Double Trouble (12 page)

Pleased that his father felt some pain, Donald nodded. “Good, he should be.”

“No man… you don’t understand. Mom is leaving him behind that shit. She is coming here. To be with her family. Her son. Me…damn it. Y’all better fix this shit. I love ma, but living with me until… this matter’s settled… I got nothing to do with that. If anything, she should move in with your asses.” He pointed at Blaine and then Donald.

“She can move in here with us. As soon as she gets here I’ll explain you don’t want her there and offer her my room,” Donald said, watching Red’s face darken as he jumped up.

“Asshole,” Red hissed as he stared down at him.

Donald smiled at his younger brother’s anger, knowing Red would never allow their mom to think he resented her staying with him.

“Sit your ass down and stop talking shit. Get Frank and Roark on a conference call so we can bring everybody up to speed. We’re only gonna do this once,” Blaine said as he crossed his legs and pulled out his phone.

Red stared at Donald a moment longer before he pulled out his phone and walked to the other side of the room. Before long all five brothers were connected.

“Okay, you already heard what pops did, and we agree it was messed up,” Donald said to get the conversation started. “But it really gets bad… she has twin boys. Imagine how hard that was for her over the years.” He went on to tell them about Adam and his anger, Lindy’s ambivalence, and everything else except the course of action he and Blaine had worked out.

“Damn…” Frank said into the silence.

Red had retaken his seat and stared wide-eyed at his brothers. “Whose sons are they?”

“Ours,” Blaine said before Donald could respond.

Red nodded. “I know that but…are you saying that each one of you fathered one of her sons?”

Donald shrugged. “I am saying what Lindy said. We are the fathers of her sons. It doesn’t matter to us which or if one of us fathered both. They are our sons, period.”

Red held his gaze a moment longer before nodding. “Okay. Go it. I have two nephews. No problem.”

“Legally, how does that work out, Donald?” Frank asked. “I mean last names are not an issue, but paternity is a legal matter, isn’t it?”

“It could be, but fraternal twins from different fathers isn’t new. There are lots of research and cases on that. Like I said, I am repeating what the mother of our sons said, if she makes a distinction, then we make one. We are following her lead on this and expect everyone else to do so as well. The last thing we want is anyone in our family causing the mother of our sons any more trauma. I think the O’Connor clan has done enough damage.”

“Good point,” Roark said. “You’re lucky she spoke to you at all and that she is moving out of the way so you can talk to the boys. It’s understandable why they’re hostile. They don’t know what happened and when they find out it was their granddaddy who kept you guys apart all these years… you have your work cut out for you. If Brenda wasn’t in her last trimester, I’d fly out there for moral support. Show your sons not all O’Connors are losers.”

“Hey,” Red said, laughing. “I’m here. I can represent.”

Roark snorted. “Like I said, we’re not all losers.”

“Let me know if you need any backup, my wife wants to visit her daughter, Cherise, and the kids anyway. We can fly out there, give you a break from mom if you want. With her and pops on the outs, she may be a little more… intrusive than normal.

Red snorted.

Donald ignored his younger brother as he considered the offer from his older. “That might be a good idea. No telling how long mom will be here before da arrives begging forgiveness. It might be a good idea if the boys met more than their grandparents.”

“I’ll let Veronique know what’s going on…do I need to muzzle this or can she tell Cherise?”

“Muzzle,” Blaine answered before Donald could. “And Denise too.”

Donald watched Red’s face match his name.

“She knows something is up with all the calls last night. Plus with mom on her way, she already knows…” Red said.

“He told her everything he knows,” Roark said after a long sigh.

“Yeah, he can’t hold water,” Frank added.

“Hey, I didn’t tell her about Adam applying for the job or that he was your son. I told her the twins were in town on some sensitive personal stuff that I did not know the details. I didn’t lie to her, I just didn’t tell her everything, so stick that in your ass and shove it, Roark,” Red said in a huff.

