after, too.” She pushed past him and turned to scrutinize the streamers again. “Fuck. That left side is still too low.”
Brody chuckled. “Well, I’m glad. I had no idea what I was doing when I was about his age.”
“You were having sex at thirteen?” Stacey asked, appalled.
“I lost my virginity at fourteen, so I wasn’t too far off. It was with a girl, too,” Brody replied. “Though, that first time only convinced me that I was absolutely, positively gay, so my real first time was a couple of years later.”
Geena came back down off the ladder as the front door received a knock. All of them gasped, but when it turned out to only be Lex, the vibe deflated.
“Hey all,” Lex said, walking in. He glanced around before asking, “Who’s going to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Noah’s coming home,” Stacey said with a wide grin. She helped take the bags from Lex’s hands and disappeared into the kitchen.
Lex seemed confused.
“Her eldest son,” Brody added.
Lex’s confusion evaporated. “Oh right. How long’s it been?”
“Fourteen years since he’s been home,” Stacey answered as she reappeared. “He just turned eighteen and he’s free from his father’s hold now. Hence the birthday party in his honor. About two hours ago, we found out he was on his way, so we had to throw something together fast.”
Brody turned to Lex. “He ran away. Walt and his wife are hanging out front in the SUV. There could be conflict.”
“So you called on old Lex,” Lex said. “Here I was, assuming I was invited to a party.”
“Of course you’re invited to a party, you big, beautiful man,” Geena said, giving him a bear hug. “But if we need a little fear of god put in to Walt and his wife, hopefully you’ll do the terrifying, too?”
“I can do that,” Lex replied. “As long as I get cake.”
Stacey came over to give him a hug, too. “We have steaks and potatoes, if you want to eat an early dinner wi
th us.” She padded his arm. “Hopefully it’s enough. I realize you have an appetite.”
“I’m a big boy and I do like to eat,” Lex said. “But please tell me you or Brody’s doing the cooking.”
“Hey, I resent that remark,” Geena spat, trying to mask a smile and failing. “It was one bad dinner party, and you won’t let me live it down. I don’t always burn things.”
“Uh-huh ,” Lex added with a grin.
Brody checked his watch. “On that note, I’m going to toss the potatoes in the oven. Why don’t you guys catch up a little—and you can give Lex details on Walt and his wife.”
He headed for the kitchen and got to work. Stacey came in a moment after he’d tossed them in the oven, her anxiety coming off her in waves.
“You keep up this pace and you’ll need a Xanax before the end of the night.”
Stacey spun to face him. “You have no idea what I’d do right now for a joint. I’m stressing out so bad.”
He took her by the shoulders. “Breathe.” He paused to get her to do just that. “In. Out.”
Stacey followed his directions and then inhaled again on her own. “Brody—the last time I saw him—I could see Walt and Abbie Lee had changed him. He was so unhappy… what if they’ve destroyed my beautiful little boy?”
“He ran away. If he had the smarts to do that, then there’s hope.”
“Maybe,” Stacey murmured, appearing worried.
He lifted her chin with this hand. “He came here because he remembers how much you loved him here. Don’t forget that.”
Stacey sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
A knock sounded on the glass sliding door in the kitchen. Brody turned, wondering who was knocking back there. He could see an outline through the sheers, but not who it was. Stacey walked over and peeled back the sheers a little. “He’s here!” she cried over one shoulder.
Brody moved closer to the island to get a better look. A smile played over his lips… this was the moment Stacey and Geena had been waiting on for years.
Stacey slid the door open, but her head was in the way from him getting a good view of whoever stood on the other side.
“Mom?”
The voice… familiar.
A cold chill raced up Brody’s spine.
Before he could barely finish, Stacey had her arms around the boy.
He got his first good view. Chris’ stare lifted to meet Brody’s… and they both frowned.
What the fuck?
“Oh, Noah, I’m so glad you’re here,” Stacey cried, taking Chris’ face in her hands.
Noah?
No… no, no, no!
Brody legs nearly gave out from under him. He clung to the edge of the counter, hoping his ass didn’t end up on the floor.
Stacey turned, beaming. “Geena! Geena, get in here.” She turned and practically dragged the kid through the door and closed the slider. She ruffled the curtains before leading the boy farther into the kitchen. She hugged Chris again, delight on her face.
Brody couldn’t take his eyes off the guy.
Chris wouldn’t look at him.
No. Noah wouldn’t look at him.
Noah.
Dear god…
“I hope you don’t mind. I had to sneak in the back,” Noah said, staring at the floor. “I saw Dad and Abbie Lee were out front.”
“Oh, I totally understand…”
Brody heard Stacey talking, but couldn’t concentrate on her words. All he kept hearing was Dad and Abbie Lee. There it was. There was no doubt, at that point. Chris was Noah. The floor fell out from under Brody’s feet. He kept walking backwards, needing space. His stomach turned in knots.
Geena walked into the kitchen, followed by Lex. She pushed on, getting in a big hug of her own.
“What’s he doing here?” Lex mumbled to Brody as the two mothers loved on their son.
Brody didn’t answer. He couldn’t.
“Lex, this is my son, Noah,” Stacey said chirpily as Geena hugged the boy tight. “This is a friend of ours, Lex.”
“Your son,” Lex repeated, the sound hollow. Lex turned to Brody, blocking everyone else out, and whispered, “Your stepson.”
