Chapter Seventeen
Remy
When we arrive at the hospital, I’m relieved to see Dex checking in at the main desk, too. On the drive over, I realized I can’t leave Raven alone in the waiting room. I was racking my brain, trying to figure out a solution for where she can sit while I talk to my father. Now I have one.
Dex waits as I give my name and receive a pass to stick on my shirt, along with a reminder that it’s two people allowed up at one time.
We walk over to the chairs in the lobby and I turn to my brother. “Can you stay here with Raven while I go see Dad? I need to talk to him and I don’t want to leave her alone.” Worst case, I’d bring her into the room with me but I’d prefer privacy to have this heart-to-heart with my dad.
“Of course. I can get to know her better.”
I glance at Raven. “Are you good?”
She smiles. “I think I can handle hanging out with the hottest quarterback in the league.”
“Retired hottest quarterback,” Dex says with a smug grin.
I shake my head at my brother’s ego. “I notice you aren’t arguing about the word hottest.”
“What can I say? When you’ve got it, you know it.”
After rolling my eyes, I turn to Raven again, raising my eyebrows. “And you? Flirting with my brother in front of me?” I keep my tone light because I’m joking.
“I’m just repeating what I read about him on social media!” she exclaims. “We all know you’re the hottest Sterling brother,” she assures me, obviously stroking my ego, and I like it.
“Hey! I take offense to that,” Dex says.
I slap my brother on the side of the head. “Take care of my girl. I’ll be back soon.”
With a sudden twist of nerves in my gut, I walk away from Raven and Dex, and toward the elevator, heading to visit my father.
I arrive at my dad’s room just as a nurse walks out along with an orderly who steps over to the food cart, then moves on to the next room.
The nurse pauses. “Are you here to see Mr. Sterling?”
I nod. “I’m his son.”
The young woman smiles. “I assumed as much. He told me he has four of them. Go on in. He’s eating breakfast.”
“Thanks.” I knock once and walk in.
My father is sitting up in bed, the table turned so he has a tray in front of him. “Remy!” Alex sounds happy to see me.
“Hi, Dad.” I take in my father’s coloring, which is much better than it was yesterday, his pallor no longer pasty and white. “You’re looking well.”
“I feel better. The doctors want to run some tests so I’m here for another couple of days. They want to monitor me.”
I nod, relieved the hospital isn’t just releasing him. “That’s good. I’ll feel better with more answers. This way you’ll know how to take care of yourself.”
“They say I have to give up red meat, among other things.” My dad grimaces. “They’re even sending a nutritionist in to talk to me. Lizzie wants to be here to make sure she can follow the diet they prescribe.”
I’m grateful my father will have someone to monitor his meals and behavior, at least in the beginning until he gets used to a new routine. That thought reminds me of my mom, who isn’t here to keep tabs on my dad and is the reason I want to talk.
As my father eats his oatmeal, I pull up a chair and settle in by his bedside. “So… you and Lizzie?” I bring up the easier conversation first.
Alex puts down the spoon. His cheeks flush as he meets my gaze. “We discussed how to tell you kids but she wanted to wait. And I… I worried about how you’d all take the news. Especially Fallon. She has the softest heart.” My dad puts a hand over the organ in his chest that is causing him issues.
I clasp my hands together, resting them on the side of the bed.
I draw a deep breath before diving in. “First off, none of us have spoken about things since yesterday but I don’t have an issue with you two as a couple.
” It’s not easy to discuss my father’s personal life and I do my best not to squirm in my chair.
“I appreciate it.” Alex glances down but his cheeks are still flushed red, telling me this talk isn’t any easier for him.
“If anything, I’m happy to know you have someone who cares about you and it was obvious to me, even before yesterday, that Lizzie does. She’s been good to us all.”
My father nods. “But she’s not your mother.”
And isn’t that the crux of it all? “No. And I know we rarely talked about that night… mostly because I clammed up and refused.”
“Son, I wish you’d opened up to someone. To me, the therapist I spent a fortune on for all of you kids, or at least to each other. I hated seeing you in such emotional pain. Still do.” My father’s voice grows raspy.
