A Primary Decision

by Dr. Kevin Leman

  “Hey, just like in the Azores,” she said, smiling. “When I was half sleeping and half admiring you.”

  He laughed. “And when I was half working and half admiring you. But now it’s way, way better.” He tugged her closer. “I have a lot more benefits for fully admiring you.” He cocked his head invitingly toward their hut.

  She took his offered hand. “I like the sound of that. So what are you waiting for? Lead away, Romeo.”

  NEW YORK CITY

  Sarah sat on the couch in her penthouse in Greenwich Village. Her head ached with the disparate pieces that barraged her mind.

  A flash of Will’s aborted Senate race surfaced. Jason Carson lurking in the shadows for a brief interaction with him. Will’s determined expression as he strode off the stage and out through the crowd.

  She inhaled sharply. Surely Will couldn’t have believed, even in the shock of the moment, that their brother would be connected with a bombing.

  Or was it also because Carson knew somehow about her mother’s affair and threatened to reveal it to the world? Had Will known that, hidden it all these years from his brother and sister, but then stepped away to protect his family—especially their mother?

  Sarah’s grip tightened on the throw pillow she held on her lap. She couldn’t talk to Darcy or Jon, even as much as she trusted them. This was too deeply personal. She had to know as much as possible first.

  There was only one place to go. Her oldest brother.

  42

  Will had been expecting this call for some time. It finally came.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” his sister said bluntly.

  “Hi to you too,” he said.

  “Don’t mess with me, Will.”

  “Okay, so evidently you have something to tell me.”

  “The phone isn’t a good place. Meet me. Now. My place.” She hung up.

  He sighed. When his sister got that authoritative tone, he knew he couldn’t do anything but hop into a cab and hightail it over. But what exactly did she know? That their mother had an affair? About the fact Sean had a different birth father? Or was she guessing? Still trying to put together the pieces?

  First, he did what he always did when he was feeling squeezed by the women in his family. He talked to Laura. “She knows something,” he said as soon as he walked into the kitchen.

  “She. You mean Sarah, right?”

  His wife always knew how to read him. “Yes.”

  “Well, what exactly does she know?”

  He scratched his chin. “I have no idea.”

  “So you’re walking into a she-bear cave with no idea how many cubs she has, huh? Then you just take them on one at a time.” She paused. “And as gently as possible. Your sister may be a force to be reckoned with, especially when she’s determined or upset. But Will, she’s still your baby sister. Right now my guess is she’s as vulnerable as she’s ever been. Whether she knows one part, both parts, or more.”

  He nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

  “Just get over there, let her vent, and keep your mouth shut until she’s done. Then walk her calmly through what you know about the situation, piece by piece. Sure, she’ll be firing questions at you, but do what you do best—sort them out one at a time.” Laura’s advice, per usual, was straightforward. “And Will?” she added. “Don’t worry. You’ll know what to do when you get there. You always do.”

  Her support and belief in him astounded him, even after two decades.

  THE MALDIVES ISLANDS

  Sean inhaled the scent of the ocean as he stood on the veranda enjoying the soft breeze. Besides the waves, the only sound was the gentle call of birds in the trees nearby.

  So much had changed since he had fled New York City after discovering he was the product of an affair. Learning who he was had explained so much about his restlessness and their family’s dynamics. Secrets, once revealed, were freeing.

  The revelation had not destroyed his parents’ marriage, as he had feared. Instead it had seemed to remind them of what was truly important. Sean had never seen his driven father so affectionate with his mother. Now Bill lingered over coffee at the table with his family. He and Ava would soon be on their way to Australia, affectionately calling it a second honeymoon while Sean and Elizabeth were on their first.

  Sean himself had realized, through the wrenching pain of the past months, what—and who—truly mattered. Elizabeth. His family. Trusted friends he could count on one hand, such as Drew, Jon, and Kirk Baldwin, who was rough around the edges but solid gold at his core. As he glanced back at Elizabeth, asleep on the couch just inside the door, he made a vow—to always treat her as his beloved bride.

  Settling into the rattan chair on the veranda, he picked up the wedding present Elizabeth had given him. He flipped open the pages of the book to the inscription and read it again in the subtle glow of the lamplight.

  For the man you are, and the man you will be.

  My love always,

  Elizabeth

  She had known how much he missed the Bible Sarah had given him, as much as he had tried to ignore its wise words for years. Then, in his darkest of times on Corvo, he had at last leafed through its pages. The truths revealed indeed had been light for his path. Then, when Sean had realized suddenly that he loved Elizabeth and needed to return to civilization, he’d unwittingly left the book behind in the little white house. So the gift he held now was a precious one indeed.

  He sighed, his thoughts weighed by the two secrets that still hung over the Worthington family. The Polar Bear Bomber photos would come out eventually. The question was simply when. The media would play it up, of course, and wear any angle thin. People would think what they decided to think.

  Elizabeth had said it best: “Those who matter won’t mind. Those who mind don’t matter.”

  He chuckled. Leave it to Elizabeth to streamline anything to a cryptic punch.

