“He’s been writing me at least once a month for over a year now. The last one he sent with an airline ticket.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore, I was about to finish what Mom had just started, “So that’s the only reason you would come see me or talk to me? Because my husband bought you a ticket here? What makes you think I wanted to see you? You disowned me!” My voice was shaky but raising, “You cut me out of your life, you wanted nothing to do with me or Liam.” He took a step toward me and again I took one back, “You’ve never wanted anything to do with me!”
“That’s not true.” Sir’s voice wavered and it stopped me where I stood.
Had the world just stopped turning? Had hell frozen over? The Sir I knew was emotionless. The man in front of me looked pained and his chin was quivering slightly.
“Do you know that in the last two years I’ve felt more love from this family” I pointed toward where everyone was sitting behind me, “than I ever felt from you?”
“Mom.” Brandon said softly and gave her a look.
“Oh. Right, we’ll be outside.” She said and everyone started standing.
Turning, I saw Bree holding Liam and reached my arms out. “Please Bree.” I needed to hold my son, I needed that comfort of having him in my arms. Bree gladly handed him over and was the last one to walk into the back yard.
“Babe, do you want me to go out too?”
I grabbed Brandon’s hand and gripped tight, “Don’t you dare leave me right now.” Looking directly into his eyes, I shook my head, “I can’t believe you would do this without telling me.”
“Harper I – even with everything that’s happened, I know you wish you had a different relationship with him. You were devastated when there was no response from him again last summer, I couldn’t just stop trying to reach him yet. There was never any word from him and I sent him an open ended ticket over a month ago, with the last letter I was going to send him, and I told him that. He called me a week and a half ago, we talked for a bit and he decided he would come.” He cupped one cheek and brought his other arm around both Liam and me, “I know this is hard for you, and Robert is a great Dad Harper, but you need Sir in your life too. Please understand why I continued to try to reach him.”
Oh Brandon. Of course I understood. I just wish he would have given me some warning. I pressed my lips to his for a few seconds and gave him a small smile, “Thank you. You’re right, thank you so much.” Brandon’s relief was palpable and it helped ease the tension in the room. Turning to Sir, I gestured behind him, “You’re more than welcome to sit, Sir. We can talk.”
He offered a smile much like the one I had just given Brandon and sat down in the chair closest to him. Brandon and I sat on the couch facing him, and I kept a tight grip on Liam as I tried to figure out what would make Sir want to be in my life suddenly.
“He sure looks a lot like you.” Sir said after a few awkward minutes of silence. His gaze was fixed on Liam and…was that a smile?
Clearing my throat, I instinctively hugged Liam closer. I’d never seen baby photos of myself, but my son definitely didn’t look anything like his father. Other than his eyes, there wasn’t a trace of Chase in him. And even those were different, Chase’s had been a darker electric blue, Liam’s were such a pale blue that people did a double take and then were completely mesmerized by them. They looked like a Siberian husky’s eyes.
“I know I’m late, but congratulations on the wedding and him…it’s Liam, right?”
I nodded, “Liam Chase Taylor.”
“Brandon told me the significance of his name, that’s a great way of honoring their lives.”
“And what else did Brandon tell you?” I asked through clenched teeth. This man wanted nothing to do with my life, and he thinks he can comment on why we named him Liam Chase?
“Sweetheart.” Brandon said softly.
“No, I want to know what all you’ve told him.” Looking back over to Sir, I continued, “And I want to know why you’re here. This is the longest conversation we’ve had in years, I haven’t heard back from you in over a year and a half, then all of a sudden you’re in our home!”
“I’ve told him everything,” Brandon pulled me closer to his side, “Chase, my fighting, Liam’s birth, our wedding, the gym…other than what’s happened in the last month, he knows everything.”
“Well then, let me fill you in.” I seethed, I couldn’t seem to control my anger right now, “Brandon and I are having another baby, Brandon fought again, and I disappeared for a day.”
Sir’s eyes dropped to my stomach and Brandon looked like he was regretting not telling me about this. As he should.