“Yeah, but I know better than most that you’re always five minutes behind.”
Elijah gave him a wry smile. “Funny, big brother. I’ve heard it all before. Just because you were born before me it doesn’t mean I’m one step behind you.”
“About following in my footsteps, how’re things at the hospital?” Charles asked as they continued toward the tent.
“Under control. We managed to get the patients waiting down to a reasonable headcount before I left.” Elijah couldn’t fault Charles for his dedication to his job, even on his wedding day. “What you need to be worrying about is that beautiful bride of yours. I’ve got the ER covered. Enjoy the day, your honeymoon and let me handle the rest.”
“I’m trying. I guess most of my worrying has to do with nerves.”
Elijah didn’t doubt that. The thought of a wedding made him edgy as well and he wasn’t the one getting married. He looked around. “So where are the rugrats?”
“Max and Cameron are with Grace. They’ll be coming down the aisle ahead of her.”
Elijah gave him a brotherly pat on the back. “I hope you have them bundled up. It’s cold out here.”
Charles laughed. “I know. But this is what Grace wanted. I love her so that’s what we’re having.”
That kind of love Elijah couldn’t comprehend. He’d never felt that for a woman. Didn’t think he ever would. He understood wanting, enjoying, appreciating a female but loving one the way his brother did Grace wasn’t something he’d experienced. More than that, Charles had been able to find it twice. Elijah didn’t plan to have it even once.
They approached the group of people creating a semicircle around one of the fire pits. His mother and father were there, standing close but not too close. His two younger sisters, who were dressed the same as Helena had been, except for white capes over their shoulders, stood off to the side, talking to Zac, his other brother, who was dressed like Elijah, down to the red scarf and hat.
This was his family. The one he loved and had betrayed. He’d kept an ugly secret from them that he had no right to. He had hurt his mother, who had done nothing but love and support him, to protect his father. He blamed himself for the farce they all were. And for the horror of the media circus they had become.
He took his sister Penny in his arms for a hug. “Hey, sis. You look great. Big change from that flight suit I usually see you in.” Turning to the other woman, he gathered her to him. “Good to see you, Miranda.”
“You look nice, Elijah,” his half-sister said. “Love the hat.”
“Thanks.” He slapped Zachary on the back and stepped over to his mother. The harsh look she’d worn as she’d watched him and Miranda embrace turned to one of warmth as she gave him a tight hug. His father came up beside them and extended his glove-covered hand. Elijah hesitated a moment before taking it. “Father.”
It was still difficult for Elijah to face him. The years had gone by and the pain had eased but all that had happened still hung like a bad smell between them. It couldn’t be erased. Elijah glanced at Miranda. The issue was a living, breathing person among them.
He’d been eighteen when he’d been on his way to meet a high school friend in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City. Passing a café, he’d glanced in the window to see his father sitting at a table with a woman and a girl of about twelve. Elijah hadn’t recognized them. He’d stopped and stared. It hadn’t been the type of place Hugo Davenport would frequent. Not thinking twice, Elijah had entered the café and approached the table.
“Hey, Dad. It’s a surprise to see you down here.” Elijah had stood there, grinning.
The shocked then stricken look of his father’s face had created a sick feeling deep in Elijah’s middle. His father had been caught. That was the moment Elijah had grasped he’d stepped into something dirty. He’d glanced at the woman, who had worn a worried look as she’d glanced between his father and him.
“Uh, Elijah. I h-hadn’t expected to see you,” his father had stammered.
He’d given his father a pointed look. “I hadn’t expected to see you either.”
Elijah had watched the woman fix her frightened eyes on his father.
“Daddy, can you pass me the ketchup?” the girl had asked.
Elijah’s attention whipped to the child. Daddy! What was going on here? Yet he already understood too clearly. Apparently, something had been going on for some time. His stomach roiled. He had to get out of here.
His father quickly stood. “Eli, it’s not what you think.” Panic filled his voice.
Elijah didn’t wait to hear more. He made it to the sidewalk before his arm was caught and he was turned to face his father.
“Son, I never wanted you or anyone else to find out like this. Think twice about what you’re going to do. This could destroy your mother. The rest of the family.”
His father should have been the one to think about that. “So what do you want me to do?” He was yelling. His heart was pounding. All he desired was to run.
“Calm down. We don’t want to make a scene.”
How like his father to worry about the family name while he was out ruining it. Protect the family name at all costs, Elijah had heard all his life.
“I want you to keep quiet about this. The affair ended long ago but… I do have a responsibility to Miranda.”
Elijah leaned toward him and all but spat the words, “You have a responsibility to Mom, to me, Charles, Penny. Your other family.”
“And I’m meeting that responsibility. What would be gained by telling everyone about Miranda? Hurting your mother?”
Stepping back, Elijah glared at his father then turned and walked off. The event changed his life and his relationship with his father forever for over the next five years Elijah carried his father’s secret. It’d gnawed at him like a rabid dog all that time until the day had come when the media had found out and all hell had broken loose. But with that Elijah had found relief yet he still carried the weight of having known and not said anything. Blamed himself for the lack of strength to tell everyone that the head of their perfect family was not perfect.
Elijah had been taught not to show emotion. His family was so well-known the media were interested in them. If he displayed his feelings they could be used against him or his family. Elijah ha
d perfected concealing how he felt over the years of keeping his father’s secret. The skill had served him well when it came to his personal relationships also.
By all appearances, his parents, his father in particular, had gone on as if nothing had ever happened. His parents’ marriage had been one to admire by anyone looking from the outside but Elijah knew better. After the media had gotten involved and all the smoke had cleared, his parents had remained married but it was just for looks. His father did his thing and his mother hers.
They remained devoted to the hospital and fund-raising that went along with the Davenport legacy. For generations the Davenport family had been associated with the hospital both as physicians and philanthropists and his parents wouldn’t let that change for any reason. Now his parents showed up as a couple and smiled for the pictures but there was nothing real between them any more. Everything looked all clean and shiny on the outside but was rotten to the core on the inside.
Elijah wanted nothing to do with that kind of relationship. How could he ever trust anyone on an intimate level? His father had been bigger than life in Elijah’s eyes until he’d tumbled far and broken. It was safer not to get involved with anyone. Caring too much hurt. Going from one woman to the next meant his heart never became entangled and that suited him just fine. Appearances meant everything to his parents. Their example of love was a hollow thing. Nothing he was interested in being a part of.
As the years had passed he’d learned to first accept then love his illegitimate half-sister. What he hadn’t been able to set aside was his father convincing him to keep the ugly secret from his brothers and sister, and especially his mom. Elijah wasn’t sure who he was more disappointed with, himself or his father.
These days he and his father managed to remain civil, just barely.
“How’re things in the ER?” his father asked, sounding genuinely interested.
At least they had that in common. His father had been the head of the ER before he’d retired and Charles had taken over after him. Elijah only wished his father had given his family as much attention as he had his patients. “Busy, as you can expect during a storm.”