Even though she couldn’t see her, Gwen knew her mom had been huddled by the kitchen doorway. She hustled in, ahead of the men, and took up a position behind her and Liam. Jack and Tim followed and stood behind Gwen.
“Do I get the honors,” Liam asked Gwen, “or did one of you want to do it?”
Jack laughed. “I think you’ve done enough, but thank you.” He rested one hand on Gwen’s shoulder and she fought the temptation to lean backward into him. “Mr. Oxford, I have a feeling you’re not going to like this news, but let’s get it out in the open. Tim and I are marrying your daughter.”
Gwen didn’t like the sudden crimson hue in her father’s face. “What?” he finally whispered. Just because she thought he was an overbearing jerk sometimes didn’t mean she didn’t love him or wanted him to keel over from a stroke.
Tim rested a hand on her other shoulder. “Us. Her. Hitched.” He gently poked her. “Show him the ring, sweetie.”
She held up her hand and her mother gasped. Gwen wasn’t ready for it when her mom pushed her way through the men and hugged her. “Oh, congratulations, honey!”
Gwen knew the worst was yet to come, and her father didn’t disappoint. “What do you mean you and Tim are marrying Gwen? That’s impossible!”
Jack took over. “Not really. Tim’s legally marrying her, but all three of us are changing our names, hyphenating them.” He looked at Tim and the love in his expression nearly made Gwen cry right then and there. “We love each other, and we love Gwen. We’re only complete when the three of us are together.” He turned back to her father. “No, it’s not traditional, but it’s not really your business what we do in the privacy of our bedroom.”
Her father’s mouth opened and closed a few times without any sound coming out. The crimson shade deepened to nearly purple. Then he turned without a word and stomped out of the living room. They heard him go upstairs and slam the bedroom door.
“Well, that was fun,” Liam quipped.
Their mom still looked a little shocked, but she had tears in her eyes. “Are you happy?” she asked.
Gwen nodded. “Very. I’m sorry it’s not normal and you can’t brag about us at church, but I love them and they love me.”
Her mom looked at Tim and Jack and waggled her finger at them. “You promise to take care of my baby girl?”
The men smiled and nodded. “Yes, ma’am,” Tim said. “I promise we’ll take good care of her.” Jack nodded, too.
Her mother hugged the men, then Liam. “You’re going to stay out there too, aren’t you?” she sadly said.
He nodded. “Yes, Mom. I’m sorry, but I’m happy out there.”
“Can I come visit you all out there?” she softly asked.
“Of course,” Jack said. “You’re welcome any time.” He cleared his throat. “You and your husband.”
She sat heavily and waved her hand at the doorway in a dismissive gesture. “Him? Hah! That’s a laugh. I doubt I’ll get him to speak Gwen’s name for a while. He’s still upset with Amy and barely speaks to her. I don’t even tell him when I go to spend time with her and…Bob.” She stumbled over the last word as she looked at Gwen.
“It’s okay, Mom,” Gwen assured her. “I know you love her. I don’t hold that against you.”
“I don’t tell Ruthie anything about them unless she asks. I feel bad about what happened, but in a way maybe it was for the best, you know? I guess that sounds sort of sappy, but look how much better Ruthie is now without Bob. She’s working and driving and dating and has a life. I’m not excusing what Bob and Amy did, and I’m not saying they were right. But it all worked out.”
She lowered her voice even more. “And Chesley is so adorable. She’s a beautiful baby. They’re happy together. So that’s okay, right?”
“No comment,” Gwen said.
Her mom looked sad. “If Ruthie can forgive them, sweetie, why can’t you?”
“Not my job to forgive them, Mom.” She tipped her chin toward the doorway their father had stormed through. “At least I’m not going off on them like he is.”
“Your father is a man of his time and upbringing. I doubt he’s going to ever change.”
“You’ve changed.”
