Truth Behind the Lies

Review Responses:


Bookworm51485: You barely had any sleep? Tsk, tsk, you know better. ;) Yes, Corrine is family but on Randy's father's side. James and his gang are part of Randy's mother's side. That's why you never see anything about Corrine and James being together in any scenes. I should've stressed that more throughout the story, my bad. Oh you know Corrine is gonna freak when she hears about the baby, but it wont be in this chapter. I didnt bring this one soon and I apologize, I've been battling a flu.
Lina: Haha, yes indeed, you guessed right.
Child of the Darkened Moon: Killing Dennis and Larry? Harsh, arent we? But that's okay, I don't want you to like them :) Wedding bells...we'll see but Corrine WILL have a cow.
Anon: Haha, another lemon? Let me put one together then.
keyonnamc: All I can say is things won't be peachy-keen for Larry and Dennis.
Bobii: You still think that? Well... ;)
Anna: Wow, is it really? Well, I guess you could say that since 2007 has only been around for....25 days, haha! Thank you.
impressionata: I didn't see an email but I'm happy you tried to send one anyway. Thank you for the kind words and as for your question....Maybe it does. ;)
Inoku: DID Randy punch Larry? Damn, I wrote the story and can't remember if he did....no, no just Shay.
SweetestKisses: I'm a fan of MPreg too...good MPreg. And no, it's definitely not finished yet, so keep on reading.
Blushing: I'd like for Larry to get a good kick in the ass too...maybe I'll do that.
k-girl: Thanks for reviewing.
TheFanBoy: Thank you for helping out obeliskbeliever, I'd hate to lose a reader. Your reviews ARE encouraging and very supportive. I LOVE feedback. Thanks.
coyo: Haha, thanks for the review. I've seen your name on a couple of reviews of my other stories. You're awesome!

I don't remember getting this many reviews before. WOW! Thank you guys sooooo much. Enjoy this chapter and I hope it was worth the wait.


Chapter Fourteen


Saturday—early afternoon

“So, you’re pregnant….again.” Bryant stated flatly. Shay nodded as he drove away from St. Augustines Mental Health Institution. Putting in the request for a day pass, Shay rushed to the hospital to pick up his mother once finding out he was approved to leave. During the drive home was the time Shay chose to tell his mother his news.

“Yeah.”

“Who’s is it? Randy’s?” Shay nodded again. “Does he know?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“He’s okay with it. He’s ecstatic, I guess is the better term. He’s gone baby crazy since we found out four days ago.”

“Tongues will wag sure enough when people find out about this. With the kind of name our family has around town, do you think Randy will be able to handle the gossip?”

“I think so. He changed so much from when he first moved here. The starin’ and whisperin’ used to bother him, but now it hardly phases him.”

Bryant nodded his head with a slight smile. “Well that’s good then. So you guys decided to give this relationship thing a shot after all, huh?”

Shay nodded. “Yeah. We finally talked and let out what was on our minds and we’re givin’ it a shot.”

“And so far…”

“So far….it’s been great.” Shay smiled. So did Bryant. He sensed the love in his son’s voice, his smile, and he knew this was more than ‘like’ he felt for the blonde doctor.

“You see? I told you to give him a shot and you didn’t listen to me. Oh no, what does mother know about anythin’?” Bryant joked. Shay laughed rolling his eyes.

They continued driving down the road in a comfortable silence until Bryant noticed Shay passed the turn to their home. “Shay, you missed the turn.”

“I know.”

“I thought you said you were havin’ Jack’s birthday at home.”

“I am. Our new home.”

The older brunette frowned in misunderstanding. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“Dad moved in his lover Monday and kicked us out.” Shay murmured. Shaking his head in utter disgust, Bryant sighed, putting his hand over his eyes.

My family is fallin’ apart.

Shay finally pulled his car into the driveway of the lakehouse and they both got out. Bryant immediately looked around, amazed at the serene location and the vinyl siding home with the wrap-around deck. “It’s beautiful here.”

Shay smiled. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” He wrapped an arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Come on. You’re grandsons waiting on you.”

They walked inside, and they were stunned at the look of the house. Before Shay had left, Randy had barely started on the birthday decorations. He knew he’d have them done before he got back home, but he didn’t realize the blonde got so many adornments. There were ribbons and balloons and birthday banners everywhere! And Shay could just barely see the dining room from where he stood, but he could see the table was covered in a birthday cake print table cloth, blue paper plates and cups, and birthday hats by each seating. He chuckled to himself. What an amazing man.

They walked to the family room and on their way, heard Randy and Jack. “Wa dat?”

“I don’t know, bud.”

“Mmmm….Wa dat?”

Randy laughed. “I don’t know what that is either. You know, you keep asking me what all these presents are, but I’m not going to tell you until it’s time for you to open them, kiddo.”

