The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) (16 page)

“They’re classy, don’t you know?” Jared snorted.  He took a swig from his beer, his eyes never leaving the television.  

“I bet every one of them are strippers,” Gavin noted, dumping back his shot of whiskey.

“We could easily find out,” I suggested.

Jared pulled his eyes from the television.  I guess the thought of half-naked women would do that to a man.  “How so?”  

“We could ask.”

Jared rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the television.  “And have them go tell Father Terror that you did such a thing?  I think not.”

“There’s the man of the hour!” Gavin and I heard a familiar voice call out from behind us.  A smile careened my face and I glanced over at Gavin, who was beaming ear to ear.  We turned around to find Niles, dressed in his usual tweed and slacks, holding a box in his hand.  “I figured I’d find you boys hiding back here.”

Gavin jumped off his barstool and shook hands with Niles.  “Professor, it’s wonderful to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too.  Florida looks good on you boys.”

Gavin looked back to Jared and me and nodded.  “Yeah.  It’s been good to us both.”  He extended his arm out toward Jared. “Let me introduce you to my friend, Jared Christopher.”  Jared reached out to shake hands with Niles.  “Jared, this is Niles Peltier.  He’s an old friend of the family and a professor at Harvard.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, I’m sure.”  Niles slipped up into a seat between Gavin and me.  He placed the package on the bar and leaned forward, resting his weight on his elbows.  “What’s good to drink?”

“Anything with alcohol,” Jared popped off.

Niles laughed. “I see he’s already been acquainted with the ways of your father.”  The bartender approached. “I’ll have a Brandy Manhattan.”

There was almost a nostalgic sigh that echoed between Gavin and me.  “It’s been ages since I’ve heard anyone order one of those,” Gavin noted.

“It brings back memories.”

Niles laughed and pushed the box toward Gavin.  “This is for you, son.  Every married man needs a set of these.”

I took a long swig of my drink as Gavin opened the box.  His eyes grew wide and his mouth flopped open.  He lifted a ball gag and handcuffs out of the box, allowing them to both dangle from the ends of his fingers.  My drink spewed out my nose.  Jared nearly choked on his.  Niles only laughed at our reaction.

“Um, thank you?” Gavin said.  I grabbed a napkin and started to clean up.

“There’ll come a day when you’ll find that joke really funny, or possibly the need to use those two items.”  Niles gave Gavin a wink.  The bartender placed a martini glass in front of him and Niles picked out the cherry and chunked it in his mouth.  The crunch made me almost cringe, and I recalled a conversation McKenzie and I once had about how she hated cherries because they sounded like cockroaches popping on a hot day.  

“I’m sure you would know having
never
been married.”  Speaking of cockroaches.  

I glanced over my shoulder and there stood my father, a cigar in one hand and a scotch in the other, glaring at Niles.  At the tip of his tongue held the question, ‘What are you doing here?’  Words he would never utter because they would signify his lack of control over the situation.  If he only knew I’d invited Niles two days earlier.

“Hello, Jonathan,” Niles greeted, chugging down his drink before turning around to find my father leering at him.

“Niles.”  This was the first time I’d seen them both in a room together since I was a child.  My father puffed his cigar.  He expelled the smoke from his lungs and disparaged, “It’s been awhile.”

Niles slumped his shoulders and shook his head.  “I’m only here for Gavin and Drew.  That’s all.”

“Of course you’re here for
An
drew.” He enunciated the first syllable of my name.  My old childhood trepidations reared their ugly head.  Here I was, once again, a target for their battles.  And just as a child, I was unable to say anything in my defense.  

“Can’t we leave well enough in the past for one night?”

“I don’t see why not,” my father sneered.  “This is for
my
son.”

“Yes, it is.  And they’re amazing young men.  They were just telling me about life in Florida.  It appears it’s been good for them both.”

“Gavin found an amazing woman there, I agree,” Father noted smugly.

“I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet, but I look forward to it.”

“Of course.  You’re coming to the wedding tomorrow, yes?” Gavin asked.

“If I’m welcome.”

“You’re always welcome,” I stated.  My father cut his eyes to me.

“Will your lady friend be there as well?  I rather enjoyed her company.”

“Who’s he talking about?” my father demanded.

