"Next week," Brenda said, helping me with my scarf. "They'll be here for a while to help pack up and then Chris will go back to California and open up the house. Liam and Maureen will fly back once he's settled in."
She raised her eyebrows at me suggestively. "I feel bad about all this, Drake. You've only met your son, officially, and now you'll be losing him."
I took in a deep breath, and nodded. "I know," I said. "I don't want to interfere, because Chris has been his father all Liam's life, but I do want to keep a relationship with Liam."
"You should," Brenda said. "I'll put in a good word with Maureen. At the least, I'll email you and let you know what she says."
"Thanks," I said and gave her a quick hug. I turned and glanced back at Liam, who was lying on his back, the plane in his hand.
"See you later, Liam," I called out to him. He turned to see me and jumped up, running to the door with the plane in his hand.
"Thanks for the X-Wing. Will you come by and bring Sophie with you?"
"I'll talk to your mom and as soon as we can, we'll come over and see you again."
Liam nodded. I extended my hand and we shook. I wanted to hug him, but I felt that would be premature. He knew I was his biological father as an idea but it meant nothing to him yet. That would take time. Time that I apparently didn't have.
I left, a lump in my throat at the sight of him standing there, a sprig of black hair sticking straight up, his blue eyes so much like mine.
My son.
I'd only gotten to know him. Now, I'd be losing him again.
I walked out into the cold February morning and wished things had worked out differently.
When I arrived home from my visit, Kate was waiting for me. I took off my coat and boots, and threw my scarf into the bin in the closet and then went right to Kate, who stood beside the entry watching me.
"How did it go?" she asked. I said nothing. Instead, I took her into my arms and pulled her tightly against me. Momentarily, I felt overwhelmed with emotion and the sense of loss that Liam would be going back to California.
"Oh, Drake, I'm sorry," Kate said softly as I pressed my face into the crook of her neck, unable to speak.
I shook my head and took her hand in mine. When I checked the living room to see where Sophie was, I saw that she wasn't anywhere in sight. She must be upstairs in her bed napping.
"I need you," I said and pulled Kate against me once again.
"I'm yours," she said, knowing exactly what I meant.
I needed to lose myself, and get rid of this sadness I felt.
I’d lose myself in her.
Chapter 22 : Kate
Sophie improved over the course of the next few days, and soon, her sniffles were gone and she was back to her old self, trying to crawl around, mostly pushing herself back.
One morning, Drake and I were sitting in the living room while Sophie played on a blanket on the floor on her tummy. While she played, I read the paper and watched the local news, hoping to catch a report about Lisa’s trial and Derek Richardson’s murder case.
Drake’s cell buzzed from where it lay on the coffee table. He picked it up and checked the caller ID.
“Lara,” he said and answered, holding the phone to his ear. “Hello, Mistress Lara,” he said with a smile on his face. “How is my partner in crime today?”
He listened and then the smile fell off his face. He picked up the remote control and switched the TV to another local news channel. On the screen was the image of a man with a shaved head and a thick black beard. He had his hands cuffed and was being walked up the stairs to the police station, a detective dressed in a suit and tie escorting him in. Beneath the image was a caption.
Suspect Arrested in Richardson Murder Case.
Drake turned up the volume and we listened as the reporter announced that a man had been arrested and charged with first degree murder.
/> Drake looked at me. “Lara says that’s Lisa’s submissive.”