The Lies That We Tell

Chapter 37

Three months later…

I stand at the graveyard as they lower Adrian’s casket into the ground, Devon and Tate on either side of me, gripping my hand tightly. Liam sits quietly in his wheelchair beside Tate. We decided to wait until all four of us were out of the hospital to have Adrian’s funeral, until our family could all grieve together.

Liam was released from the hospital a week ago, but still needs the wheelchair at times. He sustained a lot of damage to his brain when Cole hit him in the back of the head to knock him out, and he’s been going to physical therapy daily. We’ve all taken turns going with him, I went this morning. Tate insisted that Kathleen or Phil accompany us. They still don’t feel comfortable with any of us being alone for long. I don’t complain because I feel the same way.

I haven’t had my period since before the kidnapping, and at first I thought it was from being kicked in the stomach, but the doctor wanted to do a pregnancy test where I discovered that somehow, I’m thirteen weeks along. I haven’t told the guys yet, but Kathleen knows, and she is overjoyed. When Dev, Tate and I were released from the hospital, her and Phil were there to take us home. I told the older couple we wanted to move as soon as Liam was able to. I didn’t want the memories, the secrets and the lies that haunt my grandfather’s property to haunt us for the rest of our lives. I offered to gift them the entire piece of property, and give them a respectable pension for the decades of service they gave to my family, only for Phil to laugh and Kathleen to feign insult. She scolded me, telling me the guys and I are her family and that my grandfather made sure the two of them had a nice little nest egg to retire on.

They move tomorrow, they”re going to go live closer to her sister. The house is for sale, and we are looking for something a little more remote, and bigger. Something to fit our unique little family. Months ago, I felt alone, isolated within the big city; I even thought about getting a dog. Now, I have an entire family and three men who would die to keep me safe. They almost did die for me.

“You ready?” Kathleen gingerly places a hand on my shoulder. Her and Phil came to Adrian’s funeral today. They sat behind us, our two man support system, as we did the most difficult thing we’ve had to do in the past three months. Actually, in the past three months, their companionship has been invaluable. Kathleen showed up at the hospital the evening of the second day we were there. Tate, Devon and I were released that night, against mine and Devon”s best arguments. Neither of us liked the idea of leaving Liam there alone. But, there was no reason for us to stay. I wasn’t injured, Tate sustained minimal injuries and Dev’s broken ribs would heal the same at home on bed rest. So that’s what we did. We went home, stuck Devon in bed, with Phil putting his foot down and making him stay there. Kathleen drove me and Tate to the hospital daily to sit by Liam”s bed. After the first week, they pulled him out of the medically induced coma and he spent another week there before he was cleared to return home. The brain damage caused some mobility issues, but nothing that can’t be fixed with physical therapy.

The twins’ parents came into town a few days ago. It never occurred to me to ask about them when I graduated college, I never really knew them well. But, they had moved across the country to expand Morris Security. Sarah, their mom is so sweet. Her and Kathleen have been teaching me how to make all of our favorite meals, and I’m pretty sure she knows about the complicated relationship I have with her sons and Tate. She never says anything rude, in fact she seems to be encouraging of it all.

The twins’ father, Drew, is as quiet and brooding as Dev can be. But he really cares about his sons. Last night, after dinner he bet me fifty dollars that he could beat me at a game of pool. When all three guys, and Phil, put their own fifties into the pot we had a good old fashioned tournament. Which ended in me losing miserably. Later that night, Drew told me he was going to put that hundred and fifty away for their next visit to see us—when their first grandchild is born. The older Morris seems to know more than he lets on. Either that or he has some incredible sixth sense no one knows about.

I smile to myself and nod at Kathleen. I’d been so lost in thought, I didn’t notice Tate and Dev let go of my hands and walk toward the hole where Adrian’s being laid to rest. The two men hold each other intimately,and no one outside of our little circle would ever know that they’re more than just friends. I look over at Liam and he gives me a bright, crooked smile.

“We owe that man everything,” he says in a low voice. He’s right. If it weren’t for Adrian I wouldn’t be here right now. Dev probably would have killed himself just to make sure Cole and Aubree didn’t leave that basement. I can’t even imagine what Tate would do if he’d lost all three of us that day, and Liam wouldn’t have made it out alive either.

“We should go soon if we want to have some family time before the wake.” I tell Liam and Kathlee.

