Love You Anyways (25 page)

“He is.”

“Well I’m glad you have each other. Who knows maybe?” She stopped and laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me you went on a date?”

“It was uncomfortable to do
, let alone talk about.”

“You have to tell Matthew and CJ
, Mom.” She handed me Piper and pulled out her phone.

“No
, not yet I don’t want them to be upset. Harper it’s a date. Just a date.”

“Upset? They have been the ones saying you need to get out there. Dad would want you to Mom.”

I watched her hold her phone out as she face- timed her brothers.

“Hey Matthew, just waiting for CJ to pick up on Moms phone.” She grabbed my phone and dialed CJ.

“Harper, I don’t think…”

“Hey Mom what’s up.”

“Mom wants you both to know she was a date Friday.”

“A date?” They both
said at once.

“A second date.” Harper informed them.

Maddox walked in the door. “Tessa has a date?”

“A second date.” All three of my children said at once followed by both boys asking
, “Who?”

“Lucas Links?” Maddox asked.

“How did you know?” Harper asked.

“He’s a god man. He cares about her. The way he goes behind her back to fix issues…”

“You all do realize I’m right here correct?” I interjected.

“Friday night
’s out though. We’re coming home to teach Piper how to play in the dirt.”

“Piper will not be playing in the dirt, she’s a Princess aren’t you Piper?” Maddox chuckled and tickled her chin.

Piper laughed. He did it again and she laughed again.

“Her first laugh, her first real laugh.”

“Again little Princess for Daddy.” He tickled her chin and she laughed again.

I don’t know why I started crying but I did. All of my children were laughing and cooing over Piper and it was beautiful.

“Mom?”

“Oh
, Mom. Don’t cry please don’t cry.”

I shook my head no, “Happy.” Was all I could
manage.

And then Harper started crying. “We
’re glad you’re happy Mom.”

I swallowed. “You all make me happy.”

“Of course we do.” CJ laughed.

“Mom
, we love you. We’re glad to see an emotion, happy or sad we’ll take it.”

“I’m sorry.” I swallowed again. “I just. I miss him. But he wants me…”

“To live.” Matthew said.

“To feel
.” CJ added.

“To love again.” Harper hugged me.

“Mom. Lucas and you can make us dinner. Better invite his kids too.” CJ chuckled.

“Okay.”

“You better ask him first.” Maddox rubbed my shoulder and laughed.

Chapter 26

Heart Ache

I sat in Dad’s office speechless. His lawyer and mine had just told me they were selling Links Construction to a company that was taking it public and branching out overseas. Dad said he was ready to retire.

I had mentioned I owned half of this company and he informed me that I technically did not. My name was never legally added to the business and then when LLGI started he had decided to let it be. He also informed me the money would be split four ways. Those four ways included me, my sisters and him. He had deposited twelve point five million dollars into my
account yesterday when the sale was finalized. He and my sisters were taking a chance with owning between them fifty percent of the company and four million each.

When I asked why he didn’t ask if I would take that offer and he told me I wasn’t included because the new owner did not want me involved in the business. If he hadn’t conceded he would have lost the deal.

“That’s fucked up Dad.”

“Have a seat Lucas.”

“No I’m good. Let me ask you exactly why the fuck my sisters get shares and I don’t! I have busted my ass for you since I was fourteen years old…”

“And you were paid.”

“Explain to me why you’re acting so fucking cold.”

“It’s business Lucas.”

His secretary buzzed him and he responded, “Send them in.”

I turned and saw Audri and my sister walk in.

My chest tightened when I realized they all knew. Then I realized what the hell was going on.

“Who bought you all out?” No one answered and Dad stood.

“Look son…”

“Son? Don’t you call me son you bastard.”

“Lucas please.”

“How long have you all known?” My sisters and Audri all looked down. “How the fuck long have you all known Ashley was fucking around on me!”

“Lucas it’s a tough spot you put us all in when you married my wife’s sister.”

“Fuck you! Fuck you all.” I felt sweat beading on my forehead and stood. I was so fucking angry. “You sold out a business that I put blood sweat and tears into.”

“Lucas I built this business…”

“And then I came on like the little bitch you wanted me to be. I was your show boat, the football player, the ladies’ man, and the mother fucker who grew this business to what it is today! I have my suspicions but do me a favor. Let me know who the new owner is.”

