Stoneface

Chapter Seventeen

Loaded to the gills with antinausea and antianxiety meds, Gwen sat, terrified, between Jack and Tim in the boarding area at the departure gate at the Rapid City airport. Liam watched from the other side of the aisle with amusement on his face.

“Don’t hurl on me, sis. Please?”

“Shut up,” she growled.

He twirled his cane around. Specifically opting not to bring his wheelchair was a calculated risk Gwen hadn’t interfered with. She felt a little guilty not trying to persuade him to bring it, but knew he was an adult who could make his own decisions.

He was ready to make his final stand against their parents.

In the past month, one thing had become perfectly clear to her—that Jack and Tim were her home, and the thought of living anywhere else filled her with dread. She could handle brutal winters with two hunky, loving men to warm her bed every night.

True to his word, Jack had made every effort to open up. Sometimes either she or Tim had to prod him to not hold in his feelings, but his every action spoke of his dedication to proving his love for her.

They had Pete over for dinner several more times, the two men mending fences and at least regaining their friendship. Pete also helped Ed with Helen, taking some of the burden off Jack and Ed and giving them much needed respite. Tim gave him a job at the store at Jack’s suggestion. Tim and Liam usually rode to work together, while Gwen enjoyed having the house to herself during the day for writing.

When the gate agent called their flight, Liam stood. “Don’t let her get away,” he snarked. “She’ll bolt if you give her half a chance.”

“I think even you could outrun her, as loaded as she is right now,” Tim joked.

Gwen didn’t think the meds were helping her at all. She still felt terrified, although she didn’t feel an urge to yak all over her men. She settled into her seat on the plane between Tim and Jack, with Liam in the row behind them. She fastened her seatbelt, laid her head back, and closed her eyes.

Minutes later, Jack gently nudged her. “You going to fly to Florida, or are you coming with us?”

She groggily lifted her head and realized people were getting off the plane. Tim had already stood and gathered both his and her carry-ons. “What?”

“We’re here. Time to change flights.”

“Huh?” She’d only closed her eyes for a minute. “Quit screwing with me.”

Liam reached over the seat and tapped her on the shoulder. “Better living through chemistry, sis. Get your butt moving.”

Emboldened by this development, she didn’t feel nearly as scared as they boarded the connecting flight. Ruthie, who had passed her driver’s course with flying colors, even if her budding relationship with the instructor flunked, would pick them up upon their post-midnight arrival. Gwen dozed off on that flight, too, and felt remarkably calm when they emerged from the terminal and found Ruthie waiting on them with her new SUV.

She squealed and threw her arms around Gwen, then Liam. “So you going to introduce me, girlfriend?”

Gwen blushed as she did. She’d overcome most of her initial discomfort after Tim’s disclosure to his staff that Gwen was now officially part of the family.

They still hadn’t told her parents…or Amy.

Jack and Tim loaded their luggage while Liam stiffly climbed into the front passenger seat. When he caught Gwen’s worried look, he smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Ruthie had been sworn to secrecy about their plans and drove them back to what would soon officially be her house, once the sale paperwork went through. Tomorrow they would pick up a large rental truck and a rental car and packing supplies.

All their parents knew was Liam and Gwen were visiting for a few days.

No reason to bring trouble earlier than necessary, she’d thought.

Rather than evict Ruthie from what was now her bed, Liam opted to sleep on the comfortable couch so Gwen and the men could have his former room.

Exhausted, they fell asleep nearly immediately. When Gwen awoke the next morning, she felt a brief moment of disorientation before she remembered where she was. Home.

No, not home anymore. Home was in Rapid City, with her men and Liam.

The two men didn’t awaken when she carefully extricated herself from between them. She made her way out to the kitchen to start coffee, only to find Liam had beat her to it.

She wrapped her arms around his waist as he stood at the counter and waited for the coffee to brew. “How you feeling, bro?”

“A little stiff, but not bad.” He turned in her arms, smiling. “Going to stand tall and strong when we go over there for dinner tonight.”

She groaned. He’d talked to their mother and handled the arrangements for them going over for dinner that evening. “Do we have to?”

