Breathe (30 page)

“Yes Sir but I can walk some more for you if I need to.”

“No, that is fine. I don’t want you to overexert yourself. Any added head pain with walking?”

“No sir.” Dr. Jacobs nodded then proceeded to do the pen light and reflex tests again. He stepped back and looked at Tyler.

“It’s amazing how fast you have come out of the medicine and how well you are doing. Usually I recommend at least another 48 hours, but I understand there are some security concerns?” His kind eyes found mine and I nodded but didn’t elaborate. His eyebrows furrowed slightly but he didn’t press me. “Okay I will second Dr. Carter’s recommendation that you be released today. I am sure he has already said it but rest for at least another week. Nothing more strenuous then lifting a cup to your mouth and walking to and from the refrigerator.” Tyler grinned and nodded eagerly.

“Yes sir.”

I stood up and hugged Dr. Jacobs, kissing his wrinkled face. “Thank you.”

He nodded and kissed my hair. “Welcome, Kathryn as always.” He turned back to Tyler. “It will just a bit to get the release papers but you should be out of here within the hour.” He gave my arm another squeeze before he left the room. Once he was gone I turned back to Tyler. He was laid back, his eyes closed but he had a huge smile on his face. I grinned and turned to Daniel.

“I am going to call the house and let them know we are going to be bringing Tyler home. Have Joey bring him some clothes. Oh and we need to call and tell Dante to take my mom to the townhouse. No need for her to come here.”

“You call Joey, I will call Dante.”

I nodded, then grabbed our phones off the chargers, handing him his as I ruffled Tyler’s hair again. He opened one eye and glared up at me but it didn’t stop him from grinning. He was just as happy to be going home as I was to get him there. It had only been a few days but I was pretty sure I aged at least ten years laying here. Lynn Collins had messed with the wrong family, and as soon as we figured out where she was, I would be sure to let her know that.

(Kathryn)

“Okay young man, you are already to break out of this joint. Here are your walking papers.” Dr. Carter walked into the room, an orderly with a wheelchair right behind him. “Or maybe not walking papers cause you get to ride this fancy set of wheels but you get the point.”

Tyler grinned and signed the release papers, only grumbling a little bit when he had to climb into the wheelchair. Joey had brought him a change of clothes, and he had allowed Daniel to help him with a quick shower while we were waiting for the doctor, so he was clean, comfortable and extremely happy to be getting out of here. Daniel grabbed our bags and followed behind them. I did one more sweep of the room to make sure we grabbed everything before following them myself. Joey and Josh were waiting in the hallway for me.

“No one goes anywhere without someone, at all times.” Josh stood and pushed away from the wall he was leaning on, answering my questioning look with his explanation.

“Yes you stubborn wench, you will be in our sights at all times.” Joey winked at me then turned and offered me his arm. I grinned and slid my arm in his. He kissed me on my forehead then led the way to the elevator. “Ready to get home?”

“God yes. I hate hospitals. I can’t wait to take a real hot shower, and sleep in my own comfortable bed.”

“That is if my mate lets you sleep.” Joey glanced over and started laughing when he saw my blush. “Yep, that blush gives you away missus.”

I smacked his arm but didn’t say a single word. All three of us stepped out of the elevator once we reached the lobby and walked out into the cold November day. Christopher was helping Tyler into his black Ford Mustang and Daniel was putting the bags in the back of Josh’s black SUV. He turned when we walked out and glared at Joey who had still had my arm in his. Joey laughed and raised his hands. He turned to me and kissed me again before walking to the SUV and jumping into the front seat. Daniel pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“You are mine, my grá, don’t let that wee man put his dirty hands on you.” I gazed up at his sparkling blue eyes and laughed, then reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

“Daniel, you have nothing to worry about. The wee leprechaun has nothing on you.”

“Hey I heard that! I am not a wee leprechaun. Get in this car before we leave your arses in the road.” Daniel leaned down to press a hasty kiss to my lips, and then winked before turning to help me into the car. Josh pulled out smoothly and drove the few miles to the townhouse.

“Dante just dropped your mother off a few minutes ago. Lily and Nathaniel took your father out to lunch but will be home shortly.” Josh did the rundown of everyone’s positions as he drove. “Still no response to the APB but this is a big city so it may take a minute.”

“Did Dante ever get that image from the rental company?” Joey pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through a few things before handing it back to Daniel.

“Yeah came in late last night. I don’t recognize his face. Do you?”

