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Sins of the Father

Chapter 30

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Three Days Later

Ana's POV

"You're here," Sasha says, excited to see me when I open the door to my apartment. She gives me a long hug. "I was happy to get your message and even happier to see you, but why are you here? I thought you'd be Hunter deep in Singapore by now. You look great, by the way."

"Aw, thanks. Change in plans. Hunter is here."

"Where," she says, before calling his name to come out of the bedroom.

"He's not here, here, Sash. He's at his place," I tell her, bringing over two glasses of wine and flopping down on my old couch.

"He's at his place while you are over… here," she says, sitting next to me. "And after you've been apart for a week. Did you two have a lover's spat or something?"

"I just spent the last three days at his place. I wanted to come home."

"Okay, so you left the Pierre Hotel to come… here," she says, looking around at my apartment. "You left Hunter Barrington at the Pierre Hotel to come here? Hunter Barrington? The dark haired, blue eyed specimen of a man that is so perfect, God had to make two as practice to get him right."

"Will you stop it, please."

"Red flags are blinding me, Ana," she says picking up her glass.

"Shut up. There are no red flags. I'm just… jet lagged. Its been a tough week away."

"Ahhh, being back in Seattle, right. First of all, how is that cute little guy? Is he and Dad okay?"

"They are. Teddy is the name he goes by now. He has the love of an entire extended family."

"That's good. I'm happy it worked out for him. And you and Hunter are okay with him being gone?"

"What do you mean? Why would we not be okay?"

"You two got close to him. I was surprised that Hunter took to him so fast and then let him go so easy. Not that he had a choice, but I was expecting for him to at least see for himself that the he'd be okay."

"Well, it turns out he did. He sort of made sure that everything was okay with his dad. Which is another reason I am here and not there."

"What did that asshole do?"

"Asshole. What happened to him being perfection?"

"Depends on what he did. So, what was it?"

I roll my eyes at her impatience. I pretend to not tell her, but she knows I can't help but spill it.

"Oh, Teddy made you a gift too," I told Hunt, getting up to get it from my bag.

"Teddy?"

"Little Christian. He likes being called Teddy now," I explained to him, handing him the rolled-up white construction paper.

He slipped off the blue ribbon that was holding it closed and spread it open to look inside.

His face lit up with laughter as he saw the picture Teddy had made for him.

"Is this me," he said as he pointed to the larger stick figure with the black hair holding the hand of the smaller one with a head full of red. They were off the ground heading up into a patch of fluffy white clouds with the sun at their backs.

I nodded my head with a laugh.

"You're Superman, flying with Teddy," I explained it to him. He laughed again when he took note of the large red S on his stick figure's chest.

"I'm Superman. Wow," he says, touched by the gift. "I love this."

"Its his way of thanking you for promising he would be okay with his new daddy. He knew you would be there if he wasn't."

"I most certainly would have."

"I know. Thank God he didn't."

"I made sure that he didn't."

"You made sure? How?"

"Sweetheart, I told you that he has become important to me and that I meant to keep my promise to him."

"I remember."

"I wasn't going to throw him to the wolves. You had confidence in the Greys, but I wasn't one hundred percent sure. I had to be sure that Grey was going to do right by his son."

"So, what did you do?"

"Do you really want to know," he asked as he brushed my hair off my shoulder to kiss it.

"I'm asking."

He sighed, resting his chin where his lips had just been.

"A mate of mine lives at Escala. He was able to catch a glimpse or two and report back to me."

"A mate of yours," I said as I moved so he could look at me. "He just happens to live in Escala? You never mention this before. Since when?"

"Since about a week ago."

"Oh my God. Are you telling me you hired someone to spy on them? I cannot believe you."

"I needed to be absolutely sure. How else was I to know?"

"I was there. You didn't trust me to make sure?"

"You were too close to this case, Sweetheart. I needed a third eye, so to speak. Someone who didn't have as much faith in the Greys as you did. Anyway, he's gone now. He moved out a few days ago."

"I knew it," Sasha laughs now. "James Bond has nothing on your hot Brit."

"Yeah, well I'm glad one of us is tickled by it because I'm still not that happy about it."

