It was a charity that had been near and dear to Dad. Every year he and Mom had organized the event, but it was too hard for her now. Uncle Guy and his wife Cherie took it over. “I know. I haven’t gone since…”
“It’s hard for all of you, but I’ve been going every year so the family is represented.”
It warmed my heart to know he thought of us as such because he was absolutely thought of as family by Mom, Cam and me. “You’re a good man, Anton.
“Only to those that matter.”
“I’d like to join you this year.
“You would?”
“You’ve been holding down the fort long enough.”
There was understanding and love in the smile he offered in reply. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
That night I couldn’t sleep; I just lay in bed staring at my ceiling. Damian Tate was home. Had been for four weeks with no call. It hurt that he was home and never contacted me. Maybe he had only been keeping in touch with Anton. He had been away a long time and had a business he was setting up, one that Anton was clearly helping him with. Maybe the slight wasn’t personal. I had to believe that because regardless of our relationship status, he was family.
I had pondered his kiss the night of Dad’s memorial and why he’d done it for a long time after and then I just let it be what it was, a perfect moment.
It would be an adjustment having Damian home. We weren’t the kids we had been but he still owned a piece of my heart. I still had the dream sometimes of us together, but it was just that, a dream, because had he still felt what I did, he would have called or visited in the fours week that he had been home. I would fall back on humor though; I had learned the beauty of humor after losing Dad and the debilitating sorrow that followed had eased. The power of a laugh, the finding appreciation in things we often take for granted. I wouldn’t focus on what I couldn’t have with him, but what I did have with him. We had a history and there was love there too, and that wasn’t a bad start to finding our way back as friends.
My cell rang, which had me looking at the clock. It was awfully late for a phone call. It was an unknown number and I thought to let it go into voice mail, but I was annoyed enough to give the caller a piece of my mind. “What!”
No answer and yet the line was open. It was late so that freaked me out. Instead of ranting as I intended, I hung up and blocked the number.
Exactly at seven on Friday, Anton arrived and a half an hour later we were pulling up in front of the New York Public Library where the charity fundraiser was held every year, sparking a pain in my chest remembering Dad. Silas, Anton’s driver, helped me from the car before Anton pulled my hand through his arm. We started up the steps to where Uncle Guy and his wife Cherie waited. Uncle Guy was a detective now, got his shield just last year around the same time Cam had. Dad would have been so proud.
“Thea.” Cherie hugged me, no air kiss on my cheek like the others in the crowd were doing.
Uncle Guy stepped in for his hug before his attention turned to Anton, his smile never fading. Anton was family. In the beginning, it had been awkward, to say the least, with Anton being who he was and a family of cops, but most of Anton’s businesses were now respectable. Not that he was a model citizen, but he knew how to play the game really well and he had us, his family, to keep him from going too far to the wrong side.
“Anton, nice to see you.”
“And you.”
We walked inside where formally dressed people milled around. Anton turned to me. “I’ll get drinks. Champagne ladies?”
“Yes please.”
“I’ll come with you,” Uncle Guy offered as the two headed for the bar.
“It’s been too long. How is everyone, how’s Trevor?” I asked.
“Trevor and Sara are having their first baby.”
“On my God. No way. I remember when he couldn’t tie his shoes. Congratulations. What’s he doing now?”
“He’s working on Wall Street.” She leaned in a little. “Between you and me, I am so glad he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps. Worrying about Guy is bad enough, I couldn’t imagine worrying over Trevor too.”
“I hear that.”
“And you? I heard your graphic design business is really taking off.”
“It took some time, but I’ve got a great client list and I’m never without work. In fact, I’ve even gotten to the point that I have to turn some jobs down.”
“That’s wonderful. How’s your mom?”
“She’s taken up yoga.”
Cherie’s eyes widened. “Yoga? That seems…”