Page 1 of Twenty-Three Years of Longing

CHAPTER 1

Orion Moyer

I couldn’t for the life of me fathom why I’d been called to the president’s home. She said it was for dinner. I didn’t buy it. Something was going on. Something so big that she didn’t want to meet in her office or discuss it on the telephone.

Tabiq had seen more than their share of issues. Many that we had worked extremely hard to put behind us. And were working even harder to build a future that was nothing like the horrid past. Unfortunately, there were a few greedy bastards who didn’t envision the same future for our country. They wanted the old ways. The ways that almost ruined Tabiq forever. If President Reesa O’Connor needed my help, then my answer would be yes. I’d do anything for my country.

I racked my brain trying to think of anything more I could be doing as the school administrator. This meeting had to be about my job. Maybe she wanted to pour more funds into the exchange student program so more of our high school seniors could experience education in other countries. Each time we met over the past year, I brought this suggestion up to her, and she promised me there was something in the works. The students would be beyond thrilled if that was the case. Hell, they deserved it with how hard they’d worked to keep their grades up.

As I approached her driveway, I reminded myself not to get my hopes up. One thing about Tabiq was that when things looked like everything was going great, something jumped out and showed you we still had so much work to do. Setting up any expectations of what was going to happen would most likely lead to disappointment.

Turning onto her property, I stopped at the gate fully expecting to be met by security guards. None. Odd. When you went to her office, you could see security around.

Looking more closely, I noticed the cameras that were in the trees. I was being watched, just not sure by whom. That eased my mind, because she was invaluable, and I wasn’t sure where Tabiq would be without her running it.

I parked my SUV in one of the vacant spots and headed for the front door. Before I could knock, her husband opened the door.

“Good to see you. Thank you for coming,” he said.

I didn’t think I had the option of declining. I shook his hand and replied, “Nice to see you too, Dr. O’Connor.”

The man had his hands full. Not only was he the chief of staff at the hospital, and married to the president, but they also had a toddler. Can’t imagine when he got time to sleep. I didn’t envy him. Not that I didn’t enjoy the company of a woman, but I wasn’t the family type. And as far as kids were concerned, I had an entire school that I oversaw. That was more than enough for me.

He waved for me to enter. “This is our home. If you don’t mind, I’d prefer you call me Finn.”

I nodded and followed him into a rustic, yet classy sitting room. Nothing like I expected it to look like for the president of our country. It was...warm and welcoming, but it was the design that caught my eye. We all knew that Finn and his younger brother Liam had designed and built it. Not that I’d ever been to Ireland, but I’d seen enough photos to know this was more their style as opposed to the Tabiqian style that was commonly found in our homes. Almost all homes had white- or cream-colored walls. And rarely did you see family photos hanging on the walls. Maybe it was the natural wood from ceiling to floor with huge posts and beams that made the pictures stand out even more. I quickly scanned them, and they revealed what I already suspected. They were not just a power couple, but they were what a family should be. Happy and full of love.

Besides the family photos, there was one more thing that I couldn’t stop looking at. On the main wall stood a huge fireplace made from fieldstones. I was meant to be the focal point.

“Magnificent,” I said, admiring his work.

“Thank you. It never gets cold enough here to need it, but there is something about sitting by a fire that I just love. Relaxes me after a long day at work.”

“I can see that.” Add a glass of bourbon and it’ll be even more appealing.

“Why don’t you have a seat? Reesa is just putting our daughter, Joy, down for a nap. She won’t be long,” Finn said as he took a seat by the fireplace.

Sitting in the opposite corner, I tried to identify amazing smells. “I don’t know what your chef is cooking, but it smells amazing.”

Finn grinned. “I’m the chef tonight. Lamb stew with Irish soda bread.”

“You cook as well?” I said, surprised. I had no idea where either of them found time to do anything with all the hours they spent at work.

He nodded. “I’m also on dirty dish duty too so that the two of you can talk.”

That was just another thing added to my list of why I wasn’t the family man type. I only cooked when I had to, and as far as dishes, I tried to eat things at home that limited making a mess. But now I was even more curious. Whatever Reesa wanted to talk about, even Finn wasn’t invited.

Before I could ask any further, she joined us.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting, but (baby name) wanted me to read two stories to her.”

“No problem at all,” I replied.

Finn got up and said, “Dinner is just about ready. Would you like to talk first while I finish up?”

Reesa nodded. “As long as you don’t mind,” she said to Finn. He smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and left the room. She took his seat and looked at me. “I’m sure you have figured out I didn’t ask you here just to dine with us.”

“I assumed there was more.”

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