"Is that why you're over here? You're pissed at him?"

"No. Well, yeah, but he also told me that his family was due in town. He won't tell me why the visit though. He keeps saying he'll explain everything later. He's like in boardroom negation mood and I can't even sex it out of him. Its driving me nuts. So, I came here instead of beating my head against the wall trying to get him to talk. The man's lips can't be unsealed."

"You do understand why, don't you?"

"If I did, I wouldn't be still trying to figure it out, now would I."

"Ana, he is getting ready to pop the question."

"What question? Marriage? Are you serious? No way."

"Why else would the whole family come to the states. He wants their approval. Once he has that, its down on one knee time, baby. Damn, that ring is going to make me hate you."

She puts down her glass and grabs on to my hands to look at my nails.

"Make sure you get a manicure."

"That is just ridiculous," I tell her, snatching my hands back. "His whole family wouldn't come here just for that. I was supposed to meet his parents in London, remember."

"Maybe he thought you wouldn't really leave once you stepped foot in Seattle, so he just told them all to come to come here."

"That makes no sense."

"Have you seen Hunter. The guy that looks like he's cut from cheese, right. His family must all be the same way. I don't think they'll breathe without being all in. Plus, he is the baby. I'm sure they've all spoiled and overprotected his ass. You really think he's going to marry someone without the family's okay. They are British, you know. It's a thing with them over there."

"Sasha, you have finally lost your mind," I laugh at her. "And you have spent way too much time thinking this shit up."

"I have no life right now, okay. Its either I latch on to yours or I go screwing around with that looser who shall remain nameless again. Hell, one of us needs to have some good shit happening. And Hunter is full of the good shit. Are you telling me he hasn't hinted to anything since you been back?"

"Umm. Well, he did ask me to move in my first night back."

"There you go," she says, crossing her legs and smiling, full of herself. First you move in, then meet and greet the family, then its bridal showers and a big belly filled with Hunters number 4, 5, and 6."

"What? Moving in…that's a long way from marriage and I'm not even discussing big bellies."

"Keep thinking that way if you want to, but mark my words. You are going to be a Barrington or my name isn't Sasha Kinkaid. And you know how much I love my damn name."

"Yes, Sasha Fierce, you never let me forget it."

"Speaking of names, you haven't mentioned Christian's. How was it seeing him again after so long?"

"It was fine," I shrug.

She looks me up and down. I shrug again when her eyes meet mine. I try not to give anything away but Christian's gray eyes flash in my head all on their own.

"Gurrrl, you are in all kinds of trouble," she shakes her head.

"I'm not in any trouble. I'm …fine."

"Mhm, in trouble for real. You are in a Mack truck coming toward you on the wrong side of the highway going 100 miles an hour, kind of trouble," she picks up her glass and holds it up to toast. "Damn. I wish I had your kind of trouble."

"Shut up."

…

Christian's POV

"NO. NO. LEAVE ME ALONE," I hear myself as a child scream. Its an all too familiar sound, except I'm not dreaming of anything. What the fuck am I screaming about.

I feel the bed move next to me and it wakes me up. I realize that its not my voice I'm hearing, but Teddy's. He's having a nightmare while he's sleeping next to me.

"LEAVE ME ALONE. MOMMY. MOMMY."

"Teddy, son wake up," I say, shaking his arm. He yanks it back, hitting me on my chest.

"Shit," I cry out pained. His eyes spring open, wild and fearful of me. "Teddy?"

"LEAVE ME ALONE. I WANT MY MOMMY," he yells, getting up out of bed and running out of the room.

"Teddy wait," I call after him. I find him in his space under his bed.

"Mommy. Mommy. Mommy," he softly cries, holding on to his Teddy bear.

I sit on the floor of his room comforting him as best I can until his cries subside and he falls asleep from sheer exhaustion. I stay by him on the floor to ward off any more nightmares. Thankfully, none comes.

...

Two Week Later

"Anything," I say picking up Welch's call. He and Barney have hit one dead end after another, trying to find out about those Barrington fuckers.

