The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) (28 page)

“Please take a seat.”

His words seemed to pull Hope out of whatever thoughts had been occupying her mind “May I get you something to drink?” Steve asked, his voice devoid of any indication of the passionate interlude they had just shared. He knew he sounded a million light years away from the way he was feeling, and the thoughts that were running through his head, but they still had a difficult evening ahead of them.

“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Steve politely held the back of the chair and waited until Hope was seated. Only then did he move around his desk and settled into his own seat.

Pleasantries over, Steve began to speak. “Your father called me today. He wants us to come to the house tonight.”

“Why... what does he want?”

“When was the last time you spoke with your parents, Hope?”

Steve watched as Hope bent her head, the murmur that rose from her only just decipherable.

“Not since the last time we were there.”

“It would seem that you don’t forgive easily.”

Steve witnessed another expression pass across Hope’s face, shame. When their eyes met, he caught a glimpse of the old Hope and he recognized her internal battles. He knew deep down Hope loved her parents. He also understood that decades of living under the shadow of uncertainty couldn’t be eradicated in a matter of weeks. One didn’t just sideline a lifetime of hurt because others asked it of them. Hope had to work through her hurt in her own way, and Steve knew that would take time.

“Where they’re concerned, no I can’t forgive that easily. In fact, I don’t know if I even want to.”

“Hypocrisy doesn’t become you, Hope.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me. You – are – a – hypocrite.” Steve stretched out each word so Hope was left in no doubt that he meant every word he said.

“How dare you speak to me like that?”

“Do you disagree with me? Don’t you think your comment about your parents smacks of the double standard of wanting for yourself exactly what you’re denying them?”

“The situation with Jason is completely different to the one with my parents.” Hope threw back with a rush in complete conviction in her words.

Steve laughed in her face. He could see that the color in her cheeks was rising, no doubt on par with her anger.

“You will not treat me this way. Have you forgotten who I am?”

Her words, said in deadly earnest, wiped the laughter from Steve’s face. “I haven’t forgotten a damn thing, but humor me, who are you, Hope?”

“I’m a supermodel. I’m considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. That’s who I am!”

“That’s all you could think of to say? Those are the only factors that define you?” Steve wasn’t really surprised by her response. He knew Hope very well. He had challenged her, and she had reacted in the way she normally did when challenged.

“Hope, the world is full of beautiful women, and yes even some that are better looking, and I’m going to say it, younger than you.”

Steve knew he had hurt her feelings, and he didn’t care. As far as he was concerned it was time that she understand that although her looks were probably the first thing that would attract a man to her, that fact alone wouldn’t keep him.

“Nothing to say, Hope? Well, that’s the second question I’ve asked you, and the only thing I’ve received by way of an answer is bullshit.”

Getting up from his seat, Steve walked over to Hope and bent down. Lifting her chin, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Hope, believe this, the next time I ask you these questions will be the last. I will walk away from you, supermodel or no.”

Releasing her chin, Steve turned away and retrieved his jacket. The words he had spoken were the truth. He was willing to walk away because, he knew his worth.

“If you’re ready I think we should go. Your parents are expecting us.”

Chapter 30

The drive to her parents’ house had been completed in total silence. As Steve’s car ate up the miles to their destination the intensity of her anger waned.

Steve had never held back his words when he felt she needed to hear something and Hope had always respected that. But he had never, in her opinion, been so cruel. How could he say she was old? She was only thirty for goodness sake.

Hope wasn’t a foolish woman, she understood that no matter how successful her career, it was coming to an end. Although she was only now prepared to admit it to herself. She was also more than a little fed up with the amount of travel modeling entailed. In her quiet moments, Hope’s mind fixated on the things she had come to dislike about her job: shoes that hurt, bikini shoots in the winter, soul-less hotel rooms, and the constant bitching, and that was only the tip of the iceberg. She knew Steve was right, there was always going to be another younger and prettier woman waiting in the wings.

