CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 

Robert sat on the beach and stared over at Phillipa’s house. He could see Floyd hurrying toward their property with something in his hand. He waved and Floyd waved back, grinning.

“Where is Diana?” he shouted.

Floyd paused and then shouted back. “Probably in her room.”

Robert and Diana had traveled back to Negril in silence because she had refused to speak to him. It was hard to understand how a day could start out so beautifully and end in such a muddle. He had never thought about incest before, and then suddenly there it was rearing its ugly head. He waited to feel dirty, as Diana said she did, but what he felt was panic that he was losing the woman he loved. In a few short weeks he had become so thoroughly wrapped up in Diana that he couldn’t fathom life without her. If she were indeed his sister, it would be a cruel twist of fate.

He closed his eyes and tried to remember his childhood before the Cassidys, but nothing came to mind. Does anybody really remember the things they said and did at the age of three? He doubted it. The earliest memory he had was driving to the beach with his dad with the top of the car down. He could also remember Gordy, the three-legged dog he had at age five.

He opened his eyes and gave up. This was futile; he would have to call Finch and ask him to investigate his background, as well as Flynn's. Perhaps the investigations would overlap, or maybe not. Until then, Diana would not want to have anything to do with him, and he was not sure he could live with that.

What if she really is your sister, could you live with that? Could you really respond to her now in a brotherly fashion after all that you two have done together? the little voice at the back of his head niggled. You have seen her naked, caressed her body and watched her in the throes of passion. Can you really think of her as a sister?

He got up and ran into the sea. The water covered him completely, but the voice was still not drowned out by the pounding of the surf. What will you do?

 

*****

“Hon, where’ve you been?” Robert’s mother was waiting at his bungalow. She had on a long sundress, a hat, and sunglasses to ward off the sun.

“On the beach,” he replied, smiling at her.

“Well, Finch has been calling you.” She gave him a handful of messages.

“I gave him your cell phone number, but he keeps calling the house.”

Robert laughed. “Probably to hear your voice.”

Theresa grimaced. “I will not dignify that comment with an answer. Come here.”

He walked up to her reluctantly. She seemed as if she was in a mushy mood.

“Mommy loves you.” She kissed his forehead and ruffled his hair.

It made him feel nostalgic; it was something that she would do quite often in his childhood. He grinned. “I love you too, Mom.”

“I love you more than any biological parent ever could,” she said to him seriously and tousled his hair again. “I know that Diana is searching for her family, but don’t let it get to you.”

He frowned. “I never wanted to know until now. She thinks I am related to McTaggert.” He wasn’t ready to tell his mother about Diana’s suspicions that they were brother and sister; it would upset her too much.

His mother shrugged. “So what? What will that knowledge do for you now?” He glanced at her expression. Underneath the statement was a look of vulnerability, but he knew she was just fearful that someone else could lay claim to him.

“Nothing, Mom.” He then hugged her and headed inside. “I will see you later.”

Finch had called every fifteen minutes! Robert glanced at the messages and cursed the detective. He knew very well that he did not live with his parents and that he had planned to go to Hanover today. The beastly man was probably trying to flirt with his mother as he had jokingly said. He dialed Finch’s number and waited.

“Finch here,” he answered the phone gruffly.

“Robert Cassidy.”

“Oh Robert, I called to let you know that Derrick, the pastor, has taken a keen interest in the family being reunited, and he is planning a family get-together. I gave him the names of the other siblings and their locations, for a small fee of course.”

“What about Flynn? Have you found him yet?”

Finch snorted. “I tell you, those McTaggerts are still tight-lipped about the boy. I know they are hiding something. I can feel it. Every time I talk to the wife she clams up when I mention Flynn and has a guilty look on her face. McTaggert point blank refuses to talk to me. Nobody in the town knows of any Flynn. It's as if the boy never was. Mr. Robert, this thing is fishy.”

“Thanks, Finch,” Robert said, disappointed. “Call me on my cellphone if you hear anything.”

“Will do,” Finch said and hung up.

So, Diana would be getting her family reunion after all. Robert looked at the phone contemplatively. If he went with her, it might be more complete than either of them had ever bargained for. He sighed. What he needed was a shower and a distraction from the unrelenting thoughts that kept spinning in his head.