Invincible- The Complete Set

by Michelle MacQueen

  Sounds from inside drifted toward me, happy and fun, but I couldn’t shake my holiday memories.

  Dad yelling.

  Jay defending him.

  Jay’s mom refusing to look at me.

  He didn’t usually hit me during our celebrations. No, he waited until the next day. Dad never hit me hard. He never broke anything or caused permanent bruising, but it was enough.

  The door opened behind me, and Jay stepped out. I didn’t say anything as he leaned against the pillar and crossed one foot over the other.

  “I miss him,” he said.

  My bad hand froze up. I massaged it to try to keep my calm.

  Jay continued. “I hate that I miss him, Jamie. Especially now. Holidays were the worst time in our house, weren’t they?”

  “Only because we had to pretend to be a family,” I scoffed.

  “You know, I sometimes thought we actually were a family. But you never did, did you?”

  “Not since I was eleven.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “If you keep apologizing, I might have to turn my Ranger training on you again.”

  He laughed, but stopped abruptly. “Who’s that?”

  I looked across the street to where two cars had pulled up. A man got out of the first dressed even better than I was. His suit was obviously designer and fitted. His Ray Bands were pushed up into his short black hair.

  The man that got out of the second car, an SUV, wore jeans and a polo. His long copper hair was tied back.

  I got to my feet and Jay stood up straight beside me.

  “Can we help you?” I hollered at them as they walked up the driveway eyeing each other. It was obvious they hadn’t come together.

  “Hello.” The well-dressed man said with a broad smile. Confidence oozed from him with every step. “I’m looking for my wife.”

  Jay laughed. “Well, the only married woman in there is my wife, soooo…”

  “Um.” I glanced sideways at my brother. “That’s not exactly true.” I looked back at the man. “Your name wouldn’t be Dean, would it?”

  His smile widened, showing perfectly white teeth. “That’s me.”

  “What about my wife?” The second man had now caught up, and he looked directly at Jay as his Australian accent rang out. I watched as recognition showed on Jay’s face. He gave me a panicked look then sighed and opened the door.

  I had no clue what the hell was going on, but I figured we were about to find out.

  As soon as the four of us were through the door, Morgan’s scream sounded through the house. Her face had gone white. She dropped the plate of crackers she’d been carrying, sending them scattering across the floor.

  “Hi, baby.” Dean’s smile didn’t waver at her reaction. “Miss me?”

  19

  Callie

  “Dammit, Nicole.” I let the door to the oven close and slammed the casserole down on the counter before throwing my oven mitts as hard as I could.

  “Hey,” my dad said. “Don’t take it out on the green beans.”

  “I can’t believe I told her that. I knew she’d take it to the studios. Now that they know I am going to sell at some point, they’ll never leave me alone.”

  “That’s why you have me.” He grinned. “Sell to Hendrick’s. You know you don’t want anyone else telling this story.”

  “You’re right.” I let out a big sigh as I banged my fist against the counter. “I assume you brought a contract?”

  “Of course.”

  “Since when does the head of the studio get involved in buying movie rights?”

  “Since it’s about your mom.”

  “Touché.” I swiped a hand across my face. “I’ll look at the contract tomorrow. In the meantime, Jackson has cleaned his room for you to stay in there.”

  “I have a hotel room since this is technically a work trip.”

  “Don’t even think about it. It’ll be nice to have you here for a couple days. The boys will be over the moon.”

  He pulled me into a hug, and I sank into it. I was finally letting Emma go. Between the book, the movie, and the restaurant, I was making Mom into a bigger star than she’d even been in real life. I was making her immortal.

  “There’s something else,” Dad said once he released me.

  “There always is.”

  He didn’t get a chance to say what that something was because Morgan screamed from the living room. I bolted out there, stopping as I took in the two men standing with Jamie and Jay.

  “Dean,” Morgan croaked.

  “Dylan,” I gasped.