Niles looked from Father to me and smiled.  Deep inside, I cringed.  All hell was about to break loose.  “I had the pleasure of meeting a friend of Drew’s the other day.  A charming young woman full of spirit and wit.”

“I see.  Did Andrew tell you he’s soon to be a father
again
?”

“McKenzie’s pregnant?” Niles asked, his face lighting with joy.  “That’s amazing, my boy.  A true day to celebrate.”

“McKenzie?” Father scoffed.  “No, Olivia.”

Niles raised an eyebrow, his mouth pursed in a slight o-shape.  I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.  Leave it to my father to make me look like the no good fuck up he saw me as.  “I’m confused.”  Niles chewed on his thumbnail.  “I thought you said her name was McKenzie.”

I linked my fingers together at the top of my skull and squeezed, really wishing my drink wasn’t a virgin.  Damn non-alcoholic cocktails. “It’s a long story, but the woman you met the other day was McKenzie.”

“You really know how to get yourself into some messes, Drew,” Niles laughed.

“That’s an understatement.  And I’m always the one who has to get him out of them,” my father seethed.

The pit in my stomach was about the size of a basketball.  No matter how hard I tried to change, my father would never see past the screw-up he believed me to be.  I downed the rest of my drink and was about to excuse myself for a moment when the doors opened and fresh air seeped into the room.

“Mother fuckers!”  Everyone grew silent.  All eyes turned to the doors, where a thin, tall man with over styled hair and a kooky grin, wearing a well tailored Armani suit, stood.  “Let’s get this party started.  Ethan is in da house!”

Gavin, Jared, and I about died.  My administrative assistant, Ethan Montgomery, was by far the most eccentric man I’d ever met.  He spent more time on his appearance than any woman alive.  He was smart but cocky, funny but a pain in the ass.  All in all, he was the perfect assistant for me, and he’d become a good friend as well.  I was surprised to find him here, however, as I expected him to be in Florida handling my clients in my absence.  

As he marched back toward the bar, he took a cigar from one girl and gave her a smack on the ass.  He dodged a few guests and grabbed a light from another girl, gracing her with the same note of gratitude.  We watched him take a highball of scotch from a third girl, who was smart enough to dodge his advances.  By the time he reached us, he looked about as pompous as my father, but he managed to make it look arrogantly cool.  “Who the hell is this?” my father demanded.

“Father,” I jumped up out of my seat, “this is my assistant, Ethan.”

“Did you invite every low life you could find to your brother’s bachelor party?” he demanded.

“Jonathan,” Niles started.

“Dad,” Gavin interrupted.  “Drew didn’t invite Ethan.  I did.  He’s a friend of ours.”

“Maybe it’s time I bring you home if you’ve resorted to making friends with the help.”

“The help,” Ethan snorted.  “Well, this help brought with him the life of the party.”

I bit my lip, fighting back a laugh, because in that moment, four gorgeous women entered the room, all wearing Star Trek uniforms.  Where I was a Star Wars nerd, Gavin was a Trekkie through and through.  We’d spent many hours over the years arguing about which one was better.

“Boys,” he announced, downing his drink and waving the girls over, “our entertainment.”  The vein in my father’s neck pulsed with anger, but with every man in that room cheering at the arrival of our new guests, there wasn’t much he could do or say.  He slinked off to sulk, not uttering a single word in dispute.  

The music started.  A busty brunette dressed as Uhura straddled Gavin’s waist and began to grind against him.  Gavin’s face turned bright red, his stage of discomfort off the charts.  The woman began to slowly unzip her uniform, allowing the material to, little by little, slide down her arms and expose her overflowing chest.  Jared rolled in laughter, catcalling and wolf whistling with each inch of bare skin the woman exposed.

I looked around the room to find all of the men engaged in either watching Gavin get a lap dance, or with the other three Star Trek crew women moving through the crowd.  This was the night I wished for Gavin.  Not that I wanted him to engage in debauchery, but I did want him to have a night he would remember for the rest of his life.  It appeared that even my father’s stuffed shirt friends agreed, because they were enjoying the entertainment.  

After the first song ended, Ethan placed his empty glass on a tray and grabbed a full one from a passing cigarette girl.  He raised his cup to Gavin, grinning ear to ear.  “To boldly going where no man has gone before,” he saluted.

