“John, get your big, dumb brother to put me down.” She groaned.
“Maybe you should forgive him, sweetheart.” John chuckled.
“Fine, just stop screwing things up with my friend.” Ian chuckled when she placed a quick kiss on his cheek. He put her down, and she gave him a little shove.
“Are all of ya jus’ gonna stand around or are ya goin’ ta get ta da truck and bring in de girl’s things?” Nanny Betty stood in the doorway with her fists resting on her hips. “Stop yer lollygaggin’ and get out ta de truck.”
Ian and his brothers quickly moved because none of them wanted to piss off Nanny Betty and he wanted to make sure the girls had their own things, so they felt at home. Ian couldn’t believe that two little girls could have so much stuff.
“Holy shit man, are you sure there’s only two little girls?” Nick grumbled as they carried in an enormous wooden box.
“Yeah.” Ian chuckled.
“How the hell do two little girls have so much stuff?” Aaron carried in another box that said clothes. Ian lost count of how many of those boxes came into the house.
“Because they’re little girls, you big goof.” Stephanie pointed to the pile of boxes in the corner.
“This is why I’m single,” Aaron grunted.
“Yeah, that’s the reason. It wouldn’t be because you can’t keep a girl for any longer than one night.” Mike dropped another box on top of the pile.
“Fuck you.” Aaron snapped and then ducked as Nanny Betty slapped his arm.
“Watch yer mouth A.J.” Nanny Betty warned.
“Sorry, Nan.” He hurried out of the room but not before he gave Mike the finger behind Nanny Betty’s back.
Later that evening everyone had filtered out of the house, except for his mother and grandmother. Lily was helping his mother bake cookies in the kitchen. It was comical how they debated which type of cookie was healthier. His chest puffed up with pride when his mother looked down at his little girl and told her she was absolutely right about using honey instead of sugar in the cookies.
“They taste so much better, Lily.” His mother smiled as she ate the cookie.
“I know, Nanny. It’s better for you, too.” Lily sat at the kitchen table with her cookie and a glass of milk. She glanced at him and tilted her head to the side. “Daddy, I think Gracie is tired. She’s rubbing her eyes.”
Ian turned toward the baby he was holding in his arms. Sure enough, she was rubbing her eyes with her little fists. Stephanie had bathed her and put her in pajamas before she left and told him that she’d probably be ready for bed soon.
“I think you’re right, Lily.” Ian smiled.
“She’d gonna want a bottle first.” Lily jumped down off the chair and pulled it over to the counter.
“Lily, what are you doing?” Ian asked.
“I’m making her bottle.” She said as if it was something she was supposed to be doing.
“I can do that, sweetheart,” Marina had made sure he knew how to mix the bottle before she left.
“It's okay, Daddy. I do it all the time.” Lily flicked on the electric kettle. Anger began to build in his chest. What the hell had Colleen been doing? It wasn’t right for a six-year-old to be doing this. It was the parent's job, and he was going to let Lily know she could be a little girl, not a mother.
“Lily, it’s not your job to do that. You’re supposed to be a little girl.” Ian soon felt like the biggest ass in the world when she jumped down off the chair and ran out of the kitchen.
“What did I say?” Ian handed Grace to his mother.
“That’s what you need to find out.” She nodded toward where Lily bolted out of the kitchen.
“Maybe she likes ta help wit, Grace.” Nanny Betty said.
Ian searched the house and beginning to panic when he finally found Lily huddled in the middle of his bed. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His heart almost broke when she looked up at him with tears running down her cheeks.
“Lily, I’m sorry.” Ian sat at the foot of the bed. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He reached over and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“It’s okay.” She sniffed.
“No, it’s not. Why did you get so upset?” Ian asked.
“Mommy used to let me make Gracie’s bottle and then she’d read a book while we fed Gracie together.” Lily sobbed. It broke his heart and made him want to kick himself in the ass.
