An Accidental Family

When I finished the first outline for

An Accidental Family,

Lisa and Sneaky were minor characters who shared one bullet point and added some color to Jason's 7-on-7 football team. As I began working on the story, however, they took on a life of their own. Suddenly, Lisa had two younger sisters, and Sneaky became Jason's best friend.

It's taken me over a year to write the final chapter of this story, with several false starts along the way. Now that it's finished, I hope I've done justice to two of my favorite characters (and, if your comments are to be believed, yours as well). Perhaps I can even earn back those two stars a commenter docked me for not giving Lisa and Sneaky a happy ending in

An Accidental Family, Chapter 2

.

Although this chapter takes place about a decade after

An Accidental Family, Chapter 2

, it may not make much sense unless you've read the first two chapters, both of which I recently re-edited.

Cheers,

CGN

An Accidental Family, Chapter 3

PROLOGUE

Lisa

The dream is always the same. I'm sitting on a grassy hill overlooking a house--our house--my childhood home. It's night, and the sky is filled with stars. For some, the night sky inspires wonder, a glimpse of God's infinite beauty. But for me, it offers loneliness without end. The stars remind me that love exists--just not for me. Not anymore.

If I listen closely, I can hear Mom and Dad shouting--then silence, when my father ends the fight with his fists.

I'm trapped. I can wait on the hill until the darkness takes me or try to slip back inside before he realizes I'm gone. But he'll know. He always knows. Then his anger will come for me, and I'll know I deserve it. I'm the one to blame.

A voice calls to me from the darkness.

"I want you to beg for it--or I can make your sisters beg instead."

I want to run to my father--but I can't. If I do, I'll lose him too. But I can't stop myself. I'm scared, and it hurts so much.

I just want it all to end.

CHAPTER 1

Lisa

I awoke from my dream, exhausted and sweating. And single--again.

It was my choice. It's always my choice.

The night before, she told me she loved me, and I ended things. If I deserved to be loved, I'd still be with Sneaky. But he doesn't know what I've done. If he did, his love for me would vanish, taking with it my last faint whisper of hope. He deserves better, and he found it in L.A.

The memory of the night I ended things is seared in my mind. Sneaky was getting ready for his first training camp. It was remarkable that a tight end was chosen so early in the draft, but pundits agreed he'd still have been a bargain five picks earlier. I felt so proud of him. While some players squandered their signing bonuses on champagne-fueled parties in Vegas, Sneaky used his to pay off his grandparents' mortgage and help three of his younger cousins pay for college.

He'd have done even more, but his

Abuela

insisted he spend some of the money on himself. So, he bought me a ring. The diamond wasn't huge, but it was flawless, set in a practically indestructible titanium band. He didn't want me to worry about breaking or losing it while I played.

He planned the proposal down to the last detail. Everyone was there, including our extended families, both accidental and blood. He asked both of my fathers for permission: my biological father, who was in a federal penitentiary outside of Atlanta, and my adopted father, JT, who, along with his wife Jennifer, rescued us when we were younger and gave us a home.

It was perfect. And I said, "No."

The darkness whispered that I wasn't worthy of his love. That I should save him from a lifetime with me. That he would leave me, because they always do.

I fled--from him and from them all. I couldn't face them for months, not even my family. Soccer became both my punishment and my escape. Eventually, my sisters wore me down with their daily texts and calls, and we reconnected, but I knew Sneaky would never forgive me.

I couldn't imagine his pain. I'd have done anything to save him from that heartache, but I knew it was for the best. Eventually, he'd have heard the voice in my dreams and learned what I'd done. Then he'd have left me, and I'd be all alone.

Again.

Our friends rallied around Sneaky, and I was grateful; I didn't deserve their comfort or support. Cindy Stanley, my oldest and best friend, was the only exception. She kept faith with me even in my darkest times.

I was laser-focused on my career, playing in the pros and then with the national team, only going home to see my sisters. My love life, such as it was, revolved around the women on my teams. No man would ever take Sneaky's place--but it was nice to have a friend, at times, to keep the darkness at bay, if just for a little while. I was too much of a coward to face the darkness alone.

