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I heard a disdainful sniff. Cassandra gasped. “You know Henry Holland?”

“I do, and he has so many lovely pieces.”

“I have others if you’d like to see them,” she said excitedly.

I was stopped from answering her.

“Cassandra, we’re not here to talk about your old teapots and other crap you collect. Pour the coffee so we can get to talking about the important stuff,” her husband barked.

She lowered her eyes. “Mrs. Phoenix, would you like tea? I assume you’re the tea drinker. Anyone else?” I asked. She gave me a grateful smile and nodded.

I knew Bones took coffee. I thought it was telling that Cassandra poured coffee and handed it to the other three. Petra sat back and waited to be attended. I served his mom a cup of tea and ensured she could reach the sugar and milk before I poured Bones a cup of coffee.

“Thank you, baby. Get your tea. I know you’re dying for some,” he urged.

I added a touch of sugar and milk to mine. I inhaled the scent. I knew it. It was a Darjeeling that Alfred drank. “Ah, Darjeeling, wonderful,” I muttered.

“Oh, so you know tea, too,” Petra said with a bite.

“As a matter of fact, I do. There are many things I know. I’m surprised that, for someone who’s been in the family for a long time and is surrounded by such beautiful things, you have no appreciation for them.

There are so many things from the past that are incredible.

” I paused to take a sip and hum. “Mmm, yes. So good. Honey, would you like a scone or a sandwich? I believe there’s cucumber and watercress,” I offered sweetly to my man.

“I’ve got it. I know what you want.” He winked. I saw the faces of his mom and Petra when he served me first. No one else took any. They appeared shocked. What was wrong with the other men in this family?

Finally, we were all set, and I waited. It didn’t take long for the real reason we came here to surface. But before it did, Cassandra asked, “Do you know what you’re having, or is it a surprise?”

“We’re having girls, Mom. They’re not identical, but I’ll be a father to two little girls,” Bones announced proudly. He reached over to lovingly rub my belly. I placed my hand over his and smiled at him.

“Oh, Jagger, that’s wonderful. They’ll be so sweet, and if you dress them alike, how—” his dad cut her off.

“Enough talk of babies, tea, and pots. Jagger is here to discuss his move and the practice,” Jameson Senior said impatiently. Bones set down his cup.

“Dad, I’m not here for any such thing. I was clear to Junior that I had no intention of moving back here or taking over the practice. My life and home are in North Carolina.”

“You’re just being obstinate. He told me that you still practice in an ER sometimes.

It’s time to get serious, work full-time, and do it where you can make real money.

And living in the backwoods of North Carolina with a bunch of rednecks isn’t the place for you.

Boston is your home. Surely your wife would appreciate living in a more civilized place than that. She seems to like the finer things.”

“I do appreciate them, but from the standpoint, they’re my work. I don’t need to own them or dislike living where we do. Have you ever been there?”

“Hell no, and I would never go there. He’s wasting his talent in that place. He’s meant to work here with his brother and Petra!” Jameson bellowed.

“Why the hell would I want to do that? I hated working with you and him years ago. I know it’s no different now. You have Petra there. She and Jameson can carry on the family legacy, as you call it. No thanks. I like where I’m at.”

His dad’s fist came down on the side table, rattling the objects.

His mom jumped. “That’s what this is about.

You’re still holding the past against your brother and Petra.

That’s ridiculous. She’s his wife and the mother of his children.

You’ll just have to put that aside. You’ve moved on enough to marry this one and have kids.

Any feelings you still have for Petra need to stay in the past.”

“First of all, let me be clear. I have no feelings for Petra. The fact that she’s his wife is fine.

I love Blythe, and we’re having our family.

What I don’t need or want is to be choked and work a job I hate with people I can’t respect in a city that makes me unable to breathe.

I need clean air, the openness of the road, and to practice medicine the way I want.

This legacy you speak of is theirs to carry on.

I have no doubt their kids will be forced to become doctors to fulfill the next generation’s obligation. You don’t need me or my kids.”

His dad was fuming, his brother appeared cross, and his mom was sad.

Petra spoke up. “Jagger, this could’ve all been avoided, and you know that.

You could’ve been here and been happy. You were the one to walk away.

I can’t believe that you want the life you have…

” She paused to look at me before continuing.

“When you can have this one. Things can be the way they should’ve been. ”

I knew exactly what she referenced, and so did he. My temper was about to get the best of me. I fought it back.

“I didn’t want that life then, and I sure the fuck don’t want it now. Blythe and our girls are my life.”

“Watch your language,” his dad snapped.

“Come on, Jag, stop it,” his brother said.