“We can do that too, sweetheart. I just didn’t know you did that.” Ian took her hand and pulled her into his lap. “This is all new to me.”
“I miss mommy.” She hiccupped and lay her head against his chest.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and closed his eyes. He had no idea what it was like to lose a parent, but the thought was heart-wrenching for him as an adult, but he couldn’t imagine what it would be like as a child.
“I’m sure you do, honey, but you know what?” He hugged her tightly to him.
“What?” She whispered.
“Your mom is in heaven watching over you.” Ian kissed the top of her head.
“Do you really believe that?” Lily looked up at him.
“Yes, I do,” Ian did believe it.
“I never got to say goodbye.” Lily sniffed and put her head on his shoulder again. It was then he realized Colleen didn’t have any family to claim her remains, besides the brother, everyone thought killed her. Maybe having a service for Lily would give his daughter some closure as well as himself. He’d get John or James to look into having Colleen’s remains brought home.
“Maybe we can have a service so you can say goodbye,” Ian whispered.
“Like the funeral Carter’s friend had?” Well at least she knew what a funeral was and it made him wonder if Carter had any family either.
“Yes, just like that. I’ll get Uncle John or Uncle James to check into it for you, okay?” Ian felt her body relax a little and she nodded.
For a few moments, he sat holding his little girl and thinking maybe he really could do this. She’d been putting on such a brave front for everyone, but Lily really was just a little girl who lost her mother, and no matter how smart she was, it was still hard to understand. It was hard for adults to understand.
“Can we go feed Gracie now?” She wiped her eyes, and Ian nodded. She jumped down from his lap and ran out of his room.
“I think this little one might be ready for a story, too.” His mother stood in the doorway with Grace resting her little head on his mother’s shoulder.
“I think so too.” Ian lifted the baby from his mother arms.
“You’re going to be a great father, Ian.” Kathleen kissed his cheek and walked away from him.
“So, Gracie. Do you think Nanny is right?” Ian studied the round face of the baby girl. She grabbed his nose and babbled. “I’m going to take that as a yes. Let’s go out and have story time with your big sister.” Then maybe when they went to sleep he’d call Sandy because as hectic as it had been all day, he missed her like crazy. He just hoped she answered.
Chapter 10
Sandy stared out the window and watched a small bird eat from the bird feeder in the back garden. She really loved visiting this house, even though it brought a lot of bad memories back but it was something she needed to do so she wouldn’t have to keep looking over her shoulder and give Keith the peace he deserved as well.
Then there was his brother. The one she couldn’t get out of her mind because she’d completely overreacted with everything. Considering what happened in the past, it wasn’t a surprise. It still hurt to think about how Ian blew her off for the woman who broke his heart. Especially, to know for sure that they didn’t just talk.
“Why are you acting so self-righteous considering what you’re hiding from him,” Sandy whispered to herself. “If he knew everything, he’d probably run for the hills.”
The door to her room opened, and she turned to see the familiar face come through the door holding a tray. Ruby was the older
sister of one of her dearest friends, and she’d become a good friend to her as well. Tessa’s life had been short and tragic and was one of the reasons Sandy wasn’t giving up on finding the bastard that took Tessa’s life and left her little girl without a mother.
Evie was another reason Sandy kept in touch with Ruby because she’d fell in love with Tessa’s little girl. Sandy took it upon herself to help Ruby with the little girl.
“Alexandra, you haven’t eaten all day. I brought you a sandwich and some tea.” Ruby said, and Sandy cringed. She hadn’t used her given name since she’d left Yellowknife. She hated it, but Ruby refused to call her anything else.
“Thanks, Ruby.” Sandy met her at the door and took the tray. “You really didn’t have to do that.”
“Do you think I don’t know a broken heart when I see it? I saw that look on you before.” Ruby sat on the foot of the bed.
“Ian is nothing like him.” Sandy snapped a little louder than she intended.
