There were a couple of spam messages which he deleted before he got to the next one from the same woman. Sawyer wasn’t sure what number this message was, but her voice sounded both pleading and upset at the same time.
“Mr. Lancaster, I’m not sure if you’ve gotten my other messages”—boy did she sound accusatory—“and you’re probably confused and wondering why I’m calling.”
“There’s an understatement,” he muttered.
“But I really need you to return my call. I’ve been desperately trying to reach out to you, and this is the only number I have been able to get a hold of. I have no idea if it’s the right one, but please, it is quite urgent that you call me back. You can call anytime, night or day. Here is my cell number… again.”
This time, Sawyer got his phone out and took the number down.
The microwave beeped, and he walked back into the kitchen to grab his food. He considered eating it right from the glass container, but then grabbed a flat plate and dished the food onto it instead.
The Thai green curry and rice smelled amazing. Sawyer carried his food out to the dining table and pulled a place mat from the sideboard.
The place setting for one had him missing dinners at Ford’s parents’ house, and as good as his meal smelled, he would rather be around the table with Ford, Doug, and Barb.
You’ll be back with Ford soon. Even though moving to Colorado would not happen in one go, the resort was still his project, and he’d planned to be in Amber Falls most of the year anyway to see it done.
So, he would be back where he wanted to be soon.
“Focus, Sawyer. One thing at a time.”
He checked his cell and it was past nine in the evening. Well, she did say he could call any time, day or night.
He quickly dialed the number, more intrigued to hear why this social worker had called him like a debt collector trying to track down money owed on an account.
“Madison Walker. Who’s calling?” The woman answered the phone like it was 9 a.m. and not 9 p.m.
“This is Sawyer Lancaster. I’m returning your calls.”
There was an audible sigh. “Oh my God… Thank God. Thank you so much for calling me back. I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks. I didn’t think you’d ever call me.” There was relief but also a little disapproval and censure in her tone. He bristled at the undertone, but pushed that aside for now.
“Yes, I see that from my answering machine, but I was out of town. Besides, you’ve been calling my home phone, soo…” He realized he didn’t owe her an explanation. “Anyway... I’m confused. Who are you?”
“Your confusion is understandable. I’m sure you are wondering why a social worker has been calling so frantically.”
Sawyer didn’t answer the question… he wasn’t sure it was one.
A soft breath of air brushed across the earpiece. “I have some bad news.”
Sawyer’s brow creased. That was never a good sign. “Okay?”
“I’m a social worker here in New York,” she started.
“Yes… that much I’ve gathered.” Could the woman get on with it?
“Right, yes, of course.” She must have heard the impatience in his voice because she blurted, “Your father has passed away.”
“Um… not my problem.” Sawyer rolled his eyes. Seriously, that was the reason for all the calls? He didn’t even realize social workers informed people of things like that. “I didn’t know the man, so you’re not going to get tears from me.”
Tension drained out of him like a balloon that had all the air let out.
Thank fuck. If that was the bad news, then cool… okay, not cool, but he didn’t know the man, and he’d not been a father to him, so Sawyer was certainly not going to cry over someone that was barely more than a mental image to him.
“You don’t understand,” she started.
“I think I do. You had to inform me of his passing, and now you have… so thank you very much.”
“Mr. Lancaster.” Her tone was insistent. “Please, I don’t think you understand. Your father had no living adult relatives, but he did have three children that lived with him at the time.”
His mouth fell open, and the first thing that came to mind was the fact that his father couldn’t step up to the plate to help his mother or claim him. She’d been a single parent till the day she died, but the man had fathered three other children, stayed, and worked to raise them?
Sawyer jumped up, fist pressed to his chest. It hurt more than it should.
“Mr. Lancaster, are you there?”
“Yeah, yeah.” He shook his head trying to clear it. Now is not the time to take that stroll down memory lane, Sawyer. Won’t lead anywhere.
He counted to three in his head before speaking. “Again, I don’t know what this has to do with me. I didn’t know the man. He was no father to me. My mom had to raise me after being disowned by her family. I don’t need to hear about how he happily raised three other children. So, if that’s all, I really do need to go.”
“Sir… you don’t understand me.” Her voice was soft but firm.
“Then make me understand you.” Sawyer paced. Fuck, he was done with this conversation. His food was cold, not that he had an appetite anymore. All Sawyer wanted was to crawl into bed, call Ford, and talk until he fell asleep.
“He named you as guardian of the three kids.” Her voice was sympathetic. “Your siblings.”
“They’re not my siblings.” The words came out before he realized he’d even said them, but then he frowned. “Guardian? Like… he wants me to take care of the kids? Raise them?”
“That is correct. According to his will, he left sole custody to you.” When Sawyer didn’t speak she added, “The kids are
