He looked at her, his eyes filled with confusion. “Do what?”
“I’m sorry, I should’ve said something earlier. I was afraid, not for me, but for her.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re worried about Kate?”
Holly rolled her eyes a little. She bit her bottom lip and looked away.
“You don’t know the entire truth because I chose not to tell you. I was cruel, I’m sorry.”
He moved her off him so she was sitting in front of him, and sat back, straddling the recliner.
“Don’t be mad, Jake. I just needed to process stuff.”
“Don’t be mad about what?”
“You know I’m a twin, right?”
He nodded.
“There…” She paused to take a deep breath. “Jake, there were two babies.”
Jake merely stared at her. “No, please. I can’t do this.” He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
She touched his arm. “No, listen to me. She pulled through, Jake.”
Ever so slowly, his hands dropped from his face.
She saw tears in his eyes. “I should’ve told you earlier. But I was scared, because she knows about you.”
“What?”
“She is a Peters through and through. She asked the daddy question when she was two. I couldn’t tell her that her father hadn’t wanted her, so I made up a stupid story about you living in a rainbow. I thought it would stop there, but then she wanted to know what you looked like and…I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done it.”
He merely stared at her. It unnerved her to such an extent, she found it hard to swallow past the growing lump in her throat.
“Say something, please.”
“I have a living, breathing daughter?”
Holly nodded.
“Where is she?”
“She’s here with me, but she’s sleeping.”
He pulled her into him and hugged her tight.
“You’re not mad?”
“I have a daughter who is alive. It’s the best day of my fucking life as much as it is the worst. Can I meet her?” He mumbled in her neck.
“After all this is sorted out.”
“Holly—”
“She’s sleeping, Jake. It’s complicated. And she’s not a puppy. She believes you’re going to come home.”
“I will. I swear to you, if that is what you want.”
“Stop it. It’s not about what I want, or anyone else wants. It’s about what you want. What do you want, Jake?”
He pulled back and looked at her, his eyes intense. “My family,” he said. “Just like it should have been four years ago. I’m tired of pretending that everything is fine, when it clearly isn’t. I’m tired of living a life that isn’t completely mine. I’m trapped and I need someone to save me, Holly. Please, save me.”
All she could do at that moment was hug him, and when she did so, Jake cried into her neck. She kissed his hair and breathed him in. He was a mess. Worse than what she was.
“So, back to the ripping out your mother’s heart out thing. You’ll be of no use to me or Jamie behind bars, Jake.”
He sniffed. “I’ll ask Leo to hold me back, okay?”
“Think about what you’ve just said. If it’s really what you want, please come home.” Her lower lip trembled.
“Just like that?”
“My door will never close, not for you.”
They kissed, but Holly cut it short before it got heated. They fell into conversation about Jamie. Holly didn’t have her phone with her so she could show him a photo, but she tried to describe their daughter as best she could.
She told him about the rainbow story she’d made up, and how every single Peters had made it into her imaginary rainbow.
“She knows what we all look like…who we are?”
“Yeah. Crazy, right?”
“You are far from crazy. You are beautiful and kind, and everything I ever wanted in a woman.” He touched his lips to hers again.
It felt good to be in his arms.
“We really need to get some sleep, Jake. Tomorrow is going to be hard.”
“I don’t need sleep.” He hugged her tighter.
“No, you do. And so do I.”
“Fine, party pooper.” He reluctantly got up and pulled her to her feet, then put his arm around her shoulders as they walked back to her cabin.
“So, this is where Frank is staying?”
“Yes, I’ll tell him tomorrow, early. Or later today.”
Jake smiled.
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret. Just go back to Bernie’s and Leo’s room.”
He nodded.
With that, she pried herself out of his arms, opened the door and walked in.
She hated having to shut the door on him, but she couldn’t let him in and risk Jamie seeing him. Jamie would never want him to leave, and Holly refused to subject her daughter to that heartache.
Not ever.
* * *
JAKE
The next morning, Leo had to shake him awake.
“Hey bud, how are you feeling?”
Jake grinned sleepily at Leo.
“What’s going on?”
“I have a daughter. Who’s alive.”
Leo rubbed the bridge of his nose. “When did she tell you?”
“I couldn’t sleep and found her by the pool last night. She was really forgiving.”
“Already?”
“What can I say, I’m irresistible and apparently, my daughter is a constant reminder of me.”
“Did you see her?”
Jake shook his head. “She wanted me to sort out my shit. Realistically, I can’t kill my mother, Leo. You’ll have to help me.”
“You weren’t going to kill her, anyway.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I honestly didn’t think Holly would ever forgive me, or even ask me to come home. I might not have harmed my mother, but done something stupid, either way. But I can’t, because I have a daughter who needs me.”
“I’m glad Holly told you. Fuck, I’m glad Bernie was right. I knew you would never snap out of this, and worried that we would never be close again. But we will be fine.” He sighed.
Jake sat up, leaned over and hugged his friend. “I’m sorry about everything. I wish I’d never stopped looking for her. I was so fucking close. If only I’d gone to those hospitals before I got on that plane, I would’ve found them. All of them.”