Brody met Lex’s stare with wide eyes. Dear god. He’d fucked his stepson. His stomach turned, and he rushed for the bathroom, sure he’d lose the contents of his stomach. Parker and Riley flew past him into the kitchen as he stumbled out. Lex hooked an arm under his and led him to the bathroom and shut them inside together.
Brody lurched for the toilet, but nothing came out. He rested his hands on his haunches, afraid to move too far.
“You fucked your stepson.”
“Shut up,” Brody spat.
“Please tell me you didn’t know who he was.”
“I didn’t know who he was.” Brody paused a second, his mind roaring before his thoughts fell from his lips, rapid and frenzied. “He was in the bar. You carded him. I assumed he was over twenty-one. He looks over twenty-one. Doesn’t he? How would I connect Chris with a just-turned eighteen-year-old kid I hadn’t laid eyes on in fourteen years? I had no idea Noah had returned.”
Lex sighed. “I told you he was hiding something.”
“I’m really not in the mood for an I-told-you-so right now,” Brody said, his stomach calming a little. Not much, but enough for him to no longer feel in danger of vomiting. He lowered the lid and sat down—his legs still wobbly.
“What the hell do you do now?”
Brody shrugged before taking a moment to consider an answer. There was none to be found. “How the fuck do I know?”
Lex eyed Brody. “Do you tell Stace and Geena he’s been here for days? Staying with you? Under an assumed name?”
“Hell no!”
“So you’re going to lie to them?”
Brody walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet. He splashed some cold water on his face before lifting his gaze to meet Lex’s in the mirror. The idea of lying didn’t sit well with him, but what choice did he have? “What if telling them the truth blows up in my face and they refused to let me see Parker again?”
“They’re family, Brody. You can’t keep secrets from family. It’ll come out eventually.”
“But it’s not coming out now,” Brody spat, running his finger in a circle in the air. “I need time to wrap my head around this whole situation.”
A knock came to the door. “You guys okay in there?” Geena asked.
“Brody had a little too much to drink last night,” Lex called through the door. “We’ll be out in a second.”
“Alrightie,” Geena said before Brody heard her footsteps moving away.
“I thought family didn’t lie to one another?” he whispered to Lex.
Lex chuckled. “They’re your family. Mine has more melanin.” Lex barked with laughter. “Wait… does this make y’all white trash now? I’ve always wanted to be on Maury.”
“Fuck you,” Brody muttered to Lex before they departed the bathroom.
And the first face he saw was Chri—Noah’s.
“I didn’t get a chance to re-introduce you to Brody,” Stacey said, leading Noah closer. “Do you remember him?”
Noah shook his head, but he finally lifted his stare to meet Brody’s. “No. I don’t.”
“He’s your stepfather.”
Noah’s eyes widened in horror.
“Well, was,” Stacey said. “We’re divorced now. He and I married a few months before you left us, so you and he didn’t spend a whole lot of time together. It doesn’t surprise me that you don’t remember him.”
Noah glanced between them before a bemused look crossed his face. “You’re my… brother’s… father.”
Lex nearly choked beside Brody.
“That’s right, sweetie,” Stacey said, oblivious to the stress between Noah and him. “Oh my gosh, we have so much to get caught up on.” She led Noah to the living room and sat him down on the couch, crowding him. “Tell me everything.”
Noah’s focus kept dr
ifting to Brody’s as he spoke. “Not much to tell. I lived outside Nashville with Dad and Abbie Lee. Went to school. I hated it there and couldn’t wait to leave. I did, a few days before my eighteenth birthday. A friend of mine helped me board a bus in Nashville. It took three days to get here, and now I’m here.”
Stacey’s smile paled. “Well your birthday was almost a week ago. What took so long to come home?”
Noah glanced at Brody, but whisked his gaze away a second later. “I was worried you wouldn’t want me here.”
“What? I’ve wanted nothing more than to have you back home,” Stacey said, tears welling in her eyes. “I fought to get you back for years, but Abbie Lee and her family…”
“They own the county and can do whatever they want without anyone stopping them,” Noah finished.
“Her father, the federal judge, interfered. Made sure my rights were terminated. We weren’t allowed to see you. We wanted to, desperately, sweetheart.” Stacey grasped his hands in hers. “We fought so damned hard.”
“I hated it there,” Noah whispered. “I can’t go back.”
“That won’t happen,” Geena said. “We won’t let it.”
Another knock came to the door.
Stacey jumped up. “That’s likely Walt.”
Geena pulled Noah to his feet. She pushed the boy toward Brody. “Hide him.”
Brody could only stare at the kid as the pounding on the door grew.
“Hide him,” Lex parroted, taking Noah’s arm and heading for the garage door. After a second, Brody followed, needing answers.
They were shut away from the rest of the family in the garage.
“Chris?” Brody asked.
Noah turned around, rightfully seeming ashamed. “It’s the name on my fake ID. I used it to get into the club, so I gave you the same name. Just in case. When I found out you owned the place, I was scared to tell you.”
“Sneaking into a bar when you’re underage?” Brody asked, skirting the bigger issue at hand. “I could lose my liquor license for that.”
“While important, that seems low on the list of concerns here,” Lex said under his breath.
“A guy got off on the same bus stop I did… and he came on to me. Aggressively. Offered me a ride to mom’s… and hinted he wanted a fuck as payment. I declined. Later he and his carload of friends came searching for me. I ran away… to the closest place I saw that was open.” He watched his feet. “I knew I was breaking the law by entering, but it seemed a safer bet than disappearing in that car.”