Blaine shook his head.

Donald chuckled at his brother’s aggravated expression. Everyone knew the only thing Red could keep from his wife was something he himself did.

“Frank, I’ll get back with you later today after we meet with Lindy, and hopefully the boys. Then we’ll have an idea how long we’ll be in town. Roark, give Brenda a hug and tell her we asked about her. Make sure she keeps her feet up, I’m looking forward to meeting my nephew in a few months.”

Roark chuckled. “I’ll try, she's more feisty than normal. And just because I can’t make the trip right now does not mean I want to be kept in the dark about my nephews. Send me a text, let me know how things are panning out. I’ll wait to tell Brenda, because that’s just like telling Denise. My wife can’t hold water either when it comes to family gossip and her friends.”

“Well, at least you admit it.” Donald met Red’s glare and ignored the finger sent in his direction.

Chapter 9

Belinda and the boys arrived early at the restaurant. Butterflies filled her stomach as she took a sip of water while waiting for Donnie and Blaine to arrive. Exhaling, she glanced at the stubborn expressions her sons wore. If she never repeated a discussion like the one she had last night it would suit her just fine. Never had she been so embarrassed as when Abe asked how she could’ve dated two men at the same time. It wasn’t that he was disrespectful; he was confused after she explained that the two men hadn’t tricked her and that all three of them were aware of the situation.

Four hours later an ill-tempered Adam left their heated discussion and went to bed, leaving her with an angry Abraham. This morning, Adam appeared more resigned and agreed to meet his father. Abe’s hostility surprised her. Normally he was the easy-going laid back son. But his anger was palpable. She sensed the only reason he came was to unload his frustration.

“Can I order something, Mom? I need to take a pain pill,” Adam asked, looking over the menu.

“Sure, nothing too heavy though.”

He nodded.

“I hope our fathers are loaded because I plan to order a lot of food,” Abe said in a low voice while looking over the menu.

“That rule hasn’t changed. Only order what you can eat,” she said, pinning him with her stare.

“They owe me, Mom. They owe me and Adam and you. The least they can do is pay for a meal.” Abe replaced the menu on the table and glanced at Adam before returning his gaze to hers.

Belinda knew she had to pull back the reins on these two before Donnie and Blaine arrived. “I raised you with manners and you will use them, all of them.” She pointed at Abe. “Whatever you think they owe you is between you and them, but you will not disrespect or embarrass me. Not now, not ever. Do you understand?”

She waited for his answer. When it did not come as fast as she felt it should, she slapped the table hard. Adam jumped. Abe’s head snapped up and he met her narrowed gaze.

“I asked you a question.”

“Yes, Mom. I understand.” He paused. “I thought you were going to allow us to work out our relationship with these men on our own.”

Belinda nodded as tension flowed through her. “I am. But you will act like I raised you with some sense or you will deal with me. You don’t disrespect adults, period. Got that?”

Abe’s lips tightened a bit as he nodded.

“Yes, ma’am,” Adam said as he placed his menu on the table. “Got it. But respect is earned, right?”

Belinda wanted to smack him. Or Donnie and Blaine. Or the senior O’Connor for starting all of this mess. Instead, she prayed for strength to deal with her sons and this whole situation. “Yes, it is earned. That is one aspect. Another is more generalized. You respect people as human beings, or older people as those who have lived longer and have knowledge. You have never met the President, but you respect his position and title.” She paused and swallowed hard. “You respect the position of father because if it were not for your father you wouldn’t be here.”

Facing the stares of her children was one of the hardest things she had ever done. But she knew if she didn’t drill this into them, they would try and deal with their fathers as if they were equals. And they were not. It was never healthy for a child to rule their parents. Plus, from what she remembered of Donnie and Blaine, they would never allow it.