"I'm in Detroit now. I got a hit on a credit card purchase at a flower shop back in '87. It's a few blocks over from the old address you gave me."

"Only one hit from way back then until now?"

"It seems the senior Barrington forgot all about this one. I had to dig deep for it too. Its from one of those old machines where you had to slide the receipt over the credit card to get an imprint," he laughs. "I had to dig through hundreds of the damn things to find a copy of just that one receipt. Good thing the owner is a hoarder. Anyone else would have thrown the damn thing away."

"Are you sure it's what we're looking for?"

"Its definitely Hunter Barrington II. The old shop woman remembers him well. He used to pay her in cash, expect for this one transaction. She remembers him because he used to tip her with brand new $100-dollar bills. He would come in about the same time once or twice a month and buy up all of her red long-stemmed roses. She made sure she kept plenty in stock for him."

"Did he ever tell her who they were for?"

"Negative. The only thing she knows is that he was there looking for his sister who disappeared. Her picture used to hang on the wall a long time ago.

"What did the picture look like?"

"The shop keeper remembered she was a pretty girl with long dark hair and a denim jacket. It was a popular style for the time."

"Shit," I say, picking up the picture of Ella that now sits framed on my desk. I'm sending you a picture. See if she's the same girl."

"Will do. I'm also going to do a little leg work. If this Barrington guy was tipping her 100-dollar bills, maybe he did the same to other shops around here. Judging by the looks of this place, a guy dropping that kind of cash would be remembered."

"Good idea. Don't hesitate to drop a little cash to jog some memories. I have to drop my son off at his first day of school. Keep in formed."

"Will do. Good luck to the little guy."

My door opens and I look up to see Taylor filling the frame.

"What now?"

"Teddy has undressed himself again."

"Jesus Christ," I say to him. I roll my eyes at him trying not to laugh at my expense.

Teddy is dead set against this going to school shit and I can't say I blame.

I am a second away from getting a damn tutor and being done with it. But Mom and Flynn both agree, school would be better for him.

It was a pain in the ass getting him ready this morning. I've never seen him move so slow. This is the third time he's undressed himself.

He doesn't have the best perception of school since he had to have so many damn immunization shots and tests before he was able to enroll. I was about ready to give Leila hell until his blood work came back that she did get him immunized as a baby, but the levels were too low so they had to booster him up again.

He took being poked and prodded better than I did at his age. Mom was sure to recommend one of her colleague who specialized with touch and trust issues in children. I also think she also gave her an extensive rundown on Teddy's case.

He was excited about it when Sophie told him all about how it would be when she came over to play with him last weekend. But today, that was all shot to hell. He woke up to the reality of actually going someplace without me being there with him for six whole hours.

"Teddy," I call for him when I enter his room. He's in bed with his pajamas back on. He's folded his school uniform as best he could and has laid it at the foot of his bed.

"I'm sick," he says. I hide my smile in an effort to show him I am taking him seriously.

I go over and slowly feel his forehead.

"You don't have a fever," I tell him.

"I'm sicka school," he says.

I smirk at him. Damn if that's not my smartass attitude shining through.

"You are going to have fun. Remember what Sophie said. Its all reading and painting and going out to play."

"You and Sophie won't be there to play with me."

"Other kids will be there," I tell him. "And Grant will be there to make sure you're okay. Can we give it a try today?"

"Kay."

I help him to get dressed again and we head downstairs where Grant is already waiting.

"Hey, little man," he says to Teddy.

"Hey, big man," Teddy says to him, hitting knuckles with his. They both make a pow sound when they connect.

Taylor was right about Grant Sawyer. He is the oldest fucking kid I know when he's dealing with Teddy but he is all business when it comes down to protecting him.

"Ready for school," Grant asks him.

"No." Teddy crosses his arm in a pout. Grant looks over at Taylor and he gives him a thumbs down.

"You kidding," Grant says to Teddy, wisely ushering him to the elevator before he runs back upstairs. "School is the best. You get your own desk and your own crayons. And you know what the best part is?"

"What," Teddy asks, eager to know.

"Lunch," he answers.

"Yeah," Teddy exclaims and they both fist pump.

