Happily Ever After Read online

  Even so, when he’d initially told Abby he wanted neither of his parents at the wedding, she wasn’t sure it was the way to go. She didn’t want him to possibly regret that decision later. But she stood by his choices 100 percent. If he didn’t want them there, fine with her, end of story. She wanted him happy.

  “What do you want, Mom?” he half growled. “You woke me up and I’m not a morning person. Calling three times this early without just leaving a message is obnoxious. I don’t appreciate it.”

  Abby’s insides tensed at the hardness of his voice, and how quickly he’d opened the gate to an argument. He had a temper he usually managed to keep under wraps. But when it flared, he was formidable, intimidating, a powerful force. She felt the tension now coiling in his body as she still held him. He closed his eyes and sighed while he listened to whatever Laura was saying, and Abby hugged him gently to show her support. His hand ran up and down her back in response.

  “Stop it,” he spat into the phone. “You’re a piece of work, calling me this early, two days before my wedding, to lay a fucking guilt trip on me. Which just shows why I don’t want you here in the first place.” He laughed, a caustic, hollow sound, and Abby’s heart rate started to rise for him.

  “Seriously, Mom? You really want to hear me say the words? Is that what it’ll take? Fine.” His eyes opened and he pushed away from Abby, as if the surge of anger was too much and he had to expend the burst of adrenaline. He threw back the covers, sprang out of bed, and began to pace the room as he spoke into the phone.

  “You left me—you left us all—and you never looked back,” he said flatly. “No . . . no, you didn’t . . . holy crap, stop it. Don’t start with the phony tears and the blame and the bullshit. I don’t want to hear it . . . what? . . . Yes, Dad made it hard for you to see us. But you could have if you wanted to. You didn’t want to. That’s fine. But you don’t get to play spurned mommy now . . . Yes, I know, you were hurt. Poor you. Like you didn’t have four kids who were hurting, who wanted and needed their mother. Luckily, we don’t anymore . . . no. None of us want you around and we sure as hell don’t need you . . . what? That’s harsh? It’s the truth . . . no. Fuck no. That’s one hundred percent on you.”

  Suddenly, whatever Laura was saying made him stop in his tracks. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” His jaw clenched and he gritted his teeth, then said in a low, deliberate tone, “I’m warning you right now. Hear me. Do not show up here on Saturday. Do. Not. Am I being very clear?”

  Abby’s eyes flew wide at that. Was Laura planning to come to the wedding? Whoa, she was ballsy.

  “Because I’ll throw you out myself.” Pierce raked his free hand through his hair, pure frustration apparent as his marine-blue eyes flashed. “Oh, believe it. Try me . . . yes, I feel that strongly about it . . . You really don’t get it. This only proves how selfish you are! . . . Yeah, Mom, it is selfish, actually. Because I’ve made it pretty fucking clear I don’t want you here. Don’t you think? . . . All right, enough. Stop. Here’s the deal.” He spread his feet, digging in his stance, as if she were there and he was telling her to her face. “You don’t get to come to my wedding, the most important day of my life, and parade around like you’re someone special. You aren’t. And I want no drama and no bullshit. You? Are pure drama and bullshit . . . yeah, you are.” He started pacing again as he listened, then burst out, “Only the people who mean something to me will be here to share in this, and that sure as hell isn’t you. So don’t waste your plane fare with a surprise appearance. You. Are. Not. Welcome. Here.”

  Abby’s heart squeezed for him. She’d known he thought these things because he’d told her, in the calm quiet of their home, with her arms wrapped securely around him. But he’d never before said them out loud to his mother. Now his free hand clenched in a fist. Years of repressed rage were pouring out and the air around them had gone electric with it. She sat up as she watched him pace furiously, aching for him.

  “No, Mom. Sorry, but no.” He snorted out a laugh. “It’s really a lot simpler than that. The way I see it, if you weren’t around for me in my bad times—hell, around at all—you don’t get to be with me for the good times. That’s all there is to it.”

  He glanced over at Abby for a second. It was all she could do not to go to him, take the phone out of his hand, throw it off the terrace, and hold him tight. But she knew him well enough to let him get it out and just be there. Her presence was enough.

