Enjoy

Sins of the father

Chapter 31

Kitten/Barrington

Christian's POV

I leave Flynn's office, feeling secure in my resolve to bring Kitten fully into my life. Now all I have to do is convince her of the idea.

I walk into Escala and delicious smells assault my nostrils causing my stomach to growl in response.

Her back is to me as she takes out the food from the serving trays and plates it. So busy in her task she doesn't realize I've come in. She's in black mini skirt and mile high heels that I'm sure she didn't wear to work this morning.

"Smells good," I call to her, leaning on the breakfast bar. "Need any help?"

She jumps a little at the sound of my voice, turning her head to look over her shoulder at me with a smile on her face. I'm sure she doesn't mean it to be sexy, but fuck, she has me wishing I had more time do have my way with her.

"I'm all done," she laughs, walking towards me with two plates in her hands. "I hope you have a taste for Greek/Persian."

Her voice is uncertain. I often forget how much pleasing me means to her when she is in sub mode.

"I've been dying to eat it since I first walked in and smelled it," I assure her of the Greek Chicken Kabobs served with a side of Persian sour cherry rice she sits in front of me. I wait until she takes her seat next to me to fill our wine glasses.

She waits until I take the first bite of the flavorful chicken. I moan in pleasure at my newly awakened taste buds.

"I'm happy you like it," she laughs.

"Its excellent," I tell her, watching her indulge in her own plate as I eat a grilled cherry tomato. "How have your day been thus far?"

"I had the cutest little thing come into the ER today," she says.

"Do tell."

"A jackrabbit named Bugsy Seagal. Well really, he was huge, but he was downright adorable. His long floppy ears alone were enough to make you say aww. He'd gotten out of his cage and had eaten way too much crabgrass. He had a really bad tummy ache. Pooping up a storm."

"Oh yeah, I can completely see why that would be adorable," I tell her. "Remind me to cross his ass off my list of potential pets."

She has been on me to adopt a pet. She swears one would be perfect for me. I think she wants to live vicariously through me since she can't have any of her own. I'm sure her place would be filled with strays if she had the time to spend caring for them.

"A rabbit would be perfect," she says. "Especially now that you have little Teddy. Nothing like a little boy and his pet."

"Have you thought any more about meeting him?" I wasn't going to bring it up until after dinner, but I've always been one who seizes opportunities when they come my way.

"You know that I have," she answers. I can tell by the way her body has just tensed that she is still struggling with it.

"I understand it's a big step for you in a direction that you've been avoiding since Marcus. I also understand that it is a gross breech of our contract. Yet, I am still asking."

"You aren't asking that much."

"For you, it's a lot."

She nods her head in agreement.

"Who is to say, your family will even like me? Who is to say Teddy will?"

"Nonsense. You are adorable. Maybe not long-eared, pooping jackrabbit adorable, but you'll do," I tease, smirking at her. "Both my son and family will love you."

"Love?"

"Poor choice in words."

'When Marcus was killed," she says, stopping to take a sip of her wine. Its been six years since she lost him and it still hits her to speak his name. "I swore off love. The thought of loving again was too much. The thought of having children that weren't his was too much. For so long, I've wanted nothing to do with either and now, here I am considering both and you are the only one responsible."

"I'm nothing if not responsible," I tell her.

"I can think of a few more words to describe you."

"Careful, Kitten. My palm is starting to twitch."

"I wouldn't want that, Sir," she says. But the way she is squirming in her seat is telling me otherwise.

I wish I had more time to ease her tension, but two o'clock is rapidly approaching.

"Kitten, about Marcus." I begin.

"I knew the risk when I married him," she says. "Every military wife does. We talked about it a lot, him never coming back home. He tried to prepare me. That last time he left for Afghanistan…it's like he knew. I found out later, his missions were far worse than he was telling me. He always tried to protect me from it. I guess he thought it was easier for me that way, not knowing."

"Would he want you to hurt this way?"

"No," she laughs. "He would be so pissed at me. Especially if he knew I got my tubes tied right after he was killed. He would have lost his mind. He knew how much I loved kids. We planned for a big family. We planned for a lot of things."

"I hate seeing you in so much pain, Kitten."

"Being with you helps a lot."

I smile, touched at her words. Easing her pain is important to me.

I help her to clear the dishes. She informs me that she's working a double so I drop her back off at the hospital before kissing her goodbye. I call Ryan to go over and wait until she's ready to go home and to bring her back to Escala. I'll have Gail cook her something that she can heat up easily for dinner.

I feel a mixture of relief and joy when she texts me ten minutes after leaving her, agreeing to go against our Dom/sub contract and break into the realm of more.

…..

"What the hell is taking so long," I ask Taylor. We are standing outside at the student pick up area.

"Its only just now 2, Sir," he tells me. I look at my cellphone to see that the smartass is right. His calm demeaner is in stark contrast to my pacing around.

But its no different than all the moms that are looking down at the classrooms waiting for the doors to open up.

Finally, they swing open and the kids walk in single file lines to where we are.

Grant already has permission to take Teddy, so they are walking together.

I nod at Teddy's teacher as he runs up to me and Taylor, high-fiving us.