He kissed the top of her head. “Yep. We’re done hiding, remember? What, they going to disown us or something?” He laughed. “The guys wubs us. They especially wubs you. We’ve got a home.”

“I was just thinking that. This isn’t home anymore. Being here doesn’t feel like being home.” She pondered that. “I didn’t expect that.” She’d spent so long convincing herself she’d made a horrible mistake falling in love with Tim and Jack, and that she’d never see them again, that to have her future laid out so brightly before her felt as surreal as her first night in their bed.

“But it makes things easier, doesn’t it?”

She nodded. “Sure does.”

Ruthie walked in, looking barely awake. “God bless you, my son. You got the coffee started.”

While Gwen and Ruthie chatted via webcam several times a week, the dramatic changes in her friend still startled Gwen, in a good way. Ruthie looked healthier and more vital than she had in years. She acted more confident, walked taller, much the way she’d been before the attack that ruined her life. She even had a telecommuting customer service job where she could work from home.

“So how are you doing?” Gwen asked her. “Really?”

Ruthie laughed and pointed to her counter. “How many pill bottles you see?”

Gwen counted only two. “What are those for?”

“One’s for cholesterol, the other’s a very mild antianxiety med, and they’ve stepped my dosage down on that one. Doctor says I might be able to start tapering off it completely next month.”

Gwen squealed and hugged her. “I’m so proud of you!”

“I’m proud of me, too.” She shrugged. “I figured if you and Liam could stand up to your parents, then it was time for me to try to take my life back, too. I got tired of being scared of everything. I like having a life again.”

By noon, the men had picked up the moving truck, rental car, and cleared out Liam’s storage unit, while Gwen and Ruthie organized the packing of Gwen’s house. Gwen was leaving most of the furniture for Ruthie, but she had three rooms full of floor-to-ceiling bookcases she needed to empty and pack the contents.

By four that afternoon, they were halfway done with the house and Liam declared them finished for the day. “We need to get ready for dinner.”

Gwen’s stomach tensed as the reminder threatened to do what the flight from Rapid City hadn’t. “Can’t you go? I’ll stay here with Ruthie.”

Tim pulled her to him. “We’ll be there with you, honey. Strength in numbers.”

Jack jumped into the shower with her. He wore a playful smirk. “Think of it this way, either they’ll accept the situation, or they won’t. Either way it doesn’t matter, because it doesn’t change a thing between us. Right?”

“Right.” She let him gather her into his arms. “I just want peace.”

“Honey, honestly? When have you and your brother ever had peace with your parents?”

She sighed. “Never.”

“Right. That’s what Liam told me, too.” They heard the bathroom door open. “Tim, come here.”

He stuck his head into the shower. “What?”

“You brought it, right?”

Tim frowned briefly before he apparently understood what Jack meant by his question. “Yeah?”

“Brought what?” Gwen asked.

Jack smiled at her, but spoke to Tim. “Go get it.”

“Now?” Tim asked.

“Yeah, now.”

“Now what?” Gwen looked from Jack to Tim.

Tim left and reappeared a moment later. Jack and Gwen had finished and were drying off. Tim and Jack, both stark naked, dropped to one knee before her and each took a hand. “Will you marry us?” Jack asked as Tim slipped the ring on her finger.

She couldn’t speak. In shock, she just stared at the ring.

Tim said, “Technically you’re marrying me, so I wanted him to actually pop the question.”

The huge solitaire amazed her. “How did you decide who it would be?” she finally managed to ask. Part of her realized that probably wasn’t the most practical or romantic question, but it was the only thing she could think of.

Jack and Tim stood. Jack kissed her first. “I want it to be him because of the business. Makes life easier. We’ll both wear rings and take the vows though. So, are you going to keep us hanging?”

“Yes!”

Tim smiled. “Yes, you’re going to keep us hanging?”

She lightly smacked him on the shoulder. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Jack rode in the backseat with Gwen while Tim drove. Liam rode shotgun and gave Tim directions. Gwen felt her anxiety ratchet up close to vomit-inducing levels.

