“Addy, I can’t say 100% I want kids, but I can say I don’t want life without you. Maybe we play it by ear, and if it happens, it happens. When we are at the point to start trying, we can sit down and discuss it. I want you to know I will never break us. I will give you whatever you want.” I quickly respond, “It has to be what you want, too, Tyler. I won’t sacrifice either of our happiness. It won’t work.”
He grabs my face, “My happiness is dependent on your happiness. My heart beats for you. We can do this.” He gently brings his lips to mine and seals our fate. No matter what life throws at me, I know I need him by my side.
Brielle takes the stage and starts singing “Whatever It Takes” by Lifehouse. The lyrics of this song actually speak to me. Whatever it takes, I want us to survive. Not just survive, but flourish. We have the love and the friendship; we just need the time.
Five days later Tyler got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I readily agreed and thought we would make it this time. I thought that life was done tearing us apart. Fucking laughable.
Chapter 4
May 2017
Tyler
Nothing could have prepared me for seeing Addison again, let alone seeing my babies for the first time. How could she even think of keeping me from them? That wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t the character of the girl I fell hopelessly in love with. Her spirit is pure and void from evil. Is this new Addison what I have made her? I hope not, because I will never forgive myself. Her gentle spirit and calming nature is what draws me to her. Sure, she can be hell on wheels and has a sassy mouth, much like her siblings, but she has always been the voice of reason. Her moral compass always leads her and those around her to do what is right.
The first day I saw her I knew I would marry that girl. It was the first day of tenth grade, and she was a new student. Her tiny frame and gorgeous looks turned every head, male and female, in the school. She was so unassuming and had such an old soul about her. She was far older than her years but had the balance of being able to cut loose and be a bit wild. Our whole relationship, she was my rock. My parents are not good for anything but my college tuition, and they threw money at me as a way for me to disappear. They are miserable together and miserable in general. They aren’t evil but got married for all the wrong reasons . . . money and social status. Then bring a kid in the mix, and that is one cup of fucked upness. Yeah, the role models I had didn’t set me up for the happy family life Addison dreamed of. Her family life wasn’t exactly picture perfect, either. Her grandparents had just taken her in the year I met her, along with her three younger siblings. The truth behind that came out after they had passed away. Her father was going into the political scene after being a hot-shot lawyer in Florida, and her mother had just left her medical practice. They hired some asshat political advisor, Brent, and he molested Brielle. When Brielle came forward her parents didn’t believe her, so her grandparents came in and took the kids to live with them in Tennessee. It wasn’t a pleasant situation and Brielle struggled with it for years. Addison had always been more mother than sibling to her younger sisters and brother. I didn’t understand why she would want to be a parent after that. She did have great examples to learn from in her grandparents, and she and Brielle have done a great job with Cambree and Dustin. I haven’t been around the last ten months, but I have seen those kids grow up. Not everyone would agree with their methods in raising them; hell the language that flies around that house is questionable, but if that is the worst they do, we are all lucky.
Brielle walks out. “Penny for your thoughts . . .” she says.
“Is that all they are worth?” I ask her.
“I will be asking for change.” She smiles at me. “Really, Tyler, what are you going to do? You can’t fuck this up again. Addison is different. She is closed off now. Not like I was, because even when I refused to engage myself, I always had a mouth on me. She doesn’t verbalize anything anymore. She is a shell of the person she used to be, and it’s scaring all of us. Cambree and Dustin spend most nights here because they can’t get Addison to talk with them anymore. We both know she would never let them down if she was in her right mind. I don’t know exactly what went down, and my imagination is running wild. I know it wasn’t good, and it killed a big piece of her.”
I was afraid of this. All Addison wanted from me was love and loyalty. I failed her at both. She may have the kids she always dreamt of, but she doesn’t have the love from a husband like she deserves. I don’t have a game plan, and I don’t think one would work. I will just grovel everyday and tell her constantly that I will not hurt her anymore. I don’t know if there is a chance for us anymore, but I will be a daddy. My little angels will know love and support from me. She will not take that away from me.
I try to explain this all to Brielle, and she listens to me without interrupting. When I am done she says, “I don’t know Tyler. I want to say it will work out, but the truth is, I have no fucking clue. I have never dealt with her like this. Your promises have become a joke to her. I wish I was a hopeless romantic and could spout off some sappy shit to you, but I am not. Love, marriage, and kids are hard work. Every damn day. The rewards are exceptional, and I am lucky for my saint of a husband. I just don’t know how much fight ya’ll have left. Sure, it is easy to walk away, but it is always much harder to stay. Problem is, you have walked away a few too many times.”
I hate that she is right. I ask her, “Can I crash here? I don’t want to go back to my parents, and I gave up my house when I moved.”
She answers, “I don’t have a problem with it, but I will tell you up front if Addison is not okay with it, you will be out. My loyalty is to my sister . . . always.” I just nod in agreement because she is right.
I tell her, “I am going over to her house in the morning. This should be interesting. I will know my girls and be their father in every sense. I am telling you now, nobody will stop me in that.” I want her to know I will fight her and everyone for that chance. She doesn’t say anything but just smiles at me. She gets up and heads upstairs.
I continue to sit outside and nurse my beer. My mind keeps drifting to all our memories . . . our first date, our first kiss, and the first time she told me she loved me. Clouded in there are all the tears she has shed over me. I have royally screwed up so many ways and times. I don’t know if she has it in her to forgive me one more time, and I don’t know if I have the right to ask that of her.
I am thankful Brielle didn’t mention Mitch being there for her. I can’t get a grip on that relationship. He didn’t try and stop me from taking her off and talking, and he didn’t touch her like she was his, just a kiss on the head, like friends. I would have lost my shit if that happened. Addison did mention getting married to him, though. There was no way in hell that was happening.
Chapter 5
Brielle
After my talk with Tyler, I make my way upstairs to see if Colby is done putting the kids to bed. How can so much chaos happen at a first birthday party? I am pissed at both Tyler and Addison. I am not the poster child for dealing with emotions, but there are two little infants’ lives at stake here. I know Addison felt she was doing the right thing involving Mitch, and I don’t know the whole story, but she just added another pile to this shit storm. When the hell did I become the stable one? Between Cambree, her hormones, and social life, and Dustin turning into a man whore, my two babies, and my husband, I feel like I am being pulled in too many directions. Add in the drama now developing with Addison, Tyler, the twins, and Mitch, and I may very well put myself in a padded cell with lots of wine.
Cambree is waiting in my room when I get there. “What’s up?” I ask her. I am sure she wants to ask permission to go out tonight, or she needs money for a new outfit. I am surprised by what comes out of her mouth.
“I am the one who told Tyler about Cheyenne and Shiloh. I sent him a text last night, and I am afraid Addison will hate me now. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this anymore.” I move next to her on the
bed.
“Sweetie, Addison will never hate you. She may be upset because you took her choice away from her. Maybe she wasn’t making good choices, but they are her choices to make.” I see her face fall in shame.
“I understand, Brielle, but the choices she made didn’t just affect her. It was going to affect the twins and Tyler. He isn’t my favorite person. He abandoned us all, but he deserves to know his kids. I love living here with you and Addison, but that choice was made for me. Granddad and Grandmother made that choice for us, and sometimes I get mad because I don’t have parents. You and Addy are great and have been there every step of the way, but I don’t know why it has to be like this.” I was so afraid of this day happening. She is seventeen and growing up. I don’t know if it is right to tell her the truth or not. Will she understand? Will she blame me? I still have those doubts and insecurities.