I was so lost in thought I almost missed my phone ringing beneath a pile of last night's clothes. I grabbed it just in time to see my sister Isabel's face light up on the screen.

"Hey, Sissy Superstar! How's the best sister in the world doing this morning? I can't wait for you to come home this weekend!"

I had to smile. If there was one person in the world who could chase the darkness away, it was Isabel. While her older sister, Lucy, was an outgoing, outspoken athlete, Bel took after our adoptive brother, Jason. Like him, she was quiet and thoughtful; her gift was making those around her feel loved. On weekends, you'd find Bel sitting under a tree, lost in a book, while Lucy did her best to dominate the local boys at whatever game was on tap for the day.

"Right back at you, Bel of the Ball! You and Lucy must be counting the days until school's out."

"School's already over; the stupid teachers just won't admit it yet. But they're giving us a half day off on Friday, so Lucy, Shelby, and I'll be there to meet you at the airport when you land."

I shook my head at the news. I loved my sisters, but they could be a bit over the top. The last time I came home, they greeted me at the airport with an enormous sign that read, "Welcome Home from the Convent, Sister Lisa." When I saw them, they were laughing so hard they nearly peed themselves, while JT tried to ignore the concerned stares of onlookers.

"I can't wait to see you all. How's Shelby doing? Is she getting any better?"

My youngest sister, Shelby, was born about a year after my parents married. She was the sweetest girl, but she'd always been painfully shy. So much so that when she started school, her anxiety took over, and she developed selective mutism. She had always found it difficult to speak in public, but over time, it got so bad that she'd only talk with one or two family members at a time or her teacher once all the other students had left.

"I don't know, Sissy Superstar, but I sure hope so. I spend most afternoons with her after school, just letting her talk about her day. When it's just the two of us or when she's with Mom, she's the same old Shelby. But as soon as anyone else joins in, she freezes."

"She's lucky to have a big sister like you, Bel of the Ball. As long as she has you, I know she'll be okay."

"As long as I have you, I know I'll be okay. I've got to go, or I'll be late for school."

The screen went blank, and I lay back on the bed. I opened the location tracking app on my phone but hesitated, as I always did, before looking for Sneaky. After we broke up, I blocked him everywhere I could, but for reasons I could never fully articulate (or even admit to myself), I never stopped sharing my location with him, and he continued to share his with me.

Checking his location became my daily ritual--a final lifeline to the man I loved. I set a strict limit, though: I'd only check his location once a day or sometimes twice when things got bad. Occasionally, I'd just sit and watch his dot as it moved through L.A., wondering what he was thinking and how he was doing.

I tried to let go once he started dating that influencer, Britney Whatshername--the one the press called "Britney Barbie"- but I couldn't. My ritual became another way to punish myself, watching his dot move from the team's practice facility to a fancy restaurant and then back to her place in the Hollywood Hills for the night. I didn't think she'd be his type, but I was once his type, and look where that got him.

That morning, he was back in his apartment, which was unusual. Maybe he needed a night off to rehydrate. If the tabloids were to be believed, Britney was a real tiger between the sheets. Before I closed the app, I prayed he was doing okay and that he would find someone to love him like he deserved to be loved.

I'd see him soon enough. Cindy was marrying Jason in two weeks, and I was the Maid of Honor while he was the Best Man. I'd see him, and my heart would ache, and when it was over, he'd be gone for good.

Hernando "Sneaky" Jiminez

Well, that sucked.

I had just returned from a promotional tour for my sponsors and was ready to kick back and relax for a week before heading to Jason and Cindy's wedding when I received an urgent request to meet at my team's training facility. My agent, Gerardo Ramirez, called while I was in my car.

"Hernando, my friend, we have a serious fucking problem."

Gerardo is one of the top sports agents in L.A. and a straight shooter. He didn't sound too pleased with me.

"That's news to me. What did I do this time?"

"Dude, you can't just leave your dick hanging out online for everyone to see. It might seem like harmless fun, but your contracts all include morals clauses. You could lose everything because of this."