“Wait, you were in Seattle?”
“Yeah, fucked up, isn’t it? My mother bashed down my door and dragged me back. I was so close, Leo.”
“Bud, I think Holly knew.”
“What do you mean?” Jake asked.
“This is deep shit.”
Jake squinted. “What are you talking about?”
“She told you what happened?
“Not in too much detail. We mostly talked about her struggles.”
“She died, dude.”
“Yeah, I know, and it hurts like a motherfucker.”
“I’m not talking about the baby. I’m talking about Holly.”
Jake’s throat closed. “What the fuck are you on about?”
“She flatlined. Holly told Bernice that she saw a vision of you—that you were there. Something like that. You should tell her what she means to you, bud.”
Jake snorted. “Trust me, I have.”
Leo looked at him for a beat and then shrugged. “Good. That’s something at least. Keep telling her.”
“I will.” He gave his friend a sliver of a smile, but his mind quickly wandered. He still couldn’t believe that she’d seen him when she’d flatlined. What the hell?
His phone rang and he grabbed it off the nightstand. When he glanced down at the display, he was that it was Kate.
The moment he heard her screams, he immediately regretted having answered.
“I’ll be there soon, Kate.”
“I swear, if you slept with that waitress—”
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“I didn’t, just calm the fuck down.” He ended the call and pressed his fingers into his eyes. They were burning.
“You okay? Are you ready for this?” Leo asked.
“So fucking ready.”
His phone rang for a second time and he grunted, thinking it was Kate again, but Frank’s name flashed on the screen.
“I’m so sorry, my boy, I should’ve—”
“You did enough by bringing them here,” Jake interrupted.
“I should’ve just asked you what her name was—the woman who broke your heart. I wanted to, so many times, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. You were in such pain back then, and I didn’t want to further add to what you were going through. When I began to suspect… But Holly always maintained that the father hadn’t wanted either her or the babies, that he’d wanted her to get an abortion. I couldn’t ever imagine you being that kind of person. Not the Jake I know.”
“I’m not, Uncle Frank.”
“I know. What are you going to do?”
“Well, I’m going to speak to the woman who gave birth to me, that’s for sure. What do you know about my children?”
“Everything. I was their pediatrician; I still am.”
“I’ve heard.”
Frank chuckled. “The amount of times I’ve seen you in her…I can’t even count. If only I’d asked you about her before.”
“It’s in the past now. Listen, I need you there when I talk to that woman. Otherwise, I’m going to do something I might regret.”
“I won’t let you. You are stronger than she is. She needs to tell her side of the story, and you need to hear her out.”
“She already told her side of the story and it was all fucking lies.” A manic smile spread over Jake’s lips.
“The real side, Jake. She needs to own up, my boy. You need to let her, even if it takes the entire day.”
Jake sighed. “You’re right, I need to get back to the cabin. Please meet me in front of room 105. I can’t come over to your cabin, or I’ll never leave if I do.”
“I know, my boy. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks, Uncle Frank.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I don’t feel like I truly deserve it.”
They said their goodbyes. Jake knew, without a doubt, that this situation was going to play havoc with his godfather, that it was going to tear him up on the inside. Frank had been a part of their lives for the past four years.
Bernie walked out of the bedroom.
“How are you feeling, Jake?”
“Sad, but fucking happy.”
Bernie looked taken aback. “Happy?”
Leo went to stand behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist. He dropped a kiss on her head. “Oh, he went for a stroll last night and bumped into a certain strawberry-blond.”
Bernie groaned and looked at the ceiling. “You fucked like rabbits, didn’t you?”
“No. If you must know, we were very responsible, and we talked. She told me about my living, breathing daughter.”
Bernie’s face lit up. “You know about Jamie?”
“Yeah. Holly said I could meet her later today, once I’ve sorted this mess out with my birth mother. I need you to make sure Holly and Jamie don’t go anywhere near the cabins we rented. It’s going to be war zone there, and I don’t want them seeing that, or being a part of it. And my ‘mother’ doesn’t deserve to be included in this reunion.”
“She really did tell you everything,” Bernie said, amazed.
“She did. Promise me you’ll keep them busy, Bernie.”
“I promise. There’s a boat heading out on the lake. It only returns late afternoon. Think that’s long enough?”
Jake nodded. “Yeah, it should be.”
“Awesome.”
“Please try to get me a photo of Jamie. I need proof.”
“I will. I haven’t technically met her yet. She was asleep when I found out that Jane was here. I didn’t think Holly was here as well, and then the shock of a lifetime happened.”
He smiled. “Thanks.”
A knock sounded on the door. “That must be Frank.”
* * *
HOLLY
Holly woke up from the chattering that was coming from the lounge.
She turned to Jamie’s side of the bed, but it was empty. She rolled out of bed and stretched her arms over her head, yawning as she walked to the lounge.
There, she found Bernie with Jamie settled on her lap. Jamie was talking to Bernie like the little adult she was.
Bernie smiled up at Holly. “Oh, look, Mommy is awake.”
