Uncovering Secrets

Uncovering Secrets

Book Two: Acts Without Consequences

F. Carod

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To my nephew Santiago and my niece Natalia, for being two little crazy inspiring stars in my life.

CONTENTS

Dark Wings

Time to Remember

Game On

The Countdown Begins

When Dreams Come True

Teamwork

Wedding Day

Beyond Prediction

Done with Surprises

Behind our lips there are words unspoken,

Hidden fragments of truth, secrets unbroken,

Only the eyes that find the soul inside,

Are able to understand what silence presides.

PREFACE

The company has been closed for a while now. I thought things would be normal. I was wrong. It looks like the real game is now starting. I learned a few moves in the past but this time is different.

Life is full of surprises, isn’t it? I tell Jessie while we wait for the food we ordered.

She nods. I’d say that… I’m glad the worst is over though, that it’s now in the past, she adds with a smile.

I get a feeling that it isn’t, I say and I look away.

Something came up. I wish I could tell you.

I turn to my left side, towards Logan. He’s talking to Paul and Jacob about basketball.

Who are you, Logan? What have you done?

Logan turns to me and I manage a smile, hiding my growing fear towards him. His eyes narrow at the edge while his hand dances to my knee. He holds my eyes for a long second without returning the smile, and then he goes back to his conversation. He knows exactly what’s wrong.

1 dark wings

Let me see if she’s up.

I hear Ethan’s voice outside my door. I haven’t made the decision to open my eyes yet. I stayed up late last night, and the night before, trying to come up with a good way to break the news about my engagement.

I’m up, I announce.

She’s up.

Ethan hands me the phone and sits at the end of the bed.

Hi George, how’s your honeymoon?

Unbelievable, Jan. I have to bring you to Egypt some day, you’ll love it! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Have you seen the videos I sent you? 

Yeah, Brad played them yesterday, we all watched them. Lorraine seemed really happy.

She is, we both are. It was her dream to see the pyramids so you can imagine how she’s been. How are you? Anything new?

I bite my lip. You don’t want to know, George. No, not really. When are you coming back?

We’ll be there in three days,

Great! Well, don’t let me keep you! Say hi to Lorraine for me.

George laughs on the other end of the phone, Alright Jan, I’ll see you soon. 

I give the phone back to Ethan and cover my face with my hands. He’ll freak out when I give him the news.

What? He said something? Ethan asks intrigued. I forgot about him sitting there.

He’ll be back in three days.

And you don’t want him to come back?

I have to tell him something that he’s not going to like. I promised Logan we would tell my brothers together but I could use telling Ethan; I’m sure he’ll be on my side.

You’re pregnant! Ethan stands up abruptly, wobbling the bed. Janny, I can’t believe it! he shouts, getting angry.

I’m not pregnant! My face wrinkles at his conclusion.

You’re not?

No! 

Are you positive?

Yes, I’m positive, I say, irritated.

Then you’re gay. He sits down again, Janny, George will be okay with it, we support you no matter wha—

What? Ethan, please stop guessing!

If you are—

I’m with Logan! Why would you even think that?

Is everything okay? Why are you two screaming? Ryan comes into my bedroom looking worried. We must have woken him.

I breathe, trying to compose myself, while Ethan stays quiet. I was getting really annoyed.

I study Ryan. I was only going to tell Ethan but, what harm can it do?

I—

Are you— Ethan is about to come out with another ridiculous suggestion.

Stop it. My eyebrows go up as I shoot a warning look at Ethan. I’m going to get married. I say it fast, waiting for a reaction.

Nothing. I look at Ryan and Ethan, but they are expressionless, as if I didn’t say anything. Maybe they didn’t hear me?

Guys? I try, starting to get nervous.

Ryan puts his hand on his chin, considering what I said. So they heard me. Ethan cleans his throat.

Congratulations? Ethan tries, but it sounds like a question.

Thanks, I answer with a frown. Are you alright? I ask them, preoccupied.

The atmosphere starts getting heavier, but they seem to be more in shock than upset.

Yeah, wow, that’s some news, Jan. Ryan sits down next to Ethan.

Are you sure that’s what you want? Ethan asks me.

I nod. Logan proposed last week.

And you told him you’d think about it? He tightens his eyes, as if he’s begging for a yes in his head.

I said yes.

Okay, okay. He’s speaking to himself. His eyes drop to the right, he’s thinking.

