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“What do you mean?” I furrowed my brows.
“I told them I was an only child and the only family they had. Shortly after I was diagnosed with the brain tumor, Grayson and Gabriel visited for a week. They asked me if I was okay because I didn’t look well. I told them I had just gotten over the flu. You don’t have children, do you?”
“No. I don’t. Not yet, anyway.”
“Once you’re a father, you will understand that you would do anything to protect your children.”
“How is keeping them from their family protecting them? My father pounded into our heads from the time we could walk and talk that family was everything and we needed to look out for each other until the day we died. I guess he was a hypocrite,” I said.
“No. He wasn’t. He had his reasons.”
“And what reasons were those?”
“Jackson,” Aunt Barb walked into the room.
“Hi, Aunt Barb.” I kissed her cheek.
“Ian looks tired and needs his rest.”
“I’m his doctor, Aunt Barb.”
“I know, dear, and you can clearly see he needs his rest. When are you planning on telling my sons about this?”
“Tonight, I guess. I can’t keep this from them any longer. We tell each other everything. You know that.”
“Very well.”
“I need to get back to the medical center.” I walked out of the room.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent a message in our family group chat.
“Emergency family meeting. Bonfire tonight, six-thirty. Make sure you’re there. I need to talk to all of you about something.”
Everyone replied back they would be there.
When I arrived home from work, I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt, grabbed a couple of beers from the refrigerator, and headed down to the beach. I lit the bonfire and waited for my brothers and cousins to meet me.
“Hello there, handsome.” Georgia wrapped her arms around my neck from behind.
“Come here.” I smiled as I pulled her around and onto my lap. “Did you just get home?”
“Yeah.” She kissed my lips. “Are you ready for this?”
“No.” I breathed out a laugh.
“All the girls are coming to help me with the wedding invites. I figured it would keep all of us busy while you guys talk.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
My brothers and cousins gathered around, and Georgia went back to the house.
“For a minute there, I thought you called off the wedding,” Simon spoke as he sat down. “Clearly, you haven’t.” He grinned.
“I think we were all thinking the same thing,” Sam said.
“Yeah, Jackson. What is with this emergency meeting?” Sebastian asked. “I really have to get back to the Brewhouse.”
Nathan, Christian, and Conner all looked at me.
