Red's brunch was a celebration of our triumph as a family over the Cabal. He had outdone himself in the kitchen; making Eggs Benedict several ways and having champagne, among other things. I was so happy that Isabella could make it and brought Ellie with her. Raymond and I don't get to see them nearly as much as we would like.

I had forgotten that Liz had never met them. She was so surprised that not only am I a father, I am a grandfather. Red is only ten years older than I am, but in many ways, he is my father and I consider him Isabella's grandfather and Ellie's great – grandfather. In so many ways, he is the reason they even exist.

"Father," Isabella had said after we had finished eating, "Grandfather doesn't want to let go of Ellie yet. Let's go to the movies; there is a rom – com I want to see."

"What is a 'rom – com?'"

"That's short for 'romantic comedy.' Don't make that face, Father! It will be fun."

It's hard to say "no" to her, so we went. I don't remember the movie's title, but as it progressed, I found myself watching Isabella watching the movie and marveling once again at the fact that not only do I have her, I have Ellie. As my eyes began to shut of their own volition, my mind drifted back to my early years with Raymond and I started to reflect on what he's done for me.

I was so wary of Raymond. He saw me lying dying in a pile of rags covered in my own filth in the basement of Owite's brothel in Nairobi. He took pity upon me, bought me from Owite and then put a bullet between his eyes and took his money back. Told me I could do what I wanted, but he wanted me with him and promised to care for me. I chose to go with him.

We got on his jet to head to France and when he ordered me to take a shower, I struggled to undress; I was so weak, I was having a hard time. He helped me and then Raymond placed a chair in the shower for me to sit and moments later, stepped into the shower wearing a bathing suit and began to bathe me. I waited for his ministrations to turn sexual, but they never did. To this day, he has no idea what that meant to me. I remember watching his face as he cleaned me; he was focused on what he was doing and it was obvious to me he was just performing a necessary task. He was gentle, but thorough. I did not know whether or not I was going to be his slave, but I dared to hope that I would be treated well.

I was shocked when he hired tutors for me. I had never been sent to school; I had learned to understand and speak English because of the brothel's clientele. When I was introduced to my teachers, I worked very hard because I knew Raymond wanted me to learn and I was so afraid that he would send me back to Nairobi if I didn't do well.

When he told me he wanted to hire a therapist for me to talk to after I woke up screaming one night, I was afraid he thought I was crazy, but he told me that he felt I needed to talk about my life in the brothel, to get it out of my system. He said it was important that I was not only physically healthy, but emotionally healthy. I agreed, reluctantly. I didn't really think it would help. I was so wrong.

I felt an elbow nudge me in the side. "Father, the movie's over! Wake up!"

"I wasn't asleep; I was only resting my eyes." She accepted my lie with a smile and without argument.

"Let's go to the coffee shop on the corner. I'd like to discuss something with you," Isabella said. She led the way out of the theater down the street to a little "mom and pop" café, ordered a latte and a bear claw, waited for me to order a coffee and then sat at a table in the corner away from the other patrons. "Father, ever since that psycho broke into my house and kidnapped Ellie, I have not felt safe or comfortable. I don't want to live there anymore. Would you please tell Grandfather? Do you think he would have a problem buying another house for me? I don't wish to appear ungrateful, but I want to move, like yesterday."

I reached over and cupped her face. "The last thing he would think about you is that you are ungrateful. He is the only person I know who might love you and Ellie more than I do."

Hours later, Ellie was asleep in her bed and Isabella and I were sipping wine on the living room couch. Raymond, as I knew he would, had agreed that Isabella should begin looking for a house immediately. When he had had no objection to my staying with the girls, we had taken our leave.

Boz and his men had arrived to provide security just before dark and they were staked out discretely around the property's perimeter. Isabella was tired, but was struggling to stay awake. "Izzie, go to bed; you do not have to keep me company."

"I'm not sleepy."

I smiled indulgently. "Yes, you are. Just like when you were a child, you are so afraid you will miss something, you are forcing your eyes to stay open." I reached over, took the glass from her hand and then placed it on the end table. "Come." When she slid closer, I kissed her cheek and forehead. "Go to bed," I repeated.

"All right. Good night, Father." She stood and headed for the stairs. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yes, you will." I watched her go first to Ellie's room and then to her own. I closed my eyes as I finished my merlot and settled more comfortably on the sofa. I smiled as I recalled the shocked look on Liz' face when I introduced her to my child and grandchild. Obviously, Raymond had never mentioned them.

Raymond. In many ways, he is as responsible for their conception as I am. I can never repay him for what he did for me. Never.