Book Two: Chapter Fourteen


    “Wow! Check this ce out! It’s huge!” Theo dered as they paused inside the foyer.


    A step behind him Sean whistled. Their father called it a vi but the brownstone was more like a


    mansion. Who would have thought such a ce existed even on the Upper West Side? Behind them


    came their security guards now acting as porters carrying in the duffels the kids packed during their


    brief return to their apartment. Their mother followed guiding Alexis though thetter now possessed


    her cane. Still it helped having a sighted person guide her during initial visits.


    “Let me take your coat,” Ss gently urged helping Ava out of her threadbare jacket.


    The more he looked at it the more faults he found. It wasn’t just frayed. It actually had several holes. It


    was faded making its original color difficult to ascertain: perhaps camouge green? There were also


    mud and salt stains from years of use and wearing it in inclement weather. The first chance he got he


    would take them out for new wardrobes and toss the jacket out.


    “Hey look! It evenes with a butler. Hey Jeeves! How’s it hanging?” Theo asked.


    “Hello,” the butler said giving the boy an odd stare before looking to his employer. “Sir.”


    “Duncan,” Ss acknowledged. “This is Ava. The kids are Alexis, Sean and Theo. They’ll be in your


    care so I expect nothing but the best.”


    “Of course,” Duncan nodded his gaze taking in the young, petite woman, her reserved daughter and


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    rather boisterous sons. He had a lot of questions to which he didn’t expect to get answers but he had a


    few guesses. “Madam, it is my honor to serve.”


    “…Th-thank you,” Ava nodded. It had been a long time since she stayed anywhere with servants at her


    beck and call. Even the ones her parents employed were not nearly so personable usually dismissing


    her. She didn’t want to be a bother.


    “You can ask Duncan for anything,” Ss assured her gently rubbing her shoulder. He wanted to


    Would you like to freshen up before dinner?”


    “Y-yes. That sounds fine,” Ava agreed. With an arm around Alexis she guided her to the stairs. “Sean.


    Theo.”


    “Coming!” Theo called reappearing from another room where he had wandered.


    Duncan imed the girl and boys’ duffels from the security detail leaving them with Thomas for their


    new instructions. Ss took Ava’s bag himself without a word guiding her up the stairs and down the


    hall. He wanted nothing more than to take her to his own bedroom but knew it was too soon. Instead he


    guided her to a room a few doors down.


    This one wasvishly decorated with rich, warm tones. The curtains were heavily brocaded with thick


    embroidery. A M hung over the mantel with an antique vase full of flowers that were changed


    weekly regardless of whether the room was upied. All the furniture was well-oiled, antique wood


    and carefully restored fabric. Ava slowly turned taking it all in mentally calcting the value.


    Ss set her bag on the bed watching her. He hopedfortable surroundings would help her rx but


    it seemed she was only bing more anxious as she stood in her uniform hugging herself and


    rubbing her arms. Ss quietly approached covering her nervous hands with his own. She stiffened as


    he leaned close kissing her temple.


    “…S-ss?”


    “I can’t believe I finally found you,” he said.


    “…Found me? Why would you…”


    “I’ve been looking for you for ten years,” Ss said slowly turning her to face him. “I’m so sorry I didn’t


    find you sooner.”


    Ava opened her mouth but closed it not sure what she should say. She wanted tough or call him a


    liar but his gaze held her silent. His eyes were so gentle and expression earnest. Had he really looked


    for her? But why after he told her to disappear from his sight?


    “Ava, I didn’t…I didn’t know it was you that day,” Ss finally spoke the words he wanted to say.


    “You…didn’t know?”


    “No. My friends thought…They wanted me to loosen up so they slipped something in my drink and…


    When I woke up and saw you I thought…God I thought you were a maid they paid or…I never saw


    your face. You never looked at me. I never dreamed it would be you…”


    Ss hung his head unable to continue. If only he had controlled his temper. He didn’t dare meet her


    gaze expecting her to be upset or disgusted with him. When she remained silent he clenched his jaw


    and slowly raised his head bracing himself. Her eyes were wide, questioning, uncertain.


    “…You were drugged too?” Ava asked. Yes, her sister had said something about college boys bragging


    about the trick they yed on their friend. “And you didn’t know it was me.”


    “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. If I knew it was you I…I never would…It’s my


    fault for venting my anger at my friends on you. I’m so sorry.”


    “…It’s fine.”


    “No it’s not,” Ss said startling her with his firm voice. “Don’t forgive me that easily, Ava. Not after ten


    years. I owe you ten years and I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”


    Hesitantly he reached up to gently stroke her cheek with his fingertips before tucking a stray hair


    behind her ear. He wanted to hold her but her fear was too great. She wasn’t ready but she would be.


    He would win back her heart no matter how long it took.


    “…Ss…”


    “Shh…You don’t have to say it,” Ss leaned forward kissing her forehead. “I promise I’ll take care of


    you. I’ll take care of our children. I won’t let anyone hurt you or them. You aren’t alone anymore, Ava.


