The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3)

by Jeanne McDonald

  My eyes lifted to find Drew looking down at me. “She and I bumped into one another this morning when I went to check on your mother,” I admitted.

  “I hate that we didn’t get to say goodbye to Mom,” Andie mewled.

  “What could we do? She was passed out,” Drew ruminated.

  “So, I take it she ripped into you?” Jared fished.

  “Pretty much.”

  “I’m sorry,” Drew whispered, his lips pressed into my hair. “This is all my fault. I’ll talk to her. She can’t stay pissed forever.”

  “Yes, she can, and it’s not your fault. It’s mine. Had I just been upfront with her from the beginning…”

  Air whistled through Jared’s nostrils in his exasperation. “As if that would’ve helped. She was never going to be happy with the two of you together. You did what you had to in order to keep peace this week. Don’t allow her to guilt you, McKenzie,” he reprimanded.

  “He’s right,” Andie noted.

  “Mickie, think about it. We planned on telling her months ago,” Drew added. “The only time we’ve actually hid from her was this week, and that was his fault.” He pointed to Jared, who flipped him the bird in return. “Don’t let this get you down. We’re going home and we can straighten all this out there.”

  I rubbed my hand over my face, hating the ugly feeling of remorse that clouded my happiness. Drew and I were finally free to love, yet I couldn’t get the pale expression of Olivia’s anger out of my mind.

  “I know. I know. It doesn’t matter now, anyway. The lines are drawn in the sand, so to speak. I can tell you, however, I was proud of you today. You handled yourself so well with your father.”

  “I’ll second that!” Andie cheered.

  A warm burst of air coated my hair as Drew exhaled. “I didn’t handle that well at all.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Jared argued. “I wanted to punch him and you didn’t even flinch.”

  “Oh, believe me, I wanted to hit him, too, but I knew it wouldn’t help. I’ve carried the guilt of my father’s hatred for so long that seeing him like that somehow washed it away. I pitied him. Here I am, surrounded by love of friends and family, and what does he have? Nothing more than a cold business. Niles said something to me that’s played over and over in my head all night.”

  “What’s that, Nova?” Andie asked.

  Drew gently squeezed my arms. “He told me that our father measures his achievements as a man by the success of his business. He neglects to realize that business will fade, and in the moment of your last breath, all that remains are the triumphs of the heart.”

  “Wow, that’s insightful,” Andie noted.

  “And poetic,” Jared included.

  Over the intercom, we heard the airport attendant announce the final boarding call for our flight. Drew glanced at his watch and lifted his chin from the top of my head. “I guess this is it.”

  The four of us exchanged hugs and warm wishes. My emotions ran high, both with the temporary loss of Jared and Andie, but also with the knowledge that Olivia was missing out on this loving farewell. True, the other three didn’t have the highest regard for her, but I knew it was because they felt the need to protect me. She should’ve been part of the final send off, not waiting in a fuselage alone.

  Moments later, we boarded the plane and found our seats. We were across the aisle from Olivia, who now rested her head against the window with her headphones on. The seat beside her was empty, which led me to assume that would’ve been Jared’s spot had he not changed his reservation at the last minute.

  Strapped in my seat, I waited for the aircraft to depart. For the life of me, I couldn’t stop my legs from bouncing. My anxiety was getting to me. I wanted to slip out of my seat belt and slide over the aisle to talk to her, to try to smooth things over. But I knew, no matter how hard I tried, every word I said would be futile.

  Drew laid his hand on my knee. I jumped, startled by his touch. “It’s all right,” he murmured close to my ear. “Things have a way of working themselves out. Look at us. Give her time and let me talk to her.”

  I rested my hand over his. From the corner of my eye, I caught Olivia glance in our direction. Her nostrils flared and her red lips turned into a pout. She fluttered her eyelashes and returned her focus to the whatever was happening on the tarmac. “I know, but Andy, I hate this. I hate that she’s alone because of me.”

  “Mick, stop blaming yourself. We might’ve lied to her, but she lied to us, too. Remember that.”