“Hear, hear,” rang back the crowd.  We all drank to Gavin, and to the adventures in his life that were yet to come.

Andrew

Standing at Gavin’s childhood bedroom window, I stared down at the backyard where, in less than an hour, my brother would marry his perfect half.  The sun, a large ball of glowing fire, filled the afternoon sky in the most ominous way.  It rained down heat and light, enchanting the yard in a lustrous glow.  Rows of white chairs, stringed together by billowy white bows, lined together along the grass.  At the front stood two large trees lumbering in the gentle breeze of the afternoon.  Beneath the swaying limbs, an arch had been constructed and adorned with every facet of flower imaginable.  Even I had to admit Olivia did an amazing job making the backyard look like a picture from a storybook.

Behind me, Gavin was busy helping Jared attempt to tie his bowtie.  They bickered about which way the tie should turn.  The sound of their complaints didn’t really register in my mind.  All I could think about was how beautiful my girl would look walking down the aisle.   The last time I’d seen her was yesterday morning, and it was safe to say I was having McKenzie withdrawals.  

A knock came at the door.  Jared and Gavin were still fussing over the proper way to tie a bowtie, so I went to answer it.  “Boys?  You decent?” my mother’s tender voice called through the wood as I turned the knob.

The door opened and I smiled upon the woman who’d given me life.  She wore a deep green dress that matched her eyes.  It flowed in soft waves down her long, lean form, reminding me how utterly beautiful my mother was.  Her amber colored hair was twisted into an elegant bun at the back of her neck, and her bright red lips cracked into a smile, framing her perfect, white teeth.  “You look stunning,” I proclaimed.

She leaned in and kissed my cheek.  Chuckling, she rubbed the remnants of her lipstick from my face with her thumb.  “Hello, my son,” she cooed.  It occurred to me that she was sober.  A rare occurrence, and one I was happy to see.  “Where’s your brother?”  She pushed past me and threw open her arms to Gavin.

“Mom.”  He embraced her, lifting her so her feet dangled from the floor for a moment, to which she squealed in delight.  Once he placed her back on the ground, he took a step back, holding her by the shoulders at arm’s length.  He studied her, his mouth twisting in consternation.  “Is everything all right?”

Mom patted him on the cheek.  “My boy’s getting married.  It’s more than all right.”  She glanced over at Jared, who was still struggling with his bowtie.  With a master’s touch, she took both ends of the tie, measured the length around his neck and started to twist and loop the tie into perfect formation.  When she was done, Jared stood back, looking in the mirror, staring in awe at her handy work.  “Amazing, Mrs. Wise.  Thank you.”

She brushed her hands over his shoulders, straightening out his jacket.  “How many times do I have to tell you to call me Kat?” she teased.  “And you’re welcome.”  She gave him a quick wink in the mirror and turned to Gavin and me.  “My handsome boys.  I’m so proud of you both.”  Tears began to swell in her eyes.  

I grabbed a tissue and rushed it to her.  “Mom, are you okay?”

She dabbed the paper at her eyes, careful to not smudge her masterfully crafted makeup.  “Jared,” she glanced over at him, “I hate to ask this, but do you think you could give me and my sons a moment alone together?”

“Not a problem, Mrs.…” He paused, sort of chuckled, and corrected himself, “Kat.”

“Thank you.  You’re a good man.  Andie’s a lucky lady.”

A bright blush colored Jared’s cheeks.  He appeared almost speechless, but nodded and slipped out of the door.  When he was gone, Mother sat down on the bed and patted the open spaces beside her.  Gavin and I took our seats, both wearing the same look of concern.  I hunched forward, resting my elbows on my knees, tilting my head up to look at Mother.  Gavin relaxed into the mattress, his hands clasped on his lap.  Mom opened her clutch and reached inside.  “First things first.”  She produced a ring box and held it out for Gavin to take.  

The little black box squeaked as Gavin cracked it open.  A tiny platinum ring nestled soundly amongst a bed of silk.  “That was Great Great Grandmother Wise’s wedding band.  It’s been passed down for the last four generations, and I’m so proud to pass it on to you.”

