Dangerous Therapy: O'Connor Brothers (Volume 1) (3 page)

Although it was a long night, Stephanie wanted to see Marina before she went home. Thank God the children’s hospital and the maternity ward were in the same building. She walked into her sister’s room. Marina was curled up on the bed crying. Stephanie’s stomach tightened. Marina never cried. This wasn’t good.

“Rina, what’s wrong?” She rushed to the side of the bed and wrapped her arms around her sister. Marina was trembling.

“I..I t..told him to leave, Steph.” Marina sobbed into Stephanie’s shoulder.

“Who? Marc? Was he here?” Stephanie tried to stay calm. The last thing Marina needed was to see her upset.

“No, he wasn’t here.” Marina sniffed. “He didn’t leave me, Steph. I kicked him out.”

“Why, Rina?” Stephanie grabbed a box of tissues and passed them to her sister.

“Because I found drugs under our bed.” Marina sobbed.

“Marc was on drugs?” It was all starting to make sense. Marc’s personality change. Marina always looking like she was afraid. Stephanie never liked Marc, but she tolerated him for Marina’s sake.

“Yes! He was injecting himself with something, but I don’t know exactly what it was. When I saw it, I knew why he’d changed so much.” Marina wiped her nose. “He said such horrible things, Steph. He told me he never loved me, and getting pregnant was the worst thing that ever happened.” Marina sighed. “I started to scream at him, and he slapped me across the face.”

“He hit you?” This news was not helping her temper, but she’d love to have him standing next to her right now so she could rip his head off and spit down his neck.

“Yes, but it wasn’t the first time.” Marina’s voice was a whisper. “I just couldn’t tell anyone because I didn’t know why he started acting so strange.” Marina took a deep intake of air and continued. “I knew when I found the drugs. I couldn’t bring a baby into a house with someone like that. I know I should’ve left the first time he hit me, but I was in such shock, and he seemed so sorry. The last couple of times, though, he didn’t seem to care.” She grabbed another tissue and blew her nose.

“You did the right thing, Rina!” Her sister was abused and Stephanie didn’t even know.

“I know, but I’m not sure if I can do this on my own.” Marina wiped her eyes. “I’m terrified.”

“You’re not doing this alone. You’ve got me, Mom, and Dad,” Stephanie hugged her. “You won’t ever be alone, Rina! Never!”

“What about if you meet someone?” Marina forced a smile after a few minutes. “You know I don’t remember seeing a wedding ring on Officer Hunky.”

“I’m sure Danny will be in college by that time.” Stephanie chuckled. “And as for Officer Hunky, I don’t think I’ll see him again. I don’t plan on going through any more red lights.” Marina laughed. Good, she was making her sister feel better.

“Thanks, Steph. I really needed to get all that off my chest.” Marina sighed. “I haven’t told Mom and Dad yet, but I will.”

“I’ll let you tell them, Rina.” Stephanie pushed Marina’s hair back from her face. “But I’ll be there when you do.”

She stayed with Marina for an hour and held her nephew. Marina really needed her, so before she left the hospital, Stephanie asked her boss if she could switch shifts in order to have the next couple of days off. Everything had to be ready when Marina got home. The doctor would probably release her the next day, as long as everything with Danny was okay. Changing jobs was starting to look better and better.

Stephanie was over tired when she got home, but with everything Marina had told her she was even more determined to apply for that job at Nightingale’s. She pulled out her laptop. Since her resume was always up to date, all she had to do was add an amazing cover letter and send it off.

She powered up her laptop and opened her email inbox. Messages were piling up. She scrolled down through them and spotted an email from Brad. Her heart pounded. An email from Brad was sitting in her inbox. No contact in six months and suddenly he emails her out of the blue. She was tempted to delete it, but part of her wanted to see if there was an apology. The curser hovered above the email. Tapping the mouse seemed like it would open up all that heartache once more. Did she really want to go there again? She clicked the mouse button and the email opened. Stephanie closed her eyes. After a deep breath, she opened them and began to read.

Stephanie,

I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from, but I really needed to tell you that I’m sorry. With my shifts at the fire hall and yours at the hospital we just drifted apart. I was lonely. I shouldn’t have cheated, I know that but you were never around, and Erica was. You have to admit this was just as much your fault as mine. You weren’t there when I needed you. By the way, the money you said I stole was mine to begin with. So you can call off the lawyers. I don’t owe you anything. I just took what was mine. Have a good life Stephanie. I know I will.