After all these years, she knew she could only count a few women in the business as friends. That in and of itself was only one of the pathetic facts of her life and who she had become. Hope knew she was self-centered, and she wanted to change, she just didn’t know how.

Deep into her musing, she didn’t realize the car had come to a stop. The gentle breeze blowing against her skin was the first indicator that Steve held the car door open, and was waiting for her to alight.

Steve was holding her to a higher standard than the one she had lived by throughout her adult life. She knew what he was asking her, just as she knew that her time was up. This was the point in her life where she had to make the decision of what type of person she would try to be for the rest of her life.

Her decision made, Hope reached out her hand and placed her smaller one into Steve’s extended palm. For her, the gesture was symbolic. She had made her choice. She was sure she would still mess up, but the least she could do was try to be a better person.

That was the easy part. The hard part would be convincing those around her that she really wanted to change. She just hoped those who she actually cared about would stick by the new Hope, despite how she had behaved in the past.

“Are you, okay?” Such simple words yet they meant the world to Hope. They meant he cared. What that caring would ultimately mean to the two of them was something Hope was still unsure of.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” Hope’s word could have been taken as just a reply to his enquiry, but she hoped he had read into the deeper meaning. She was indeed thankful that Stephen Blackman was by her side, because of his support she was ready to face and put her demons to rest.

“Are you ready to go in? We can wait if you need more time.”

“There’s no need to wait, I’m ready.”

Hope remained impassive as Steve led her to the door and rang the bell. The sight of her mother opening the door shocked her. She looked... well different. She had a certain glow that niggled at the back of Hope’s mind. She knew that look, she remembered it but hadn’t seen it for many years. It was how her mother had looked before M.J. had died.

“Hope, Steve, I’m so glad to see you both. Come in, come in.”

The mother’s embrace that enveloped her left Hope speechless. Something had happened, and she knew that was why Steve had brought her here.

“Your father is in the living room. He’s not really... himself.”

Just like that Hope witnessed the waning of her mother’s spirit, and it confused her. Taryn was happy one moment and sad the next. She had also just said there was something wrong with her father. Hope was more than a little confused. To cap it all, Steve had brought her here after throwing out questions she had no idea how to answer.

“Why don’t we all go in?” Steve said breaking into the silence. Seeming to snap back to herself, Taryn smiled and led the way to the living room.

The sight that greeted Hope almost had her doing an about turn and leaving the house. Nixon was with her father, and her mother was right, Mason didn’t look like himself. The quiet that engulfed the room was unnatural. Hope had no idea what had taken place between the two men, but she knew it was monumental.

“What’s he doing here?” Hope asked, unconcerned as to which of her parents answered.

Her mother was the one to speak as Mason sat in his seat, unmoving and staring into space as though incapable of even understanding what was going on around him.

“It seems that Nixon has lost some documents. He’s here to inquire whether we know anything about them.”

Hope was furious, unable to comprehend why they would allow Nixon into the house after the way he had behaved the last time he was there.

“Who gives a shit about his documents? Get the hell out of this house!” Each word Hope spoke brought her closer to Nixon, her hands fisted at her sides. Never in her whole life had she wanted to commit violence against another person as much as she did at this very moment.

“Hope, that’s enough!” The sound of her father’s voice wasn’t enough to break Hope’s forward momentum. She had it in her mind that she was going to kick Nixon’s ass, and whoever didn’t like it could go to hell.

Coming to a stop before Nixon, Hope deliberately rolled up her sleeves and took up a fighting stance. The sound of Steve’s laughter had her head whipping around to face him.

“After I finish beating his ass, then you can laugh!”

“As mad as you are, I’m sure you could, Rocky. But if he touched you I’d have to kill him, so I think it’s best that you stand down and let me deal with the vermin.”

Steve’s words pulled Nixon’s eyes towards him, his gaze fixed and desperate. Nixon was a man on the brink of losing control.