A twinge of jealousy sparked in me.  My mother never offered the ring to me when I married Rebecca.  As a matter of fact, she pretty much supported my father in his disapproval of Rebecca.  Looking back on things, I wished I’d listened to them then.  At the same time, I’m glad I didn’t, because at the end of it all, every mistake I’d made brought me to McKenzie.  I wouldn’t trade that for all the family heirlooms in the world.

“It’s beautiful,” Gavin said.

“I asked Morgan’s permission before giving it to you.  I didn’t want to overstep any family traditions her parents might have for the two of you.”

Gavin kissed Mother’s temple, clamping the box closed.  “That was very thoughtful, but what about you?  Isn’t this your ring?”

Mom wrapped her hand over top of Gavin’s, squeezing his fingers around the box.  “No one has actually worn that ring since your great great grandmother.  None of us have had fingers small enough to fit it.”  She flashed her left hand to us, allowing us to see a wedding ring settled behind the huge rock that was her engagement ring.  A little chuckle bubbled in my chest, because there was no way I could imagine McKenzie wearing a rock that large.  “It’s more for show.  Once the ceremony is complete, she’s welcome to store it as I did.  And when the day comes, you’ll pass it down to your own son and his bride.”

I picked at my nails, vaguely listening to the conversation between my mother and brother, wondering why she wanted me to stay in the room.  I couldn’t imagine her wanting to rub the family treasure in my face.  That was a move my father would’ve pulled, not my mother.  It shouldn’t bother me so much, but it really stung.  Gavin was slated to get everything in the family, and I respected that, but it would’ve been nice to have had a moment like this with my mother when I got married.

A light tap at the door caught the three of us off guard.  Before I could get up to answer it, the door swung open.  Olivia, wearing a billowy silver dress, stood at the entrance, eyeing the three of us.  “Are you ready?  It’s almost time,” she announced, uncaring of the moment she’d interrupted.

Mom nodded, a stiff smile on her face.  “Thank you, Olivia.  We’re nearly done here.”

“Okay.”  She remained unmoved, a weird grin on her face.

“We’ll meet you downstairs,” Mother advised, her tone sweet but stern.

“Oh.”  Olivia covered her mouth.  “Of course.  I’m sorry.”  A look of disappointment crossed her face for a brief second, but her smile quickly returned.  She turned on her heel and walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

“That woman is a piece of work,” Mother intoned.

“That’s an understatement,” I muttered, shifting back into my slouch, picking at my nails.  

My mother grabbed my hand, keeping me from pulling at my jagged cuticle.  “I want you to know, I don’t agree with your father concerning her.  She’s been very professional this week, but as for you and the baby,” she let out a little sigh, “he’s wrong.”

I could feel the blood drain from my face.  “Really?”

“Yes, really.  Like I told McKenzie yesterday, all I’ve ever dreamed of is for you to find a woman who makes you happy.  Who compliments you and makes you a better version of yourself.  McKenzie does that.  Olivia does not.”

“You talked to Mickie about me?”  I blinked in rapid succession.  “Wait?  You know about us?”

Mother laughed, patting the top of my hand.  “Everyone here knows about you and McKenzie.”

“Including Olivia?”

“She hasn’t said anything, but she’d have to be a fool not to see the way you two look at each other.”  Goosebumps formed over my skin.  Our secret wasn’t a secret.  Olivia hadn’t made a scene as Jared suspected, and better yet, my mother approved of McKenzie.  She accepted the woman I loved.  That was more important to me than any ring.  “I’ve had the chance to get to know McKenzie some this week, and I must say, she’s absolutely amazing.  I couldn’t imagine a more perfect woman for you.  She has the grace and beauty needed to be one of the women in this family.”  Mother glanced to Gavin.  “Just as Morgan does.  They are both stunning women who will wear the Wise name proudly.”

“You really think so?”  My heart lodged in my throat.  A fear that nagged at the back of mind since my day with McKenzie at Autumn’s grave reared its ugly head.  “Because you never accepted Rebecca.”

Mother hung her head, her eyes closed as she pinched the bridge of her nose.  Inside, I felt angry and happy at the same time.  All I ever wanted was acceptance, because I would never be Perfect Gavin or Talented Andrea.  I would always be Fuck-Up Andrew.  Her acceptance of McKenzie was wonderful, but her disapproval of Rebecca still gnawed at my wounded pride.