I understand. I have a lump in my throat the size of Texas and can’t find a way to speak over it. But I came here for a reason and I swallow hard. “It’s my fault.”
I glance up to find my father narrowing his gaze. “What is?”
“Mom’s murder. If I had gone out for dinner with her as planned, she’d wouldn’t have been home when that bastard broke in.” The words pour from my soul. Words I buried that night and have pushed down deeper every year since.
“Dammit!” My father raises his voice and the monitor begins to flash.
I jump up from my seat. “Calm down before I kill you, too.”
My father takes a deep breath and relaxes his breathing for a long, interminable minute. The lines become less erratic on the monitor and nobody comes in to yell at me for upsetting my parent.
“That’s what you think? All these years, and now I find out you’ve been holding that bullshit inside you?” my father asks.
I know Alex isn’t angry at me, he’s upset with himself for not figuring out my issues sooner. Not that he could have. On that subject, I’ve been a closed book.
“If anyone’s to blame for your mom’s death, it’s me,” my dad says.
“But—” I try to interrupt.
“No. I knew Mr. Peterson was unhinged after the losses he took in the market. I advised him against making those investments but he insisted I do it anyway. When I saw the stocks dropping, I called him and strongly recommended he pull out. Peterson refused and told me they’d rebound.”
I lower myself into my seat, knowing my dad isn’t finished talking.
Alex shakes his head, his hands curled into fists on the hospital blanket. “If I’d listened to my gut, if I’d fired him as a client, if I’d refused to invest as he asked…”
“That’s so wrong,” I say, shocked at how my father feels. “You aren’t responsible for another man’s actions!”
“I know,” Alex says softly. “And neither are you. You were a teenager who had the hots for a girl. Your mother called me after you left the house. Said she was glad you had a date.” My father’s wistful smile tugs at my heart. “That was the last conversation we had, but your mom was happy for you.”
The knowledge eases the pain and the heavy burden I’ve been carrying for so long. “And you don’t blame me?” I ask.
My father shakes his head. “No more than I blame myself, though it took me years of therapy to accept that.”
My lips twist, feeling wistful. “I wish I’d been less stubborn about it.”
“You would have saved yourself a lot of pain,” my dad says. “You should know though, I grieved your mom. Deeply.” He dips his head.
“I remember. We moved in with Grandma and Grandpa.” My father’s parents took good care of us when Alex couldn’t do it all himself. Now they’re on a cruise to Alaska, living their best later years, and they deserve it.
My father picks up the spoon, then places it back in the bowl. “Damn slop,” he mutters.
I laugh. “Better get used to it.”
“Lizzie’s a better cook than this. I’ll be fine.”
I rise from my chair. “I’m glad you have her, Dad.”
“And she’ll be glad you accept us.”
I give my father a brief hug, careful not to disturb the wires. “I’ll give you a call later.”
“Remington.”
I startle at the name people in my life rarely use. My mom had discovered the old TV show, Remington Steele, and insisted on naming me after what she called, the dapper main character. I shake my head at the memory.
“What?” I ask my father.
“No more guilt. Your sister told me you’re taking care of Raven?” My father knows her from his time visiting The Back Door.
I nod, keeping the details to myself so as not to upset my father or cause him stress. “She’s the one, Dad.”
Alex smiles and looks like his usual self for the first time this morning. “Be smart and lock her down, then.”
“I will.” I laugh as I make the promise, leaving my father in a much better mood than he was when I arrived.
And I have Raven to thank for it.
* * *
Raven
I sense Remy’s better mood the moment he walks toward me after visiting his father.
Even his step is lighter. I ask if their talk went well and his smile tells me all I need to know.
Grateful he’s had a heavy burden lifted, I don’t press for details.
It’s none of my business and all that matters is the end result.
Once we say our goodbyes to Dex, we return to Remy’s building, parking downstairs in the garage.
“Let’s go to the lobby to pick up the laptop Stevie dropped off,” he says, as we walk to the regular elevator and not the one leading to the penthouse.
