The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) (21 page)

She disappeared into the dark hall, leaving me with a hollow feeling in my chest.  There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I deserved everything she said.  Because of me, Olivia would raise her child as a single mother.  I wiped away the lone tear that trickled down my face and slowly made my way back to the dining room.

Jonathan jumped from his chair as I entered the room.  He slammed the palms of his hands on the table, his face red with anger.  “You have no respect for me or this family.”

“Dad,” Drew addressed him.  It was almost scary how calm he was.  He didn't appear angry or upset.  He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and looked his father square in the eye.  “All I said was you’ve punished Mom and me long enough.  It’s time to fix this family.  Good things are happening all around us.  It’s pointless to keep squabbling over the past.”

“You think just because that man told you a few little minor details about what happened that you’re an expert?  Think again.  I’m not the villain of this story.  He is.”

“I don’t think anyone is a villain, Dad.  It is my opinion that mistakes were made and people were hurt in the process, but there was no right or wrong.”

“You only say that to make yourself feel better for disobeying me every chance you get.”

“Dad,” Andie jumped in, “it’s not like that.  Drew did nothing wrong.  He’s only trying to make amends.”

“You stay out of this, Andrea.”

Jared reached over, taking Andie by the hand.  “Let’s get some fresh air.”  In an instant, Andie was pacified.  Her breathing slowed and the anger in her face melted.

“No.”  Drew reached out to stop them.  “Finish your breakfast.  There’s no need for this fighting to keep on like this.”  He looked back to Jonathan and noticed me.  A tender smile appeared on his lips.  

In that moment, I felt more proud of him than I thought was possible.  He’d come to peace with everything, and wasn’t about to allow his father to rile him.  His serenity made me want to be better.  I needed to find a way to make things right with Olivia.  She and Drew deserved to raise their child in a tranquil home.

“Dad,” he continued, “I’m not here to judge any of you.  We’ve all made our mistakes and we all must pay for them.  I know I have.  What I’m trying to say is I forgive you for everything.”

“You forgive me?” Jonathan’s head fell back in hysterical laughter.  “That’s a good one, Andrew.”

“I’m not joking.”  Drew stood up and walked around the table, taking me by the hand.  “McKenzie and I are happy.  We’re returning home this afternoon, where we will start our life together.  All I ask is that you be happy for us.”

Jonathan turned his stare on me, the vein in forehead pulsing with anger.  “No.”

Drew tilted his head.  “No?  No, what?”

“I will not be happy for you.  Once again, you’ve chosen a woman I do not believe has your best interests at heart.  She’s just like Rebecca.  Only out for herself.”

I stepped forward, ready to lash into the man.  Not for me.  I could care less about what he said about me.  I hated the way he was treating his son.  Drew, however, gripped my waist, keeping me locked at his side.  “Think what you will,” he stated.  “But what you think, just like with Mom and Niles, doesn’t necessarily make it the truth.”

“How dare you!” he hissed.

“No, how dare you!” Drew responded.  “You give yourself airs, making the world see you as high and mighty, but deep down, you’re nothing more than I was.  Hurt, lost, and confused.  Well, Dad, I’m not those things anymore.  I’ve found peace.”  Drew looked down into my eyes, and in his I found the truth.

Jonathan started to clap.  “Bravo, Andrew, bravo!  Such a wonderful performance.”

Drew bowed his head.  “Joke all you want, but at the end of the day, I’m happy.  You’ll never be happy as long as you hold on to the past.”  He wrapped his arm tightly around my waist.  “Let’s get out of here,” he said to me, his face filled so much love that my heart soared high.

“I’ll follow you.”

“Oh, please,” Jonathan scoffed.

“Enough, Dad!” Andie bellowed.  “Enough.”

“You’re right, Andrea.  All of you get out of my house until you decide to grow up.”

Jared and Andie stood up, joining us.  Jonathan dropped in his chair, linking his hands in front of him.  He refused to look at any of us as we walked past him.  Drew shook his head.  “Dad, it’s not us who need to grow up.  It’s you who needs to learn to let go.”

“Get out,” Jonathan growled.

“Dad…” Andie pleaded.

“I said, get out.”

