3.28 Mornin' Sunshine!
(Kellie)
(Kellie)
I stirred in my sleep. Something didn't feel right. The blanket smelled different. I touched the fabric. It had a different texture. Did Beryl change my linen without me noticing last night? But there was still the strange scent. I sniffed. Clean, little spicy, the scent they usually call Sea Breeze or Ocean Fresh, but the expensive brand. The kind you smell when you pass by a gentleman in an expensive suit on the street. Definitely something Chris wouldn't be able to afford from his pocket money.
I opened my eyes with a start and sat upright. I looked at the blanket and then around. I didn't recognize this room. Where am I?! And how did I get here?! And what, for the mother of all cowplants, is that over there?
I stirred in my sleep. Something didn't feel right. The blanket smelled different. I touched the fabric. It had a different texture. Did Beryl change my linen without me noticing last night? But there was still the strange scent. I sniffed. Clean, little spicy, the scent they usually call Sea Breeze or Ocean Fresh, but the expensive brand. The kind you smell when you pass by a gentleman in an expensive suit on the street. Definitely something Chris wouldn't be able to afford from his pocket money.
I opened my eyes with a start and sat upright. I looked at the blanket and then around. I didn't recognize this room. Where am I?! And how did I get here?! And what, for the mother of all cowplants, is that over there?
I got up and went over to the small table above which hang a larger than life sized picture of my adoptive mother. What kind of person would keep Beryl's picture in their bedroom? This was without any doubt a men's bedroom.
Is this some sort of a stalker's lair? Was I kidnapped by this person, because I was Beryl's daughter? I wouldn't be the first Heffner taken as far as I knew. Why didn't I remember how I got here?
I thought about what I did remembered from the last night. The slap. The kiss. Max's hands on me and Thomas intervening. This could be Thomas' place. I knew his dad was a businessman, Thomas didn't keep it secret that he could buy whatever he wanted. Like expensive cologne. But my mom's picture in his bedroom, that just didn't fit.
Oh, Watcher, am I'm locked in a house with some sick twisted-minded perv?
Calm down, Kellie, you still have your dress on. You aren't all tied up in a cellar. You're in a room with windows. You can easily open one and escape. Why pick the worst scenario? Did you check the door. Maybe it isn't locked at all and you're wasting your energy freaking out.
"Well, I might just do that. But the picture is more than weird. Wait. Where are my shoes? Who took my shoes?" And why the plum I'm talking to myself aloud?
I grabbed the door handle and it wasn't locked indeed. Lets find out, what's on the other side of the door.
The door led into a hallway/dining room and when I entered it, I saw a large picture of my grandma Babs on the wall. Just when I thought this situation couldn't be any weirder.
I heard sounds of clinking dishes from where I supposed was the kitchen. I was a minute away from finding out who this creepy mysterious person was. Maybe you should just find the exit and get the plum out of here! But morbid curiosity took the better of me.
There was a man in the kitchen chopping fruits with such vigor like it was his worst enemy. He was so focused on his task that he didn't even look up from his activity when I entered the kitchen. "Mornin' sunshine!" he said and proceeded to chop more fruits. Apples this time. I had to admire his precision. All slices were identical in thickness. I didn't dare to come any closer to him when he was wielding those big knives. Although I was itching to ask who he was. "I'm pretty sure those apples were completely innocent," I said instead.
He finally looked up and made a funny face. "Innocent?" he said. "I don't care about innocent! I'm a serial fruit killer! Beware of me, little peach!"
And in that moment, when I saw his face, it hit me. I knew who he was, even though I had never met him. I gasped. "You're Chris' father!"
"Ha! What gave me away? The serial killer bit?" he asked grinning.
Should I even answer that? I took a better look at him and gulped inwardly. Except for those blue eyes and few minor details Chris was a copy of his father. If Chris will look like this at the same age, Watcher help me! Scratch that, Watcher help me NOW! "C- Can't you put some clothes on?" I stuttered.
He looked down at his perfectly formed body and then at me little confused. "Why?"
"It is considered polite when you have visitors." I felt my cheeks were burning. No! Please, Watcher, don't let me blush in front of Chris' father!
