Chapter 25... Ten weeks later... Saturday, June 21st 2014

Horatio drove Tommy to basketball Saturday morning as usual, and staying to watch him as he did on most occasions, he noticed this time that Tommy was managing to shoot the basket with some success which made him smile with satisfaction, practice at home was paying off, plus the fact the boy seemed to have grown a little taller in the last few weeks which was probably helping. Walter, looked across at him and whispered, "I see he has been practising - good work Horatio."

Horatio nodded his head in response; he had informed Walter he had bought Tommy a net for home use.

After basketball practise they went to the book shop they frequented, where he picked up a National Geographical magazine and Tommy a couple of comics; he didn't want a book today, but instead asked if he could choose a baby book for Hannah. He had to laugh; more than once he had thought that with Tommy around Hannah was going to be into books whether she liked it or not. But she seemed to like him showing her pictures and explaining them to her, whether she understood was another matter, but Tommy was very good with his little sister.

Later and as it was a lovely afternoon, the temperature was pleasantly warm rather than stifling hot as it could be at this time of year, and while Aileen was busy in the kitchen; Hannah was having an afternoon nap and Tommy was in his bedroom reading his comics, Horatio decided to go outside for a while. He placed one of the sun lounger's under the sun awning close to the patio doors, and then lying down on his back fully stretched out with his hands resting behind his head he totally relaxed and not long after his thoughts drifted over the last few weeks.

After Ivan had made his offer to Suzie to stay at his place and she had happily accepted he had personally been relieved. Colin came to his office the next day as arranged and clarified all that had happened in New York. He had thanked him profusely for his help; Colin had done a wonderful job for him and after their conversation he had instantly phoned John and Sharon thanking them for their assistance. Then things had moved quite rapidly. Suzie and Madison had moved in with Ivan Vetrov, and Suzie now recovering well from her physical injuries seemed very happy, and had decided to stay in Miami and Madison, bless her, had declared she was over the moon happy now. She had also told him on the quiet that Ivan was very nice and really cared about her Mom, and she had never seen her Mom so happy before. He also knew that Ivan had since decided to accept the security guard position at the Port Authority.

Madison obviously had to attend school, and he had taken it on himself to enrol her at the Palmetto Senior High School to start in September; the school had thought this would be for the best so she could start in a new class with girls of her age group. He had phoned her school in New York to inform them she would not be returning due to circumstances that meant she now lived in Miami. She had already given up her Saturday job as part of her plan she had been making to come to Miami so he had had nothing to do on that front. Suzie useless with remembering numbers couldn't remember her bank account number but he had been able to discreetly sort that out for her. She didn't have much in her account, but wasn't totally penniless. Also out of courtesy he had phoned Olivia Patterson to thank her for caring about Madison and Suzie and had come away smiling from that conversation; she was quite a lady and he understood why Colin had taken to her. He had the thought that maybe he could fit in a visit to her when they finally went on their promised trip to New York, but they would have to wait until Tommy started his school summer vacation in just over two weeks time. Well delayed because of the events of the past few weeks.

Madison had gradually met all the family and had ingratiated herself with all of them; she still had that sweetness about her that she had had as a young child and all of them, Aileen, Tommy and Kyle had taken to her instantly. She was proving to be a mature young lady as well and was very astute...such a shame his brother had never known he had a daughter. Deep down he knew he could have told Raymond when they found out he was alive, and before he finally got himself tortured and died in Rio. But at that time he felt his brother had some serious making up to do with Yelina and he hadn't wanted to make matters even worse, and Yelina was still too hurt to tell him. He understood that, and he himself was at that time making sure Suzie and Madison were provided for financially until one day Suzie stopped accepting payments and he had lost track of them. They had only come back into his life because of recent events. He would not lose sight of them again.

Then he smiled as his thoughts turned to his daughter. Hannah had reached her first birthday on June 4th and she had received cards and gifts from their friends. As she was so young they didn't have a children's party, but as a family they made it a special day for her on the following Saturday June 7th so Kyle and Amy could join them. Madison had joined them as well as did Colin, Yelina and Alexx. So, she had a special day and they took plenty of pictures for her to look back on one day. Aileen had started an album for her. Then as he was thinking all in all things were nicely settled now, his eyes grew weary and he fell asleep.

Thirty minutes later he awoke with a start; Tommy was tapping him on the arm, "Dad, quick, please wake up and come inside you have to see what Hannah can do now."

Rubbing his eyes Horatio stood up; stretched and followed Tommy through the patio doors into the lounge where he saw Aileen sitting in one of the arm chairs with Hannah sitting on the floor at her feet. She had clearly woken from her nap while he was having his. Aileen smiled across at him and then lifted Hannah to her feet so she was facing him, steadied her, and Hannah seeing him waddled six steps towards him and saying, "Daddy." Then unbalanced she sat down right in front of his feet, and she used his feet to try to get up again but couldn't quite make it. Eyes misted over at the sight of his daughter taking her first few steps on her own Horatio knelt down on one knee, helped her up, held her hands for a few seconds until he was certain she was ready and then letting go of them she waddled a few more steps, before falling to the ground again. Picking his beloved daughter up Horatio had a lump in his throat as he gave her a cuddle and a kiss, and then keeping her in his arms he moved across to Aileen, now standing up, and with his free hand caressed her face, gave her a tender kiss on the lips, and said, "Thank You."

