25
BRIAN
Ishowered in the guest bathroom so as to not wake Grace. The night had been one amazing ride that would stay with me forever. After our first round of sex, we’d fallen asleep until I woke up to her hands playing with my cock.
“I can’t get enough of you,” Grace had whispered in the dead of night.
“I created a sex goddess,” I’d teased.
“Only for you,” she’d responded before she’d wrapped her lips around my dick.
I was getting hard as I made coffee. The day was sure to be great, with daylight filtering in, Grace in my bed, and the world at our feet. I wanted to make love to her every day for the rest of our lives.
I’d actually told a woman that I loved her. Epic fucking moment. I was beginning to understand what Duke meant when he said he would die without Fallyn. That the love he had for his wife was a drug like no other. He wasn’t lying.
I called my daughter. I wanted to say hi, be sure she was settled into Janet Welby’s home at the Cape, and hear her voice.
She answered on the first ring. “Dad, you’ve got to see Janet’s house. It’s right on the beach. Best spring break ever.”
“I’m super happy for you, sweetie.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” she said. “I know that’s why you’re calling.”
I chuckled. “Can’t a dad say hi to his daughter?”
She sighed. “Of course. Oh, don’t forget my passport. I’ll have a photo taken for it while I’m here.”
Crap.I didn’t want to think about Sabine and ruin my day.
“Sounds good. Have a great time, and call or text me toward the end of the week to check in, please.”
“Yes, Dad. Love you tons.” She hung up before I could say the same.
As I poured a cup of coffee, my mind drifted to the folder Sabine had. Of course I could fill out the paperwork for another birth certificate, which I would do, but it was the picture of Sarah I yearned for most. The image of her face wavered in my mind, and suddenly I was pulled under by a memory...
The house was eerily quiet. “Sarah,” I called out.
The TV was on, and I didn’t even have to poke my head in the living room to know that my old man was passed out drunk.
“Sarah, where are you?” My heartbeat sped up. “I brought McDonald’s for dinner. I’m sorry I’m late.” I checked the living room and growled.
My old man was in his recliner, mouth open, eyes closed, and beer bottle tipped over in his lap, his pants soaked as if he’d pissed in them.
I shook my head as I wound my way down the hall, and my heart stopped, the room spun, and I couldn’t breathe as the bag of food dropped from my hands.
“Sarah?” I rushed to her side and dropped to my knees. “Hey, little sis.” My pulse pounded in my ears as though someone were smashing a hammer over my head.
I shook her, checked for a pulse, then tried to give her mouth-to-mouth, although I had no idea what I was doing.
“Wake up,” I said over and over. “Wake up, please.”
The wall phone rang, shattering the horrific memory that I’d tried to push out of my mind for the last twenty-five years.
At ten a.m., I wasn’t expecting anyone until I remembered Knox was in the lobby. He probably wanted to make sure Grace was okay.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Mr. McCauley, this is Paul from security. You have two guests here. Dillon and Duke Hart.”
