Dick produced a piece of paper out of his briefcase and handed it to Amadeus. I peered over his shoulder in an attempt to read what was on the paper.
“Evidently she carried this in her wallet.”
The paper was neatly typed. The contents stated that if anything were to happen to her to contact Amadeus. He was the biological father of her son, Logan. This was all real now. The young boy had a name.
Dick informed Amadeus that, if Amadeus was willing to submit to a DNA test, so would the boy. Dick was pretty adamant about Amadeus doing this. At first Amadeus agreed, but upon seeing the boy as he lay in his hospital bed a few minutes later, Amadeus saw no need for it. He did it anyway just to appease his attorney.
The nurse led us into Logan’s hospital room. He looked so helpless lying there in a room by himself. He was asleep, medicated, the nurse told us, for the pain. Logan was a younger version of Amadeus. Damn! What was it about the Tudor genes?
We stood there for a few minutes in silence, standing in disbelief before Amadeus motioned me out of the room. He followed me out to the hall. He grabbed my hand and led me back to a small group of chairs near the nurses’ station. We were waiting on one of the doctors to come and give us a progress report. Dick was on the phone in a corner of the room.
A young doctor came and sat with us as he explained Logan’s various injuries. The boy had gotten off light compared to what the rest of his family succumbed to. The doctor said he figured it was because Logan had been asleep at the time of the accident. He could come home with us in a few days. They wanted to keep him more for observation than anything else.
The next couple of hours were a blur as we signed papers with family and children’s services, the hospital, and countless others. Amadeus would have to go through formal proceedings to become Logan’s legal guardian. That was the reason for the woman from children’s services being part of it. The only relative Amadeus did learn of was a drug addicted uncle, a brother to the boy’s mother, whom Logan’s mother had indicated was never to have anything to do with the boy. Dick promised Amadeus he would get the paperwork pushed through as fast as he could.
Finally, Logan was awake and we joined him. He stared at Amadeus in wide-eyed amazement. Quietly he told Amadeus that his mother had told him a couple of years before who his biological father was and that if anything was to ever happen to her, he was to find Amadeus.
That evening, after going out and getting Logan’s favorite fast food meal, some reading material, and other necessities a young boy might need, I returned to the hospital room to find him and Amadeus in deep conversation.
“Here you go, Logan. I think I got everything.” I passed him the fast food bag and placed the remaining items on the bed table.
“Cool. Thanks, Zara,” he replied timidly.
“I told Logan we’d be back first thing in the morning. He understands he’s coming home to live with us, Zara. I told him to be prepared for Elizabeth.” He chuckled, taking my hand.
“Oh, yes, Elizabeth will become your instant best friend, Logan. I’m sure she’ll be quite fascinated with your cast. But Amadeus is right. We need to let you get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll be back in the morning.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything or just want to talk,” Amadeus told him, noticing the boy obviously didn’t want to be alone. “We’ll be back before you know it, Logan. Zara’s right, you need to get a good night’s sleep. It helps with the healing process they say.”
Once we arrived at the condo, and Destiny left, I headed to Elizabeth’s room to check on her. She was sound asleep. This was the first time I hadn’t been with her for her nightly ritual. I was sure it wouldn’t be the last.
I found Amadeus stretched out on a leather sofa, a glass full of whiskey. It had been a long and hard day.
“Zara, I’m going to call Angus and Damien and tell them I’m sitting these last concerts out. I need to be here helping you with Logan. It isn’t fair to you to expect you to do it alone.”
“Amadeus, you know I’m perfectly capable…”
“I know you are, but I should be here. Damian and Angus can handle it.”
“You’re absolutely sure?”
“Yes. There are some times when even I have to put my family first.” The corners of his mouth curved up as he grinned at the thought. He took a long drink off of his whiskey.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No, you’ve done more than needed as usual, Zara. Thank you.”
“Well, sleep on it. It’s not that many dates, and we can come and see you when you’re close by, and I believe there will be a couple that are within driving distance.”
“Okay, madam manager. I’ll sleep on it.”
The following morning Destiny returned to watch Elizabeth once more. She had a dental appointment in the late afternoon, and I assured her that we’d be back by then. Elizabeth was not happy over the two of us leaving her again, and I had to coax Amadeus to leave her. He hated seeing her unhappy.
In the car, I mentioned to him that as how the doctors had cut Logan’s clothes off, I thought we should stop by and purchase just the bare necessities. But, of course, Amadeus had other plans. He wanted to run it by Logan so we got the correct sizes and didn’t bring back something that might embarrass him.
We found Logan sitting up in a chair next to his bed watching cartoons. He looked in far better shape than he had the day before. He was all smiles when he saw the two of us walk through the doorway.
After talking for a while, Amadeus started asking him about clothes, sizes and such. He rattled off what he preferred. When it came to his pants size, however, Amadeus peered at him in disbelief.
“Logan, if you think you’re going to tell me that’s your jeans size, you’re mistaken. That’s almost large enough for two of me!”
The boy began cackling. He knew he’d been caught. He finally gave his correct size and brand preference.