  Together they would weather any chaos. He was convinced of that.

  But it was time for his parents to know about the Polar Bear Bomber photos. Earlier they had seemed too fragile. But Bill and Ava would both want to know. As soon as he and Elizabeth were home from their honeymoon, Sean would tell them. Or perhaps he and Will would, since those photos were the other part of the reason Will had walked away from the Senate bid, never explaining his reasons.

  As the book now spread in front of him said, there truly was a time and a season for everything. It was time to bring the pieces of the puzzle together for his parents.

  The only secret that would remain was the one they were all holding from Sarah—about Sean’s parentage. Sean was intensely uncomfortable withholding it from her. But Sarah had so much going on in her career, Bill continually argued. “It’s not the time to give her something else to think or worry about,” he’d insisted.

  But perhaps Sarah was much stronger than they all gave her credit for.

  A SECURE LOCATION

  “Perimeter closing in, as we discussed?” the caller asked.

  “Right on target,” the man said. “They won’t have anywhere to run or hide.”

  “Good. Let’s get it done.”

  43

  NEW YORK CITY

  The time for family secrets was over. Will didn’t hesitate. He phoned his father.

  “There’s something you need to know. I’d rather tell you in person, but since you’re leaving early tomorrow, that isn’t possible. I’m on my way to Sarah’s right now.”

  “Is something wrong with your sister?”

  “No,” Will said. “Not physically.”

  “What exactly does that mean?”

  “She’s hot under the collar about something, but I’m not sure what. She just demanded that I meet her at her place, pronto.”

  Bill sighed. “That sounds like your sister. So what do you think she knows?”

  “I’m not sure. But if she has put the pieces together about Sean, I’m going to have to tell her.”

  There was a long pause. Then
, at last, a quiet, “I understand.”

  “As for what I wanted to tell you in person—actually, what Sean and I wanted to tell you together—I need to tell you now.”

  His father was strangely silent, not interrupting at all, as Will explained about the photos of Sean with the Polar Bear Bomber.

  “So that’s why you stepped out of the Senate race? Not only because you knew about your mother’s affair but also because you thought Sean might be involved with a bombing?”

  “Dad, I didn’t have time to think. I simply had to act—to protect all of us as a family. So I did what I had to. I got out of the race so I could sort it out.”

  “And sorting it out meant not telling me about it?”

  “Do you honestly think you were ready to hear about anything else at that time?”

  Bill blew out a breath. “You’re right. I wasn’t. But I’m listening now. Does your mother know?”

  “No, and it will be up to you to tell her in the timing you choose.”

  “Then I will tell her tonight. We promised each other no more secrets. I will not fail in that promise.”

  When Will disconnected the call, he was relieved.

  One secret down, one left to go. He doubted dealing with his feisty sister would be as easy.

  As soon as Sarah heard Will’s familiar step on her landing, she flung open her door. “You’ve been holding out on me,” she accused.

  “Whoa.” He raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “How about at least offering me some coffee before you start in on me?”

  “Coffee is already brewing.”

  He grinned. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  She held in her words until she and Will sat facing each other at the small table nestled in the nook of her kitchen.

  “So, what do you want to talk about?” he asked as he cradled his cup of steaming brew.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that Mom had an affair?” The words burst out with no filter. It was her brother, after all. They always shot straight with each other. At least she’d thought so, until now. “And with the president of the United States?”

  He lifted a brow. “So the double barrel all at once,” he shot back at her. “Got any other ammunition you want to fire at me? You might as well get it all over with.”

  She slumped. “Why do you always make me feel juvenile?”

  “Because I’m your older brother, and that’s what older brothers do.”

  “True.” She sighed. The heat of the moment dissipated. “Okay, let’s start over. I’ll tell you what I know . . . or what I think I know.”

  She filled Will in on the startling phone conversation she’d overheard between Ava and Thomas as she’d stood in their Chautauqua kitchen. As she did so, she studied Will. There was no hint of surprise, no shock. So her brother knew. Who else knew?

  When she’d concluded her story, he said simply, “You believe from what you heard that Ava and Thomas had an affair.”

  “What else could I conclude? I do have some pretty good instincts, being an attorney and all.”

  He brushed the comment off. “Did you ask Mom about it?”

  “No. I couldn’t bring myself to. Mom has finally seemed normal again, after recovering from Sean going missing. I couldn’t stir the pot, especially with Sean getting married. Mom deserves some happiness after all she’s been through.” She zeroed in on him. “Will, did you know?”

  He looked down briefly at his coffee cup, then up again. “Yes. I was very young when it happened, but I knew something was wrong. Mom was sad. I tried to comfort her, but nothing seemed to help. I remember feeling very lost during that time. I didn’t know exactly what had happened until recently, when Mom told me. After that, the memories I had from childhood seemed to make more sense.”

  Her eyes teared. “So Mom told you? But not me?”

  He reached over to clasp her hand on the table. “She wanted to protect you. She didn’t think you had to know. You’ve had so much going on with your job at the DOJ, the attorney general vetting, the Polar Bear bombing, that she didn’t want to worry you or throw you off your trajectory. Then, with you resigning from the AG position and launching into the presidential race, well, she didn’t want to trouble you.”