"Oh! I'm sorry I was working out a little before I went to make the breakfast. You see, I don't get many visitors." He motioned toward the bowl of fruit salad. "Are you hungry? You must be after your last night's adventure."
My eyes followed the motion of his hand and I immediately regretted it because looking at the bowl meant also seeing this man's abdominal muscles and his waist, and not being able to prevent my eyes from wandering further in forbidden direction before I could scratch them out of their sockets. Swallow me, Earth! More blushing followed. Being all tied up and held in a cellar by a random psycho didn't sound that bad in that moment compared to this.
"Hm?" he prompted.
What? The breakfast, Kellie. Oh. "I'm not hungry." I was starving. "Well, maybe just a little."
"Then let's eat."
Thankfuly it wasn't me taking the bowl to the table, for I was sure I would drop it.
"So, how's everything at home?" he asked while I was picking at my food. I looked up and got trapped for a few seconds in those incredibly blue eyes. What was he asking about? Home. Yes. But there was more in that question. I could hear it. My mind flashed to the picture in his bedroom. He's actually asking about mom!
I couldn't think of anything better to say, so I said the worst thing possible. "We are preparing for the wedding. Mom is getting married soon." He kept smiling, but those beautiful eyes of his betrayed him. I saw the pain in them. "I know," he said.
He still loves her! She moved on, but he didn't. My heart was breaking for him. Ronan was a decent guy, but comparing to this man he seemed too ordinary. And didn't look one bit as hot shirtless as this guy.
"And what about Chris? How's he doing at school?"
I really didn't want to talk about Chris with anybody after last night, much less with his father. I wished I could tell him what he wanted to hear about Beryl, but I couldn't. "Good. He's doing good. I used to help him with homework, but he doesn't need my help anymore. He wants to be a scientist. I believe his chances to become one are pretty good."
"You kids are so smart. I bet you make your mom proud. Does..." he trailed off and cleared his throat before going on. "Does Chris ever talk about me?"
It didn't take a genius to know what he actually wanted to ask. Does Beryl ever talk about me? What a strange game we were playing over the breakfast. "I heard a lot about you, when we were kids."
"Good things only, I hope."
"Depends on who you ask."
He chuckled. "Let me guess. Chris' uncle. What was his name? Bradley? No, that was the other one. Brian! He couldn't stand the sight of me. I bet he told you what a selfish weasel I am! Oh, man. I remember him getting into my face at the fundraiser after I bid on your mom's picture. Brave lad. I heard he married Marissa. The irony was not lost on me."
I had to giggle. "I think he used a different word than a weasel. But the rest is pretty much accurate. They have two kids my uncle and Marissa. They named them Connor and Laura. Connor is the older one."
"I'm happy for Marissa. We didn't part on good terms, but I'm glad she found what she was looking for with your uncle. When you see her, tell her I said that."
"I will do that, Mr...."
"Please, call me Tony. I should have told you earlier. I'm sorry. Where are my manners today? And I still haven't put on my shirt. I'm going to do that right away. You must think I'm a complete oaf. Tell me, is there anything else I failed to do as a host? Was your salad tasty enough?"
He looked so genuinely concerned about my well being, those sky-blue eyes full of warmth causing butterfly wings flutter in my stomach. Is he intentionally using his charm on me? Because it's working! I was sure my face was red as my dress in that moment. "Uh... the salad was delicious, thank you. Can-can I use your bathroom now, please?"
"By all means!"
I used the shower and borrowed one of those large soft bath towels to wrap myself in. I didn't want to wear that dress again. I took it and went in the kitchen. I noticed Tony finally put on some clothes. I threw my dress in the trash right there in front of him.
Tony watched me. He peeked in the trash can and then he looked at me. "That's a pretty expensive dress you just trashed," he said. "What did it do to you?"
"It wasn't for me," I said.
"It seemed to fit you well. Who was it for then?"
"For another girl that wasn't me."
He cocked an eyebrow at me quizzically.
"I'm not this diva wearing fancy dresses. It's not me. The dress made me act like someone else."
"Are you sure the dress is to blame? Did the dress make you kiss my son?"
