2012

D'Amour and Dorothea sat together in the empty living room. Sunlight poured through the large windows and the outside music of the party could clearly be heard. Everyone else who wasn't outside was in the other wing of the house. Feeling better that they were completely alone, Dorothea saw how worried D'Amour's eyes looked and sat forward looking across at him.

"Okay, tell me everything."

D'Amour looked up before taking a deep breath.

"I had a dream about Philip the night before I left New York…it was like the dreams I used to have."

Dorothea felt a tightening in her chest. Sitting there she rubbed her hands together before looking at her dear friend. The two of them had been through a lot together, and they knew the truth behind Sapphire's father. Dorothea honestly didn't know how she could have gotten through the last seventeen years without him. Trying to remain calm, she felt her arms breakout in goose bumps.

"What was it about?"

"Well…I was in the ranch, just like how we left it that day. I was standing in the room where everything happened and suddenly something grabbed my ankle. I felt it Dorothea, digging into my skin. I jumped and looked down and there was a skeleton laying there in the same exact clothes he had on that day. The skeleton looked up and me and said 'The darkness is waiting again D'Amour. I'll have her, you'll see!'. And then I woke up."

Hearing this terrified Dorothea. Sitting there she tried her hardest not to look upset. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear she took a second before blinking.

"It's just a dream…"

"Does this look like a dream?"

D'Amour lifted up his pants leg and revealed on his ankle ugly bruises in the shape of fingerprints.

That's when Dorothea sucked in a tiny breath.

"Oh God…"

Later that night…

"Okay, one! Two! Three!"

Dorothea took her hands from Sapphire's eyes and revealed the shinny BMW that she had wanted ever since she got her license. It was this year's model, and had cost a pretty penny. Sapphire's eyes widened before she screamed.

"OH MY GOD!"

All her friends crowded around with the other guests all gasped and began to clap. Everyone knew Dorothea thought the world of her only daughter. D'Amour stood beside Dorothea laughing before Sapphire turned and hugged her mom so tightly she couldn't breathe for a second.

"THANK YOU!"

Sapphire ran towards the car with her friends, right away looking the car over and screaming with excitement. D'Amour laughed, crossing his arms before joining Dorothea.

"You know, you spoil her rotten."

Dorothea smiled watching her daughter, feeling such overwhelming love it seemed dangerous.

Later…

Sapphire was sprawled out on her bed sleeping. Dorothea crept in, smiling before pulling the covers up around her. Leaning down, she gently kissed her forehead.

"Happy birthday baby."

Turning, she left.

Downstairs, all the guest had left hours ago. The hired catering company was cleaning up outside. The party had been a success. Dorothea walked down the staircase, feeling mixed emotions. She was thrilled her daughter's birthday had been wonderful, but at the same time D'Amour's story sent chills down her spine.

D'Amour was downstairs at the bar having a drink. Turning on his stool he smiled before raising his glass.

"Congrats on the successful party."

Dorothea warmly smiled before going over and taking a seat beside him. Sighing, she looked around.

"I can't believe she's all ready seventeen. Next year college…"

D'Amour smiled before patting her on her back.

"You've done real good with her Dorothea, she's a little sweetheart."

Dorothea felt worried.

"I-I…I-'m just w-worried…"

Her words began to break up before Dorothea set down his glass, his expression changing to concern.

"What is it?"

Dorothea looked up, her eyes saying it all.

"You don't think…he could come back?"