Grant here.”
Case turned around. “Damn.” He hung up and walked toward Grant.
Larina went running over to him. “Daddy, we were so worried.”
“I’m sorry, dear; I thought I’d be back before you kids woke up.”
As Case plopped into a chair, Grant placed the conch shell back on the table.
“I hope I didn’t hold up any plans you may have.”
“Daddy, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s fine. There is one thing, though, while you’re both here. When something happens to me, I want you to take my ashes out to the rock, to Siren Rock. Larina, your mother will know what to do from there.”
“Daddy?”
“No time soon, dear, just when.”
Larina hesitantly spoke. “Okay. Siren Rock is pretty big. Is there anywhere specific on the rock?”
Grant said, “Take Sunmoon. He’ll know.”
“Sunmoon? He’s met Mother?” Larina shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”
“Now I do think you kids should go out, have some fun, and spend some time alone.”
“If you’re sure everything’s okay. We were thinking of going to the ranch.”
“Yes, go.”
As they were leaving the room, Grant reached for Case’s shoulder as he passed.
“Take care of her.”
“Yes, sir, I will.”
“And Larina,” Grant called out. “No need to share everything with your dad.”
“Daddy, really.” Larina blushed as Grant gave Case a pat on the back.
* * * *
When they got to the ranch, Case and Larina fed Doe and Rae, and then went to the barn to prepare Robust and Sas.
“I’ll be right back.” Case said as he ran to the house.
Case returned with a basket and blanket. He lifted the basket up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
Case laid the blanket over Sas then helped Larina mount before he mounted Robust. They rode off, as Sunmoon and Bandit quietly followed beside.
When they reached the river, Case helped Larina dismount. He pulled down the blanket and spread it on the grass and then placed the basket down. They lay across the blanket as Sunmoon and Bandit went to the edge of the river. Case pulled out a bottle of wine. He poured a glass and handed it to Larina. She took a sip as he poured his own. Placing the glass down, he brought out grapes and two sandwiches. Larina took a grape and fed it to Case.
He winked. “I feel like royalty.”
Larina sat up and pulled her legs in close as she wrapped her arms around them.
“I have a confession.”
“Did you just bat your eyelashes at me?”
“Yes.”
He laughed. “Okay this ought to be good. What’s your confession?”
“I went away like I did because I really felt I was making it hard for you to do ‘the right thing.’” As long as I stayed and we continued what we had started, Timmy would never have had a chance of his family being together. I thought maybe you and Annette really could make a go at it, at least maybe try.”
Case remained quiet, listening as he fidgeted with the stem of the grapes.
“I thought I might need to be alone forever with my curse, or ability. I don’t even know which. I felt I could never have a normal life, and I didn’t want to put you through all of that. I didn’t know if you would feel obligated to stay or, worse, if you might flee from me. So I made the move, and I made the decision for both of us. I’m sorry. I should’ve been honest with you a long time ago.”
Case pursed his lips together as he made eye contact with her.
“Case, I never stopped thinking of you. The truth is I look up your sites every day; I keep an eye on your show dates. I even read the gossip, just trying to get a glimpse inside your world.”
Case reached over and ran a finger through her hair. “Honey, you don’t know how happy that makes me.”
“There’s more. I didn’t just buy a few. I bought all your songs, and I love them and listen to them all the time. I remember everything about you, about us. I’ve seen your videos and have secretly hoped any girl in them is not involved with you. I have never
Case turned around. “Damn.” He hung up and walked toward Grant.
Larina went running over to him. “Daddy, we were so worried.”
“I’m sorry, dear; I thought I’d be back before you kids woke up.”
As Case plopped into a chair, Grant placed the conch shell back on the table.
“I hope I didn’t hold up any plans you may have.”
“Daddy, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s fine. There is one thing, though, while you’re both here. When something happens to me, I want you to take my ashes out to the rock, to Siren Rock. Larina, your mother will know what to do from there.”
“Daddy?”
“No time soon, dear, just when.”
Larina hesitantly spoke. “Okay. Siren Rock is pretty big. Is there anywhere specific on the rock?”
Grant said, “Take Sunmoon. He’ll know.”
“Sunmoon? He’s met Mother?” Larina shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”
“Now I do think you kids should go out, have some fun, and spend some time alone.”
“If you’re sure everything’s okay. We were thinking of going to the ranch.”
“Yes, go.”
As they were leaving the room, Grant reached for Case’s shoulder as he passed.
“Take care of her.”
“Yes, sir, I will.”
“And Larina,” Grant called out. “No need to share everything with your dad.”
“Daddy, really.” Larina blushed as Grant gave Case a pat on the back.
* * * *
When they got to the ranch, Case and Larina fed Doe and Rae, and then went to the barn to prepare Robust and Sas.
“I’ll be right back.” Case said as he ran to the house.
Case returned with a basket and blanket. He lifted the basket up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
Case laid the blanket over Sas then helped Larina mount before he mounted Robust. They rode off, as Sunmoon and Bandit quietly followed beside.
When they reached the river, Case helped Larina dismount. He pulled down the blanket and spread it on the grass and then placed the basket down. They lay across the blanket as Sunmoon and Bandit went to the edge of the river. Case pulled out a bottle of wine. He poured a glass and handed it to Larina. She took a sip as he poured his own. Placing the glass down, he brought out grapes and two sandwiches. Larina took a grape and fed it to Case.
He winked. “I feel like royalty.”
Larina sat up and pulled her legs in close as she wrapped her arms around them.
“I have a confession.”
“Did you just bat your eyelashes at me?”
“Yes.”
He laughed. “Okay this ought to be good. What’s your confession?”
“I went away like I did because I really felt I was making it hard for you to do ‘the right thing.’” As long as I stayed and we continued what we had started, Timmy would never have had a chance of his family being together. I thought maybe you and Annette really could make a go at it, at least maybe try.”
Case remained quiet, listening as he fidgeted with the stem of the grapes.
“I thought I might need to be alone forever with my curse, or ability. I don’t even know which. I felt I could never have a normal life, and I didn’t want to put you through all of that. I didn’t know if you would feel obligated to stay or, worse, if you might flee from me. So I made the move, and I made the decision for both of us. I’m sorry. I should’ve been honest with you a long time ago.”
Case pursed his lips together as he made eye contact with her.
“Case, I never stopped thinking of you. The truth is I look up your sites every day; I keep an eye on your show dates. I even read the gossip, just trying to get a glimpse inside your world.”
Case reached over and ran a finger through her hair. “Honey, you don’t know how happy that makes me.”
“There’s more. I didn’t just buy a few. I bought all your songs, and I love them and listen to them all the time. I remember everything about you, about us. I’ve seen your videos and have secretly hoped any girl in them is not involved with you. I have never
Similar Books