Mother licked her lips, her heated gaze meeting mine.  “There are things I regret regarding Rebecca, which is the reason I asked you to stay just now.  I know it’s hard to hear, but Rebecca never deserved you.”  She spoke with such conviction my soul shuddered.  “Unlike McKenzie, she was selfish and manipulative.  If it had been her here this week instead of McKenzie, things would not have run so smoothly.  McKenzie took up the role of being a Wise woman without even having the title.   That was something Rebecca refused to do.”

“You never gave her the chance!” I exclaimed.

Gavin cleared his throat.  “Um, Bro, I have to disagree with you there.  Mom gave her chance after chance.  Rebecca refused to accept it.”

“When your father spoke out of turn at the rehearsal dinner, McKenzie handled herself with poise and dignity.  A similar situation occurred with Rebecca at a company party before you two were wed.  Instead of smiling and walking away, Rebecca cursed your father in front of guests, proving how little regard she had for him.”

I linked my fingers at the top of my head, applying pressure.  “I don’t remember that.”

Mother pulled my hands apart, taking one in hers.  “Because you were a man in love, and love is often blind.  Trust me, I know.  But I always respected your love for Rebecca, no matter how much I knew she would hurt you one day.”

“If only I’d listened.”

A sweet smile tugged at her lips.  “I’m glad you didn’t.  You survived and are stronger for it.  Look at you now.  My handsome boy has become the man I always knew he would be.”  Mom reached for Gavin’s hand, holding us both tight.  “You are amazing men.  And while your father might be a jackass, he does care for you both.  Today is a day to recharge our family, to bring it back to life.”

“He doesn’t care for me,” I whispered.

“You’re wrong, Drew.  He loves you a great deal.”  I chewed my bottom lip.  Mother squeezed our hands, emitting a heavy sigh.  “He’s hard on you because you remind him most of himself.”  

I damn near choked on my own tongue, but managed to hold back any comment I had, which took everything inside me.  My father was the most vicious person I knew, and I prayed I’d never be anything like him.

Mother chuckled, letting go of our hands.  She slapped her palms across her thighs and bounced up from the bed.  “Well, gentlemen, I think we’ve made them wait long enough for us.”  She snapped her fingers.  “Oh, I almost forgot.”  Mother opened her purse, once again, producing another oblong, black jewelry box.  She handed it to me with a sense of pride.  “I know it’s not a ring, but it’s something quite special to me.”  I opened the box to find a beautiful, yellow diamond tennis bracelet inside.  It was thin and delicate, not gaudy or ostentatious.  This bracelet was practically handmade for McKenzie.  “That was my Grandmama’s bracelet.  She was charming and classy, just as I see McKenzie.  I wanted to give this to you so that someday, when you feel the time is right, you might share this with her.”

I traced the stones with my fingertips, my heart bursting with joy.  This was better than any ring.  In this bracelet, my mother showed me her true admiration for the woman I loved.  With a smile on my face, I stood up and wrapped my arms around my mother’s neck.  “Thank you.  It’s perfect.”

“You’re welcome.”

Taking a step back, I peeked into the box again.  I couldn’t wait to give the trinket to McKenzie.  A sense of pride engulfed me, along with a little sibling rivalry.  “Oh, wait ‘til I show this to Andie,” I jibbed.

“Hold on, young man.  Don’t you dare, for one second, believe that I’d give you boys something without including your sister.  I’ve already been to see her.”

“Really?”  Gavin wrung his hands.  “What did you give her?  Grandpa’s cufflinks for Jared?”

I laughed.  “He’d be clueless as to how to wear them.  Maybe Granddad’s tie clip?”

Gavin adjusted his own tie, wiggling his brow.  “Yes, he does look quite fetching in a tie.  But better yet, do you remember that hideous diamond hair comb Great Aunt Winifred use to wear?”

I cupped my hand over my mouth, snickering.

“His hair would look so pretty in that clip, don’t you think?” Gavin jested.

Mother crossed her arms over her chest.  “Are you two finished?”

“Oh, what if it’s crazy Aunt Helen’s earrings?”

Gavin bounced on the bed, his feet banging against the floor.  “Jared could wear them as nipple rings!  Or, better yet, what if it’s a bracelet like you got.”