Chapter Thirty-Nine
Calyspo
Hudson, his new little friend, Rosie, and I walk into my house, and I’m not surprised to see my other two siblings there. Giving Hudson a look over my shoulder, I set Rosie in Vivi’s lap.
“Funny seeing you guys here.”
Vivi shakes her head. “It shouldn’t be.” Then she looks at our brother and squeals, “You got a cat?”
Yup, that pathetic sucker adopted a fucking cat.
The fluffy gray one—Vesta’s favorite—no less.
“She was at the clinic,” he mumbles and places her next to Rosie.
The two have gotten along well, which is good. Liam wants another pet; it could be good for Rosie. I’m not jumping at the idea, but it’s not as off-putting as it would’ve been four months ago.
“What’s her name?” Asher asks, taking the kitten.
Hudson chuckles. “Lisa.”
His twin’s face falls. “You named your cat Lisa?”
“After the housewife?” Vivi asks, tilting her head in amusement.
Hudson loves reality TV as much as I do. Sometimes we even have watch parties, but we don’t tell Vivi and Asher anymore. They don’t get it.
Behind his back, I dramatically nod and mouth, Vanderpump! He’s a Rinna fan, but that’s not allowed in my house.
Hudson glances over his shoulder and rolls his eyes at me. “That was the cherry on top,” he admits. “She just looks like a Lisa.”
Asher holds her up in front of him, taking a long look. “She does. Weird.” He sets her on the floor. “That must be how it is with parents, otherwise there’s no reason to name a baby Richard.”
Vivi laughs and walks to the island, closer to me.
“Yeah, why don’t you ask Hudson why he randomly decided to get a cat,” I tease and playfully scowl back at him.
“Why’d you randomly decide to adopt a cat?” Asher plays along.
Hudson shrugs. “The receptionist was convincing.”
Vivi’s confusion morphs into a knowing smile. “Did that receptionist happen to be a cute brunette named Vesta?”
Asher’s head whips toward his twin with wide eyes and I can’t hide my snicker.
“Vesta is the sweetest,” Vivi tells us. “She’s a senior and softball player at UCAH. She’s going through a lot though, so Tim and Selena have taken her under their wing.”
Hudson leans against the counter and crosses his arms. “What do you mean, ‘going through a lot’?”
Vivi bites her lip. “Her mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a few months ago, but it’s progressed too far. They’re currently in the process of transferring guardianship of her two siblings to Vesta.”
Hudson’s brows furrow but he doesn’t say anything else as he picks up Lisa and holds her to his chest.
“You wouldn’t guess that when you meet her,” I murmur. Vivi shakes her head. After a quiet moment, I ask my brothers, “Will you guys get the bags?”
Passing the cat to Vivi, Asher follows Hudson out to his SUV.
We stopped at the market so I could get white rice and chicken.
Rosie does, in fact, have separation anxiety.
She’s used to being away from Liam during the day, but it was her first night without him after so many other changes.
Still, Adrian suggests to follow the bland diet anyway, and he’ll talk to Liam about options for the future.
I’m glad it’s nothing worse, but it did remind me of the preservatives in her dog food again. I don’t think the two have anything to do with each other, but Adrian said making her food toppers and treats were an option.
Hudson waited in the car with her and Lisa while I went inside. I couldn’t decide if it was a silly idea or not, so I only purchased a few ingredients to try it, then I’ll make a decision.
The clinic gave Hudson almost everything he’ll need for Lisa, but I grabbed a few things. My cat knowledge is far less than dogs, and the choices were limited at the local grocery store. I was able to get the basics; a litter box, age-appropriate food, a few toys, and treats.
It takes them a couple minutes to bring everything in, and we all make small talk for a bit. I know there’s more to this visit, though. It may not have been planned, but they’ll take advantage of it being three against one.
I know my time is up once we’re sitting in the living room with our coffees. After I called Chuck this morning, he told me to take the day off. I hate leaving them right before a major holiday, but we were ahead of schedule; I can catch up tomorrow.
“Well,” I say and look around the circle. “Let’s hear it. Why are all of you really here? You aren’t scheduled until this evening.” I tip my chin at Vivi.
“Checking on you,” Hudson mumbles honestly. When I meet his eye, I’m met with firm resolution.
Sighing, I promise, “I’m fine.”
“So things with Stefan are ‘fine’?” Asher cuts in, leaning forward on his knees. A few strands of his floppy blonde hair fall into his eyes. It’s more golden and sun-kissed than my red undertones, but our eyes are the same honey-brown shade.
