Enjoy
Sins of the Father
Chapter 4
Making The Right Moves
Ana's POV
I lay awake next to Christian until late morning, with my mind refusing to shut down so I can sleep.
His little body is snuggled up into me making me too warm but I won't move for fear of waking him.
Not that he is even sleeping peacefully anymore.
Twice he woke up wanting his mom and twice I had to soothe him back to sleep.
I feel his tiny body stir next to me and I open my eyes to see the soft gray of his looking in to mine.
"Where's mommy?" He inquires softly, but anxiously as if she was just here. He must have had another dream about her.
His face is full of joyful anticipation and I can only imagine that this is what he would look like on any given day if his life had been one of normalcy instead of abuse. If it would be just another everyday morning of him waking up to the hope of a brand new day. Nothing too special about it, except through his five year old eyes where the simplest of things would be fun and exciting.
"Your mommy isn't here with us," I tell you gently.
His face falls as he remembers why she isn't here and where he last saw her. I watch helplessly as he retreats into himself again. His reality hits him hard and envelopes him like a thick blanket much too heavy for him to escape from.
He steals himself once again.
"Your mommy loves you very much, Christian. She would be here if she could. Always remember that, okay?"
"K."
"Okay. Well, since we're both wide-awake, how about some breakfast," I ask, trying to redirect his thoughts.
He gives me a quick nod, and follows me out of the room. I smile as he Beelines left instead of right to the bathroom.
I make a mental note of all the things he's going to need while I whip up pancakes. I really hate to drag him along shopping, but I have no choice at this point. I have nothing here that he can use.
Christian comes and joins me at my little table with hands smelling like the vanilla scented hand soap Hunt teases me about not mixing well with other bathroom scents.
I throw open the blinds letting some light into apartment, but keep the large low-level window that leads to the fire escape closed. Thank God, Hunt offered to let us move in with him for a while. The three of us would have been on top of each other here.
Christian watches with interest as I work at the stove. The smell of bacon has gotten his full attention.
"Almost done," I tell him, as I flip two of the four pancakes into his plate and the other two in mine, along with two strips of bacon. I sit the plates down to cool while I go and get the syrup and orange juice from the fridge. My cell phone vibrates on the counter. So I put his plate in front of him before answering it. "Go ahead and eat. I'll be right back."
I smile at the picture of the blonde ducking facing on my caller ID photo of her.
"Steele, are you awake? I've been dying to talk to you for three damn hours."
The familiar voice of my sister-bestie comes through way too high pitched with excitement.
"Kate, you know, I'm three hours ahead of you, right?"
"Whatever smarty-pants. Of course, I know that. I'm not THAT blonde. But I also remember you texting me saying you were sleeping in late."
"Oh, right. Sorry I forgot."
"Aha."
"So, why are you so excited that you're dying to talk to me?"
"Because he finally did it, Ana. He finally popped the damn question."
"Who?"
"ELLIOT. He finally asked me to marry him."
"NO! Oh my God, Kate. I'm so happy for you. Oh, my God, I can't believe he did it."
Elliot Grey is the biggest manwhore in the state of Washington. Then again, I've ran into a few women who know him here, so maybe the country. The jury is still out on that. He gave that up when he got with Kate, but the man would still have a conniption fit whenever the word marriage was used too close to his name.
"I know, I know, I know," Kate shrieks. "I wasn't expecting it. I nearly fainted dead away when he got down on his knee and pulled the ring out of his pocket. You're going to be my maid of honor, right? You HAVE to be my MOH, Steele. "
"Are you kidding me, of course, I'm your MOH. Have you set a date yet? Where is the ceremony going to be? Is your mom flipping out? What am I going to wear? Oh my God, I'm so excited."
Her delirium is catching.
"Calm down, Steele. We have soooo much planning to do. When can you come visit?"
"Visit? You want me to come to Seattle? Now?"
"Well, not this very minute, but soon. I need you to help me find a venue and pick the color scheme and damnit, I want to see you. If I take one more trip out there, my dad is going to fire me."
I glance over a Christian who is busy eating his pancakes.