  I felt more than saw Jamie’s eyes snap to me. Yeah, he knew the name. But he wasn’t my worry at that moment. The long-haired former husband of mine was.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  I barely noticed Morgan escaping to the kitchen to get away from Dean or Dean following her.

  “Can’t a man come to see his family?” Dylan asked. As if on cue, he was mobbed by three excited boys who were having the Thanksgiving of their lives with the appearance of both their grandfather and their father.

  Seeing them with him was like a knife to the heart because as sure as I knew the sun would rise tomorrow, I knew Dylan would leave them missing him once again. He hugged the three of them and exclaimed over how big they’d gotten. He said all the things you’re supposed to say, but his eyes never left me.

  “I’ve been trying to call you,” he said. “We need to talk.”

  “I know.” I bent to pick up little Declan as if I could protect him from all the future years of wanting his father to be something he wasn’t.

  Colby stepped in front of me. He’d always hated Dylan. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “Why the hell not?” Dylan boomed. “They’re my kids.”

  “Because we know that’s not really why you’re here.”

  I put a hand on Colby’s arm to stop him. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s really not.” Colby wouldn’t budge. I looked helplessly at Jay, but his face showed his agreement with Colby.

  Jamie stepped closer to me.

  My dad, who’d known Dylan longer than anyone, spoke up. “She’s selling the rights, Dylan.”

  “I’m not even going to fight you on it, Dylan,” I said. “You get half, so you can go back to L.A. and your fancy job at Hendrick’s.”

  Dylan looked to my father. His eyes narrowed. “Your dad fired me. I work for A&P now.”

  “Dammit, Dylan!” It burst out of me, and I suddenly couldn’t control myself. “That’s why they’ve been hounding me so hard and not going through Nicole?”

  When I calmed down again, I found my three boys staring at me with wide eyes and was suddenly ashamed. My dad seemed to read my mind because he came to take Declan out of my arms and herded the other two outside to play.

  “So, you sold to Hendrick’s,” he sneered. “Of course.”

  I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “I wouldn’t let you or A&P near my mother’s story.”

  “Oh, nice. It’s good to hear what the mother of my children thinks of me.”

  “You don’t want to know what I really think.”

  He moved even closer until Colby stepped between us again. Jamie was at my side in a heartbeat, and I let him wrap an arm around my waist.

  “Who the hell is this?” Dylan asked.

  “Jamie,” I said. “I’d like you to meet the reason my two-year-old says things like ‘eat shit’.” I paused. “Scratch that. I really don’t want you to meet him, but here we are.”

  Jamie didn’t extend his hand. Instead, he tightened his grip on me.

  Dylan thought hard for a moment, placing the name, then a look of disgust cross his features.

  “Is this the guy?” he asked.

  I suddenly couldn’t breathe. My lungs expanded, but no air entered the space. All I could hear was white noise. I stumbled back out of Jamie’s grasp and shook my head vehemently, willing him to stop speaking. Not now.r />
  “It is, isn’t it?” Dylan accused. “You left me and ran back to him.”

  “She left you long before she came back.” Colby knew exactly what was going on. Dylan had come as a bomb, ready to blow my life to pieces.

  “You should leave,” Jay said. He too knew. It seemed everyone did except for the one person who it would affect the most.

  “She hasn’t told you,” Dylan continued, his eyes still on Jamie. “Has she?”

  Jamie looked from me to Dylan, and I felt a tear roll down my face. It was like a freight-train coming down the tracks. I could feel the earth rumble and hear the howling horn. I should have been prepared. Instead, I found myself standing in the middle of the tracks, feeling the wind from the oncoming impact.

  “Callie was pregnant when I married her.” I could smell the burning fuel. “And we didn’t know who the father was.”

  Crash.

  “I have an announcement to make,” Morgan called, walking back into the room. She was oblivious to the tension. Dean followed close behind. “I’d like you all to meet my husband, Dean.”