(Daniel)

I grabbed Joey’s phone and looked down into the face of the man who Lynn had cheated on me with, who fathered her child instead of me, the one who clearly had a thing for her even after all these years. I let out a string of cuss words, running my hand through my hair.

“I am taking it you do know that man?” Josh looked up at me through the rearview mirror. I gritted my teeth and nodded.

“Yeah the bloody bastard is the one Lynn cheated with, Jillian’s real father.” Joey grabbed his phone back and sat staring down at the guy.

“This is him?”

I nodded, clenching my fists and staring out the window. I turned when I felt a soft hand on my arm. I turned and looked over at Kathryn. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and brought her up close to me, taking a deep breathe, letting the feel of her in my arms and the smell of her relax me.

“Do we know the man’s name?”

I furrowed my brow, trying to think if I had ever heard what his name was. Finally I shook my head.

“No, don’t think I ever heard it said. I can find out though. Give me a moment.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, pulling up Lynn’s mom’s number and pushing call. She answered on the fourth ring.

“Hello?”

“Mary, it’s Daniel.”

“Oh, thank goodness, have you heard from Lynn? We have been worried.” I grimaced.

“Yeah she is here in New York, Mary.”

“What’s she doing there? Does she have a job and forgot to tell us?” I really didn’t want to be the one to have this conversation with this woman. Mary and Peter were sweet people, had waited and prayed for a child. When they were blessed with Lynn they thought all their dreams had come true. They showered her with all the love and affection they had, spoiling her completely rotten to the point she was a self-serving, manipulative bitch who was hell bent on hurting the woman I loved. I clearly couldn’t tell her that so took the coward’s way out this time.

“Yes Mary, she is working on a job. I called to ask if you know who Jillian’s father’s name is?” There was a long pause on the other end of the line and I waited patiently. Mary hated that it had ended between us and the way it ended had opened her eyes to her daughter’s mistakes.

“His name is Andrew Miller. He is, or was a bartender. Not sure where or what he does. He hasn’t been coming to visit Jillian…”

“Let me guess for about six weeks?” At this point I had all eyes on me.

“Yes, it’s been about that. He usually came by several times a week to take her round to the park but we haven’t seen him for about six weeks. Yes that’s right. six weeks.”

“Okay, thank you Lynn. I am pretty sure I know where he is as well. I will let you know more when I do Mary. Say hi to Peter for me.” I said my goodbyes then hung up the phone.

“His name is Andrew Miller, he was a bartender in London. He hasn’t been to see Jillian in six weeks but visited several times a week up to that point.” Joey nodded then pulled the SUV up to the curb outside the townhouse, Christopher pulled up behind us as we all climbed out. Joey went to help Tyler while I grabbed our bags. Josh came around and grabbed my arm.

“Get inside please Ms. James. We will get Tyler in as quickly as we can as well.”

(Kathryn)

I glanced over and saw his eyes surveying the neighborhood and could tell he was extremely nervous. I remembered the bulls eye painted on my back and hurried to listen to him. I practically ran up the steps and the door was pulled open by Dante just as I reached it. He let me in then walked out. He went straight to Tyler who was still walking very slowly. He didn’t ask for permission before he leaned down and picked my son up like he was a sack of feathers.

“Put me down you freaking giant! I can walk!” Dante ignored the irritated fuming young man in his arms. Taking the few steps up to the door two at a time and entering the foyer within seconds. He walked into the living room and sat his whining burden down on the chaise section of the sectional. “Seriously man I could have walked!”

“Yes and it would have taken you at least seven minutes the way you were walking, plenty of time for someone to fire a bullet.” Tyler’s face blanched but he went silent. Dante turned to me and smiled but I could see it was forced and didn’t reach his eyes like it usually did. He was worried and that made me worry. Joey and Josh called him into the study and he excused himself.

“Grá I am taking these bags up to our room. I will throw Tyler’s in his as well.” I turned at Daniel’s voice and nodded but was still thinking about what Dante said just as my momma’s voice came flowing down the stairs.

“You must be the handsome man my daughter has been shacking up with.” I closed my eyes and groaned. Yep, completely forgot my mom was here. I opened them to find Daniel being lead back into the living room. His laughing blue eyes met mine over my mom’s head. Gloria McBride was a petite firecracker. Her green eyes sparkled with inner humor; the vibrant red hair of her youth had faded with time but was still thick and wavy. She wore it cut close, to keep the weight from pulling on her neck too much. She was absolutely adorable and completely insane. I couldn’t love her more. She walked over and pulled me into a tight hug.

