Flame and Ink: An Anthology (Happy Ever After #1)(22)

Flashes of meaty fists and breath tainted with cheap booze filled his mind, and he shook it off.

“Once a Montgomery, always a Montgomery,” Griffin said from his side.

“Pretty much,” Decker said smoothly. “If you’re in a hurry, you can head out and we’ll get Meghan and the kids home when they’re ready to leave.”

“She’s my wife. Not yours.”

“Decker. Griffin. Let it go,” she whispered.

Decker shook his head. “Sorry, hon, Austin and Sierra’s party just started, and we haven’t done the toasts yet. You should stay. If Richard needs to go, he can go.” He looked into her eyes and prayed she understood he meant more than for that one night.

“Fine. Keep the brats here.”

“I need the boosters,” Meghan whispered.

“Then you should come with me,” Richard snapped.

Meghan glared. Good. There was still some fire in her. “I’m not risking my children’s lives because you want to leave early.”

“Our children, Meghan. You best remember that.” He smiled coolly, and Decker froze.

So that’s why she stayed. For the kids. That motherf*cker.

“We got boosters in the house,” Griffin said. “Mom and Dad keep them in case they have the kids.” He didn’t mention that Decker had bought them when Richard had left Meghan alone with the kids and taken her car one time.

She didn’t need to remember that. On second thought, maybe she did.

“Fine.” Richard didn’t even say goodbye to Cliff and Sasha before stomping away. Meghan visibly relaxed when the man left.

“Meghan…” Decker started, but she held up a hand.

“No. Not here. I need to take care of my children.”

He nodded, knowing she was stronger than his own mother. At least he hoped. “I’m here if you need me.”

“Me too,” Griffin added. “We all are.”

She cupped both their cheeks and smiled sadly. “I know. I love you both. Now go and talk to Austin or Sierra or something. I need a moment.”

Decker nodded before leaving her alone with Griffin. His friend would take care of her until she pushed him away because she thought she was too strong to lean on someone. He wouldn’t let her situation grow to be what his past had been, but he also knew there was only so much a person could do without physically pulling them away.

That wouldn’t help anyone.

“That prick gone?” Austin growled when Decker reached him. Sierra punched her fiancé in the stomach, and he winced before wrapping his arm around her.

“Watch your mouth,” she whispered and looked over his shoulder.

Austin and Decker looked as well. Austin’s son, Leif, stood near, his attention on whatever Storm was saying and not on Austin’s words thankfully. Leif had come to the family after his mother had passed and Austin had found out he was a daddy. Strange as hell to think of it all, but Decker loved the boy like he’d been raised with them from birth. He fit right in.

“Yep. That prick is gone. I’m worried about her. Alex too.” He might as well let it all out. Austin was his big brother, and Sierra was going to be a new sister. They were family.

Sierra shook her head. “We all are. They know we’re here, and if there’s anything we can do, we’ll figure it out.”

Decker pulled her from Austin’s arms and gave her a tight hug before pressing his lips to hers in a hard kiss.

“Hey, get your mouth off my woman.”

Decker pulled back and smiled at a flushed Sierra. “But she’s such a pretty woman.” He tucked her into his side. “See? She fits just right.”

Austin growled then pulled a laughing Sierra to him. “No, she fits against my side. You’re an ass.”

Decker grinned. “A hot ass. And you know it.”

“You two are idiots, but I love you.” Sierra laughed at her words, but Austin growled. “I mean I love Decker in a brotherly sort of way. I love you in a sexy, sweaty way. Okay?”

Decker raised his hands in mock surrender. “I so do not need to think about that. I’m going to go see how Harry’s doing. Let me know when you want help with your toast or something.”

Austin nodded, but his eyes were all for Sierra.

Fuck, what would it be like to have a love like that? A person who was by your side no matter what.

Decker didn’t think he’d ever have that. Not with the way his mind and body wanted the one person he couldn’t have. In his experience, love didn’t last, and marriages were only shackles he knew some people could never be rid of.

Of course, that wasn’t quite true since the couple he’d just left seemed to be on the right path, but he wasn’t sure yet. Then of course, the couple he was in front of had been together for over four decades and still looked like they were more in love every day.

But love hurt when one person was sick.

Harry Montgomery had always been larger than life. He was a big man with an even bigger heart. Yet the man in the chair in front of him didn’t look like that now. The extracorporeal radiation therapy—Decker had been reading up—that targeted Harry’s prostate cancer had taken a toll. The man looked so much smaller, weaker, and paler than Decker had ever seen.

The doctors told him they’d caught the cancer early and things were looking good, but the treatment looked like it hurt worse than the cancer. And now, in Decker’s eyes, Marie was forced by love, duty and circumstance to stand by her husband’s side as he grew weaker and weaker. How was that reward for love? How could that be worth it? The pain and loss that could come with growing close to someone didn’t make sense to him, and he wasn’t sure he deserved it in the first place.