Finally, Adam nodded. A second or so later Abe nodded as well. The waiter approached the table to take their orders just as Blaine and Donnie arrived. A curious stirring started low in her belly as she met their identical intense gazes. Her breathing changed to short sips of air. She grabbed her water glass and took a long gulp to buy some time.

“Hello, I’m Blaine.” The deep sound of his voice hit her like an anvil, swirling and stirring memories before settling in her core. She watched as Donnie introduced himself, and both men took seats at the table.

No one spoke.

Mouth dry, she tried to put words together to make some sort of sentence, but their combined fragrances, different and yet familiar, choked her.

“We met yesterday in the hospital. I’m Adam.” He paused and looked at his twin. “And this is my brother Abraham.”

“Abe,” Abraham corrected.

“Nice to meet you. Lindy, how are you today?” Blaine asked as he met her gaze.

“I’m…I’m good,” she said after a shaky start. “We haven’t been here that long, just getting ready to order.” She glanced over Donnie’s shoulder to the waiter. “Give us a few more minutes, please.”

“Why?” Adam asked. “You said I could order so I can take my medication.”

“Yes, that’s right. Go ahead and order, Adam.” She sent him a warning stare.

He smiled and ordered a small salad and chicken tenders platter.

Abe ordered a fried shrimp platter with a salad. She ordered a salad with grilled chicken on top.

“I’ll have the rib-eye, medium, with the potatoes and salad,” Donnie said, handing his menu to the waiter. “And a root beer.”

“I’ll have the dinner portion of the steak medallions with the potatoes and salad. Add a coke to that, please.” Blaine handed the waiter his menu as well.

Belinda hid a grin at the surprised looks on her sons’ faces. The twins always had large appetites, it was good to see that had not changed.

“You gonna eat a steak at one o’clock?” Abe asked Donnie.

“Yes. Why not? I like rib-eyes.”

“It’s your stomach,” Abe muttered.

“Yes… yes, it is,” Donnie said, surprising her and Abe as well with his quick comeback.

“Mom told me you were my dad,” Adam said to Blaine. And to his credit the man didn’t react. She hadn’t had a chance to discuss paternity with her former lovers, but since her sons were not identical, she was comfortable making assignments.

“Your mother is right,” Blaine said immediately, returning Adam’s gaze.

Her face warmed as Donnie and Abe stared each other down.

“I don’t have a father,” Abe said in a low voice. “A father is someone who is there for his kid when he needs him. Mom says I have to respect the position of paternity and I will try to do that, but nothing else. Granted, if it were not for you I wouldn’t be here, and for that…thanks, I guess.”

Belinda coughed and took another sip of her water. Of her two sons, Abe favored her side of the family more, but had the same color hair and eyes as his brother. She wondered what Donald thought about that.

“I appreciate you being a straight shooter, Abe. That makes this easier for me, because I call them as I see them too. I had no idea the love of my life was pregnant. Blaine and I had a fight, and were grounded for a few days. During that time, your mom made a trip to visit her godmother.” He paused. “I waited to hear from her and never did. She never returned, and as far as I knew, never called or tried to contact me again. Her family wouldn’t tell me a damn thing, and none of her friends knew anything. I was crushed…for years.” He paused, glanced at her and then returned his gaze to Abe.

Belinda saw the pain in his eyes. Her heart jumped a beat at the familiar heat there as well.
Oh hell
.

“I just learned yesterday that your mom had tried to contact us. She talked to my dad and he lied when he told her he would tell us. So we never knew about you or where she was.”

Abe snorted. Belinda read the confusion in his eyes behind his tough veneer. “Why would he do that? Because mom’s black? Or she didn’t have money like you guys? Is he racist or something?”

“Hold up,” Donnie said, leaning forward. “Race has nothing to do with my family. My mom is so mixed she calls herself a mutt. I loved your mom because she was a strong, beautiful woman who brought joy and sunshine into my life. Problem was my twin.” He tipped his head toward a silent Blaine. “He was in love with her, too. And my da…father, didn’t like that we fought over her.”