Page 58 of Justified Lies

The plane bounced down on the runway, jarring Gabe from the flashback. His stomach rolled, more from the memory than from the turbulent landing. Leaning back against the headrest, he closed his eyes and willed his nerves to calm.Just get this over with.

As he exited onto the freezing cold jetway, he could see the snow had already begun falling on the prairies. Thankful for the one billionth time that he had left this place, he glanced down at his watch. There was plenty of time to pick up his rental car and make the two-hour drive north to meet with Megan.

In fact, he might even have enough time to drive past his childhood home. There weren’t a whole lot of good memories to muster up from that house, but still. There was something about the place you came from. It fueled him, reminded him that one day when Jacob came back to his place, he wanted it to be full of love and happiness.

Gabe’s thoughts went directly to Lianna. It seemed these days he couldn’t picture a future without her in it. That couldn’t happen until he got this mess sorted. Gabe prayed that when he returned to Vancouver, he would have both custody of Jacob and the courage to move on from what had transpired here. He would also like the guarantee of Lianna in his life, but he knew that was just pushing it.

Gabe had finally answered Megan’s call two nights ago and she had requested this meeting. Saying only that it concerned Jacob, she was unwilling to discuss anything further until he appeared in person. While skeptical, Gabe was very eager to bring this to a head.

When he found out that his parents would also be attending, the eagerness quickly turned to apprehension. He could be walking into a trap, some sort of manipulation game Megan liked to play. Best he could guess is that she would file for joint custody of Jacob. Then Gabe’s only option to remain in the boy’s life would be moving back home. Here.Hell.

Gabe had spent the better part of yesterday speaking with a family attorney and brainstorming every viable option he had. That was what led him here. He needed to find out the facts and, most importantly, Megan’s demands. The new life he was so desperate to begin couldn’t start until he ended the old one. He was even more desperate to leave that behind.

After securing a rental car that was too small for him to fit comfortably, he hit a drive thru and settled in for the trip. Gabe continued to think of everything he would say to Megan, every retort he would have to her arguments. His thoughts only paused when he took the turn off, stopping at his former home. While seeing the brick rancher didn’t make him feel warm and fuzzy, it also didn’t make him as sad as it once did. Now Gabe had a real home. One he had made with Jacob and would do anything to keep it.

With that in mind, he completed the drive and now sat looking at Megan’s halfway house. Expecting something more commercial looking, Gabe was surprised to find the building in front of him was a proper home. It was a large, two-story Victorian, with a wrap-around porch and probably a cheery garden come spring. The house was in the middle of a residential neighborhood, complete with speed bumps and “children at play,” warning signs. There were no labels or markings that differentiated it from the other homes on the street.

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed his coat from the passenger seat. Checking his pockets for his cell and car keys, he headed up the walkway onto the porch. After knocking twice, a woman who could play Mrs. Claus at the mall during Christmas time answered. Clearing his throat, he introduced himself and she smiled warmly at him.

“Please come right in. They’re waiting in the parlor,” she said sweetly.

Gabe wasn’t sure what a parlor was, but he nodded as he entered the house and knocked snow from his boots. The plump, white-haired woman led him down a hall and into a room smaller than a traditional living room but set up much the same. There were two large windows, each with a wingback chair in front. A three-seater couch sat to his left, a coffee table in the middle, and a large armoire to his right. Most of the furniture was occupied. His parents sat untouching on the couch, while Megan claimed one of the wingbacks. The first to notice his presence, his mom jumped up.

“My baby!” she said, then all but ran to him.

“Hi, Mom.”

Despite his reservations, it felt good to hold his mother. As he released her, he was met with a quick hug and forceful back pat from his father. Then Megan stood and hesitantly smiled at him. She walked over and gave him a hug as well. Itwas brief and awkward, and she refused to make eye contact with him.

Once everyone had stepped back, he had a chance to really take them in. Gazing first towards his mom, Beth, she looked the best he had seen her in years. He dared to wonder if she might be telling the truth about her sobriety.

The dark hair that hung loosely down her back was streaked with silver, but it was glossy and healthy. Her round face indicated she had put on some much-needed weight. Gabe’s father Rick, in turn looked older, his hair completely gray. The man still had the same warm smile, though, the same sparkle in his brown eyes that everyone told Gabe he had inherited.

Turning, he took in Megan last. She also looked … amazing. Gabe wasn’t sure he had ever seen her appear so vibrant and full of life. Long, dark hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, while her skin was clear and glowing. There was no trace of the dull, stricken look she once wore. Megan looked beautiful, but as she stood there shifting her weight, she also appeared very anxious.

Gabe’s own nerves kicked up a notch. If she was doing this well, of course she wanted her son back. Megan broke the silence, interrupting his frenzied thoughts.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

Gabe forced a smiled he didn’t feel. “You know I would do anything for my little sister.”

Including take the child you got knocked up with but didn’t want. The child you were so strung out when you got pregnant with, you couldn’t pin down his sperm doner. The ‘burden’ our parents were too wrapped up in their own drama to care for.

Gabe didn’t have to say those words, but he would bet everyone in the room was thinking it. Remorse flashed in Megan’s eyes before she looked away.

“I know, I’m sorry. Can you sit? That will make this easier.”

Gabe obliged her, sitting in the open wingback.

“Do you want some water? Or something to eat?” Megan stalled.

“No, I honestly just want to talk about why we’re here, Meg.”

Gabe tried to sound composed, like the older wiser sibling, but inside he was a mess. Inconspicuously, he placed his hands under his thighs, trying to hide their shaking. Then he took a deep breath, hoping it sounded like impatience instead of fear.

“How is Jacob?” Megan asked.

Gabe swallowed, and so it began. He wasn’t sure what she knew of her son. He sent his parents pictures regularly and updated them on the boy, but never Megan. It was agreed upon when Gabe took custody that she would have no contact while incarcerated. It would be too difficult for Jacob with Megan’s manipulation and drug induced outbursts. Gabe leaned forward and looked at the spot between his boots.

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