“Aaaahhh.” The boy whined.

There was a pause then they heard Randy laugh again. “Thank you for the hug, but I’m still not telling.”

Shay spoke up. “You’d better watch him. He can be quite manipulative, even if he IS two.”

Jack, who was standing next to Randy’s shoulder while the older blonde sat on the couch, saw Bryant and squealed. “G’ma! G’ma!” he climbed off the couch and with each of his steps being followed by the red flash of his light-up tennis shoes, he ran to Bryant’s open arms.

He kissed him on the cheek. “Here’s my big boy! Happy birthday, pumkin!”

Randy came over and gave Shay a soft kiss on the lips before he wrapped an arm around his waist. “Mama, this is Randy Dodson. Randy, this is my mother, Bryant.”

With Jack resting in one arm, Bryant extended a hand to the older blonde and smiled curtly. “Hello, Randy. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Randy shook his hand. “Likewise.”

After greetings were out the way, they decided to let Jack open his presents before he had a premature nervous breakdown. Shay or one of the others would poke a hole in the present for him, then the boy would literally tear the paper to shreds. By the end of the gift opening, Jack had received a box load of toys and clothes, but his favorite toy for the minute was his new big bright red Tonka truck. He had already ran over Randy’s feet with it three times.

Birthday dinner was eaten in the dining room, where Shay had fixed chicken and broccoli casserole, corn, candied yams, and rolls. The food was praised by Randy and Bryant and especially Jack, who loved the yams in particular so much, he decided to wear it. Yam juice had run all down his chin to his shirt and on his pants. Shay took him upstairs to change.

“So Randy,” Bryant started after taking a sip of his iced-tea. “Shay told me the news. I bet that probably came as a shock to you.”

“It was a shock, yes, but nothing I wont step up to the plate for and do my part in.”

“Well that’s good to know, cause that’s what happened last time and—“

“I know. Shay had told me about that. I don’t know who this guy is, but I wanna tell you that I’m nothing like him. I want to be present in my baby’s life. I want us to be a family.”

Bryant stared hard into Randy’s green eyes, searching for an inkling of dishonesty to his words. He didn’t find any. “Before I had even met you, Shay had told me so many good things about you and when he did, I’d see this glow come over him that I’d never seen before. Even now, he still blushes a bit when you come up in our conversations. I guess what I’m tryin’ to say is, Shay is fallin’ for you whether he’s admitted it to you or not, so don’t break his heart….”

Randy shook his head enthusiastically. “No. No, I’d never—“ He stopped when Bryant held up a hand to him.

“I know you wouldn’t, I’m just tellin’ you. He’s had enough hardships and rejection in his small 20 years of life; most of which I know were caused by me and my problems, then his relationship with his father, and Plumsfield as a whole. He deserves happiness.”

“I could give that to him.”

Bryant reached for Randy’s hand and squeezed it. “And I hope you do.”

Shay suddenly came back with a now spotless Jack trailing closely behind him. The young brunette smiled, clapping his hands together. “Who’s ready for cake?”


***


That night


“Well, it looks like it’s about my time to start headin’ back.” Bryant said as he stood and stretched his back. They had all reassembled back in the family room after dinner.

Jack heard him and ran to his arms saying, “No G’ma. No go.”

“You don’t want me to go?” he asked his grandson and the blonde tike shook his head. “Well, if I remember correctly, now is about the time you go to bed. So how about I take you upstairs and get you to sleep? Would you like that?” Jack nodded.

“His room is just up the stairs and his night clothes are on the top drawer of his dresser.” Bryant nodded to his son and walked the boy up the stairs to his room. Shay watched. Jack’s not the only one who doesn’t want you to go. It just doesn’t feel right not havin’ my mother around. Monday morning, I’m makin’ it my business to get you out that hell hole. He closed his eyes and sighed as warm arms wrapped around his middle from behind.

“Tired?” Randy whispered in his ear.

“I shouldn’t be, but I am a little. I mean I’ve done more runnin’ and movin’ than this back when Jack would stay up all night cryin’ when he was teethin’.”

“Well, you weren’t pregnant then like you are now. You’re gonna start to require even more rest soon. That’s why I’ll take your mother back to the hospital and you stay here and get some rest.”

Shay nodded. “Okay.” He turned around in Randy’s arms and looked into his eyes. “Could I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“The place where Mama is stayin’……it’s a terrible place. He hates it there and I hate him bein’ there……I can’t…..I can’t just—“

“You want to bring him here to live with us.” Randy finished. Shay nodded solemnly. “That’s fine with me.”

Shay’s face lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Elated, Shay wrapped his arms around his lover’s neck and kissed him.

“Thank you.” He murmured, hugging the blonde tight.

Randy kissed his neck. “Anything for you.”


