A Forever Family (Forever #6) (16 page)

Connor

It was three days since Julia had been hospitalized and, depending on her bloodwork, she was scheduled to go home tomorrow. Jake’s parents took Brayden for a few days so Jake could spend his time with Julia. I called every family member I knew and no one was too keen on getting tested to see if they were a match for Julia. I was furious and I let my mother know it as she was in the room visiting Julia with us. While we were all talking, the doctor walked in with a smile on his face.

“I have good news for you, Julia. We found you a donor.”

“What?!” she asked in excitement. “How so fast?”

Happiness overtook me when I heard the doctor speak those words but also an uneasiness washed over me because it had happened so quickly.

“Someone came forward with the same blood type as you and asked to be tested. Once all the tests were completed, she turned out to be a viable donor and she’s agreed to donate one of her kidneys to you.”

“Who is she?” Julia asked.

“I can arrange a meeting with her if you’d like.”

“Yes. Please. I want to thank her for helping me.”

“Okay, Julia. I’ll arrange it. Depending on your bloodwork tomorrow, you will probably be able to go home and, once you meet your donor, I can go ahead and schedule the operation within the next couple of weeks.”

“Thank you. I can’t believe it.”

“There still are some kind people in this world.” He smiled as he walked out of the room.

Ellery had tears running down her face as she hugged Julia. This was the best news we’d gotten in a long time and it finally seemed like things were coming together. We left the hospital so Jake and Julia could celebrate in private and met Collin and Amelia at Per Se for dinner. He was overjoyed with the news, but he had the same concern I did. Ellery and Amelia excused themselves to the restroom, which gave me and my son a chance to talk in private.

“Who do you think is helping Julia?” he asked.

“I don’t know, son. I’m a little concerned myself.”

“I’m happy for her, Dad. Don’t get me wrong, but I’m a little on the fence.”

“I am too. Maybe we’re overthinking this and she’s just a very nice woman who wants to help your sister. I have to believe that there are some helpful, loving people left in the world.”

“Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

Ellery and Amelia came back and took their seats, and we enjoyed a nice dinner celebrating the good news.

****

The next morning, Ellery and I dropped by the hospital to see Julia on my way to the office. I was in an exceptionally good mood. Between the amazing sex Ellery and I had last night and a good night’s sleep, nothing could ruin the way I felt. I couldn’t wait to see Julia and kept my fingers crossed that she was being released today. I lightly knocked on her hospital door before entering.

“Come in,” she said. “Daddy, I would like you to meet the woman who’s giving me her kidney.”

I stopped in the doorway when the woman turned around. My legs felt as heavy as lead and they would not allow me to take another step. My heart started to race and it felt like it was getting harder to breathe.

“Hello, Connor,” she spoke as she looked down.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Ashlyn?” I said in a stern voice.

“Ashlyn?” Julia said with confusion in her voice.

“Get the fuck out of my daughter’s room NOW!” I yelled.

I lunged towards her and Ellery grabbed my arm. “Connor, stop. Not here.”

This was nothing but a nightmare and I needed someone to pinch me to wake me up. Anger rose inside of me and it was only the hold Ellery had on my arm that was stopping me from choking that bitch to death.

“What’s going on?” Julia pleaded.

“Connor, let me explain. Please,” Ashlyn begged. “I want to help your daughter.”

My breathing became rapid as I stood there, unable to see anything but the woman that nearly destroyed my life and my family.

“You aren’t going to say anything. You are to get the fuck out of here before I have you thrown out!” I yelled.

Ashlyn put her hands up in defense. “Ellery, please calm him down. Let me explain.”

“Connor. Please, calm down for Julia’s sake. This is a hospital that is full of very sick people.”

I turned around so I didn’t have to look at Ashlyn to try and collect myself. The rage that was inside scared me. I could have very easily killed her right then and gone to jail and I wouldn’t have given a damn.

“You have one minute to explain yourself,” Ellery said to her.

“I am a match for your daughter, who needs a kidney, and I’m willing to give her one of mine as an apology for all these years. I want to help you and your family, Connor. I want to make amends.”

I whipped myself around and Ellery grabbed my arm again. I jerked out of her grip and pointed my finger directly in Ashlyn’s face. “Make amends? You’re incapable of making amends. You’re nothing but a cold-hearted, psychotic bitch who deserved everything she got. You should still fucking be in prison as far as I’m concerned, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting them put your kidney in my daughter’s body. You are my sworn enemy and nothing you can do or say will ever make things right.”

