Healed (15 page)

“I’m Lexi Lord. I’m Shelby’s sister.”

“I see.” The lawyer sat down and sighed. “Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we start to deceive.”

“Sorry
, what?”

“Nothing.
” He sighed again. “I can’t tell you why Luke was here. Unfortunately that is attorney client privilege.”

“Is he working for my dad?” I shout
ed. “Is he trying to stop me from adopting Shelby?”

“What?”
He laughed, and I could see amusement in his eyes. “No, no, Luke is far from working for your dad.”

“What is he doing then?”
Lexi leaned forward and spoke in hushed tones. “I don’t want to invade his privacy, but I have to know. Is he in trouble?”

“No, no he’s not.”
David played with the files on his desk and looked up with a troubled expression on his face. “I’ve asked him to tell you. But he doesn’t want to. It’s his own choice. I personally think it’s best for everything to be out in the open. It’s time. Let the chips fall where they may.”

“What are you talking about
, David?” I sighed, not understanding what he was saying.

“Even the mighty have to fall at some time. But it’s not my decision to make. Luke will do what he wants.”
He looked me in the eye then. “But you should know that he is not trying to stop you from adopting Shelby. He is actually trying to help you. He set up a trust in Shelby’s name. And he named you as the conservator. He is willingly to openly support you and your quest.”

“What?” A cold
sliver of shock ran through me. “What? Why?”

“He wants to see Shelby looked after and he thinks you will make a good older brother and father figure to her.”

“But I don’t understand.” I frowned. “He can’t just give you money like that.”

“Is that why he came to see you?”
Lexi whispered.

“No. That wasn’t the main reason he came to see me. But he inquired about your adoption process. He knows I have a close relationship with the orphanage and the powers that be. He wanted to know what the likelihood was of you being able to adopt Shelby.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told him what I told you. You were a good candidate but you don’t have your own abode or a stable source of income.”

“And then he just gave you a huge chunk of money?” I frowned in disbelief.

“He asked me if I could create a trust for Shelby with some monies he would donate. He asked to name you as conservator and he said he would publicly support the adoption.”

“But how would that help?” Lexi looked as taken aback as I felt.

“They love him at the orphanage. He’s one of their success
stories. He got adopted at age six but he never forgot them. He has been volunteering there for years. In fact, when he made his first million, his first major donation was to them.”

“His first million?” Lexi frowned. “He has millions?”

I was just as surprised. “Luke was adopted?” I turned to Lexi and I saw she that she was frozen still with huge eyes.

“I never knew he was adopted.” She blinked and looked at me
, blankly. “He never told me he was adopted.”

“I’ve said too much.” David Raynor looked worried. “I can’t talk much longer. Both of you should know that Luke only has your best interests at heart.”

“What does he want?” I stare at the files on David’s table. “I don’t understand it. Why would he do this for me? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Luke has his reasons.” David stood up. “And now, I really need to get to some work.”

“Did Luke buy my mom’s house?” Lexi had tears in her eyes as she questioned the lawyer. “He bought my mom’s house didn’t he?”

The lawyer nodded
. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“You need to ask him dear.” David looked at both of us apologetically. “Maybe you both need to speak to Luke. He’s a good man. He looks after his family. He’s a good man.” And, just like that, Lexi and I are out of his office. We stood there staring at each other with shocked expressions on our faces.

“I guess I really don’t know Luke do I?” Lexi’s lips tremble
d as she played with her hair. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

“Because he loves you.”
I was hesitant as I talked, trying to find the right words to explain it to her and myself. “I think he loves you so much that he just wants you to be happy. And, no matter what, he wants you to be okay. He wants to make sure, as best as he can, that you are okay. What a man. He did this for you when he thought you were in love with me.”

“He shouldn’t have done it!
” she cried out.

“He did it because you have his heart. You really and truly have his heart.” And then I frowned. “I don’t understand why he would do this for me though. He doesn’t owe me anything.”

“Maybe he did it for Shelby.” We left the office and stood by the big oak tree, instead of getting directly into our cars. “He obviously loves her. And maybe, because you’re her brother, he saw it as the best way to make sure she is happy.”

“But he doesn’t know me.” I frown
ed. “I was an ass in high school. We weren’t friends and I can’t think he even likes me now, after what happened between you and me. So why would he trust me? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe because he knows what it’s like to be adopted? What it’s like to be given a forever family with people who love him?”

“He has a good family?” I question, wondering what his childhood had been like; wondering about the sort of parents it took to raise a man as good as him.

She nodded and smiled
. “They’re wonderful. They support him in everything he does and he does everything he can for them. I guess I understand now, why they seem to appreciate and love him more than life itself. They most probably feel blessed to have a son like him.”

“He’s a great guy.” And then I
laughed and she looked at me confused.

“What’s so funny?”

“How did you pick the two of us? He’s Mr. Perfect and I’m the exact opposite. I’ve got a shitty family, I’ve spent most of my life worrying about myself and—”

“
—Stop.” She put her finger to my lips. “I never want to hear you doubting yourself again, Bryce. The past is the past. We’ve all made mistakes. But as long as we recognize them and we move on and try to do better in our lives, it’s okay. No one’s perfect, Bryce. Not even Luke. Never put yourself down. You’re a good guy.”

“Do you really think so?” I look
ed to the sky. “Sometimes I wonder if I will ever truly be a man my mom can truly be proud of. Sometimes I don’t know if I am coming or going.”

“We all feel that way
, Bryce.” She smiled softly. “I think that’s a part of life.”