"How was it," I ask him, taking his jacket and backpack so he can get buckle into his seat.

"The best," he says. Grant glances back at him with a smile. "I got to read to the class and I drew you a picture." He grabs his Marvel Comic Book themed backpack, placing it on his lap to unzip it. He takes out the construction paper drawing of me and him sitting in his fort.

Without question, this is going to be framed and placed on my office wall.

"My teacher took this picture," he continues. He takes out a blue scrap book entitled School Days and opens it to the first page that is all about Kindergarten. In the middle is a picture of him holding up a chalk board sign that says First Day of Kindergarten. He stands with a shy smile and his new haircut. "I get to take another one before I go to the first grade."

He shows me the blank space holder for his Last Day of Kindergarten picture.

"I can't wait," I laugh.

He spends the short ride home talking our ears off about his day and doesn't stop as we ride the elevator home.

"We had fish sticks for lunch and my table got ice cream cups for being quiet. Can my friend Daniel come over if his mommy says he could? He wants to play in my fork. Oh, my teacher says it's a fort though, but Daniel still wants to play in it."

Before I can say a word, the elevator doors open and his off running, calling for Gail.

I find them in the kitchen. Mom is sitting with Gail and once again Teddy is giving a blow by blow of his first day of school until Gail can get word in to have him go change out of his uniform.

"How excited he is," Mom laughs as he goes with Gail. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by."

"Of course not. I expected as much. I know you've been worried about him."

"I have. I am just thrilled that he seems to like school."

"Grant said that once he came out of his shell, he loved it."

"I'm sure you were beside yourself all day, even with Grant there."

"You're sure, are you? Its not from someone updating you is it?"

"I may have…accidently dialed Taylor's number and since I had him on the line, I inquired about how you were coping."

"Accidently, was it?"

"Completely."

"Looks like I need to remind my head of security about the NDA he signed."

"Christian Grey, you will do no such thing."

I laugh at her mortified expression and her no-nonsense tone.

"For you, I will overlook it," I tell her.

I watch as she studies me. Wondering if I have something out of place, I inspect my suit.

"You are in a good mood it seems," she says, taking note of my smile.

"I met a friend for lunch."

"A friend? Your special friend? The one who you're hiding from us all."

"I'm not hiding her, mother. In fact, I would like you all to meet her."

"Really? Well, how about she joins us for Teddy's first day of school dinner tonight," she asks too eager.

"Perhaps Sunday dinner would be best."

"Sunday?"

I smirk at her surprise. There has only been one woman who I've ever brought home to Sunday dinner.

"Yes, Sunday and don't put yourself through any trouble with the meal. Whatever you planned on will be fine."

She shakes her head, clearly not agreeing with me as she gathers her pink purse that matches perfectly with her outfit.

"Do tell my precious grandson I and his grandpa will see him at the Space Needle tonight."

"Fine, but where are you going?"

"I need to make a run to the farmers market before it closes. They have the sweetest peaches and I want to pick up a few to preserve for a cobbler on Sunday."

"Does she like peaches?"

"She loves them."

"Oh Dear, what is her name, by the way?"

"Miranda. Miranda Jade Johnson."

"Very lovely name."

I nod.

"How is dad doing, by the way?"

Her face falls before she catches herself and smiles. She tries to play like the expression wasn't there but she knows I saw it because I am still frowning at its source.

"He's been busy," she says. "Work."

"I thought you two agreed to cut back this year."

"Its harder for him," she says, kissing my cheek goodbye. "You know how dedicated he is to the law."

…

Singapore City, Singapore.

Two Weeks Earlier

Hunter's POV

"Dad," I greeted him, as he got off the plane. I was given no other option but to call him. This deal with SingTel Oil was going nowhere and I was on a time crunch as it was. The last thing I wanted was for Ana to be in Singapore while I was stuck in negations for days on end.

I quickly gave him the rundown of the situation as we drove over to the hotel in the Maserati limo he had waiting. Hunter Barrington II refuses to go anywhere unless it's in a limo.

"You have an angel's face," he said of my difficulty in securing the deal. "You look too much like your beautiful mother. Even when you play hardball people gush at you. Let me handle it. I have a face of a wild boar."

"You sound like Ana. She swears no one takes me seriously with my good looks."

"Smart woman. Your mother was looking forward to spending time with her."

"Her work keeps her busy."

"Not too busy, I hope?"

"This was just a difficult case. A five-year-old little boy that was severely abused," I told him. "Christian Grey is involved."

"Christian Grey? I thought I warned you to stay away from him."

"Its been proven difficult with his son living at my place. Although, I have yet to cross paths with him since the last time."

"Christian Grey has a… son? A five-year-old, you say?"

"That's right. Anyway, they've all gone to Seattle now…" I stopped in midsentence as I took note of Dad's change in appearance. He'd lost all color in his face. "Are you alright? It looks as though you've seen a ghost."

"Just a long flight," he said, reaching for a mineral water. His hand was shaking so terribly that I had to pour the water into the glass for him as he took out a tiny brown bottle from his pocket and slipped a nitroglycerin pill under his tongue.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading and reviewing.