Righteous Obsession (75 page)

“Well, it does concern me a little,” Colin admitted.

“It shouldn’t,” Peter declared.  “I see how you are
with Elissa and I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Colin.”  They
brought Elissa downstairs and gave her to her mother.

Amanda rose.  “She’s probably hungry too so I’d better
feed her.”  She excused herself and took the baby back upstairs.

Everybody else went into the living room.  Colin
prayed fervently that Grandma Eileen could resist lecturing them about Alethea
not being pregnant and his supposed relationship with Jeff Michaels. 
Fortunately for them, she seemed more interested in talking about their
upcoming trip to Hawaii.  He heard a relieved sigh from Alethea and grinned.

Amanda re-entered the room, carrying Elissa.  “Boy! 
She was hungry!”  She gave her to her grandparents to hold.  Grandma Beth
rocked her gently.  “She has such a lovely complexion.”

“The boys will be fighting each other for a date with
her!”  Grandpa Roger predicted, wiggling Elissa’s finger.  She gurgled and
smiled at him.  They carefully handed her to Grandpa Ted and Grandma Eileen. 
“I think she’s going to be a brilliant lawyer like her parents!”  Grandma
Eileen declared.

“Or she may be on the city council like her
grandmother,” Grandpa Ted added.

“Or she could be a rock and roll musician like her
brothers,” Debbie said.

“We don’t care what it is,” Peter said, putting his
arm around Amanda.  “We just want her to be happy in whatever she chooses to
do.”

“Amen!”  Amanda added.

After the Matthews and Scotts had left, Debbie excused
herself to call Diana.  “I told her I’d call her before I came to pick her up
to look at the apartment grandpa and grandma offered us.”  She tickled Elissa
who gurgled in response then excused herself and left the room.

“Deb isn’t going to be living on campus?”

“No.  She and Diana decided they wanted to rent an
apartment together,” Peter replied.  “Mom and dad had one vacant so they
offered it to them.”

“I hope they decide to take it because we’ll know for
sure they’re in safe, secure and well-maintained apartment,” Amanda added.

“We’ve got to be going, too,” Liam said.  He gave both
his parents a hug and a kiss then wiggled one of Elissa’s hands.  “Hey, look! 
She’s smiling at me!  Cool!”  Alison gave Peter and Amanda a hug and invited
them over for supper as soon as Amanda felt up to it.

Peter promised to let her know, saying, “Liam says
you’re a real good cook.”

“Wait until you taste it, Dad!”  Liam bragged.

“He might be a little prejudice,” Alison replied
modestly.

“We’re looking forward to it, Alison,” Amanda said.

Alethea was holding Elissa.  “You are so precious!” 
She cooed.  Colin leaned over to look at her.  “She seems so laid back,” he
observed.

“Do you want to hold her?”  Alethea asked.

“Only if she promises not to wet on me again,” Colin
joked as he took her from Alethea.

“I think you’re going to make wonderful parents when you’re
ready,” Amanda remarked.

“When we’re ready,” Colin agreed.  “Alethea and I are
leaving for Minneapolis tomorrow.”

“You’re going to see Jeff?”  Peter asked.

“Yes.  Jeff and I have drifted apart since Father
Michaels’ arrest.  I need to know once and for all where I stand with him.”

“I hope Jeff will listen to you,” Amanda said.  “How
long will you be gone?”

“Probably a few days,” Colin replied.

“Well, call us when you get back, will you please?”
Amanda asked.

“We will,” Colin promised, giving Elissa back to her
mother.

“Good luck!”  Peter added.

Colin gripped the steering wheel tightly as he glanced
at the directions to Jeff’s home given to him by Luke.

“Jeff lives in a nice area of town,” Alethea remarked.

“I guess,” Colin replied.  At this point he wouldn’t
have noticed if Jeff was living on the moon!

“You’re really nervous about this, aren’t you?”  She
asked, stroking his shoulder comfortingly.  “You didn’t sleep well and you
hardly touched breakfast.”

“I tossed and turned all night. I debated whether to
call him and have him tell me he doesn’t want to see me or just appear on his
doorstep and get the door slammed in my face.”

“Have you considered he might actually be glad to see
you?”

“Since he hasn’t made any attempts to contact me,
though his therapy’s supposedly helping him, I suspect he won’t put out the
welcome mat.”

“Maybe, he hasn’t contacted you because he’s
embarrassed about how he’s treated you and he doesn’t know how to break the
ice.”

“I guess,” Colin replied, but he sounded unconvinced.

“We’ll find out soon enough – there’s his home,”
Alethea said and pointed.

“You mean the one with the for sale sign in its yard
and a sticker across the sign that says there’s an offer pending on it?”  Colin
asked, slowing to a crawl.

“Well, you can’t blame him if he wants to get away
from all the bad memories,” Alethea said.

“He’s probably moving to New Orleans to be near Father
Michaels.”  He sighed and shrugged.  “I suppose I’d better find out what the
news is.”  He signaled then pulled into the driveway.  They walked across a
well-kept lawn to the front porch and rang the bell.  Colin held his breath as
he heard the door opening.

Caitlin answered the door and when she saw them her
opened her mouth in surprise, but no sound came out of it.

Colin couldn’t decide whether she appeared more
surprised or shocked at seeing them, but he decided to take the first step.  He
smiled and joked, “Hi, Caitlin!  I’ll bet you knew we were coming today!”

Caitlin relaxed and returned his smile.  “Of course! 
I was saying the very same to myself just this morning!”  She gave Colin a big
hug then Alethea.  “I’m so glad you’ve come!”

