Chapter 81

81

Timothy was waiting on Brianna's living room couch when she walked in, with Leena following behind her. Leena was chattering excitedly about her little friend Annalise. That had been Dr. Stockton's daughter. He was an older man, around fifty. Quiet and reserved, but he was very good looking. Distinguished and dignified. And extremely successful. Very famous in medical circles, she had heard. He lived in one of the most beautiful, larger homes in Hughes Heights.

Brianna had thought about asking him to dinner before. He would make an excellent husband and was very successful. He was quite a bit older than she was, but that didn't really matter to her.

Well, except for the fact that she so did not want to be a stepmother, like, ever. She'd had a stepparent. She never wanted to be one.Dr. Stockton had a bunch of kids and everything.

But a wealthy doctor for a husband would be nice. Maybe someday. One without a bunch of kids.

"Timothy." She felt nervous with him there. Like she never really had before. Except the night he'd told her he was her father for real and everything. Even though Brianna had partially suspected for years. The way her stepfather had talked about Timothy had been a dead giveaway.

"Why don't you ever call me dad?" He had that irritated, melancholy look on his face again.The one he got when he talked about her childhood and everything. And his mistakes. It always made Brianna sad when he looked like that.

"I don't know. Just never think about it. What are you doing here, anyway?" People were talking about him. Didn't he realize that yet?

"I'm here to get your sister, of course. It's time we...we're leaving Finley Creek. Relocating." He had an almost frantic look in his eyes now. "It's time."

Shock froze her right where she was. He had lived in Hughes Heights for almost twenty years. She didn't want him to leave.

"When will you be back?" She didn't want her father to move away. Maybe they didn't have the greatest relationship, but he was her father. That mattered. And... "I thought she had another week of vacation left."

Brianna had been intending to fly Leena back to her boarding school when the time came. To see it for herself. Make sure Leena was being well taken care of there. Leena was so little to be away from her family all the time. Brianna had just wanted to see for herself. Leena said she hated it there. She didn't want to go back.

"We need to go. Something has happened now. I can't explain, Brianna. We just need to leave. Unless you would like me to leave her with you forever. You want to play like her mother for another ten years?"

He had never spoken to Brianna like that, and the hand he had around her arm hurt. "Let me go. You're hurting me. What is wrong with you?"

He pulled in a deep breath. "I have to leave now. It's not safe for me to stay here. Definitely not for Leena to. And I have to help your brother. Before he makes the greatest mistakes of his life."

"Trey is over by the park, like creepy stalking my friend Powell right now. Her mom and dad live next to the park and everything. I took Leena over there yesterday, then again today while I talked to Powell's mom about HOA business. She's the association's attorney, remember?"

"She was really, really nice. Really pretty. She gave me chocolate cake and told me I was very beautiful. So is Powell." Leena was dancing around the living room. She loved to dance and pirouette. She was really good too. Timothy should probably pay for her to have lessons or something soon."I saw her pictures. Powell's mommy said I reminded her of her little girl when she was eight too."

"Will I ever see her again?" Brianna asked snarkily. He was acting all crazy and everything. Just like Trey had been. "What are you and Trey doing now?"

"You might not. It depends. I need to go now." He surprised her by pulling her closer for a moment. Timothy kissed her forehead. "I love you. I am your father, and I always will be. Leena, get your things together. We're leaving."

"I don't want to go! I want to stay with my sister! I want to stay here with Bri!"

Well, Brianna wasn't so sure she wanted Leena to leave either. But the idea of keeping the kid forever? No way. Jack would never come back ever again.

"Why are you running away, anyway?"