I closed my eyes and let myself feel the love in her embrace. She was the lighthouse in the storm of my life many times. When she found out what Crystal had been doing to me as a child she was furious. She had tried to show me the love and affection I had needed but in a lot of ways it was too late, a lot of the self-esteem damage had been done. I knew she loved me unconditionally and felt guilty for all those years that I suffered under Crystal’s thumb. She pulled away finally then walked over to Tyler. She sat on the couch beside him and pulled him close.

“How is my favorite grandson?”

“I am your only grandson.”

“This may be true however, even if I had more I would still say you were my favorite.”

“And you would tell him the same thing.”

She laughed, showing off her dimpled cheek. Tyler allowed his grandma to cuddle him, looking up at her with shining eyes. I felt Daniel step up behind me and I leaned back into him.

“That is probably true but doesn’t change that you are my favorite grandson.” She looked over at where I was standing and noted how Daniel and I were standing. “Now favorite daughter tell me what is going on here. A handsome giant picked me up, and brought me here but there wasn’t anyone else in the house except security.” Daniel took my hand and pulled me to the double recliner across from where my mom and Tyler were sitting. He sat then pulled me down next to him, my mom’s eyes tracking our every move.

I gave her the abridged version of the past few months. Realizing how out of touch we have been. Her green eyes got bigger and bigger as the story unraveled and she gasped several times. When I started telling her about the thing with Lynn, Daniel reached over and took my hand in his. I clasped it tightly thankful for his silent support. As I finished the story the front door opened followed quickly by Lily, Nathaniel, and my dad coming in.

For the first time in at least 35 years my parents were in the same room without Crystal. Mom stood when they came in and Lily ran to her throwing herself into the arms of her grandmother the same way she did her grandpa. My mom hugged her close and gave her a big kiss. Lily introduced Nathaniel like he was just another friend and he got a big hug from momma before she turned to my dad. He held his hand out to her and she stood still for a moment before giving him a giant hug as well. He seemed shocked at first, holding himself stiffly then he smiled and relaxed, hugging her back.

“Hello Gloria. How was your flight?”

Momma smiled up at her ex-husband as she stepped away and resumed her seat next to Tyler.

“It was fine Jason. Thank you.”

I watched the awkward reunion from where I sat by Daniel and smiled. It could have gone so much worse. Lily and Tyler caught their attention and they all settled on the couch to catch up. After a few minutes I stood up and said I needed to go take a real shower. I leaned over and gave Tyler a kiss on his forehead.

“Glad to have you awake and back home baby boy.” He wrinkled his nose up at me but nodded. He was glad as well, I knew he would be safer and heal faster in his own home with his family. I started to grab the bags that Daniel had left at the foot of the stairs but he got there first.

“I’m just going to take these upstairs for Kathryn. I’ll be back in a minute.” Four hands waved him away from the couch. Lily was showing them a video on the TV and we were dismissed absently. Daniel turned and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I think I could squeeze a few more than just a few minutes before any of them will miss me. Plenty of time to do some of what I have been wanting to do for days.”

His words and the look in his eyes when he pulled back sent a ripple of heat through my body. I grabbed his hand and pulled him up the stairs, suddenly in a hurry to get to my room. He chuckled behind me but I didn’t stop until we were in the room, with the door closed behind us.

(Daniel)

I walked casually toward the bench at the foot of Kathryn’s bed. Setting down the bags before I turned towards the bathroom. I started the shower, making sure the temperature was just right then came back out. Kathryn hadn’t moved from the door, watching me move across the bedroom. I reached out and grasped her chin in with my thumb and pointer finger, tilting her head to the position I wanted it. Leaning down I breathed her in, it was slightly different then it usually was since we had spent the last four days in a hospital, but still intrinsically her.

“The shower is ready and waiting for you missus.” I stepped back and held my hand out to her. She shot me a questioning look but I just raised an eyebrow and winked.

She walked into the bathroom, deciding to play along. She pulled her shirt off as she walked, flinging it behind her as she walked, hitting me in the face, before I got it off my face, her bra followed. I stumbled over her shoes since my face was covered with her bra when she stepped out of them. I looked up just in time to see her bend over and push her jeans off her hips and down her legs. She gave an extra shimmy for affect and my cock instantly hardened and I growled. She shot me a mischievous grin over her shoulder as she stepped into the shower.