CHAPTER 8
JOSIE
Nick pulls me out of the church and into the parking lot. I knew he was pissed when I saw his face coming down the aisle, but it’s not like I knew Liam was going to show up here. Nick walks us behind the church and swings me around so that my back is against the wall.
“How long, Josephine?” God I hate it when people use my full name. It’s like I’m in trouble even though I’m an adult.
“He showed up last night.”
“You didn’t want to tell me?” I really thought Nick and I were better than this, that we had a stronger relationship.
“Nick, I’m not keeping anything from you. He showed up last night, we argued and he left. I didn’t know he was going to be here today and honestly I’m more focused on Katelyn. Today isn’t about Liam; it's about Katelyn and the girls.”
“How does he know Noah?”
I take a deep breath. “I don’t know,” I answer truthfully. I have my suspicions but I wasn’t going to ask Liam and I’m definitely not bringing this up with Noah.
Nick starts pacing, pulling at his blond hair. He talks to himself. It looks like he’s having a fight with an imaginary person.
“Tell Liam we want to meet with him later.”
“Why?” I ask curiously. Nick stops in front of me and grabs my arms, pinning me to the wall. I’ve never seen him like this before. This is a side of him that I don’t like.
“Because I’ll have my lawyer draw up adoption papers and he can sign his parental rights away.”
I can’t believe my ears. I know he wants to adopt Noah, but we’ve never discussed it. I don’t even know if this is something I want him to do. Noah’s mine, he doesn’t need to have Nick’s last name. Even if we are married, things can stay the same between them.
“Um…”
“Hey guys, Noah’s looking for you.” I look over to find Jenna standing just a few feet away. Nick moves away, letting go of my arms. I try not to wince when the blood starts flowing again. I smile at Jenna to let her know that everything is fine.
“Thanks, Jenna.” She smiles and walks away, leaving us to figure this shit out.
“Nick, just because Liam is here doesn’t mean anything.” I pull him into my arms. He relents and kisses me softly on the lips.
“I’m sorry, babe. I don’t know what came over me. Seeing him here and winking at Noah, I just… my blood started to boil. He may have created that boy, but this is my family. The sooner he’s gone the better.”
“I agree, but let’s not give him a reason to stay, okay?” Nick nods and leads me back to the crowd of people gathering. We find Noah and head to our car so we can follow the hearse and family car. The pall bearers need to be in line so they can be there too, standing guard, as my dad would say.
The funeral procession drives through the town, by the high school that has turned into a shrine for Mason. This week’s game was postponed. It’s the first time in Beaumont High history that the team won’t be taking the field. Mason touched so many people this loss will be felt for years to come.
When we pull into the cemetery, some people have already gathered. I try not to look around for Liam when I get out of the car, but my eyes wander. He’s spotted easily. He’s the guy with the single and some not-so-single women standing around.
“Give me a break,” Nick mutters as we get out of the car.
“It’s not like he can turn off who he is, Nick. You don’t see him signing autographs or anything. He’s standing with the other guys.”
“Are you defending him?”
I shake my head and grab Noah’s hand. We walk over to Mason's burial site and find a spot to stand.
“Your flowers look great, Josie.” A neighbor of Katelyn’s comes up to me. I don’t remember her name, but I should. I should know everyone in town. I thank her and she promises to stop by the shop.
“Mom, why are all those women talking to your old boyfriend?” I look at Noah and wonder how much he’s figured out. I want to ask him where he met Liam, but that will have to wait. I can’t help but look over at Liam. He looks at me and our eyes meet. I give him a soft smile and he shrugs.
“He’s a musician. I guess they want his autograph.”
“Well that’s dumb. If I was famous and my friend died I wouldn’t want to give out autographs.”
“I bet Liam is thinking the same thing, baby.”
As we drive to Katelyn’s to have Mason’s celebration of life I’m baffled that she wanted to have it at their home. Nick and I offered ours, but she was adamant, saying Mason would’ve wanted a party at his house.
A party?
I don’t feel like having a party. I feel like curling up in my oversized chair, wrapping myself in a blanket and watching old home movies. Nick has caught me doing that a few times since Mason left us, each time the look on his face the same. I knew he wasn’t happy I was watching. That he was probably questioning my devotion to him; those weren’t our memories but mine and Liam’s.
We are well into the “party” as Mason would’ve called it when Liam walks in. I’m trying not to judge, but he has a harem of girls following him. I can’t tell if he likes this or not. I used to know what every one of his facial features meant, but it’s been so long.
Peyton runs up to Liam and pulls on his suit jacket. He smiles and bends down so that he’s level with her. He pulls on one of her pigtails and she lets out the most amazing laugh.
“Are thems your girlfriends?”
I can’t help but laugh and lean closer so I can hear the answer. Half of me would like to know more about him, but the other half, the logical half, doesn’t want to care and can’t wait for him to leave.
Liam looks at those women and grimaces. “No, I don’t know them. Are they friends of yours?”
Peyton shakes her head. Liam leans in and whispers something to her causing her to laugh again.
“’Cuse me, do you know my daddy?”
One of the women throws her head back and laughs as if this particular question is the funniest she’s ever heard. “No, we don’t, but we’d like to.” She turns and looks at her friends and they all giggle. Don’t they realize where they are?
Peyton steps forward, her hands on her hips. Before she has a chance to say anything, Katelyn appears out of nowhere. “I’m sorry I don’t think we’ve met. How did you know Mason?”
“Oh, we don’t. We heard that Liam Page was going to be at this party and as luck would have it he was just getting out of his car when we pulled up.”
The look on Liam’s face is so uncomfortable that I feel sorry for him. He’s holding Peyton’s hand, not even looking at the women behind him.
“Unfortunately this isn’t your lucky day. Liam Page isn’t here and doesn’t live in Beaumont so you might want try catching him on tour or something.”
The three of them start laughing, one of them pointing. “That right there is Liam Page. I swear my life on it.”
Katelyn looks at Liam who is full of remorse. I’m simply amazed at her ability to stay calm and cool. Nick kisses me on my cheek and steps toward Liam.
“Westbury, want to toss the ball around?”
Liam looks at Nick and nods. When he spots me standing along the wall watching this entire exchange his expression is unreadable.
“Well, would you look at that, his name is Westbury. Out you go.” I step forward and help Katelyn usher the women out of the house.
“I’m so sorry, Katelyn.” I’ve never had to apologize for Liam before. I’m not sure why I’m doing it now.
Katelyn waves her hand as if it’s no big deal. “It was only a matter of time before someone blabbed that he was in town. Things may be strained, but not today. Mason would’ve wanted him here.”
I don’t know if she’s taking a jab at me or not. Maybe I should’ve called everyone last night and told them that he was back, but I didn’t know if he’d be here today. Hell, I didn’t even know if he knew about Mason. I suppose I could’ve told them, but I was more worried about saving my son from the impending heartache.
A ball flying past the window catches my attention. I walk outside and my heart stops because in one space is the man I once loved, the man I’m going to marry and the one that ties us all together and they’re playing football.