“Look, Mommy, it’s Bernice! My Bernice.”
Holly laughed. “Yes, it is. You have her name.”
“She came! She finally came! I wish Roddy was here.”
“Who’s Roddy?” Bernie asked with a questioning look at Holly.
“My other friend.”
“Trying to replace me?”
“It was nice having a best friend as I didn’t have you around. You’d like him. He’s basically you with one exception; he has a penis.”
“Holly!” Bernie hissed, putting her hands over Jamie’s ears.
“Oh, she learned boys have penises and girls have vaginas a long time ago. Not only did she get her father’s looks, but she got his brains as well.”
Bernie laughed.
Jamie looked at Holly with wide eyes. “She knows Daddy?”
“Oh, I know Daddy very well. I’m sorry about that stupid rainbow, sweetie.”
“Yeah.” Jamie’s face fell. “I don’t like them.”
“Well, maybe soon it will set him free,” Bernie said.
“Him, and Grandpa Gus, and Grandma Mara, and Auntie Amelia, just everyone!” Jamie screeched enthusiastically.
“Oooh, okay, you want everyone. Let’s just hope for Daddy, okay?” Bernie scrunched up her nose.
Giggling, Jamie hugged her.
“Oh, Holly.” Bernie sighed, her eyes shimmering with tears. “She is gorgeous.”
“She is. I’m going to need a shotgun someday soon.”
“No, Jake needs one.”
Holly groaned in protest.
Bernie quirked an eyebrow.
“What don’t you get? Tread carefully with what you say. She’s a little genius,” Holly mumbled.
“Sorry, I forgot she’s Peters. She really does look like he did at her age.”
“She is a Scallanger,” Jane stated, coming in from the kitchen with a tray of coffee cups.
“So, how do we go about keeping her you-know-where until you-know-what is over?” Jane asked.
“I’ve got it all figured out,” Bernie said to Jamie, who laughed. “We are going on a little boat trip. What do you say about that, munchkin?”
“A boat trip!” Jamie yelled excitedly.
“Yes, and Santa gave me a lot of money so that you could have a fun, fun, fun day.”
Holly grunted.
“Oh, you need to get used to all this, sweetheart. She is going to be a spoiled little brat.”
Bernie and Jane laughed at the horrified expression on Holly’s face. Having Jamie turn into a spoiled brat was the last thing she wanted.
“Not if I have anything to say about it, which I will.”
“Go get ready,” Bernie said to Holly, making a shooing motion with her hands.
“Santa came super early,” Jamie said excitedly as Holly walked back to her room.
“For you, he did,” Bernie replied.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
“Are you sure about this?” Jane asked, following close on Holly’s heels.
“I found him at the pool at two this morning. I couldn’t sleep and went for a walk. Next thing I know, he’s sitting down next to me. It’s why I’m so tired this morning.”
“Oh, what did you do?”
“Nothing. Not that I didn’t want to, because believe me, seeing him again sparked something inside me, but he has a lot to sort out. He wants to come home, Mom. H
e begged me. You weren’t there to see it, but he meant it. He’s wanted us all this time. I was the stupid one, acted rashly. This wasn’t his fault. He was so sad. He begged me to save him. It’s like he’s been drowning all this time without me.” Holly’s voice was thick with emotion, and the tears pricking at her eyes pissed her off. She wished she could just stop fucking crying. “When am I going to stop crying?”
Her mother hugged her. “You were dealt a bad hand, sweetheart. I should’ve let you phone him. I’m so sorry.”
Holly swiped at her tears with her fists.
“I’m glad the truth has come out, but I’d still like a word with him before he meets Jamie.”
“Of course, Mom. I’ll let Bern set it up. I don’t have his number, but I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Well, you better get dressed. I don’t want to be at this resort today.”
“Me, either.” She turned to rifle through her luggage. “Where’s Frank?” she asked over her shoulder.
“He went to help Jake.”
Holly’s hands stilled and she closed her eyes. “You told him?”
“I had to, Holly.”
“What did he say?”
“He was sad and upset. He blames himself for never calling Jake, for never asking you straight out if Jake was Jamie’s father.”
“But it’s not his fault.”
“I know, but he feels like it is. He told me he saw Jake in Jamie whenever he looked at her. I’m so sorry, baby.” Jane put her hand on Holly’s shoulder and squeezed.
In turn, Holly brought her hand up and covered her mother’s. “Stop apologizing. We, this, you and me and Jamie, it’s the only good that came out of this horrible mess, Mom. If it hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t be here.”
“But the cost…”
“Was a huge loss and an ache I have to live with for the rest of my life, but it’s the reason I got my mother back when I needed her the most,” Holly said, turning to wrap her arms around her mother. “Now come on, Bernie’s going to have a hernia if we don’t hurry up.”
Jane chuckled, giving her a last squeeze before going to her room to get dressed.
The boat set sail at nine, and Holly breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see any of the Peterses or Frank nearby.
When the shore faded from view, the tightness in her chest eased, and she turned to see Bernie snapping a selfie with Jamie.
Luck Page 7