“I really don’t want to be here, guys.” Gwen said this from the safety of the rental car’s backseat as she stared at her parents’ house.

“Remember what you told me before I had my heart-to-heart with Pete?” Jack asked.

“That was different.”

“This is easier,” Jack insisted.

“Says you,” she groused. “You don’t know our parents.” She glared at the house.

Liam left his cane in the car, and after finally coaxing Gwen out of the backseat, the men flanked her and gently guided her to the front door.

Their mother frowned when she noticed Liam wasn’t using his cane, but hugged him without mentioning it. “You look so good!”

“I feel good, Mom.” Gwen huddled close to Jack and Tim as Liam introduced the men. “Mom, this is Detective Jackson Kelly, and Timothy Ellis.”

Gwen prayed Liam didn’t opt for a repeat performance tactic of lobbing his news bombs during dinner like the last time they’d eaten with their parents.

Their father stood aloof in the living room doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. “You didn’t have to bring a cop to make sure I wouldn’t hold you two hostage,” he sniped.

Gwen found her backbone and started to reply, but their mom beat her to it. “David, you shut your mouth right now. What did I tell you? Behave, or go to bed.” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at her husband.

Both Liam and Gwen gasped. “Mom!”

She turned to them and smiled. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with Ruthie,” she whispered, softly enough their father couldn’t hear. “She’s rubbed off on me.”

Gwen couldn’t help but laugh. Their father glared, but kept further comments to himself and joined them at the table. Overall, dinner went better than she expected despite her father’s dark and moody silence. Tim, Jack, and Liam kept up a lively conversation with their mother. Gwen kept sneaking looks at her father and knew from the dark glare in his eyes that he would explode upon finding out the news.

Hell, even if I tell him I’m joining a convent and turning into a nun, he’d probably explode.

She realized she was stroking the engagement ring with her thumb. It felt strange and yet right to once again have a ring on that hand.

Jack and Tim both jumped up to help clear the table before dessert. They insisted on Liam and Gwen staying at the table with their father.

Liam shot her a secret wink while their father wasn’t looking.

Oh, crap.

“So, Dad, how’s work been?” Liam asked.

“It’s been like work,” he grunted. “Unlike some people, I don’t get to go driving all over the country on vacation on my brother’s dime.”

Gwen felt her stomach heave. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as she heard a sudden silence descend in the kitchen.

Liam, however, laughed. “Aw, you’ve got that backward, Dad. More like I get to loaf on Gee’s dime while she chauffeurs me all over the place.”

She dared a look. Liam wore a pleasant grin while their father scowled at him. “I think it’s stupid,” their father barked. “You need to be near your doctors, and she needs to get a real job.”

She saw the tendons tighten in Liam’s neck, but his grin never faltered. “She has a real job. One of her last books hit number three hundred on Amazon Kindle, and it spent a couple of weeks at number one on her publisher’s website.”

“Couldn’t have been good if it wasn’t higher on Kindle.” For the first time in her life, Gwen wanted to slap the smirk off her father’s face.

Liam was far from done. “No, you’ve got that wrong. There’s over several hundred thousand books on Kindle, Dad. Anything that breaks the top ten thousand, that’s good. Anything that breaks the top thousand, especially from an independent publisher, is amazing. Anything in the top five hundred…” He laughed. “Just goes to show you how much you don’t know about your most successful child, but why would you care?” He examined a hangnail and blithely said, “Not like she had an affair with a married man and got knocked up out of wedlock—”

Her father slapped the table as he roared with indignation. He bolted out of his chair. Gwen forgot about her fear as she jumped to her feet, sure that he was about to go after Liam. Their father didn’t move, however, just stood there and glared at her.

Her brother remained seated and nonplussed. “What’s wrong, Dad? The truth hurts, doesn’t it? The daughter you refuse to give her due is the child you should be the most proud of.”

“Li, it’s okay,” she said, trying to defuse the situation, although how that would be possible in this current plane of reality, she wasn’t sure. “I’m used to it.”