***


Sunday afternoon


“And here we are.” Randy said as he drove he, Shay, and Jack to his cousin James’ house. Randy was so excited about introducing the love of his life to his family. To him, it brought their relationship to an even more intimate level. What made this more special to him was the fact that Shay was eager as well. His initial feeling about seeing the family was more along the lines of What will they think of me? but eventually faded once Randy assured him that everything would be fine.

Randy pulled up to the brick home and shut off the ignition on his blue BMW. Once opening their doors, they immediately heard the lively sound of child laughter. “How many kids do your cousin’s have?” Shay asked as they walked up the walkway.

“Three. Two girls and one boy. The youngest girl is two too, Jack. You’ll have somebody to play with….or maybe a little girlfriend.” Jack sort of looked awkward up at Randy then frowned. The older blonde laughed as he knocked on the door. There was no answer. “I guess everyone’s in the backyard. That’s where the party seems to be at by the sounds.” Shay dragged Jack along by the hand as he followed Randy around the side of the house to the back. The first thing Shay saw was children. One boy with brown hair and natural blonde highlights was chasing his younger curly headed blonde sister with a water gun. He steady pumped the large toy gun and aimed for her back and hair as she squealed and ran all over the place. Then he saw the smallest of the three kicking a large purple ball across the grass. She was dressed in cute lavender coveralls and white shirt, and she was having the best time in the world. “That’s Tristan over there filling his sister, Katie, full of water. They’re both 9 and 5. And that little sweetie there is the 2 year old I was telling you about, Sabrina.”

“Cute kids.” Shay smiled.

Randy nodded. “There’s my cousin’s husband, Richie, there by the grill.”

Oblivious to the new visitors, Richie checked the burgers on the grill before he placed the hotdogs next to them. “James, come out here and flip these burgers, babe! It doesn’t take that long to get ready!” He sighed and shook his head.

James finally came out the back door in jeans, a wifebeater, and blue short sleeve shirt over it. “Okay, I’m comin’ already.” He made his way towards the grill.

Randy smiled. “And there’s my cousin. Come on.” He blindly reached for Shay’s hand to move, but the young brunette didn’t budge. Randy frowned and looked back. The look on Shay’s face made him nervous. His breathing had increased. His eyes, which were once full of excitement and joy, looked confused and…..frightened? “Shay? Are you alright? What’s the matter?”

Breaking his focus away from whatever that was unnerving him, Shay quickly grabbed up his son and held him close. “I wanna go home.”

“You….you what? Shay, we just—“

“No.”

“What’s the matter? I don’t—“

“No, Randy! I wanna go home!” Tears filled Shay’s eyes and he walked away heading back to the car. Richie heard the outburst and saw the exchange between Randy and his new lover.

“Randy! Is everything alright?!” He yelled over to the stunned blonde.

What the hell happened? He was fine a minute ago. He was eager to meet my family. What could’ve set him off like that? He shook his head and looked back at Richie. “Yeah, everything’s fine!”

James turned and saw his cousin. He waved with a smile. “Hey cuz! Come on, the foods almost ready! Where’s your friend?!”

“I ah….He….He’s not feeling well! I’m gonna take him back home!”

Richie pouted. “Aw! We were hoping we’d finally meet him!”

“Yeah I—I know! Look, maybe another time, huh! I gotta go!”

“Okay!” Richie said throwing up a hand.

James spoke. “Call me later! Let us know how he’s doin’!”

“I will!” Randy walked back to his car. Shay was sitting in the passenger seat, Jack still in his arms. He got in the car and turned to speak to Shay but with the tears rolling silently down his face and the way he was holding his son like he was a lifeline…….he thought it best not to say anything and just take him back home.


***


Shay was sitting back against the headboard of the bed in what was now Jack’s room. Jack sat right under him, sipping juice from his sipper with one hand and playing with Shay’s hand that was resting on his lap. Shay’s eyes were closed but opened once he heard a light knock on the door. Randy stood in the doorway for a moment then walked to the bed and sat on the edge next to Shay, but the brunette wouldn’t look at him.

“Did you know?” he asked.

“Did I know, what?”

Shay glanced at him. “Was this the whole plan? Did you partner up with him to do this to me? To my son?”

“Shay, what are you talking about? Who is he?”

“Jack’s father.” Shay snapped. “Were you tryin’ to make a fool out of me, bringin’ us there?”

“That’s impossible. That was my cousin, James O’Donnell. He’s nothing like that guy Jimmy you told me about.”

“I’m not blind, Randy. I know who I saw and that man was Jimmy Dean.”

Randy frowned. “Jimmy…Did you say Jimmy Dean?”

“Yes.”

Randy put a hand over his mouth and sighed. “Oh my God.” He whispered.

Then it was Shay’s turn to frown. “What?”

“I used to call James ‘Jimmy Dean’ when we were kids because he loved to eat sausages all the time……Oh my God…….James is Jack’s father?”