Sam laughed and Morgan said, "Maybe we should stay longer, Brian. Maybe Sam's pregnancy will rub off on me. Do you think?" Morgan asked while everyone except Brian laughed."We'll, uh uh, have to discuss this is private first, sweetheart. I didn't know you wanted a baby.""I do now, after seeing the glow on Sam's face but especially how happy they are," Morgan explained."But we were this happy before we got married, before we got pregnant." Sam smiled.Sam stood and started clearing the table. "Oh, Sam. I completely forgot about Bernard and his three options for the gallery," Morgan said as she sat on the couch and patted the seat beside her."Elliott, you come too," Sam said, motioning for him to sit beside her. "What are they?" Sam asked once Sam was seated. Brian sat on a kitchen chair nearby."Okay, the first one, I think is pretty much out, I'm sure. But here it is. He'd prefer you come to New York and attend all the showings representing your work." Both Sam and Elliott
VOLUME FOUR- PART THREE-CHRISTMAS SURPRISES-SECRETS & DECEPTIONSDecember 20"Daddy, will you read to me?" Drew asked."Of course, son. Holler when you're finished with your bath." Dillon settled into the black leather recliner in the family room while Avri took their son upstairs. He sighed. It had been a long day at Intuitive Investigation Services, and he wanted to relax, close his eyes and let it all go. The doorbell rang. He looked toward the front door and then up the stairs.Through his ass hadn't even warmed up the seat yet, he ambled to the foyer and flipped on the porch light, then he opened the door. A rush of adrenaline tingled through his body but at the same time he wanted to hide. "Frank, what are you doing here?" Dillon asked as he offered his hand. Frank shook his hand. "Come in, please. It's cold out there.""It sure is, Davidson," Frank stepped inside.Dillon led him into the family room and motioned to the couch to sit. "So, what brings you here?"Frank,
Avri watched Dillon leave. How could this be happening? Again. How would she manage everything without him? Drew tugged on her pants. "Don't cry Mommy. I'll take care of you until Daddy comes back."She wiped her tears off her face, and said, "I know you will, sweetheart, but I miss your daddy already." She got down on one knee and said, "It's just you and me, kid. And we'll make the best of it. But right now, we have to get to bed and get rested up. We have a busy day tomorrow. We'll put the decorations outside and pick out the perfect tree. Then we'll trim the tree, and you know what we need to do that?" Drew shook his head. "Chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk, so we'll have to bake some cookies. What do you think?""We're going to have so much fun."Yes, we are." Avri led Drew up the stairs to his room and into bed."I still miss him Mommy." Drew placed his hand on his heart, and said, "And my heart hurts.""I know it does, so does mine. But we have to be strong and pat
Avri ran in, grabbed her cell and coat and rushed back outside. She ran to the neighbors across the street, but no one came to the door when she rang the doorbell. She ran around the block; maybe Drew found a cat or dog and returned it to the rightful owners. No one outside of his or her homes, no one playing in the front yard, no one around at all. What to do?The terrible feeling of Deja vu coursed through her. The only other time this happened he'd been kidnapped and held for ransom. Fear hit her like a brick, her heart lurched, and nausea wrecked her stomach, her palms sweaty. She only knew her neighbors casually; they waved to each other in passing and since no kids Drew's age lived in this area Drew was on his own. She raced back to the house yelling for Drew all the way. When she stepped inside, she continued yelling for him, but there was no answer.She needed help and soon. It was too cold for anyone to be outside for very long. The Sheriff. She'd call Mitch and he would kno
December 22Avri woke to a pounding on the front door. She struggled to get the twisted and tangled blanket off and hurried to the door. A tall shadow stood outside. Her heart jumped into her throat as she reached for the doorknob. She opened the door, and her heart dropped. Mitch stood in front of her, dark circles under his eyes; he twirled his hat in his hands."Can I come in?" He asked."Of course," Avri said as she opened the door wider and looked behind him, hoping to see Drew or Dillon. She'd take either one right now."You haven't found him, have you?" Avri asked while Mitch settled on the couch. Avri sat on the edge of the recliner."No, we haven't but we also haven't given up. The dogs lost his trail but are still out there. So many people have come from all over to help," his radio cackled indecipherable code numbers, "with the search. Let me step outside and make a call. I'll be right back." Avri looked out the front window, saw Mitch talking on his cell. She wante
After a late breakfast, Avri asked Drew, "Do you want to make cookies now or take a nap with me?"Drew yawned. "I'm tired.""Me too," Avri said. "Let's lay down and rest. We can get some dinner on our way to choose a tree. How does that sound?""Okay, can I lay with you in your bed?" Drew asked as he held her hand going up the stairs. "I want you to," Avri smiled, "I want to hug for a couple hours.""Then we'll get the tree." Drew yawned and lay beside Avri on the bed.Avri wrapped her arms around Drew and hugged him. "I love you, son. Forever and always." She glanced at his face, the face so much like his father's, but he was already asleep.****Avri woke alone. Not again/ She jumped and yelled, "Drew, where are you?" She heard noises coming from the kitchen and raced down the stairs. "Drew, what are you doing?" she asked, with relief when she entered the kitchen and saw Drew. The teapot whistled. She turned the burner off and moved the kettle.Drew stood at the breakfast t
Later in the day, Mrs. Weaver, the housekeeper at the Travis B&B dropped off a variety of baked goods and wished them a Merry Christmas. She waved when she left and once again, Drew and Avri stood at the front window; watching and waiting.As the sun set, Avri made grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner and then they settled in front of the TV and watched Drew's favorite Christmas movie. Memories of Christmas's past; Avri as a child before Dillon, with Dillon before he joined the Army, and the long four years she spent waiting for him to return. Last year was the first Christmas all three had been together, and it was her most treasured. When the doorbell rang, Avri and Drew both jumped and raced to the door. "It has to be Daddy," Drew said."He wouldn't ring the bell, he'd walk right in," Avri said, as she unlocked the door and opened it."Uncle Chase, Mom. It's Uncle Chase." Drew said as he hugged Chase's legs. "Is Dillon back yet?" Chase asked, shifting his feet, a wrapp
A few hours later, Dillon was sleeping in his own upstairs. Mitch had helped Dillon up the stairs and into bed where he fell asleep almost instantly. Avri and Drew took turns checking in on him to make sure he was warm enough and had no signs of hyperthermia, but he continued to sleep soundly.Avri and Drew baked Dillon's favorite cookies and sang Christmas songs. When Drew yawned early afternoon after lunch, Avri said, "Drew, how about we rest in bed with Daddy?""I'd like that, all of us in bed like before Daddy went away.""Okay, let's go. We'll snuggle and rest and maybe even fall asleep. We were up really early this morning, weren't we?" Avri said, as she took her son's hand and walked up the stairs with him."Yeah, Daddy surprised us early, didn't he?" Drew asked, as he jumped on the bed and toes off his shoes."He sure did but we have some Christmas surprises for him too," Avri tousled his hair as she lay down beside him, careful not to disturb Dillon."Yeah, we do. Wait t