  “Yeah? Really?” His voice was lethal. Abby hadn’t seen him this angry in a long time. “I haven’t heard from you in months. But you call me two days before my wedding to get at me and I’m supposed to feel bad that you’re hurt? I don’t . . . no, in fact, I’m glad it’s all out there and you know exactly how I feel. It’s cathartic really . . . right. That’s right. Okay, then. We’re done now. Buh-bye.” He ended the call and threw the phone across the room with all his might. It sailed through the air and hit the pillows. He swore violently and raked his hands through his hair, then scrubbed them over his face as he swore again.

  “Pierce,” Abby said. “Take a deep breath.”

  He looked at her, his eyes wild and bright.

  “You’re okay.”

  He snorted, the angst coming off him in waves.

  “She won’t come here,” Abby said gently. “Neither of your parents will. Everything will be fine.”

  “I gotta get outta here.” He strode to the dresser and rummaged through the drawers. “I’m sorry, babe.”

  “Don’t be. I understand. Go ahead.”

  “I need to go for a run. I just . . . I gotta go.”

  “Good idea,” she said. “Go run on the beach. Pound at the sand.”

  “That’s where I’m going.” He yanked on his clothes with hard, jerky motions, his jaw clenched tight and his face flushed. Then he went to the closet, found where Abby had put his sneakers, and got them on. “I’ll see you later.”

  She watched him, her heart beating fast. His stress was hers. His pain was hers. “I love you,” she said.

  He was halfway to the door but stopped cold at her soft words. Then he came to her, stroked both hands over her hair, and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Thank God for that.” He kissed her mouth, a quick peck. “I’m too fired up. Let me go let off steam. When I get back, I’ll be fine. I’m not going to let her ruin our day. Promise.”

  “Go,” she said, stroking his cheek.

  He practically flew out of the room. She heard the slam of the door and sighed. Damn his parents, both of them. What a stellar job they’d done. They’d never done right by their youngest son and they still had the power to upset him, even now that he had his own life. It tore her apart to know he was hurting, and he was. Even talking to either of his parents seemed to bring back all the unresolved hurt and anger with only a few words. Abby could only hope it wouldn’t be like that forever. For his sake.

  She swallowed back the anger and bitter sadness, then went to take a shower and start the day. If Pierce could find a way to sweep their sins aside, she had to do that too.

  Chapter Two

  Pierce knocked on the door of the guest cottage closest to the hotel. He could hear sounds on the other side of the door, his nephews’ voices, loud and wild. The door opened and his oldest brother stood there, looking slightly harried.

  “Hey! Great to see you.” Charles affectionately clapped his shoulder and brought him inside. Pierce saw Thomas and Myles running around the front room, circling the leather sofa with Nerf guns and yelling as Ava sat with her head down over her tablet.

  “Barely controlled chaos,” Pierce remarked.

  “As usual,” Charles said. “I was about to take the boys to play outside, but I’m waiting for Tess to get here. I thought you were her.”

  “She’s here?” Pierce asked, waving hi to Ava as she looked up at him and smiled.

  “She should be,” Charles said. “She said she’d be here by noon because we were planning to be. She’s been great about helpi
ng Lisette with the baby. Comes over almost every day.”

  Pierce nodded. Their sister was one of the kindest people he’d ever known. That Tess would take time out of her schedule to help with their newest niece, even though Charles had hired a new nanny and had a full household staff, didn’t surprise him one bit. “Well, you want me to get the boys out of here before they wreck the place?”

  “That would be great, actually.” Charles sighed and pushed his hand through his dark, wavy hair, then adjusted his black-rimmed glasses. “Maybe you could just take them out front, onto the grass? And I’ll join you guys as soon as Tess gets here. I just don’t want to leave Lisette here alone with the baby in case she needs anything.”

  As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. Charles practically raced to it.

  “Oh, thank God,” he breathed, hugging his sister hello.

  “That bad?” Tess asked with a laugh.

  “The kids are stir-crazy,” Charles said. “And I didn’t want to leave Lisette alone.”

