“Actually, what I would like is for you to sit with me a minute.”
Theo pulled a chair out and sat down. She picked a chocolate chip cookie from the container and took a bite. They could both hear footsteps as they made their way up the stairs. When the door opened, Caleb was the first to emerge.
“Hey, baby sister,” he greeted. Theo smiled.
“We’re supposed to be making the announcement that we’re engaged to both sides of the family tomorrow night, but everyone already knows.”
“Sounds to me like it was a long time coming,” Hayes said, choosing a second cookie.
“The Murphys and the Reillys go way back. Jordan and I have known each other since birth. We’ve liked each other for that long, too. Caleb?” Theo watched as both men turned the corner and moved toward the master bedroom. “Eh,” she smiled. “I guess he’s alright.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Caleb told Hayes. “She loves me.”
“She tolerates you,” Jordan corrected. “That’s not the same thing at all.”
“You’ve got something really special going on here,” Hayes told Theo.
“Did Ashley tell you about this past year?”
Hayes nodded. “She called me the day of her interview. She was kind of in a state of shock. She couldn’t believe you’d called her in.” He took a deep breath and leaned forward in his chair. “Ashley didn’t have an ideal childhood. Her mom and me,” he shook his head, “we were a mistake. Ashley was not. I haven’t been able to provide for her exactly the way I’ve always wanted. She didn’t come from much. I’ve always tried to let her know that she’s my everything.”
“She loves you very much,” Theo told him. “She’s quite obviously a daddy’s girl, and I know how to spot those, being one myself.”
Hayes smiled. “You and your dad are close?”
“We were. He passed away. It was very sudden. He died when I was seventeen. It’s been twelve years, but I still miss him like it was yesterday.”
Hayes reached over and put his hand over Theo’s. “This may sound hollow coming from a man you just met. I’m going to say it anyway. I truly believe your father would be incredibly proud of you.”
Theo sniffed. The mention of her father had brought on the sting of tears and she blinked them away.
“I appreciate that,” she said.
Hayes pulled his hand away and picked a silver candy from his cookie. He popped it into his mouth. “I heard a lot about Trix. I know she’s a firecracker. Little bee really likes her a lot. For several weeks, she’d call me upset, sure she wouldn’t be able to keep up. As time went on, and she was doing well in school, her confidence grew.”
Jordan and Caleb came through the kitchen again on their way back down to the basement. Theo listened to their footfalls for a second.
“I was so happy Trix was here when I decided to bring Ashley in. The two of them hit it off, and they worked so well together. Ashley has what it takes to do this job. I knew she did before I hired her. She was taught by the best, and already she’s showing huge promise.”
Hayes watched Theo for a moment. “Ashley speaks as highly of Trix as you do. But she’s not the one my daughter talks about most when she calls me. I’ve heard all about the storm, and Indigo’s disappearance. She told me about the Madeleine and about Cleopatra.” He shook his head. “I must admit, your names intrigue me. They’re so different.”
Theo laughed. She’d always gotten a lot of comments about her name. “My father was a history professor. He loved it. He named his firstborn after the queen, Cleopatra. I got my name from the empress, Theodora. My middle name is Justine. I thought about using it about a million times, but I never did.”
“Don’t. Theodora suits you.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment,” she laughed again, “but I’ll take it as such.”
“Definitely a compliment, my dear.” He paused. “Here comes the mattress. It’s awful nice of y’all to go to so much trouble for me.”
Theo turned and saw the Reilly boys bring the last of the bed up.
“It’s no trouble. I knew having you here would do Ashley a ton of good, and when I mentioned it to Jordan, he offered right away to serve as airport transit. And Caleb doesn’t live in Whisper Creek anymore. He’s never asked to do anything, so moving a couple of mattresses is not a big deal.” She made her voice a bit louder. “Thank you,” she called to the brothers.
“I’m coming after those cookies,” Caleb replied.
“They’re here when you want them.”
Hayes listened to the friendly banter going on in Ashley’s room as the boys began setting up the bed. “I wanted to say thank you.” Theo watched him. “You believed in my daughter when she didn’t believe in herself. You gave her an enormous opportunity, and you supported her, made her feel as if she could do something she never thought she could. That’s huge, and on its own, that’s something any parent would be grateful for. But you saved my little girl. You literally saved her life, and you did it after you’d been so injured yourself. Ashley wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t gone up to that cabin and brought her back. I can’t express to you just how thankful I am that you didn’t let that monster take my little bee away from me.”
Theo watched as tears filled Hayes’s eyes and she stood up, wrapping her arms around his seated figure. He began to cry and hearing the emotion in his voice made Theo let go. The two of them huddled together at the table for several minutes, neither one of them speaking. Finally, Theo straightened and reached over to grab some napkins that sat in a holder in the center of the table. She handed one to Hayes and kept one for herself.
“This world needs Ashley in it. My world needs Ashley in it. I didn’t know what I was going to find when I got to that cabin. I had no plan in mind. I didn’t know what I was doing. She wasn’t breathing, so I did my best to breathe for her. I’m just glad the paramedics got there as quickly as they did.” She paused, then shook her head. “I finally get it.”
“Get what?”
“Burgess.” She smiled. “Your last name. You’re big bee and Ashley’s little bee.”
Hayes smiled. “I’ve always called her that, since she was a baby. I’ve expected her to tell me to stop for years now, but she hasn’t.”
“That’s because dads are special,” Theo told him.
“So are daughters. And because of you, I still have mine. I meant what I said before. Your dad is watching over you. I believe that with all my heart and soul, and that man couldn’t be more proud of his little girl.”
21. CHRISTMAS EVE
When Jordan and Theo pulled their trucks into the driveway at the Reilly house, there were a couple cars parked there that Theo didn’t recognize.
