Page 37 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
“I do,” Barb said, and Liam could see her frown and nod. “Yes, Charlotte,she’s three months.”
“That’s a lovely name,” Zac told her. “My parents are going to love Oscar and Charlotte. They have been dying for grandchildren, and they know I don’t have any plans to have kids, nor does Courtney.”
Liam’s jaw clenched. “That’s enough!” he barked, seeing the look on Barb’s face and knowing that what his brother was saying was hurting her. “Barb doesn’t need to know about your and Courtney’s plans.”
“Of course,” Zac said, nodding and looking at Barb apologetically. “Barb, I have to tell you something. Ten years ago, Trevor called me to help him. He’d intercepted a disk your uncle sent to you.”
“Trevor opened my mail?” Barb's eyes widened with shock, and Liam didn’t think she was fully hearing what was being said. “Why would Trevor take a disk from my uncle?”
“Because it had information on it about the people from your mother’s family, the Pooks, you know the mob side of your family?” Zac said. “And the people in powerthat are helping them. But the day we met, your wedding day, someone had followed us, and Trevor was shot.”
“But he didn’t die!” Barb said, and Liam could see her eyes looked a little glazed as she took all the information in. “You and my good uncle moved him to Hawaii, where he got married and has a horde of kids—probably three.” She gave a soft laugh. “He always wanted to have three kids.”
Zac looked at Barb, confused, and before Liam could stop him, blurted out. “No, Trevor always wanted kids, but he could never have them.”
“What?” Barb’s brows drew together. “Yes, he could,” she corrected him. “Oscar’s his child. He…” She swallowed, her cheeks turning red. “He uh… used a clinic to keep some of hisspecimens. We once had a conversation about kids. We knew we were both in danger. Me, for as long as my uncle and his mob were free. Trevor because his job put him in danger every day.”
“Barb…” Liam said, trying to stop her from continuing as the alarm bells were ringing loudly in his head. “You don’t needto—”
Barb cut him off, continuing, “I had some of my eggs frozen, and he also got some specimens frozen. We made a pact that if anything happened to either of us, we’d use them to have a child together, and that’s how I had Oscar.”
“Really?” Zac frowned. “Are you sure it was Trevor’s sample?”
“Yes,” Barb said, nodding.
“That's…” Zac started, and Liam cut him off.
“That’s a great story, Barb,” Liam interrupted. “And you havenothingto feel embarrassed about. You have a beautiful son, and I’m sure Trevor would be proud to know him.”
Zac exchanged a look with Liam. “Of course.” He nodded and changed the subject from Oscar. “Barb, do you know where Trevor would’ve hidden the disk? Do you knowwhat bubbles is?”
Barb looked at Zac, her eyes wide, and she glanced down the hall, but as she did, Charlotte started fussing.
“Excuse me,” Barb said and got up. “I have to get my daughter.”
Barb left the room, and Liam watched her walk into her bedroom.
“Don’t say things like that to Barb,” Liam hissed at his brother. “You were the one that took Trevor from her, and the only comfort Barb has is Oscar—their son.”
“Trevor had to go into hiding,” Zac hissed back. “When Barb’s parents died, Trevor came to me for help to make Barb safe. I was the one who had her name changed and got her the job at the Holland Corporation.” His eyes narrowed. “That’s when Trevor and I set up our form of witsec with a man who was his mentor who used to be FBI and then went to work for the U.S. Marshal’s office.”
“You can’t just go relocating people!” Liam looked at his brother in disbelief.
“Nearly every witness that ever went up against the Pooks ended up dead,” Zac told his brother. “Trevor, myself, and Barb’s Uncle Brent Jackson suspected that someone quite high up in the FBI and possibly the Attorney General's office was working for the Pooks. So, with the help of the U.S. Marshal, we started our program.” He looked at Liam with raised eyebrows. “How do you think we were able to convict Niall Pook this time?”
“Witnesses from your program!” Liam guessed, and he had to admit to being impressed by what his brother, Trevor, and Barb’s uncle had accomplished. “But why is Trevor still in hiding?”
“He’s happy where he is, and well, he knows Barb has her own life now.” His eyes met his brothers. “A life thatwe, or at least I, have once again ripped apart.” He patted Liam on the back. “But hopefully, this time, once we’ve found that disk and eliminated the threat to our family, Trevor, and Brent…” He glanced at the baby monitor where Barb was changing Charlotte. “And Barb and her kids, I can fix it.”
“No,” Liam said, shaking his head. “Barb is my mess to clean up.” His voice dropped, and hisheart ached.
“I’m sorry, little brother,” his eyes met Liam’s. “I should’ve kept you in the loop, but I was trying to protect you so you could get back to your family in Africa.”
“What?” Barb’s shocked words came from the hallway as she stood staring at Zac and Liam in shock, Charlotte bundled in her arms. Her wide eyes traveled from one brother to the other. “I knew it.” Her voice was soft and throaty as his eyes shone with unshed tears and resonated with pain.
“Barb!” Zac and Liam said in unison.
“Please let me explain,” the real Zac stood and started walking toward her.