Well, he gets up. Logan is very lucky. He leans forward to give me a hug. I smile, relaxing. He’s fine with it. He breaks the hug and hits Ryan’s shoulder. Aren’t you going to congratulate your little sister? he prompts.

Ryan gets up. I guess, he’s still not sure.

Leave that crap to George, would you? Ethan snaps. Ryan looks at me with sudden sympathy.

Congratulations Jan. He hugs me too.

That wasn’t so bad, I say as I dry my hair after my shower, and get dressed quickly. Ryan and Ethan are on my side, so that’ll help. Pregnant indeed. I shake my head, dismissing the thought.

Ryan went to play hockey so it seems that it’s only the two of us, Ethan says as he sets the table for breakfast.

Morning. Matt comes down the stairs at the same time that Brad enters the house, carrying groceries. I stand up to help him. 

What are you doing up so early? Ethan asks him. You just got back from the party,

Yeah, sorry I scared you, man, Matt laughs at Ethan.

What happened? I find myself smiling.

Nothing compared to you getting married. Ethan laughs nervously.

My eyes go wide open. Ethan!

What? That angry voice belongs to Brad. Who just dropped the bag he was carrying.

Oh my God, Jan, I’m so sorry, Ethan apologizes, concerned. 

He’s joking, Brad, Matt grumbles, putting a hand to his head. Brad’s volume is not helping his hangover.

Ethan looks at me. Sorry, he mouths.

He’s not joking, I finally say.

Matt stares at me, forgetting about his headache, and spins round to see Brad’s reaction.

Brad presses both hands on the counter, as if he’s trying to regain his balance. Matt picks up the things Brad dropped, and luckily nothing was damaged. He puts them in the fridge.

Brad comes to the table and sits down slowly. I contemplate running outside, but then I laugh at my thoughts and sit down next to him. I am a little afraid. Not afraid of him, I was trained to not succumb to fear, but afraid of disappointing him, and I wasn’t exactly trained in that area.

Janny, if you don’t want to live here anymore you don’t have to get married. You can move out and we’ll help you.

My chest contracts. That’s not why I’m marrying Logan, I say in a calm, compassionate voice.

Brad lets out a small laugh. You don’t even know him. He doesn’t sound angry, he sounds… defeated. I’d rather see him mad; I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

Ethan brings one plate of fruit and another of waffles and sits down. Matt drinks some juice and sits down too.

There was a time when most girls married at sixteen, Ethan says trying to help.

Matt gives him a weird look. I don’t think he’s helping but I smile a little anyway. Oh Ethan.

Are you sure this isn’t about us? Brad asks me.

No, of course not. I love being here, I love you, I quickly respond, then I work on a better way of convincing him. Brad, I know this might seem crazy.

I stop as apparently that’s all I have. Where are the hundreds of speeches I have rehearsed all night?

But? he asks expectantly

We want to start a life together. It’s all I manage to say. After all, that is the only answer there is.

What if he’s not what you expect? What if he turns out to be a— He stops talking and covers his face with his hands. He’s struggling. 

I could turn out to be something he’s not expecting too, but we are willing to take the risk because we love each other.

There’s more to it than love, Jan.

Then help me, I say, feeling hopeful.

Brad smiles at me but it doesn’t touch his eyes. You are so young. Don’t you want to explore other options? Do something more with your life?

My life’s not going to end with marriage.

Right. He doesn’t sound like he means it. Let’s have some breakfast, shall we? He taps my knee gently. I guess he’ll think about it. Let’s see what George has to say, he adds, looking at me like this conversation is hardly over.

Don’t tell him.

No, of course not, I’ll leave that to you. He winks at me.

The next two days are busy as the restaurant is hosting a big event and we’re all doing something. I’m in charge of seating so I receive each guest and take them to their table. It’s interesting to meet all the different personalities but I don’t have any time for myself or Logan. The event is a success and so is the publicity that they are doing for the restaurant.

I leave early on the second day. For the last few hours I haven’t felt good; I think I’m coming down with something. I rest in my bed. I know I’ll get up early anyway but I won’t wake up to an alarm.

The morning isn’t as warm as usual. I wait in line at the coffee shop to order a coffee to go. Instead of sitting like I normally do, I decide to go for a walk. There’s a small park nearby which I used to go to often with my brothers. I haven’t been there in a long time.