“Am I included in that family time?” Calvin asks, walking up to us. I haven’t seen much of him since that day. He called a couple days after I was released from the hospital to let me know that in light of the recent events he was stepping aside as my lawyer and had recommended someone from his firm that was familiar with the business as well as my family”s legal matters.

“Of course you are.” I smile at the man—my uncle— and hug him tightly. I still get angry at times over the secrets he helped my family keep all these years, but it was nice having someone who could tell me about my dad when he was a kid, how much my personality is so much like my fathers. “Let’s give Tate a couple more minutes to say goodbye.” I close the space between me and Liam and lean down to kiss him softly on the lips. “Can I help you back to the car?”

“Only if you promise to wear that sexy little nurse’s outfit for me later tonight,” Liam purrs against my lips. My core instantly heats up, a thin layer of moisture pooling between my thighs. All four of us have been celibate since we were released from the hospital, not because I was instructed against having sex, but Liam and Dev have been out of commission, and Tate and I agreed it’d be unfair to them if we were fucking like jack rabbits while they couldn’t even get so much as a hand job. It’s been absolute torture. I may be guilty of creating the majority of that torture by taking every moment alone with them to walk around naked, eat every food possible in the most seductive way, and tell them all about every single sex dream I’ve had— with graphic detail.

“We’ll see. You still haven’t been cleared by the doctor yet.” I sigh and walk around to the back of the wheel chair and begin pushing him to the blacked out Suburban waiting for us. Kathleen and Phil, the twins’ parents, and Calvin follow behind me.

The wake was terrible. Not in the sense of something going wrong, but there were so many people there. It seemed like everyone from the funeral came, as well as some others from work who missed the prior event. So many people came to give their condolences and tell Tate how much they loved his father. A few of the younger women from the office cried in Tate”s arms and offered to be a shoulder to cry on, should he need the comfort. Dev held me a little tighter than normal every time one of them did that. It’s a good thing too, because a jealous side of myself I didn’t know I had came to the surface. I would have happily clawed each of their crying eyes out.

Calvin left shortly after all the guests left. I made him promise not to disappear on me and to come around often. Kathleen helped Sarah pack up all the leftovers before the other two couples left. The twins’ parents were getting on a plane in the morning, and Kathleen and Phil had to finish packing the rest of their things for the big move tomorrow. My heart is a little broken to see them go so soon, but it’s a well deserved retirement. My new lawyer stopped by during the wake, and I pulled her aside and told her to make sure their retirement is doubled from what my grandfather wrote into their contract. They more than deserve to live out their life in as much luxury as money can buy.

Kathleen kisses my cheek and wraps me into her arms as we say our goodbyes. “Let those boys take care of you, kiddo,” she says with a smile.

“I will.” I nod.

Tate walks up with a glass tumbler of Johnny Walker Black Label. “I figured you’d need this about now.” He hands me the glass and I take it slowly. Shit. How do I—

“She won’t be needing that for a while,” Kathleen says before I can come up with a way to explain why I won’t be drinking alcohol for a while.

My eyes go wide and she just smiles and winks at me. “I uh—”

Tate watches me with a contemplative expression before his eyes grow large and realization hits. “How long?” he asks. His eyes automatically shoot down to my belly. A belly that has begun to swell just enough to notice, but that I still explain away as me not being as active as I usually am.

“About seven months?” I shrug.

“No. How long have you two known?” he clarifies, his voice raises enough to get Liam and Devon”s attention.

“Known what?” Devon asks as he and Liam slowly make their way down the hall. Liam can walk short distances without getting dizzy now, so when we’re home he ditches the wheelchair for a cane.

“Well, the cat’s out of the bag,” Kathleen giggles. “I’ll see you all in the morning to say goodbye.” With that she closes the door and leaves me with three men staring at me waiting for answers.

“I found out today.” I smile up at Tate who has just downed both my glass and his own.

“How many months?” Tate asks sternly.

“What’s going on?” Liam gives all three of us a confused look and Devon smacks him on the shoulder.

“Did your head injury make you as dumb as you are clumsy?” Dev asks his brother in a joking tone.

“Three,” I say. “Well thirteen weeks to be precise.”

“Are you—?”

“Yes,” I tell Liam. I look between my three men with my hands up in the air. “Surprise, I’m pregnant.”