  “Does Dad know? Does Sean?”

  He nodded. “They do now.”

  She swallowed. How difficult that must have been for her father, thinking of his wife in the arms of another man. “Anybody else besides Laura?”

  Laura was a given. Will would never withhold any knowledge from his wife.

  “Drew,” Will said softly.

  “That doesn’t surprise me. That man knows everything.”

  “And he’s been with our family a long time. You know he’s loyal. He would never let it leak to the press.”

  “But would Thomas?”

  Will frowned. “From what I know of the man, never. He was a good friend of Mom and Dad’s for a long time. He’s never said anything in all these years. He wouldn’t now.”

  “Then how could Jon know about it?”

  Will’s eyes widened. “Jon? What does he have to do with this?”

  “He told me Mom had an affair and that I deserved to know from him before I found out from somewhere else.”

  Now Will turned into the interrogator. “Did Sean tell him? And if so, when?”

  She chewed on her lip. “I don’t know how Jon knew. He just knew.”

  “And you didn’t ask him?” Will scowled.

  “No.” She sighed. “I kind of flew off the handle and ordered him out the door.”

  Will sat back. “Ah.”

  A wave of remorse washed over Sarah. Jon had only been trying to protect her by telling her the truth before someone else did. “Guess I owe him an apology. Take two.”

  “There’s an understatement.” Will chuckled. “I’ve seen you when you’re in full firing mode. The only thing we guys can do is batten down the hatches and wait until the storm blows over.”

  She smacked his arm.

  Will left Sarah’s late that night with a mix of feelings. His sister knew about the affair but still didn’t know that Sean was the product of that affair. So Will had done as Laura had suggested earlier—answered the questions Sarah asked one at a time, giving out no more information than she requested.

  Drew was right. Secrets would indeed be revealed, but some had so many interweaving threads that they could only be pulled one at a time without making a mess of the complete tapestry.

  It wasn’t Will’s place to pull the last thread. That should come to Sarah from their mother and Sean. Some secrets were not Will’s to tell, as much as he hated leaving things unfinished. The idea grated against everything he was at his core. But since the two revelations of the photos and Sean’s parentage, his axis had wobbled. His world didn’t seem as black and white anymore. The grays in between resulted from his protectiveness toward those he loved.

  At least his dad now knew about the photos. His mom would know soon, if she didn’t already. Will had updated Sarah on that, and she’d seemed relieved. He would alert Drew of that fact tomorrow morning and fill him in on his discussion with Sarah.

  Before Will had reached his home, Bill phoned.

  “Your sister?”

  “She’s okay, Dad. But she knows.”

  “About Sean?”

  “No, about the affair.”

  “You didn’t—”

  “I didn’t. But you and Mom and Sean need to figure this out. Someone needs to tell her everything.”

  “I talked to Drew a few minutes ago, after I told your mother about the bomber photos. He said the same thing. Your mother agrees, as much as she hates to do it. But she doesn’t feel comfortable saying anything unless Sean can be there too.”

  “So as soon as possible after Sean and Elizabeth get back, and you and Mom return from Australia?”

  “Yes.” His father’s tone had switched to his business one, distancing all emotion. “You should probably alert Sean
to what Sarah knows.”

  “Sarah will leave it alone until he’s back from his honeymoon. Even she wouldn’t dare intrude on that. But just in case, I’ll text him a heads-up sometime tomorrow so it’s waiting for him. Elizabeth said she was going to hide his phone and not give it back to him until they hit JFK on the way home.”

  44

  Sarah had tried texting and calling Jon. She still hadn’t heard from him. Often when he was on assignment, he couldn’t get back to her immediately. But he always got back to her within six to eight hours, if not sooner. It was now midmorning the next day. He would never betray the Worthingtons and break the story about the affair, would he?

  Now she was worried. Where had Jon’s information come from? Sean? But why would Sean reveal that to Jon and not her?

  Or had it come from another source—someone who was trying to stir up trouble for the Worthingtons? Especially now, with one of them in the presidential race? It wouldn’t be the first time, or the last.

  She needed to talk to her mother, her father. But no, they were on the flight to Australia.

  How was it that her parents could survive one of the worst events in a marriage—infidelity—and emerge stronger? Sarah thought back to their interactions at the wedding. No, their affection hadn’t been a show. But it had likely taken everything they had to refocus as a couple and figure out how to go on after the betrayal. Somehow they had been able to forgive and love again.

  And I can’t even let a fight with a friend go. She hadn’t been able to sleep all night.

  “A friend, huh? Jon’s just a friend?” Sean had teased at the wedding. “Somehow I think there’s a lot more going on.”

  Ever since her failed romance with the TV producer, Sarah had taken a pass even on casual dating. She wasn’t about to admit to anyone, especially her brothers, that she had more than a passing interest in a New York Times reporter, even if he was someone they all knew and trusted.

  So she’d faked disinterest in response to Sean’s gibe. But she knew he hadn’t been fooled.