“Well, I’m not,” Liam insisted. “You deserve recognition for your talents, even if he doesn’t agree with how you make your living.” He finally glared at his father as he slowly stood. “And by the way, I’ve got a hot news flash for you. We’re moving, permanently, out to South Dakota. Ruthie’s buying Gee’s house.” He reached a hand out for her and she slowly walked to stand next to him. “Jack, Tim, can you come in here?”

Even though she couldn’t see her, Gwen knew her mom had been huddled by the kitchen doorway. She hustled in, ahead of the men, and took up a position behind her and Liam. Jack and Tim followed and stood behind Gwen.

“Do I get the honors,” Liam asked Gwen, “or did one of you want to do it?”

Jack laughed. “I think you’ve done enough, but thank you.” He rested one hand on Gwen’s shoulder and she fought the temptation to lean backward into him. “Mr. Oxford, I have a feeling you’re not going to like this news, but let’s get it out in the open. Tim and I are marrying your daughter.”

Gwen didn’t like the sudden crimson hue in her father’s face. “What?” he finally whispered. Just because she thought he was an overbearing jerk sometimes didn’t mean she didn’t love him or wanted him to keel over from a stroke.

Tim rested a hand on her other shoulder. “Us. Her. Hitched.” He gently poked her. “Show him the ring, sweetie.”

She held up her hand and her mother gasped. Gwen wasn’t ready for it when her mom pushed her way through the men and hugged her. “Oh, congratulations, honey!”

Gwen knew the worst was yet to come, and her father didn’t disappoint. “What do you mean you and Tim are marrying Gwen? That’s impossible!”

Jack took over. “Not really. Tim’s legally marrying her, but all three of us are changing our names, hyphenating them.” He looked at Tim and the love in his expression nearly made Gwen cry right then and there. “We love each other, and we love Gwen. We’re only complete when the three of us are together.” He turned back to her father. “No, it’s not traditional, but it’s not really your business what we do in the privacy of our bedroom.”

Her father’s mouth opened and closed a few times without any sound coming out. The crimson shade deepened to nearly purple. Then he turned without a word and stomped out of the living room. They heard him go upstairs and slam the bedroom door.

“Well, that was fun,” Liam quipped.

Their mom still looked a little shocked, but she had tears in her eyes. “Are you happy?” she asked.

Gwen nodded. “Very. I’m sorry it’s not normal and you can’t brag about us at church, but I love them and they love me.”

Her mom looked at Tim and Jack and waggled her finger at them. “You promise to take care of my baby girl?”

The men smiled and nodded. “Yes, ma’am,” Tim said. “I promise we’ll take good care of her.” Jack nodded, too.

Her mother hugged the men, then Liam. “You’re going to stay out there too, aren’t you?” she sadly said.

He nodded. “Yes, Mom. I’m sorry, but I’m happy out there.”

“Can I come visit you all out there?” she softly asked.

“Of course,” Jack said. “You’re welcome any time.” He cleared his throat. “You and your husband.”

She sat heavily and waved her hand at the doorway in a dismissive gesture. “Him? Hah! That’s a laugh. I doubt I’ll get him to speak Gwen’s name for a while. He’s still upset with Amy and barely speaks to her. I don’t even tell him when I go to spend time with her and…Bob.” She stumbled over the last word as she looked at Gwen.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Gwen assured her. “I know you love her. I don’t hold that against you.”

“I don’t tell Ruthie anything about them unless she asks. I feel bad about what happened, but in a way maybe it was for the best, you know? I guess that sounds sort of sappy, but look how much better Ruthie is now without Bob. She’s working and driving and dating and has a life. I’m not excusing what Bob and Amy did, and I’m not saying they were right. But it all worked out.”

She lowered her voice even more. “And Chesley is so adorable. She’s a beautiful baby. They’re happy together. So that’s okay, right?”

“No comment,” Gwen said.

Her mom looked sad. “If Ruthie can forgive them, sweetie, why can’t you?”

“Not my job to forgive them, Mom.” She tipped her chin toward the doorway their father had stormed through. “At least I’m not going off on them like he is.”

“Your father is a man of his time and upbringing. I doubt he’s going to ever change.”

“You’ve changed.”

