Chapter Eleven
The two women looked at each other in shock. June seemed to recover first from the bomb Liam just dropped on her and smiled.
“You finally told her, big bro. Though you should have warned her ahead of time and me too, you big jerk.” There was no heat to her words.
Liamleft Cora’s side to come to June’s and kiss her cheek. The girl reached up and gave him a brief hug.“Sorry, June bug, I’ll remember next time.”
June scoffed and rolled her eyes. “It’s a little late for that now.”
“I didn’t know how to explain.”
“What? That you have a fucked-up sister, missing two legs that you keep hidden in your basement?” June tried to joke but her tone sounded hurt.
“You're hardly in a basement.”
“No, but you don’t tell anyone about me. It’s obvious on Cora’s faceshe didn’t even know I existed until this moment. What do you tell people, that you’re an only child?”
“That’s not fair June.”Liamscolded his younger sister. “I love you and I am far from ashamed. I just don’t want people’s pity. For you or for me.”
“You think I do any more than you do? I can hardly get Rosa to let me out sometimes. Afraid someone will see the handicapped Macintosh girl.”Her hands waved from side to side.
“June, knock it off. Cora is the first person I have brought here and I’m afraid we aren’t making a very good impression.”
“And whose fault is that?” Obviously, June wasn’t done ripping into her brother and didn’t care they had a guest.
Liamchose to ignore his sister and held a hand out for Cora who was still standing in the doorway. She walked woodenlyto his side and he pulled out a chair for her. She was having trouble processing what was happening. Liam had a sister. Not only that but she was paralyzed.
“It’s nice to finally meet you June,” Cora said pleasantly trying to collect her thoughts. She was in complete shock still. Out of all the things that Liam could be hiding from her when they had been dating, this was not it. She would belying if she didn’t say she was a little relieved. She already knew he hadn’t been cheating but the fact he had been caring for his sister made her feel guilty for all the times she harped at him for not telling her. It also made her angry that this secret was what had broken them up. She understood he didn’t want pity, but he never even gave her a chance. He made the decision to keep it a secretfrom her. He had told her what he did for a living, but he couldn’t share this with her? So many secrets. And for what?
“Same here.” June didn’t sound happy to meet her, but Cora was sure she was just as shocked as she was at meeting each other.
So, Liam had a sister he cared for. She was still wrapping her mind around it. It was sweet that he would do that. She didn’t know what was so secretiveabout her situation. She wasn’t the first paralyzed woman. Was there something else Cora didn’t know about?
“June, is that how you treat your guests?”Liamscolded. He was acting just like a big brother or so Cora thought. She was an only child, but she had several friends who had older siblings and this was how they acted
“What are you, my father?” June snapped.
“I’m the only family youhave left and I’m older so yeah I am for all intents and purposes.”
“So, you’re the lady that broke up with Liam five months ago?” June asked turning her sharp blues at her. June was a copy of Liam. Long curly blonde hair and clear blue eyes.
“I am,” Cora said wringing her hands. She was nervous, and she didn’t know why.
“Why did you break his heart?” June didn’t sound accusingly but curious.
Cora looked up at Liam standing next to her who was also waiting for an answer. “I don’t know if I broke his heart,” Cora said instead. He had broken hers. “But I left because he was keeping secrets from me, and I couldn’t stay with someone like that.”
“So, my big idiot of a brother finally saw the light and told you about me.” June’s eyes met her brothers. “I told you I was some secret toyou.”
“Should I leave you two to talk?” Cora asked feeling she was in the middle of something important between the siblings.
“No,” June said quickly turning her head back to her. “Liam just needs to learn to let things go.”
“I don’t understand.” And she really didn’t. It was obvious Liam loved his sister. He went to great lengths to see to his sister’s care and came at a moment’s notice.He even ended their relationship over his sister; you would think she would have more respect for her brother. He could have just sent his sister to a home or passed her off to nurses to care for and be done with her.
“Liam thinks he is the reason I am in this bed,”Liammuttered something under his breath and left the room. “Just ignore him I always do,” June told her as Cora watched Liam leaveand she felt the urge to follow him.
“What do you mean he thinks he’s the reason you are here?” Cora turned back to face June and scooted her chair closer to the bed wanting to hear this story. This was a side of Liam she didn’t know existed.