“You mean this feeling will never go away?”

“I don’t know. But it can’t be bad can it? To question and to never stop the journey to being a better person.”

“I guess not. I guess we’re growing up now huh
, Lexi?”

“It’s weird.”
She laughed. “But I think we are. I don’t see you as the hot quarterback anymore and myself as the invisible flower.”

“You were never invisible.” I stroke
d her cheek. “But I do take offense at no longer being considered the hot quarterback.”

“Oh you’re still hot. Just not in a ‘I hope he asks me to Prom’ way.”
She laughed and I took her hand and pulled her closer to me.

“I hope you never change
, Lexi. I want you to sing Disney songs at the top of you voice, I want you to write letters of hope and love to any and everyone you want to, I want you to laugh and dance and scream and shout. I want you to keep believing in your dreams.”

“I don’t know
, Bryce. Dreams aren’t always what they seem. Maybe I need to just come down to earth once and for all.”

“Lexi, if you didn’t dream we would never be here.”
My voice was husky. “And I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be functioning right now, Lexi.” I closed my eyes and I pictured my mom’s face. “I wouldn’t have made it Lexi.”

“Yes you would have.”

“No.” I shook my head. “No, not like this.”

“Are you going to ask Anna to date you?”
She grinned at me and I laughed at her eagerness.

“Now, that’s a slightly awkward question.” I laugh
ed and shrugged. “I don’t know.” I felt a spark of electricity run through me as I thought about Anna. “I like her a lot but I don’t know if this is the time to try and start a relationship. I need to focus on myself now.”

“Wow, look at us. Two strong
, single people.”

“What?” I frown
ed as she attempted a smile. “What about Luke?”

“I feel like I don’t even really know him.” Her voice
trailed off. “He’s so much more than I ever knew and I ache inside, Bryce. Why didn’t he tell me, oh, so many things?”

“But you didn’t tell him everything either
, Lexi, that’s not fair.”

“Life has a way of not being fair.”

“Don’t be hardheaded, Lexi. Don’t become bitter. Your best quality is your big heart.”

“Eh, I don’t know about that.”

“Trust me.”

“Okay.”
She rolled her eyes and I laughed.

“Dear Bryce, I know you don’t know me but I wanted you to know that I think you’re a wonderful human being. I know you may be hurting right now and I know
you may think that you have no one, but I want you to know that I’m someone who thinks a lot of you. I’m someone who cares and I just want you to know. That I pray for your safety every night. Stay safe, my dearest Bryce. Miss.” My voice trembled as I tried to remember her letter accurately and she looked at me with wide eyes.

“You memorized my letter?”

“Pretty much all of them.” I ran my hand through my hair, embarrassed. “It was quite easy really. I read them soo many times.”

“You did?”

“They meant the world to me Lexi.” I tried to explain how they had made me feel. “You reached me at the darkest point in my life. I didn’t know if I wanted to live, but your letters, your kind, beautiful letters, they saved me. I think that’s why I thought I loved you.”

“Words are powerful.” She nodded. “I understand.” She still had a sad look on her face and I sighed.

“Let’s go see Shelby. She’ll cheer you up. I promise.”

“I’m ready.”
She looked at me nervously. “I hope she likes me.”

“She’ll love you. Of that I’m sure.”

Chapter 11

Lexi

I was grinning like an idiot when I got home. Shelby was a beautiful and loving child who had embraced Bryce and I immediately. The doctor had stayed in the room as we told her the news, just to make sure she wasn’t overwhelmed, and I saw a few tears in his eyes as she had yelped with pleasure and given us a huge hug upon hearing
we were her family.

“You’re my brother and sister?” She had looked back and forth at us with amazement in her eyes.

“Yes Shelby.” Bryce had held her soo tenderly. I’d never seen him look that happy before. Never seen such a light in his eyes. “I’d like to adopt you as well, if you’d like that.”

She had nodded happily, clinging to his arm. I could tell that that had delighted Bryce. Here was someone who really
, truly needed him. And loved him for who he was. He had a chance to start over. To be the man he always wanted to be. To be a man he could be proud of.

I laughed as I got out of the car. Maybe it was just as well that Bryce and I hadn’t worked out. I didn’t want to be a candidate for the Jerry Springer show, raising my sister with her brother as his lover. That was just a bit too much, even for my lax sensibilities.

“Hey, penny for them?” I heard Luke’s voice before I saw him and I fell back into the grass as Bongo came jumping on me. “Bongo, sit. Bongo,” Luke commanded the dog, who ignored him as he licked my face. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I laughed as he pulled me up from the grass. “Naughty Bongo.”

“I think I need Anna to come help me train him,” he laughed and then groaned as he realized what he had said. “Sorry. I can find someone else.”

“No.” I shook my head. “It’s okay. I need to make amends with Anna
anyway.”

“You’ve forgiven her?” He looked at me in surprise.

“I’m not sure that forgiven is the right word.” I shook my head. “What she did is a hard thing to get over, but I know I haven’t been the perfect friend and I miss her. Sometimes a hurt is about what’s beneath the initial shock and pain. I think Anna was hurting a whole lot more than I was.”

“I think you’re
my perfect friend.” I felt Luke’s lips against mine and they felt so right, the perfect fit. I melted against him and I felt like I had come home when I felt his tongue slip into my mouth. I grasped his hair and pulled his face down so that I was kissing him harder. I didn’t want to ever leave this moment. It felt so perfect. His arms slid around my waist and he placed his hands into my back pockets. I giggled as he pinched my ass.