Chapter 37
A final goodbye
Heston
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh no. Thinking.” I tapped my head. “Is this good or bad?” I teased.
“Stop.” Devyn rubbed my huge bump and said, “Your daddy is a meanie. When you’re born, you’ll take my side, right?”
“Two against one. How will I survive?”
Dad appeared. “Don’t worry, love. We’ll be evenly matched. Two against two.”
Devyn put his hands up. “I admit defeat on my and the baby’s behalf. We can’t compete against my kick ass mate and his even more kick ass dad.”
I brushed my belly on his midsection and lust sparkled in his eyes. Dad had gone into the kitchen, thank gods, so he didn’t pick up on my mate’s arousal.
“What were you saying?”
“Damn you made me forget, you sexy mate you.” He grabbed my butt and squeezed before taking me in his arms and we danced around the room.
But when he pulled away, his serious expression worried me. We’d been through so much and our lives which had been in turmoil had calmed. We were happy and we were looking forward to our baby’s birth.
“Tell me.” I grabbed Devyn’s hand.
“I want to visit Roy.”
My instinct was to say, “Don’t.” Or “Why?” But like me and Dad with Sebastian, he needed to confront his nemesis so we could close that chapter of our lives.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No!” Devyn yelled. His face crumpled and he rested his brow on mine. “Sorry, that came out wrong.” He placed a kiss on the end of my nose. “I don’t want… no I’d prefer that you not be there.”
I placed a hand on either side of his face. “He can’t do anything to me. Not physically, especially with you and your wolf watching over me.” Roy’s conniving with Sebastian almost ruined our lives and cost us our happiness. “I’m coming.”
“This is the address.”
Devyn stopped the car and leaned on the steering wheel as we peered at the small house set back from the road and surrounded by trees. It was nice enough but it looked like every other house in the street.
How odd that Roy had been surrounded by luxury all his life and Dad and I’d been poverty-stricken. Now our positions were reversed sort of. But Roy’s home was nothing like our crappy old apartment.
“How long has he been on his own?” Roy had been living with his mom but begged his father for his own space.
“A few months. This is a cute house and it’s close to the woods so…” My mate paused. “But he can’t shift any more so I’m not sure it matters.”
We rang the bell, my mate positioning himself in front of me.
“Is he expecting us?” There was no sound from inside and I imagined Roy holed up in the basement, refusing to come out.
“I’m out back.”
I jumped at Roy’s voice and Devyn grabbed me.
Thank goodness for shifter reflexes. He took my hand and we walked around the side of the house to a patio.
Roy was sitting at a table with a laptop in front of him.
He looked better than when I’d last seen him and he was filled with rage and bitterness.
Maybe he still was but he was hiding it well.
He indicated for us to sit and while he glanced at my huge bump, his face didn’t register surprise.
Roy poured us each a glass of lemonade. It was kinda odd because the last time we’d seen him, he was seething and now he was offering us refreshments.
“I’m glad you came.”
“You’ve got a nice setup here,” Devyn noted. I was glad he was conversing because I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m lucky Father was kind enough to provide me with my own home.”
“What do you do with yourself all day?” my mate asked.
Roy tapped the computer. “I have a job.”
His father got him a house and a job? Wow, some people landed on their feet. Inside I was fuming but that wasn’t good for the baby.
“And before you say it was all Father’s doing, it wasn’t. I changed my name and got a job selling real estate, you know the job I did before going into management in Father’s organization.”
Roy nodded at the house. “And I’m paying off this place.”
Devyn and I shared a glance. He hadn’t mentioned the big issue, the one that must have turned Roy’s life upside down.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Roy closed the laptop. “You want to ask about my wolf and my identity as a shifter.”
“Yes. I can’t lie because I am curious,” my mate admitted.
“The early days were dark. I hid away from the world and comforted my wolf.”
I almost felt sorry for his beast but couldn’t bring myself to pity Roy. I had when I first heard about his situation but seeing him face to face brought up terrible memories.
“My wolf has gone into hibernation, saying if there is a possibility he can shift in the future, I’m to wake him up.”
“So you’re living as a human?”
Roy nodded. “I thought it would be like when I was younger and hadn’t yet met my beast. But then I had something to look forward to. Now part of me has been taken away and that’s hard.”
Neither Devyn nor I reacted, at least not outwardly, to what Roy had said. We’d come here for closure not to say how sorry we were he’d treated us like crap.
“I’m not looking for forgiveness. It is what it is and I’m adjusting to my life. Father’s wolf could have killed me so I’m grateful.”
I finally decided to speak up. “You treated Devyn badly, you worked with Sebastian to fuck over your father and us and I don’t see you making amends.” I held up my hand as Roy went to speak. “And no I’m not talking about money.”
“Do you want an apology?” Roy raised his voice, signaling the old Roy was still there. Devyn growled and his wolf’s claws extended until his brother muttered, “Sorry, sorry.”
“We’re fine, especially with the baby on the way, and Heston’s dad is doing well, so we need nothing from you. But are you doing anything to atone? You must have earned a lot of bad karma.”
“I volunteer at a homeless shelter on the weekends.”
That was better than nothing but even though he no longer “had” his wolf, I couldn’t help feeling Roy got off easily.
Devyn gave me a “Shall we go?” look and I nodded.
“While you are my brother…half brother… we won’t be in touch again. I can only speak for myself when I say you caused me so much pain and that will always come between us.”
“Same here.” I wasn’t in the mood for a long speech. I’d said my bit.
“Fair enough. Enjoy your life. I expect you’ll be a better dad than Father ever was to us.”
We said our goodbyes and didn’t speak until we were in the car and driving away. I couldn’t imagine losing part of yourself and while I wasn’t sure if the punishment fit the crime, I was glad Roy was out of our lives.
“That was interesting.” Devyn pulled up at a red light.
“I guess you could call it that.”
“Are we done with all the goodbyes now?”
“Yeah, I hope so. I’m looking to the future.”
As we waited for the elevator, Devyn asked if I’d mind if he went to his studio. It was a tiny office he’d rented where he could paint. “Once the baby arrives, I won’t be able to work for a while and I have a piece I need to finish.”
I told him to go because I was headed to my favorite place: bed. As the end of my pregnancy drew closer, I spent most of my time lying down.
We kissed and Devyn brought me a sandwich and made one for Dad. After eating, I slept but something woke me two hours later. My tummy was rumbling but I wasn’t hungry. I was a little grouchy with tiny pains jabbing at my belly on and off.
I trudged to the bathroom before making my way to the living room where Dad was watching TV.
“Devyn not back yet?” I lowered myself onto the sofa.
“Nope.” My dad’s gaze didn’t leave the screen. This was one of his most beloved soap operas and his attention was on the ups and downs of the plot.
I grimaced and tried to get comfortable but I needed to pee again. I hauled myself up and then decided I didn’t need to go after all.
“I’m going back to bed ‘cause I feel lousy.”
Dad muted his program. “Describe lousy.”
I grumbled because I wasn’t in the mood to come up with adjectives. “I’m experiencing cramps.”
My dad’s brows shot up and he asked me how long this had been happening.
“A while.”
“My darling, your baby is on the way.”