"I umm…"
"Oh come on, Steele. I need you to help me plan. This is for the most important day of my life so far and I need you."
"I know Kate and I will be there for you all the way. It's just the timing-"
"The timing or Christian?"
"This has nothing to do Christian. At least not in the way that you think."
"Good. Because you probably won't even see him anyway. He pretty much keeps to himself. Elliot can't even track him down to ask him to be his best man. But what else is new. Wait a second, is this is about you not wanting to leave Mr. Hunky. Are you guys finally getting serious?"
Kate has been riding me about Hunter since she met him the last time she visited. Back then he and I were just dating. I haven't informed her of our current status.
"Look, I'll see if I can get the time off, okay."
"Yeah, way to deflect there, Steele. You are too hush hush about him."
"I don't want to discuss it just yet. I don't have the best track record when it comes to relationships, remember. And I don't want certain people knowing and calling me every five minutes putting their two cents in about it."
"Who the hell is going to do that?"
"Mia. Better known as the Mouth of Seattle and you can't seem to keep anything from her."
She laughs.
"Okay, you got a point there. But I'm counting on you to be here. Beg Sasha for the time if you have to."
"I will. I'll talk to you later."
"Laters, baby."
I still want to strangle Elliot for that phrase.
Hanging up with Kate, I go back over to the table to join Christian who is just finishing off his pancakes and is now eyeing mine.
"Where are you putting it all," I tease him as I slide one of my pancakes on his plate along with a strip of my bacon and watches as he eats it up.
...
Christian sits on the couch watching cartoons, playing with his blue car while I finish up the dishes.
He hears a knock at the door and he takes off running to the bedroom.
"Christian, it's okay," I call after him as I go for the door.
"Hello, Miss Steele," Lidia Pratt, Hunt's personal assistant greets me.
I move to let her in.
Her black Prada heels click on my hardwood floor as she moves toward the couch. They compliment her tall model-thin frame. Her jet-black hair is pulled back into a slick ponytail that swings in step with her as she moves.
"What is all this stuff," I ask her of the large bags she carries in their hands.
She is accompanied by Giles, Hunt's driver who has his hands full right along with hers.
"Mister Barrington thought your little boy might need a few things for this morning," she explains.
She permeates efficiency and her voice is no exception.
It takes me back to my third grade teacher who had an annoying habit of correcting the grammar of anyone trying to talk to her. All the while adjusting the glasses that kept sliding down her nose when she'd look down at you.
"All this is for Christian's morning," I ask her.
"Yes ma'am. Mister Barrington wasn't sure exactly what he might need, so I brought him over a little of everything. I hope it's all to his liking." She starts to fret as she looks over the bags. Perfectionism personified.
"I'm sure it will be fine. Thank you so much."
"Our pleasure, Miss Steele. Whatever he doesn't use now, the movers will take back over to Mister Barrington's for him."
"Movers?"
"Yes, ma'am. They will be here in a few hours to take your belongings over to Mister Barrington's."
"And I will return to drive you and young Master Christian home," Giles speaks up to help her explain.
"Okay, um...great. And thank you for bringing the stuff over," I tell them. "Wait, let me give you a little something for your trouble."
I grab my purse.
"Oh no, ma'am," they both say in unison before Lidia explains. "Mister Barrington would surely not approve."
"Right. Okay, Well, thanks again."
I toss by purse back where it was and see them out before calling Hunter.
"Are you in your meeting," I ask when he picks up on the first ring.
"It's fine, Sweetie, what's wrong?" His tone is low. A sign that he is indeed in his meeting.
"I am just constantly amazed at how wonderful you are. You think of everything and I love you for it," I say to him as I look over the clothes and toiletries he's brought Christian. "I hate you going to so much trouble, though."
''Not in the least. Whatever you need, you know that."
"I know, but the movers are really too much. I don't have a lot of stuff."
"So, you don't plan on bringing your god-awful romance novels you can't go a day without? Or that lazy boy chair you insist on reading them all in. The one that you scowl at me for daring to relax in."