“Saturday was nothing,” I insist.
Asher tilts his head. “Because it wasn’t the first time? Because he’s done worse?”
Out of all of my siblings, Asher knows the most about my relationship with Stefan.
In part because of his relationship with Juniper, and because of how close we became after she left.
My siblings and mom know I went to the clinic, and that it was my final straw, but Asher was there with me.
He waited in the lobby and stayed the night that I had to take the second medication.
“We’re worried, Lyp.” Asher’s tone is calm but his grimace proves how concerned he is.
I’ve never regretted my decision, or felt like it was “wrong.” That doesn’t mean it was an easy choice, or that I wasn’t emotional. And Asher was there for it all.
Hudson leans forward and grabs my hand. My instinct is to pull away, but I force my stiff muscles to stay in place. “None of us want to see you in that place again.”
“Place?” I spit out. “What place?”
“The dark, mental pit you were in.” Hudson’s voice is strong, firm.
He has always been the rock of our family, ready to pick us up from our lowest. I’m the soldier who you call in the moment, stepping up to the frontlines for my siblings.
Hudson is who you want to sit in the desolate aftermath with.
“You may think the divorce didn’t affect you, at least not outwardly, but it did.
And we—” he wags a finger between the three of them, “—were all forced to sit on the sidelines, watching you waste away every goddamn day.”
Blinking quickly, my anger starts to crumble with each emotional hit he takes. “I wasn’t wasting away.”
“You were,” Vivi says in a soothing tone. “We were a lot younger, and so preoccupied by our own shit, but it’s different now. I know you don’t want us to be, but we’re here for you, Lypie.”
“It’s not that I don’t want your support,” I insist but it’s weak. “It’s just not worth worrying about.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Hudson has talked more today than in the average week. “Stefan can get fucked, but you are worth every second.”
Vivi grabs my other hand, then reaches for Asher. My twin brothers have never been shy about their affection toward each other, so they follow suit and close the circle.
With her bright hazel eyes, Vivi focuses her attention on me.
“You’ve felt more like yourself recently.
Since… Well, since Liam.” She smiles sheepishly and raises her hands in surrender.
“I don’t mean he’s fixed you or anything ridiculous like that.
At your core, you’ve always been the same—protective, loyal, independent.
But for a while, you lost your sparkle.”
While I can’t deny that Liam has brought a softness back to me, one I was positive Stefan stole in the divorce, I still raise my brows and smirk. “My sparkle?”
She rolls her eyes but Asher cuts in. “You know what we mean. You were doing fine on your own but you weren’t your happiest—just lonely. Even if you were willing to let us in more, it wasn’t the kind of void we, or your friends, could solve.”
Swallowing down a ball of emotions, I bite my tongue. He’s right, all of them are, but I feel like a cornered, feral animal.
Taking a deep breath, Vivi says, “I appreciate you being so present and involved in my wedding. I know that wasn’t easy for you.”
My head whips toward her and I grimace in offense. “I’m happy for you and Grady.”
“I didn’t say you aren’t,” she quickly insists. Vivi looks at our brothers for back up.
“This shit is weird for me too, sometimes,” Asher takes over. “Juniper and I weren’t even engaged, we just talked about it.” He’s downplaying the significance of their relationship, but I’m not on edge enough to fling accusations at him; I stay quiet.
Hudson shrugs. “You hated your wedding, and you hated your marriage even more than that. No one would be mad if this has been a weird time for you.”
“The fact that you showed up in so many ways is enough,” Vivi assures me.
I fold my lips between my teeth and stare out to the back patio. None of my siblings rush me, not even Asher who hates the silence.
Taking a deep breath, I sit up straight and admit, “Stefan has been contacting me for three years.”
Asher jumps out of his seat at the same time Hudson barks out, “What the fuck?”
I slowly close my eyes. This is the exact reaction I expected.
Vivi stands quickly, trying to wrangle Asher back into his armchair. “Hold on—sit the fuck down,” she growls and shoves him down. “Let’s just listen to Lyp before we do anything stupid.”
Hudson rolls a hand through the air, gesturing for me to continue.
“He just sent me letters and random birthday gifts. It wasn’t anything worse than that.
At least not until last summer.” My vague explanation isn’t going to be enough, so I tell them almost everything leading up to his appearance at my mom’s house.
All that’s left out are some of the finer details, like the specifics of what Stefan has said, or the small cut on my foot from the front door.