Page 49 of Harboring Secrets
“If you need privacy, there’s an office just off the kitchen. Brodie can show you the way.”
I stood and tugged Liam to his feet. His phone had stopped vibrating, but it was only a matter of time before John tried again.
“We won’t be long.”
“Take your time. I’m going to wrangle the boys and then get a start on lunch.”
I shepherded Liam into the office and shut the door. “Did he leave a message?”
I pulled out a chair for Liam and motioned for him to sit.
“I haven’t wanted to look at my voicemail. I don’t know why that still exists. I should get rid of it. I don’t think there’s a thing on this planet that I like less than checking my voicemail.”
“Spoken like a true millennial.” My quip earned me a smirk from Liam, even though his heart wasn’t in it.
“I wish people would text me and then I know what they want and can get back to them when it’s convenient.”
“Did you want me to call John? Because I will.” I sat on the desk and Liam wheeled over to sit between my legs. He looked up at me, uncertainty in his eyes.
“You’d do that?”
“There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you. I wouldn’t eat asparagus for you, or avocado. And I draw the line at jumping out of things or off of things. But if it’s not one of those things, then yes, I would do anything for you.”
“Remind me to read your terms and conditions later.”
“Smart ass.”
Liam’s chest swelled when he took a deep breath and I watched him deflate when he breathed out. “I feel like the bad guy. Ever since she got sick. I’ve been so helpless. I couldn’t do anything to help her. And when she was gone, it was worse because I thought maybe I could make it easier for them.”
“That was never your job.”
“I didn’t want to just abandon them.” Liam’s hands shook and I took his phone from him. I opened up the recent callers and hit the top button, then put it on speaker.
“I’m not letting you do this alone.” Liam nodded and we waited three long rings before the call was answered.
“Liam, finally. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I’m not alone, John. I’m here with Brodie, my boyfriend. You’re on speaker.” Liam’s face had lost all color and he looked like he wanted to be sick. It was the same expression he’d worn that night when everything went to shit between us.
My stomach tightened and a chill crawled up my spine. Then Liam reached for me and grabbed my leg. His fingers curled around the back of my calf and he clung to me like I was a lifeline. I loved to hear him claim me as his boyfriend, but I hated that it had happened under these circumstances.
“Liam—listen, son—”
“No, John. Not son. Not anymore. Please. I just—I have done everything I could for the two of you. I did everything you asked of me. Except that one thing. You never should have asked me to do that, John. I also never should have delayed destroying them for so long, but I did the right thing, John. It’s what we wanted.”
The longer Liam talked, the stronger his voice sounded. He’d started off tired and unsure, but it was like he was pulling strength from my presence.
“And leave my boyfriend alone. He has nothing to do with any of this. I’m disappointed in you and Marsha. I loved Piper, but I can’t keep acting like she just died. She’s been gone for a couple of years. I want to move on.” Liam looked up at me. “I have moved on.”
“Liam—I’m sorry. Marsha and I …” John’s breath shook through the phone. His voice returned sounding choked with emotion. “I left her. This morning. I’m at my brother’s house for the time being.”
“You left her?” Liam’s fingers dug into my flesh.
“She’s not the same. I lost Piper too, but I also lost Marsha. I called her nephew, he’s the one with the gossip rag that’s been hounding you. I might have fudged the truth a bit, but I led him to believe that there’d be lawsuits if he kept harassing you. He wasn’t aware of how bad Marsha is. Her sister and I are trying to get her into a therapist.”
Liam scoffed. “That’s two years too late, John.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Looking back, we asked a lot of you and you were always so good about it. And we repaid you by hounding you. I didn’t know she’d orchestrated a news story until it hit. None of this is okay, but I want to make it right.”