"I do not scowl at you," I laugh, starting to disagree with him, but stop because we both know I'm lying. It bugs the hell out of me when anyone sits in my chair. I've finally gotten the cushions just right. "Okay, you've made your point."
I hear talking coming from somewhere in the background and he covers the speaker of his phone with his hand to answer.
"I'll let you get back to your meeting. I just wanted to thank you."
"Please stop thanking me. It's my job to take care of you. And by the way, I love you too."
I hang up the phone with a smile on my face.
"Christian," I call for him, and he appears from the bedroom. "Can we talk for a minute?"
I pat the seat cushion next to me and he climbs up to sit down.
He listens as I explain to him about moving in with Hunter. He seems not to mind it much, especially when I clear up the confusion about me moving there also. I send up a prayer that he's not too attached to this place yet. I also realize I need to move quickly before he becomes too attached to me.
"Why don't we get you into the bath so you can get dressed. What would you like to wear?"
He picks out a pair of jeans and a bright blue shirt with the Superman symbol emblazoned on the front. I grab his new toothbrush and toothpaste before following him into my small bathroom.
I sit on the closed toilet seat making phone calls while he bathes himself.
"Sasha, don't kill me, but I need another little favor."
"What is it now? A kidney? My brand new Mercedes? My grandmother's antique china?"
"Well, if you're offering the China," I tell her.
"From my cold dead hands, Anns," she says. "Now, let's hear it."
"I need to take Christian to Seattle," I say in a hushed tone and squint my eyes preparing for the fallout.
Silence.
"Sash? Did you hear me?"
"Oh, I heard you. I'm just saying bye to my career because I'm actually going to consider this. First, I need to know the hell is going on."
I explain to her about Kate's wedding and possibly seeing Christian.
"What does Hunter have to say about you investing so much time in what could be your ex-boyfriends kid?"
"I haven't had a chance to explain it all to him yet. But I will when he gets home from work."
"You can also expect me for dinner tonight because I'm coming over. There's a few things we need to discuss before I even think about approving this 'little' favor."
I sigh, not looking forward to either one of these conversations.
…
It takes me no time to have everything all packed.
Christian and I are just waiting for the movers to show up. He's sitting on the floor at the coffee table, making an obstacle course with whatever he can find in the living room for his car to move around.
His jeans and blue superman shirt are fitting just a little bit too loose. His black Nike wearing feet are underneath him as he gets up on his knees to reach over the table. I watch him from my perch on the couch until something springs in my head and I sit on the floor to play with him.
"Christian, did your mommy ever talk about your daddy," I ask while I help him line up the candles on the table.
He nods his head yes.
"She did," I ask him again and he nods. "Do you remember what she said about him?"
He nods again.
"Did she tell you who he is?"
He nods, trying to remember exactly what his mom told him. He was just about to speak when the knock on the door sends him running back to the bedroom.
I sit unable to process the fact that Leila told him about his dad. I can only wonder at this point what she said about him or if she even told the truth.
Could she have made him out to be worse than he is because she was angry at him for sending her away or did she make him out to be her savior much like how she saw him that day she held a gun to my head in my and Kate's old apartment. The relationship he has with his dad could rest on the whim of Leila and that thought alone makes me nervous.
A second knock gets me off the floor and opening the front door.
"Miss Steele," Giles greets me as I let him and the movers in. "Are you and Master Christian ready to go."
"Absolutely," I say before I call for Christian. He comes out to join me, taking hold of my hand. Stopping short when he sees all the people in the room.
Giles gives him a polite nod of his head as he introduces himself, but Christian just stares, trying to think of what to make of the older British gentleman in his black suit with salt and pepper hair that's razor trimmed to perfection.
I'm not sure what conclusion he just came to, but it causes him to duck for cover behind me.
"He's a tad bit shy," I explain to Giles.
"I completely understand, Miss," he assures me.
Christian sits close to me in the back of Hunter's cream-colored Maybach as we drive past Central Park down 5th avenue. We get lost in a sea of yellow cabs before turning down the narrow street that is 61st.
The overcast has turned the late afternoon cool, so I help Christian to put his jacket on when we pull up to the curb of The Pierre Hotel.