"What are you talking about? My junk is just as private today as it's been my entire life. Did someone get some locker-room pictures of me or something?"

Gerardo paused briefly before he replied.

"So, you didn't have anything to do with Britney's new subscription page? It's everywhere on social media, so it's been pretty hard to miss."

I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"I didn't even know she had a subscription page! The last time we spoke, she assured me she wanted to stay completely aboveboard and legitimate."

"Well, I guess she must have changed her mind, and it looks like you are playing a starring role. Or at least parts of you are."

"Why would she do something like that? It must be a mistake or some kind of AI deepfake. We can sort this out when I get to the facility."

"I'll see you there. Please don't say or do anything until I arrive. Hernando, this is very serious."

Gerardo met me in the players' parking lot, where we were greeted by the team's top brass, including the President, General Manager, Coach, and Vice Presidents of Communications and Human Resources. We were escorted into the large conference room, and the GM kicked things off with a bang. He clicked his pointer, and an image appeared on the screen of Britney with her hands around a very large and very erect penis.

I sat there, too stunned to move.

"What were you thinking, letting Britney post pictures of you like this? You know how large her following is; the league will come down hard on us for this. And believe me, when they do, we'll come down hard on you."

Gerardo adopted his signature

let's-all-be-reasonable

expression and raised his hands in a placating gesture.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this... isn't that right, Hernando?"

He paused, and everyone in the room turned to look at me. I was in shock and could barely respond.

"That's not me."

The room fell silent before the team president leaned over and spoke in a low voice.

"What do you mean that's not you? There's a naked man on the screen with your girlfriend, and you're telling me that's not you?"

I paused as I took in the sheer horror and embarrassment of what I was seeing.

"Yeah, I can definitively say that isn't me. I'm quite familiar with... well... look, I'm sure. Can we leave it at that?"

The following 48 hours of my life were a complete nightmare. When I asked Britney what she was thinking, she responded very matter-of-factly.

"My stats have been unbelievable since we started dating! They're way too good not to start posting subscription-only content. A girl can make some real money with those kinds of numbers!"

She was also surprisingly forthcoming when I asked who the man in the video was.

"I didn't think you'd have time to film content with me, given all your commitments and everything. So, I found a stunt cock. But don't worry; I made sure his equipment would make you look good."

Evidently, she believed I would be excited about this development. I certainly was not.

We broke up, and the increased publicity drew even more viewers to her site. It seemed like this had been her plan all along, and she was surprised that I didn't understand or support her. Here I was, just going about my business, trying to be a good boyfriend and fall in love. I hadn't felt that kind of pain since Lisa rejected my proposal, and it had taken me years to recover. Now, Britney was gone, too.

As the scandal continued to dominate the tabloids, I tried hiding out in my apartment. I spent my time reading and trying not to dwell too much on my life. Eventually, however, I took out my phone and checked my shared locations, as I often did when I was feeling upset or lonely. When Lisa broke up with me, she blocked me on everything, but somehow, she'd forgotten to stop sharing her location. It was my last connection to her, and I couldn't seem to let it go. So, after a moment's hesitation, I pulled up her location and saw that she was at my Abuela's house.

I didn't need to ask what she was doing there; she loved my Abuela as if she were her own grandmother, and Abuela loved her back. When the rest of my family wouldn't even look at Lisa because of what she'd done to me, Abuela tried not to take sides.

"Sneaky, I know you're in pain. But Lisa is suffering, too. If you want, I'll cut her out of my home and life, but you know that she needs me as much as you do."

Abuela became my lifeline to Lisa. Although I never asked, sometimes, when I visited home, she would give me small updates on Lisa's life.

"She's safe. She's doing well."

CHAPTER 2

Lisa

I had decidedly mixed emotions as my flight began its final approach to Atlanta. I knew my sisters would be waiting to welcome me, but I was that much closer to the places that haunted my dreams. I texted JT to let him know we were on the ground as I made my way through the pedestrian tunnel to the main terminal. If I hadn't been so distracted, I might have marveled at the nonchalance with which I now traveled. I'd never been on a plane before leaving for college, and now flying felt so routine that I hardly noticed it.