“I see.” Ruby stared at her. “So, what did this Ian do?”
“Nothing really. It wasn’t Ian’s fault, and I overreacted.” Sandy plopped down on the bed.
“I seem to remember you thinking that about someone else.” Ruby reminded her.
Sandy’s body trembled as her thoughts drifted back to the day she almost lost everything.
Nine years earlier.
Keith O’Connor had to be a crazy man because there was no way the man sitting in her living room was the same man Keith described to her. Scott Coates was her husband, and she knew him better than anyone. Didn’t she? The man Keith described was a cold, cruel man, but the one sitting in her living room wasn’t him. This one agreed to marry her even though she was pregnant with another man’s baby.
“Hey, babe didn’t hear you come in.” He stood up and stretched.
“Sorry, I was just watching you.” Sandy lied.
“You look exhausted. Maybe you need to rest.” He walked toward her, and before he got within arms reach she blurted out the question swirling around in her brain since she’d left Keith’s office.
“How do you know Tessa?” Sandy asked.
His face turned red with anger, and his hands fisted at his sides. In the short time, Sandy had known him not once had she seen the expression of hatred on his face. She gasped when he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
“Don’t ever mention that fucking name in front of me again.” He was squeezing her shoulder so hard it was hurting. “Do you understand me?” She nodded and pulled away from his grasp.
“I was just wondering.” She whispered as she backed up toward the kitchen and cupped her hands over her swollen stomach.
“Well stop, because that bitch almost ruined my life with her lies and one of these days she’ll get what’s coming to her.” He growled as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He read something on the screen and snatched his coat from the hook.
“Where are you going?” Sandy asked.
“None of your fucking business.” With that, he slammed the door behind him.
Sandy walked into the nursery and looked around. He’d helped her put the whole thing together. He helped her get excited about the baby. She grabbed the white teddy bear on the dresser and hugged it to her. Keith was right. Just the mention of Tessa’s name turned Scott’s face into a menacing snarl. Obviously, Tessa wasn’t mistaken. Scott had been the one to rape her when she was just fifteen years old. What made Sandy’s stomach clench was he’d gotten off with it because Tessa was too terrified to testify against him. According to Keith, there were also stories that Tessa wasn’t the only one, and he was still a person of interest in some missing person cases.
It terrified her that she really didn’t know him at all but what was she supposed to do. She was twenty-three years old, pregnant and the only family she had was her father in Newfoundland, but she’d never even met him and as far as she knew he wanted nothing to do with her.
She picked up the phone to call the one person who’d become like a brother to her since she’d moved to the north. He’d help her figure out what to do.
Sandy shook her head back to the present and sighed when she realized Ruby had not left the room. If it weren't for Ruby, she would have had nowhere to go on that terrible week, and Evie would be in foster care.
“Evie will be home from school soon,” Ruby said. “She’s looking forward to spending some time with you, Alexandra.”
“I feel guilty for not coming to visit more often.” Sandy picked up the sandwich and took a small bite.
“You have no reason to feel guilty. Evie knows you love her. She’s a smart little girl, and she keeps those teachers on their toes.” Ruby grinned.
“I’m so glad you agreed to take custody of her. I didn’t want to see her lost in the system considering I was the one that turned her into an orphan at two weeks old.” Sandy stood up and moved to the window.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. That man is the reason Evie was orphaned, and the reason why your baby is gone and I pray some day we'll get justice.” Ruby snarled, and Sandy stared at her because she was usually so quiet and refined, but the man took Ruby’s sister, so she had every right to hate him.
It was still hard to believe that it had been eight years, and there wasn’t a day she didn’t think about her little girl. The one Scott took away with one bullet along with her ability to have children. Well, the doctor never said she’d never be able to have any, but the chances were less than ten percent. The bullet damaged her uterus as well as caused her to lose one of her ovaries. She’d been so devastated that she’d spent a year living with Ruby to help her with Evie. It took her a little while to hold Evie at first, but when she did, it was like it helped her heal.