Bradley

You’ve got to be kidding me.
Her fists clenched. This was his apology for screwing around on her and taking all the money from the bill account? He wasn’t getting away with it. She wasn’t calling off the lawyer.

Stephanie snatched her phone from the night table and called her father’s lawyer, Fred Dinn who agreed to help her get back the money Brad had taken. After all, it was all hers. He never seemed to pay toward anything. Well, except his precious car. She never understood why he’d pay so much for a car, but couldn’t pay his share of the bills.
Asshole
!

Fred told her exactly what she expected. She probably wasn’t going to get the money back, but she was entitled to half of the property in their apartment. Everything she wanted out of the apartment she already had. Fred asked her to forward him the email, and he would see what he could do. She didn’t expect anything and at this point she didn’t care.

After forwarding him the email, she sat back on her bed. A tear ran down her cheek. It was going to be a long time before she’d trust another man. Her body shook as she re-read the email. This wasn’t the same man she fell for three years ago. Even his words seemed different. Plus, he never called her Stephanie. She slammed her laptop closed. He could rot in hell for all she cared. She grabbed a pillow and pressed it to her face and screamed.
Damn, that felt good.
Today was the start of a new chapter in her life. Without Brad. She didn’t need any man.

Sarah was gone. Staring out through the patio doors in his brother’s kitchen, John, tried to make sense of it all. The beer bottle in his hand was still full. How James got through the last three days was a miracle. John’s heart was ripped out of his chest, and it wasn’t even his wife who passed away. It just wasn’t right. How could someone so young and vibrant be gone because of a stupid fucking disease? John squeezed his eyes shut to stop the burning tears.

The whole day John was waiting for the moment when James fell apart. James was rock solid. At the funeral home, James greeted people as they gave condolences. At the church, he sat in the front pew holding Sarah’s mother’s hand as Mrs. Mason cried, but James didn’t shed one tear. Was James in shock? Was he trying to keep it all together until he was alone? Either way John was worried.

His brother, Aaron, walked into the kitchen. “Mom wants to know if you want a sandwich.”

“No thanks, I’m not really that hungry.”

The youngest of the seven O’ Connor brothers, Aaron, or as most people called him A.J., was completing his last year of university. Then joining the Police Academy. Aaron was the family joker and teased everyone any chance he got. He was also the biggest horn dog John knew. There were two clubs in Hopedale and Aaron was well known in both of them. He’d walk in and within the first hour he had at least one woman hanging all over him. It wasn’t because the rest of the brothers had trouble getting women. Aaron just had a way. He’d smile and the girls came running.

Aaron was quiet for a few minutes. Almost like he was searching for something to say. It was weird. He always had a sly grin or something sarcastic to say. The last time Aaron was like this was when their grandfather passed away. As easy going as his little brother was, he was uncomfortable showing his emotions.

“I still can’t believe she’s gone,” Aaron said quietly.

“I know. It doesn’t seem real.” John took a swig of his warm beer. “I honestly don’t know how James is holding it together.”

“Me neither.” Nick sauntered into the kitchen. “Christ, she wasn’t even my wife, and I feel like I’m going to explode.” He leaned against the kitchen counter and folded his arms across his chest.

Only thirteen months separated Nick and Aaron. Nick was twenty-four and Aaron was twenty-three. It was weird the two of them looked more like twins than him and James. Nick was in his last year of law school and already had a job with one of the best law firms in the city. Like Aaron, Nick liked to play the field. Neither of them seemed to want to settle down with one girl. Of course they were still young

“We all knew this was coming, but I guess I didn’t want to believe it,” Aaron said.

“Losing someone is never easy whether you expect it or not.” Nick sighed.

“Did I leave Mason’s diaper bag in here?” James walked into the kitchen glancing around the room. When none of them said anything James looked up. “Hello?”

“Are you ok?” John needed to ask. He didn’t understand how James was able to function. The day the doctors told Sarah she had breast cancer, James had completely fallen apart. This wasn’t normal.

“Nick grab the other three before I start,” James stood next to the kitchen table and motioned for the others to join him. “I only want to repeat this one more time, and I’ve already told Nan, Mom, and Dad.” Nick left the kitchen and returned a few seconds later with Keith, Ian and Mike behind him.

“What’s going on?” Mike turned one of the chairs around and straddled it. Ian sat next to him and Keith leaned against the wall.