"Out you go, then," Giles says as he opens the door and helps us to get out. "I'll direct the movers, Miss Steele. You just leave everything to me."
"Very good, Giles," I tell him and I want to kick myself. Adopting his way of speaking is inevitable for me when I'm around him for any extended amount of time. He makes me feel like a fake version of Princess Di.
Christian holds my hand, playfully stepping on only the white squares of the checkered black and white tiled entrance as we walk inside.
"Miss Steele. Young man, hello," the doorman greets us, holding open the door.
Christian moves in even closer as we walk through the entrance. He takes in all the lush colors of bronze and copper with sangria accents that make up the elegant lobby.
I let him insert the elevator key card that gives access to the penthouse level.
"Finally," I laugh, when we walk through the foyer.
"Miss Steele, welcome home," Nora Davies, Hunter's house manager greets me. "And you must be Christian?"
I look down at Christian and he nods to the smiling woman while tucking himself under my arm and hiding his face. I can tell he's hiding because he is smitten with her and not out of any apprehension he's feeling towards her.
Nora just emits kindness with her unassuming nature which is only matched by her small frame, soft chocolate eyes, and light brown hair. She is in her early fifties and the black and white dress uniform she always wears is starched to perfection. Her neat bun and sensible shoes completes the look.
"Well aren't you handsome," she goes on to say to Christian, determined to make him feel welcomed. "My name is Nora and I have a big bath of chocolate chip cookies cooling in the kitchen. I could really use someone to help me eat them. Would you be so kind as to help me out and have a few?"
Christian nods enthusiastically at the mention of cookies.
"With a tall glass of milk, maybe?"
He nods again and I can just hear his tummy growling in appreciation of her efforts.
She holds out her hand for him and he looks up at me for permission to take it.
"It's okay," I let him know.
Nora winks at me as he takes her hand and goes with her into the kitchen for his snack.
...
I hug myself as I walk around the large, exclusively decorated space. I'm already exhausted and the day is only half over.
Making my way upstairs into Hunter's bedroom, I sit on what is my side of the bed when I spend nights here. I smile at the book I left here a few days ago. Its right where I placed it on the bedside table.
Speaking of the devil, his face fills the screen of my phone when he calls.
"How will you ever finish work in time to come home to me," I playfully chastise him for stopping to call me.
"I know. I just wanted to make sure you all got over okay."
"We did. And like always, your staff is impeccable. I don't know how I will ever make all this up to you."
"No need to make it up to me, but I can think of a few ways we can celebrate you moving in."
"Well great minds think a like because I have a little something planned to do just that, Mr. Barrington."
"Do tell."
"I would, but you'd be out of there and over here before I'm done."
He laughs.
"I was already heading for the door."
"Oh, before I forget, Sasha is coming over for dinner if you're feeling up for it?"
"Of course. I'll have Nora prepare something special for your first night."
"No, she doesn't have to do that."
"Sweetie, it's her job."
"Right."
"I'll see you soon. I won't be late."
"Okay, I can't wait."
I hang up Hunter's call and put my phone down on the bed.
With a roll of my eyes I pick it up again and stare at it.
I scroll through my contacts letting the names fly by quickly before I lose my nerve. I do just that and toss it back down on the bed again.
After a few minutes, I sigh heavily and pick it back up to scroll through the names until I find the one I'm looking for.
I hold my thumb down on it, triggering the dialing of the number.
It's now or never. I think to myself as the phone rings. I force myself not to hang up and block the number so I won't get a call back.
I am seconds away from doing just that when the ringing stops and an eerie quiet replaces it.
"Hello?" I say in question to the silence.
"Anastasia?"
Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait for an update. But summertime means less time to write.
Thank you to all the people who helped me with my New York apartment search for this story: Judith, KC, Gloria, Sara Kate, Julie, Lori G, Jeanne, Suzan, and Diana. I hope I didn't overlook anyone :-(
Credit to Lori Wolfe for suggesting the Pierre hotel.
Shout out to Sara and Eve reading this story while working the night shift. Ladies after my own heart.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing it is much appreciated.