The next morning, Dex woke up and before he showered for the day, he called his dad’s cell. Better to know what he was in for today prior to getting ready.
To his surprise, Lizzie answered. “Hello?”
“Hi, Lizzie. It’s Dex. How are you?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. I know you called your dad but he’s outside on a ladder changing a light bulb above the garage,” she said.
Dex pinched the bridge of his nose. “What happened to the handyman you hired to fix some things around the house to make Dad’s life easier?”
“Your father said—”
“He can do it himself,” they repeated at the same time.
Dex groaned. “Listen, is it okay if I come over in a couple of hours?” Obviously, this was the perfect time to talk to his dad about his and his siblings’ concerns about his heart and overdoing activity.
“Of course,” Lizzie said. “Oh! Bring that lovely girl, Samantha, that Fallon told me about. Your father and I want to meet her.”
Dex hesitated then realized his dad might take the criticism better if he brought Samantha and just mentioned his concerns rather than confronting him straight out.
“I’ll see if she’s free to come.”
“Wonderful! Let me know and if she can, I’ll make lunch.” Her voice rose in excitement. “And, Dex?”
“Yes?” he asked.
“I know you’re coming to talk to your father, and I appreciate it. I’m so worried about him.”
Knowing he was doing the right thing, the vise squeezing Dex’s chest eased. “We’re all worried. It’s my turn to try and make him see reason.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
They said their goodbyes and he called Samantha. He was about to hang up, disappointed, when he heard her voice. “Dex!” she panted his name.
“Hey, beautiful. Am I interrupting something?”
“I just got out of the shower. What’s up?” she asked, obviously unaware she’d just put visions of water dripping over her perfect skin into his head.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his cock in his boxer briefs. “I wondered if you wanted to take a ride to my father’s house in Old Brookville. I need to talk to my dad and could use the moral support.”
“You’re going to talk to your father about pushing too hard, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Yeah. When I called earlier he was up on a ladder changing an outdoor garage light.” He cringed at the thought of what could have happened if he’d fallen.
“Oh no!” Samantha said. “Of course I’ll come with you. I’m sure it won’t be easy to remind him he needs to slow down. What time should I be ready?”
He breathed out a sigh of relief. The conversation wouldn’t be easy and having her there would help. “Thanks, beautiful. I’ll pick you up around eleven. It takes about an hour and ten minutes without traffic. Lizzie, my dad’s girlfriend, said she’d make lunch.”
“Great. Can we stop on the way so I can pick up dessert?” Samantha asked.
“Sure thing,” he said.
His father and Lizzie were going to love her.
* * *
The long ride to Dex’s father’s house gave Samantha plenty of time to overthink. Of course, she wanted to be his emotional support while talking to his dad about slowing down. No man, or woman for that matter, wanted to hear they couldn’t keep up with their normal activities. She understood why Dex was hesitant about the conversation.
Samantha worried about meeting his father and girlfriend. Being by his side and supporting him through something so emotional might lead them to assume she and Dex were a couple. But a friend would definitely be by Dex’s side, too, and that’s how she had to think of them.
Dex pulled up to a beautiful home set far back from the road. An explosion of peonies, petunias, hydrangeas, and other flowers Samantha couldn’t name brought a variety of pinks to life outside the house between the green shrubbery.
“Here we are.” He gestured with one arm as he cut the engine.
“It’s beautiful.” The massive colonial house was nothing like her mother’s Florida home because theirs was a pale yellow stucco but it was equally as large.
She could imagine Dex and his siblings roughhousing on the front lawn… and then remembered they’d moved here at least three or four years after their mom died, having lived with their father’s parents while Alexander Sterling grieved the loss of his wife, and the kids their mother. But there were four boys, so she decided they’d definitely played around on this grass or in the backyard she hadn’t yet seen.
“Come on. I’m sure Lizzie’s waiting.” He climbed out and walked around to her side, opening the door and extending a hand to help her out.
Together, they strode up the path to the front door where a pretty woman and a good-looking man met them on the outside porch.
“Dex! It’s good to see you.” His father stepped forward and pulled him into a hug, patting him on the back.
“Hey, Dad.” Dex stepped back. “Lizzie,” he said, kissing the woman on the cheek. “This is Samantha Dare.” Reaching back, Dex clasped her hand and pulled her parallel with him.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Samantha said. “I brought a cake from my favorite bakery.” She extended the box and Lizzie accepted it.
“Perfect! We’ll have some after lunch. Though you didn’t need to come with anything. You taking the trip here with Dex is enough.”
Lizzie held the cake in one hand and hooked an arm into Samantha’s. “We’re going to the kitchen. You two hang out. I’ll call you when lunch is ready,” she said.
Samantha walked through the house, taking in the modern feel. Along the way to the kitchen, she passed gorgeous canvas paintings with pops of stark color that stood out. “I love these,” she said, pointing to one in particular.
“Oh, Fallon made that one along with all the others hanging in the house. You should stop by the gallery where she works and check out her paintings,” Lizzie said with pride. Though Fallon wasn’t her daughter, it was clear Lizzie considered her family.
Once they were settled in the kitchen, a room large enough to cook for and hold the whole family, Lizzie pulled up a chair by the table and invited Samantha to sit.
