Three Stepbrothers Save Christmas: O'Reilly Fight Club Book Four, page 38
I look down at the folder in my hand and let out a sigh.
“This was hidden away in the back of the safe. It is a medical report that says Trish is absolutely fine, and there is nothing to suggest she has any brain injuries.”
“But that’s not right. I have witnessed her episodes of paranoia. She blames Dad for everything; they said it’s the grief from losing my mum. Her and Mum were really close and after her death there was an argument between Trish and Dad just before the accident. They said the brain injury affected her memory and to her everything she accused dad of was actually true when it wasn’t. She would say he was keeping everything from me.” I watch as the penny drops and realisation kicks in. “Oh my god,” she gasps placing a hand over her mouth before shaking her head in disbelieve. “She wasn’t lying.”
I shake my head as I hold out the file.
“I’m going to get someone to look over this. But from what I can understand, Trish was injured from the crash, but nothing that was long-term. The police thought the breaks had been tampered with, but that report disappeared. I believe your father paid a doctor to falsify a report on Trish to make sure she was kept out of the way.”
Verity takes the file from me and pulls out the report. I watch as she reads through it. The occasional sniff or tear would slip, but she quickly wiped it away.
“That’s her doctor’s name. I avoid him when I go there, as he once told my dad that I had visited. It’s why I only visit at weekends and sign under a different name.”
“I found a long list of payments Henry made to this name. It seems Henry had power of attorney over Trish as her only living relative. I believe if the accident had happened later in life, she would have named you. But you were still too young.
“He’s been paying for her to be kept in a mental hospital, drugged up, with her own money. It wasn’t only your mum who was rich; it was family money. It’s not cost him a fortune like he claimed.”
The anger is starting to show on her face, and I can see it in her eyes.
“How do we get her out?”
“It may be a long process, as she may be institutionalised now and will need weaning off the drugs. But it is possible. We just need to move her away from her current doctor.” Ethan says beside her. I had set him the task of finding out what could be done. I can see the determination in her eyes. She wants to set her auntie free, and I know she isn’t going to stop until she succeeds.
“That has to be everything, right? What else could he have possibly done?”
Ethan and I share a look. Here’s some of the bigger stuff.
“There are a couple of things. Most are simple like the house and everything in it is yours, but Henry had drafted up the paperwork to have you sign it all over to him when you married. It looks like he was going to be trusting the fact you wouldn’t pay attention to anything he placed in front of you.”
“I wouldn’t have. If he asked me to sign something, I would. He was my dad, and I trusted him completely. I never questioned anything he said to me.”
I can see how annoyed she is with herself over that. Now she is seeing what he was really like; she hates that she let him get away with so much.
“That’s not your fault, Baby,” Ethan whispers beside her. “You are a good person; why wouldn’t you trust your father? From babies, we rely on the two people who we are told are our parents. We are told over and over again that they will protect and guide us throughout our lives.”
Verity looks at him for a moment and nods before leaning further into Ryan, who kisses the top of her head.
“You okay, Kitten?”
“I think so.”
“There is one more big thing, but if you need a break.”
“Just tell me, I want to know everything now. Otherwise, I may never hear it all.”
Reaching out, I take her hand to kiss her knuckles.
“Of course, Sweetheart.” I pull out another file and place it on my lap.
“This was in the safe. It contains your mother’s death certificate and some other paperwork of her diagnosis. There was something that stood out.” I pull the paper from the file and hand it to her.
“What am I looking for?”
“Look at the name of the doctor,” Ethan points to the signature. Verity frowns at it for a moment before looking back at him.
“That’s my aunties doctor.”
Ethan nods but quickly holds up a finger.
“Before you jump to anything, we don’t know for certain. There is a chance he and your father became friends whilst he was treating your mother. Everything on record shows your mum had a form of brain cancer. There is no way to know whether these reports are correct or not,” He quickly explains.
“But there’s a chance they aren’t?”
“There is that chance, yes. It is something I plan on finding out,” I answer. Verity turns her attention to me before shaking her head.
“No, I can believe many things about my father now, but even when we were in that office, he still claimed to love my mum. There is no way he would have killed her.”
“I have to agree with Verity.”
We all look to Ryan, who is running a hand up and down her arm.
“I spoke to him once about her mum and how she died, and there was no denying the pain it caused him. We all know he was a fairly good actor, but that was genuine. He loved her wholeheartedly.”
I look from Ryan and Verity who are both looking determined and convincing, I believe them.
“I still plan on asking the doctor, but I think you are right.”
Verity watches me for a moment and seems to relax slightly, until her eyes fall on the other box we brought back.
“What’s in there?” she asks, unable to look away. I can see she’s scared of what it could be, and who can blame her? But I smile to myself as I pull it towards us.
“This is all good, I think. We found things that seem to have belonged to your mother. The box you found is in there, and a safe Ethan found in the large one. It appears that Henry had tried a few times to get into it but never succeeded, which is what makes us believe it belonged to her. But there is no knowing for sure until it's opened.”
