Grayson Manor, Hamptons
"Mom!" Charlotte entered the lobby and gestured David to follow her. She listened for a moment and added when she heard nothing, "I've brought a guest with me." She saw her mother coming downstairs, turning pale and clawing at her chest.
David realized the moment she turned pale that they should have announced his visit before. He jumped forward and caught her before she passed out. For a moment he held her helplessly in his arms, before Charlotte showed him the way to the living room, where he carefully placed her on the couch.
"It was probably rather a shock than a pleasant surprise," Charlotte said, looking down anxiously at her mother.
David nodded as he couldn't turn his gaze from the unconscious Victoria. She's still as beautiful as back then, he thought. Maybe even more beautiful, more mature. Automatically, his fingers were skimming over her long hair, stroking her cheek, her chin, her lips... The emotions he had bottled-up so long broke free, and he held his breath for a moment. How could he have thought that her sight would leave him cold? He had loved her. He would have done anything for her. "Victoria..." he murmured, lost in thought. He looked up as Charlotte put a glass of water on the table.
"She should drink that after she came around," she said, sighing, brushing her long hair back. "Or should I call a doctor?"
David shook his head. "I'll take care of that." He bent down to her, whispering her name. When she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him, she saw confusion, pain, and disbelief.
"D-David...?" She stammered.
He nodded, smiling. "It's me and not a ghost." As she raised her hand and touched his cheek, he closed his eyes for a moment. The desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her passionately was suddenly overwhelming. Twenty years seemed to melt away. It was as if they had said goodbye to each other just yesterday.
Charlotte cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I think I'll leave you alone for a while," she said and then ran upstairs to her room.
"How is it possible that you survived?" She whispered, still bewildered by his appearance.
He helped her to sit up and then told her what happened to him the last few years. "Everyone thought that I'd been killed in jail. But actually I survived. I was seriously injured though. They took me to the hospital, where I escaped as I felt better. I went abroad, took on a new identity and stayed the past years in different countries, mainly in Europe. No one recognized me. They all thought I was dead. And no one had any doubts. It was too embarrassing for the prison authorities to confess that one of their detainees had fled, so they simply claimed that I had died during the attack."
Victoria shook her head incredulously. "Do you know who stabbed you back then?"
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before he answered. "Not the name, but I guess it was a contract killer who had been acting on behalf of your husband." He saw how she quickly lowered her head and gently cupped her chin. "I know you have nothing to do with it, Victoria. It was Conrad's doing."
"How long do you want to stay?"
He shrugged. "I don't know yet." Until I've finished why I came for, he thought bitterly. "Surely for a while. I want to get to know my daughter better," he said with a smile. "She's so beautiful, Victoria. Just as beautiful as you." To reaffirm his words, he stroked her cheek and chin.
"Your new identity..." she began. "Will you keep it here, or would you like to tell the world that David Clarke is alive?"
"For the time being, I'm Robert Bellows." He ran his fingers through his beard. "That is why I wear a beard. So no one can recognize me." He shrugged. "It has worked for twenty years. Why should they recognize me now?"
She nodded. "Where will you live?"
"After I had made the decision to come out of my hiding, I had thought of moving back to the beach house. But I've learned that it's already inhabited."
"Yes, my son Daniel and his family live there," she confirmed.
"Daniel..." he suddenly remembered. "The little dark-haired boy who had his nose constantly in books."
Victoria nodded. "He has a little son of his own." She gestured upstairs. "He's sleeping in his nursery because his parents are at a party."
"Jack Porter's birthday," he confirmed, nodding. "I was at the bar. I wanted to visit Amanda."
"Oh David, I'm so sorry! She died last year." She looked at him sympathetically. "But I knew her. She and Charlotte were very close."
"She was also one of the reasons why I have returned. Perhaps it's not too late for Charlotte and me to be father and daughter."
She stood up. "I'll give instructions that a guest room is prepared for you. You can stay until Conrad returns from his business trip. After that... " She broke off and looked at him apologetically.
"I understand perfectly that you can't let me reside in the house when your husband is back. Don't worry. I'll find someplace else to stay."
"Conrad knows who you are," she said thoughtfully. "Aren't you afraid he could report you to the police? I don't know if a prison sentence can become time-barred, but you didn't serve your time."
"I was innocent, Victoria. Don't forget that. The person who was responsible is still running free." He saw that she flinched, and a sense of satisfaction came over him. Yes, you should be afraid, he thought. "You know as well as I do that it's your husband who will be accused." And if he goes to jail, you will lose everything, too! He saw her opening her mouth to say something, when the door suddenly swung open and someone came in.
"Mom, we're back. I wanted to pick up Julian..."
He jumped to his feet and looked into the dark brown eyes of a young man, who looked at him, frowning, before turning to his mother.
"Who is that?"