“I know you’re all worried about me. I can see it on your faces and I understand why.” James leaned his thigh against the table. “When we found out Sarah was going to lose her battle, I was devastated. I knew it was a possibility, but there was always part of me hoping for a miracle.” James’ voice cracked. John placed his hand on his shoulder to show his support.

“The day the doctors told us there was nothing else they could do, I spent the night with Sarah. I was awed by her strength. She didn’t shed a single tear, or at least not while I was there. I can’t say the same for myself. She held me in her arms for an hour while I cried like a baby.” James took a long slow breath before he continued. “When it was out of my system we talked. She said she made her peace with everything. You see, she knew she wasn’t going to make it before the doctor even told her. She said she accomplished everything she wanted to in her short life. All I kept thinking was, how the hell did she accomplish anything in twenty-seven years?” James walked over to the counter, keeping his back to the brothers.

“Bro, you don’t need to do this now,” John said. This couldn’t be easy. James turned around and ran his hands down his face.

“You know she used to scare me sometimes. She always seemed to know what I was thinking. She told me the only things she ever wanted was to marry the man of her dreams and have a baby.” James chuckled. “She actually smacked me when I asked her if she was going to introduce me to her dream man.” The six brothers smiled, but John could see it was forced for James sake. James walked back to the table and sat down. “She told me she could leave this world knowing Mason would be loved and raised with the best father he could have. There were a few things she wanted me to promise her.” He stopped and for the first time in three days John finally saw the tears in James’ eyes.

“What did she want you to promise?” Mike asked the question all of them were thinking.

“First she wanted me to promise I wouldn’t close myself off to everyone. The only thing she was afraid of was I would turn everyone away. Second, she wanted me to find love again. Can you imagine? My wife wanted me to find another woman to make me happy. I tried to argue with that. She told me she knew it would be a while, but she didn’t want me to be alone for the rest of my life. Mason needed a mother in his life. Third. She wanted to make sure Mason knew how much she loved him and she’d always be watching over him.” James leaned back on the chair and looked up at the ceiling. “The next one involves all of you.”

“How?” Ian looked as confused as John felt. James looked around the table and chuckled.

“She said all of you are terrified of commitment, and if there was any way possible she was going to make sure the six of you found a woman to put you in your place.” A chorus of laughter filled the kitchen. Since the day Sarah married James, she told all of them she was going to find wives for them

“That sounds like something she’d say,” Aaron said.

“She made me promise if I see you guys running from a woman that Cora says is meant for you, I’m supposed to kick your asses.” Their Aunt Cora was the family cupid and was supposed to have some sort of gift for matchmaking. “She told me she was the right person for me for a short time, but I needed to find the right person for the rest of my life.”

“She was a special woman, James,” Keith said.

“Yes, she was, but what keeps me going is the last thing she said to me.” James smiled. “That part of her will always be with me in Mason.” He walked to the cupboard and pulled out seven shot glasses. John knew what was coming. Sarah’s favorite drink was Newfie Screech, and she’d always make everyone take one shot with her when they would drink together. James pulled the bottle of dark rum from the fridge and poured seven shots. He brought them to the table. “Now, can we have a drink for my beautiful wife?” Each brother grabbed a glass.

“To Sarah.” They said together and drank their shots.

“Yeah, she’s up there laughing and making plans for us.” John laughed. It was good to know James made peace with everything. John wouldn’t be that strong.

A little while later he found James on the back deck. The strained expression on his brother’s face said James wasn’t holding up as well as he wanted everyone to believe. John squeezed his brother’s shoulder. Every muscle was tight. Nothing was going to make all this ok. Sarah was gone and nobody could change that.

“Where’s Mason?” John broke the silence.

“I put him down for a nap.” James cleared his throat.

“You want to get out of here for a while?” John suggested. “It’s a nice afternoon we can take a drive up to the cabin.” Maybe getting away from all the family and friends constantly streaming into the house would give James a chance to catch his breath. John felt overwhelmed with it all. James had to be feeling it.

“Sounds good, but I was thinking about taking a nap,” James said. “I’m exhausted.”

“Then you get some sleep,” John said. “Mom and Nan are staying here tonight, so you sleep as long as you want.”

“Yeah, sleep sounds good.” James was heading back inside the house when he stopped just inside the door and wrapped his arms around John. “Thanks for being here, bro.”