She sadly smiled. “Unfortunately, I changed when I met your father. I didn’t stand my ground when I should have. This is more like who I used to be. I love your father most of the time, but I refuse to isolate myself from my children any longer. I’ve wasted too many years trying to placate the man. He is who he is, but I’m done letting him define my relationship with you kids.”

After dessert and their father not making another appearance, they returned to Gwen’s house. Ruthie was saying good night to her date in the front yard when they pulled in.

Ruthie’s face lit up with a huge smile as she introduced everyone. “This is Charlie.”

Gwen couldn’t help but notice Ruthie was not only smiling in a way Gwen hadn’t seen her smile in years, but she looked several years younger. “Nice to meet you,” Gwen said.

After he left and Ruthie joined them inside, she laughed. “Sorry, he called last minute after you all had left and we grabbed a quick dinner.”

“He seems very nice,” Gwen said.

“Want me to check him out for you?” Jack protectively offered. Gwen had noticed that after learning about Ruthie’s past, Jack seemed very…well, big brotherish toward her. Not unlike Liam toward Gwen.

Tim laughed and smacked him on the shoulder. “Down, boy. Not every man is a serial killer.”

“Yeah, and how does she know who he is?” Jack shot back. “Never hurts to check.”

Everyone stared at him before they burst out laughing.

Ruthie hugged him. “That’s very sweet, but he’s the brother of a friend of mine. He’s not a serial killer that I’m aware of.”

“Well,” mumbled Jack, “if you change your mind, I’ll do it.”

Gwen smiled. How very different he was from that horrible afternoon in their kitchen when they fought and she left. Now knowing what she knew about him, she understood why he’d pushed her away. And perhaps it was for the better, because in the intervening months while she and Liam were on the road and away from their parents, she was able to learn more about herself, do a lot of thinking.

Able to work on trying to control her temper.

Ruthie pulled her aside later before they all went to bed. “I want to talk to you about something.” She led Gwen to the kitchen, where they had a little privacy. “I’ve invited Bob and Amy over for dinner tomorrow night.”

Gwen nearly choked. “What?”

Ruthie clung to Gwen’s hands and wouldn’t let her pull away. “Please, listen to me. Yes, I’m mad at Bob, but believe me, I’ve gotten my pound of flesh out of him. He hurt me, very badly. But you and Amy and Liam used to be close. You’ve never even seen the baby. She deserves to have a relationship with her Aunt Gwen and Uncle Liam. Don’t punish her for who her parents are.”

Gwen could barely speak through her shock. “How can you forgive them for what they did? Forgive Bob after he saw what you went through?”

Ruthie shrugged. “I don’t absolve him of what he did. I do have a lot of resentment. The truth is, I know he feels guilty. He’s gone above and beyond what he had to, legally, to take care of me. He’s helping me buy this house. He’s still paying me alimony. He’s paying my health insurance.” She took a deep breath. “Does it hurt? Yes. But when I look back even before he started cheating on me with Amy, I see things that were really wrong. He was there for me when it counted the most.”

“He cheated on you!”

“I had a choice to make. You saw me. I could have stayed hostage to what happened to me, which was letting those assholes win, or I could take my life back. Am I where I wish I was? No. I wish Bob hadn’t cheated on me and that I was still married. However, I am happier now, overall, than I have been in several years. I see a bright future instead of my depression. I’m taking my life back.” She grinned evilly. “And believe me, I’m not going to hesitate to lay a guilt trip on Bob any chance I can and make him keep paying for quite a while. He can afford it.”

Gwen finally laughed and they hugged. “Okay,” she softly said. “I’ll play nice. But only because it’s you asking me to.”

“Thank you, Gee,” she said. “It’s time you quit letting what Dickweed did to you color the rest of your world, too. You don’t have to like your sister or Bob, or what they did. That baby should know her family. Bob’s parents are dead and he was an only child. Your dad refuses to speak to them. So it’s just you and Liam and your mom. Give her a family. Let her know she’s loved.”

Gwen spent that night and most of the next morning packing up loose odds and ends, helping Ruthie clean the house and unpack her things, and catching up with e-mail. Their mother came over late in the afternoon.

