CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE

CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE

Sarah POV

Sabrina had come home and asked why her suitcase was packed.

After pleading my case with her about going to her grandfathers earlier.

And a lot of grovelling for her to come with me.

We were finally on our way.

She had given me the whole speech about not being able to leave work and school.

I told her what was the difference between this weekend and next weekend.

She kindly let me know that the difference was that she had already told the people she needed to that it was next weekend and that she can’t just drop it on them at such short notice.

Which was a good argument.

On someone else.

But me being the smart ass I was.

I told her to just lie and tell them that her grandad wasn’t doing so well and that we needed to go down there sooner than expected.

I watched as she stood there pouting before me and finally give in to the defeat.

She made a few calls and here we were.

She had promised everyone that she would take her work with her and get it done while she was away.

And being the trustworthy kid she was they allowed it.

So, as you could imagine I was very pleased with the outcome.

Dad on the other hand had no Idea that we were coming early.

I imagine he was at work right now.

Sitting outside in his little security box in front of the Deans gate.

Protecting it with his life like he has done for the last 40 years.

I swear that man takes his job seriously.

So, as we make the 3-hour drive down to the Hamptons.

Or rather just outside of it.

I think about how my meeting with Alex will go.

And if he was ready for me to lay everything that has happened in the last 20 years on the table.

To be perfectly honest the only interesting thing that has happened to me is Sabrina.

She’s the reason I’m doing this in the first place.

She’s the only reason.

My dad’s been trying to get me to come back for years.

I was never ready before.

But I feel like now is as good a time as any.

I’m in a good place.

I’ve finally found some happiness and don’t feel so suffocated anymore.

I just hope I don’t fuck it up for her.

For Sabrina.

She needs this.

I need this.

And so does Alex in some really strange way.

They both need this.

As we get closer and closer towards the Deans house I notice a car behind me.

I can’t quiet see who the driver is, but his silhouette is telling me they are a man.

I carry on driving calmly not allowing Sabrina to become aware that there might be someone following us.

But I start to take a diverted route to see if they follow us.

They don’t.

Which makes me think that it’s just me.

I’m being paranoid.

Maybe coming back wasn’t such a good idea after all.

We make it to dad’s before long and the car that I thought was following us was sitting across the street.

Who was it?

Should I go over to them.

Find out who they were.

I didn’t need to the guy got out of the car.

And to my surprise it was Alex.

And he was storming towards us.

With a furious look on his face.

Well, this can’t be good.

Jericho POV

What was Alex fucking playing at.

Was he even thinking.

I knew he was angry, but this wasn’t the way to go about things.

Dennis had flown out of my car as soon as he heard the raised voices.

I was right behind him.

I can say this for him.

The old man was fast.

But I guess that happens when you feel your daughters in danger.

But he knew Alex wouldn’t hurt her.

Not even in his current state.

As I watch Dennis go charging into the house I walk closely behind him.

I knew this wasn’t going to end well for Alex.

And quite frankly I didn’t know why I was even here.

But a certain someone asked me to come make sure the dick doesn’t do something stupid so here I was.

God if I didn’t love her so much.

Alex is lucky because without Cassie backing his corner, I’d have left him to deal with Dennis on his own.

As me and Dennis both enter the house, we see a pissed off Sarah across from an angry Alex and a scared younger female in the corner with a look on her face which reads…

‘What the hell is going on here.’

And she was right to think that.

She didn’t know Alex was her father.

Or that her mother had kept it from her all these years.

With good reason I imagine.

I strode up to Alex and stood right in his face.

Looked him square in the eyes.

“What the fuck are you doing Alex?”

He looks at me.

“Jericho this has got nothing to do with you.”

“She owes me some fucking answers.”

“She can’t get away with this.”

“She just can’t Jericho.”

“It’s not fair.”

And without a moment’s hesitation the girl in the corner pops up and starts to ask some very good questions.

“Mum what’s going on?”

“Who are these men?”

Sarah turns to her and starts to sob.

She looks between her and Dennis.

“Grandad.”

Dennis hangs his head low.

She starts to get frustrated.

I see where she gets it from.

Maybe she was Alex’s daughter after all.

“Will somebody just tell me what is going on.”

Sarah and Dennis both look towards each other.

“She deserves to know sweetie.”

“They deserve to know.”

“It’s time.”

Sarah’s sobs start to become heavier.

She lifts her head and looks towards the ceiling.

“I always knew this day was going to come.”

“I just thought I had a little longer.”

The girl still as clueless as the rest of us.

“Mum what are you talking about.”

“What are you keeping hidden.”

Sarah turns ever sl slowly and starts walking towards the girl.

“Sabrina honey this is your father.”

The girl’s eyes widen, and her mouth drops open in shock.

Her hands instinctively cover her mouth, and tears start to well in her eyes.

Silence was upon the whole household.

No one dared say a word.

Awaiting the girls next words or actions.

“Sabrina say something.”

She stares at her mother.

“But you said…”

Sarah had some explaining to do.

I wanted to know what she had told her for 20 years.

“I know what I said.”

“But your old enough now.”

Dennis interrupts.

“You’re not a little girl anymore Sabby.”

I guess that was his cute little nickname for his granddaughter.

I swear all grandparents have them.

Or it’s just for their favourites.

Well, Sabby was not happy with either one of them.

Her face was a mixture of anger, sadness and loss.

Years not knowing who she was.

Sarah definitely had some major making up to do with her.

Alex tried getting around me.

I had forgotten in the moment of shock that I was still standing in front of him.

But as I feel him move, I grab his arm.

He looks towards me I shake my head.

He didn’t get the hint.

Ripped his arm out of my grip and carried on over to the three of them.

To my surprise though he didn’t head towards Dennis or Sarah.

He zoned in on Sabby.

He wanted to see his daughter.

Officially.

“Wait.”

Sabby suddenly called out.

Alex immediately stopped in his tracks.

“What is it.”

Sarah asked her.

She looked in mine and Alex’s direction.

“Which one.”

She asked.

We were all confused.

“Sweety what do you mean.”

Sarah asked again ever so delicately.

“You said he’s your father.”

“There are two of them.”

“Which one is my father.”

She was very perceptive.

But she had a point.

If I was her, I would be confused as well.

Nor Sarah or Dennis actually clarified which of us were her father.

I was sure Alex would have jumped at the chance in letting her know it was him.

But he just stands there.

Like a statue.

Not saying a word.

Sarah looks in our direction.

“He is.”

And points towards me.

I couldn’t believe it.

She must have been mistaken.

Maybe I was looking at the way she was pointing wrong.

Alex swiftly turns to me.

Anger written all over his face.

“What do you mean.”

“I thought I was the father.”

He growls.

“I’m sorry Alex.”

Sarah tells him.

“Sabrina this is your father.”

And starts walking her towards me.

Oh no.

This was not happening.

There was no way she could be mine.

As she got closer, I started to panic.

“Sarah stop messing around.”

“This isn’t funny.”

Sweat had started forming on my face.

“I’m sorry Jericho but it’s the truth.”

“Sabrina is your daughter.”

Holy fucking shit.

I had a daughter.

And upon this realisation all I could think about was Cassandra.