Page 45 of The Angel

I smile at him with so much love, my heart aches under the strain. “You make me feel better about myself, Flynn. That’s some gift you have there.”

“It’s easy when it concerns you.”

As we make the journey home, it’s the sweetest yet the most desperate. When we land, it will signify a new beginning, at least I’m hopeful for that and not the ending I fear when my father learns exactly how close I’ve got to his stepson.

* * *

Vivian’s smilingface is the first thing that greets us when we head through the door, and I don’t miss the hunger in her gaze as she looks at her son. He is happy to see her. It’s obvious from the softening of his eyes and the smile he directs her way as she pulls him into her arms.

After learning what a terrible life he has had up until now, it makes my heart glow and I wonder how I’ll feel if I’m made to walk away so that Vivian can have a relationship with her son. On the one hand, I think my father will understand, but on the other, he may be angry and tell us it’s one or the other. I’m not sure how things will pan out and I’m nervous about that.

“Where’s dad?” I interrupt their homecoming, and Vivian looks up and smiles. “He won’t be long; he’s taking a call in the den.”

Almost on cue, we hear a deep voice, “Sorry guys, business never goes away.”

I turn and a wave of love hits me for my father. The pleasure in his eyes as he holds out his arms has me running into them as if I am ten years old again. As they wrap around me, I squeeze my eyes tightly against the tears and love how secure he always makes me feel.

“How did it go?” He’s referring to the business I pretended I was there for, and I’m a little guilty about that and with a sinking heart I decide he deserves the truth, so I say softly, “Daddy, we have something to tell you.”

The tension increases in the room as I watch my father exchange a look with Vivian, who appears anxious and I nod reassuringly to Flynn and say, “Perhaps we should all go into the living room and grab a drink. I’m guessing we’ll need one when Flynn finishes his story.”

We share a smile, and it doesn’t go unnoticed as the realization dawns in Vivian’s eyes. I hate the anxious expression that replaces the happy one and hope they can move past our family connection and understand we aren’t related by blood and there is nothing wrong with this.

Flynn smiles at his mother and I see a softening in her features and if anyone can persuade them, he can, so as we all head to the living room for the showdown I always knew was coming, I wonder what state our relationships will be in when we walk out of there.

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