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Authors: Nancy Ann Healy
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she needed. When Alex was ready, she would break the silence. Her deductions proved right. “I don’t understand,” Alex said softly. “How could he have….why would he say those things? Meet O’Brien and then…”
“I don’t know, Alex.”
“He knew. All along, he knew.”
Cassidy licked her lips. Nicolaus Toles’ words were not what she had expected. “Obviously, John trusted your father, Alex.”
“Why? What would make him think he could trust my father with that information? Cassidy…My father, my father’s efforts paved the way for some of the most heinous things I have ever encountered. He funded warlords, wars…even genocide.”
Cassidy took a deep breath. “But, you were his daughter, Alex. No matter what, you were his daughter.”
“I don’t understand, Cassidy. He made every effort to pull me away from you; pull you away from me. Why the hell would he want to ensure that O’Brien was removed from our lives? On John’s say so? This is crazier than…”
Cassidy moved from her seat and knelt in front of Alex. “Maybe he finally realized that nothing he did was going to pull us apart.”
“How could John know? Cassidy? How could John have known that Krause would…”
“John knew that Pip and I were old friends, Alex. Beyond that, I…”
Alex looked at the letter again as Cassidy watched her carefully. She began to read it aloud.
My Dear Cassidy
,
You must have so many questions. I’m certain that you will be surprised by this turn of events. I imagine that I am the last person you expect a letter from, or would want a letter from. There are many things I wish that I could explain to Alexis. She has always followed her own path, never the one I sought to guide her down. I’ve no doubt that many discoveries await her, about me, about herself
.
She has made many choices that I did not agree with and would have paid with my life to prevent. Despite what you might think; you are not one of those. Not long ago, a good friend came to me. He was confident that Alexis would raise the son he never knew; your son. There are realities, Cassidy, to your son’s identity, and to whom you choose to love that put you all at risk, Alexis included
.
Fate seems to play a role in our lives at times. Christopher O’Brien is a pathetic excuse for a human being, much less a parent. Nonetheless, his presence creates an even greater threat to you all. I suspect you already know that as well. I promised Dylan’s father I would ensure his safety. I promised myself I would keep my children protected. The proof you need of Krause’s parentage is in a Carecom facility in Stockholm. It will readily provide DNA coding for Dylan that proves Krause is his father. This was the last wish passed to me by a man we both regard as a friend. It is your choice whether or not to honor that. Should you decide to follow this course, you will find directives in Stockholm. A good friend of mine at Technologie Applique in France will assist you
.
Cassidy, there is much that Alexis will discover in this life she has chosen. She has an insatiable curiosity and a need to pursue the truth. Much of it will be painful. My time is limited. That is a foregone conclusion. I will not attempt to explain nor excuse my actions. I have followed the path that I believed best for us all; most of all for my children.My children are exceptional human beings. They are intelligent, discerning, and they possess a sense of loyalty that I cannot claim comes from me. When they fall in love, there is no deterring them. You seem to have a unique capacity in that department. You have Alexis’s heart and her devotion. That is clear to me. She stood before me confidently protecting her family, and I have never been more proud of the woman that she has become. In her presence, I am humbled. I am thankful that she has you now
.
I hope you will consider the course that has been prescribed. It will, I believe, shelter you all in some way
.
Take care
“I don’t know, Alex.”
“He knew. All along, he knew.”
Cassidy licked her lips. Nicolaus Toles’ words were not what she had expected. “Obviously, John trusted your father, Alex.”
“Why? What would make him think he could trust my father with that information? Cassidy…My father, my father’s efforts paved the way for some of the most heinous things I have ever encountered. He funded warlords, wars…even genocide.”
Cassidy took a deep breath. “But, you were his daughter, Alex. No matter what, you were his daughter.”
“I don’t understand, Cassidy. He made every effort to pull me away from you; pull you away from me. Why the hell would he want to ensure that O’Brien was removed from our lives? On John’s say so? This is crazier than…”
Cassidy moved from her seat and knelt in front of Alex. “Maybe he finally realized that nothing he did was going to pull us apart.”
“How could John know? Cassidy? How could John have known that Krause would…”
“John knew that Pip and I were old friends, Alex. Beyond that, I…”
Alex looked at the letter again as Cassidy watched her carefully. She began to read it aloud.
My Dear Cassidy
,
You must have so many questions. I’m certain that you will be surprised by this turn of events. I imagine that I am the last person you expect a letter from, or would want a letter from. There are many things I wish that I could explain to Alexis. She has always followed her own path, never the one I sought to guide her down. I’ve no doubt that many discoveries await her, about me, about herself
.
She has made many choices that I did not agree with and would have paid with my life to prevent. Despite what you might think; you are not one of those. Not long ago, a good friend came to me. He was confident that Alexis would raise the son he never knew; your son. There are realities, Cassidy, to your son’s identity, and to whom you choose to love that put you all at risk, Alexis included
.
Fate seems to play a role in our lives at times. Christopher O’Brien is a pathetic excuse for a human being, much less a parent. Nonetheless, his presence creates an even greater threat to you all. I suspect you already know that as well. I promised Dylan’s father I would ensure his safety. I promised myself I would keep my children protected. The proof you need of Krause’s parentage is in a Carecom facility in Stockholm. It will readily provide DNA coding for Dylan that proves Krause is his father. This was the last wish passed to me by a man we both regard as a friend. It is your choice whether or not to honor that. Should you decide to follow this course, you will find directives in Stockholm. A good friend of mine at Technologie Applique in France will assist you
.
Cassidy, there is much that Alexis will discover in this life she has chosen. She has an insatiable curiosity and a need to pursue the truth. Much of it will be painful. My time is limited. That is a foregone conclusion. I will not attempt to explain nor excuse my actions. I have followed the path that I believed best for us all; most of all for my children.My children are exceptional human beings. They are intelligent, discerning, and they possess a sense of loyalty that I cannot claim comes from me. When they fall in love, there is no deterring them. You seem to have a unique capacity in that department. You have Alexis’s heart and her devotion. That is clear to me. She stood before me confidently protecting her family, and I have never been more proud of the woman that she has become. In her presence, I am humbled. I am thankful that she has you now
.
I hope you will consider the course that has been prescribed. It will, I believe, shelter you all in some way
.
Take care
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