Broken Promises (26 page)

I smile and listen to Derrick tell the story of how they met, ending with how much he adores her. “If you’ll raise your glasses and toast with me. To Mari, the best wife a man could ask for.”

Everyone toasts and glasses are clinked together. Katie is brewing next to me, ready to pop. “He sounds like he won a trophy.”

“Yeah, I noticed that. His wording was a little interesting.”

Derrick gets everyone to settle down and introduces the next speaker. I’m not paying attention until I hear her voice.

“Ever since Derrick was a little boy…” Her voice is soft, confident, easy, and very familiar. She’s too far away, and I can’t really see her.

“Katie, who is that?”

“Derrick’s mom.”

That can’t be right. “What’s her name? I need a name. Now.” Katie can tell I’m panicking, but she’s not sure why.

“I don’t know. He didn’t say. Trystan, what’s wrong?”

Before I can rationalize anything, my feet are moving, and I’m walking toward her. I can’t hide the shock on my face. The crowd parts for me until I’m standing a few feet from her.

She had a smile on her face and a drink raised in her hand until she sees me. “Trystan.” She says my name as a curse.

“Lynn, what is this?” My mouth moves, but I can’t fathom what’s happening. Did she lie to me? This woman can’t be my mother. She’s Derrick’s mother. She has another kid here, too.

But she answers me. It’s her, the woman from the diner. “My son is getting married. I didn’t know you’d be here. Do you already know each other?” Worry pinches her voice, and the room is creepy silent.

Derrick’s voice slices through the silence. “Ma, why is he talking to you? How do you know him?”

Jared materializes from somewhere, flanking his brother. “I think you should go, Scott.”

“Lynn?” Mari’s voice is high, fragile.

Disgust crawls across my face. “I should have known you were another gold digger. Mari, this guy had his mom pretend she was my mother. I met her, remember? I believed her. It turns out she’s just a really good liar and your boyfriend is a bastard. He used you to get at me.”

Mari seems frozen. She doesn’t move.

Derrick is rushing toward me with his brother close behind. “No one says shit about my mother.”

Lynn tries to speak, but no one is listening. Derrick’s fist comes flying at my face. I dodge it and swing back, hitting him in the side. He swears and doubles over. Jared lands a punch in my side and connects with my kidney. Cheap shot.

I don’t hold back. I go for him. My arm pulls back, and I’m about to let my fist remove his teeth when I hear Mari’s voice, “Stop! Don’t!”

I think she’s speaking to me, so I pull my punch and turn. She wasn’t talking to me at all—she was yelling at Derrick. He was behind me. I turn in time to get a fist in my gut, and a flash of silver catches my eye as I go down. My arm is screaming, burning and I realize that asshole cut me.

Derrick rushes at me, his foot ready to kick me in the gut. “You stupid son of a bitch! You tried to steal Mari, and now you’re talking shit about my mom! You’re going to remember what happens when you fuck with our family!” As he swings his foot to my gut, I let him. When it connects with my body, I roll, and he goes down. I manage to punch him in the face once before his kid brother pulls me off.

He tosses me back to Derrick. Suddenly, all three of us are standing, staring each other down.

Lynn rushes between us, her eyes full of tears. “I should have told you—I should have told all of you—but I didn’t. Trystan is your brother. I’m his mother. If you want to hurt him, you’ll have to kill me first.” She positions herself in front of me.

Derrick is livid. His face is bleeding, and he’s screaming. “You’re making shit up to protect him! Get out of the way, Ma. This guy isn’t going to mess with our family ever again.”

“He is your family! Get it through your head, Derrick. Think for once. I told you that you had an older brother. His father kidnapped him when he was small, and I couldn’t find them. Trystan is that baby! Trystan is your brother! I contacted him a while back, and we met for the first time a couple of weeks ago. There was a time I would have done anything to have you all together, but not like this. Not here, not now.”

CHAPTER 42

MARI

I
stand there, stunned. Is this really the woman Trystan’s been talking about for the past few weeks? The way she’s placed herself in front of Trystan is telling. She chose her relationship with him over her other two boys, over Derrick.

