Tough Love (Hidden Secrets) (10 page)

Jack
knelt in front of me, wiping the tear from my cheek. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

“She
is,” I whispered.

“I
am a very proud uncle that’s for sure.”

When
I looked up, my eyes locked with Jack’s. The smile on his face slipped just a little. Someone sneezing broke the hold and I glanced back down at Colbie trying to hide my blush.

“Mind
if I hold her for a bit?”

I
laugh. “She is your niece.” I try to mask my sadness as I hand him Colbie. “I’m just going to go check on my brothers.”

Chapter Eleven

Jackson

Seeing her hold Colbie pulled at something deep within me. Two of the most beautiful ladies that mean so much to me. Even though I can’t have a relationship with her, she will always mean so much to me. Always. Her and the boys are embedded very deep into my heart. The thing that floors me is that they really have no idea how truly special they are.  Shannon always says that she believes that the boys are going to change the world one day, but she can’t see that all three of them already have.

The
minute they walked into my office they changed my life forever. When I started telling my family about them, even before they met them, they’d changed their lives. It isn’t anything they do, it’s just who they are. The essence they bring to anyone that encounters them.

If
only things were different.

Holding
Colbie, I watched her walk away my eyes never leaving her. Honestly, I’m surprised she’s still single. There wasn’t anything I found about her that turns me off. Then I remembered something.

“Hey
CJ? Will you go ask Nick to come here?”

Carson
nodded and headed off to get Nick. Looking down at my beautiful niece in my arms. Suddenly, I found myself picturing my daughter in my arms. She’d have my dark hair, but she’d have her mama’s beautiful hazel eyes. My head snapped up and my eyes found her right away. She was laughing at something Sebastian was telling her.

“I’m
so glad you found her.”

“Found
who?” I asked, shocked that I forgot that Colleen was standing there.

“Your
forever girl.”

“Col,
you know that isn’t happening for me. It can’t.”

She
laughs. “Honey, whether you think it can’t or not. It’s already happened. Once you stop fighting it, you’ll see how much happier you can and deserve to be.”

Looking
up, my eyes met Shannon’s again. We both kind of froze in what we were doing. My rocking side to side stilled and I lost myself in her eyes. Even at this distance, they consumed me. Colleen may be right. It may have already happened, but other than small moments like this nothing will change. She’s my friend, nothing more.

“You
deserve happiness, Jack. You deserve love. I don’t care what you think and what happened, Jack. The more you cling to the past more of your present disappears and the more your future will stay dark. I think I can speak from experience here and the knowledge of what you’re going through.”

“I
won’t repeat the past, Colleen. My mistakes will
not
affect Shannon. I won’t let anything touch her,” I almost hissed.

Colleen
gasped. “Jackson Williams! The first shocking thing here is, how much you love her. Second, and probably the most heartbreaking, is how much you’re willing to miss just because of your past. Jacks-”

“Colleen,
don’t. Just stop.” I hissed.

“Sorry,
Jacks. I’m just trying to help you. So you don’t lose what your heart already knows it wants and needs. You’re going to be so much worse off if you let her walk away.”

Looking
back in Shannon’s direction, I watch as Sebastian comes up to her. She listens, then her face drops. Handing Colbie to Colleen, I started heading over in their direction. She walks up to one of Mary and Tobey’s new hires, pushing him. My vision flashed red as he slapped Shannon across the face. I was in his face, knocking him out in one swing.

“Are
you okay?” I asked immediately pulling Shannon into my arms.

“He
told Sebastian that monsters were made to stay hidden and not come out during the day. Why does everyone have to be so mean to him?” She sobbed in my chest.

Kissing
the top of her head over and over again, I held her tightly against me. “I’m sorry, so very sorry.” It was all I could say.

Sebastian
pulls at my pants. Reluctantly, I break away from Shannon and bend down, picking up Sebastian while he cries. Every day of his damn life, he’s going to face this treatment. With every insult, it will wear on this poor little guy. That hurts me deeply.

Pulling
Shannon into me, I tried to console both of them. If I hadn’t invited them here today, they’d be sitting at home in their normal routine, not having to suffer any of the cruelty they’ve suffered here. However, all regrets about bringing them here left just moments after I thought it.

“Sebastian?”
My mom asks gently.

To
both mine and Shannon’s surprise, Sebastian turned and went willingly into her arms.  “I don’t mean to be a monster,” he sobs as he holds her tightly.

“You
are no monster, little boy. You are far from a monster. The only kind of monster you are is my tickle monster.”

I
smiled, knowing the game she was about to play. Sebastian leans back. “No, silly, you’re the tickle monster.”

“Well,
if you say so,” then my mom starts tickling him. Sebastian immediately starts laughing.

Mary came over and held her arms out for Sebastian. With Sebastian in her arms, she sat in a chair that Tobey had brought over for her.

“Atreyu
tells me you like music.”

“Sometimes,”
Sebastian sniffled.

“Can
I sing you a song?” Sebastian nods.

Mary
starts singing Mark Wills’ song
Don’t Laugh At Me
. It was actually perfect. It was a song about how we may be different, but in the end, we’ll all have perfect wings. It was about judging others on their differences or imperfections. Everyone was watching as Mary sang this song, but had Shannon gasping was when Sebastian joined in on the chorus. He watched Mary’s mouth and repeated the words, then looked at Shannon saying,
“Someday we’ll all have perfect wings, Don’t laugh at me.”

Everyone kind of dispersed and went back to enjoying the party. Once I made sure that Shannon was okay, I went and searched out Nick.

“Yo,
Nix!” I yelled when I spotted him.

“Hey
man. Those boys are amazing and your girl is beautiful.”