As I rode the escalator up to the main arrivals hall, I began searching for my sisters. There were so many people that I didn't see them at first, but I heard the unmistakable theme song from

Jurassic Park

playing over a Bluetooth speaker. Then, I spotted two inflatable T-Rexes swiftly making their way through the crowd toward me, accompanied by high-pitched roars and teenage giggles.

I braced myself for impact.

Fortunately, my fellow travelers had the good sense to give me plenty of space and step aside for the charging theropods so they could barrel into me unimpeded while shouting a distinctly un-dinosaurian, "Sissy Superstar!" Both girls' arms got tangled in their costumes, but they still tried to burrow into me as I lay on the ground. Despite my embarrassment at the public spectacle, I couldn't help but laugh with them and hug them back.

"God, I've missed you monsters. You know this will be all over the internet tonight, right?"

They responded with hearty roars and more giggles.

Looking around, I spotted JT standing off to one side of the hall. I knew that these kinds of pranks weren't exactly his cup of tea, but he was dutifully taping it to show Mom when she got home that evening. My youngest sister, Shelby, was hiding behind him, watching our other sisters' antics with a shy smile. I freed a hand to wave at her, and she waved back. I knew she wanted to see me at least as much as the others did, but her anxiety was too overwhelming for her to come to me.

"Alright, monsters. Let me go; I need to see JT and give your sister a big hug."

Shelby might have been the only person on this planet who could have made them stop their assault, but they quickly rolled to the side to let me get up. As I walked over, I noticed a proud smile on JT's face. I didn't feel like I deserved it, but I did my best to return his smile and hide my shame as he pulled me into a hug.

"It's great to see you, Lisa. Jen wanted to be here, but she's in court all day. I'm sure she'll enjoy the footage of your Jurassic ambush when she gets home."

"It's great to see you too, JT, but I can't believe you went along with these hooligans' scheme."

JT gave me a look that was part amusement and part deep and abiding love. He never fussed when I called him by his name instead of 'Dad,' like my sisters did. They were too young to think of their biological father as their dad. But, long after Jen became Mom, I still couldn't help but think of him that way.

"I doubt I could've stopped them if I had wanted to. They saved up their allowances for months just to buy those costumes. They've missed you so much. We all did."

Shelby peeked out from behind JT's waist as he finished and gave me a big, gap-toothed grin.

"Hi, Angel. Can I give you a hug?"

When she nodded in agreement, I pulled her into my arms, and it felt like home. Shelby wrapped herself tightly around my neck and buried her face in my shoulder. After a moment, I heard her whisper, "I really missed you."

"I missed you too, Angel. I missed you too."

******

The ride back to the acreage was chaotic, with Lucy and Bel talking over one another, eager to share their latest adventures. I couldn't decipher much of what they were saying, but I gathered that the youngest Simpson boy had a crush on Lucy, which she pretended not to care about, even though she blushed a lot when Bel teased her about him. I also learned that Balthazar the Cat had kittens, many of which they had given away, and they were excited to be junior bridesmaids at Jason and Cindy's wedding.

Shelby didn't say a word, but she sat beside me the whole way, holding my hand with her head resting against my arm. Whenever Lucy or Bel made a particularly outrageous comment, she'd look up at me and make a funny face, like we were sharing an inside joke.

The acreage was every bit as beautiful as I remembered. Despite the demands of her successful legal career, Jen loved working in the garden, and it was even more spectacular now than it had been before JT's mother passed away. When I was home, Jen and I would spend hours tending to it, working together in quiet companionship. The Southern Magnolia we planted in memory of JT's mom had bloomed for the first time this year. Although it was too late in the season for it to be in full bloom, I could still catch a hint of its rich, citrusy fragrance in the air.

As soon as my bags were in my room, my sisters wasted no time pulling me outside to show me their new tree fort, kick a soccer ball, discuss the annoying boys at school, and generally catch up on everything that had happened in their lives since Christmas. Shelby tagged along with us, just happy to be included with the older girls. I made sure I spent some time alone with her, sitting together on the garden swing while Balthazar purred in our laps.