your…influence over her?”
I watched Derek’s expression, his lips tightening as an internal debate raged within him. “Why do you want her so badly?”
“She’s going to be one of my greatest weapons,” the woman said excitedly.
“How is that?”
“Why don’t you leave the details to me?”
“I want to know what you have planned for her before I turn her over to you.”
“Nothing you need to worry your handsome head over, Derek,” she purred.
The woman took Derek’s arm and led him to the other side of the clearing, away from me, where I could no longer hear their conversation. It didn’t matter. I’d heard enough.
I leaned back against the tree I was hiding behind and pulled my arms up to my chest. It felt as if someone was literally tearing out something from inside me. I felt the sting of tears at the back of my eyes and knew that I had to get moving before I made a complete fool of myself.
Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I quietly made my way out of the woods and back to the car. When I was safely inside the Camaro, I let the floodgate open, tears falling unchecked down my cheeks.
I sat there for several minutes before my vision cleared enough to drive. I turned the car toward home and pressed lightly on the accelerator. I was in no rush to get there. The excruciating pain of loss after my father’s death had been eased somewhat by the arrival of Derek. But now, with heartache and betrayal marring those memories as well, home seemed more like a place of torture rather than the sanctuary of solace it was supposed to be. If I’d had somewhere else to go, I’d have skipped the house altogether.
I pulled into the garage and got out of the car. Briefly, I considered leaving the garage door open, as Derek had, so he wouldn’t know I’d followed. But then I decided against it. He’d know soon enough anyway.
Once inside, I sat down on the couch in the living room to think. The terrible tearing sensation in my chest had settled to a dull, empty throb and my mind was somewhat clearer.
I debated the best way to handle the situation. Several ideas flitted through my mind, but I quickly discarded them for one reason or another. I thought of my father’s letter and what seemed to be his last request.
I want to find your sister…it’s all up to you.
As I considered this, I heard his voice. Though it was very much just inside my head, it was as if I’d once heard him say the words and was remembering it. Only I was positive I’d never heard him mention the name.
Find Byron Allsley first.
I had never seen or heard of Byron Allsley until the package had arrived after my father’s death. And obviously my father wanted me to go and find him. It was like I was hearing him inside my head and feeling him inside my heart. I didn’t know how he was communicating that to me, but I didn’t doubt that he was.
It only took a moment for me to realize that finding him could eventually lead to finding my sister, which was what my father really wanted. And that was enough for me.
As I worked out the details, my eyes fell on the package beneath the Christmas tree. A shard of sadness sliced through my heart. Though I’d never really planned for the future, what with it being so uncertain and all, I guess I had begun to think of Derek as being a part of whatever hovered out there on the horizon. I’d never really analyzed my feelings for him; I’d just accepted them and went with it. Totally impulsive, like I’d always wanted to be when it came to love. No thoughts, just feelings.
And look at me now. I was learning the wisdom of rationale over rash love, and I was learning it the hard way.
I walked to the tree and knelt to pick up the package. After only a second’s hesitation, I ripped open the paper and tore into the box.
There, beneath several gauzy sheets of white tissue paper, was the sweater I’d tried on at the mall the night I’d gone shopping with Leah and her mom. It was the one I’d been wearing when I’d seen Derek for the first time (outside of a dream that is), when he’d walked by behind me.
I brushed my fingertips over the soft cashmere; it was