Page 17 of Chasing I Do
“The hell she didn’t. Naming Kyle as the dad isn’t the same as telling us. And what about the hospital? Aren’t they obligated to contact the baby’s family?”
“They did contact Kylie’s family. According to the law, Darcy is the girl’s only family,” he said, although it sure as hell didn’t feel like that. Gage had spent less than ten minutes with her, and already she’d taken up space in his heart. Being around her was like having more time with his brother.
It would be like that for all of them. So Gage understood their frustration, but he also understood that it was a group effort that had gotten them to this point.
“Well, then maybe we should pay Darcy a visit, and remind her that Kylie has more family,” Owen said.
“Right, because a united front worked so well for us in the past,” Clay said, and Gage was thankful that one of them was thinking sanely.
“Well, we have to do something,” Rhett argued, standing to pace the room. “Kyle would have wanted us in her life. She needs someone who will tell her how amazing her dad was, how he was driven and funny, and a standup guy. She needs to hear all of that.”
“Darcy is treating Kyle’s memory with respect,” Gage said, wondering why telling what he believed to be the truth felt like a betrayal to his brother.
“I’m sorry,” Rhett said. “Did you learn that in the two minutes she actually talked to you or was it when that ass of hers walked away from you, again, and you started wondering why you never got to tap that?”
“Fuck you, Rhett!” Gage’s head was spinning over his brother betraying his confidence like that. He’d confessed his feelings for Darcy in a low moment, when he thought the circle of brotherly trust was in play between the two of them. “I only went back there because you asked me to.”
And that was the truth.
Arguing with his brothers didn’t feel right. Arguing about Kyle with them? That felt toxic. But looking for someone to blame wouldn’t help anyone. Been there, done that, and they’d all lost out.
Gage wasn’t about to let that happen again.
“Kyle knew that Darcy was pregnant,” he said, having a hard time swallowing the truth. “And before you go saying that she could have lied, I already checked. Kyle paid an extra fee to have Darcy added to his medical insurance. Why would he do that if she would be automatically added when they got married?”
“She was working as a contractor back then, maybe she didn’t have insurance,” Josh speculated.
That’s what Gage had thought too. “A month before the wedding, Kyle started a college fund with ten thousand dollars in it.”
Rhett took a step back and sat heavily on the couch, the wind and fight knocked right out of him.
“I would have found it when I was combing through his estate,” Josh said, but he didn’t sound as confident as he had a moment ago. Gage felt for his big brother.
Gage and Kyle might have been polar opposites when it came to personality and interests, but as twins they shared everything. Or at least Gage thought they had. But after the past few days, he was beginning to wonder what else Kyle had kept from the family.
What else he’d kept from Gage.
“Kyle set it up with the beneficiary being Darcy, and, no, she hasn’t touched a cent.” Which was even more impressive, since he now knew how much debt she’d taken on with Belle Mont.
“That still doesn’t change the fact that we missed out on several crucial years,” Clay said, and out of all of the brothers, Gage knew that this was hitting him the hardest.
Clay looked up to Kyle, even followed him off to college. And it was clear by the haunted expression on his face, Clay was beginning to question things about his big brother that might change everything.
“No, it doesn’t,” Gage said, pulling out four more tumblers. “And I don’t know if she did what she thought was best for Kylie, or if she was acting out of anger. We all could have handled things differently back then.” Gage poured two fingers in each glass. “But at this point, the only thing that matters is getting the chance to know Kylie, and going at her balls out and fists swinging at her mother won’t win us uncles of the year.”
“Then we change our approach,” Josh said, taking his glass. “She wants to plan the wedding; let her plan Rhett’s wedding. Between the cake tasting and picking out flowers, it will give him time to see what’s going on, and find the best way to convince her we just want to know our niece.”
“Are you kidding?” Gage said. “What about Mom?”
“I think Mom would rather meet her granddaughter than have Darcy gone from the property,” Rhett said, getting on board.
“I agree,” Clay said, leaning forward to pick up his scotch. “Which is why I’m willing to throw in a signing bonus if she agrees to plan this wedding.” Before Gage could argue that it wouldn’t work, Clay held up a hand. “I don’t have anything against Darcy. I just want to see my niece, and I want Mom to know Kyle’s kid, I think that’s what Kyle would have wanted.”
Uncertainty coursed through Gage’s body at such a swift pace he could taste it. If that was what Kyle wanted, then he should have told them. This was exactly like five years ago, everyone acting in Kyle’s best interests, when Gage still wasn’t sure why he hadn’t told them. “I already told you, money has never been a motivator.”
Clay picked up a piece of paper and scribbled an amount on it, then slid it across the coffee table. “I think this will go a long way toward finding out some answers.”
Rhett picked it up and looked at the sum and nodded. “I’ll double that. The only problem is I leave tomorrow for New York. I’m in the recording studio all week and Stephanie is headed to LA. I was going to have Mom deal with the planner, but that’s no longer an option.”