How does he know? Oh. Chris must have told him. "Yes, it did!" I retorted. "The ugly Kellie, the real me, would never do that! The dress made me feel I was someone else. Someone he could..." I was evidently making Tony feel uncomfortable. He probably thought I was having a fit of insanity. "Nevermind," I said. "Do you think I could borrow something of yours to wear?"
"Um... sure," he said and led me in another room shooting sidelong glances at me. "Let's see what we can find for you." He pulled a pair of jeans out of the wardrobe and a kimono-like shirt.
I inspected the shirt. "You've been to Japan?" I joked.
That caught him by surprise. "As a matter of fact I was." Then he looked at the shirt again. "Oh. It was a gift. But not from a Japanese," he chuckled.
"Doesn't look like your style," I pointed out.
He gave me a cocked eyebrow again. "You barely woke up and you already know my style, girl?"
I shrugged. "It doesn't take a fashion expert." I peeked in his wardrobe. Just what I thought. Black shirts. Black pants. Black suits. "Is your life as colourful as your wardrobe?"
"Got a repairman disguise here somewhere. Not black. Does that count for something, Your Honour?" He tossed me the shirt.
"Disguise does not count." I shooed him away so I could change.
"What do you think?" I asked when I was finished.
He eyed me for a while. "Honestly? I liked the dress on you better. You are beautiful young lady, Kellie. Beauty is a gift. You should use it to your advantage, not hide it. Plus you're smart, you could go very far if you wanted and used your gifts wisely."
I didn't know what to say to such compliment. I wasn't used to receive any.
"I need to discuss something with you," he said when I was silent too long. "Come."
We sad down in his living room and Tony gave me a serious look. "From what I've gathered, you're in love with Chris."
I felt a lump growing in my throat. My panic must have reflected on my face for Tony raised his hand to calm me down.
"Hear me out, please," he said.
All I managed was a nod.
"I want to suggest something. If you two love each other or if you will one day and need to get away from Newcrest, I could arrange for you two to move in Windenburg. I have a property there. You could start your life together there as a husband and wife."
I expected anything but this. "Why-why would you do that? Aren't you one bit offended by the fact that we are siblings?"
"Not blood related and that's all that matters to me. I want my son to be happy. If it means being with you, I'll support the two of you no matter what."
"I-I don't think he loves me."
"Because he didn't see you as anything else but his sister until now. It may or may not change. I want you two to know what options you have."
"He would never move out of Newcrest. He's going to become the heir of the Heffner legacy."
Tony sighed. His face contorted with pain for a second. "Yes, the legacy thing. As if it did any good to your mother. As I understand it you can't force the heir duty on anyone. Chris can refuse to go down this path. He could follow his heart and live with you, if you help him."
My mind was racing under Tony's intense look. He actually wants me to sway Chris off the legacy path. A question suggested itself. "What's in it for you?"
He smiled as if it pleased him that I asked the question.
"As things are now, I can't visit my son without drawing unwanted attention of the police, the media, my enemies. I'm in trouble with the law, as you most likely know. If you two lived in Windenburg, I could see my son anytime and finally become the parent I always wanted to be for him."
"I don't know want to say. I really can't decide for Chris."
He took my hands into his. "You could win him over. He's probably confused right now, but I believe you could make him fall for you. You're beautiful and kind and he already cares about you. Trust me, it wouldn't be too hard for him to walk the rest of the way and really see you the way I do." He nodded towards the trash can. "You wanted it to happen. You already started working on it. Just promise me, you'll think about it."
"I can't. I told you it wasn't me."
He leaned closer and squeezed my hands. "What are you afraid of, Kellie? That you're going to like the power you'd have over us men? Would it be so bad? Don't just dream about what you could have. Grab it! Three boys fought over you last night. That Thomas guy voluntarily offered himself as your shield. Isn't that impressive? You have such potential. I wish you could see it."
He was so passionate about it that it scared me. I pulled my hands free and stood up. "I can't do what you ask. I'm not such person. Can you, please, take me home now?"
"I'm sorry, Kellie," he said. "I got carried away, because I love my son too much. I will drive you home, of course, if that's what you want."
"Yes, please."