  I patted the top of his hand. It was pointless to argue with him. He’d never see things from my perspective. To him, we had every right to love each other, and in no way should feel guilty for that. But it wasn’t that simple for me. The guilt burrowed deep inside me. Only forgiveness would appease my agony.

  Once in the air, I felt almost claustrophobic. Even in first class, the seats seemed like a straight jacket, holding me against my will. Four hours ticked by so slow that I wondered if we were flying or walking to Florida. No matter how many times I adjusted in my chair, I couldn’t get comfortable, and the constant popping of my ears was enough to drive me to insanity.

  Throughout the flight, I kept a close eye on Olivia. She’d managed to fall asleep within the last forty-five minutes or so, but from what I could tell, it was restless. She let out a little whimper that no one but me seemed to notice. Her long, slender legs curled beneath her, jerking ever so slightly.

  With only thirty minutes left of our trip, I was itching to get out of the tin-can hurling me across the fair, blue skies. I couldn’t see the sun, only the reflection of light through the open windows. My breathing began to elevate and my pulse started to race. Time controlled my body and mind. Drew, sensing my discomfort, attempted to engage me in conversation, but even that didn’t ease my tension.

  Suddenly, Olivia bolted upright. She cupped her hands around her stomach, her face contorted in pain. She cried out, rocking forward, her feet planting on the floor. My whole body jolted, jerking in her direction. Our eyes met, and in hers, fear and pain had taken hold. She gritted her teeth and lunged forward. An agonizing cry forced everyone to look in her direction.

  Drew ripped his seatbelt off and tripped over me in a mad dash to get across the aisle. He knelt in the empty seat beside Olivia. She cried, grabbing his hand. “Something’s wrong,” she whimpered. “Terribly wrong.”

  “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on?” I sat there, frozen, watching them together. Drew was a man of action, but I knew deep down he was freaking out. It wouldn’t surprise me if he saw Rebecca and Autumn in Olivia’s eyes. I wrung my hands together, fighting the nausea that threatened to overpower me.

  “Pain,” she cried out.

  Drew looked around, about to call out for help, but a flight attendant was at his side before he could utter a word.

  “Is everything all right?” the scrawny male attendant inquired.

  “No!” Olivia cried. “My stomach. Pain.”

  A man seated behind Olivia leaned over. What was left of his gray hair was combed forward in a vain attempt to cover a widening bald spot. His belly, larger than Olivia’s, stopped him from moving in too close. “How far along is she?” he asked Drew.

  “Seventeen weeks,” Olivia grunted.

  The man stood up, his stomach pushing against the back of her seat. “I’m Dr. Howard Tolbert, a family physician in Venice. Would you be okay if I examine you?"

  Olivia blinked her eyes, giving the doctor a quick nod as tears streamed down her cheeks. He shoved up out the seat and pushed himself into the aisle. Drew stood up, taking a step back along with the flight attendant to give the doctor space. I couldn’t see what he was doing. His back blocked Olivia from my view. He spoke to her in hushed tones, so I only caught about every other word. He said things like, ‘spotting, stress, and cramps,’ which highlighted the seriousness of the situation. Those were words that Morgan flung at Nate and me when I miscarried Evan. Drew had his arms crossed over his chest, his e
yes wide with concern. I reached up, offering him my hand. He took it, giving me a quick squeeze of reassurance.

  Finally, the doctor stood up. “I think she’s safe until we land. I can’t be certain without a complete examination, but for now…”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking," a husky voice with a slight northwestern twang rang out over the intercom. "We have begun our descent into Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Currently, the weather is a balmy ninety-two degrees. The local time is two-oh-one. We’ll be arriving at our gate in approximately ten minutes…”

  “Well, that’s lucky for us,” Dr. Tolbert chuckled. “We need her to be the first off this craft. Please notify the captain that we have a medical emergency.”

  The waif-like attendant darted off to the cockpit to notify the pilot of the situation. In his place, a pretty, blonde attendant announced for everyone to take their seats.

