“Tessa, I’m sorry,” Oliver starts, “I should have told you before.”
“What happened?” Quinn barks. Oliver takes a step back and waits for me to tell my friend. Taking a big breath in, I comply.
“Oliver just told Mark and Jackson who my father is.”
Quinn’s brows furrow. “Okay… and who are we talking about?”
“Garrett Fitzpatrick.” I wince. His jaw drops for an instant before he scowls. Turning to Oliver, he let it out.
“Dickhead. Her parents aren’t a subject she ever discusses. It wasn’t up to you to bring it up. Don’t you know her at all?”
I wince. Oliver really doesn’t know me. Not like Quinn does.
“I don’t need to know her to understand her. And what I understand right now is that it’s time to come clean with a few things to help us see clearer and find some truth in VanHorn’s life.”
Oliver steps closer and caresses my forearm. I let him do so, craving his touch.
“Not to her detriment!” Quinn’s nostrils flare like a dragon spitting his heat.
“Have you ever thought that the truth won’t harm her but would help her move on? I believe you need to have the best cards in your hand to play the best game, and Tessa has been trumped all her life with half-truths and a fucking bad hand. I don’t know much yet, but if you give me your green light, Blue-hair, I will find more. I’ll never let go until I find why they hid the truth from you.” If Quinn grunts and mumbles something I can’t comprehend, my anger and pain dissolve hearing Oliver. Slowly, I raise my hand toward his face and caress his cheek. He tilts his head slowly to kiss my palm.
“We’re good?” he asks with a sincerity I haven’t seen yet.
“Yeah, but next time you find something about my family, maybe talk to me first?” He nods against my hand and kisses it one more time before stepping back.
“You two are disgusting. I want to throw up!” Quinn says behind me.
“There is a bucket under the sink,” I answer, having found peace somewhat again. “Quinn, come with us to the conference room. I’ll explain everything.”
So I do.
For the next hour, I tell the guys what I know about my parents, or at least what I’ve been told.
“So your parents never lived together?” Jackson asks through the phone.
“No. I would see my dad regularly and spend weekends with him when he could.”
“And when did VanHorn come into the picture?” Quinn asks.
“I was four, maybe five. You know it’s one of those memories that exists because of pictures and stories you were told.”
“Do we know what he was doing at the time?” It’s Mark's turn to speak. He replaces a few strands of blond hair and sends Oliver a pointed look.
“Supposedly, he was a SEAL. Nothing confirms or denies that point of his story. He’s hiding something, that I’m sure of, but I don’t think it has to do with his military career.”
“So should we drop the case and tell our client it’s none of our business?” Jackson asks. I can hear Catherine’s speech in his question. Keeping my stepdad in his good book is important for the business and if they got hired for a job they weren’t doing much of anymore for a while and didn’t find anything conclusive, maybe they should drop it. But something inside of my stomach is telling me I don’t want them to drop it. I don’t want them to walk on eggshells and hide things from me. I need to know the truth once and for all.
Mark, Quinn and Oliver look at me and in unison answer to Jackson. “No.”
“Alright guys, keep digging. But don’t take too many risks for something that could be a private matter.” Mark shakes his head at his friend’s words and Quinn rolls his eyes. “Or, whatever. Tessa is family. I just needed to say it. I have to go but keep me posted.” Jackson hangs up, leaving me with the three guys. Quinn and Mark stand while Oliver gathers his things. I stay behind, not really sure what to do and wishing someone would talk to me about what the next step is.
When I’m about to give up and walk away from the room, Mark opens his mouth.
“Okay, Murdock. I trust you to give Oliver all he needs and wants, and of course to answer the questions you have answers to. I won’t have time to look into it but Oliver is staying for a little while and Quinn of course can help, but I’m pretty sure you prefer to spend more time with Le Pew than with that asshole,” he says, pointing at Quinn. I shrug trying not to give myself away but from the twinkle Mark has in his eyes, he already knows.
“I’ll take care of her,” Oliver says. Mark and Quinn burst out laughing.
“I’m sure you will, Le Pew.” Quinn says, “I’m sure you will.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
OLIVER
The truth will set you free.
If I am ready to find it for Tessa and liberate her from the burden of the lies her parents told, then I’m a hypocrite.
For years now, I hid the truth and my guilt from Elaine’s parents.
I’m not even sure why anymore.
I disappeared after crying on Mark’s shoulder, barely holding on at the funeral and didn’t say a word to anyone for five years.
Pat coming and reaching out, telling me how proud he was I had become a father and how happy he was I came back to Virginia, had been excruciating.
I wanted