I thought he was already mad, but this gesture seems to catapult him into crazy land. His nostrils flare as he breathes. The veins on the side of his neck are incredibly huge, and the pulse point on his temple is pounding like it’s going to pop. His hands are still in fists at his sides. He glares at his mother as he rages. “This is the brat you chased after all those years? The kid that vanished never to be heard from again? Half-brother or not, I don’t ca--”

She cuts Derrick off, stepping closer to him. “He’s not your half-brother—Jared is his half-brother. You and Trystan share the same father. After he had taken off with Trystan, I discovered I was carrying you.”

Jared isn’t angry. He’s confused. He’s shaking his head. “But, Ma, who was the man who raised us?”

“That was your father, and he was a good man, a good father to both of you.”

“This is bullshit.” Derrick is grinding his teeth together and grimacing so hard I barely recognize him. “This guy is just another one of your charity cases.”

“Derrick, he’s not. He doesn’t need me. I reached out to him expecting him to ignore me or shoot me down, but he didn’t. He listened, patiently, which is more than you’re doing now. Your father stole my firstborn child from me, and I finally have him back. I won’t let you chase him off with your uncontrolled temper!”

Derrick’s hand flies and connects with the side of his mom’s face. The sound is deafening. Lynn stands there with her spine straight and tears in her eyes. She’s been through this before. Trystan’s father is a horrible man. When I think about the night I found him beating Trystan, I lose it. No one should hit their mother. No one.

I’m screaming incoherently, launching myself at Derrick. I claw at his eyes before jumping on his back and pounding my fists into the sides of his head. I'm like a fly on a bull, my hits doing very little except annoying him.

A pair of strong arms pulls me off. It’s Trystan. He sets me down and calmly turns to Derrick. His voice sounds so deep, so scary. His finger lifts toward the door. “Get out before I make you leave.”

Derrick laughs. He pushes his hair out of his face, folds his arms over his chest, and looks at Jared. His younger brother shakes his head and puts his hands up. “You hit mom, you dumb fuck. I’m on his side,” he says, jabbing a thumb toward Trystan. “You crossed the line, and I’m going to make sure you never do it again.”

Jared steps next to Trystan. I feel Lynn reach for my hand. She laces her fingers through mine, trembling. I squeeze gently without looking at her. Katie is watching, horrorstruck from the corner—along with the rest of our guests.

At that moment, Bob comes rushing through the door, out of breath. “Awh, shit. You ruined her party?”

“No, Derrick did that all by himself.” I pull off my engagement ring and run over to the front door, and launch it into the air. It hits the pavement outside with a metallic noise. “I’m not marrying you.”

“Get the fuck out of my house before I shove my shoe up your ass and surgically remove it from your throat.” Dad is standing in the kitchen doorway, still in his scrubs. His eyes are thin slits, fixated on Derrick. He takes a step toward him and Derrick bolts. He rushes out past Bob and doesn’t stop to find the ring.

Dad comes up behind me and puts his arms around my shoulders, kissing the top of my head. “I’m sorry I was late, Mari.”

I release Lynn’s hand and turn to face him with tears in my eyes. “No, your timing was perfect. Thanks, Dad.” I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him hard.

I start crying, and he peels me off. This is well past his comfort zone. He glances around, searching for someone to hand me off to, and places me with Trystan. “Here. Fix this.”

Trystan laughs and pulls me close. “Your Dad is… I have no words.”

“Neither do I. Thanks for convincing me not to give up on Dad all those years ago.”

Dad turns around abruptly. “That was you?”

Trystan seems uncomfortable, but answers. “You only have one set of parents, sir, and, the way I see it, they’ll make mistakes, but as long as they aren’t bashing your face in with a brick, they're worth fighting for.”

Dad stares at Trystan like he’s never seen him before. Regaining his composure, he turns toward all the guests left murmuring around the room. “Party’s over, get out! If you brought a gift, please take it with you. I’d rather not have any tokens to remind us of this night. It’s bad enough I’ll have the bill.”

Several guests chuckle uncertainly, thinking he’s kidding, inciting him to throw up both arms and yell, “GET OUT!”

Bob lets out a belly laugh and starts ushering people out of the house. “You heard the man. Get going.”

CHAPTER 43

MARI

S
oon, only Trystan, Katie, Dad, and Lynn remain. Lynn intended to leave with Jared, but Dad asked her to stay. He looked over her cheek and gave her ice.

“I’m sorry about that, about Derrick. He’s…” She can’t finish her sentence. There’s an ugly reddish-purple mark on the side of her face, and I’m sure it will appear black by morning.

