complete agreement about anything.”
Brandon got quiet for a moment and then said in a serious tone, “John would be proud of them. And knowing the type of man he was, a man who loved his children unconditionally, I want to believe that had he lived, he would have eventually gotten all of you together. He was a man who would have made it happen.”
His words had Cassie staring at him thoughtfully. What he’d said was true. She believed that, as well. She had learned about her siblings’ existence from her father, and she had known he had loved them as much as he had loved her. He had said so a number of times.
“But…” she said, frowning still. “What if things get ugly?”
“And there’s a possibility that they might,” he said honestly, needing to make her aware of that fact. “But Parker wants you to know that no matter what, they intend to finally bring things to a head, a forced-feeding intervention, so to speak.”
Cassie inhaled a deep breath. She just hoped Parker and the others were right. The last thing she wanted was to be responsible for Bonita Garrison getting pushed over the edge. But then her children knew her better than anyone and Cassie was sure that no matter how strained their relationship, that they loved their mother. And if they felt what they had planned for this afternoon was the right approach to use then she would trust their judgment.
She met Brandon’s gaze. “Okay, thanks for telling me.”
“Are you still going?”
“Yes. I’m going.” After a moment, she asked, “You will be there, too, right?”
A smile touched the corners of his lips. “Yes, I was invited, as well, and I will be there,” he said. Tugging on the hand he still held he pulled her closer to him and whispered, “But even if I weren’t invited I would still be there, Cassie. You would not be alone.”
Cassie glanced around when Brandon brought the car to a stop in front of the massive and impressive Spanish-style villa that was the Garrison Estate. Everywhere she looked she saw a beauty that was spellbinding. From the brick driveway to the wide stucco stairs that led to the entrance, she thought there weren’t many words that could be used to describe the house that could sufficiently do it justice.
She inhaled a reverent breath in knowing this is where her father had lived, the place he considered home when he wasn’t in the Bahamas with her and her mom. And even now a part of her could feel his presence. What Brandon had said earlier that day was true. Her father would want his offspring to meet.
“You’ve gotten quiet on me. Are you okay?”
She glanced over at Brandon, hearing the concern in his voice. From the moment his plane had landed in Miami, he had been attentive, considerate of her well-being and so forthcoming with his affection. More than once she’d had to stop and remind herself that his affection had nothing to do with love, but was a result of his kindness. There was a natural degree of warmth and caring about him. Those were just two of the things that had drawn her to him from the first.
“Yes, I’m okay. I was just thinking about Dad and how much I loved him and how much I miss him, and how today I can feel his presence more so than ever.”
“And you never resented him for having another family besides you and your mom?”
“I never resented Dad, but when I was a lot younger, after having found out he was a married man with another family, for a long time I resented them. In my mind, whenever he would leave me and Mom it would be to return here to them. I never gave thought to the fact that whenever he was in the Bahamas with me and Mom, he wasn’t with them, either. I was too possessive of him in my life to even care.”
“But now?”
“But now I want to believe that somehow he was able to give all six of us equal time, special time, as special as he was,” she said softly.
“I think he did,” Brandon said in a quiet tone. “I believe he knew what each of his kids needed and gave it to them. He was an ingrained part of each of their lives and they loved him just as much as you did.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Do you think that even now? After finding out he’d had a long-term affair while married to their mother? You don’t think that love was tarnished because of it?”
Brandon shook his head. “No. Adam is the only one I’ve spoken to in depth about it, basically to garner his personal feelings. He said they all knew their parents’ marriage was on the rocks for years. Bonita’s abuse of alcohol led to a friction that couldn’t be mended.”
Cassie nodded, then dragged in a deep breath and said, “It’s time we go inside, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Nervous?”
“I would be lying if I were to say no. But I can handle it.”
Brandon chuckled as he unbuckled his seat belt. “Cassie Sinclair-Garrison, I think you can handle just about anything.”
He exited the car and came around to open her door for her, admiring what she was wearing. Although it was the middle of fall, the weather was warm and the sky was clear and she was casually dressed in a pair of black slacks and a velvet plum blouse. The outfit not only brought out the natural beauty of her skin coloring, but added a touch of exuberance to her brown eyes, as well. She smiled at him.
He offered his hand and she took it. The sensation that immediately flowed through him was desire that was as intoxicating as the strongest liquor.
After closing the door, he placed her hand on his arm and walked her up the wide stucco stairs that led to the front door. Before he could raise his hand to knock, the door opened and Lisette Wilson stood there smiling at them. The woman had been the Garrison’s housekeeper for as long as Brandon could remember and, according to Adam, Lisette was a force to reckon with when he’d been going through his mischievous teen years. Now she seemed older, and although a smile was bright on her face, she looked tired. She was probably worn out from having her hands full these days with Bonita’s excessive drinking. With none of the Garrison siblings living at home, they depended on Lisette to keep things running as smoothly as possible on the home front.
“Mr. Brandon, good seeing you again, and I want to welcome the both of you to the Garrison Estate.”
Brandon returned the woman’s smile. “Thanks, Lisette. Have Parker and the others arrived yet?”
“Yes, they’re on the veranda,” she said, stepping aside for them to enter. “I’ll take you to them.”
Lisette led the way. Brandon could feel the tenseness of Cassie’s hand on his arm. He smiled over at her as they passed a wide stone column that marked the entrance to the living room. After passing through several beautifully decorated rooms, they walked through a bank of French doors to the veranda. The Garrison siblings were there. All five of them. Along with three of their significant others.
“Your dinner guests have arrived,” Lisette announced.
The group immediately ended whatever conversation they were engaged in and turned, seemingly all at once. Eight pairs of eyes stared at them, mainly at Cassie. They appeared stunned. The look on their faces confirmed that they were thinking what Brandon already knew. She was definitely a Garrison.
It was Parker who made the first move, crossing the veranda with an air that was cool and confident. He came to a stop in front of them. He continued to stare at Cassie, studying her features, probably with the same intensity that she was studying his.
For her it was like seeing what she figured was a younger version of their father. He looked so much like John Garrison it was uncanny. All three Garrison men did. That was the first thought that had crossed her mind when they had looked at her. But Parker, the firstborn, had acquired nearly every physical feature their father had possessed, including his height, build and mannerisms-especially how his dark brow creased in a deep, thoughtful frown when he analyzed anything.
Not feeling at all intimidated, Cassie tilted her head back as she met his intense stare. Then she watched his eyes soften speculatively when he said, “Umm, the famous Garrison cleft. Was there ever a time you thought it was a curse rather than a blessing?”
Refusing to let her guard down, not even for a second, Cassie said, “No, that never occurred to me. Anything I inherited from my father I considered a blessing.”
A semblance of a smile touched his arrogant lips and he said, “So did I.” Extending his hand out to her, he said, “I’m Parker, by the way.”
She accepted it. “And I’m Cassie.”
He nodded before glancing over at Brandon. “Good seeing you again, Brandon.”
“Likewise, Parker.”