“That’s what I thought,” Amadeus chided. “‘Cause if you think you’re going to go out with your pants hanging off your hips and your butt crack showin’, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying, can you?” A sheepish grin came across his face. Damn! He looked like a teenage Amadeus. Just as Amadeus looked when I first met him, only he was a few years older.
“No. But don’t think that Zara or I are pushovers.”
I took it as my cue to go shopping and leave the two of them alone to get to know each other better. I dug inside my pocketbook and tossed Logan a t-shirt from the reunion tour.
“Do you think that’ll do to go home in?” I asked. “We’ll take you shopping later.”
“No, this is fine. Cool.”
“Good. Now while you two conspire to take over the world, I’ll go see if I can’t find you a couple of pairs of jeans and things. Just until we can take you shopping…”
Amadeus slid his arm around my waist and kissed me softly on the cheek and lips. My cue to leave. I sighed, then turned and headed towards the bank of elevators. Knowing nothing was within easy walking distance, I hiked back to the SUV and headed out to one of the huge independent retailers that dotted the Seattle area.
Grabbing a cart, I pulled my list out of my purse and began to read. Underwear, I had written. Amadeus had crossed the word out and written boxers. I smiled to myself that he was already protecting Logan from a new to teenage boy’s step-mom and her errors. I found the piles of jeans laid out, double checking to make sure I had the right brand and finally found two pairs in Logan’s size.
One last look at the list. Flip flops. Made sense, better than trying to purchase a pair of shoes he wouldn’t like. I found two pairs of flip flops, a pair I liked and a pair I knew he would like. I dropped them into the cart. I cruised the aisles for items I knew we needed at home and to give the two of them time alone.
Finding the toddler clothing section, I found a few things I couldn’t resist fo
r Elizabeth. She was growing like a weed, quickly outgrowing her clothes, and she wasn’t even a year old.
Still I wondered about Logan’s mom and who she was. How she fit into Amadeus’s past. Oh, sure, he claimed he didn’t remember her, but did he really? Back then I was all business, working my tail off trying to promote and get Amadeus and Tudor Rose’s name and music into everyone’s life. I was his manager and promoter, not his keeper.
Finally, tired of having to procrastinate, I found a register and paid for all my items. As I took them from the cart and laid them in the back of the SUV, I held back the items I’d purchased for Logan. I stuck those in the back seat behind me and headed back to the hospital.
Amadeus
How could I have not known about Logan? I realize I was younger and way into the rock star mode of life, but to not know I’d fathered a child. Worse yet, I seriously did not remember Logan’s mother. Even when he showed me a photo of the two of them together she didn’t ring any bells or wave any flags. Not wanting to hurt Logan’s feelings, I lied and told him I remembered her. I also told him it had been many years ago.
Most women would have gone off the deep end, but not Zara. She’s always been there for me. My rock. No matter what’s gone on in my life or our life, she’s always been there for me. Even long before we were ever together as a couple.
Now, once again she’s gracefully allowing my son, by another woman, to come live with us. Zara never bats an eye. She just reboots and reorganizes our life to accommodate whatever has to be done.
Damien had offered to make a real estate swap with Zara and me. His island home and acreage for the condo in Seattle. The compound holds too many memories and he’s right, it’s too much for him alone to keep up. Zara and I have discussed the transaction, going as far as to find out the legalities. She’s willing to do it provided we go in and do some remodeling to the inside of the house. If that’s what it takes to make her comfortable in the house, then we’ll do it.
Having Logan, the swap seems like it was meant to be. Zara and I had agreed the condo was no place to raise young children. We thought we were going to have a few years, to kick back in Scotland or wherever until Elizabeth was ready for school. Now it looks like things have been bumped up a few years.
We discussed Scotland, and both of us felt that making the adjustment to living with two virtual strangers as well as grieving for his mother and brother were more than enough for a twelve year old. It would be cruel for us to take him from the only area he’d ever known and plop him down in a foreign country. No, we can all visit Scotland in the summer. Peter’s left the door wide open as to whatever we decide, and it was fine by him.
Of course let’s not forget the huge mess Julia and Don Roberts left everyone with. Thank God for Zara and her experience. She’s at least gotten it all under control. Everything is taken care of and all we’re committed to is finishing the tour out. The attorneys and cops have everything else handled.
There is talk of the three of us recording together. It will happen, after the tour, after Julia’s mess is behind us—or at a safe distance in the rear view mirror. Damien, Angus, and me? We’ve been writing, plenty of it during the first leg, and a few times since our return to Seattle.
Chapter Nine
Zara
Amadeus and I needed to sit down and discuss some things. Like where we’re going to live now. Now that Logan had come into our lives. It no longer was like it had been with a baby. Until she was of school age, we were pretty much free to live where we wanted. I found out where Logan had gone to school. I needed to know in order to obtain his school records when it came time. Scotland or Seattle…what a choice.
I was also a bit curious about Logan’s mother and what Amadeus remembered…really remembered. Thirteen years ago, I was managing his fledgling band. A lifetime ago. He was a wild young buck, as most young men are. True, Amadeus and I were attracted to each other even then, but I maintained a professional relationship with him. I didn’t want to pry; I simply wanted to see what he might remember about her.