“We’re
just friends. How’s Jennifer doing? I’m surprised she’s not here.”

Nick’s
face dropped. “She left.”

“Oh,
man. When’s she coming back?”

He
cleared his throat, still not meeting my eyes. “She’s not coming back. She left me. Moved to California.”

“Damn,
man. I know how much you liked her. You’d been together for a while.”

He
took a deep breath. “I love her, Jax. I love her.”

“Two
years is a long time to walk away from. Did she say why? Have you told her how you felt.”

“Yeah,
then she told me she was leaving. Something about not being on the same page,” Nick mumbled.

“Sorry
man. If you need to vent or a distraction, just say the word.”

“Thanks.”
Shaking his head, lifting it in full Williams fashion changes the subject. “So CJ says you wanted to talk to me.”

My
eyes had found Shannon’s again. She stood back watching the boys playing with Tobey and Jason. The guys have kind of bonded with each other. Both of them are expecting babies with my sisters. I have to laugh when I’m around either of them because they freak when my sisters try to do anything.

Tobey
and Jason were chasing the boys around. The smiles on their faces, I no longer regret bringing them here. Yeah, there was one incident, but they bounced back from that. Honestly, I think that Atreyu has been just as affected when Sebastian is put down. My eyes moved back to Shannon. God, she was beautiful. When she smiled, my heart skipped a beat. Whenever I was near her, my body practically vibrated. To be completely honest, I was more alive with her than I have ever been in my life.

“Hello?
Earth to lover boy…” Nick waved his hand in front of my face breaking me out of the thoughts.

“Huh?
What?” I asked, shaking my head.

“Well
before you started drooling over the girl you say is just your friend, I asked what it was you needed.” Nick said with a bit of a laugh at my expense.

“Oh
yeah. Listen, I need your help. You can be honest and I’ll pay you if you decide to help me.”

“Are
you okay brother?” Nick asked, standing a little taller.

“Yeah,
I’m good. No, what I need is your help to save Shannon’s parents’ home. They are on the verge of being kicked out of her parents’ house because it’s not up to code. I know you are working with Mary and Tobey on their home, but I could really use your help. I mean, even if you just tell me what I need to do, I’ll do the work.” Looking back at Shannon, I say sadly. “She’s lost enough. I don’t want her to lose this too.”

“I’m
all yours. Tobey and Mary have to approve the plans and get county approval before I can do anything for them. When can I come by to have a look?”

“I
can take you over there tomorrow, but I can tell you what I’ve seen.”

“You’ve
seen her house,” Nick smirks.

“Yes,
I spend a lot of time with the boys.”

“And
her,” he jabs.

“Yes,
and her,” I whisper.

“What
am I walking into?”

“
Well, I believe all the windows need to be replaced. There are signs of leaking below the windows so we could be looking at a possible mold issue. Electrical may need upgrading, not one hundred percent on that. Roof damage, door replacement, porch fixed, possible siding…I’m not going to lie it is in bad shape. I’m not sure what upkeep, if any has been done, even by her parents. The thing is man, I want to make this place home for her again. She still won’t even go in her parents’ room. She sleeps in a room the size of a closet for crying out loud. She needs her life back. She needs the opportunity to have a life.”

“What
are you saying here?”

Sighing,
“What I’m asking is that you go in there with the assumption of helping her bringing the house up to code, but can you also run your magic and help her make it her own. I will pay for everything. I know it’s a lot to ask…”

Nick
looks at me intently. “This means a lot to you, doesn’t it? You really care about her.”

All
I could do was nod. Again, my eyes found hers. The distance disappeared between us. My hands itched at my side to hold her. My mouth wanted to taste her, cherish her. Damn it! What the hell is happening to me?

Nick
slaps my back. “Don’t worry, man. I got you covered.”

“Thanks
man,” I smiled, sadly.

“I’m
here if you need me. I’ll be by your place at nine. Sound good?”

“
Yeah, sounds great.” Nick turns and starts walking away. “Hey Nick?”

He
turns around, smiling sadly. “I know brother. You don’t have to say it.”

Nodding
sadly, Nick smiled and walked away. My eyes went back to Shannon. I watched as Scott walked up to her. Even from this distance, I saw his eyes travel her body and my fists clench at my sides. She smiles at him, but it looks forced. Not taking my eyes off them, their conversation continues. Shannon’s body slowly begins to relax and her smiles become genuine. Scott places his hand on her back and leans into her ear.

My
fists were clenched so tight, I’ll be surprised if there wasn’t blood later. The only thought running through my head right now was how I’m going to kill this sorry son of a bitch for…

“With
a look like that, I’d be shitting my pants right now.”

“Shut
up, Jake!” I hissed.

“You
can’t get pissed off when someone else moves in. You aren’t exactly making a move. In fact, I believe you have said that you’re just friends. Right? Yet, someone told me this morning that he’s falling for her. You can’t be her friend and stop her from dating at the same time. If you’re going to claim her…claim her. Or back off and let her find happiness outside of you.”

Jake
walked away and I watched the two of them. Scott still had his hand on her back, but Shannon wasn’t pulling away either. My heart hung heavy in my chest. The stuttering of erratic beats told me what my head already knew. I can’t have her.  My chest hurt. Just then the beautiful hazel eyes that I will never forget locked with mine. Her smile started to slip. It hurt so bad to do it, but I forced a smile and winked at her. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a bit of hurt in her eyes. It soon disappeared and she gave a slight nod and a smile.

Shannon
turned to Scott with a smile that used to be mine, nodding her head. Her head dropped down and she bit her lip. As the pain increased in my chest, I had to turn away. As I walked, I met Colleen and Jake’s eyes.