In the lobby, we wait while another resident has a conversation with the man seated behind the desk and when he walks away, Remy steps up.
“Hi, Harris. Did someone drop something off for me?” Remy asks the blond-haired man.
“Yes.” He reaches down and returns with the black laptop and a sheaf of papers held together by a rubber band, causing me to wince at the work that’s piled up.
But at least it will keep me busy and take my thoughts off still being a prisoner in my own life.
“Thanks,” Remy says, accepting the computer.
“One more thing,” Harris says. “A gentleman left something for a guest of yours? Raven Walsh?”
Before I can panic, the man reaches under the counter again and this time, he holds a familiar-looking bakery bag in his hand.
I grin. “God, I love my brother,” I mutter and accept the bag.
Chuckling, Remy thanks the doorman and together, we return to his apartment where I head straight for the kitchen. Once I’ve stepped inside, I walk to the counter and open the bag, just knowing Caleb has brought me donuts again.
“This is Caleb’s way of calming me when I’m upset,” I say to Remy. “Want one?”
“And give you one less donut to look forward to? No thanks. I’m going to run on the treadmill at the gym downstairs later today. Wouldn’t make sense for me to eat that first.”
I look him over, taking my time, letting my gaze travel over the long-sleeve hunter green Henley he’s wearing that clings to his muscles beneath. “So that’s how you keep in shape.”
“Treadmill and weights,” he says. “And stop staring or I’ll be the one eating a special treat and the donuts will have to wait.”
I pick up the sexy innuendo and my pussy clenches with desire. He rarely has to do more than indicate he wants me and I’m ready for him. “Cut that out,” I say, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.
He grins, then turns to take a plate out of the cabinet.
Opening the bag, I pull out three donuts and place them on the white dish. A piece of paper falls out. “I bet Caleb left me a note… or maybe Owen drew me a dinosaur,” I say, opening the folded paper.
I hope you enjoy your favorite donuts as much as I’m enjoying our little game. You can hide but I’ll always find you.
I read the familiar script and my stomach bottoms out, panic filling me. Nausea replaces my hunger and I drop the note.
“What is it?” Remy asks, snatching up the paper. “That son of a bitch.”
I wrap my arms around myself and step back from the counter and the food I wanted so badly only seconds before. “Why won’t he just leave me alone?”
Remy wraps his arms around me and I feel safe. Safe in this tower in the sky and safe with him. But I can’t become a hermit for the rest of my life.
After a few minutes of comforting me, Remy releases me. He pulls out his phone and dials a number. I don’t ask who he’s calling. I’m just so tired of living this way and nothing he does or says will change that.
“Garrett? Yeah, hey. Listen…” Remy goes on to explain the things Lance has done, ending with the offending note.
“I know it’s not enough to get a TRO but can you take a ride out to Chappaqua and have a talk with the SOB?
If I go myself I’ll beat him to a bloody pulp and I’m useless to Raven behind bars. ”
I wince at his statement and shake my head wildly. The last thing I want is a confrontation between Remy and Lance. Thank God he’s thinking rationally and has asked the detective to go instead.
“I’ll pack this gift up in a plastic bag for you to pick up,” Remy goes on. “Oh, and just Raven and I touched the note.” A few more seconds of quiet passes where I assume Garrett is speaking and then, “Thanks. I appreciate whatever you can do. Yeah. See you soon.”
Remy disconnects the call and meets my gaze. “I feel so fucking useless.”
“And I just want this to be over. There’s only one way to end this and you know it.
Let me draw him out, Remy. You can make up the plan, name the people who will protect me, the officers who will grab him, whatever you and Garrett come up with.
But let’s be proactive.” Goose bumps have risen on my arms beneath my long-sleeve shirt and I shiver.
He narrows his gaze. “You’re scared.”
I blow out a long breath, opting for honesty. “I’d be stupid not to be afraid but I trust you to protect me. Now I need you to trust me to handle myself.”
Silence follows. His brow furrows and I can almost see the internal argument he’s having with himself. I only hope he’ll come down on my side in the end.