She sadly smiled. “Unfortunately, I changed when I met your father. I didn’t stand my ground when I should have. This is more like who I used to be. I love your father most of the time, but I refuse to isolate myself from my children any longer. I’ve wasted too many years trying to placate the man. He is who he is, but I’m done letting him define my relationship with you kids.”
* * * *
After dessert and their father not making another appearance, they returned to Gwen’s house. Ruthie was saying good night to her date in the front yard when they pulled in.
Ruthie’s face lit up with a huge smile as she introduced everyone. “This is Charlie.”
Gwen couldn’t help but notice Ruthie was not only smiling in a way Gwen hadn’t seen her smile in years, but she looked several years younger. “Nice to meet you,” Gwen said.
After he left and Ruthie joined them inside, she laughed. “Sorry, he called last minute after you all had left and we grabbed a quick dinner.”
“He seems very nice,” Gwen said.
“Want me to check him out for you?” Jack protectively offered. Gwen had noticed that after learning about Ruthie’s past, Jack seemed very…well, big brotherish toward her. Not unlike Liam toward Gwen.
Tim laughed and smacked him on the shoulder. “Down, boy. Not every man is a serial killer.”
“Yeah, and how does she know who he is?” Jack shot back. “Never hurts to check.”
Everyone stared at him before they burst out laughing.
Ruthie hugged him. “That’s very sweet, but he’s the brother of a friend of mine. He’s not a serial killer that I’m aware of.”
“Well,” mumbled Jack, “if you change your mind, I’ll do it.”
Gwen smiled. How very different he was from that horrible afternoon in their kitchen when they fought and she left. Now knowing what she knew about him, she understood why he’d pushed her away. And perhaps it was for the better, because in the intervening months while she and Liam were on the road and away from their parents, she was able to learn more about herself, do a lot of thinking.
Able to work on trying to control her temper.
Ruthie pulled her aside later before they all went to bed. “I want to talk to you about something.” She led Gwen to the kitchen, where they had a little privacy. “I’ve invited Bob and Amy over for dinner tomorrow night.”
Gwen nearly choked. “What?”
Ruthie clung to Gwen’s hands and wouldn’t let her pull away. “Please, listen to me. Yes, I’m mad at Bob, but believe me, I’ve gotten my pound of flesh out of him. He hurt me, very badly. But you and Amy and Liam used to be close. You’ve never even seen the baby. She deserves to have a relationship with her Aunt Gwen and Uncle Liam. Don’t punish her for who her parents are.”
Gwen could barely speak through her shock. “How can you forgive them for what they did? Forgive Bob after he saw what you went through?”
Ruthie shrugged. “I don’t absolve him of what he did. I do have a lot of resentment. The truth is, I know he feels guilty. He’s gone above and beyond what he had to, legally, to take care of me. He’s helping me buy this house. He’s still paying me alimony. He’s paying my health insurance.” She took a deep breath. “Does it hurt? Yes. But when I look back even before he started cheating on me with Amy, I see things that were really wrong. He was there for me when it counted the most.”
“He cheated on you!”
“I had a choice to make. You saw me. I could have stayed hostage to what happened to me, which was letting those assholes win, or I could take my life back. Am I where I wish I was? No. I wish Bob hadn’t cheated on me and that I was still married. However, I am happier now, overall, than I have been in several years. I see a bright future instead of my depression. I’m taking my life
back.” She grinned evilly. “And believe me, I’m not going to hesitate to lay a guilt trip on Bob any chance I can and make him keep paying for quite a while. He can afford it.”
Gwen finally laughed and they hugged. “Okay,” she softly said. “I’ll play nice. But only because it’s you asking me to.”
“Thank you, Gee,” she said. “It’s time you quit letting what Dickweed did to you color the rest of your world, too. You don’t have to like your sister or Bob, or what they did. That baby should know her family. Bob’s parents are dead and he was an only child. Your dad refuses to speak to them. So it’s just you and Liam and your mom. Give her a family. Let her know she’s loved.”
* * * *
Gwen spent that night and most of the next morning packing up loose odds and ends, helping Ruthie clean the house and unpack her things, and catching up with e-mail. Their mother came over late in the afternoon.
