Truth Behind the Lies

Author's Note: I apologize for the long ass wait. It's not because I was stumped, my head has been in this story and I've been writing off and on for a while now, but life has been turning my schedule upside down. My grandfather had been sick for a while and he passed recently so I'd been busy commuting from school to home and prepping for the funeral and all. Again, my apologies.


ScarletHyacinth: Thanks for your comment and you will see how James takes the divorce.

Reike: thanks for reviewing. And Richie will be okay. Trust me.

violetstorm: Thanks for reviewing. The Shay/Larry confrontation will come but sadly not in this chapter. I agree, it's long overdue for them to talk and when it happens, it will be emotional....atleast that's what I have planned in my head. Lol.

bambi4real: Lol, I SO agree.

inumoon3: I greatly appreciate the kind review. Richie and James....hm, don't know about those two. It's honestly not looking good right now. I enjoyed writting the labor scene. You just can't have a person in labor they not crush the father's hand. Lol. Jack's sucking of the two fingers actually came from my little cousin who sucked his fingers the same way. It's really precious. Larry and Shay's talk will come soon. Not in this chapter though. Our Humble Little Dwelling is almost done. Isn't too much longer now.

womo: Hahahahaha! I like the review! "Wholly mother of cows!!" LOL! For Richie, you're gonna see a change in him and possibly a new road taken......possibly. I won't lie, at first, Larry wasn't my choice to bring Bry out from his funk. But for the sake of adding a little variety to the characters endings, I decided to go with Larry. I changed the "5lbs" thing. You're absolutely right. You don't speak '5', you speak 'five'.

Sandra: Thanks for the wonderful review! Shay and Larry's tension will come to a head soon.

Ari90: Thank you for your review! Your questions will be answered very soon.

Wayan: Thank you for the kind words. I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. It's just for the sake of variety in the characters, some people(Bryant) can hold on to a love and endure while others(Richie) can't. Ganbate-ne. I like that. What does it mean?

Evil Fox: I'm actually up in the air about the whole Jack/James thing. How far I want to take it and all. *shrugs* We'll see. Haha, ahhh Going to Camp.....well....I like the story too. Mainly because it was supposed to be a complete contrast of the type stories I normally write--more rauncy, backstabbing, etc. I just lost my way with it. Don't know if I need to do a rewrite or not.

Mia: Thanks for reviewing, Mia. And yes, you're on my update list. ;-)

obsalys: Thanks for reviewing. WILL Shay be able to forgive? Good question.....Lol. You'll get your answer soon though. Absolutely, I've added you to the update list.

MikiyuSado: Oh, ok. I made sure to change the address no sooner I read your review so I wouldn't forget. It IS a shame Shay depises his father. It'll be an interesting turn of events when they finally confront each other. Corrine.......Corrine is a work in progress....if she's willing to change, that is. Lol. Richie will be okay.

romieluv: thanks for the review! Here's another chapter for you! ;-)


Reviewers, I love you guys. You're the gasoline to my.........automobile. Yeeeeaaahh, that sucked. LOL.


Translations:
“Hola, hermoso. ¿Cómo está usted esta tarde, eh?” -- "Hello, beautiful. How are you this afternoon, eh?"
“Estoy muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?” -- "I'm very well, thanks. And yourself?"
“Mejore después de verle.” -- "Better after seeing you."

Chapter Twenty Eight


Same Tuesday Evening


Larry saw Shay’s mouth forming words he knew were about him and he knew they weren’t gonna be good if his frowning eyes had anything to do with it. So, he decided to beat his son to the punch. “I just brought Bry over here from Garden Haven.” Upon hearing his name, Bryant managed to take his eyes from his new grandson and look back at Larry standing by the door. Larry caught his eye. “Bry, I’ll be outside whenever you’re ready.” Bry nodded and with a quick glance back to Shay, Larry left the room.

“Is that why the nurse said you hadn’t gotten back from your session today?” Shay asked his mother. “You’ve been hangin’ around with him all day?”

“Your father picked me up after my session. And we talked about some things…”

“But what is there to talk about? There’s no reason to—“

“Shay,” Bryant interrupted. “not now, alright?” The young brunette gave his mother a skeptical look, but kept silent about the topic………for now. “I need to go anyway. I’ve been away from Garden Haven long enough today.” Bry handed his small grandson back to Randy then kissed his son’s head. “Call me tonight?”

Shay nodded. “Sure.”

He smiled. “Okay. Bye, Randy. Bye, little ones…” Bry stopped when Jack suddenly shot his hands in the air.

“Me, G’ma! Me! Me!”