“He’s got issues that aren’t your fault.” It still hurts, but I’m kicking myself for not seeing this side of him. I glance over at Katie. “They're no one’s fault, and I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you tried to warn me.”

Katie’s eyes are glassy. She smiles at me. “In all fairness, I didn’t know he was THAT unhinged. I’m sorry, Mari.”

Dad cuts off any more sappy apologies. “Lynn, do you have somewhere to stay?”

“I was at Derrick’s until next week. I live in New Jersey.”

Dad scratches his cheek and then picks up his empty coffee mug. He pads over to the sink and talks with his back to us. “I have a guest bedroom, and the house is empty most of the time. You can have Jared move your things here until you’re ready to go home.”

I blink at Dad’s back, shocked. Hospitality isn’t his thing and neither is kindness. Exhibiting them together is shocking.

Lynn is grateful. “That would be wonderful. You have no idea how stressful this has been.”

“I don’t. But I want you to make yourself at home here. I’ll set up the guest room with fresh linens. And Trystan,” Dad waits while Trystan looks over at him. “I made you an appointment with a specialist.” Dad clears his throat, nervously running his hand over the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. I wish I could do more.”

Trystan nods and looks away. Lynn keeps her gaze on the table and from the way Katie is staring at her mug, she already knows. I’m about to change the subject, when Trystan says to Lynn, “I haven’t told many people yet, but I’m losing my eyesight.”

Katie looks at him like he’s crazy, and then addresses Lynn. “If you tell anyone, I’ll personally hunt you down and—”

Trystan cuts her off. “She won’t tell anyone. She’s my mother.” He smiles at her, and she smiles back, eyes full of tears.

“Did you confirm it? Did the papers come back?”

Trystan shakes his head. “I don’t need the papers. I already know you’re my mom.”

CHAPTER 44

MARI

A 
few weeks pass. The winter is melting, and spring is coming. It’s one of those unusually warm days where all the kids cut school, and the adults find a reason to leave work early. I’m wandering the paths at Belmont Lake with Katie and her new puppy, Gilbert.

He’s a floppy eared lab mix. He’s got huge paws and is always in trouble. She tugs at his leash, trying to get him to stop pulling. “Gilbert, be good!”

“I can’t believe you named him that.”

“Uh, what else would I name him? I mean look at him? He’s Gilbert Blythe!” She picks up the dog and snuggles him. “He’s got a sexy smirk, and dark hair. Plus all the girl doggies love him. When I have enough money, I’ll adopt Anne, and we can be one big happy family.”

I snort laugh. As she puts Gilbert down, he darts all over the path, and between our legs, tangling the leash. I step around and over, trying not to step on the little animal. Good thing he’s quick.

Katie hasn’t asked much, but I know it’s coming. “So, how are things?”

I shrug. “Same as usual. I’m working like crazy and have no life.”

“Have you seen Trystan much?” She turns around and steps out of the leash that tangles her legs. Gilbert barks at a gaggle of geese sunning themselves on the path ahead. He pulls against the leash so hard he gags.

“No, not since the party. He’s got a lot going on, and it felt like I was intruding.” I feel my lips moving weird and glance at Katie from the corner of my eye. She’s too preoccupied with Gilbert to blast me.

“I’m surprised he didn’t call you.”

“Me too.” Actually, that’s why I backed off. I thought he’d come around more. But he didn’t. Things are back to the way they were before the crash. It’s as if Trystan Scott vanished from my life again.

“Gilbert, stop it. Yuck! Spit that out!” Katie picks up the puppy and pulls a half-eaten worm from his mouth. “You’re so gross.”

“I think he can eat those.” I know he can eat those.

“Gilbert does not eat worms.” She says it the way Anne would. We’re talking all overdramatic, nose in the air, and snooty—from back before she liked Gilbert she would have said the opposite. I think Katie’s been watching the series on Netflix at night. She still doesn’t sleep. The puppy is a good thing for her, and she loves doting on him.

“Have you heard anything from Derrick?” She strokes the dog’s head as we walk.

“Yeah, actually, I did. He sent me a bill for the engagement ring.”

Her jaw drops. “He did not!”

“Yes, he did. Dad responded with a bill from the engagement party, and he actually got Trystan’s ring back. I’m glad I wasn’t there for that conversation. Derrick backed off after that.”