“I hope you don’t mind that I pulled you in here. I want Dex to have time to talk to Alex about overdoing things,” Lizzie said.
Samantha shook her head. “Of course not. Dex told me he needed to have a word with his dad.”
“I don’t know if Dex mentioned it, but his father had a mild heart attack almost one year ago and the doctors warned Alex about his diet and activity. He’s supposed to do mild walking and exercise but he doesn’t understand the word mild. He’s been going to work most days and staying late. The man’s going to give me a heart attack if he doesn’t relax,” Lizzie said with a chuckle but Samantha sensed the seriousness behind the words.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Lizzie asked.
“No, thanks. I’m fine for now.”
Lizzie rose to her feet. “Well, I could use a glass of ice water. I’m thirsty.” She walked to a cabinet and took out a glass, then filled it with water at the Sub-Zero fridge. “Dex tells me you’re from a large family, too?”
“Oh, yes. I grew up with five siblings. Three brothers and two sisters.” She debated going further then decided, why not? “I also have three half-siblings.”
“Well, then. The size of this table isn’t a shock for you.”
She laughed. “Not at all.”
Lizzie grew silent and Samantha assumed she was worrying about what Dex was saying to his dad.
* * *
Dex followed his father through the house and out the back door to the pool deck in the backyard. Alex sat down on his favorite recliner and Dex pulled up a chair next to him, looking out over the hedges separating their property from the neighbors’.
“Right through that hedge is the path where I used to sneak through to come over.” His parents would be arguing and nobody would realize a five-year-old was missing until Gloria called and let them know.
His father laughed. “Gloria always set an extra seat for you.”
Dex leaned forward, hands clasped together. “You have no idea how much I appreciated it.”
“I think I do.” His father met his gaze, a serious look in his eyes.
This was his chance. “You’ve always been there for me and I’m grateful.”
His father slapped his knee. “Because you’re as much my son as Remy, Aiden, or Jared.”
“And we love you and don’t want to lose you before it’s time because you’re too stubborn to listen to your doctor.” He swiped his sunglasses off his head and placed them over his eyes.
Alex was a good-looking, strong, and solidly built man, who didn’t look at all like he’d had a heart attack last year. Which was probably why he found it difficult to listen to the cardiologist and relax more. Despite his health scare.
“Lizzie and your sister worry too much.”
“It’s not just the women, Dad. We’re all worried about you. We saw you in the hospital bed and you were weak, and it scared us. You have control of your future. Just listen to the doctors, dammit.” Dex braced his hands on the arms of the chair and rose, shoving the seat back.
He paced the patio, sweating beneath the sun, trying to decide whether or not his father deserved for him to pull out the emotional big guns. So to speak.
“Son, do you have any idea what it’s like to be monitored? To feel like a child being told what I can and cannot do because I’m getting older?”
Dex drew a deep breath. “Not exactly. But I know what it’s like to have to retire when my body can’t keep up with the younger players and I know what it’s like to lose my parents. Then my second mother. And I do not want to lose you just because you’re being stubborn or feeling like a child. Nobody can handle that loss, Dad. Not when it’s preventable!” The words exploded from him and he couldn’t bring himself to regret them.
Alex sucked in a shocked breath, then pushed himself to his feet. “Dex.”
Turning, he faced the man who’d raised him, was the role model he’d needed since he was a young boy, and most of all, who loved him. “I should have been nicer about how I said that. But you know it’s true.”
Alex walked over and put an arm around his shoulders. “Point made. I’ll watch myself.”
Dex nodded, his shoulders sagging in relief. “While we’re putting truths out there, I have a question. Something I’ve been wondering since my parents’ accident.”
“What is it?”
He ran a hand over his face. “I heard the police talking that night. About the witness who said my mother was reaching for the steering wheel?”
“Damn.”
“I ran before I could hear more and drew my own conclusions. Were they arguing? Is that what the witness saw?” Maybe if he asked, he could avoid those nightmares in the future.
“Let’s sit.”
He followed his father back to the chairs and they took their seats. “Yes. The woman who witnessed the accident said it looked like the couple was arguing, but let’s face it. She wasn’t in the vehicle. She couldn’t be sure.”
Dex shook his head. “They were definitely fighting. There wasn’t a time when they weren’t. Why do you think I came here so often before they passed away?” He gestured to the hedges. “I needed the peace I found here. Even with all the kids, it was a happy loudness I didn’t find at home.”
“I’m glad we could give you that. Even before you became ours.”
“So give me something. And I know you’ve already given me everything, but I’m asking for one more thing when it comes to your health and well-being.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I’ll take care of myself, son. I’ll change my habits and listen to the doctors. I promise.”
Dex let out a relieved, long breath. “Thanks, Dad. That means the world.” He couldn’t wait to text his siblings to relieve their stress, too.
He wondered if it was ironic that it was the adopted son who’d gotten through to Alex, then shook his head. He was just as much a Sterling as any of his other brothers or Fallon. He just happened to have the right words at the right time.
“Why don’t we go inside and enjoy Lizzie’s lunch. I’m sure it’s healthy.”
Dex chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll be thrilled to know Samantha brought a heart-healthy carrot cake.” He rose from his seat and glanced at his dad. “And no, you cannot have it à la mode.”
“I suppose I should get used to hearing things like that.” Alex sighed and they headed back to the house.