Crossed: Book Two (A NEW ADULT ROMANCE) (6 page)

The sun is up today in a most impressive way. No brighter than usual, but its rays are casting through the trees and reflecting off things, flashing around the forest floor out back. The cabin’s great room is filled with this light and Bear is wandering around, with that happy-go-lucky look. Tongue hanging out, tail wagging. The dog’s day always starts this way, but there is something to him this morning. He is more excited than normal.

I grab a treat for him and send him out the back door. He runs off towards the horses and around the bend into the trail. He stops and looks back, like I should follow him, but it’s too early and I have other business first. He seems to get that quickly as I motion him to go and he runs off.

I’ve gathered the necessary things, brewed the first pot of coffee and sit at the table to relax and enjoy the freshness of the coffee, the thought of a new day, and the morning paper.
Today is going to be a good day
, I tell myself.

Nicky is picking up Marcus today and if all is well with him, they will be coming for dinner. Tyson is very excited this morning too. He was up cleaning the place
before
the crack of dawn and he’s already ready and almost out the door to go the store. He grabs a mug of coffee to go and he’s gone. I’m happy to sit and read for a while. He owes me anyway.

Tyson comes back with about forty bags of groceries. I walk out to help him and I say, “You and your brother. Jeez. You guys are keeping the groceries stores in business.”

As if ignoring my comment he responds with, “I got one of everything.”

We get it all put away except for the items he needs to prep and he goes to work. I walk over behind him and put my arms around and up into his shirt. His muscles tense at first and then relax. As I run my hands over his abs, I have visions of being back in the tattoo shop when I first discovered them.

His response is funny this time. As if he’s too busy for me now. Like we don’t have all the time in the world. “Hey there,” he says, “Love that. Let me finish this up.”

Completely unlike him, but I know he’s excited about this dinner, hoping that Marcus and Nicky will come and we can just enjoy the night together. Even if they don’t come, I flatter myself that he is still doing this for me.

Nicky and Marcus arrive at six o’clock and we begin with wine, cheese, and a salmon appetizer that Tyson put together. All is delicious and we are off to a good start. The night is nice and we decide to sit on the front porch for a little while.

Within a few minutes of being out there, the car pulls up. I remember that car and my lips begin to tremble as I have thoughts of Tyson leaving again. I can’t take it another time.

He steps out of the car and everyone is up to greet him. I move slower than the rest, but meet him at the steps as well. Tyson and Marcus exchange all the proper engagements of seeing him again. And Nicky says a friendly, “Hi,” and “Nice to see you again, Mr. Cross.”

My dad steps closer to me and puts his arms out. I lean into and hug him back this time, remembering that he helped get me here.

“I see you guys waited for me,” he says looking at Tyson.

“I’ll be right back with your drink, sir,” Tyson says in return, “single or double tonight?”

“I’m feeling rather festive tonight and the mood is quite right. Make it a double, kind barkeep.”

“On the way,” Tyson says smiling.

“So, Kase, how’s your stay been this time around at the cabin?” Dad says to me.

“Better than the last time I was here,” I say and almost in a whisper I add, “And with Tyson home now, I think it’s going to last this time.”

“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that,” he says, “That’s just great.”

“Double Old-Fashioned, for the old-timer,” Tyson says winking at my dad.

“Wasn’t such an old-timer down south when I bailed you out, now was I?”

“Well, I guess you’ve got a point there,” Tyson admits.

We enjoy the evening sun going down for a while longer. The boys catch up on their “war” stories and give Marcus a hard time for his “inability to keep up with them”. Nicky and I stay busy with wine and stories of our own.

After dinner, my dad pulls me aside and tells me he’s been thinking about something important and now is the time to talk. He says we need to talk privately and I suggest we go to “my” room to do that. We walk back and I sit on the end of the bed. He stands in front of me and pulls his handkerchief from his front pocket. He wipes his forehead slowly.

“Something wrong Dad?” I ask.

“Well Kase, I’ve been considering the right time to be able to do something to help you. To help make things right between us. And I think I’ve made some progress in that direction. Haven’t I, Kase?”

“Yes,” I reply, “But there is so much in our past. You really hurt me, Dad, and it’s going to take a lot.”

“I know, and I can’t do everything at once. I want to do everything to make up for what I’ve done, but I have to take baby steps. I have to show you that I am here for you now. That I
can
be here for you now.”

“Well, you did make a good start by helping me when I asked, but-“

“-Kase,” he interrupts me, “I really want to do this for you. It’s something I can do, that won’t repair everything, but it’s something I can do for you and Tyson. And again, this is a start, I can do much more for you. And much more in other ways too. This is just one way I can start to right all the wrongs.”

He reaches into his other pocket and I see that he is pulling out a piece of paper. He unfolds it and just looks at it for a minute. He again wipes his forehead and then he hands me the piece of paper.

I sit there for what must be an hour in his mind, just looking it over. And over. And over. I can’t believe what I see here in front of me. I want to just rip it up at first, but I don’t. I want to get up and hug him to death, but I don’t. I’m paralyzed by what I am looking at.

“Kase,” he says, “say something. Isn’t that going to help?”

I finally get the feeling back in my legs and I jump to my feet, throw my arms around his neck and say, “Yes, Dad, it does help. So much. Thank you so much.”

I see a smile come across his face like I have never seen before and he just hugs me back. He hugs me and doesn’t let go. My chin is pressed into his shoulder and I can see the decorative ceiling tile that I’ve never really seen before in this room. I’ve never stopped to look.

When he is done and he pushes me out in front of him, holding onto my shoulders, I ask him, “Why though, Dad? Why did you say that you were doing something for Tyson and I. This is made out to me. Why did you…”

“Well, you ought to just ask him that yourself,” he says, stepping out of the way and motioning for me to enter the hallway.

I follow his lead and walk by him. I don’t even know to think about this. He’s just standing there smiling. He just did something pretty incredible and I can’t imagine what might be coming next in that hallway.

I step into the hallway and see candlelight from the kitchen. My dad is behind me now and he gives me a slight nudge about halfway down my back. I move forward.

I see the flicker. It is quiet. No one is in the great room. No other noises in the house. Just quiet.

I walk to the kitchen and before I go into it, I see his large shadow covering the wall.

I turn into it and see him. He is down, next to the table, kneeling on one knee. His hand is out to me. I turn red and feel the heat fill my cheeks. And my forehead. Sweat comes over it, but there is no time to wipe. The candle on the table still dances. It is dark otherwise.

“Kasey Cross,” he says, “I have loved you since the moment I saw you. I have wanted everything for us and I know now that I can give that to you. And I know you can give that to me.”

He opens his hand for mine and I move closer. My emotions overflow as I reach down and oblige. I’m shaking. I’m sweating. My heart is racing. Tears form.

His other hand comes around from his back and he extends it out in front of me. I move mine to meet his, but before I get there, he opens it. Even in the dark light it glitters. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I am certain now that my heart will come out of my chest. And I move my hand there to keep it from happening. And then up to cover my mouth. My eyes can’t hold the tears anymore. They hit the floor and the table and they look like stars. Glittering in the candlelight. Dancing to its rhythm.

THE END OF BOOK 2

STAY TUNED FOR MORE BOOKS FROM AUTHOR EMMA BROWNING, COMING SOON.

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