For once, Gwen was glad to see her.
She gave Gwen a big hug. “Thank you for doing this.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not happy about it,” she grumbled.
Her mom smiled. “I know. That’s why it means even more to me that you are.”
Charlie came over later, and Gwen again had a chance to see how happy Ruthie looked. Bob and Amy showed up right on time. Both of them looked uncomfortable, but their mom swooped in to pick baby Chesley up from her carrier seat. “There’s my little peanut!”
Gwen had to admit her mom also looked happier than she’d ever seen her. She walked over with the baby in her arms. Chesley had blue eyes, like Liam, and curly brown hair.
“Want to hold her?” her mom asked.
She hesitated, then held her arms out. The baby smiled and reached for Gwen. Liam walked over and joined them. “Hey, kiddo.”
Ruthie finally realized Bob and Amy were just standing there, looking even more uncomfortable. “Come on in and sit down, you two.”
“Thanks,” Bob quietly said.
Gwen glared at them before turning her back on them. She walked to one of the back windows, which overlooked the yard. Tim and Jack moved to flank her, each with a hand on her shoulder.
“She’s a cutie,” Jack said.
Gwen nodded.
Her mom walked over. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Are you going to ignore them all night,” she quietly said, “or are you going to talk to them?”
“I don’t suppose you’ll let me ignore them.”
Tim rested his chin on her shoulder. “It’s okay, babe. Just fake it until you make it.”
She sighed and finally returned to the living room, where Amy and Bob were talking with Liam, Charlie, and Ruthie. “She’s adorable,” Gwen said as she handed the baby back to Amy.
Amy gave her a hesitant smile. “Thank you.”
And that was the start of a tentative, but passable conversation for the rest of the evening. When it was time for Bob and Amy to go, Gwen even walked to the door with them and hugged Amy.
“I’m sorry, Gee,” Amy whispered in her ear. “I miss you guys so much, and I know I deserve it, but I’m really sorry. I never meant to push you two away. I love you. I hope you and your guys and Liam are happy in Rapid City.”
Gwen fought back her tears. She might cry sooner rather than later, but she didn’t want it to be in front of Amy and Bob. “Thanks. I appreciate it. You…can e-mail me and call me, if you want.”
Amy hugged her harder. “Thank you.”
Their mother prepared to leave a few minutes later. “What did Dad say about you coming here tonight?” Liam asked.
She smiled. “He didn’t. I just told him I was going out, and that there were leftovers in the fridge.”
“Ooh, Mom’s kicking butt,” he teased.
“No, not kicking butt, just standing up for myself.” She smiled at Ruthie and Charlie. “And standing up for my kids, and for what’s right.”
That night, Gwen curled up between her men and had her good cry.
* * * *
The next morning, their mother came by to fix them all breakfast and say good-bye to everyone. Gwen couldn’t believe their mom had reacted as well as she had to all the recent events.
Gwen hugged her long and hard as she stood beside the rental truck. Jack and Tim would take turns driving it and the rental car. Liam would ride shotgun in the car so they could stop whenever he needed.
“Thanks, Mom,” she tearfully said. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, sweetie.” She stepped back and offered her a smile. “You and Liam have fun and take care of each other. I’m so proud of you.”
“Proud?”
“Yes. You’re following your dream.” She looked at Tim and Jack. “And no, I never imagined two men in your life. At least that doubles my chances for more grandchildren, right?”
Gwen felt herself blushing as Tim and Jack laughed.
“Absolutely,” Jack said.
As they rolled toward the interstate, Gwen took a final look at once-familiar landmarks. Already things had changed a little since the last time she’d been “home.” Stores had closed and been replaced by other stores. There were new businesses and houses, and construction projects on roads. It was the same, but different.
“You okay, sweetie?” Jack asked. He would take the first shift.
“Yeah.”
“Any regrets?”
“Yeah.” He looked at her, startled, and she smiled. “I regret I didn’t kick your ass that day in Rapid City. We’d already be moved out there if I had.”