  “I’m here, you’re free, ’bye now,” Tess singsonged. She swept back her long mane of dark curls as she walked in, then realized her younger brother was standing there. “Hey! It’s the groom!” She embraced Pierce tightly. “How are you holding up?”

  “Truth?” Pierce asked. “I was fine until early this morning.” He saw both his siblings’ faces change to expressions of concern and rushed to add, “I’m okay now. Just . . . still a little edgy.” He briefly told them about the phone call from their mother.

  “I’ll handle it,” Charles said firmly, immediately shifting into oldest brother protective mode. His eyes flashed with cool fury. “I don’t want you to think about anything but your wedding and Abby. You leave the family drama to me, all right?”

  “And me,” Tess said. She put her hands on Pierce’s shoulders. “We’ve got this. Don’t waste another thought on her. Go be happy.”

  “I will. But first, I’m going to help Charles with these rowdy kids.” Pierce leaned forward to scoop up little Myles into his arms as he ran by.

  Myles laughed and wiggled. “Put me down, Uncle Pierce!”

  “Nope. Outside, you rugrats!” Pierce joked. “Let’s go!” He shifted the seven-year-old over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and headed for the door. Charles opened it for him and they went outside.

  “Come on, you,” Charles commanded his other son, and Thomas followed. He looked over to his daughter. “Ava? Want to come outside with us for a while?”

  “No,” Ava said, not lifting her eyes from the tablet in her hands. “I’ll stay here with Aunt Tess and Lisette. And Charlotte.”

  Charles grinned. Ava was over-the-moon in love with her new baby half sister, and he was grateful for that. “Okay, sweetie. But if you change your mind, I think we’re going down to the beach. Feel free to join us.”

  “Mm-hmm.” Ava didn’t look up.

  He chuckled, then looked to Tess, and the grin fell away. “So. Let’s talk for a minute about Mom.”

  Tess hissed out a disdainful breath. “I’ll call her now.”

  “No, I’ll do it when I get back. I’d do it this second, but the boys—”

  “Stop. I’ll do it.” Tess moved closer and dropped her voice so Ava wouldn’t hear. “You’ve been running interference between Pierce and Dad for months. You had to listen to her squawking when she found out you got married and didn’t let her know until after it’d happened. Let me take this one. Share the burden.”

  He held her gaze for a long beat, then sighed in acquiescence. “All right.” Charles patted her arm. “Family drama tag. You’re it.”

  She snorted out a laugh. “It never ends, does it?”

  “I thought we had it handled with my keeping Dad away from all this. But Mom? Goddammit. If she shows up here . . .” Charles drew a deep breath, as if to re-center himself. “No. She won’t. We’ll see to that.”

  “That’s right. So go. It’s a gorgeous day out, this property is gorgeous, and we’re all here to have a nice time,” Tess said. “Go enjoy the kids, have fun. And keep Pierce’s mind off it too. That’s what you can do right now. You have your orders.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gave a jaunty salute. “Lisette’s with the baby, last bedroom in the back, down the hall. They were trying to take a nap, but the boys were so loud, I don’t know if they actually fell asleep or not.”

  A few minutes later, Tess tiptoed into the master bedroom at the back of the three-bedroom cottage. It was a lovely room, decorated in white, taupe, and sky blue, a beach motif. The king-size bed had gauzy white fabric draped over the four wooden posts. Lisette lay on her side toward the edge of the mattress, very still, within arm’s reach of the small white bassinet beside the bed. Tess was glad to see her sister-in-law was asleep. Like any new mom, Lisette hadn’t gotten much sleep since giving birth to Charlotte only three weeks before, even with the help of a new nanny, Charles, and Tess herself. She’d made a point of going there for a few hours almost every day.

  Tess moved around the bed to the bassinet and peeked inside at Charlotte—also asleep. Her heart smiled. There was her tiny new niece, the precious, perfect sweet pea, cute as could be as she slept on her back. Tess watched the newborn’s chest move up and down, up and down, mesmerized. She had fallen head over heels in love with this baby. Charlotte was eight pounds of pure love and joy. It was all Tess could do not to pick her up and hold her, but she would never disturb her as she slept. She gazed down at her for another minute, then tiptoed toward the door.

