Teague (The Family Simon 4)

The photos were breathtaking. They were intimate and candid, quiet and reflective. They were full of life and exuberant and…

“I can’t believe you waited so long to open these,” Allie said, moving a few of the pictures so that she could see them better.

Ashamed, Sabrina could only nod because that big old lump was back in her throat.

“Wow, the guy has the touch. I mean, I knew he was a good photographer. I’ve seen some of his stuff in Vanity Fair and Time Magazine, but these are beyond good. These are inspiring and touching and so damn real.” Allie bumped Sabrina’s shoulder. “It’s like seeing you and Harry and Morgan, through his heart and soul. My God, the attention to detail. The moments he captured. He was looking for those. Paying attention. Wow. Just wow.”

It was Sunday afternoon and Sabrina was working with yet another sleepless night. After opening the envelope and seeing the gift that Teague had given her, there was no way Mr. Sandman was coming for her. She’d struggled all night with the need to go to him versus the need to think things through.

But really, what was there to think through? He’d had her heart, her body and soul the moment she’d opened the envelope.

“Why did you wait so long?” Allie asked, and Sabrina could see her friend was puzzled.

Good question.

Sabrina picked up a photo of Harry in the boat. He’d just caught his first fish and the expression on his face was priceless. He held up the little sunfish, spraying drops of water everywhere and the shot had captured the moment perfect

ly.

“After Teague left, I told myself that I’d open the envelope when he came back. Stupid, really, but in my mind as long as the envelope was sealed, he had to come back. So when he didn’t I just kind of forgot about it. Put it out of my mind. Buying this house and moving from the city took up all my time. I was too busy to think about an envelope that was somehow tethered to a man halfway around the world.”

“Hmmm.” Allie picked up another one. It was a candid black and white photo of Sabrina laughing. She was on the beach with the wind in her hair and the joy in her face was contagious.

“I remember that day,” Sabrina said softly. “We’d just got back from a boat ride to Bala and Harry and Morgan were so thrilled that Teague took us out. It was a perfect day.”

Allie regarded her closely. “Why did you open these up now?”

“Teague told me to. He thought it would help convince me that…” Shoot. Was she really going to say this out loud? “He told me that he loved me and I didn’t believe him.” The words fell out of her in a rush, so quickly that it took a few moments for Allie to clue in.

She clapped her hands over her mouth. “No,” she said, her eyes wide and sparkly. “He said he loved you?”

Sabrina nodded, close to tears and feeling like an idiot for being so emotional. “Yes. He did.” She sighed. “And then he left.”

Allie froze. “Tell me he did not leave the country.”

“No, he…he was being a gentleman, I guess.”

“A gentleman? He should have stripped you down right then and there and you could have relieved some of that sexual tension you got going on.”

“Does everything always come back to sex?”

“Hey, blame my pregnancy hormones. Lately it’s all I can think about.” Allie laughed, though it soon trailed off as she fingered another photo of Sabrina and the kids.

“What are you going to do?” Allie asked softly.

Sabrina stared down at the photos until her eyes blurred. “I was thinking about driving out to see him.”

“Then go.”

“I—”

“Go! I’ll pick up the kids from Sunday school.”

Sabrina hesitated and then flung her arms around her friend. “Why are you so good to me?” she whispered into Allie’s ear.

“It’s because I’m your Tonto.”

“My what?” Sabrina pulled away, confused.