“Good answer, Dr. Montgomery. Good answer. Now tell me what’s really bothering you.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute, then admitted, “Although Dad had given me a heads up about the letters, it still hit me hard when Dad confirmed she’s dying.”
“That’s understandable. She gave birth to you. That means something. Of course you care.”
“But why? Edwina was never like a real mother. And I’d known for a while, long before Dad, that she was cheating on him.”
“How did you discover that?”
Logan didn’t say anything for a minute. Then he sighed. “I came home early from school one day, and he was there. He had to climb out of the bedroom window, but I saw him dash across the backyard with his shoes in his hands and his clothes barely on. I knew then what she was up to. When she ran off with the guy, I thought, good riddance. However, I hadn’t thought she would take Carrie, and I hadn’t expected Dad to take her leaving so hard.”
He paused for a minute, then, making up his mind, he added, “If Pop goes to see her, I want to gowith him. I don’t want him to see her alone. Lance, Lyle, and I saw her a few years ago when she was trying to blackmail Carrie. She was cruel and heartless.”
“And now, she is dying,” Claire said. “Facing death has a way of changing people, and can bring even the most horrid of people to their knees. They pray and then they think of ways to make up for all the hurt they caused. They seek forgiveness. Now is Edwina Montgomery’s time.”
He tensed up and knew his wife could feel it. “I wish she had not contacted us. Why couldn’t she have just died in peace?”
Claire raised up to look at him. “But that’s just it, Logan. She contacted you, your dad, and your siblings so she could die in peace. I think she needs closure.”
“Unfortunately, her need for closure is opening old wounds for us. Now I’m wondering if what Carrie said could be true.”
“What?”
“That the only reason Edwina sent those letters was to try and manipulate us one last time. She wants peace and closure on her terms. Not ours.”
“Even if that’s true, is it such a bad thing? She is the one dying.”
“For Edwina, yes, it is bad. Because it means that she doesn’t really care if she goes to heaven or hell. Leaving the Montgomery family in turmoil is what she truly wants.”
“And how is she doing that? Your dad pretty much stated that he wants you all to make up your own minds. That pretty much means he’s not going to coerce you.”
“I know he means that. But will he be able to resist trying to influence us, even if he only has our best interests at heart?I’m sure he doesn’t want us to have any regrets. If I were in a similar situation, I’m not sure I could stand by and not say anything,” Logan countered. “The only good thing about this situation is that we discovered we have a brother out there somewhere.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. Silas Kingston might not have told his son the nature of his birth. And if he hasn’t, all of you will need to respect his decision,” Claire said.
“And the four of us agreed that we would, though it would be hard. Family means everything to us,” Logan replied. He glanced over at the clock. “It’s late, and our flight back to Tampa takes off at noon. That means, Vice President Montgomery, that we need to leave the hotel no later than eight for Midway Airport.”
“I will be ready, Dr. Montgomery. For you, I will always be ready,” she said, shifting her body to move on top of his.
“I believe you.” Placing his hand behind her head, he lowered her mouth down to his and thoroughly kissed her.
CHAPTER 5
Lyle and Monique
“Did Daddy’s little princess fall asleep? She sure enjoyed her meal,” Lyle said, when his wife slid into bed beside him.
“Yes, she did. Just like her daddy, she just loves Mommy’s breasts.”
He grinned. That was true. He and Monique had decided before they married that they didn’t want to wait to start a family, agreeing on having at least two kids, no more than two years apart. There was a two-year difference between both him and Logan, and him and Lance, and they all got along…at least most of the time. Lance was a challenge to him and Logan. It was only after they’d all grown up that they’d learned that most of Lance’s issues were due to his mother’s rejection. Because Lyle and Logan had been older and saw more than Lance had, they’d felt relieved when she’d gone, not abandoned. But Lance had been at the worst possible age to lose his mother. And he let everyone around him know it.
Personally, Lyle had been worried that their father would come home early one day and catch their mother in the act. If Jeremiah attacked the other man, he would go to jail, and they would be stuck with a horrible mother. It was only oncehe and Logan were adults that they’d discussed that time and those fears.
“I love this house, Lyle. I’m glad you arranged for us to rent it.”
When their father announced he was getting married and that he and Thea would be renting their individual homes to purchase a house in one of those senior communities, Lyle saw his chance. The thought of anyone other than a Montgomery living in his childhood home had bothered him. So, he’d worked out a deal with Pop. He and Monique would rent out the house year-round, so whenever they came to visit from Texas, which was usually three to four times a year, they had a place to stay. That way, they could travel light since they would have a lot of their things, as well as the baby’s, already here.
He’d also known his father would have trouble leaving behind the gardens he kept in the climate-controlled greenhouse out back. This way, he could come by and look after them whenever he wanted. Pop had also said Lyle should let him know when he was coming, so he could ensure the refrigerator was stocked. It would be one less thing for them to look after, once they arrived with the baby.