“Me,” Ashley walked in and set her briefcase on the desk. “I bought the business.”

“Oh yeah with what?”

“I’ve worked hard too Lucas…”

“Worked hard? You’re the highest priced errand girl I have ever met. Fuck I paid you for years to fuck Shaw. That’s a whore Ashley!”

“Right. Anyway, you have divorce papers that need to be signed.” Her tone was so cold.

“Fuck you. See you in court Bitch!”

I turned to walk out and heard my sisters both start to cry. I turned around and walked to them and kissed each of their heads. “I love you both regardless. Just watch your backs because this crew will stab you so quick you won’t know it’s coming.”

“Lucas wait.” Dad yelled.

I didn’t turn around I walked to the elevator.

~

I got in my SUV and fought the desire to call Tessa. I knew she was with John and Maggie at the hospital. So I waited.

I was about two hours from home when I finally called her.

“Hey.”

“Hey Baby.”

“You alright?”

“How’s your Dad?”

“Great. He’s awake and drugged. You should see him Lucas, he looks high.”

I laughed. “I love you.”

“That’s good because my children will all be home Friday and expect us to make them dinner.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Well you may not think so when I tell you they think you should invite your kids too.”

“Even better.”

“Here I am rambling when I should be asking you how things went today.”

“How about I tell you later? I’m heading home now. Could you meet me at my house? I really want to see you.”

“I’m going to head home in a few hours to take Mom home. We were gonna paint some more. Lucas are you okay?”

“I’m great. I just miss you that’s all.”

“I miss you too.”

“I love you.”

“Drive safe. See you soon.”

~

On my drive I had talked to Bones and he was going to head up with some information tomorrow. Bones never came to Upstate. So that was making me a bit nervous. I had also called Ava and Logan and told them that we were having a get together with Tessa and her kids on Friday. Both asked if it was like a date and I told them yes. Logan asked if I was gonna hit that and I told him I’d be hitting him in the back of the head if he asked that again. Ava was sweeter about it. She was giddy and happy, like I knew she’d be. I didn’t tell them about what was going on with their mother and the others. I didn’t want them to know a damn thing until I talked to Bones and found a new lawyer.

I was on interstate eighty one almost to Cortland when the heaviness in my chest began to tighten. I slowed down and my left arm started to tingle. I could hear my heart pounding in my ear and I knew it wasn’t good. I pulled over and the pain sharpened.

I reached up and pushed the OnStar button and the operator answered.

“OnStar how can we help you?”

“I’m on eighty one north just south of Cortland and I think I’m having a heart attack.”

~

I woke up in the hospital with a blonde resting her head on my chest and giving me little kisses.

I cleared my very dry throat and she jumped and looked at me. She was a wreck. Mascara stains were covering half of her red and puffy eyes. Her nose was red and she looked terrified.

“I thought this would get you to me sooner.”

“Oh God Lucas. You scared me. You scared me so badly.”

She started crying again and kissed me. With her lips still on mine she whispered. “If you had died on me too I would have never gotten a chance to tell you.”

I kissed her, “Not yet Baby.”

“You have on a white gown and I had a minister in here earlier so I can say I love you.” And she stomped her foot.

“So that’s how you’ll say it?”

“I love you Lucas.”

“I know.”

“You bought our old house.”

“Damn slow it down girl I just woke up. I don’t want to fight already.”

“Dad told me you never cashed his check all those years ago.”

“I built the house for you. Your stubborn ass wouldn’t take any money. Baby can we argue later? I’d like to know what the hell happened to me.”

“Right sorry. You have two stints in your heart. Two very clogged arteries that are perfect now.” She started to cry.

“Okay so why are you crying?”

“I talked to Ava. She talked to Ashley. I’m so sorry your Dad is such a piece of shit Lucas.”

“Right now I don’t care.”

“Ava is on her way and she asked me not to call Logan. Jade is picking her and my boys up from the airport then they’ll go get Logan and come here. I told Harper and Maddox to stay put because of…”

“They’re all coming here?”

“Of course they are.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Will you do
me a favor and climb up here and lay with me so I can hold you?”

She kicked her shoes off and laid by my side.

Out of all the shit that happened today I should have felt completely shattered but I didn’t. I felt like nothing mattered. Not one fucking thing mattered. I was lying next to my one true love. The girl I had loved and broken. I grew from all of it into the man I was now.