“I’m not that woman anymore. I’ve had years of therapy and I’ve changed. I’m married to a wonderful man and we’re very happy. I don’t want to harm you or your family. I only want to make things right.”

I paced around the room, rubbing the back of my head, trying to calm down. But with each word she spoke, the angrier I became. There was no forgiveness here. There never could be.

“Your husband obviously doesn’t know the real you.”

“Yes, he does. He knows all about my past and he accepted me.”

“Then he’s more fucked up than you are!” I scowled.

“Daddy! Stop!” Julia began to cry. “This is my decision. This is my life, not yours. Now get out of here!”

“Princess.” I looked at her as tears filled my eyes.

“Daddy, I love you, but I can’t sit here and listen to you. I don’t even know who you are right now and, to be honest, I don’t like you like this.”

My heart broke as I saw the disappointment splayed across her face. I sat down in the chair and cupped my face in my hands.

“Forgiveness always prevails, Daddy.”

I looked up at my daughter and stared into her eyes. Denny. Denny’s words. Ellery didn’t say anything. She just stared at me with sadness in her eyes.

“I can’t do this.” I got up from the chair and stormed out of the room. I heard Ellery call my name, but I didn’t stop; I just kept going. I took the stairwell down to the first floor, and when I reached the doors, I hailed a cab and had the driver drop me off in the parking garage at my apartment building. I climbed in the Range Rover and drove to the beach house.

Connor

I arrived at the beach house and, when I walked inside, it felt strange to be in the house by myself. I walked over to the bar and poured a scotch and took it outside on the patio. My phone kept ringing. When I looked at it, I saw that I had four missed calls from Ellery and three missed calls from Collin. Obviously, she told him what was going on. As soon as I set my phone down, a text message from Collin came through.

“Dad, you’re freaking us all out. Where are you?”

I did the unthinkable and turned my phone off and hid from my family. I just wanted to be left alone. Ashlyn, the memories, and the hell that bitch put me and my family through all those years ago was something I’d never forget. I never wanted that woman back in our lives, and now to find out that she, the one person I hated the most in this world and wanted dead, could save my daughter’s life was too much to fucking handle.

I went inside and grabbed the bottle of scotch and took it down to the beach. As I sat in the sand and stared across the ocean, I started to talk to Denny.

“If there was ever a time I needed you, old man, now is it. How the fuck am I supposed to accept something like this? You told me in your letter and to Julia that forgiveness always prevails. Maybe it does. But not in this case; not where Ashlyn is concerned. How do I look at my daughter every day, knowing that she has an organ in her that once belonged to the one person I despised the most on the face of this earth?” I brought the bottle up to my lips and tilted my head back, taking more than a small drink. “How the hell do you forgive someone who nearly destroyed you? Who nearly cost you the woman of your dreams and the love of your life? The same person who threatened my daughter when she was just a baby?” I took another drink as tears streamed down my face. “Damn you, Denny. Damn you for dying and leaving me here to face this on my own!” I took another drink and, before I knew it, the bottle was almost empty. “At least tell me something. Don’t just leave me here like this, old man.”

It was at that moment when I swore I felt someone place their hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned around, but no one was there. I took the last sip of scotch and fell over in the sand.

****

Ellery

“Are you sure he’s there, Mom?” Collin asked me as we drove to the beach house.

“If there was one place he’d go to, it’s there.”

Watching Connor’s reaction to Ashlyn reminded me of the day Kyle told him I had cancer. The look on his face, the hate in his eyes, and the tone of his voice was something I had never wanted to see again. And for the first time, since that day, I saw that side of my husband. I didn’t blame him, though. How could I? I sighed. Collin reached over and took hold of my hand.

“Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll find him and, hopefully, he’s calmed down. Do you really believe that Ashlyn’s changed?”

“I don’t know what to believe. All I know is I need to get to your father.”

“We’ll be there soon, Mom. Try to relax.”

I could see the Range Rover parked in the driveway from down the street. I let out a sigh of relief as Collin pulled up. I flew out of the car and into the house, calling Connor’s name. He didn’t answer. I saw that the liquor cabinet over the bar was open and I told Collin to go upstairs and see if Connor was in the bedroom.

“No, Mom. He’s not up here.”

I began to panic as I walked outside to the back. I saw the glass sitting on the table and, when I looked down to the beach, I saw Connor lying in the sand.

“He’s out here,” I yelled to Collin.