“Oh of course!” He plucked the toddler up from his place on the bed and held him. “How’d you think I was gonna forget about my little man, huh?” The child smiled. “Can I have a hug?” Jack nodded and wrapped his short arms around Bry’s neck. The older man held him close then kissed the side of his honey blonde head. “I love you.”

“Iee you.” Jack replied.

Bry chuckled as he set the boy back down on the bed next to his mother and new sister.

***

"Watchin' the football game?"

Larry stood up from his chair in the waiting room when he saw Bry walk in. He shook his head. “Not really. The Patriots are gettin’ their asses handed to’em today and I’d rather not watch my boys suffer like that.”

Bry smirked. “Ok. You ready to go?”

“Only if you are.”

Instead of responding, Bry nodded and started walking towards the exit. Silently they walked to the hospital’s large parking lot. “You keep dodgin’ him.” Bry didn’t need to tell Larry who he was talking about. “You afraid of a confrontation?”

“I’m not afraid to talk to him….” He said in defense but paused soon after.

“Then what’s the problem?”

Larry sighed as he slid his hands in his pockets. “Shay was too young to remember the good days. All he can associate with our family is…….is—“

“Is the problems you caused?” Bryant finished. Larry glanced at his estranged lover but he couldn’t argue the comment because it was true.

“Yeah. So it will be harder tryin’ to get him to trust me again when he doesn’t even remember a time when he did.”

“Is that gonna stop you?” When Bry didn’t get an answer, he stopped walking and grabbed Larry’s arm to stop him as well. “Is it?” He repeated.

“I don’t want it to.” He sighed again. “But I know I’ll be fightin’ a losin’ battle with him…”

“So you’re not goin’ to even try?" He frowned. "I’ve known you for years, Larry. You can be fun, lovin’, carin’, even a bastard…..but I’ve never known you to be scared of anythin’—“

“I’m not scared, Bry…..I’m bein’ wise. How can I try to talk to Shay when he won’t even be in the same room with me?”

Bry shrugged. “I don’t know, Lar. I didn’t put you in this predicament with our son…you did.”

Frustrated, Larry adjusted the ball cap on his head, pulling the brim lower, over his eyes. “I know.”

“You made this mess with you and Shay. True, he was too young to remember the good times and he may not see any point in speakin’ to you, but you shouldn’t care........if you’re sincere in your purpose.” Walking closer to the taller man, Bry placed both hands on either side of Larry’s neck. “Do you want your family back?”

“Yes.” Larry responded without hesitation.

“Then you will fight for it…..your feelin’s be damned.”

Larry nodded at the encouragement Bry gave him, but he couldn’t help getting a bit side tracked from the soft skin touching his own. Strong, yet very gentle slender hands….it brought him back to when he first met Bryant in the park and he held his hand for the first time as he wrote his number in his palm. It even brought him to that night by Ella’s pond—Bry’s birthday—and those same hands caressed up and down his bare back as they made love for the first time. Oh God he feels so good. Larry didn’t realize how much he missed his touch until then. It brought a slight chill to his body.

Bryant backed away, knowing what he was doing to the man.

He cleared his throat. “Take me back to Garden Haven.”

***

Later that Tuesday evening


Shay fed Kaylie her bottle only moments earlier and the infant was nearly done. Shay smiled at the sight. “It sure doesn’t take her long, does it, pookie?” Jack smiled and shook his head. “She’s eatin’ as fast as you. I didn’t think anybody could do that.” Shay made a silly face and the toddler giggled. The brunette smiled back but paused when he looked to his right and saw Randy feeding Jayden. The blonde’s eyes were focused lovingly on his son, but his expression was bleak.

“Hey.” Randy looked up from the baby. “You okay?” Shay asked.

Randy plastered on a smile…..a fake smile, but still a smile. “Yeah, sure. I’m fine.”

Shay frowned. He didn’t believe the act. “Baby, you don’t need to lie..." Still no answer. "If your face looks any longer, your chin will touch the floor.”

Randy chuckled, but the laughter was cut short. “I, ah, I got a bit of news today. Some really depressing news actually…”

Shay recalled the scene he had walked in on once he’d went into labor—Randy and his aunt, Corrine, were standing at the front door. Neither had a pleasant look on their faces. “Does this have anythin’ to do with your aunt talkin’ with you today?”

Randy nodded, blue eyes still focused on the feeding baby. “She’s…..in so many words….washing her hands of me.”

Shay’s brows frowned like he might’ve heard something ridiculous but wasn’t quite sure if he really heard it. “…What?”

“She’s done with me. Auntie said she was tired of trying to defend me from people gossiping about our relationship. And she’s tired of her name being involved. So, she’s over it.”