He laughed, relieved. “I wish you’d kicked my ass, too, sweetheart. Believe me.”
Epilogue
Gwen relaxed on the upper porch, looking out over the valley from the comfort of her chair. Golden-hued shadows were lengthening as they stretched across the landscape. She’d just submitted her fourth Pellington Pack novel to her publisher.
Shelaine and her horndog shape-shifter mates couldn’t even begin to keep up with Gwen’s real-life hunks.
She smiled at that thought.
Liam sat at the patio table, headphones on, iPod blaring and totally engrossed in his work. Late in the summer, while the daytime temperatures had reached nearly ninety, it was already pleasantly cool and would drop to almost chilly levels by the middle of the night.
Tim emerged through the sliders, drinks in both his hands. A beer for himself, iced tea for her. He handed it to her and took a seat next to her. He propped his feet up on the railing and slung an arm across her shoulders. “How you doing?”
“I’m okay.”
“Jack called a few minutes ago. He said your mom’s plane was a few minutes late, but they’re on their way.”
“Oh, good.”
She and Liam had built a good rapport with their mother over the past few months. Gwen could honestly say she was looking forward to her visit.
“And,” he playfully teased, “he said there’s a surprise.”
Her stomach rolled. She rested her hand on her belly. “What kind of surprise?” she nervously asked.
“Good surprise.”
“I should get dinner started.”
“Nope. I’m taking care of it, I told you that.”
The men had spoiled her rotten. Their wedding just days after their return to Rapid City had been a quiet, small civil ceremony with Liam, Pete, Jack’s father, and Celia present. Both men wore wedding rings.
Tim rubbed her belly. “You doing okay?”
“No morning sickness tonight, if that’s what you mean.” Now four months along, her baby bump was more like a baby mountain, in her opinion. The men had wasted no time getting her knocked up.
Not that she was complaining.
She was the happiest she’d ever been in her life.
After a few minutes, Tim returned inside to start dinner and Liam shut down his laptop. “You excited?”
“Yeah, I’ve missed her. I’m glad she came around.”
A shadow of a frown crosse
d his face. Their father had sent them a scathing letter, essentially disowning them unless Liam “repented” his homosexuality and Gwen gave up her “whorish ways.”
It didn’t surprise them in the least when their mom moved in with Ruthie a week later and filed for divorce. They couldn’t blame her. It saddened them to lose contact with their father, but they were relieved that a healthy bridge had finally been built between them and their mother.
Gwen had even managed to forgive Amy. She’d started e-mailing with her a few times a week.
Liam moved his stuff inside. Gwen waddled in behind him and sat at the kitchen table. When the front door opened a few minutes later, she heard Jack’s voice call out.
“We’re home!”
She was starting to stand when her mom hustled through the kitchen doorway, a bright smile on her face. “Gee! Oh my gosh, look at you!” Her mom engulfed her in a huge hug.
“Hi, Mom.”
Her mom touched her belly. “How’s my grandson?”
Gwen smiled and patted her tummy. “Already kicking up a storm.”
“Good.”
Gwen heard more voices and was shocked to see Ruthie appear in the doorway. “Oh my god!” Gwen hurried over and hugged her. “You sneak! I didn’t know you were coming, too!”
“Well, how the hell else am I supposed to give you a baby shower?”
“This was the surprise?” she asked Tim, who looked a little nervous.
“Um, sort of.”
Amy, holding Chesley in her arms, appeared in the doorway. “Hi, Gee.”
Gwen’s first instinct was to be mad that she’d shown up, too, then she stopped herself. No matter how mad she’d been at her sister in the past, she still loved her.
And she had missed her.
She opened her arms to Amy, who stepped into her embrace. “Thank you for coming.”
Amy broke down crying. “I’m so sorry, Gee,” she whispered. “I miss you guys so much. I’m sorry I screwed things up so badly.”
Their mom took Chesley and everyone left the kitchen, leaving the sisters alone.