"What's that for Horatio?"

"You know what it was for Sweetheart."

Aileen did know what it was for, she had been teasing him. Whenever Horatio got emotional about their daughter he thanked her for bringing Hannah into his world. He loved her so much, but he really loved Tommy with his heart and soul as well and not leaving him out he moved across to a grinning Tommy, and bending over slightly he kissed him on the forehead, then ruffled his hair and said, "Thank you for coming to fetch me Tommy. That was a magical moment seeing your sisters first steps don't you think son?"

"Yes Dad, but she looks like a duck waddling."Tommy replied giggling. And then anxiously asked, "She will straighten up won't she Dad?"

"Of course she will, Tommy. But I think we had better get the walker out and encourage her to use it more now - It will help her keep her balance while she is learning to walk properly."

Then he put Hannah back on the floor as he heard his cell phone ring, and moved quickly to his study, remembering he had left it on his desk earlier on. He checked the caller ID; it was John Kelly

"John."

"Horatio - can you speak?"

Horatio in a light hearted mood, chuckled and said, "Of course I can speak."

John laughed in response, but said, "Horatio, I'm serious. Can you talk without anyone hearing us?"

"What's this all about John, I don't hide calls from anyone in my own home; well maybe Tommy, but never Aileen."

"Well I think you should make sure you're on your own for this one Horatio."

"Okay... I'm in the study as it happens, and when in here the family usually leave me alone assuming I'm busy, but I've just shut the door, and this had better be good John," said Horatio sitting down now in his swivel chair and frowning.

"First Horatio, do you believe in coincidences?"

"Sometimes, and strangely you are not the first one to ask me this question lately."

"Well I have just experienced the most extraordinary coincidence in the whole of my life. A few days ago on returning to my office, having been out on some investigative work, I found a message had been left on the answer phone; Sharon was not in that day. The message was, Mr Kelly, you have been recommended to me. Could you please contact me today as I would like to hire you to investigate something for me?" The name he left was Daniel Conlon and he left a local Manhattan number, so I called him straight away and of all the people he could have chosen to ask for help, it had to be me. I was flabbergasted; the world is so small sometimes."

"Horatio, I'm really, sorry my friend. I am about to give you another problem..."

Horatio groaned, and John hearing the groan looked at Sharon who was close by, and whispered I don't want to do this, but I must."

Thirty minutes later, after closing the call, Horatio no longer relaxed now, leant back in his swivel chair, and shut his eyes, as he wondered how the hell he was going to deal with the bombshell John had just dropped in his lap. This was going to affect his darling beautiful wife most of all if it was true. But it would affect all of them at the end of the day. This could only go one of two ways, good or bad – no in between - but whatever, Aileen was in for a shock and he didn't want her to suffer, but he knew deep down he probably couldn't or shouldn't prevent it. One thing he did know for certain was that he had to get to New York on his own to find out for sure before she had to know. Any doubts about the truth, and he had some at the moment, he would do everything to block the news getting through to his wife. But to go to New York now meant he had to lie to her which is the last thing he wanted to do.

He sat there for a few minutes deep in thought, still stunned from the news John had given him and wondering if he was ever going to be problem free. Then sighing deeply he stood up and moved across to the window and looking up to the sky he muttered, "Can't you ever leave us alone." Then he gave a sigh of exasperation returned to his desk and was about to phone American Airlines to book a flight when there was a tap on the door. He opened the door to find Tommy standing there, who said, "Dad, sorry to bother you, but Mom says to tell you dinner is ready."

In that moment Horatio decided he could make phone calls later on and said, "Okay son, just coming." As he followed Tommy to the dining room he added. "Tommy you can always bother me son, always."

Later in the evening when the children were in bed, Horatio finally raised the subject but deciding that whilst he couldn't tell Aileen the truth yet, he couldn't downright lie to her either, and sitting next to her on the sofa he said, "Sweetheart I have to go to New York on Monday, and will stay overnight, coming home as early as I can on Tuesday."

Turning so she was sitting sideways and facing him, Aileen asked, "Why do you have to go Horatio, we will be going there in two weeks anyway?" Then realising this had only come about since his call with John, which he had not said much about other than to tell her that John and Sharon were well and had sent his love to her and the children, she asked another question, "Is this something to do with the call you had from John, and why you shut the door?"

"Yes it is Aileen, but I'm sorry I'm not at liberty to say anything right now." Then placing his hands either side of her face and giving her a tender look, he said, "Forgive me Sweetheart, I'm going to have to ask you to please trust me for now. I'll be staying at John's place overnight. He invited me to stay which saves me opening our place up just for one night."

Aileen was puzzled, Horatio was clearly hiding something and she knew this was just not like him where she was concerned. But he was looking at her in such a pleading way willing her to trust him, and she knew she could always trust him anyway, so while her curiosity was aroused she didn't question him anymore and said, "I trust you Horatio, I always have, and always will. So go and do what you have to do."

"Horatio kissed her tenderly on the mouth and said, "Thank you Sweetheart." And then gave her a hug, and whispered in her ear, "I love you so very much."

Then breaking away from her he asked, "Would you like me to see if Kyle would be free to stay overnight?"

"I'll be fine Horatio, no need to worry Kyle."

TBC