Our Wedding

Chapter Fourteen

I quickly left the hotel my parents were staying at before making my way to a more private area. I needed to call my sister, Celia, right away. She had decided to sit out Eli's wedding and was currently back home in Maine. Now I understand why she decided to sit out. She knew Eli would be upset with this news. She knew what her decision would cause. I feel bad for her. She was lied to her entire life. She grew up believing one thing when it was all a lie. I could sympathize with her feelings. I was feeling the same way. I had spent years thinking I had a little sister. I grew up with a little sister and now she's just my half-sister and my cousin. I can't even wrap my head around this. I could not understand how my father had done this. I could not understand how my aunt had done this. Was this why uncle David couldn't live in this world anymore? It surely didn't help. After he came back from the war he had a lot of PTSD and he had a lot of trauma. I believe having his wife tell him that she not only cheated on him with her ex-boyfriend who just so happens to be her sister's husband but she also conceived a child and gave her to them was just too much for him. I had never understood fully how much my uncle was struggling. I heard about it and I saw it once when I was younger but I had never understood. I was a child. Children don't understand that amount of trauma. I still can't completely understand all the trauma he must have been in. I have never been to war before. I can't believe my family has been sitting on this secret for this long. How was I supposed to talk about it? Was I supposed to talk about it? Had aunt Andrea told Travis about this? The news is out now. I should give him a call later. I made it to my restaurant a few blocks away from the hotel. I had not picked a destination in mind but when I noticed the familiar building approaching, I knew it was the best place to have this call. I could not have this call back at the apartment without explaining everything to Nathan. I could not have this call in the streets, it was too private, too important. I arrived at the restaurant before asking the person I put in charge if he would let me use his office. He quickly accepted and I took a deep breath before dialing the familiar phone number my sister has had for years. I don't call Celia often but she has had the same number since she got a phone in high school. I waited patiently until she picked up. I smiled when she did.

"I can only assume you heard," She said once she picked up the phone and I sighed. I guess we are skipping the pleasantries.

"How are you dealing with all this? I may not be your full brother Lia but I still care about you. Mom and dad are crazy" I asked her while passing my hand through my hair. This secret wasn't even about me but it was causing so much stress.

"You expected this from Dad, right? You always saw the bad in him. Well, you were right. At least now you know why he missed your birthday and uncle's funeral. What I can't get behind is how your mother forgave him and kept this secret" She ranted and I felt a sting when she referred to mom as my mother. Celia grew up with mom, she could still call her that. She was the only mom Celia had ever known.

"Turns out dad was at my birthday, Eli saw him on the phone talking to aunt Andrea" I explained and I could hear her grumble at the mention of her birth mother.

"Don't say her name. That woman has done enough. Speaking of Eli, how is he?" She asked softly and I knew my sister felt bad about all this. She felt bad about wanting to transfer to New York. She feels bad about taking Eli's job from him. Maybe there was a chance that I could convince her to change her mind. Maybe she could run a different branch?

"He's upset. Dad's news really caused him pain. Are you really going to take his job? Is that really what you want?" I asked her. I had hoped she would change her mind. I know she is dealing with a lot but this was unfair to Eli. This could ruin his life, and his wedding. It could ruin everything.

"I don't want any of this Owen. I don't want to find out that the woman I thought was my mother isn't. I didn't want to find out that the woman who had always been my aunt is actually my mother. I don't want to be related to this family but sometimes things happened that we don't want. I can't go back there. I can't go work in Texas knowing that she's there. Can you believe the woman wants a relationship with me?!" She explained and I could tell that she was frustrated. I was frustrated too. I was still angry that my parents had kept this secret for this long. I could not believe that they had lied to us for this long.

"I understand that you are hurt, Lia. You just found out the worst thing that has ever happened but Eli didn't do anything. He has never upset you, he doesn't even know about this. You can't just take his job. He has worked his butt off for the last two years to make this branch the success it is. You can't do this to him" I pleaded with her. I really hope she can understand this side of things. Eli has nothing to do with this.

"Why are you sticking up for him? Weren't you mad at him for stealing all of dads attention? Didn't you completely cut them both out of your life? Why do you care about Eli's job this much?" She asked me and I seriously wished I could slap that attitude out of my sister. I know she's hurt and is going through a lot but there was no need for all this toxic energy.

"Eli and I made up. I was never mad at him, I was mad at dad, and granted after today those feelings have not changed. I wish I could go back to when I thought dad was just a crazy workaholic. Knowing all this now is too much" I explained to her and I really wish I could pull her into a hug right now. She must really need one.

"What are we going to do Owen?" I heard her shift gears and my eyes softened. This was my little sister. This was the sweet little girl who had nothing to do with this. This was the same girl who would come into my room and ask for a hug when a storm was going on outside. This was my baby sister asking for my help.

"Are you happy at dads company?" I asked her sincerely and waited for her answer.

"It's what I was born to do" She stated and I frowned. That is not what I asked and that was not the answer I was looking for.

"Lia, are you happy?" I asked her once again.

"What do you have in mind?" She asked and I smiled widely. There was the answer I was looking for. There was the out that she had been looking for. I knew exactly what to do next.

***

"I'm sorry, what? Are you...Are you okay?" The concerned boy that I had been dating for the last year asked me. I had just told Nathan the entire story and he was visibly concerned. I found it sweet that he was wondering if I was okay. He was so good, so sweet. I grabbed his hand and kissed it gently.

"I don't really know how to feel. I am confused and angry and betrayed. How could they have kept this a secret for twenty years? How could my mother stay with him after all that? I just don't understand my family anymore. We have always been dysfunctional but this is just insanity" I stated while expressing all my emotions before I collapsed on the couch. Today was too much for me.

"It's okay to feel this way Owen, so much has happened today and you need to process it all. I'm still processing it all. How is your sister doing?" He asked me and I gave him a soft smile. Nathan is so caring.

"She's managing. We did come to a solution after our much-needed conversation. She has decided to leave my father's company and Eli gets to keep his job. Granted after he hears everything he might not want to keep his job. I don't think my father's company will be active for much longer" I explained while smiling and Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"What does that mean?" He asked and I pulled him into me before playing with his fluffy hair that I may be obsessed with.

"Let's just say plans are in the work," I told him before kissing that confused look off his face. Nathan chuckled at the kiss before I flipped us over. Today may have been a long day but tonight is going to be fun.

*Chuckles evilly* Owen and Celia definitely don't have a secret plan brewing. Anyways what a crazy day! Finding out your parents have kept a twenty-year-old secret this entire time must be mentally and physically draining. I feel drained just knowing about it. This chapter had some good brother half sister conversations and we finally got to officially meet Celia. I actually really like her despite how she was brought into this world. I wonder what will happen now? I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

~Jess