  The fasten seatbelt sign blinked on and my whole body, once again, became a bundle of nerves. I slipped over into the window seat and let Drew have the aisle. The doctor remained next to Olivia, forcing his fat belly into a seat belt.

  My stomach was already in my throat as the plane began its descent from the sky. The earth started to move closer to the aircraft and the clouds disappeared, having been left in the Heavens where they belonged. I clenched my jaw and balled my fists in anticipation of the wheels touching the ground. Momentary relief pushed my stomach back down my throat when the tires hit the pavement.

  The instant the fasten seatbelt sign turned off, Drew and I were out of our seats, gathering ours and Olivia’s belongings. The three of us, plus the good doctor, were escorted from the plane as soon as it arrived at the gate. For the first few hours of my return to Sarasota, I remained in a hospital waiting room, pacing the floor, worried about Drew and Olivia.

  A twisted piece of me thought about how this baby would always connect them, and in a way, I would always have to share him with her, yet my heart wouldn’t let that bother me. Drew loved me and I him. Olivia and Drew deserved the love of this child, and even though Olivia wanted me to have nothing to do with it or her, I would love this baby, too.

  Every half hour or so, Drew would come out to fill me in on what was going on. Olivia had suffered Braxton Hicks on the plane. The doctors speculated it was because of stress and the flying elevation. He suggested that for the duration of her pregnancy, she remain on bed rest.

  “I offered for her to stay with us,” Drew told me, “but she refused. I pissed her off pretty bad before I left for Amarillo.”

  “How?”

  Drew shrugged one shoulder. “It’s a long story, but she doesn’t want to stay with us. She suggested that you stay with her, though. At first I thought she was joking, but she told me that even though she’s still hurt, she at least knows you and would feel comfortable with you in her house. Of course, I told her no and that I’d hire an in-home nurse to care for her.”

  “Nonsense. I’ll stay with her.” This was my chance. Karma was giving me an opportunity to set things right.

  “No. You’re coming home with me.”

  I cupped Drew’s face in my hands and pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. “I owe you both this, baby. If she wants me there, I’ll stay. It’s what’s best for her and your baby.”

  Drew let out an exasperated sigh. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you about her request.”

  “It wouldn’t matter. She’d have asked me anyway.”

  Drew tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Will there ever be a time that it’s just us?”

  I wrapped my arms around his waist, holding tight to him. “Yes, and I’ll welcome the day when it comes.”

  His strong arms held me tight, encompassing me with his love. He kissed the crown of my head and stepped back. My eyes followed him to the door. He gripped the knob, then stopped. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He glanced over his shoulder. “It’s a girl.”

  I clasped my hands over my mouth, tears welling in my eyes. “She’s going to be a lucky little lady to have a daddy like you.”

  “As long as I don’t fuck it up this time.”

  My response came swift and certain. “You didn’t fuck it up the last time, but if you had, Karma seems to be on both our sides today.”

  He disappeared, returning back to Olivia’s side, and I dropped into the nearest chair to wait until I was able to pay my debt to Karma, thankful for the opportunity to set things right.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Andrew

  Watching Olivia in pain pretty much ripped my cold heart to shreds. Every terrible thing I’d ever said or felt about her, I instantly regretted. In the aisle of that plane and later at the hospital, I prayed that God would forgive me for my callousness. This baby was important, not my childish feud with Olivia. If I’d learned one thing from these past couple of weeks, it was that life was too short and a fleeting moment was all it took to tear a person apart.

  Weeks passed. When I wasn’t at Olivia’s condo helping McKenzie care for her, I was at work. I’d half expected my father to fire me over our last conversation, and I might’ve even welcomed the termination notice, but he saw fit to torture me instead. Each day, poor Ethan received six more case files in need of my review. With Gavin still gone on his honeymoon, I was in charge of the Sarasota office. Father thought that by overloading me with as many responsibilities as he could, he would break me. He was sorely mistaken.