She spent the entire evening playing with Evie and making cupcakes. She felt a connection to Evie, probably because Evie lost her mom the same day Sandy lost her child. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t think about what her daughter would look like and what kind of personality she would have. She missed Tessa too. She’d been her only friend when she needed one.
“Alexandra, we should have a movie night tomorrow night since it's Friday.” Sandy could hear the hopefulness in Evie’s voice.
“That sounds like a good idea. What movies would you like to watch?” Sandy asked as she tucked Evie in bed.
“I like Frozen, but nobody ever wants to watch it. Aunt Ruby says she’s tired of princesses.” Evie rolled her eyes.
“I’d like to watch it with you.” Sandy smiled.
“Yay!” Evie jumped up and wrapped her arms around Sandy. “I love you, Alexandra.”
“I love you too, Baby Doll.” Sandy kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly.
With Evie sleeping soundly, Sandy sat in her room and read through the numerous texts she’d received from everyone back home. Stephanie had sent her a picture of Ian’s little girls and raved at how cute they were. Stephanie really didn’t mean to make her feel bad but it so hard to think she’d never be able to give him a child.
Stephanie apparently gave Ian shit. Sandy appreciated it, but he didn’t deserve it at least not with what he was dealing with. Her friend urged her to tell Ian everything. Besides Keith, Stephanie was the only ones outside her sister and Ruby that knew everything.
Keith’s texts were more about getting information. He was hoping their lead panned out, but of course, as usual, everything they received on Scott never turned up anything. He seemed to be able to vanish every time they got close. What was worse, nobody ever remembered seeing him.
Eight years ago…
“Keith, you have to get me out of here,” Sandy shouted when he finally answered.
“Did he hurt you?” Keith growled into the phone.
“No, but I asked him about Tessa and the look in his eyes... Keith, he was so pissed.” He looked like he could actually hurt someone.
“Put together what you need, and I’ll be there to get you in thirty minutes,” Keith s
aid. “Sandy, if he comes back don’t let him know I’m coming, okay?”
“Okay.” Sandy hung up the phone with a shaky hand and quickly put a bag together. She placed it next to the door and stared at the clock. It seemed like it wasn’t moving at all. Thirty minutes never seemed so long. When her back door finally opened, she jumped.
“Where the hell are you going?” Sandy turned slowly at the sound of his voice.
“I’m just going out to visit a friend.” Sandy knew her voice was anything but calm.
“Babe, do you think I’m a complete idiot? You’re not going anywhere in your condition.” That’s when she noticed the gun in his hand and the blood on his clothes.
“Scott, what did you do?” She backed toward the front door to put as much distance between them as possible.
“Don’t worry about it. All you need to know is that bitch won’t be spreading stories about me anymore.” Sandy gasped at his admittance, but before she could respond, her front door flew open.
“Sandy, grab your stuff and go out to the car,” Keith growled.
“She’s not goin’ anywhere with you.” Scott snapped.
Sandy noticed his hand was behind his back and she remembered the gun. She opened her mouth to warn Keith, but he stopped her.
“Sandy, go out to the car,” Keith said.
It was as if everything happened in slow motion. Scott lifted the weapon and pointed it straight at Keith. Without a second thought, she shoved Keith. A loud crack caused her ears to vibrate. Keith slammed against the wall, and Sandy felt as if someone punched her in the stomach. She was jolted back against the counter knocking the wind out of her lungs. She slid to the floor as she gasped for air and everything around her started to blur. She blinked her eyes to clear her vision and saw Keith point his weapon at Scott. The last thing she remembered was glancing down at her stomach to see her shirt soaked in blood.
She woke up in the hospital with Keith holding her hand. For a moment, she wasn’t sure what had happened. Keith somber expression had it all flooding back.
Dangerous Secrets (O'Connor Brothers Book 3) Page 8