“Let me see it.”
Reaching into the box, I pull it out. It’s not heavy, and to be honest I’m surprised Henry never got into because it doesn’t seem the most secure.
“That’s not my mums,” Verity announces as she stands from the sofa and points to the coffee table. “Put it on there, with Mum’s box.” She rushes from the room.
The three of us look at each other, not knowing who’s box it could be if not Miriams. Ethan grabs the one we know is Miriam’s and places it on the table next to the other one as we hear Verity’s rushed footsteps above, causing us all to look up.
“Any ideas?” Ethan asks looking back to us. Ryan and I shake our heads as Verity rushes back down the stairs.
“I knew I hadn’t dreamt the whole thing up,” She announces, rushing back into the room. Dropping to her knees and placing her jewellery box on the table.
“Whenever Mum and I used to go to Auntie Trish’s house I used to try and get into this one. They once told me it contained fun secrets about their lives before I came along. Whenever I asked to see what was inside, they told me I would have to wait until I was older, that I wouldn’t understand yet.”
There is an excitement in her that I haven’t seen since Christmas morning when she was like a child, soaking up all the magic and excitement of the day. I look to my brothers, and judging by the smile on their faces they see it too. We know it may not last, but I soak up the pure joy on her face whilst it lasts.
Verity pulls a locket out of her jewellery box and holds it up. It’s a beautiful silver heart charm that shines in the light.
“My mum gave me this before she died. She told me to keep it safe and when I was eighteen I was to open her chest.” holding the heart in her hands she smiles down, remembering something that makes her happy. “A couple of days after she died, I realised it opened, and inside, I found this.” Opening the heart, she tips it slightly, and a tiny key comes out. “I knew straight away what it would unlock, but I could never find Mum's box. Until that day, I found it in front of Dad, and he hid it away from me again.” Carefully, Verity places the necklace down and pulls the small chest towards her. She inserts the key and turns it slowly. A click sounds out, and her face lights up further. She squeals excitedly as she opens the lid and looks in.
Leaning over so I can see, I notice an envelope with Verity’s name on it. She lifts it out, and I don’t miss the way her hands shake slightly.
“Do you want some privacy whilst you read it?” Ryan asks beside her. She shakes her head and looks at me.
“I’m scared.”
I follow my instinct and move so I can sit with my legs on either side of her as Ryan walks out of the room, whispering that he will be right back.
“Lean against me; I’m right here,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her. “No matter what it says we are right here with you, just tell us what you need.”
“Here you go, Kitten.”
I look up as Ryan walks over with Verity’s doll in his hand. She instantly reaches out for it and holds it tight.
“Can you read it for me? I can’t see,” she whispers, wiping her eyes. Pressing a kiss to her cheek I take the envelop from her.
“Are you sure?” I ask, not wanting to do anything she might regret. But when she turns her head to look at me, I see how filled her eyes are with tears and smile softly at her as she nods.
“Please, Daddy.”
I kiss her lips once with a small smile on my face before opening the envelop carefully and pulling out two pieces of paper. Taking a deep breath, I hold the paper out so we can both see it. Verity leans against my chest.
Dearest Verity,
I wish there were a chance I would be present to witness you turning eighteen, but the Doctors say I won’t see you next month. I would give anything for them to find a cure so I could watch you grow into the beautiful, kind-hearted woman I know you will become. Never stop being you, Jellybean. You bring light to the darkest days, and I hope you realise how loved you are.
That being said, I have to tell you something that may come as a shock to you. But I feel that at the age of eighteen, you will finally be old enough to accept what I’m about to say.
Henry Stevenson is not your birth father. I fell pregnant a couple of months before me and Henry met. Before that I was in a relationship with someone else, well a couple of someone else’s. I was in a polygamous relationship with two guys. I loved both of them very much, and I had never dreamt I would find myself in that situation, but I did.
We all lived in the house we live in now and they showered me in love and affection. They worshipped the ground I walked on, and I loved them with all my heart. People asked why I didn’t just choose one of them, but, well, I couldn’t. They were my world, and I was theirs, I could have never chosen one over the other. But in the month before your conception, things started to go wrong for us. One by one, the guys left in the space of two weeks, which is why I’m not sure which is your father. Both disappeared with no warning.
I was sure they would come back to me; we had been so happy. But they never did. They stopped calling, and they never got back in touch. One day Henry came around, claiming to be there for one of the guys things that he had left. We started talking and I told him I was pregnant, and that I needed him to tell his friend he might be the father. Henry was so convinced that he wouldn’t want to know, that I became upset which made me ill, and I collapsed in his arms.
Henry rushed me to the hospital and looked after me. He held my hand and was so supportive, promising to help me in any way he could. He showed up time and time again to check in on me and even took me to the hospital a few times for checkups. He was the perfect gentleman.