I knelt down beside Connor and noticed the empty bottle of scotch. Collin came running down and stood beside him.

“Yep. I know what that’s like.”

I shot him a look and told him to help me get Connor up to the beach house.

“Come on, Connor. You’re drunk and you need to get to bed.”

Collin and I pulled him up.

“I want to be alone,” he slurred.

“Well, that’s just too damn bad. Running away from situations was my thing, Mr. Black. Not yours. And when you’re sober, we’re going to have a discussion about you turning off your phone.”

“I love you, Elle, but you need to be quiet.”

A cocky smirk crossed Collin’s face as he looked at me.

“You think this is funny, young man?” I said in a stern voice.

“No, Mom. Not funny at all.” He laughed.

We got Connor into the house and up the stairs. After laying him on the bed, Collin and I went downstairs.

“He’ll be out for a few hours and, when he wakes up, I don’t know what he’s going to do.”

“I’m sorry this is happening, Mom,” Collin said as he wrapped his arms around me. “Dad just needs some time to process all of this. We all do. Why don’t we order a pizza and we can sit down and try to figure things out.”

“Go ahead and order the pizza but as for trying to figure things out, it’s not up to us to figure anything out. Like Julia said, it’s her decision and her life and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.”

****

Connor

I opened my eyes and looked around the room, wondering how I had gotten in bed. I glanced over at the clock and it read ten p.m. When I climbed out and unsteadily walked downstairs, I saw Ellery and Collin sitting on the couch.

“Ellery,” I spoke.

She got up and walked over to where I was standing, wrapped her arms around me, and laid her head on my chest.

“You had me so worried, Connor.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I just needed to get out of there.” I held her head tightly against my chest.

“Hey, Dad,” Collin said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Hey, son.”

“Now that I see you’re okay, I’m going to head back to the city.”

“It’s late. Stay the night and head back in the morning,” I spoke.

“The night is still young, and besides, you two need time alone to talk. Plus, I want to get home to my wife.” He walked away and before he reached the door, he stopped. “By the way, you told Mom to be quiet.” He snickered. “Good luck, Dad.”

Shit
. “Thanks, Collin.”

“You better be careful driving home!” Ellery yelled as he walked out the door.

“Did I really tell you to be quiet?” I asked with a hint of fear in my voice.

“Yes, you did.”

“Can you yell at me tomorrow? I really want to go back to bed.”

“Of course I can wait. But be prepared to get an earful in the morning.” She smiled.

I sighed and wrapped my arm around her as we walked up the stairs and went to bed. I didn’t want to talk about Ashlyn and Ellery knew it. That was why she never brought it up. We climbed in bed and she wrapped her body around me as I held her tight.

The next morning, I felt soft lips pressing against mine. I opened my eyes to see my beautiful wife staring at me.

“Good morning.” I smiled.

“Good morning. We need to get up, talk, and then head back to the city.”

I sighed. “Are we talking or yelling?”

Her mouth curved into a small smile as she ran her fingers across my forehead. “No yelling. I’ve decided to let yesterday slide. But we do need to discuss Julia.”

She climbed out of bed and slipped on her robe.

“Ellery,” I called out.

“Yes, Connor?” She turned her head and looked at me.

“No cocktail today. I’m fine.”

“Okay. I’ll go start the coffee.” She winked.

I got out of bed, took a shower, and got dressed. When I walked into the kitchen, Ellery handed me a cup of coffee. We went outside and sat down on some beach chairs she had set up down by the water.

“I’m not okay with all this, Elle. I will admit to you that I’m scared. That woman is up to something. People don’t just change like that.”

“I know what you mean, Connor, and I don’t like it any more than you do. In fact, I hate it. It makes me sick to my stomach seeing her and knowing that Julia would trust her enough to let her donate her kidney to her. But it’s Julia’s decision and she has hope. Hope that only a stranger can give her.” Tears started to fill my eyes. “We have to trust our daughter. We have no other choice. I think that we need to talk to Ashlyn in a calm and rational manner and really get a feel for her sincerity.”

“I can’t talk to that bitch, Ellery. You know that. Just looking at her turns me into a different person. A person that I don’t like.”

She reached over and took hold of my hand. “I know, but we have to do it for our daughter, for our son in-law, and especially for our grandson. Jake needs his wife and Brayden needs his mother.”

What Ellery spoke was the truth and it made me sick to my stomach to think that I would have to try and hold a civilized conversation with Ashlyn.