AllFreeNovel
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“What news? You’re getting married?” Justin asked, his voice squeaking. “We should make it a double wedding.”
“Sweetheart, don’t get carried away,” Maggie murmured.
“We’ll wait until the others are here. We have more news.”
“We have news, too,” Maggie said under her breath, winking at Annie.
They handed Stevie over to the babysitters, who were already in the play yard with Tina.
“They’re resting up before Davie arrives,” Justin said, laughing.
“They’ll bring Angela, though. And evidently no other women are going on our trail ride,” Maggie said, frowning.
“You’re not going?” Chris asked, looking down at Annie.
“Oh, hell no. I just spent thirty grand on a master’s degree. You don’t think I’m going to break my neck falling off a horse so I can’t use it, do you?”
“God, was it that expensive?”
“Just about. No, thank you.”
A big, noisy truck pulled up to the gate.
“Dave,” Justin said, aiming the remote at the gate. “We’re getting remotes for you guys.”
“No, we’re not,” Maggie said, and they laughed. “I have to have some transition time when someone comes to the gate.”
Dave pulled up to the cottage, and they crowded around the truck, everyone talking and greeting him and Katrina, Angela taking baby Davie to the play yard.
“Come up on the porch, everyone,” Maggie announced. “We have iced tea and wine. Everyone can share their news.”
“More news?” Katrina asked.
“Yes! We are buying a house,” Annie cried, clapping her hands.
They shared the details of the purchase, and everyone was excited to go see it as soon as possible.
“I’ll miss being in town, that’s the only thing.”
“We’ll get you a four-wheel drive,” Chris replied.
They got their beverages and stood around chatting for ten minutes.
“Everyone, sit down,” Justin said. “I need to share something with you.”
Everyone quieted, waiting for Justin to say what he had to say.
“Chris, we’ve been keeping something from you for the past year, not to deceive you, but more to protect you and Val.”
“Oh God, what now?” Chris asked. “Val has kept me at arm’s length. I’ve had a feeling there was something else.”
Chris knew Justin and Dave had to have some issues with their mother having a child with Val, even if it was before their time. When the brothers were together, Chris never mentioned Val’s name. And his relationship with his father wasn’t growing the way Chris had hoped. Val agreed to meet for coffee from time to time, but he wasn’t interested in any long visits, weekends together, or father-son trips. The bond he was forming with his half brothers made up for the disappointment of Val’s lack of interest in him. He’d been wondering if there wasn’t something underlying, something yet to be revealed.
“Yes, I’m so sorry. I think the truth will actually make it easier for you to have a relationship with him. We had no proof, but the story was that our mother got pregnant with you when Val raped her.”
“Jesus Christ,” Chris cried, flushing, his eyes filling with tears.
“Remember, we had no proof. And with our mother gone, it was family gossip. But then yesterday, Val confessed to Maggie’s aunt that the sex wasn’t consensual. It validated our mother when we really needed it.”
