I ever thought possible. You make me forget where I came from, who I am, and what I was. I’m a new man with you.”
I caressed his cheek as my heart flipped inside me. “I want so much for us, for you. I want our home to be something you never had. A haven, a place where love shines every day.”
“It will because it already does. I see you with Easton and know what love is. I didn’t understand the true meaning of unconditional love until I met you. You’ve changed everything in my life, everything I ever wanted. I was a guy wandering around, with a camera in hand, snapping pictures of things I thought were beautiful. Nothing was beautiful in my life before you. Now, everything is because of you.”
My arms locked around his neck and I kissed him. “You’re my reason to love. Loving a man didn’t seem like a thing I would ever consider. But with you, it’s a part of me. I can’t imagine not loving you. And Easton is crazy about her daddy.”
His smile wiped away every fear I held in my heart and soul. “I hope someday, you and I can make lots of Eastons. It doesn’t have to be now, but I’m ready whenever you are. I want to be a good father, one who’s around like yours was and is.”
“Oh, honey, you already are. Easton dotes on every one of your words, and the way she loves to play with you is telling. She wouldn’t have anything to do with you if she didn’t love you.”
His mouth dipped to touch mine. “Good, then how about we practice?”
“Practice?”
“Yup. Making a few more Eastons. I think four or five more would be perfect.”
The laugh that erupted was contagious. He joined in a few seconds later. His wishes put me at ease and my worries vanished that afternoon.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Tristian
It took another week before I heard back from the police. I ran into English’s office, only she wasn’t there. My next stop was the kitchen. She was standing in front of the coffee maker, brewing a cup.
“Hey.” Her smile could be the cause of global warming if they ever investigated it.
“Hey back. Guess what? I just got off the phone with Detective Randolph. They’re headed out there right now to arrest my mother and Sherman, if he’s there. I doubt he is. My guess is he’s fled the coop.”
“Why do you say that?”
I shrugged. “Just a wild theory.”
“Let’s hope not. I want them both caught. They need to pay for what they did.”
Later that day, Clayton called. He wanted to give us an update of what had happened with the arrests.
“Did they get them?” I asked.
“They did. Fortunately for us, they were both, er, indisposed when the police showed up. They had to wait for them to get dressed.”
“For fuck’s sake. What time was that?”
“Late morning, I assume. But they’re both in custody now.”
My breath whistled out from between my teeth. “That’s a relief. No more worries about any of us getting hurt.”
“Or ending up dead. I’m very sorry about your father, Tristian. I didn’t tell you before, but this whole plot is psycho.”
“Greed will do that. My mother was crazy her entire life, the coldest person I’ve ever known. But I truly never thought she’d stoop this low.”
“No one ever does when murder is involved. Just ask the cops and they’ll tell you. Most of the time it’s a family member who committed the crime. I hate it happened to you.”
“Thanks. So do I.”
“I’ll be in touch if I hear anything else.” We ended the call after that.
I sat at my desk, thinking the whole thing through and wondering how it had gone so wrong.
“Why so gloomy, mister?” English walked in, making me smile. “Looks like someone needs to be put back under the rainbow.”
“Now that you’re here I’m already under it.”
“Good, but I have something for you anyway.” She pulled a large piece of paper out from behind her back and presented it to me. On it were two big people and one small one. They were standing underneath a rainbow. “It’s from you know who. She wanted you to have this so you could be under the rainbow with her every day.”
I swallowed the clot in my throat as it threatened to choke me with tears. What kind of grown man cried when his step-daughter gave him a drawing? What in the everloving fuck was wrong with me?
“Hey there, you okay?”
My head