man, just like I know you are.” He bowed his head, a wry grin tilting one corner of his mouth. “So you know where all my resentment is coming from.”
“Gabby bitched at me about your blind fight scene,” Declan reminded him. “She was concerned for your safety, and it had nothing to do with me. That scene wasn’t even my suggestion, so when I agreed to it without consulting her first, she was really pissed off.”
“Why do you need to consult her? She’s not my mom.”
Tell him!
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Declan said quietly.
His son’s eyes narrowed before widening. “What?”
“Gabby didn’t lose her baby when she was mugged that day. Someone stole you from us.”
Theo stared at him blankly, growing pale before he turned away. His head dropped to his chest as his hand came up, probably hovering around his mouth. He faced Declan again. “Claudette?”
Declan nodded.
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
A mixture of anger and hurt flashed through the teenager’s face. “Gabby knew all along?”
“Only for the last two weeks.”
Theo looked away again as if sorting through his memories of that time frame and then started shaking his head. “I don’t know. I’ve known her as my sister for far too long, I can’t picture her as my mom. Wait! Did Dad know about this?”
“Not until after he divorced Claudette. Look, it’s complicated, and we’ve spent way more time away from your sister’s room than I’m comfortable with. We’ll explain to you what we know, but not now. I need to focus on Gabby, all right?”
“Mom—”
“What?”
“You said sister.” He shrugged. “She’s my mom.”
“Let’s not shock her with this, okay?” Apprehension rose inside him as they made their way back up the steps. Gabby was gonna freak at him for breaking the news to Theo without her, but maybe not. Declan did the hard work, dammit. Besides, Theo appeared to absorb the news well.
So it was with much surprise when they got out of the stairwell that Theo made a beeline for the nurses’ station.
“I need Claudette Dumont’s room number,” Theo said.
The nurse registered recognition and stuttered. “Mr. Cole … I, I’m afraid she’s not allowed to have visitors even from family.”
“Who do I need to—”
“Come on, kid, leave the nurse alone.” Declan wrapped an arm around Theo’s neck, pulling him close and leading him away.
His son jerked himself out of his hold and glared. “You think I’m just gonna let her get away with this?” Eyes, so like Declan’s, filled with tears. “She stole my life. My life with you and Gabby.”
“You didn’t turn out so bad.”
“Fuck you!” The boy stalked away, already attracting attention. This wasn’t what he wanted to deal with. Teen drama in a hospital full of people, even if his son did have every reason to be angry.
Declan kept pace with Theo, until they were in a less busy area of the hallway. He grabbed his son’s arm and immediately put his hands on his face, locking their eyes together.
“Look at me.” No more kid gloves. Theo was gonna listen. “What the fuck did I say? Gabby needs to be our focus? Can you give me that, Theo?” He squeezed his jaw to make a point.
The teenager was breathing hard, face ruddy with his fury, but Theo not struggling this time meant Declan was getting through to him.
He dropped his hands from Theo’s face and the teenager’s head dipped briefly.
“You’re not going to throw tantrums when we get to Gabby’s room,” he warned.
“I don’t throw tantrums.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
The teenager’s mouth tightened, before emotion made it tremble, and then his face crumpled. The heart of a parent couldn’t deny that his son was in agony and tough love went out the window.
“C’mere.” He clasped the back of Theo’s head and drew him into a tight hug. The teenager’s arms were loose at his sides and Declan held his breath, ready for rejection. Then, in slow degrees, he clasped Declan around his waist, before convulsively returning the hug.
Father and son stood in the hallway, oblivious to people surreptitiously snapping pictures of the teenage star. They would deal with the fallout later.
At that moment, all that mattered was family.
It was dark and she walked on a black plane of shallow water. In the distance was a speck of white. As Gabby got closer, she realized it was a claw foot bathtub gilded in gold. Claudette sat in it, covered in bubbles, her golden curls piled up high on her head exposing her swan-like neck. And with much-affected grace, Claudette lathered her arms and