Chapter -28
Lucas lay awake. His listless eyes looked at the light squeaking past the blinds. All night long he tossed and turned thinking about Sarah in the room across the hallway. She was so close yet so far. Somehow he had to talk to her. He had so many questions. But he didn’t want to bombard her or make her feel like she was being interrogated.
If this was strictly business he wouldn’t even give it a second thought. Closing million dollar deals was child’s play compared to what he was attempting to do. How did one talk to their wife…let alone convince her to give him a second chance after all the mistakes he made? He was so far out of his depth.
And then there was Zoe. He didn’t have a clue how to be a dad. His own wasn’t particularly attentive and passed away when he was young. Apparently his father had been so upset when his grandmother refused to turn the company over to him he abandoned his family to seek his fortune and prove himself. According to his grandmother his father died penniless. It probably was just as well he had no memories of the man.
Zoe deserved better. But it left him in a quandary. Who did he know who was a good father? Two names immediately came to mind: Julius DaLair and Silas Prescott. Both were adored by their children and seemed complete naturals despite the years they were separated from them. Julius’s children were five years old before he even met them and a full ten years separated Silas from his..
If they could do it, certainly he could…maybe.
saral
He wished he could talk to them. After Sarah left DaLair and Prescott severed all business ties with Stanton
and its associates. Naturally several companies abandoned Stanton in favor of doing business with DaLair
and Prescott but there were still plenty of others willing to work with him. Lucas had to do some reshuffling
and reorganize his business’s projects but he made it work.
There was no denying Stanton Inc had fallen behind a few steps but it was nothing they couldn’t make up
eventually. Now though he was hesitant to contact either Julius or Silas. He doubted they would be happy to
hear from him. Would they even be willing to listen to him after…everything?
With a sigh he sat up. Stepping into the bathroom he splashed water on his face trying to marshal the
depressing thoughts that swirled in his mind. Still groggy he dressed in simple trousers and a t-shirt before heading down stairs for coffee.
As he descended the smells of breakfast drifted upward to greet him: eggs, bacon, and salsa. Reaching the
kitchen he saw Ulima at the stove happily humming as she made huevos rancheros. At the table Zoe sat coloring alongside Alan who chuckled at her antics.
“How long have you been here?” Lucas demanded.
“An hour,” Alan shrugged.
“And you didn’t wake me?”
“She’s much better company,” Alan smirked giving Zoe a wink as she giggled.
“Morning daddy!” Zoe smiled.
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Lucas froze mid-step. Whatever he was about to say was forgotten. Those two simple words sent his mind
spinning and he trembled with a longing to hear it again.
“Psst…you can say hi back, dad,” Alan said noticing his frozen state causing Zoe to snicker again.
She gazed at him with shining greenish eyes and a smile just as bright as she said, “You’re silly daddy.”
”
Lucas finally stirred approaching the table. Patting Zoe on the head he leaned down to kiss her forehead, “
Morning, sweet pea.”
Zoe giggled.
“What? No morning kiss for me?” Alan asked.
“She’s cuter,” Lucas scowled at him which made Zoe giggle more..
“Señor,” Ulima gave Lucas his morning coffee.
He sipped it with a grimace. Zoe wrinkled her nose as she watched him. After a moment she said, “Daddy,
coffee is bad for you. You should drink tea. Mommy says it’s healthier.”
“Your mommy really likes tea, doesn’t she?” Alan asked.
“Ah-huh,” Zoe nodded. “Mommy drinks tea every day. In the morning and afternoon and evening. She even has
special teas. Teas for colds and aches and upset tummies.”
Alan raised an eyebrow glancing at Lucas in as much to say now was a good time to get information as any other. The gesture and intention was not lost on him. If anyone knew Sarah it would certainly be her
daughter.
“Your mommy is special, isn’t she?” Alan asked.
“Mommy is the most special! We’re both miracles!”
“Oh yeah? How do you figure that?”
“Because we almost died,” Zoe said to the shock of her listeners.
“…Right. That’s just a figure of speech, I suppose,” Alan cleared his throat.
“No. It’s true. Mommy said I was born too early and had to be in an incu-thing until I was finished growing,” Zoe said matter-of-factly. “And mommy had comp-compli…”
“Complications?” Alan supplied.
“Ah-huh. She had a lot of bleeding and the doctors had a hard time stopping it,” Zoe nodded. “So you see…we are real miracles! Grandma Ya-Ya said so.”
Ulima quietly set the plate with tortillas covered in eggs sunny-side up with mild salsa and bacon in front of Zoe with a strained smile. Zoe happily picked up her fork to eat perfectly happy with an ethnic-style breakfast. Ulima gave her a gentle pat and a warm smile even as her eyes shined with tears though she said
nothing.
Alan grimaced and looked at Lucas. Lucas stood staring at Zoe with his forgotten coffee still in hand. He had gone pale as a ghost his hands trembling. It couldn’t be… There had to be a mistake.
