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Authors: Cindy Kirk
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love.”
“It nearly killed him when she died,” Katherine added with a sad smile.
“That was, what…about ten years ago?” Theo seemed to remember hearing the news of her death around the time of his thirtieth birthday.
Helena nodded.
“Why do you think he waited so long to tell you about me?” Theo asked.
“I’m not sure what precipitated the father-daughter chat,” Katherine said. “Unless his recent bout of chest pain brought his mortality to the forefront.”
Theo could feel his pulse pick up. He’d never considered Elias might die before he had a chance to tell the man what he thought of him. “He has heart problems?”
“Checked out fine,” Katherine said. “Doctor said it was just stress.”
“Last month when we told him we were going to give you a call, he didn’t object.” Helena’s dark eyes softened. “We weren’t sure how receptive you’d be. After all, you didn’t want anything to do with him. But we decided we might as well ask.”
“What made you think I didn’t want anything to do with him?” Theo asked.
Helena hesitated for a long moment. “You never called him.”
Theo didn’t respond. A myriad of emotionstoo many to sift through nowwrapped their tentacles around his heart and squeezed tight. How could he tell them that he’d spent his whole life believing his mother hadn’t been able to keep him because his father had failed to pay support? And hating the man who’d refused to help her?
“Before I leave the ship I’d like you to meet my daughter,” Katherine said, apparently deciding it was time to change the subject.
“Gemma’s awesome.” Helena’s eyes filled with pride. “She’s my favorite niece.”
“She’s your only niece,” Katherine pointed out.
“I’m looking forward to meeting her,” Theo said.
Helena began once again to sing Gemma’s praises but Theo tuned her out. He had more to think about than a niece he’d never met. Like a mother who’d lied. And a father who’d tried to bribe him.
He’d thought meeting his sisters would give him clarity…instead he’d never been more confused.
T HE SUN SHONE HOT and the resulting tingle on her cheeks told Trish it was time for more sunscreen. She’d been relaxing on the Artemis deck for the past hour. Sally had occupied the chair beside her but had just left for her spa appointment.
Taking off her sunglasses, Trish reached into her bag for her bottle of SPF30. She wouldn’t stay out too much longer. Because of her fair complexion Trish had learned from an early age to limit her sun exposure.
She squirted lotion into her hand, and while she smoothed it on her cheeks, she checked out what was happening on deck. Most of the passengers were lounging in the sun or cooling themselves in the pool. It was the primo time of day to soak in the sun’s rays and the only chairs that didn’t have a person or a towel on them were in the shade.
This was the only day-at-sea in the week’s itinerary and everyone appeared to be enjoying the opportunity to kick back. When she’d been single, Trish had loved to bask in the sun with a good book. She hadn’t had much time for such relaxation since Cassidy was born.
Yet today she’d barely read five pages. Instead her mind had raced. She hadn’t been able to get Twyla and James off her mind. When she’d started her business she’d never realized the emotional burden of being responsible for an employee’s well-being. The more she thought about her staff, the more she realized that she couldn’t give up. It didn’t matter that Elias and Theo were father and son. That fact was just one more obstacle to overcome. She simply had to come up with a plan to convince Catomeris to sign the contract. Period.
She needed a strategy. The standard e-mail or phone call would get her nowhere. Trish was reminded of her mother’s favorite sayingif you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.
Well, if
“It nearly killed him when she died,” Katherine added with a sad smile.
“That was, what…about ten years ago?” Theo seemed to remember hearing the news of her death around the time of his thirtieth birthday.
Helena nodded.
“Why do you think he waited so long to tell you about me?” Theo asked.
“I’m not sure what precipitated the father-daughter chat,” Katherine said. “Unless his recent bout of chest pain brought his mortality to the forefront.”
Theo could feel his pulse pick up. He’d never considered Elias might die before he had a chance to tell the man what he thought of him. “He has heart problems?”
“Checked out fine,” Katherine said. “Doctor said it was just stress.”
“Last month when we told him we were going to give you a call, he didn’t object.” Helena’s dark eyes softened. “We weren’t sure how receptive you’d be. After all, you didn’t want anything to do with him. But we decided we might as well ask.”
“What made you think I didn’t want anything to do with him?” Theo asked.
Helena hesitated for a long moment. “You never called him.”
Theo didn’t respond. A myriad of emotionstoo many to sift through nowwrapped their tentacles around his heart and squeezed tight. How could he tell them that he’d spent his whole life believing his mother hadn’t been able to keep him because his father had failed to pay support? And hating the man who’d refused to help her?
“Before I leave the ship I’d like you to meet my daughter,” Katherine said, apparently deciding it was time to change the subject.
“Gemma’s awesome.” Helena’s eyes filled with pride. “She’s my favorite niece.”
“She’s your only niece,” Katherine pointed out.
“I’m looking forward to meeting her,” Theo said.
Helena began once again to sing Gemma’s praises but Theo tuned her out. He had more to think about than a niece he’d never met. Like a mother who’d lied. And a father who’d tried to bribe him.
He’d thought meeting his sisters would give him clarity…instead he’d never been more confused.
T HE SUN SHONE HOT and the resulting tingle on her cheeks told Trish it was time for more sunscreen. She’d been relaxing on the Artemis deck for the past hour. Sally had occupied the chair beside her but had just left for her spa appointment.
Taking off her sunglasses, Trish reached into her bag for her bottle of SPF30. She wouldn’t stay out too much longer. Because of her fair complexion Trish had learned from an early age to limit her sun exposure.
She squirted lotion into her hand, and while she smoothed it on her cheeks, she checked out what was happening on deck. Most of the passengers were lounging in the sun or cooling themselves in the pool. It was the primo time of day to soak in the sun’s rays and the only chairs that didn’t have a person or a towel on them were in the shade.
This was the only day-at-sea in the week’s itinerary and everyone appeared to be enjoying the opportunity to kick back. When she’d been single, Trish had loved to bask in the sun with a good book. She hadn’t had much time for such relaxation since Cassidy was born.
Yet today she’d barely read five pages. Instead her mind had raced. She hadn’t been able to get Twyla and James off her mind. When she’d started her business she’d never realized the emotional burden of being responsible for an employee’s well-being. The more she thought about her staff, the more she realized that she couldn’t give up. It didn’t matter that Elias and Theo were father and son. That fact was just one more obstacle to overcome. She simply had to come up with a plan to convince Catomeris to sign the contract. Period.
She needed a strategy. The standard e-mail or phone call would get her nowhere. Trish was reminded of her mother’s favorite sayingif you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.
Well, if
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