Page 46 of Tied to Hope
“There is nothing you can do at this point,” Rytsar answered. “I need to spend uninterrupted time alone with the boy. I have no idea how a man can make up for two years of absence in a child’s life.”
“You will find a way, and the boy is still young,” Sir assured him. “He may not even remember a time when he didn’t have a father, as he gets older.”
Rytsar sounded doubtful when he answered, “I suppose it’s possible…”
“When are you planning to come back?” Brie asked, dreading his answer.
“I do not know,radost moya.”
She nodded, her lips trembling, despite her best efforts to keep her emotions at bay.
“Whatever my decision, I will return to discuss it with you both,” he assured her with a sad smile.
“We will be here when you need us,” Sir stated, getting up to give him a hug while Rytsar still held Hope in his arms.
Brie stood up to join them, wanting to surround Rytsar with their love.
The Power of Gray
Knowing they would both struggle while Rytsar was in Russia, Sir asked Brie to invite Marquis Gray and Celestia over to the new house. “Of all the people I know, Gray will give us the perspective we need on this.”
Brie wholeheartedly agreed and immediately called to invite them.
“Of course, we will come,” Marquis replied on the phone. “But may I ask if there is a reason for this sudden invitation, Mrs. Davis?”
Brie was glad he couldn’t see her blush. “Yes.”
“Good to know. We will be there at seven.”
It was amazing to Brie that Marquis still played such an important role in both of their lives, especially when she considered the animosity that he and Sir had felt toward one another when she first joined the Submissive Training Center.
As her trainer, Marquis had been very protective of Brie and held it against Sir for breaking the school’s code of conduct by scening with her in private. Even after the collaring ceremony, Marquis had ridden Sir hard, holding him to an incredibly high standard.
It had caused Sir to deeply resent Marquis Gray, and yet he still respected the trainer—even during those periods when he thoroughly despised the man.
Marquis was extraordinary. He seemed to have the uncanny ability to see into a person’s soul. It made him both fascinating and terrifying to be around.
“Sir, they said they’d come,” Brie told him after she had ended the call.
“Good. It will be nice to see them both and to thank them again for taking care of Hope during the move.”
Brie smiled. “Yes, and we can finally show them the new house now that we’re all settled.”
“I think a good Ribollita is in order for our guests,” Sir suggested. “Will you assist me?”
“Of course,” Brie answered enthusiastically. She loved cooking with him in the new kitchen because it was so spacious, and the beauty of it was only enhanced by the ocean serenading them from outside.
Although Brie’s cooking skills had certainly improved through much practice, she preferred prepping the ingredients so she could watch Sir in the kitchen. It was like watching an artist at work.
They had established a wonderful tradition since moving into the new house. Whenever Sir cooked recipes from his childhood, they played Alonzo’s music. It reconnected him with his father, and she could see an actual change in Sir as he prepared each dish. While he cooked, Sir became more relaxed and joyful, moving about the kitchen with a smile on his face.
Brie loved that Hope would come to associate cooking with seeing her parents together in the kitchen and being serenaded by her grandfather’s violin.
Sir left the Tuscan stew simmering on the stove, filling the whole house with its delicious smell. When their guests arrived, it was the first thing Marquis commented on.
“What an inviting smell.”
“A family dish of my father’s,” Sir informed him.
