Page 15 of Infected By Virus

Rae herself had been seconds from ending the call when Celeste’s voice broke the silence with, “I’m dying, and I have Darrin’s son, and he needs you. Please, don’t hang up, sis.”

That information had kept Rae from hitting the end call button that day just a few weeks ago, and she listened to the rest of what Celeste had to say.

And boy oh boy, did Celeste have a lot to say. Rae dropped everything and left Vegas for Garden Grove, California, which was apparently where her sister had landed when she found herself pregnant.

She’d arrived just in time to spend less than a week with her sister. Most of that was signing papers with a lawyer and listening to Celeste’s confessions and apologies. Then getting to know Adam.

Now, she was back in Provo with Darrin’s son and kicking herself over not following her sister’s example by walking in that clubhouse and saying, “You have a son, he’s not mine and I didn’t know about him either.”

Then Darrin wouldn’t have believed she’d deceived him and said those awful things.

With a deep breath, she exited the car and entered the house. Adam was sitting at the table as Harmon was cleaning up the remnants of his meal. After depositing her purse on the counter, she walked over and kissed him on the top of his head, breathing him in. Funny how after mere weeks, she couldn’t imagine her life without him, and that brought a new onslaught of tears.

When she first saw Adam, it hurt to even look at him, and sometimes, it was still hard, but she loved him already beyond explanation. It didn’t just hurt because of Darrin or that he was a product of the night that damn near broke her, but because of Celeste.

She lost her sister that night too. Honestly, she’d never really had her. While her sister confessed and apologized as she lay dying, it was all so Rae would take care of Adam and Darrin, not for any genuine remorse on her part. Realizing her sister was never more than someone she shared DNA with hurt almost more than losing the love of her life.

That was yet more information that she would have to pile on Darrin, that Celeste had orchestrated the whole thing, and they were just unwitting targets. She’d alluded to having a cohort but said it would serve no purpose to dime them out. She was the one dying, not them.

Needless to say, it wasn’t a tear-filled happy family reunion before she passed. Rae still cried though. She cried for what her machinations had cost her and Darrin, and she cried for the sister she was denied by fate, and for Adam. He was an unwitting player in a game of adults.

That was a promise she made to herself the second he became her responsibility, that he was just an innocent kid. No matter what her sister’s wishes or what passed between herself and Darrin, she would act in Adam’s best interest, even if it cost her very soul.

It just might at that.

“Go get changed into your play clothes, chica, we are taking little man out back to wear him out for the night. Then, we’ll do some yoga, get centered, and you can tell me all about your visit while we rewatch Supernatural. I’ve already got the wine chilling, and I ordered your favorite.” Harmon drawled out the last word.

Harmon was a lifesaver who knew exactly what Rae needed. A lot of chardonnay, a double-double protein style with grilled onions with animal style fries minus cheese, a good stretch, and a shoulder to cry one.

Barker and Harmon had visited her all the time in Vegas. Not to mention Harmon and she had talked like every other day. But it was like no time had passed between them. They even had a platonic domestic life partner pact. If they weren’t married by fifty, they’d get hitched and enjoy life together. Of course, they didn’t know about Adam then, or her sister’s wishes.

She had serious doubts about fulfilling her sister’s dying wish, but she would do her best for part of it and unite Adam and Darrin.

“You’re a goddess, Harmon,” she said as she passed her to slip down the hall.

“I know. It’s so nice to have the recognition of my loyal subjects. Meet you outside and bring some wine.”

“Where’s Barker?” Since she’d been back, Barker spent all his free time with them.

“He picked up an extra shift. Now, scoot.”

After donning yoga pants and her favorite Imagine Dragons shirt, she headed to the kitchen and grabbed one of the chilled bottles. She knew Harmon meant for her to bring a small pour while they watched Adam play, not to chug the bottle, which she was tempted to do.

Rae had just finished pouring when there was a soft knock on the door. Abandoning her task, she headed to the door, rubbing her hands together. She could practically taste the burger.

As she opened the door, she proclaimed, “I think I might just love you.” The last syllable died on her lips abruptly when she saw who was standing there.

It was not a delivery driver with an In ‘n Out bag, but Outlaw with a big bag of candy.

Before he could address her declaration, Rae started spewing words nervously.

“I didn’t mean … I mean, I obviously thought you were someone else. Not that I’m in love with anyone, or?—”

“I completely understand.”

“I thought you were food.” She said the way Adam might if he were disappointed.

She mentally kicked herself in the ass for declaring her love, albeit accidentally, to her ex’s lawyer slash biker buddy. Looking down, she added with an internal groan, Vice President.

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