  But as she got there, as if on cue, Charlotte squeaked in her bassinet. Tess rushed back, hoping to get to the baby before she woke her mother.

  Lisette stirred, her eyes opening halfway, weary and clouded.

  “I’ve got her,” Tess whispered as she reached into the bassinet. She lifted Charlotte into her arms and held her close to her chest, cradling her. “Get some sleep; you need it. I’ve got her, it’s fine. Go back to sleep.”

  “Thank you so much,” Lisette murmured, and her dark eyes slid closed.

  Tess’s heart gave a little pang for her. Lisette usually woke up when Charlotte did, ready to care for her even if she was tired; if Lisette had given in that easily, she must’ve been truly exhausted.

  Even though Charlotte was such a newborn, and Pierce and Abby had made it clear they understood if Lisette wasn’t up to coming to the wedding, Lisette had brushed that off. There was no way they’d miss it. And with the added benefit of the family being cozily ensconced in their own private cottage—away from germy strangers and not having to worry about the noise of a newborn at all hours—Lisette had insisted on the whole clan going for the long weekend. Tess admired her tenacity but sympathized with the truth of how drained she must be. Tess was more than happy to help them out however she could.

  Charlotte squawked and fussed. Her tiny cries sounded like the mewling of a kitten, and Tess left the room holding her before Lisette woke up again. She walked into the next empty room—the one the boys were sharing—and rocked Charlotte gently as she shh-shh-shhed her. In a minute, the baby was fast asleep on her aunt, her little face pressed to the exposed skin at the base of Tess’s neck. Tess moved to sit on one of the two twin beds, leaning against the wall for back support as she held her precious niece close.

  She ran her fingers ever so lightly over the baby’s dark hair, then her back, then up and over again. She inhaled her sweet baby smell and listened to the wondrous sound of her breathing. Holding Charlotte made Tess’s ovaries ache. She wanted this. She wanted a baby of her own so badly. The more time she spent with her new niece, the louder her biological clock seemed to tick. She was thirty-seven now, with no prospects for a loving partner, much less a baby daddy. The now familiar pangs of longing and sadness hit her heart and sank in their claws once again.

  Maybe one day, hopefully much sooner than later, she’d meet someone. She used to yearn to find a wonderful man to fall in love with, have a family with . . . that hadn’t worked out. Nowada
ys, she merely longed for the family part. She’d always wanted kids. Was it in the cards for her? Time would tell.

  Swallowing a sigh, she held Charlotte close and savored the feel of her.

  * * *

  On Thursday night, Pierce and Abby sat together as they watched some of their friends and family hang out. The resort had a separate cottage, right on the beach, equipped with a manned bar, a billiards table, flat-screen TVs and Xbox One games, and a karaoke machine. Pierce and Abby’s guests had all but taken over the whole resort; the rest of the guests would make it a complete occupation on Friday and Saturday.

  Pierce’s brother Dane and his wife, Julia, had arrived about two hours before. Dane had commandeered the billiards table, taking on first his wife, then her son, Colin, and now Troy, Pierce’s best friend. He laughed as he heard their trash talk. Pierce had met Troy at fifteen, when he’d started a new private high school after being thrown out of an elite prep school. Pierce was all about making trouble back then, the very picture of a rebellious teen acting out against his father. Pierce and Troy, a whip-smart kid from a normal, middle-class family, were the two best soccer players in the school, even as sophomores. But instead of becoming fierce competitors, they’d become fast friends, a force to be reckoned with. When Pierce left for England right after high school graduation, he and Troy had stayed solid. After all, Pierce hadn’t had many true friends in his life—it was hard to find and trust kids who liked him for who he was, instead of what perks the Harrison name could bring. He wasn’t going to let that friendship fall by the wayside. He could be himself with Troy, and that was a gift. Now, Troy was his best man for his wedding; that way, he hadn’t had to choose between his two older brothers. They were his two groomsmen instead.