  A tap at the door pulled me from the most recent client file that landed on my desk. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten in hours or longer. Rain trickled against the large windows behind me. A summer storm had settled over Sarasota. The salty scent of the gulf filled the air. I slapped the file closed, tossed my glasses on top of it, and called out, “It’s open.”

  I rolled my chair back from my desk and stood up, stretching my tense muscles. Every joint in my arms and back popped.

  Ethan stuck his head inside my office. “Hey, boss. It’s after midnight. Mind if I head out of here?”

  Surprised, I glanced at my watch and yawned. “Sorry ‘bout that. I didn’t even realize what time it was. Yeah, get out of here.”

  Ethan pushed the door completely open and leaned against the frame. “You need anything before I leave?”

  I started to unroll my sleeves, buttoning each one at my wrists. “Make sure that Don and Carol have everything they need for the Hale deposition tomorrow. I want that prenup thrown out. The bastard deserves to pay.”

  Ethan nodded, stifling a yawn. “Got it.”

  “Also, set up a meeting with Jolson. We really need to buckle down on the Alder settlement. Oh, and Reece needs to call the mediator tomorrow on the Mayer custody suit.” I considered the million and one tasks on my to-do list. Each one was just as important as the last, but all could wait until after a good night’s rest. “Never mind. Go home. We’ll worry about it tomorrow.”

  Ethan saluted me. “You’re the boss.”

  He pushed away from the entrance and turned, ready to leave my office. “Hey, Ethan. You hear anything from Natasha lately?”

  He stopped dead in his tracks. I tried not to laugh, but failed miserably. He thought he was being slick, keeping their little romance under the table, but Gavin had spilled the beans the last time we spoke. Ethan tugged at his ear. “Um…well…uh,” he stuttered. He stood up straight, turned back around, and held his head high. “Why, yes I have,” he over-corrected his response. “As a matter of fact, I’m going home to have phone sex with her right now.”

  My eyes shot up to the tiles on the ceiling, laughing. “Nice save, my friend. Tell her I said hi, and please make sure to wash your hands before coming into the office tomorrow.”

  “Sure thing!” He gave me two thumbs up and disappeared from the door.

  I removed my jacket from the back of my chair and slid it over my shoulders. Grabbing my keys and phone, I shoved them into my slacks pocket and left my office, closing the door behind me. All o
f the lights were dimmed. There were no associates, no secretaries, no interns, and no paralegals. The place was a ghost town. It hadn’t been my intention to stay so late, but they were billable hours. My father couldn’t bitch too much about that.

  In my car, I dialed McKenzie’s cell number. I wanted to see if she and Olivia were still awake. It’d been nearly twenty-four hours since I’d last seen my girl and I missed her. It was bad enough I had to mind myself in Olivia’s presence. Anytime I attempted to touch McKenzie, even in the most innocent of ways, she’d shy away. She told me that things between her and Olivia were on the mend, and she didn’t want to shove our relationship down her throat. That bothered me but I said nothing. It would all be over soon, and I’d have my girl all to myself.

  “Hey, handsome,” came her southern twang over the phone line.

  I pulled out of the parking lot and started toward the freeway. “Hey, yourself.”

  “You just now leavin’ the office?”

  “Yeah. I lost track of time. I half expected you to be asleep.”

  The rain had slowed to a drizzle, coating my windshield just enough that I required the use my wipers. The roads were empty save the few late night travelers. I heard a car door open and realized she was in transit. “I was, but Liv woke me. She had another one of her cravings. You know, I don’t recall having this many cravings when I was pregnant with Evan.”

  I chuckled. “That’s Olivia for ya. I wish I’d known. I could’ve picked something up on my way over. I’m starving.”

  “You’re coming over?”

  “If that’s all right.”

  “Of course it is. I miss you,” she simpered.

  I loosened my tie around my neck and veered the car onto the freeway. Ten minutes is all it would take for me to get to Olivia’s condo, and I couldn’t wait to kiss my girl. “Maybe I can even stay the night.”