  I couldn’t muster the surprise or excitement or whatever else I knew I was supposed to feel. Instead, my eyes stayed on Jamie, waiting for his reaction.

  Morgan looked around, finally catching on to the tension. For the first time, she saw Dylan, and her mouth formed an o.

  I reached for Jamie’s hand, needing to touch him, but he stepped back. His forehead scrunched up as he regarded me. He clenched his jaw, and I knew he was trying to stop himself from flying off the handle like he would’ve done when we were younger. His temper was still there, but now he kept it bottled up.

  His eyes burned into me.

  “Explain,” he finally said.

  “Maybe we could go somewhere privately and talk,” I pleaded.

  “Screw that. Tell me what the hell this guy is talking about.”

  “Jamie.” The tears came faster. Colby moved to my side, lending me his support and also cutting off Dylan’s line of sight at the same time.

  “You need to tell him, Callie,” Colby said quietly. “It’s time.”

  I shook my head and stepped around my brother to face Dylan. “You. I want you out of my house right now.”

  His eyes softened for a moment, and he nodded, adding gently “We have things to discuss.”

  “It’s Thanksgiving, Dylan. What did you expect to accomplish today?”

  At least he had the decency to look sorry. Things hadn’t always been bad between us - only in the last year of our marriage. There’d been a lot of holidays where he was part of the family. Now he was the unwelcome guest. He seemed to get that. He shot Jamie one last hard look and left.

  “I need a drink.” I stalked past Jamie on my way to the kitchen. The wine was already on the table, so I pulled at the cork and poured myself a large glass. It had a calming effect as it hit my throat. I’d expected to have this conversation at some point with Jamie, but not like this. His accusatory gaze entered my mind, and I took another gulp of wine.

  That was what Thanksgiving had turned in to. Me, in the kitchen, gulping wine alone. Not for the first time, I wished Kat was there. She’d know what to say. She’d been urging me to tell Jamie for years - or at least get Jacks tested so I’d know for sure. But no, Kat was with Noah’s family, and I was living my mistakes.

  I’d been so scared to test Jacks. When I was married to Dylan, I worried what it would do to their relationship if we found out Dylan wasn’t his father, and Dylan had agreed. Since coming home, I’d been seeing Jamie in Jacks, and the fear had changed. I’d wanted Jamie to be his father - as messed up as that was - but I knew there was little chance. We’d only slept together once.

  But it was time we all knew.

  I wasn’t ready for this.

  The smell hit my nose before I saw the tiny wisps of smoke coming from the oven. I put my glass down and grabbed the oven mitts. When I opened the oven, I was hit with more smoke and the stench of burnt meat. I pulled the turkey out.

  “Dammit!” It was coated in black char. Why had I thought I could do this? Amber had offered to host thanksgiving, but I wanted to thank everyone for their help getting the restaurant up and running and with the boys, but I failed.

  Glaring at the charred bird, I refilled my wine glass and sat at the table as the tears rolled down my cheeks. My back heaved, and I buried my face in my arms.

  Soft footsteps sounded behind me, but I didn’t look up. A little arm came around my shoulders. “Mom,” Jacks said. “Are you okay?”

  Pushing my glass away, I lifted my head and stared into the eyes of the boy whose very origins were being questioned. He was the boy who’d saved me and brought me so much joy during my hardest times.

  I gave him a sad smile and ran a hand over the top of his head, but didn’t answer his questions.

  “It doesn’t smell too good in here,” he said.

  I laughed. “No. Mommy isn’t such a good cook.”

  “Jackson.” My dad appeared in the doorway. “I told you not to come in here.”

  “But I heard Mom crying. I had to come.”

  What did you say to that? My dad smiled. Jackson was a sweet boy, and his hugs could cure anything.

  “Colby has been making everyone give you space,” my dad explained.

  My brother knew me well.

  “Is Jamie still out there?”

  He shook his head. “He said he had to clear his mind but that you’d know where to find him.”