Upon returning home, Amadeus met me at the front door and informed me that he and Logan just ordered pizza for dinner for Logan’s first night with us. They were trying to make things easy on me after I had been out most of the day.
In the privacy of our bedroom later that evening, I decided I would take advantage of Amadeus’s good mood and try to discuss Logan’s mother and our living plans.
“Amadeus there’s a couple of things we need to discuss and start thinking about,” I began, hard as it was to do with him trying to nuzzle my neck.
“Later, Zara.”
“No, not later. We don’t have the privacy we did before. Especially when it comes to talking.”
He let out a groan and threw himself back on the mattress. He slung one arm across his face, shielding his eyes. “You know, Zara, you can be such a spoil sport sometimes. You need to chill out.”
“Oh, do I? Well one of us needs to be the adult around here. I’m glad you and Logan are getting to know each other and are having fun, but we do have to make some decisions or at least lay our options out.”
“Okay, miss spoil sport, what are you talking about?” He let out a long sigh and faced me. Those seductive brown eyes of his weren’t going to steer me off course either…at least not yet.
“Where are we going to live? Do we go back to Scotland, and if we do, what sort of education would Logan get living on the farm? I know nothing about the schools there.”
“We could ask Peter, or better yet, ask Shawn and his wife. I’m sure they’d know more about the schools than Peter.”
“True. Our other option is staying here.”
“Where would we live?” he asked as he ran a finger along my knee. “We both agreed raising kids in this type of environment, meaning the condo, is not healthy. Kids need fresh air.”
“And therein, sir, lies our dilemma.”
“I see your point, but do we have to make a decision tonight?”
“No, but we’re going to need to before we get farther into it than we already are. My only concern with returning to Scotland is that it’s going to be culture shock for Logan.”
“He’d adjust, Zara. He’s a boy. On the other hand, if we stay in Seattle, we’ll have to worry that once he settles in he may try to get back in cahoots with his buddies. And what we know of them from what the school has told you, they’re not the best guys for him to hang with. They’ll for sure get him into trouble as soon as they realize who Logan’s father is.”
“I know.”
“If you do want to stay here, we could see if Damien might still be interested in doing a swap. Let us live out on his island, and he could stay here. It would be a lot easier for him physically. I could take the Tudor Queen out there and moor her. Take Logan out sailing.”
“It would be a better life than in the city.” I agreed. “I know the schools are decent out there.”
“Well, it’s a thought, Zara. In the morning, we’ll see if Damian’s still thinking along those same lines, and we’ll bring Scotland up to Logan and see what sort of reaction we get. Okay? Anything else?”
“Yes, there is, as a matter of fact.”
Amadeus groaned and this time sat up and swung his legs off the side of the bed. “Let me guess. You’re curious about Logan’s mother. Am I close?”
“Yes, you are. Can you tell me anything about her?”
“Zara, the truth is, I don’t remember a whole lot. You know how it was back then, and if she had been someone serious in my life, I certainly would have remembered. And I most certainly would have remembered her if I got her pregnant.”
He was getting agitated, and that’s not what I wanted. He was right, though. He would have done the honorable thing. If he had known. If that had occurred, he and I might not be where we are today.
“Okay. That’s all I wanted to know. I was just curious, nothing more.”
“Well, why don’t you turn your mind off for
the night, Zara? Give it a rest. Let me show you how.”
“But this is important…”
Amadeus silenced me with a kiss. He drew his tongue across my lips, tasting the moisture behind them when I parted them. He continued to kiss across my lips, every inch of them. Then he moved to my cheek, kissing the skin. From there he moved to the shell of my ear, brushing it with the tip of his tongue. I caught myself making a noise from deep within my throat as he closed his teeth on my earlobe, sending shivers through my body.
He kissed his way back to my mouth, one tiny kiss at a time, until he once again opened my lips and stroked across my tongue. He trapped it with his teeth, then gently suckled it. Once again, I heard myself groan in pleasure. He was seducing me.
He leaned down, kissing his way down my throat, closing his mouth on my breast to suck. I clung to his shoulders as he did, my legs wrapped around his hips. I watched him as he glanced down, the sight of his cock disappearing inside me. He rocked inside me and our frenzy began. Finally he groaned, unable to stop what his body wanted to do, the shaking deep in his body that meant release. He lay on top of me, his breath heavy in my ear.
“God, I love you, Zara.” He slowly rolled off of me, wrapped his arms around me, pulling my body close to him as I clung to him.
“I love you, too,” I whispered.
We fell asleep. For how long, I’m not sure. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night, pulled my robe around me, and walked out into the hall. I opened Logan’s bedroom door…quiet as a church mouse. Sound asleep. Next, Elizabeth. Again, sound asleep. I continued to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. I pulled out a chair at the small kitchen table and sat down. Opening the bottle I tipped it up and took a swallow.
Just because you used sex to quiet me doesn’t mean we don’t have some decisions to make, and soon.
****
Decisions were made. Sometimes we made them, sometimes we did not. Sometimes decisions made themselves.
Tudor Reunion Tour Page 10
