The Son Also Rises
Part III Ties of Blood
Tessarae87
CHAPTER 30
He recovered remarkably well but looks can often be deceiving. He was one step away from death by the time the medical help arrived yet somehow he found the strength to hold on and to bounce back faster than anyone expected. He had insisted on returning home and word that leaked out implied that things were more than dangerous for a while but he seemed to have come through unscathed.
“It were a grand party, Todd.”
“Sean was really glad you were here.”
“He’s a different boy. Always gives me pause when I see him.”
“I honestly think he’s happy, Ethan. I’ll try to keep him that way.”
“Nothing more I can ask.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Catching a train out of here tonight to New York. Flying out in the morning.”
Todd nodded his head.
“I won’t be back. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“It’s not that. It’s just that…”
Ethan waved his hand. “It is a hard truth but not to be avoided. I’m letting my nephew live unfettered. His life is his own.”
“Is that possible?”
“Now, it is. New day. Cameron is gone and so are any who would revenge him.”
“Flynn?”
“Solid. The message to you is that your name is off the ledger. Not friend or foe. You don’t exist in our universe. You understand you can’t count on anything if you ever find yourself in our realm again? No more than any other stranger and we don’t like strangers.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. What about you?”
“You mean Sean, don’t you?”
“I guess.”
“The Dawes legacy has been written in invisible ink. It were my price. You understand that nothing truly will ever break that tie—it’s blood but unless Sean comes seeking it one day, it is over.”
“Padgett?”
“Nobody knew. No one had any bloody idea. He was that good.”
Todd glanced off to the side.
“There’s no way you could have known, Todd. No way. There are things of danger in the world that give no sign. In that case, it is in the hands of fate and despite everything she seems to have dealt you a pretty damn good hand.”
Todd walked into the living room and looked around at all of the colorful debris—party hats, confetti, and glitter. He flopped down on the couch. It was over. It was finally truly over.
He looked up just as Blair floated into the room. He was convinced that she had never looked more beautiful. Her hair seemed to be lifted by an invisible breeze and her dress clung to her and draped so that it showed her body but revealed nothing.
“Is Ethan gone?”
“Yeah. He told me to tell you it was a ‘grand’ party.”
She smiled. “Sean Addison Manning is very happy everything is official. I’m glad Ethan could be here to help us celebrate.”
“Well, we won’t be seeing him again… any time soon.”
“That’s a shame. Dee has such a crush on him.”
“It’s for the best, Blair.”
She nodded her head then said softly, “I know.”
“Where are Sean and Starr?”
“Finally, got them to sleep. They had so much fun tonight, Todd, they didn’t want it to end but they couldn’t keep their eyes open a second longer.”
“Things end, Blair.”
“Bad things maybe but I’m going to do everything I can to keep the good things going. And you, Mr. Manning, are the best thing I’ve ever had.”
He cleared his throat and tried not to look at her too hard.
She switched on the CD player. Soft romantic music suddenly whispered into the room. He looked up at her. He knew what she wanted but he wasn’t sure it was the right time yet.
“Come dance with me, Stud.”
“Blair, look. I don’t…”
“Dance with me, Todd.”
He stood up and moved closer to her and took her into his arms. They swayed for a few moments to the strains of the soft sensual music and it felt so good he began to relax.
“You can hold me tighter than that, Todd. I won’t break.”
“It’s just that…”
“Larry says I’m back 100%. I’m fine. Stop treating me like I’m glass or something. Even my face is totally healed. No permanent scars.”
On your face maybe but what about that one on your side? The scar that despite its size seems to slash like an angry bolt of lightening across your previously flawless skin. The scar I study every night while you sleep. The scar that reminds me of the price you paid for loving me.
She tilted her head and let her hair draped over one shoulder. “Lets go to bed, Todd,” she said in a low husky voice. “I have some plans for you tonight.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve been sure for weeks now.”
“I just don’t want to rush things.”
Blair stopped swaying with him, stepped back and put her hands on her hips. “Stop stalling. Don’t make me get my cattle prod.”
What? He grinned at her. “You know I don’t like it when you get too kinky, Blair.”
She threw her head back and laughed and in the instant he knew without a doubt that everything was all right. His worse fears would never be realized. She was back. Nothing in life was free but he would gladly pay whatever price to keep her in his life.
She smiled at him in that way that always made his heart flip and heat spread through his body. She was right. It was time. Time to let it all go. It was done.
He looked her in the eye then wrapped his arm around her waist. Time to make his babe real happy.
There was a soft toot of a horn.
Blair looked up at him. “What was that?”
He grabbed her hand then pulled her along as he made
long strides toward the front door. “Come
on. I almost forgot.
I’ve got something for you.”
Blair crossed her arms over her chest, rotated her head and looked at him. “It’s like a tank!”
“Yeah. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a Hummer”
“It’s bright yellow!”
“Like sunshine.”
“Sunshine?”
“I want them to know when you are coming and to get out of your way. It’s been specially armor plated. I was thinking about getting the version with a gun turret on top but thought you might resist that.”
“Todd.”
“And I have a dog on order for you, too. German Shepherd. Specially bred for hundreds of years in Germany. We’ll all have to go to South Carolina in a few weeks to get acquainted with Fluffy but he’s specially trained to be an angel around you and the children and the devil unleashed around anyone who would even look at you wrong. Cost me fifty thousand dollars but he’ll be worth it.”
“Todd.”
“What? You don’t like the car?”
For a moment she stared at him then said, “I like you and I’m all right. We’re all all right.”
“Yeah, well, I’m gonna keep that true.”
“I wasn’t going to stay away from you. I came back.”
He nodded. You’ll
never know how much I love you.
“Todd, are you listening to me?”
He pulled her close to him and then kissed her gently on
the side of her face. Please
don’t take my sunshine away.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Let’s go to bed. And tomorrow we’ll all go to the park in the yellow tank. Starr and Sean will love it. I can see them volunteering me for car pool every other day.”
They strolled back into the house. He stepped out of her embrace closed the door, locked it and activated the alarm.
When he turned around Blair was smiling at him. “I think I’ll name it Lurch,” she said and shifted her weight from foot-to-foot. “And I’ll get some of those flower decals I’ve seen in the pictures of Volkswagens in the 60s. Can a child seat fit in that thing? You know Starr will want to drive it. We’ll have to keep an eye on her. And Sean will probably want to try to fit the whole football team in there. And Dorian will be seriously appalled and call us gauche or something…”
“I love you, Blair Manning.”
For a moment, she seemed to be suspended in mid-twirl. She stopped all movement and stared at him. He held his breath. Maybe she was considering other options.
She threw herself into his arms. “And I love you. And I always will. Thank you for my gift.”
He exhaled and held her tighter. Thank you for my life.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed The Son Also Rises. Thanks for reading it!--Tessarae87
Comments?
The Son Also Rises FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
Other Stand Alone T&B Fan Fiction: