Parker Sibling Series Box Set

by Leigh Ann Lunsford

  “How did I get so lucky? I love you, Kayleigh. I love you with all that I am, and I cannot believe you are having my baby.”

  She smiles for the first time since she told me. “Are you really happy?”

  “I am beyond happy. I get to see your body grow with our child. Our child created out of the perfect love. The only thing that could make me happier is if we didn’t have all these secrets. That is why I couldn’t do what I wanted months ago.”

  “What is that, Mitch?”

  I turn her so she is straddling me. “Marry me? Please do me the honor of being the center of my universe the rest of our lives.”

  “Yes,” she answered with no hesitation.

  “When?” I ask her. I don’t want to wait.

  I see shadows come in her eyes. “What, baby? I will give you whatever you want.”

  A few tears stream down her face, and I feel like an asshat. “I guess we should just elope. I can’t have a big wedding and be around Addison and keep this from her.” I cannot believe I am doing this to her. Because of my secrets, I am robbing her of her dream wedding.

  “Kayleigh, I am so sorry. I will make it up to you. God, I am an idiot. I knew this was going to be hard on you, but I couldn’t keep anything else from you. I wasn’t strong enough not to fall in love with you, and now I feel like I am taking something away from you. Please, forgive me?”

  “Oh, Mitch. There is nothing to forgive. It is all a bit overwhelming, and I admit, I am a bit confused and concerned. I don’t want my friends in danger, but I don’t want you in danger. We can get married anyway we have to for now and when the secret is out, we can have a huge reception to celebrate. How long is this going to be a secret?”

  “Well, I am not sure about the time frame. There are so many different agencies involved, and they just need to get something to stick, and all his other transgressions will come to light. Things are getting a bit sticky. He has had some photos of Cambree on his computer, and he’s keeping tabs on them. I am not in danger. As far as he knows, I am still in Florida, working undercover. Lots of steps have been taken to ensure my whereabouts are not known. That is why I have had to do this from the background. I promise you, nobody else in my family will be harmed by him again.”

  “Okay, I think, I will just have to keep a comfortable distance from Addy, because that girl can read me like a book. When do you want to get married?”

  “Let me call Ma and see when they can get here, and see if Max is willing to come back for a few days. That boy is still pretty messed up from Cambree.”

  She snuggles back into me, and there is no greater feeling than her in my arms. She falls asleep, and I carry her into the bedroom. I decide to call and let Ma and John know what is going on and make plans.

  Chapter 34

  May 2018

  Addison

  Today, my baby sister graduates. She turned eighteen last week and wanted this party to be epic . . . her words. Dustin turned seventeen right before our wedding and just went to dinner with us, then partied it up with his friends. I am worried about where his head is, but I have to believe he will get it together. He knows we are all here for him, whenever he is ready.

  Cambree pitched a fit about our parents coming. She felt that they didn’t deserve to be a part of this.

  “Cambree, if we don’t have them that will create more drama. They will show up anyway, and then it will upset Brielle, and you. Is it really worth it?” I asked her.

  “Well, sister dear, they can get the fuck over it. Don’t say a word about my mouth; I can vote, go to war, and smoke . . . all legally now. I really don’t want them here. I know everything that they did. Brielle doesn’t know that, but I am disgusted that I am their daughter. I am grateful every day for the life I was given away from them.” Cambree is set on this.

  Dustin overheard some of this, “Oh, great. Now you hate our parents, too. What is wrong with all of you? You all need to get over your petty shit and be thankful they gave us life.”

  “Fuck off, Dustin. I don’t know who you are anymore, and I am grateful I am leaving in a few weeks for college to get away from your ass. I would tell you to get laid, but we all know you do that daily.” Cambree and Dustin are really going at it.

  “Okay, enough you two. Dustin, this is Cambree’s party and her choice. You have to respect that, just like we try and respect your choices. You don’t know the whole story, and you need to trust us on this.” I try to stop them from hurting one another.

  “Whatever, Addison. I don’t care anymore. I just am over this.” Dustin spits at me. I guess Cambree has lost her control because she steps up to him and punches him right in the junk. He falls to the ground, and I am trying to not laugh, because he really does deserve that.

  “Don’t forget, bitch, junk punches trump anything you dish out. Maybe giving that thing a rest for a day or two will prevent it from falling off.” Cambree storms out of the house.

  So as Dustin lies on the ground trying not to vomit, I walk outside to call Brielle and tell her the decisions Cambree made. It is a relief to not have to face them, but I just know they will cause some sort of drama.

  ***********************************************************

  Her party is being held down by the lake. We have several tents set up and a dance floor and DJ. I want her to enjoy the last moments of her childhood. We have tried our hardest to make her feel safe, loved, and wanted. I think she turned out pretty damn good. She broke up with Adam a few weeks ago, and I wonder how that will work out with them both at the same college. I am so proud of her. It is like watching my own daughter spread her wings and fly. After the party, we have about two weeks with her, and then she will be off on her own. Tyler walks up and throws his arm around me. I still can’t believe this past year.

  “Lil’ Bit, you and Brielle did an amazing job with her. I am so proud of her and you, and thankful I got to be a part of watching her grow.”

  “It seems like just yesterday she was being a brat . . . throwing shit at Dustin, stomping around the house, and pretty much hating everyone. See what we have to look forward to?” I tease him.

  He just groans and shakes his head. I can always get him with mentioning our babies growing up. Brielle motions for me to come over to her; we are about to ready to give Cambree her present. I hope we did the right thing.

  Brielle goes over to the DJ, gets him to cut the music, and grabs the microphone. “Cambree Parker, please come over here.”

  Cambree bounces over to us with the biggest smile on her face. Brielle continues, “Baby girl, we are so proud of you. I can’t tell you the joy you have given us, everyday. You are such an amazing, beautiful girl who has so many journeys in front of her, and you face each challenge with grace and humility. I know you got that from me, because Addison is a hag.” Everyone starts laughing. I know Brielle did that because I can see her getting teary eyed, typical Brielle.

  I take the microphone from her. “Yeah, yeah. We have a song we want to play for you, and Tyler and Colby want to dance with you.” She nods and Tyler and Colby appear. “My Wish” by Rascall Flatts starts, and Tyler takes her first. I know this is hard on him, too. He has been here almost every step of the way, and Colby really stepped up before and during his absence. He told me last night one of his regrets was being away from the kids, not helping them during these years. I told him that there was no time for regrets, only looking forward. I am barely containing the tears when Tyler hands her over to Colby, and Brielle starts crying, I can’t control them anymore.

  I never thought I would feel like this, but she has been my little girl since she was born. We have never had the sister bond, more along the lines of the mom and daughter bond. If my girls turn out like her, then I will be happy. The song ends, and Brielle and I go back to her and hand her the present. She unwraps it and is in disbelief. We got her an off-campus apartment, paid for the year, and a substantial amount of money to furnish it.

  She grabs both of us chanting,
“thank you,” over and over. I look over at Brielle and wink. Yeah, we rock! I push Cambree off and shoo her away to finish celebrating with her friends. I see Brielle go search out Dustin and talk him into dancing with her. She misses him so much. Colby is watching them with a concerned look on his face, and I know he doesn’t want to see her hurt anymore, but yet he loves Dustin almost as much as her. Tyler comes and sweeps me off my feet and brings me to the dance floor. I see Colby go to Brielle, and then I hear Cambree.

  “Most of you know my childhood wasn’t traditional. It was better. I had amazing grandparents who shaped me into the young lady I was, and then I had two amazing sisters who stepped in and finished the job. I owe everything to them, and I cannot thank them enough. The only thing I can do is make them proud, and I promise you, Addy and Brielle, I will make you so proud. You have been so much more than my sisters, you have been my saviors, my biggest cheerleaders, my toughest critics, but mostly the best moms I could have ever asked for.” She blows us kisses and grabs Dustin. “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift starts playing, and the six of us share a huge group hug and dance.

  I tell Brielle, “We did it. One down and how many more to go?” We start laughing, thinking about the herd of kids we have of our own.

  “If I survive Dustin, we are golden,” she says to me.

  Chapter 35

  Cambree

  Well, today I leave for college. After we get through this lunch, I am hitting the road. To say I am scared would be an understatement. I am petrified to be on my own. I will miss my siblings and the comforts of being home with them. I am going to a new state and a new school, I broke up with the one person I would have known there, the only boy I have ever loved is at my original college, my brother barely speaks to me, and I have been getting strange text messages from a blocked number.

  I haven’t told anyone about them because it is either Adam being a dick or some petty, jealous bitches. I am over the whole high school drama. I am only eighteen, but I am so much more mature than the petty shit they let bother them. I got ninety-nine problems, and a bitch ain’t one. Or like Brielle and Addison quote from a book, “bitches be crazy.” I will miss their crazy asses, but this will be good for me.

  Amelia has been crying all day about me leaving. Let’s face it, she hasn’t been my “nanny” in forever, but she has been a constant in my life. She has been like a surrogate grandmother, and she has a place in our family forever, but if she doesn’t stop with the waterworks, I am going to need a boat to leave. As she walks around the corner, crying again and carrying a bouquet of flowers, she says, “Oh, beautiful girl. Mr. Max dropped these off for you. He didn’t want me to get you, said something about a hat and his ass. I don’t know how you young kids talk anymore.” I just laugh, because I know he was calling himself an asshat, which is what I called him last time I talked to him. Taking the flowers, I see a letter attached. He can’t just attach a floral card like normal people.

  Cambree,

  You will never know how much I regret hurting you. I did not do it intentionally, and I pray every day for your forgiveness. I miss seeing your beautiful green eyes and your smile every day. Hearing your voice was the highest point of my day, and being able to hold you and touch you was the most amazing experience of my life. I hope you find everything you are looking for at school, and please be careful. I am always with you, and if you ever need me, I am only a phone call away. If you remember anything about me, remember that I was falling in love with you and would move heaven and earth for a second chance.

  Love,

  Max

  Damn him . . . now I have the waterworks going. I know it is stupid that I let his past come between us, but he slept with someone I was best friends with. Yes, before we met, but I opened up to him and told him about the issues with Kamryn and her always doing little underhanded things to me. He should have been honest from the start. There have been too many lies and secrets in my life already. Seeing Mitch daily is like a kick to the gut. They look so much alike, except for the eyes. Mitch has these green eyes that read your soul, and Max has deep sapphire colored eyes, but they both share that midnight black hair.

  Time to buck up and go have my farewell lunch, and then haul ass. One thing I am looking forward to is my own space. I never get enough Cambree-time anymore, and I need to find myself and decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have no career goals, and that is just sad. As I make my way outside, all hell has broken loose. Really, people, one day that is all I ask. Then I see what has caused this . . . my parents are here. I can hear Addison telling them we didn’t invite them, then Dustin saying he did. Fucktard. Brielle is not saying a word, and that bothers me more than anything. She has been through enough at their hands and doesn’t need a reminder. Tyler is trying to keep Colby away from them because he looks like he could kill. I do hear him scream, “That fucker, Brent, better not be anywhere on my property.” I need to go fix this.

  As I round the corner, a hand shoots out and grabs me. I look up at a face that is vaguely familiar. Where do I know him from? “Excuse me, can I help you?” I ask him.

  With a creepy smile, that doesn’t reach his eyes, “Hello, beautiful Cambree. Don’t you remember me?”

  “Umm . . . no I don’t. Should I?”

  He chuckles at me. “I am Brent Hall, your father’s advisor. You may not remember me, but I would never forget you. I have kept very close tabs on you and am glad to see you are spreading your wings and leaving the family confines. Being on your own can be very enlightening and very freeing.”

  I shiver. I am repulsed by him and scared at the same time. “Get your hands off me. I know all about you and what you did. Leave before I call my brother-in-law over here, Brielle’s husband. I am sure he would be happy to see you.”

  “Ah, little Cambree, you have grown up, and I am pleased to see you got some of Brielle’s fire in you. This will be all the more fun.” He turns to leave. He gets a few feet from me and turns, “Think of me, Cambree. I will definitely be seeing you again.”

  I turn to find Colby and warn him, and see Dustin around the corner. I am so mad at him for bringing this to our door. “Are you happy? Do you see that creep? The one that Mom and Dad chose over us? I hope you heard every word he just said to me, and just know what he did to your sister, the one who would move heaven and earth for you, was a thousand times worse. He almost destroyed Brielle, and you brought him to our doorstep because of your daddy complex.” I storm off and search out Colby and Brielle.

  I reach Colby, and I swear he could shoot fire out of his eyes he is so pissed. “Where is Brielle?” I ask panicking. She can’t see Brent.

  “She went to take the kids into the house to get them away from this. I need her away from this.”

  “Colby, Brent is here. He just stopped me right outside the house and was saying all kinds of stuff to me. We have to find her. She cannot see him.” Colby takes off towards the house with Tyler and me close behind. I hope we get there in time.

  Chapter 36

  Dustin

  I cannot believe what I just overheard. I am not really sure what it was, but it freaked me the fuck out. It sounded like Brent was threatening Cambree, and it didn’t sound like an isolated incident. He made it seem like he was watching her. What did Cambree mean by what he did to Brielle? Before I can try and process anything, I see Brielle and the kids making their way around the side of the house. I don’t want to face her, so I dash around the other side.

  CJ is rambling, asking why his daddy said a bad word and repeating it over and over. Riley is clinging to Brielle, they are not used to the anger they just saw. Sure, we are loud and crazy, but the venom being shelled out earlier was something no kid should have to hear. Before she gets to the door, Brent steps in her path. I immediately see her freeze and grab on to CJ and pull him behind her.

  “Well, what do we have here, Brielle? It has been a long time, too long.” Brent sneers at her. My sister is not saying a word. She is jus
t standing there, shaking and staring at him.

  He continues to taunt her, “I see your little boy has a mouth on him. Like you did back when I knew you. Now, your little girl here, she is a beauty. Looks just like her mom, but I hope she doesn’t act like her. I would hate to have to teach her a lesson. You remember the lesson I taught you? Then you fucked it all up, and granddaddy came to the rescue. I still haven’t forgotten what you did. You almost ruined everything I had worked for, and you still owe me.” He reaches out to touch Riley, and Brielle jumps back.

  “No. You do not touch her. You cannot touch my family again,” Brielle says.

  He just laughs at her. “Oh, I can, and I will. I owe you some payback, and I just spoke to your sister, Cambree. She will be in a new city . . . all by herself, alone, and without your protection. You don’t have granddad and grandmother to hide behind anymore. When you least expect it, your worst nightmare will come true.”

  Before Brielle can respond, Colby comes up behind her and knocks the hell out of Brent. He grabs Brielle and pushes her to the house but she isn’t moving. He tells Tyler, “Make sure this asshole is off my land and knows not to come back.” He reaches down and picks up Brielle, who is still clutching Riley, and Cambree grabs CJ, and they rush in the house. I can hear Colby telling her it is okay, and that she is safe.