John hugged him back. The lump forming in his throat was making it hard for him to speak. He couldn’t lose it now.

“Since conception, bro.” John choked out. It was a saying they had between them because they were twins. He knew it finally hit James that Sarah was gone. His twin slowly stumbled up the stairs. John wasn’t sure if James was drunk or if he was just that tired. All he knew was his eyes were burning with unshed tears. Unshed tears he wasn’t sure were for Sarah or James. Maybe for both.

John needed to clear his head. He loved his family, but spending three solid days together was starting to get to him. A drive to the cabin sounded good. He hadn’t been up there in a while.

Nanny Betty’s Irish lilt met him as he walked into the living room. “Sean Thomas O’Connor, if ya don’t stop tellin’ me I need a nap I’m gonna duff ya in da arse.” She was originally from Cape Broyle on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland. The dialect was Irish.
Here we go
.

When his grandfather died three years ago, his grandmother moved in with his parents. Of course, she put up a fight in the beginning. She claimed she was more than capable of looking after herself. She was a force to be reckoned with when anyone pissed her off, or if someone did something to one of her family. She was about four foot ten and a hundred pounds, but it was hilarious how his six foot two father and his six-foot uncle backed off when she gave them what they called ‘the devil’s glare’. John and his brothers got ‘the devil’s glare’ a lot of times when they were younger, and even now he backed off if Nanny Betty lowered her head and narrowed her eyes.

“Mudder, you’ve been up since six this morning. You’ve got to be tired.” His father tried to reason with her. This was going to be good. Trying to reason with Nanny Betty never went well. His grandfather used to say it was like trying to reason with a brick wall.

“Lord, dine, Jesus, if I needed a nap, I’d bloody well take one. Now ya get before I take ya over me knee and bust yar arse.” Her bony finger pointed at Sean.

“Mudder, when are you going to realize we’re grown men and not little boys?” Kurt O’Conner chuckled from the other side of the living room.

“Ye might be bigger den me, but I can still swing up at ye.” John coughed to cover a chuckle as his Uncle Kurt clamped his mouth shut. John wasn’t the only one trying to stifle a laugh. His mother Kathleen, His father’s sister, Cora and Kurt’s wife, Alice quickly headed to the kitchen stifling their own giggles. Kurt’s daughters Jess, Isabelle, and Kristy followed quickly behind them. His brothers were also trying to hold things together. Thank God for Nanny Betty, she was at least making a sombre day a little easier. Even if she didn’t realize it.

“Where’s Jimmy?” Nanny Betty looked toward John.

“He went upstairs to get some rest,” John said.

“Good. He needs some rest after today.” She stood up and headed toward the kitchen. “I’m going to help da girls clean up da kitchen.”

“Mudder you ….” The site of Nanny Betty slapping his father’s arm was enough to make John choke back another laugh.

“Don’cha Mudder me!” She snapped and marched out of the room.

“That woman’s got more energy than all of us put together.” Kurt chuckled.

“You’re damn right I do.” Nanny Betty yelled from the kitchen. “And better hearing too.” The room erupted into laughter. Everyone knew her hearing wasn’t the best. She just had her hearing aid turned up. The woman wasn’t going to miss a thing.

John really wanted to get out by himself for a while but leaving seemed wrong. He flopped down on the couch next to Ian. The conversations going on around him seemed to be a blur of words. A knock on the door stopped all conversation. Sean got up to get the door, but Nanny Betty hurried down the hallway. A familiar voice made him cringe.
Kim Newman!
Fuck
! What the hell was she doing here? That was all he needed today, and James certainly didn’t need her here. John stood up as all eyes turned to him. His whole family knew what Kim did, and they knew John was done with her.

“Johnny, haven’t ya got rid a dat streel yet?” Nanny Betty was anything but subtle or quiet using the Newfoundland term for an untidy woman. Kim wasn’t untidy, but he was sure Nan didn’t care. Kim’s face showed her annoyance, but at least she was smart enough not to say anything.

“I’ll take care of this, Nan.” John kissed Nanny Betty’s cheek as he walked past her.

“Ya better or I’ll do it. She’s not welcome here. She’s a jinker!” Another word only Newfoundlanders knew. According to Nanny Betty, Kim was bad luck. After giving Kim ‘the devil’s glare, Nanny Betty turned and went back to the kitchen. John closed the front door behind him and turned to face Kim.