For once, Gwen was glad to see her.

She gave Gwen a big hug. “Thank you for doing this.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not happy about it,” she grumbled.

Her mom smiled. “I know. That’s why it means even more to me that you are.”

Charlie came over later, and Gwen again had a chance to see how happy Ruthie looked. Bob and Amy showed up right on time. Both of them looked uncomfortable, but their mom swooped in to pick baby Chesley up from her carrier seat. “There’s my little peanut!”

Gwen had to admit her mom also looked happier than she’d ever seen her. She walked over with the baby in her arms. Chesley had blue eyes, like Liam, and curly brown hair.

“Want to hold her?” her mom asked.

She hesitated, then held her arms out. The baby smiled and reached for Gwen. Liam walked over and joined them. “Hey, kiddo.”

Ruthie finally realized Bob and Amy were just standing there, looking even more uncomfortable. “Come on in and sit down, you two.”

“Thanks,” Bob quietly said.

Gwen glared at them before turning her back on them. She walked to one of the back windows, which overlooked the yard. Tim and Jack moved to flank her, each with a hand on her shoulder.

“She’s a cutie,” Jack said.

Gwen nodded.

Her mom walked over. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Are you going to ignore them all night,” she quietly said, “or are you going to talk to them?”

“I don’t suppose you’ll let me ignore them.”

Tim rested his chin on her shoulder. “It’s okay, babe. Just fake it until you make it.”

She sighed and finally returned to the living room, where Amy and Bob were talking with Liam, Charlie, and Ruthie. “She’s adorable,” Gwen said as she handed the baby back to Amy.

Amy gave her a hesitant smile. “Thank you.”

And that was the start of a tentative, but passable conversation for the rest of the evening. When it was time for Bob and Amy to go, Gwen even walked to the door with them and hugged Amy.

“I’m sorry, Gee,” Amy whispered in her ear. “I miss you guys so much, and I know I deserve it, but I’m really sorry. I never meant to push you two away. I love you. I hope you and your guys and Liam are happy in Rapid City.”

Gwen fought back her tears. She might cry sooner rather than later, but she didn’t want it to be in front of Amy and Bob. “Thanks. I appreciate it. You…can e-mail me and call me, if you want.”

Amy hugged her harder. “Thank you.”

Their mother prepared to leave a few minutes later. “What did Dad say about you coming here tonight?” Liam asked.

She smiled. “He didn’t. I just told him I was going out, and that there were leftovers in the fridge.”

“Ooh, Mom’s kicking butt,” he teased.

“No, not kicking butt, just standing up for myself.” She smiled at Ruthie and Charlie. “And standing up for my kids, and for what’s right.”

That night, Gwen curled up between her men and had her good cry.

The next morning, their mother came by to fix them all breakfast and say good-bye to everyone. Gwen couldn’t believe their mom had reacted as well as she had to all the recent events.

Gwen hugged her long and hard as she stood beside the rental truck. Jack and Tim would take turns driving it and the rental car. Liam would ride shotgun in the car so they could stop whenever he needed.

“Thanks, Mom,” she tearfully said. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too, sweetie.” She stepped back and offered her a smile. “You and Liam have fun and take care of each other. I’m so proud of you.”

“Proud?”

“Yes. You’re following your dream.” She looked at Tim and Jack. “And no, I never imagined two men in your life. At least that doubles my chances for more grandchildren, right?”

Gwen felt herself blushing as Tim and Jack laughed.

“Absolutely,” Jack said.

As they rolled toward the interstate, Gwen took a final look at once-familiar landmarks. Already things had changed a little since the last time she’d been “home.” Stores had closed and been replaced by other stores. There were new businesses and houses, and construction projects on roads. It was the same, but different.

“You okay, sweetie?” Jack asked. He would take the first shift.

“Yeah.”

“Any regrets?”

“Yeah.” He looked at her, startled, and she smiled. “I regret I didn’t kick your ass that day in Rapid City. We’d already be moved out there if I had.”

He laughed, relieved. “I wish you’d kicked my ass, too, sweetheart. Believe me.”