“Just so you know, I haven’t mentioned it to Mom.”

Something in Parker’s voice forced Brandon to ask, “But you will, right?”

“I don’t think that will be a wise thing to do at this point.”

Brandon didn’t like the sound of that. Chances were Bonita would be home since she rarely left the house on Sundays. And, for that matter she was rarely sober after lunchtime, as well. “And why not, Parker? I’ve been totally up front with Cassie since she discovered our association and I’m not going to have her start doubting my word or intentions about anything. If Bonita will be at dinner tomorrow, before I agree to bring Cassie, I need a good reason why you won’t be telling Bonita she’s coming. That wouldn’t be fair to either of them.” He knew Cassie could hold her own against anyone, but in this particular situation, he felt she shouldn’t be placed in a position where she had to.

For the next ten minutes Parker explained to Brandon why he’d made the decision he had, and after discussing it with his siblings, they felt Bonita being caught unaware would be the right approach to use. “That might be the right approach for Bonita, but what about Cassie? I can see an ugly scene exploding, one I don’t like and wouldn’t want to place her in.”

Brandon rubbed his hand down his face. “I’m going to tell her, Parker, and explain things to her the way you have explained them to me. It’s going to be her decision as to whether or not she still wants to come.”

“And I agree she should know, which is the reason I wanted to talk to you. So when will you tell her?”

Brandon sighed deeply. “I’d rather wait until in the morning. I don’t want anything to ruin the plans I have for dinner,” he said, fighting for control of his voice. He still wasn’t sure not telling Bonita was the right thing, although he understood Parker’s reason for it.

“Please inform me of Cassie’s decision one way or the other,” Parker said. “If she doesn’t want to join us for dinner at the Garrison Estate tomorrow evening, then we can all get together and take her out somewhere else. Mom will wonder why we’re not eating Sunday dinner at her place though, so either way, she’s going to find out Cassie’s in town and that we’ve made contact with her. I just think it’s best if we all stand together and face Mom as a united front.”

“I understand, Parker, but like I said, it will be Cassie’s decision.”

Nine

Frowning, Cassie stared over at Brandon. “What do you mean Bonita Garrison doesn’t know I was invited to dinner?”

Brandon sighed. He had known she would not like the news Parker had delivered yesterday. “Considering everything, the Garrison siblings felt it would be best if she didn’t know,” he explained.

From where he was standing, with his shoulder propped against the bookshelves in his library, he could tell that Cassie, who was sitting on a sofa, was confused by that statement.

“But it’s her house, right?” she asked, as if for clarification.

“Yes, it’s her house.”

“Then am I to assume she’s out of town or something and won’t be there?”

“No, you aren’t to assume that.” He saw the defiant look in her eyes, a strong indication as to what direction this conversation was going.

“Then I think you need to tell me what’s going on, Brandon.”

He sighed again, more deeply this time. What he needed was a drink, but that would have to come later. He really did owe her an explanation. Straightening, he crossed the room to sit beside her on the sofa. His gaze locked on her face when he said, “Bonita Garrison is an alcoholic and has been for years. She’s always had a drinking problem and John’s will only escalated the condition. Like I told you before, considering the state of their marriage, I think she had an idea he was having an affair, but she didn’t know anything about you. That was one well-kept secret.”

Cassie’s frown deepened. “Have any of her children suggested that she seek professional help?”

“Yes, countless times. I understand John even did so, but for the longest she wouldn’t acknowledge she had a problem. She still hasn’t.”

Cassie nodded. “But what does that have to do with me? Wouldn’t seeing me in her home uninvited, the person who is living proof of her husband’s unfaithfulness, push her even more over the edge?”

He reached for her hand. “Parker and the others are hoping it doesn’t. Their relationship with her is strained and has been for some time. I’m talking years, Cassie. They’d decided, and unanimously I might add, that they want to meet you, build relationships with you, include you in the family mix, and they refused to sneak behind their mother’s back to do so. They believe it’s time to mend the fences and move on, and want Bonita to see that as a united group they plan to do just that, with or without her blessings.”

He chuckled. “I’ve known those Garrisons most of my life and this is the first time they’ve ever been in complete agreement about anything.”