I watch the kids playing and jumping around. Their laughter is fine at first but then I get dizzy and the sound makes my head start spinning. I stand up, ready to go back home, when my phone rings. Logan’s face in front of the waterfall at our favorite restaurant shows up on the screen. Jessie took that picture when I accepted his marriage proposal.

Hello?

Hi babe, what are you up to?

Not much, you?

I was actually thinking of dropping by your house, if that’s alright.

Sure, I’ll meet you there.

Great, love you!

Love you too.

Logan arrives before me. He’s sitting on the doorstep waiting for me.

Tonight’s the night.

Yes, we have to tell George, I say to him, smiling nervously.

Well, all of them, he tells me, putting his arms around me. And then you can start wearing your ring.

Yeah, about that. My brothers already—

Ethan, Matt, Ryan and Brad come into the house, interrupting us and carrying groceries. Logan drops his arms and helps them with the bags.

Logan, are you sure about this? Brad says to him, serious.

Seriously, Brad? Why couldn’t you wait five minutes for me to tell him? As if I wasn’t feeling bad enough already.

Logan looks at me with wide eyes. You told them?

I nod, looking guilty and placing a hand on my stomach. I take a deep breath, letting the nausea pass. Logan leaves the bags on the kitchen table. Is he upset?

You should have waited, says the voice in my head.

Too late now so shut up, I say in my mind.

Logan invites everyone to sit down. I do so, trying to ignore the fight in my head.

Logan’s voice is calm and relaxed when he speaks.

Jan is the most beautiful girl I know, inside and outside. I want to be with her and make her happy for the rest of my life. I love her and, surprisingly, she loves me as well so she agreed to marry me. I know you worry about her but I can assure you that I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe and happy.

I watch everyone’s reactions, politely smiling at him. I guess it would have been better to have had him there the first time. That was close. He can’t be mad at me: he just said he wants to keep me happy so being upset with me would not make me happy. I laugh at my thoughts.

Well, good luck with that! says Matt mockingly, shaking hands with Logan.

We’re going to have lunch at the restaurant, you guys want to come? says Ryan, putting the rest of the groceries away in the kitchen.

I think I’m going to take a break from the restaurant, I say.

We made plans but maybe we’ll see you there later? says Logan.

Ok! You guys have fun.

They all shake hands with Logan before leaving. After all, that was a good speech.

Welcome to the family, says Ethan giving Logan a one-arm hug.

Logan smiles and closes the door behind them. Logan turns to me, smile fading from his lips.

I thought we agreed to do it together. I sense irritation in his voice.

Sorry. I don’t know what else to say.

Did you tell George? he asks me, lifting an eyebrow.

No. And I’m not looking forward to it.

We’ll do that together, okay?

I nod. Do we have plans, or did you just want to get rid of them? I ask and stroke his shoulder, doing my best to sound seductive.

He laughs: not the reaction I was expecting.

We have plans, c’mon, you’ll love it, he replies, squeezing my hand while he hurries to the door.

He drives for a while. I can only think about George. What if he objects? Well, of course he will: he’s thirty-seven and he’s only just now marrying Lorraine. He’ll obviously think I’m too young. Well, it’s not his decision and I already said yes to Logan… But on the other hand, he’s coming back from his honeymoon. He’ll be in a good mood.

I thought you might miss some action, says Logan, opening the car door.

I was lost in my thoughts so I didn’t even realize he’d stopped. I look at the place where we are. Paint-ball; this will be fun.

We reach reception and the young man points us to a small training space, which we don’t need. Or at least Logan doesn’t, he plays this thing all the time. He pays for our entrance and we get geared up. He’s blue and I’m red. The place is dark but there are neon colors moving around: the vests of other players. I hide behind a box when I see him. I grin and aim, but I miss him. He saw me, damn, he moves fast. I feel playful and excited; it’s been a long time since I’ve had this kind of fun. I finally catch him off guard and I shoot. Yes! I’m winning.

I move back to hide. When I lean out from behind my shelter, I see him with a big smile on his face. He’s enjoying himself too, and I can’t believe he looks so ridiculously handsome even with the goggles and equipment. Ouch. Blue paint covers my vest. I shoot back and there’s red paint all over his.

You lost your focus there! he shouts, smiling.

Who wouldn’t when you look like that? I shout back.

Aw, babe come here, he says, opening his arms.

Now! says the voice in my head, and I shoot, laughing. He laughs and runs towards me, dropping the weapon and lifting me in his arms. We kiss, and when he puts me down our vests have a strange mix of