    I’m here.”


    Ava’s shoulders shook as she trembled trying to contain her sobs. His arms wrapped around her


    pulling her against his chest as the tears she had been holding back burst forth. He held her silently


    stroking her hair and back letting her release her pent up emotions as she clung to him. She needed


    this release so he let her tears fall but he swore he would never let her cry again.


    Ava quieted her tears finally spent. She slowly calmed still wrapped in his warm embrace. The chest


    she was pressed against was firm but he held her so gently. The finely tailored shirt covering her


    benefactor had been ruined by her tears. Realizing who was holding her she shuddered and tried to


    push away.


    “…I’m sorry.”


    “You never have to apologize to me, Ava,” Ss assured her refusing to let her go. “How about a bath


    to calm your nerves before dinner?”


    She nodded.


    He guided her to the private, luxury bathplete with Jacuzzi tub and rainforest shower. Ss took a


    moment to show her the bath and shower controls before filling the tub and leaving her but not before


    embracing her again and kissing her temple whispering, “Take all the time you need.”


    Left alone Ava breathed deep to calm her racing heart. Why was he being so kind to her? Didn’t he


    hate her? Didn’t he hate her family? Or maybe…Maybe he really didn’t recognize her back then?


    Maybe he really did care about her and the kids…maybe…


    Or was it a trick? Her father tried to force her to sign away the custody rights of her kids. Maybe Ss


    was simply trying to trick her into doing the same…maybe…


    But she didn’t want to believe that. Her heart ached from its previous rejection and from the years she


    watched him from the shadows. She wanted to believe him but could she? Could she put her faith in


    him? Would he turn on her again?


    Her head pounded from the contradictory thoughts running through her head. She rubbed her temples


    forcing them to the side. She would think about thatter. Her gaze fell on the inviting tub now filling


    with steaming water. First thing first…a bath to sooth her frayed nerves.


    * * *


    Ss emerged from his room fresh from a shower and a change of clothes. He now wore jeans and


    long-sleeved t-shirt. Though he stayed at the brownstone infrequently his closet was full of clothes for


    any asion including a rxing dinner with his family. It felt good to be out of the restrictive suit and


    he hoped the kids would be more apt to warm up to him now. Sighing his mind returned to Ava.


    He finally held her in his arms. She turned to him forfort. It was a far cry from what he wanted but it


    was a start. He would do whatever it took to gain her trust. It didn’t matter how many hoops she made


    him jump through. He would do it.


    Stepping out of his room he found Thomas waiting for him, “Everything in ce?”


    “Yes,” Thomas said. “Mike and the rest will be running security here from now on. They’ll also escort


    them whenever they go out. They’ve gone to grab their gear and when they return Duncan will show


    them to the servants’ wing for their amodations.”


    “Good. Next step is to get in contact with a trustworthy hospital.”


    “Hospital?”


    “For paternity tests. I want the children’s birth certificates amended as soon as possible before


    Emerson makes his next move. He won’t stay quiet for long now that he knows about the kids.”


    “Right. With his daughter’s reputation in the gutter he’s desperate to reim his family’s standing.”


    “He has no right to im Ava and he will not be allowed near the kids.”


    “Right.”


    “Then it’s true.”


    Ss turned at Duncan’s sudden appearance. The older man had served his family since Ss was


    only a boy and watched the young man grow up. In fact Ss might have spent more time in the care


    and presence of the butler than his own father. Now Duncan had a thoughtful look on his face. Thought


    Ss hadn’t given him warning or exined the children’s presence there was no doubting the strong


    resemnce of the boys to the man in front of him.


    “The boys do bear a remarkable resemnce to you. And the youngdy?”


    “I have every intention of marrying her…if she’ll have me.”


    “Then I wish you the best of luck,” Duncan nodded fighting a smile. “I assure you they will have the best


    care and will want for nothing.”


    “Thank you. Oh, Ava doesn’t like tomatoes. Sauces are fine just not the actual vegetable. She has an


    allergy to chocte as well. I’m not sure about the kids.”


    “I’ll ask the Miss if they have any preferences or allergies.”


    “Good.” Ss nodded. “Anything they want make sure they get it. I’ll take them shoppingter.”


    He knew the kids could not be bought. It would take time to earn their trust and, he hoped affection, just


    as it would take time to win Ava’s heart but he owed them ten years. He was their father and he would


    provide them with everything they could need or want from now on. Ss only hoped they wanted him


    in their lives.


    “Oh Duncan, adjust the temperature of the house to seventy.”


    “I thought you preferred it kept cooler, sir.”


    “My preferences don’t matter. I don’t know if it is nerves or because she is so thin but Ava seems to be


    prone to catching chills. I want to make sure it isfortable for her here.”


    “Yes sir.” Duncan nodded this time he didn’t bother hiding his smile.