Read Online The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) by Jeanne McDonald - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeanne McDonald
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we’d caught in the pond on his land.
“Well, McKenzie, to start off, I must state that Drew was my prized pupil. He made me proud in every way, shape, and form. If I could steal him away from his father’s firm, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
McKenzie patted my knee and smiled. “He’s very good at what he does, and his father is lucky to have him.”
Niles sat his tea cup on the coffee table between us and leaned forward. “How right you are, Miss Evans. Now, did he ever tell you that he almost spent a night behind bars?”
I nearly choked on my tea. I told McKenzie about my accident and how I could’ve gone to prison due to my daughter’s death. For Niles to bring that up, well, it ripped me straight to the core.
“Um,” McKenzie searched for words.
Niles didn’t seem to notice the discomfort between us. He plugged on. “It was the end of his junior year. Finals were posted and I’d heard rumor that many of the juniors were planning a celebration. It’s not uncommon for the students to have parties around here.”
McKenzie and I both sighed in relief, but when I realized what story he was about to tell, I felt a whole new set of nerves. “No! Not that one!” I exclaimed.
Niles laughed. “Oh, yes, that one. You see, my dear, our boy here, along with Aiden Wright and several others, became quite inebriated that night. In their drunken state, they felt that a nice run in the cool night air would do them some good.”
“Oh, I bet that was a riot to watch.”
Niles leaned back, drumming his fingers together. His bushy eyebrows raised and a devilish grin stretched his aged face. “It was, my dear, especially since they were all stark naked.”
“Naked?” McKenzie turned to me to me in amusement. “You streaked on the Harvard campus?”
It was my turn to blush, and trust me, I could feel the heat burn my cheeks. “I was drunk. It sounded like a good idea at the time.”
“That’s priceless.”
“Not really. I was arrested for indecent exposure and public intoxication.”
“To which I had the charges dropped,” Niles included. “I knew Drew had a bright future ahead of him, and he proved me right. I had never done anything like that for a student before, nor have I since then.”
“I was just grateful you never told my father.”
Niles reached for his cup and looked down into the amber liquid with a solemn expression on his face. “What Jonathan doesn’t know…” He lifted the cup to his mouth and downed the remainder of his tea.
I fought the urge to ask Niles what happened between him and my father. At one time they were the best of friends. My mother adored him. Gavin, Andie, and I all considered him like a second father. And then one day, he was just gone. It wasn’t until I began my college career that I was reunited with him, and I’d missed him all those years. He was the only reason I knew my father endured me as a kid. Niles stood up for me when no one else seemed to. When he was gone, Gavin took over the role. But I figured some things were better off left in the past.
“Doesn’t hurt him,” McKenzie finished.
“Definitely a keeper,” Niles noted.
After that, Niles spent another hour telling McKenzie story upon story of my tenure at HLS. It was wonderful to listen to her laugh, even at my own expense.
As we got up to leave, Niles leaned over and hugged McKenzie. “It’s good to see him happy. He’s been through a lot. I’m glad he finally found the girl that was meant for him.”
“Thank you,” McKenzie murmured. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”
“And you, too, my dear.”
Niles turned to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Thank you for the invitation to Gavin's stag night. It’s good that he's doing so well. Great things are coming to the Wise family.”
“That we do. I’m sure it will be a night for us to remember.”
“I’m sure it
“Well, McKenzie, to start off, I must state that Drew was my prized pupil. He made me proud in every way, shape, and form. If I could steal him away from his father’s firm, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
McKenzie patted my knee and smiled. “He’s very good at what he does, and his father is lucky to have him.”
Niles sat his tea cup on the coffee table between us and leaned forward. “How right you are, Miss Evans. Now, did he ever tell you that he almost spent a night behind bars?”
I nearly choked on my tea. I told McKenzie about my accident and how I could’ve gone to prison due to my daughter’s death. For Niles to bring that up, well, it ripped me straight to the core.
“Um,” McKenzie searched for words.
Niles didn’t seem to notice the discomfort between us. He plugged on. “It was the end of his junior year. Finals were posted and I’d heard rumor that many of the juniors were planning a celebration. It’s not uncommon for the students to have parties around here.”
McKenzie and I both sighed in relief, but when I realized what story he was about to tell, I felt a whole new set of nerves. “No! Not that one!” I exclaimed.
Niles laughed. “Oh, yes, that one. You see, my dear, our boy here, along with Aiden Wright and several others, became quite inebriated that night. In their drunken state, they felt that a nice run in the cool night air would do them some good.”
“Oh, I bet that was a riot to watch.”
Niles leaned back, drumming his fingers together. His bushy eyebrows raised and a devilish grin stretched his aged face. “It was, my dear, especially since they were all stark naked.”
“Naked?” McKenzie turned to me to me in amusement. “You streaked on the Harvard campus?”
It was my turn to blush, and trust me, I could feel the heat burn my cheeks. “I was drunk. It sounded like a good idea at the time.”
“That’s priceless.”
“Not really. I was arrested for indecent exposure and public intoxication.”
“To which I had the charges dropped,” Niles included. “I knew Drew had a bright future ahead of him, and he proved me right. I had never done anything like that for a student before, nor have I since then.”
“I was just grateful you never told my father.”
Niles reached for his cup and looked down into the amber liquid with a solemn expression on his face. “What Jonathan doesn’t know…” He lifted the cup to his mouth and downed the remainder of his tea.
I fought the urge to ask Niles what happened between him and my father. At one time they were the best of friends. My mother adored him. Gavin, Andie, and I all considered him like a second father. And then one day, he was just gone. It wasn’t until I began my college career that I was reunited with him, and I’d missed him all those years. He was the only reason I knew my father endured me as a kid. Niles stood up for me when no one else seemed to. When he was gone, Gavin took over the role. But I figured some things were better off left in the past.
“Doesn’t hurt him,” McKenzie finished.
“Definitely a keeper,” Niles noted.
After that, Niles spent another hour telling McKenzie story upon story of my tenure at HLS. It was wonderful to listen to her laugh, even at my own expense.
As we got up to leave, Niles leaned over and hugged McKenzie. “It’s good to see him happy. He’s been through a lot. I’m glad he finally found the girl that was meant for him.”
“Thank you,” McKenzie murmured. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”
“And you, too, my dear.”
Niles turned to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Thank you for the invitation to Gavin's stag night. It’s good that he's doing so well. Great things are coming to the Wise family.”
“That we do. I’m sure it will be a night for us to remember.”
“I’m sure it
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