Petra was sneering at me. I’d had enough.

“So tell me, Jameson, I mean, Senior. You’re perfectly alright for your oldest son to sleep with his brother’s fiancée behind his back, and the solution was to suggest they both share her as long as no one outside the family knew.

After all, any child would be a Phoenix, so it didn’t matter who their father was.

That being the case, I assume you’re now alright with the fact that their children might not belong to Junior,” I said sweetly.

Petra gasped, Junior was shocked, and his mom appeared stunned. His dad was staring at me, frowning. “Young woman, I have no idea what you’re implying.”

“Simple, your oldest and his saintly wife, who you seem to think walks on water, are in an open marriage. They see and have sex with others. They’re what you’d call swingers.

So I have to wonder, are they one hundred percent sure both kids are his and therefore real Phoenixes to carry on your stupid legacy? ”

All hell broke loose. His dad was yelling. Junior was swearing and yelling. Cassandra wept, and Petra called me foul names. Bones came to his feet and let out an ear-piercing whistle. They all shut up.

“Yeah, I guess the cat is out of the bag. See, when you keep secrets, they always come out. I told you not to push me about coming back, but you didn’t listen, Junior.

Dad, Blythe is right. They’re not saints and never were, but you seem okay with it.

I’m the only one who can do nothing right in your eyes, and I gave up trying long ago.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, I’m taking my wife sightseeing and then back to our hotel where I intend to make passionate love to her. ”

“You can’t just let her come in here and say stuff like that and then leave!

She’s ruined our lives. Why do you hate me so much?

I loved you and Jameson. I still do, Jagger.

I couldn’t choose and knew you would balk at sharing me.

But it’s been years. You’re a biker. We know how they live. You can still have me,” Petra cried.

“Petra, I discovered that I never loved you. The only woman I’ve ever loved is Blythe. And the last thing I’d do with the woman I love is share her. Live your lives, and we’ll live ours. And if you do nothing else, don’t screw up your kids like we were.”

Bones took my hand. We turned to walk out. As we did, Petra sobbed and wailed, “But I still love you. And you have a family here. If you won’t stay for us, stay for your son.” We froze and then turned our heads.

“What did you say?” Bones asked.

“I said, stay for our son. We lied to you. After you left and you found out I was having a baby, we said I was newly pregnant and, therefore, the baby couldn’t be yours.

It was a lie. I did it because I didn’t know, and Jameson said not to tell you.

Jamie is your son, not your brother’s,” Petra said.

My heart dropped. Oh my God, no, they didn’t. What would this do to Bones?

“Petra, if that is true, then yes, that changes things.” She perked up and smiled. Dread filled me.

“If Jamie is mine, he’ll have his father in his life. I’ll arrange for us to do it while we’re here.”

“Do what?” Junior asked.

“Have the paternity test done,” Bones answered.

“Paternity test? There’s no reason to do that. I had it done after he was born. It came back that Jameson isn’t the father. The only other man I was involved with was you. He’s yours. I can show you the results,” Petra said.

“Forgive me, but I want unbiased results,” Bones stated.

“No more. Don’t you say another word, Petra, Junior.

This farce has gone far enough. I can’t stand here and listen to this.

I let you all convince me that what was best was to have both my sons with Petra.

I didn’t believe it, but I went along with it.

It cost me my youngest for ten years. Now, he’s returned and brought his wife.

All you want to do is force him to stay and work.

And you’ve chosen the most disgusting way to do it.

Jagger, yes, Jamie was born early enough that he could be yours.

However, he’s not. The paternity test was conducted, but it revealed that your brother is not his father.

They’re lying to trick you into staying.

Go, be happy. Get away from this place. I wish I could escape.

I let so many years slip by living this life I hate.

With a man I can’t stand,” Cassandra snapped.

Dead silence had descended. Senior, Junior, and Petra stared at her in shock.

“Mom, if you hate it here, then leave. Divorce his ass. You don’t have to live here. And if you want, come see us sometime in Cherokee.”

“He’s right. You don’t need to stay here and be miserable, Mrs. Phoenix. You’re welcome to visit us if you like. We’ll talk about Henry Holland and drink tea,” I told her.

She smiled and said, “Call me Cassandra, and I’ll take you up on that offer. I’d like to know you, Jagger, and my granddaughters. These three can live together. Now, go. Have fun. See you soon.”

And that was how we left them. We’d certainly rocked the boat—and shattered things.

We didn’t know if his mom would do it, but she had the option.

I asked on the way back if he was upset with me.

He told me no, and when we got to our hotel, he more than proved it.

I knew without a doubt that Jagger loved me. And I loved him with everything in me.