We went upstairs, each of us separating to our designated rooms in order to collect our belongs.  When everyone was packed and ready, I went over to Olivia’s room, hoping to let her know it was time to go.  I tapped on the door and it creaked opened.  The lights were off, so I flipped them on to find her room empty and all her belongs gone.  Drew stepped up behind me, resting his hand at the small of my back.  “It looks like she already left.”

“Yeah,” I noted.  “Anything to keep from dealing with me.”

“It’s going to be all right.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”  Drew flipped off the light, closing the door behind him.  He kissed the tip of nose and took my hand, leading me down the stairs to the awaiting car out front.  We had no idea what the future held for us, but we did know that no matter what, from here on out we would be together, always.

McKenzie

“Are you sure about this?” I asked, hugging Jared tight.  

He rocked me to and fro, his arms cocooned around me.  “I am.  I’ve always wanted to visit New York City, to see a real Broadway ballet and maybe a show or two.  There are a few weeks left of summer vacation and I really have no plans.  Besides, she can get me backstage.”

“This thing between y’all seems to be moving fast.”

Jared pressed a sweet kiss to my forehead, a chuckle bubbling in his chest.  “Jealous?”

I smacked his chest.  “You wish.”

He gave me a coy wink and a wicked grin for good measure.  “Maybe a little, but it’s not like we’re getting married, McKenzie.”

I glanced up at him through my eyelashes, tucking my bottom lip between my teeth.  “I know that.  It’s just…”

“Stop it.” He raised his hand.  “I’m having fun.  I deserve that, don’t you think?”

I stepped back, pursing my lips into a twisted smirk.  “Yeah, you have been all broody and shit lately.  Heck, one might even think you’ve been hanging around Drew too long.”

“Bite your tongue, woman!”

Pointing my fingers at him like guns, I clicked my tongue and fired the triggers.  “Gotcha!”

Jared tipped the brim of his ball cap and bowed his head.  “Think again, little lady,” he drawled.

Drew stepped up behind me, wrapping his long fingers around my shoulders.  I leaned back against his chest, comforted by his mere touch.  “They’re calling first class now, so we have a little time.”  He nodded to Jared. “You sure you want to tag along with my sister?  Let me tell you, backstage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Andie has a way of fabricating ambiguous details.”

“I heard that,” Andie heralded, sashaying over from the ladies’ room.  Jared extended his arm out to her and she nestled in close against him, placing her hand on top of his chest.  They were so comfortable with each other that had I not known it, I would’ve thought they’d been together for years not days.

Drew’s laughter vibrated against my back.  He rested his chin on top of my head, his hands rubbing up and down my arms, leaving goose bumps with each stroke.  “Hey, someone has to warn him about the terrors that await him.  You make everyone believe it’s all sexy women in costumes back there, but no.  It’s all blood, lost toenails, and catfights.  If they didn’t have all their teeth, I’d swear I was visiting Texas every time I entered that dressing room.”

I jabbed my elbow in Drew’s ribs.  “Not funny.”

Jared and Andie laughed.  “Don’t let him get to you,” she said.  “He’s just jealous because the girls thought he was an arrogant, self-centered prick and they’re going to love Jared.”

Olivia rounded the corner, pulling a carry on bag behind her.  Her stride was shorter than usual, and her skin looked even paler than it had in the hall.  She’d changed into a babydoll shirt that flowered around her belly, and a pair of khakis shorts.  Her dark hair had been released from its confines and hung in loose waves around her shoulders.  She cut her eyes to the four of us but didn’t stop.  Instead, she marched up to the gate and presented the attendant her boarding pass.  “So much for Ms. Politeness,” Andie snarled.  “I knew it was all an act.”

My eyes lifted to find Drew looking down at me.  “She and I bumped into one another this morning when I went to check on your mother,” I admitted.  

“I hate that we didn’t get to say goodbye to Mom,” Andie mewled.

“What could we do?  She was passed out,” Drew ruminated.

“So, I take it she ripped into you?” Jared fished.

“Pretty much.”

“I’m sorry,” Drew whispered, his lips pressed into my hair.  “This is all my fault.  I’ll talk to her.  She can’t stay pissed forever.”

“Yes, she can, and it’s not your fault.  It’s mine.  Had I just been upfront with her from the beginning…”

Air whistled through Jared’s nostrils in his exasperation.  “As if that would’ve helped.  She was never going to be happy with the two of you together.  You did what you had to in order to keep peace this week.  Don’t allow her to guilt you, McKenzie,” he reprimanded.

