A Better Man(100)

Panic widened her eyes. "I don't have anything to say."



       
         
       
        

"Don't make us get the interrogation light and smoke cigars in your face till you break," Parker joked, even though it was no joking matter.

"Have a seat." Jordan pulled out the chair she'd been sitting in.

Pippy looked at the chair, then at all of them. "He had to do it," she announced, then burst into tears.

Jordan's heart sank. What the hell was going on?

Ryan's brows pulled together tight. "He who?"

"Not sure I even want to hear this," Nicole said.

"But we're going to." Jordan handed his aunt a napkin to wipe her tears. "Aren't we, Aunt Pippy?"

"I can't tell you who," she said between sniffs. "I'll be betraying him."

"I don't care if you're talking about the president of the United States," Ryan said. "This family's future depends on your answer. So yes, you will tell."

Fingers curled over the backrest, she stared at the chair they expected her to sit in. Finally she looked up. "Your father took the money. I can't tell you why. Don't ask. I can't betray him any further. He was a good man but he wasn't perfect. And neither was your mother. God rest their souls."

She heaved a huge sigh. "And now I will be going to church so God doesn't strike me dead for my disloyalty."

As their aunt escaped the room without giving them further details, they all sat there stunned, staring at the half-­empty box of donuts like it held the answers they sought.

"Oh my God." Nicole started to cry. "It's starting to make sense now."

"What is?" Ryan asked.

Nicki tossed Jordan a panicked look and he knew he had to step in.

"Nicki told me something that I haven't been able to share with any of you yet," Jordan said, his heart breaking for his sister. Because no matter what she said, the truth was none of them knew much more now than they did when they'd first entered the room.

Declan slid his hand over the back of her chair. "What's up, buttercup?"

"Seems there's some confusion about a conversation she had with Dad before he and Mom left for Hawaii. And that's why she's been so . . . touchy."

Expression apologetic, Ryan looked at Nicole. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I've felt something was out of place but I never knew what or why. And I never asked. I guess I just got too wrapped up in my own problems." 

"Me too." Ethan nodded. "I should have paid more attention."

The more they discussed, the more Nicole slunk down into her seat with tears streaming down her face.

"But how does Dad pilfering money have anything to do with Nicki?" Declan asked.

No sense tiptoeing around the subject. This had to come out. Not just to help Nicki, but to try and put to rest one more mystery.

"Nicki doesn't seem to think she's our real sister," Jordan said.

"What?" Every confused head, including Ryan's, turned toward her.

Ethan stood up and faced Jordan like he was looking for a fight. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I didn't say that," Jordan said to make it clear in case his brother started throwing punches. "She did. Dad admitted to her that something in his past had affected him in a negative way where she was concerned. He said he didn't blame her. But he did tell her that he didn't know if he could ever move past it to be the kind of father she wanted."

Nicki broke down in tears again. The poor thing was surrounded by five men who were reduced to pansy asses at the sight of a woman's tears. Even their own sister's. Then as if a glass wall shattered, they were all up and hugging her.

"There's no way you're not our sister," Ryan said. "You look just like us."

"That's what I told her," Jordan added.

"We love you, Nicki." Ethan squeezed her tight and Parker pushed him out of the way.

"Best little sister ever," Declan added.

"That would be totally crazy," Parker said. "But even if it were true, you're still our sister no matter what."

Riley heard the commotion and shuffled into the kitchen. As soon as she saw her aunt crying and all her uncles hugging her, Riley started crying too. Ryan opened his arm and his little girl dove right into the mix.

"We're a family." Emotion clogged Ryan's throat. "And we always will be."

Jordan had intended to tell them all about his decision for his future, but family came first. They all had enough on their plates to have to worry whether he planned to continue playing hockey or not.