We make the short drive to his school. He is quietly looking out the window. I carry his backpack for him and he holds my hand as we walk down the bright hallway down to the kinder section of the school.

"You won't forget to come back and get me," he asks, as we stand outside the classroom door.

I can hear the fear in his voice. It's the same fear I felt when I was separated from Grace for the first time. I just knew I was never going to see her again when she left.

I bend down to talk to him.

"At 2o'clock," I promise him. "I'll be right here."

"Kay," he says taking his backpack.

"Hey, I'm here," Grant reminds him, interrupting the moment. Thank fuck he did because I was close to scooping Teddy up and going back home where he feels safe and happy. "Let's do this."

"Kay," Teddy says, miserable. He gives me a little wave goodbye that damn near kills me before he goes into the class.

I linger outside the door, out of sight, just in case he runs back out.

"Class," I hear his teacher, Mrs. Bradly, say. "I want you all to welcome Teddy to the class. Say hello to him please."

"Helllo, Teddddy," they all sing him a greeting.

I stay outside a full thirty minutes listening to the class and peaking in on Teddy. He sits sharing his big box of crayons with a little boy. Grant is in the back with the TA acting like he is a volunteer so not to stick out like a log standing around in the classroom.

"He'll be fine, Sir," Taylor says, holding his SUV door open for me so I can get in.

I have a meeting starting in ten minutes and I know damn well I won't be able to concentrate wondering how Teddy's day is going.

"How the fuck do you do this shit, Taylor," I ask him.

"Sir?"

"This school and shit with Sophie?"

"If memory serves, I believe I threatened the principle, Sir." I smirk, remembering the hell he caught from Sophie's mother for that stunt he pulled. "So, you're faring better than I did."

My day drones on at a snail's pace until its finally lunchtime.

Normally, Teddy eats with me. Gail drops him off at GEH and we have lunch. He plays on the computer while I finish up whatever work I'm doing, then we go home together. Now, I don't know what I'll do for lunch.

An update from Grant lets me know that Teddy is doing great in school, so my anxiety level has lessened considerably since this morning. I still feel the need to drop in on Flynn for some advice.

Teddy has been more down than up since Ana left and I'm at a loss on how to handle it.

"Andrea, I'm done for the day," I say, passing her desk. "Forward all my urgent calls to Ros. She can call me if she needs me."

"Of course, Sir. Have a good evening."

…

Flynn is at his desk when I come barreling in unannounced. He still looks up expectantly at me.

"Well, if it isn't my new daddy," he says, topping his pen and putting it in its holder.

"That sounds perverted as fuck coming from you, Flynn."

"Yes. Unfortunately, I realized that a bit too late. Forgive my crass attempt at joking and tell me what brings you by."

"I'm stopping by a friend's place, hoping to have lunch with her."

He frowns.

"And this warrants council?"

"I asked her for a favor and she is hesitant about it. I feel the need to push her forward."

"I see. Is this one of your submissives?"

"She is."

"Yet, obviously you label her a friend?"

"I do."

"Its going to be pulling teeth with you today, isn't it?"

I roll my eyes.

"I want to introduce her to my family. More importantly, I want to introduce her to Teddy."

"You want to introduce your submissive to your son?"

"I want to introduce the friend, not the submissive."

"I see. And is this in reaction to him missing his mother."

"It is. He's still having nightmares."

"About Leila?"

"He only says the bad man hurt her. He calls out for her. He hides under his bed afraid to come out and I fucking hate it. I can't fucking stand it."

"I can understand how disturbing it must be considering your own difficulties in childhood. Is the reason you want him to meet your friend is because you think she may aid him in some way?"

"I think it might help him to have someone with a softer approach. Mom and Mia are great with him, as I knew they would be. But he needs someone else. It helped me having a mom and a dad when I was his age."

"A mom and a dad. This is sounding a bit serious. Are you saying you want this friend of yours to play that big of a part in his life?"

"I think she would be perfect for it."

Author's Note:

You can find me on FB under Lanie Love and also on my website lanielove . com. and my new public author's page loseyourselfinlove (lose yourself in love)

Thank you for reading and reviewing.