When you were born, he showered you with gifts and thought the world of you. I fell in love with him because of his love for you. Eventually, he became your father and asked me to marry him to make us a real family. I agreed, I wanted you to have two parents, everyone told me it was what you needed. But I never stopped thinking about the guys who could have been your real dad.
I wanted to be honest with you, but Henry begged me not to be; he didn’t want there ever to be any doubt that he wasn’t your father. He said he couldn’t cope with people pointing it out. As far as he was concerned, he was your father, which was the end. I believed it all and honestly believed that he would give you the best life because he loved you more than anything.
But recently, things haven’t been so great, and I know things are coming to light thanks to my illness. Your Auntie Trish will tell you all about it.
Honey, I need you to know I wanted to tell you everything from the beginning, that I had a plan to tell you when you were eighteen, and I wanted to help you find your real dad. But I can’t. I’m leaving instructions for your Auntie to help you find them when the time comes. She knows them, and they will trust her. I have also asked her to keep an eye on you and told her to take you if she thinks you are in danger. Henry has told me over and over again that he loves you as his own, but something feels different.
I hope and pray I’m wrong and you and your father have a loving relationship he has always shown you when he’s home. If not, know it’s not what I wanted for you, and I’m sorry.
My one piece of advice for you is if you find love, grab it with both hands and never let it go. Whether that is with one person or twenty. Do what makes you happy and know I love you with all my heart and wish I could be there the day you get married and have kids.
Only you can live your life, make it the best possible, because you made mine complete.
All my love always,
Mama
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
70
Verity
I lean back against Travis as he puts the letter down and wraps me in his arms. Leaning his cheek against mine, I look down at the doll in my arms as the tears slowly stop flowing.
“Sweetheart? Are you okay?” he whispers. I nod as I turn my head to smile at him.
“She wouldn’t have been disappointed in me.”
Loosening his arms, Travis moves slightly, and I can see the confusion on his face.
“Why would she have been disappointed in you?”
Looking back down at my doll I run my fingers through her thick strands of yellow wool she has for hair. I’ve started doing this whenever I’ve needed something to focus on.
“I’ve been worried she would be disappointed in me for being with all three of you.” When I lift my head, I not only look at Travis but at Ryan and Ethan as well. “She would have understood why I could never pick one of you. Why, I love you all equally.”
Ryan squats down in front of me and cups my cheek.
“She would have understood why we could never ask you to choose between us. Like her men, we worship the ground you walk on, and there is nothing we wouldn’t do for you.”
“Like I’ve said before. You are ours as much as we are yours, Baby.”
I look at Ethan who is smiling behind Ryan and back to Travis and smile as I pick up the letter and look at it.
“Is there anything you want to discuss from it? Or any questions about what you have learnt today?” Travis asks as he stands, probably getting uncomfortable from sitting on the hard floor.
“There are, but.” I look up from the letter and know if there was ever a time to ask him for something, it’s now. “But I think only my auntie can give me the right answers. Would you take me, please?”
Travis holds out his hand and helps me to my feet.
“I will take you anywhere you want to go, sweetheart. All you have to do is ask.”
“Merry Christmas, hope you had a good one,” Kylie smiles at me as I sign the visitor's book. Usually I put a different name, but today I use my own, hoping my aunties Doctor knows I’ve been. I still need to decide on what I’m going to do about that, but I do know that my auntie will be out of here as soon as possible.
“Merry Christmas. It’s been okay, thanks. How’s Trish today?”
“She’s great; she’s waiting in her room for you this time.”
I thank her as Travis takes my hand, and I lead him through the home, saying hi to people as we pass.
Now we are here; I feel more nervous than I did whilst I rushed around getting showered and dressed in record time.
“What do you think she knows?” I ask as we walk down the corridor towards her room.
“To be honest other than your possible father’s names I don’t think there is much else she can tell you that we aren’t already aware off.”
I look to him with an arched brow and a smile tugs at one side of his mouth.
“Okay, so that’s quite a big thing, and we are constantly learning more information by the day.” Travis starts as we stop in front of the door with my aunt's name on. “But whatever it is, we will face it as a family.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. “I’m right here, Sweetheart.”
“I know,” I smile before taking a deep breath and opening the door.
When I walk in I see my Auntie standing in front of her window looking out of it, in a daze.
“Auntie Trish?” I whisper cautiously, knowing better than to startle her. When she turns around her eyes fall on Travis and a smile spreads across her face.
“Jellybean, you’ve been keeping the best till last. He’s one hunk of a man.”
Travis laugh barks beside me as my jaw drops open.
“My brother said I would like you,” Travis smirks as he holds out a hand. “It’s good to finally meet you, ma’am.”
As she did with the Ryan she knocks his hand away and pulls him into a hug.
“You can call me Auntie Trish,” she winks as she stands back. “Jellybean, are you going to introduce us properly?” she asks, hugging me.