Kaylie finished her bottle then turned her head away from the nipple. Shay carefully lifted the brunette infant to his shoulder and patted her back gently but firmly to burp her. Jack quietly played with her feet. “The woman can dish out the gossip but can’t take it. I’m sorry, Randy. I know this was a big shock to you.”

“It is. Corrine is more to me than just my aunt,” He lifted his eyes to look at Shay. “She was like a mother. More of a mother figure than my real mom. To hear she wants nothing to do with me because of gossip……I don’t know. It just……well it shows me that maybe I don’t matter as much to her as she does to me. I mean, if she really REALLY loved me, she wouldn’t care about those vultures and be by my side just because, you know? Deep down, she knows that theirs nothing wrong with you and I being in a relationship. She’s told me this. But because of fear, she refuses to stand by me and support me.”

“Maybe she didn’t mean it. Perhaps she was just frustrated today and said it without really thinking about it…”

“I doubt it. She meant what she said.” Jayden, a slow eater, was finally full and turned his face away from the bottle. Randy—taking after what he saw Shay did with Kaylie—placed the infant on his shoulder to burp him. “The worst part about all this is she will miss out on seeing the kids. She’ll miss out on watching them grow up and they’ll miss out on having an aunt.”

“Don’t think that far ahead, Randy. I’m sure she’ll change her ways of thinkin’ before too much time has passed.”

“Well I’d like to know when that’s gonna happen, because I’m not leaving you. She’s gonna have to be the one to wise up…..not me.”

Shay noticed the anger that was building up in his blonde lover and to keep him cool he refused to comment anymore about the situation. Luckily, the knock at the door helped to change the subject.

Richie poked his head in. “Have I come at a bad time?” He asked with a sweet smile on his face.

Randy stood to his feet and put a genuine smile on his face. “No, no, of course not.” With his free hand, he hugged his long-time Spanish friend.

“I’ve come bearing gifts.” He lifted a large light yellow diaper bag, full of two sets of everything—diapers, pacifiers, bottles, bibs, rattles, pajamas, head caps, wipes, and baby powder.

“Wow, you’ve got so much stuff in here.” Shay said, looking amazed once given the bag. “You really shouldn’t have. This must’ve cost a pretty good penny.”

Richie shrugged with a small smile. “It’s nothin’, really. And besides—we’re all friends here.” He caught a glance at Jayden’s curly hair and round face as he lay quietly in Randy’s arm. He fingered the baby’s curls and touched his plump cheek with one finger. "Hey there, fella." He said, sweetly. Jayden merely yawned and moved his fingers.

Shay blinked. Did his ears deceive him? Did Richie say we were all friends? His heart jumped at the thought that he and Richie could get passed the whole “James” ordeal and possibly be civil. “A-are we really?”

Richie nodded. “Since findin’ out the truth, I’ve had time to go over things….To figure out where I should start in my healing process…..And it starts with you, Shay. I tried to, in the beginnin’, to blame you for what’s happenin’ in my life but I’ve learned I can’t do that, because we were both the same. We were both wronged by the same man who we thought loved us…” he sighed. “Once I realized that, I knew there was no reason for me to dodge you. And besides, I’ve been knowin’ Randy for years and if he thinks you’re okay then so do I.”

Shay smiled. “Thanks, Richie. I appreciate that.”

The spanish man nodded his head then clapped his hands together. “Now, I brought gifts here hopin’ I could hold a baby, so………” He looked from Randy to Shay.

Shay laughed and lifted his daughter. “You can take Kaylie. They’ve just been fed so you can help Randy take them back to the nursery if you’d like.”

“Oh absolutely.” Richie walked towards the young brunette and after daughter received a kiss from mother, he grabbed the infant, careful of her weak neck and tender head, and walked out with Randy.

The walk down the hall started out quiet until Randy heard his old friend chuckling. “What are you laughing at?”

“Huh? Oh, nothin’. Just thinkin’…..”

When the blonde realized Richie had stopped, he coaxed him to continue. “About?”

“Well……you’re a father, Randy. Can you believe it? You’ve been travelin’ from Wisconsin to here for roughly fifteen years and you would always dodge the relationship questions or the children questions. But after a few months of movin’ here, you’ve managed to snag you a lover and three kids within a year! I’m shocked. Had it been done by anybody else I wouldn’t have believed it. I’d have said ‘You rushed way too fast and the relationship wont last’. But I can’t say that with you.” Richie looked Randy in the eyes. “I think you two will be okay. I’m very happy for you, Randy.”

The corner of Randy’s mouth cracked into a small grin. “Thanks, Richie. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for someone to say that they approve of my new life.”