“Cambree, you may feel like they made that choice for you, but there are circumstances that play into it. There was no choice. You can blame me for it. Something bad happened to me in Mom and Dad’s house that they didn’t do anything about. When Granddad found out, he had no choice but to take us, and it was to keep us all safe . . . including you.” That is all I can tell her, and I hope that will be enough.
“Not Dad? It wasn’t him who did things to you?” she asks me hesitantly.
“No. Dad knew what happened, but it wasn’t actually him.” I tell her. I can see her visibly relax. She knows what happened without words, but she is relieved it wasn’t Dad who actually did the things to me. What he did, in my opinion, is so much worse. I give her a hug and tell her, “Go to bed. Tyler is staying here for the time being. Addison may be upset with you, but I think you did the right thing. I am just wondering how you knew and not me.” I raise my eyebrows at her.
She shyly says, “I heard her and Mitch talking when he first moved here. He moved to avoid dealing with something back in Florida, and it was the perfect plan for Addison to fool everyone. They don’t love each other, at least not like that. I hope Mitch doesn’t get hurt. I am kind of attached to him. This whole debacle has gotten out of control.” She is so right. I hope we can get a handle on this situation before we are all on a runaway train straight to hell.
She leaves as Colby comes in the room. “The kids are out like a light. Now, you want to talk to me, pretty girl?” He still calls me that, and it still makes my heart flutter.
“I agreed to let Tyler stay here for now. I told him if Addison has a problem with it, he has to go.” Colby doesn’t look happy with that last part.
He tells me, “That is my family, too. I can’t see putting Tyler out on the street just because Addy isn’t happy with the situation. She lied to him about the twins.” I know he thinks he is right, but he is crossing the line defending Tyler to me.
I take a deep breath before I respond. “She may have lied about the kids, but what choice do you think she had? He has walked out on her twice now and broke her heart more than that. He told her to abort her kid. Colby, I don’t want us fighting over this, but I will take my sister’s side every time. You need to figure out what side you want to be on if it comes to this. I can promise you that if you had told me to get rid of CJ or Riley, we would not be sitting here.” He shudders as that thought crosses his mind.
“Okay, pretty girl. I get it. Let’s try and let them fix their shit without us being involved. We will just be there for them if they need us, and if push comes to shove, Tyler will leave.”
I smile up at my gorgeous husband. “For that, Mr. James, you get a reward,” I seductively tell him.
“Oh, Mrs. James, in that case, I have been a very good boy. Why don’t you come over here and sit down, and we will talk about the first thing that comes up.”
I start laughing and ask, “Where in the hell did you learn that?”
He looks at me hesitantly, and says, “Uh, I heard Dustin use that line on some girl today.”
Shit! “That fucker is turning into a man whore. He pulled that shit at my baby’s first birthday. I may kill him this time, Colby. He is trying my patience daily.” I jump off the bed and scream, “Dustin! Get in here now!” I look at Colby apologetically and say, “Later, babe. I will make it up to you later.”
Chapter 6
Mitch
The timing of Tyler coming back couldn’t have been better. I know Addison loves him, and I need to focus on keeping a distance. The whole reason for me coming here was to help and protect her but never to play daddy. That is not my plan, and in no way is there any romance between us. She is stronger than she realizes, and I want to show her that. I want to make sure she is okay. What she really needed was Tyler, and she got that.
My phone rings, and I see that it is my mom. “Hey, Ma. How are things there?” I always get nervous when she calls. Ever since the call about Hope, I get a sinking feeling in my gut when I see her number on my phone.
“Oh, honey. Things are good. I have just about finished packing Max up to send him there. Mitch, I wish you would quit focusing on this. Nothing good can come of it, and while I trust your instincts, I still feel really bad about this. Nothing good comes from lies. You should know that.”
Damn, she goes for the jugular. “I am not technically lying, Ma. Max and I will keep things under control and fix this mess. Max can finish his classes online while working undercover with me. We will be fine I am sure. Everything is covered there for my story. Please don’t worry.”
