“What’s wrong?” Ronan asked sharply. “You’re white.”
I couldn’t answer, and my shaking fingers swiped at the screen. “H-hello? Amanda?” Ronan stilled, his startled blue eyes fixed on me.
“Hi, Gabriel. Marshall and I were wondering if it would be okay for us to FaceTime.”
“Now?” My heart pounded, and Ronan grabbed my hand. “Uh…sure. I’m in a hotel in Florida. Hopefully the Wi-Fi won’t be sketchy.”
“Great.” She sounded as if she meant it. “Let me get Marshall on first, then you.”
“All right.”
The call ended, and my heart ramped up to warp speed as I waited. I hadn’t been this nervous the first time out on patrol as a rookie cop. My phone vibrated, and Ronan squeezed my hand.
“I can go inside if you want.”
“Don’t you dare fucking move.” He grinned, and I hit the screen, revealing my brother and sister.
Amanda waved. “Hi, Gabriel. Oh, you’re gorgeous.”
“I was about to say the same thing.”
She looked more like how I remembered Mariel, an oval, high-cheekboned face, cleft chin, and dark hair in waves around her shoulders, but she had my—our—father’s eyes.
“Hey, Gabriel. I’m Marshall.”
I saw my brother and smiled. “Marshall. You’ve changed since the last time I saw you.”
He chuckled. “I’d hope so. I was a scrawny kid.”
No longer. Marshall had the build of someone who worked out often.
“I remember how much you loved to dive-bomb and make huge splashes.”
“He’s still like that. You should see him. Drives us all crazy.”
“Gabriel, it’s great to meet you, but I have to say it’s strange meeting someone who could be my double.”
It was true. Marshall and I shared the same facial structure, and except for the fact that he had his mother’s chocolate-brown eyes, we could pass for twins.
“At least we know we’re really related.”
“That’s for sure. No DNA test needed. Not that we’d need one after the talk we had with our parents.”
I bit my lip, clutching Ronan’s hand in a death grip. He didn’t move or make a sound. “You talked about it? What did they say?”
Both Amanda and Marshall’s smiles dimmed. “I’ll tell him, Mandy,” Marshall said. “Basically, what we already know.” The brown eyes that only moments earlier had twinkled with good humor were now narrowed and hot with anger. “I told our mother that was bullshit and that she was trying to cover up for her lies. I’m so sorry about what happened to you and your mother. We never knew Dad was married before and that he had an affair and left you.”
“It’s okay.” My voice came out rusty and hoarse. “It was a long time ago.”
“Not really. The consequences of their actions are felt today. What makes me angriest is that my mother doesn’t seem to want to take any responsibility for anything. Bad enough she was the other woman, but for them to keep this information from us? To keep our brother a secret?” He rubbed his eyes. “It’s unforgivable.”
Amanda jumped in. “I just hope the three of us can start to have a relationship now. We don’t need our parents to bring us together. My husband is an only child, so I know the kids will be excited to have another uncle.”
“And once Lisa, my wife, got over the initial shock of the story, she was so excited to meet you. Her brother died many years ago. Family means everything to us, Gabriel.”
“Do you have a girlfriend or a wife?” Amanda asked. “Any children?”
I tugged Ronan’s hand. “No, but I have a very supportive boyfriend. He’s one of the main reasons I got up the nerve to contact you in the first place.” Their eyes widened, and Amanda broke out in a huge smile.