In the time, it took Steve to move Hope behind him and out of harm’s way. Steve’s countenance changed from amusement to deadly.

“I don’t like you, Nixon. I don’t know what you’ve said to these people, but I’d like to clear up any ambiguities you may harbor.” Reaching into the inside pocket of his coat, Steve withdrew an envelope, waving it under Nixon’s nose, watching him closely as his eyes focused on the envelope he waved before his face.

Without warning Nixon made a grab for the paper, and Steve moved the envelope out of his reach. His instinct was to laugh at the way the shorter man was almost jumping up and down in his attempt to reach for the envelope that he knew contained his power over the Richards family.

“This envelope contains the contents by which you have held these people hostage for more years that I care to think about.” After his statement, Steve paused so his words could hang in the air, and irritate Nixon even further.

“You’re a thief. Those papers belong to me, and I want them back, now!”

 “I know you want them, Nixon, so why don’t you try to take them!”

Lowering his hand, Steve retained eye contact with the older man, daring him to challenge him.

The standoff lasted a full minute where Steve remained completely still, watching and waiting. Once he saw that Nixon realized he had been bested, Steve turned his back to him, and walked over to Mason and handed him the envelope. “I believe this belongs to you.”

Reaching out, Mason took hold of the documents whose existence in the hands of his cousin had held the means of controlling such a large part of his life.

Mason didn’t thank Steve. Instead, he approached his wife and laid the folded envelope in her hands. “For most of our lives together circumstances and tragedy have been our defining features. Do whatever you want with these.”

Taryn took a moment to look at the envelope and smiled up at her husband. Turning to Nixon, Taryn spoke with such dignity everyone in the room’s eyes transfixed on her. After so many years where lucidity eluded her, Taryn now stood tall and proud. “You don’t have any more business here, Nixon. Please leave our home.”

With the finality of her words, it was as though Nixon ceased to exist. Although none acknowledged his presence, all were aware of his silent leaving. That he left without further comment surprised Hope but she didn’t question it. He was gone and that was all that she cared about.

“That was well done, Mama.”

“Thank you, Hope.” Giving her daughter a small smile, Taryn dropped the papers on a table. Approaching Steve, she took his handsome face between her hands and kissed him on each cheek.

“Thank you.”

“You are most welcome, Taryn.” Steve said with a smile.

Mason came next. Gently pushing his wife aside, he extended his hand and waited for Steve to take it.

“The way I’ve treated you, you didn’t have to do this. But I thank you nonetheless.”

“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Hope and Taryn. I was always taught that I should look after the women in my life. You did a poor job, Mason.” Looking over Mason’s shoulder, Steve caught and held Hope’s eyes. “But they haven’t left you so that in itself must mean something.”

Releasing Mason’s hand Steve broke eye contact with Hope and took a step back. Taryn again had the envelope in her hand, without opening it she began to tear it into small pieces. Soon Hope was by her mother’s side. At her outstretched hand, Taryn passed over a section of the document. Together they didn’t stop until the floor around their feet was littered with confetti like pieces of paper.

The symbolism of the act of mother and daughter working together was their first step towards healing the rift that had separated them for too many years.

**********

“So where do we go from here?” Taryn asked her daughter now that they were all seated.

“I don’t know, Mama.”

“Do you think you can forgive me for not being around when you needed me?”

“I hope so. The way you were when I was growing up. That hurt me more than you can ever know. I needed my mother so many times over the years, and you were never there.”

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise, just give me a chance. I’ll do it your way. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.” Taryn all but pleaded with her daughter.

Taryn’s entreaty was almost painful for Hope to hear. Yet how was she supposed to shed years of watching her mother put her last? She couldn’t. It was as simple as that, she couldn’t. What she could do however, was try to get to know the woman Taryn was attempting to become.

“Why don’t we start with lunch, Mom? That’s a good place, right?”