She just sighs. “You know Hope would not want this. I will never forget what that man did to her. I will never forgive him, but I will never forgive myself if I lose another child to this.”
“It won’t come to that, Ma. Tyler came back tonight, so I can move from Addison’s. It is perfect for all of us, and in a way, helps my plans. I love you and take care. Talk to you soon.”
“I love you too, sweet boy. Please be careful.”
After I hang up with Ma, I try to work all this out in my head. There are too many damn secrets, and if they come out, they can ruin my plans. So many people could end up in danger or hurt. I have to keep one step ahead, and having my brother here will help. He is technically my half-brother. Hope and I have a different dad, but Max’s dad adopted us and raised us as his own. Then Hope had to get sick and need bone marrow. The truth came out then. I don’t blame Ma for lying, after learning the truth. But Hope wouldn’t let it go. She had to search out her “biological” father. Look how that turned out, I lost my twin sister to the sick bastard’s desire to keep his secret. Yes, Hope may have taken her own life, but who could blame her after what she endured.
I just have to keep focusing on what is important . . . family. Family is all we have in the end. I just pray when all the truths and lies come out, I still have a family. They are all that matters.
Chapter 7
Addison
Tyler was back, and according to Dustin, he is staying with Brielle and Colby. I can’t believe Brielle would let him stay at her house, mere minutes from my house. I made myself perfectly clear yesterday, and nobody is listening to me. Dustin came over for breakfast and to deliver Tyler’s message that he would be here shortly . . . fat chance on him actually following through on a promise. My back door slams open, and Brielle comes inside. I won’t even look at her. She is supposed to be my sister, we stick together, and now she is housing the enemy. Trifling bitch!
“What do you want?’ I sneer at her.
“Oh, come on, Addy. What is wrong with you?” she counters right back. Oh, I see she wants to play this game.
“Well, sister dear, I heard from our brother that you are letting Tyler stay at your house. How sweet that sisterly bond or family loyalty didn’t enter into your decision. Damn Brielle, he left me for a fucking third time after I told him I was pregnant with his child. Excuse me for having a problem with him staying at your house.”
She looks crestfallen. I know she is in a tough spot because of Colby and Tyler being cousins, but this situation trumps anything, a
nd she should have my back. I feel her come take a seat next to me.
“Addison, I did agree to him staying there, with conditions. It was so late last night after everything happened, and I didn’t call you. The condition was that you were okay with him staying there. I made that clear to both Colby and Tyler. I understand why you are behaving this way, but please know I will always choose you.’
Now I feel like a complete bitch. The hormones and all the drama from yesterday aren’t helping. I feel like I am the poster child for those depression commercials. Each symptom they list I could check off in bright red ink. I feel the tears coming again, and I am so fucking tired of crying.
“Okay, Brielle. I get what you are saying. I don’t know how to react to any of this. He left me, and I had to learn to live again. I had two babies depending on me. It hasn’t even been a hot minute since I had them, and he comes back like he has a rightful place here. I didn’t make this decision; it was made for me. He made it. I will be damned if I let him make any more decisions in my life and for my children. I am a grown woman and can barely handle the damn rollercoaster he takes me on. I will be damned if I allow him to do that to my girls. They are innocent, and I won’t allow it.”
She just nods in agreement with me. “I can’t tell you what to say or do in this situation, Addy. I will tell you that I think you have to talk to him on your terms and your conditions. He doesn’t have a right to come in and demand things from you, especially if you aren’t willing to give it to him. We talked last night for a bit, and I know he is sorry. And he is confused because the girl we all know would never have done this to him. I know he chose this, but Addison Parker you are better than that. You don’t lie and hide things, especially not your babies. He chose to walk away, but you chose to hide it and make him believe there wasn’t a pregnancy anymore. I know all the arguments in your head, but save them. This is me you are talking to. You may not have said the words, but you let him twist your words, and you did it on purpose.”
Parker Sibling Series Box Set Page 18