His friend smiled and shrugged as he continued to carry baby Kaylie down the hall. “Hey, I’m just glad someone is gettin’ a happily…..ever……” Richie’s feet suddenly slowed and his soft almond eyes veered from his blonde friend to…..something else. Something over his shoulder.

Confused, Randy turned behind him to find out what had grabbed Richie’s attention so strongly. What he saw was a six foot three-ish, mocha-skinned, distraction dressed in an EMT uniform. Currently walking down the hallway to the right of them, the man was lean and athletic in build with black low-cut hair, full contoured lips, and keen eyes that were staring intensely and slightly naughty in Richie’s direction. The man was walking with a fellow EMT who was busy with some forms he was filling out on a clipboard. He was totally oblivious to his friend’s staring…..Randy, however, was not.

The blonde watched as the mystery admirer walked by them both, offering a seductive smile and wink in Richie’s direction. The spainard was quite flattered. Randy snorted as he walked by, snapping his friend out his lust cloud. “That guy’s got a lot of nerve.”

“What you mean?”

“He’s gonna walk by us and wink at you, all the while we’re standing here together with babies in our hands…”

“Yeah, so?”

“So, how does he know we’re not together?”

Richie chuckled. “Randy, we aren’t together.”

“Yeah, but he don’t know that. That was a real bold move he just made. Had I been more than a friend, I’d have jumped him.”

Richie laughed and continued walking. “Whatever, Randy.”

“Are you attracted to him?” Randy asked as he followed behind.

Richie shrugged. “Well…..…I mean he’s kinda cute…”

“So that’s a yes. You are attracted to him.”

“No, that’s a ‘he’s cute’. We just had a moment. A five second moment actually……nothin’ serious, Randy.”

They reached the nursery and the nurse on duty came and took Jayden and Kaylie off their hands. They stood outside the nursery, looking in at the children through the window panes.

“……………………Sooooo, you don’t wanna ask him out?”

Richie rolled his eyes. “Randy—“

“Or introduce yourself then and get his name…”

“Would you knock it off with all the datin’ ideas, Hitch.”

Randy gave this innocent smile. “What? I’m just trying to help push along something that’s obviously already there.”

“Well maybe I’m through with relationships…”

“Why do you say that?”

Richie eyes lowered, as did his voice. “I’m divorcin’ James. There’s no salvagin’ what we had.”

Randy put a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Richie. I hate you and the kids had to get tied up in this mess between James and me. But…….can I be honest with you?” Richie turned his brown eyes towards Randy’s blue ones. “You’re better off.”

“I know I am. After seein’ the real James, I’ve realized that’s not what I want to be married to. But it still hurts, you know? We’ve been together for years. Ever since we were kids…”

“Yeah. And because you’ve been together for so long, the healing process won’t be easy, I’m sure. But when it’s over, you’ll be much happier.” He smiled and Richie nodded. He lightly smacked his back. “Well, I’m going to head back to the room and check on Shay. You coming?”

“Yeah. But I’ma go to the vending machine and grab me a soda first. You want one?”

“Yeah. Get two if you can.”

“Sure.” Together, the pair walked back up the hallway until Randy branched off into Shay’s room.

Richie had just approached the sign-in desk when he saw the EMT admirer leaning against the desk, his partner was standing next to him talking to the receptionist. “Hola, hermoso. ¿Cómo está usted esta tarde, eh?” He asked in a very gentle but masculine voice.

Ok, so he speaks spanish. “Estoy muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?”

“Mejore después de verle.” The man smirked when he saw Richie roll his eyes. “I knew you were latin the moment I saw you. What nationality are you?”

“First generation Spanish-American. And you?”

“Equal parts Cuban and German.”

“Oh, so you’re multilingual, huh?”

The man flipped his hand from side to side. “Ehhh, somewhat. My father was German but he split so I don’t know as much German as I do Spanish.” Richie nodded. “That wasn’t your man back there, was it? The blonde?”

“Oh Randy? No, no he’s just a friend.”

“And the babies?”

“Are his.”

He gave a slow smile. “Oh, so I wasn’t in the wrong winkin’ at you then?” He pushed himself off from the desk and walked in Richie’s direction.

“Um…”

He cocked his head to the side. “You don’t have a man?”

"Ahhm..." The mystery man licked his lips slowly and the air in Richie’s lungs escaped him. He felt his heart skip a beat. My goodness. Have I been out the loop so long, I've forgotten what attraction feels like? I'm usually much smoother than this. "Um no. No, I don't have a man."

The EMT kept smiling.

More to come.
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