“I’m glad, too, Cait,” Colin said.

She led them into the living room.  “Make yourselves
comfortable and I’ll get daddy.”

“Why don’t you let me do that, Cait,” Colin
suggested.  “Is he inside or outside?”

“He’s out back, weeding the flower beds.”

“Will you keep Alethea company while I talk to your
dad?”

“Sure, Colin.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” 
Alethea asked.

“Thanks, but this is something I have to do by
myself.”  He gave her a kiss.

“Good luck,” She replied squeezing his hand.

As he was going out the back door he heard Caitlin
exclaim to Alethea, “Is Colin always so romantic?  That is so cool!”

Jeff was on his knees with his back towards Colin. 
When he heard Colin coming up behind him he asked, “Cait, could you get me that
three-pronged rake, please?”

“Cait’s talking to Alethea, but if you tell me where
it is I’ll get it.”

Jeff shot to his feet with several different emotions
crossing his face:  Shock, guilt, embarrassment, confusion, and relief and then
a hint of happiness.  “Colin!”  He looked away and muttered, “I’m afraid I
don’t know quite what to say.”

“Hello always works well for openers,” Colin
suggested.

Jeff nodded.  “Hello.  What are you doing here?”

“Since you didn’t seem to want to talk to me; I
thought I’d better come here and clarify things.”  He motioned towards the
front of the house.  “It’s probably a good thing I decided to come since you
seem to be moving.”

Jeff pulled off his gloves and brushed off his jeans. 
“Why don’t we sit down?”

They sat on the deck.  Jeff still appeared ill at
ease, clearing his throat and fiddling with his gloves.  “I’m going to get a
glass of iced tea.  Can I get you one, too, Colin?”

“Sure.”  Colin nodded.  Jeff was back in a few minutes
with the tea.  Colin sipped his tea slowly while eyeing Jeff who still appeared
uneasy.  “The reason we came today is because I need to know once and for all
where I stand with you.”  He shrugged.  “Actually, it was Elissa Rose’s birth
that started me thinking about our situation.”

“Who’s Elissa Rose?”

“She’s my new baby sister.”

“Amanda’s had another baby?”  His surprise was almost
comical.  “How are they?”

“They’re both fine and healthy.”

“Good.  Would you give your parents my
congratulations?”

“I will.”  Jeff fell silent again and Colin took the
plunge and remarked, “I guess you’re moving to New Orleans?”

Jeff looked up with a puzzled expression.  “No.  Cait
and I will be moving to San Francisco.  I’m transferring to the main office of
Transamerica and Cait’s been accepted at Berkeley.  We’ll be living with mom
and dad until we find a place.”  He smiled.  “We’re still discussing whether I
should buy a house or a condominium.  The money from this house and the sale of
our vacation home will be put in trust for my ex-wife and Dave.”

“Were you planning to contact me once you got settled
or not?”

“I asked mom and dad not to tell you we were moving
back because I didn’t want you getting your hopes up only to have them dashed
again.  I had no idea what I’d say to you or how I could ever apologize for the
horrible way I’ve been treating you.”

“You could say you’re sorry,” Colin suggested.  “That
usually works.”

“I am sorry, Colin!  I’m sorry for blaming you for
things I had no control over.”  Jeff shook his head.  “My therapist helped me
see I couldn’t hold myself responsible for the terrible things Dave and
Kathleen did.  They’re adults and I couldn’t control their actions even though
Kathleen was my wife and Dave’s my son.”

“Sounds like what Doctor Hughes told me,” Colin
commented.

“What made you think we were moving to New Orleans?”

He shrugged.  “I guess I figured you’d want to be near
your son.”

“Dave is my son and that’s never going to change, but
you’re my son, too.”  He hesitated for a second then continued, “Colin, I know
we’ve had a lot of hard feelings and conflict between us …”

“Not all of it’s been your fault.  I’ve certainly had
my moments!”

Jeff smiled faintly.  “Yes, but lately it’s been
entirely my doing.  I’d like another chance to know my eldest son and I promise
not to blow it this time!”

Colin smiled and held out his hand.  “I’d like that. 
You gave me another chance when I was acting like a dickhead so I figure you
deserve the same opportunity.”

Jeff took his hand.  “Thanks, Colin, thanks for giving
me this chance.”

Caitlin and Alethea suddenly appeared at the door. 
“Daddy?”  Caitlin said hesitantly.

Jeff smiled and motioned for them to come outside.  He
was anxious to tell Caitlin the good news.

“Is everything all right, Daddy?”  Caitlin asked
glancing from her father to Colin and back to her father.

“Everything’s wonderful, Cait!”

“Alethea wants to see the Mall of America so I thought
we could all go there together.”

“Sounds like fun to me,” Colin said.

“Me, too,” Jeff agreed, getting to his feet.  “Give me
about twenty minutes to get cleaned up and change my clothes and then we can
leave.”

“While you’re doing that, Daddy, I’m going to run a
comb through my hair and find my purse.”  She turned to Colin.  “If you don’t
mind, Colin, I’d like to introduce you to my best friend, Jemma, who’s also
your number one fan.”

“I’ll be happy to meet her,”

“Great!  She’ll be thrilled!  Caitlin exclaimed.  She
and Jeff disappeared into the house.

Alethea put her arms around Colin’s neck and smiled. 
“So, you and Jeff seem to have gotten things worked out pretty well.”

Colin nodded and smiled, too.  “Well, I think we’ve
taken a big step in the right direction.”

“I’m so happy for both of you!”

Colin gave her a hug and a passionate kiss.  “You
know, I’m happy for all of us!”

                                                   THE
END