“What are you thinking?” She kissed my cheek.

“That obviously I finally got it right. That I don’t give a shit about anything that happened today because right now I am holding you. Our children are on their way here. All of them know what family is supposed to mean and how it’s supposed to work. That it doesn’t matter that I fucked up back then, I can let myself off the hook. I’m thinking I am one lucky son of a bitch to be alive. And I am thanking God that he made your heart so incredibly strong and pure enough to love me anyways. And you? What are you thinking?”

“I wouldn’t have made it if I lost you.”

“You would have had too.” I laughed. “You’re going to think I’m crazy but that little Piper is the closest thing to a second chance of us having a child together as we’ll ever have. That’s one regret I will always have. That I didn’t have a child with you.”

“We could adopt.”

“You’d do that?”

“If you need that then I would. But think of what we have now. Five kids who are going to all have babies. Imagine all the babies we can help raise and do it together.”

“Perfect. I was also thinking how incredibly hard my dick was getting how do you suppose we fix that nurse Tessa?”

She laughed. “Well
, after I get you home we’ll see what happens. I bet I can come up with something.”

“I’m fucking exhausted.”

“Go to sleep.”

“Can you stay? I mean at least until the kids get here and all that is…”

“I’m staying.”

She was careful not to touch any of the lines but she rested her hand above my heart and kissed it gently.

“I’ll take care of you if you take care of mine.”

“Sounds perfect.”

~

I woke up to a familiar little giggle and a startled jump. I opened my eyes to see four adult children, Jade, Ryan, and Tessa
’s parents.

“Hi Daddy.” Ava whispered and walked to the opposite side of the bed that Tessa was now standing at looking completely bewildered.

“Hello Ava.” She bent over and kissed my cheek and a tear fell. “I’m okay. Don’t cry.” Logan walked up beside her and looked at me. “Hey Logan.”

“You,” he swallowed hard. “You scared me.”

“I just wanted to see which one of you would get here fastest. Looks like a tie.”

“She had an advantage,” he nudged Ava. “I would’ve been here.”

He looked at Tessa and then quickly away.

“Does anyone want a drink? I’m going to get a drink. Ava, Logan?”

“And so it begins,” CJ walked up and put his hand on Tessa’s shoulder and kissed her cheek.

“What begins?” Tessa asked.

“Well, the way I see it if you end up, well you know… Logan is the baby. So he’ll get more toys at Christmas…”

Matthew walked up on her other side, “More attention.” He kissed her cheek.

“Oh and add to it that he’s a hot shot football star,” CJ groaned.

“That may work in our favor you know,” Matthew laughed. “Think of the women he’ll toss aside that we can pick up after him.”

“Boys.” Tessa warned.

“What Mom
? It’s already happening.” CJ chuckled.

“I’d say you’re already well under way.” Matthew looked at Ava and Logan. “They tell us to behave and check them out
--one date and they’re already in bed together.”

They all laughed. “Yeah Daddy what’s up with that?”

Logan smiled. “You need any condoms?”

The room went silent and Logan’s face started to turn red.

John laughed louder than I’ve ever heard him laugh and Tessa and her boys looked at him like he was crazy.

“Well
, now you know why I am how I am.” Tessa laughed. “My Dad’s sitting here stoned out of his mind.”

The room became louder as everyone tossed around jokes. Logan was even at ease. I watched them all.

Maggie and Tessa left to get drinks and we all talked about Logan’s game on Saturday and deer season being right around the corner. CJ and Matthew mentioned winter break and their plans to go to Mexico. They even asked my boy to join them.

CJ had Tessa’s personality and was a spitting image of his father. Matthew looked like Tessa’s family but he was much more reserved, like his father. I was enjoying their banter and laughter when there was a loud knock on the door. We all turned to look who it was and my father walked in.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Ava snapped.

“Ava. I’m here to see your father.”

“Well, see where you put him? Now see your way out. But before doing so let me tell you, I will be going through all your paperwork until I find one little fuck-- up and…”

“Ava. Don’t. It’s not worth it.”

“Oh I think it is.” Tessa walked past him and set down the tray. “You have a lot of nerve coming here…”

“Now you listen to me.”

“Fuck you!” Tessa reached up and slapped my father across the face.

“Mom!” Matthew gasped.

“You better grab her.”