Part 33
Dinner was more entertaining than a Backstreet concert. Stormy’s step-mother spent the first twenty minutes putting the moves on AJ who did his best to ignore her. When her advances didn’t work, she tried stealing the attention from ‘Stormy’. It was quite clear that Teresa was jealous of her. Everyone wanted ‘Stormy’s’ attention from Dr. Troy all the way to Teresa’s three year old daughter. The last part of dinner was Teresa’s temper tantrum which once again, everyone ignored. Yes, dinner was quite entertaining.
As the nanny gathered Dr. Troy’s children, Stormy gave each one a hug and promised to see them the next day. They insisted on a hug from AJ too and he gladly obliged. Next was Stormy’s mother and as the two talked, Dr. Troy pulled AJ to the side.
“I got an interesting phone call while I was getting ready to come back up here.”
AJ raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Danni’s brother called me.”
“Ricky? I thought you two hadn’t spoken…”
“In sixteen years. No, we haven’t but we DO have a common bond.”
AJ looked at Stormy as she talked to her mother and sister. “Stormy?”
“He wants her to call him as soon as possible.”
“I’ll tell her.”
“I’m concerned, Alex.”
“Why’s that, Dr. Troy?”
“We haven’t spoken
in sixteen years and he suddenly calls trying to locate his sister.”
Alex knew what Dr. Troy was trying to do. “Dr. Troy, please don’t put me in this position. Stormy trusts me.”
“So there is more than what she told us last week?”
“Yes sir.”
“And you’re not going to tell me?”
“No sir. I told you, Stormy trusts me and I’m not going to betray her.”
“If she’s in danger, I’d like to know and can you protect her?”
“I have a bodyguard but why are you worried?”
“Since Danni hasn’t told me the whole story, I’ve come up with my own. My first wife was from Puerto Rico and her father had some rather questionable business dealings. We were in Puerto Rico when Danni disappeared and I know she was with Ricky for the last year. I figure Ricky was in Puerto Rico, working with his grandfather, and now she’s in danger because of him.”
Alex remained silent, willing himself not to let his expressions betray how close Dr. Troy was to the truth. “That’s kind of a stretch, isn’t it?”
“Is it? How did he pay me back so quickly? Why is he trying to find her now?”
“She did call him the night you came to Orlando…to let him know she was okay.”
“Did you listen to the conversation?”
“No, it was a private conversation. If you have these concerns, why don’t you talk to Ricky or Stormy?”
“Ricky made it perfectly clear that he doesn’t want to patch things up and Danni isn’t going to tell me anything about her brother. It’s up to you.”
“Up to me to do what?”
“To look out for her….to protect her.”
Stormy joined her father and AJ putting her arm around AJ. “What are you two looking so serious about over here?”
“Just talking about some of my concerns, sweetheart. What time are you two going to be at the house tomorrow?”
“I don’t know. Depends on what time we wake up. I’ll call before we come out.”
Dr. Troy looked at his daughter and shook his head. “In all the years you stayed silent, I tried to imagine what you would be like if you had talked. I wondered what you would be like if you ever decided to talk. I NEVER imagined you being so self-assured.”
“One of the benefits of being quiet for so long was watching other people. I learned a lot from you, Mama, my friends. There was also the year I was with Ricky….he taught me a lot too.”
“I’m just happy to have you back and to hear you talking. The most beautiful sound was hearing you say Daddy again.”
Alex pulled Stormy closer to him as he said, “I COMPLETELY understand that feeling. I enjoyed playing golf with you today, Dr. Troy.”
Dr. Troy smirked, “I have to apologize for my wife’s actions. She’s just a tad flirtatious.”
“A tad?” snarked Stormy. “Daddy, I’ve watched her ‘flirt’ with every man she’s EVER come in contact with…INCLUDING your partner.”
Dr. Troy sighed. “Danni, please behave. You’ve never hidden your feelings for her even when you didn’t talk.”
Giving her father a kiss, she said, “I promise, Daddy….for you. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’d like for you to be there by mid-morning….so you can apologize to Carlotta.”
“Yes sir.”
Saying good-night, everyone parted company and AJ led Stormy to their room, thoughts of her brother shoved aside. He fully intended to spend the night making love to her without any interruptions.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
