And together we walked back inside the house we swore we had left forever.
ONCE INSIDE OUR CHILDHOODhome, Maverick was glued to my side, his eyes as round as saucers. He gripped my hand so tight I was afraid he might break something, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go of him. Our parents had been horrible to me, but growing up here had been a nightmare to him. I noticed that there was no more religious paraphernalia on the wall. Gone were the crosses, bibles, and biblical scriptures that used to cover every inch of this home.
“It’s okay, Mama. Just rest. I’ll get you something to eat. Do you want some water or maybe some juice?” Tate murmured softly from the living room.
The only answer was that death rattle of a cough again.
Maverick stared at me as he chewed on his bottom lip.“I need to call Jackson,”he mouthed.
“Of course,” I whispered back.
He was scared, his pupils blown wide and his body trembling next to me. I was surprised he had gotten this far inside the house without screaming in terror.
“Do you want to go back to the car?”
Maverick shook his head as he took the phone from his pocket. Jackson answered on the first ring.
“Sweetheart, are you having fun with Dean?” His voice boomed loudly through the speaker. When his husband didn’t answer, Jax spoke again. “Mavs, what’s wrong?” My brother looked at me, and I grabbed the phone from him.
“We’re at our parents’ house,” I answered.
“What!” Jackson exclaimed, and I swear he nearly blew out my eardrum. “Jesus fucking Christ, Dean. You know what? Don’t say another word. Stay right there.” And then he hung up.
Maverick’s eyes swam with tears as he stared at me, his chin trembling. I wrapped him in a hug. He was stronger than he had been in years, but he hated to upset Jackson. The therapy helped, as well as the medication, but deep down, he was still that scared little boy who just wanted to be loved by his best friend.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, and everything is going to be fine. Jax will be here, and he’ll take you home, and everything will be perfect. Think of your sweet boys. How much they love you.” I assured my brother, who only sobbed into my chest.
Damn, this was the worst idea I’d ever had. I hated myself for bringing him here. Jackson had every right to scream at me when he got here.
Tate gasped, and then he was hugging us, too. “You know what would make you feel better? Grilled cheese. I always like grilled cheese when I’m sad. I could make one to go with the soup I was going to make Mama.”
Maverick let out a snort, combined with a soft giggle. “I do love a good grilled cheese. Do you make it with Swiss cheese?”
“Of course!” Tate told him. “And bacon. Do you want one?”
Maverick nodded when he pulled back, brushing the wetness from his cheeks. “I could help. If you wanted.” He glanced over at me for a second and gave me a nervous smile.
“Yes, please. I would love that.” Tate clapped his hands with happiness. He held out his hand, and I watched in awe when Maverick took it. Then they disappeared into the kitchen.
I knew I should probably keep an eye on Mav, considering he was already struggling today, but instead, I took a couple of steps toward the living room where our mother was. I found her there, sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with her eyes closed. I watched her for a minute, taking in the oxygen equipment next to her, the wheelchair, and the electric bed. And I wondered just how sick she really was.
“I’m going to die soon,” she whispered, like she could read my mind. Her eyes were still closed, but she knew I was here with her.
I leaned against the doorframe. “Does Tate know?” I folded my arms over my chest. “And why did he get—”
“Dean.” Mom’s eyes suddenly met mine. “I wanted to raise the three of you together. My three boys. I know you don’t think that I loved you, but I did. And I wish that I had done everything differently.”
My nose burned as tears blinded my eyes. “Why didn’t you? You put Maverick through hell, and that man... That man beat him as often as possible. Maverick didn’t deserve any of that!” Suddenly, I was angry. Angrier than I had ever been. “Maverick is such an amazing person, and the way you and Dad treated him was wrong. He deserved so much better.”
“He wasn’t your father. He wasn’t Maverick or Tate’s either. He was someone who promised to take care of me and my children, but he lied.”
“That doesn’t make it right!”
Mom pressed her lips together, and she nodded. “I know, Dean, and I’m so sorry that I let the three of you down. I should have left. I was scared. I didn’t want to be a single mother of three boys, and I had nowhere to go.”
I glanced out the window as Jackson pulled up in his parents’ car. He looked mad as hell as he climbed from the vehicle, but it was seeing Beau get out from the passenger side that had me gasp in surprise. I reached down to touch the engagement ring on my left hand. Both men looked worried, but it was the fear on Jackson’s face that caused my vision to blur. He would move mountains for Maverick.
“Your Beau loves you,” Mom commented. “I saw it the day he came here. I hope he makes you happy, Dean.”