Brandon got quiet for a moment and then said in a serious tone, “John would be proud of them. And knowing the type of man he was, a man who loved his children unconditionally, I want to believe that had he lived, he would have eventually gotten all of you together. He was a man who would have made it happen.”

His words had Cassie staring at him thoughtfully. What he’d said was true. She believed that, as well. She had learned about her siblings’ existence from her father, and she had known he had loved them as much as he had loved her. He had said so a number of times.

“But…” she said, frowning still. “What if things get ugly?”

“And there’s a possibility that they might,” he said honestly, needing to make her aware of that fact. “But Parker wants you to know that no matter what, they intend to finally bring things to a head, a forced-feeding intervention, so to speak.”

Cassie inhaled a deep breath. She just hoped Parker and the others were right. The last thing she wanted was to be responsible for Bonita Garrison getting pushed over the edge. But then her children knew her better than anyone and Cassie was sure that no matter how strained their relationship, that they loved their mother. And if they felt what they had planned for this afternoon was the right approach to use then she would trust their judgment.

She met Brandon’s gaze. “Okay, thanks for telling me.”

“Are you still going?”

“Yes. I’m going.” After a moment, she asked, “You will be there, too, right?”

A smile touched the corners of his lips. “Yes, I was invited, as well, and I will be there,” he said. Tugging on the hand he still held he pulled her closer to him and whispered, “But even if I weren’t invited I would still be there, Cassie. You would not be alone.”

Cassie glanced around when Brandon brought the car to a stop in front of the massive and impressive Spanish-style villa that was the Garrison Estate. Everywhere she looked she saw a beauty that was spellbinding. From the brick driveway to the wide stucco stairs that led to the entrance, she thought there weren’t many words that could be used to describe the house that could sufficiently do it justice.

She inhaled a reverent breath in knowing this is where her father had lived, the place he considered home when he wasn’t in the Bahamas with her and her mom. And even now a part of her could feel his presence. What Brandon had said earlier that day was true. Her father would want his offspring to meet.

“You’ve gotten quiet on me. Are you okay?”

She glanced over at Brandon, hearing the concern in his voice. From the moment his plane had landed in Miami, he had been attentive, considerate of her well-being and so forthcoming with his affection. More than once she’d had to stop and remind herself that his affection had nothing to do with love, but was a result of his kindness. There was a natural degree of warmth and caring about him. Those were just two of the things that had drawn her to him from the first.

“Yes, I’m okay. I was just thinking about Dad and how much I loved him and how much I miss him, and how today I can feel his presence more so than ever.”

“And you never resented him for having another family besides you and your mom?”

“I never resented Dad, but when I was a lot younger, after having found out he was a married man with another family, for a long time I resented them. In my mind, whenever he would leave me and Mom it would be to return here to them. I never gave thought to the fact that whenever he was in the Bahamas with me and Mom, he wasn’t with them, either. I was too possessive of him in my life to even care.”

“But now?”

“But now I want to believe that somehow he was able to give all six of us equal time, special time, as special as he was,” she said softly.

“I think he did,” Brandon said in a quiet tone. “I believe he knew what each of his kids needed and gave it to them. He was an ingrained part of each of their lives and they loved him just as much as you did.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Do you think that even now? After finding out he’d had a long-term affair while married to their mother? You don’t think that love was tarnished because of it?”

Brandon shook his head. “No. Adam is the only one I’ve spoken to in depth about it, basically to garner his personal feelings. He said they all knew their parents’ marriage was on the rocks for years. Bonita’s abuse of alcohol led to a friction that couldn’t be mended.”

Cassie nodded, then dragged in a deep breath and said, “It’s time we go inside, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Nervous?”

“I would be lying if I were to say no. But I can handle it.”

Brandon chuckled as he unbuckled his seat belt. “Cassie Sinclair-Garrison, I think you can handle just about anything.”

He exited the car and came around to open her door for her, admiring what she was wearing. Although it was the middle of fall, the weather was warm and the sky was clear and she was casually dressed in a pair of black slacks and a velvet plum blouse. The outfit not only brought out the natural beauty of her skin coloring, but added a touch of exuberance to her brown eyes, as well. She smiled at him.