Page 8 of Coming Home

Well, fuck me. I am stunned. Who is she? I have never felt like this about a woman before, and I barely know her. I usually get everything I want, usually without much hassle, and now I have found a woman that I think about constantly, and I can't even find her!

I get up and pace my office. There has to be something.

“Did you look into her travel records I gave you the flight details for?”

“Yes, and here is where it does get interesting. Her flight was booked via Heatherstone Enterprises.”

“What?!” I am stunned and stop my pacing abruptly. “So, she knows the Sullivan’s?”

“We could assume so. It was a booking made on a corporate credit card, so she is known to the business at least.” Romeo ensures to make the right distinction; facts are needed not hearsay.

"Keep digging," I growl at Romeo and dismiss him, as I take a seat and think about her connection to the Sullivan’s.

It appears Scarlett doesn’t want to be found. But why? She certainly isn’t dangerous, but is she in danger? Just the thought of it has my anger rising; I feel like an over possessive lion needing to protect his mate. Perhaps it is time I let fate bring her to me. I never chase women, and it is making me uneasy. I have already seen her twice in the matter of a few days. Perhaps being on the same flight wasn’t a coincidence? Maybe I am meant to see her again?

Maybe I will leave it to fate to decide?

11

Shaun

I arrived at my mother’s house just after 7:30pm, late as usual. Marco is already there, sharing a wine with her in the courtyard since it is such a nice night.

“Hello, darling,” my mother purrs when she sees me.

An elegant woman, short in stature but tall in confidence, Margaret Marshall is my dad's one and only true love. The years since my father’s death have been hard for all of us, but it hit my mom the hardest and these weekly family dinners help solidify the family unit.

I grab a glass and pour myself some wine from the open bottle; a nice Pinot Noir from Australia, I notice. Is there anything that doesn’t make me think about Scarlett all the time? I nod at Marco in greeting as the three of us talk about business and my mother’s charity work. My mother got through most of her grief by volunteering her time and donating her money to charities that support children within the community. She always loved to give back, and now that she has more time, she thoroughly enjoys working to support those in need, in whatever way she can.

Once dinner is ready, we make our way to the dining room, where there is a banquet of food waiting for us. Marco and I eat a lot, like any healthy, fit man does, but mother always overcooks. I am sure she spends her entire day on Wednesday’s cooking and preparing for the feast she always presents to us.

“So, boys, last time you were here I heard all about Marco’s latest fling, but I have yet to meet her...”

I stifle a laugh and look at Marco who is grinning as well. I do like how she mocks us. Trying to compose myself, I take a drink as she continues.

“So, since we dissected Marco’s love life last time, let’s start with yours tonight, Shaun. You’re 32, and I am not getting any younger either. I want grandchildren, so when are you going to find a wife?”

I gulp my wine too quickly and cough. Grabbing my napkin, I dab at my mouth, trying hard not to splutter my wine all over the white tablecloth. I never lose my composure like this, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by the looks I am getting from both my mother and Marco.

A slight grin appears on my mother’s face. “Well, looks like you have something to share with us, my darling. Who is she?”

I think about not saying anything or laughing it off, but for some reason I want to share the fact that I am constantly thinking about a woman who I barely know. I place my glass down and look at them. They have both stopped eating and are looking at me in shock.

“Shit, have you met someone?” Marco barks abruptly to me in absolute shock. The fact that he appears so surprised by the news that I might actually have found a woman I want to keep around does little to calm any nerves I had about vocalizing my new love interest.

My mother doesn’t look much better, although I will say, she looks more intrigued than anything.

“I may have found someone that interests me…” I start to say, taking another drink of my wine. “For god's sake, you can both pick your jaws up off the ground, it isn’t that shocking,” I say, starting to be offended by their actions.

“Well, then, tell us about her?” my mother says, knowing full-well that she is carefully prodding the bear, not sure how I will react.

I sigh and run my hands through my hair as my mother and Marco continue to stare at me. “She is……. special.” I say, not sure what else there is I can say at this point.

My mother’s grin widens. “Well then, tell us more.”

“I don’t know her too well, in fact I don’t really know her at all, but I have seen her around a few times….., and I am trying to see her again….., but she is proving to be elusive,” I say, not wanting to give anything away. Both my mother and Marco know too many people in my circle and may go hunting for evidence of Scarlett’s existence before I even have a chance to make her mine.

Marco leans back in his chair and looks smug. “I never thought I would see the day that my older brother has found a woman and he can’t have her.” He sees right through me.

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