“He’s right,” Andie noted.

“Mickie, think about it.  We planned on telling her months ago,” Drew added.  “The only time we’ve actually hid from her was this week, and that was
his
fault.”  He pointed to Jared, who flipped him the bird in return.  “Don’t let this get you down.  We’re going home and we can straighten all this out there.”

I rubbed my hand over my face, hating the ugly feeling of remorse that clouded my happiness.  Drew and I were finally free to love, yet I couldn’t get the pale expression of Olivia’s anger out of my mind.

“I know.  I know.  It doesn’t matter now, anyway.  The lines are drawn in the sand, so to speak.  I can tell you, however, I was proud of you today.  You handled yourself so well with your father.”

“I’ll second that!” Andie cheered.

A warm burst of air coated my hair as Drew exhaled.  “I didn’t handle that well at all.”

“Are you kidding me?” Jared argued.  “I wanted to punch him and you didn’t even flinch.”

“Oh, believe me, I wanted to hit him, too, but I knew it wouldn’t help.  I’ve carried the guilt of my father’s hatred for so long that seeing him like that somehow washed it away.  I pitied him.  Here I am, surrounded by love of friends and family, and what does he have?  Nothing more than a cold business.  Niles said something to me that’s played over and over in my head all night.”

“What’s that, Nova?” Andie asked.

Drew gently squeezed my arms.  “He told me that our father measures his achievements as a man by the success of his business.  He neglects to realize that business will fade, and in the moment of your last breath, all that remains are the triumphs of the heart.”

“Wow, that’s insightful,” Andie noted.

“And poetic,” Jared included.

Over the intercom, we heard the airport attendant announce the final boarding call for our flight.  Drew glanced at his watch and lifted his chin from the top of my head.  “I guess this is it.”

The four of us exchanged hugs and warm wishes.  My emotions ran high, both with the temporary loss of Jared and Andie, but also with the knowledge that Olivia was missing out on this loving farewell.  True, the other three didn’t have the highest regard for her, but I knew it was because they felt the need to protect me.  She should’ve been part of the final send off, not waiting in a fuselage alone.

Moments later, we boarded the plane and found our seats.  We were across the aisle from Olivia, who now rested her head against the window with her headphones on.  The seat beside her was empty, which led me to assume that would’ve been Jared’s spot had he not changed his reservation at the last minute.  

Strapped in my seat, I waited for the aircraft to depart.  For the life of me, I couldn’t stop my legs from bouncing.  My anxiety was getting to me.  I wanted to slip out of my seat belt and slide over the aisle to talk to her, to try to smooth things over.  But I knew, no matter how hard I tried, every word I said would be futile.  

Drew laid his hand on my knee.  I jumped, startled by his touch.  “It’s all right,” he murmured close to my ear.  “Things have a way of working themselves out.  Look at us.  Give her time and let me talk to her.”

I rested my hand over his.  From the corner of my eye, I caught Olivia glance in our direction.  Her nostrils flared and her red lips turned into a pout.  She fluttered her eyelashes and returned her focus to the whatever was happening on the tarmac.  “I know, but Andy, I hate this.  I hate that she’s alone because of me.”

“Mick, stop blaming yourself.  We might’ve lied to her, but she lied to us, too.  Remember that.”

I patted the top of his hand.  It was pointless to argue with him.  He’d never see things from my perspective.  To him, we had every right to love each other, and in no way should feel guilty for that.   But it wasn’t that simple for me.  The guilt burrowed deep inside me.  Only forgiveness would appease my agony.

Once in the air, I felt almost claustrophobic.  Even in first class, the seats seemed like a straight jacket, holding me against my will.  Four hours ticked by so slow that I wondered if we were flying or walking to Florida.  No matter how many times I adjusted in my chair, I couldn’t get comfortable, and the constant popping of my ears was enough to drive me to insanity.  

Throughout the flight, I kept a close eye on Olivia.  She’d managed to fall asleep within the last forty-five minutes or so, but from what I could tell, it was restless.  She let out a little whimper that no one but me seemed to notice.  Her long, slender legs curled beneath her, jerking ever so slightly.