  I wiped at my face and kissed the top of Jackson’s head. It was time. “Can you hold down the fort for a little while?” I asked.

  The question was directed to my dad, but Jackson answered first. “I’m in charge?”

  A laugh burst past my lips. “Yeah, kiddo. You’re in charge.”

  I left my son puffing out his chest with self-importance.

  Morgan and her supposed husband stood near the door. That was something I’d have to process later. She had some explaining to do. Right now, I was the one who needed to explain, or I’d lose the man I loved.

  He’d been right. I knew exactly where to find him. The beach. Our beach.

  He’d left his jacket back at the house and had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His shoes had been removed, and the bottoms of his slacks dragged in the sand as he walked near the edge of the water. He didn’t see me approach.

  “Jamie.” My voice quivered as I searched for strength.

  He turned. His eyes were warm when he first saw me, an instinctive reaction, but then he shuttered them as if protecting himself.

  “Just come out and say it, California. Is the boy my son?”

  I closed my eyes for a second. “I don’t know.”

  The heat in his eyes from a moment ago turned to ice. “Well that’s just great, isn’t it?”

  “I never -”

  “Never what? Planned to tell me? Because that’s pretty darn obvious.” He was ranting now, and there was no stopping him. “My Gosh, Cal. This is big, huge, life-changing. He’s nine-years-old, and you never got him tested?”

  “I never thought I’d see you again.”

  “Oh, that’s rich. So I’d never know I had a son out there? Were you always this selfish or am I just now seeing the real you for the very first time?”

  “You know me, Jamie.”

  “Obviously not. Forget about the past ten years for a moment. I thought we were good now. I thought… I thought we’d end up together in the end this time.”

  “I did too-”

  “Then you shouldn’t have lied to me!” He breathed out slowly as he massaged his bad arm. Stress made it worse, and I hated that I was the one doing it to him this time.

  Every word he said was like a knife stuck into my heart. They hurt because they were all true. Out of respect to him, I held in my tears. I didn’t deserve to be the one who cried. This was my fault.

  “This is too much,” he said, more calmly this time. “I need to go.” He stalked by m
e and paused halfway up the beach without turning. “I want to find out the truth. Get him tested.”

  Then he was gone, and I was left with no tears, no air, and all the regret in the world.

  I entered the busy house unnoticed. Morgan and Dean were sitting together on the couch, talking in low whispers. Colby was chasing Jackson and Liam around the living room. Jay sat on the floor while Declan handed him toys. My dad and Amber’s voices drifted out from the kitchen.

  Morgan saw me first. Taking one look at my face, she stood up and walked toward me to pull me into a hug. “Jamie didn’t come back with you?”

  I shook my head.

  “Okay, then can I distract you with my husband?”

  I laughed weakly. “Since when are you married?”

  “Since like a week before I came back. It’s a long story, but it basically goes like this: two Americans living in London and missing home. They meet. They fall in love rather quickly. They get married a month later. Then one of them freaks out because you shouldn’t marry someone after a month. She runs home to her best friend. He follows her because he just can’t live without her.” She laughed. “Get the gist?”

  “You’re okay that he followed you?”

  “Okay, so I’m weird.”

  “Well, we all know that.”

  “Shut up.” She punched me lightly. “It just took one conversation with him to remember why I married him. I want to make a go of it.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  “Even if it means I’ll be going back to London?”

  I hugged her. “Even then. Come on. I need this happiness right now.”

  “You’ll get it too. I promise.”

  “Morgan, you should have seen the way he looked at me. He’s lost faith in me.”

  “Give Jamie more credit than that.” She stared into my eyes. “That boy has been in love with you since he figured out girls didn’t have cooties. Your story is one for the ages, babe, and I refuse to believe it’s over.”

  I wished I could think like her, but I did my best to push it away as I came face to face with Morgan’s husband. He was sweet, and he smiled every time his eyes found hers. I wanted that. I had it. I ruined it.