With only thirty minutes left of our trip, I was itching to get out of the tin-can hurling me across the fair, blue skies.  I couldn’t see the sun, only the reflection of light through the open windows.  My breathing began to elevate and my pulse started to race.  Time controlled my body and mind.  Drew, sensing my discomfort, attempted to engage me in conversation, but even that didn’t ease my tension.

Suddenly, Olivia bolted upright.  She cupped her hands around her stomach, her face contorted in pain.  She cried out, rocking forward, her feet planting on the floor.  My whole body jolted, jerking in her direction.  Our eyes met, and in hers, fear and pain had taken hold.  She gritted her teeth and lunged forward.  An agonizing cry forced everyone to look in her direction.  

Drew ripped his seatbelt off and tripped over me in a mad dash to get across the aisle.  He knelt in the empty seat beside Olivia.  She cried, grabbing his hand.  “Something’s wrong,” she whimpered.  “Terribly wrong.”

“Talk to me.  Tell me what’s going on?”  I sat there, frozen, watching them together.  Drew was a man of action, but I knew deep down he was freaking out.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he saw Rebecca and Autumn in Olivia’s eyes.  I wrung my hands together, fighting the nausea that threatened to overpower me.  

“Pain,” she cried out.

Drew looked around, about to call out for help, but a flight attendant was at his side before he could utter a word.

“Is everything all right?” the scrawny male attendant inquired.

“No!” Olivia cried.  “My stomach.  Pain.”

A man seated behind Olivia leaned over.  What was left of his gray hair was combed forward in a vain attempt to cover a widening bald spot.  His belly, larger than Olivia’s, stopped him from moving in too close.  “How far along is she?” he asked Drew.

“Seventeen weeks,” Olivia grunted.

The man stood up, his stomach pushing against the back of her seat.  “I’m Dr. Howard Tolbert, a family physician in Venice.  Would you be okay if I examine you?"

Olivia blinked her eyes, giving the doctor a quick nod as tears streamed down her cheeks.  He shoved up out the seat and pushed himself into the aisle.  Drew stood up, taking a step back along with the flight attendant to give the doctor space.  I couldn’t see what he was doing. His back blocked Olivia from my view.  He spoke to her in hushed tones, so I only caught about every other word.  He said things like, ‘spotting, stress, and cramps,’ which highlighted the seriousness of the situation.  Those were words that Morgan flung at Nate and me when I miscarried Evan.  Drew had his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes wide with concern.  I reached up, offering him my hand.  He took it, giving me a quick squeeze of reassurance.

Finally, the doctor stood up.  “I think she’s safe until we land.  I can’t be certain without a complete examination, but for now…”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking," a husky voice with a slight northwestern twang rang out over the intercom. "We have begun our descent into Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Currently, the weather is a balmy ninety-two degrees. The local time is two-oh-one.  We’ll be arriving at our gate in approximately ten minutes…”

“Well, that’s lucky for us,” Dr. Tolbert chuckled.  “We need her to be the first off this craft.  Please notify the captain that we have a medical emergency.”

The waif-like attendant darted off to the cockpit to notify the pilot of the situation.  In his place, a pretty, blonde attendant announced for everyone to take their seats.  

The fasten seatbelt sign blinked on and my whole body, once again, became a bundle of nerves.  I slipped over into the window seat and let Drew have the aisle.  The doctor remained next to Olivia, forcing his fat belly into a seat belt.  

My stomach was already in my throat as the plane began its descent from the sky.  The earth started to move closer to the aircraft and the clouds disappeared, having been left in the Heavens where they belonged.  I clenched my jaw and balled my fists in anticipation of the wheels touching the ground.  Momentary relief pushed my stomach back down my throat when the tires hit the pavement.  

The instant the fasten seatbelt sign turned off, Drew and I were out of our seats, gathering ours and Olivia’s belongings.  The three of us, plus the good doctor, were escorted from the plane as soon as it arrived at the gate.  For the first few hours of my return to Sarasota, I remained in a hospital waiting room, pacing the floor, worried about Drew and Olivia.

A twisted piece of me thought about how this baby would always connect them, and in a way, I would always have to share him with her, yet my heart wouldn’t let that bother me.  Drew loved me and I him.  Olivia and Drew deserved the love of this child, and even though Olivia wanted me to have nothing to do with it or her, I would love this baby, too.