Before Sunrise

by Sienna Mynx

  Mackenzie nodded. She crossed her arms and tried to mimic his stance. “It looks pretty. That’s what I think.”

  Liam looked down at his little imitator and couldn’t control his laughter. He swept her up in his arms and she grinned in his face. “This is fun. It’s my favorite thing to do in the whole world, daddy.”

  “I like decorating with you, too. But it’s not my favorite thing to do in the world. Do you want to know what is?”

  Mackenzie blinked at him. He could see Kay in her so much. That wide, expectant look always so full of love. He marveled at who they'd made together. The special little girl they created.

  “What’s your favorite thing?” she asked.

  “This!” He squeezed her and started to blow tickle bubbles under her neck. She squealed, kicking her feet and laughing. Her little hands flailed wildly. He eventually let up but Mackenzie kept grinning. She tried to do him next and he had to laugh. All she managed was a few spit bubbles against his jaw. When the laughter subsided she pointed over at the tree once more.

  “It’s so biiiiig. The biggest tree ever.”

  Liam couldn’t take his eyes off her. Fatherhood felt strange. After all those years imagining a baby, he'd come home to a little person, with her own thoughts and personality. His imagination had never carried him this far. She grabbed his face with her little hands and forced him to turn it to look at the tree.

  “It’s the biggest tree I ever had.”

  This made Liam swell with pride. It was indeed the biggest tree Liam had ever purchased. He figured he’d overdone it. He still didn’t know if the tree could take a star at the top, it was so tall. “Yeah, I guess I did overdo it. Think we can move a few bulbs up to the top half? Together?”

  “Together?” She cocked her head to the side, not understanding.

  Liam limped to the tree, holding Mackenzie up with one arm. He passed off bulbs from the lower half for her to place near the top. Together they circled the tree and made sure they spaced them out. After they were done they moved on to Mackenzie’s favorite part, candy canes. She sang Rudolph, with him chiming in. Liam could see the sun setting beyond the window. If everything went according to plan, Kennedy would arrive soon. He set Mackenzie down on her feet. There was more work to be done.

  “Now that looks great.” He moved the tree a few inches and plugged in the lights. Mackenzie laughed, clapping her hands. “We have some more decorating to do before mommy gets here. Can you help daddy?”‘

  “Okay, daddy! I’ll help you.”

  ***

  Kennedy frowned. A tension headache was now throbbing in her skull. The excitement, tears, fears, and adrenaline rush of relief had brought it on. She sat in her car, confused. The media had returned in full force. Why? They hadn’t been at her house in the last day or so. Their presence was irksome. But the gathering at her house was even more puzzling. Phil’s car was gone. In its place were Sally’s car, Harper’s, Angelina’s, and a white sedan with an Alamo rental tag.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  Kennedy removed her keys from the ignition. The military guard patrolled, maintaining the crowd, keeping them at a reasonable distance from her property. Still, she could see the reporters were worked up into a frenzy.

  Mrs. Freeman! Mrs. Freeman! Is it true you have no intention of honoring your marriage to Liam Flanagan? That you will abandon him now after all he’s been through? Were you and Phil Freeman having an affair when your husband was deployed overseas? Did you know that the president is going to award your first husband with a medal of valor? Will you be at his side to show any support or have you two parted ways? What of your little girl? What….

  Where the hell were they getting their information from? She shot the more determined screamer a fuck-off look and marched to her front door. The inquisition outside, though strange, she could handle. It was far less intimidating than the gathering inside her house. When she walked in, every head turned. Her sister, her best friend, Liam’s mother, and her own parents were seated, waiting in a tense silence that made Kennedy’s heart drop.

  “What happened? Is it Liam?” she asked. “Why are the reporters back here?”

  Gail rose. Her mother’s attire appeared polished as always. She had toffee-brown skin, and sharp assessing eyes. Her hair was thick and full as it probably was in her youth. The only distinction of age was the few streaks of silver in the long curls that swooped over the right side of her face. Kennedy’s mother always believed in her appearance. She had dressed her little girls immaculately from their first steps. When Kennedy turned twelve, she got her first introduction to skin care, hair care, manicures, and pedicures. Makeup came at fifteen. Gail’s was flawless as usual. She wore a cream pantsuit, and matching heels from some designer Kennedy was sure her mother would name. Her fragrance overshadowed all other natural house smells. It was a mixture of elation and disappointment for Kennedy to have her there.

  Gail smiled sweetly, tears glistening in her eyes. “Hi, baby.”

  “Mama? What are you doing here? What are all of you doing here?” Kennedy demanded. She tossed her purse to the sofa and walked into the dining room to face her company. She knew that her mother had a key. Phil had insisted on it. In fact, everyone gathered except for Sally had a key to her home. Still, to find them waiting and knowing that Liam and Mackenzie were out together made her heart do flips at the prospect of danger. There was a terrorist threat, after all. “What’s going on? Is it Mac? What?”

  Her father came out of the kitchen. Andrew Washington was a tall, dark-skinned man. Kennedy knew her love might have made her biased, but he was powerfully handsome as well. With his chiseled features, his black-and-grey-peppered hair, he carried the authority and calm that made strangers ask for his advice. When their eyes met, Kennedy felt a flood of relief to see the smile on his face. Though her mother was dressed for a day at a country club, her father wore khaki pants and a cream and green palm tree shirt.

  “Sweetheart.” Andrew placed his glass of water on the table. Kennedy knew things were okay when he spoke those words. He could never disguise his feelings to her. Happy, upset, pensive, angry, she knew her daddy best of all. Kennedy walked straight to him and threw her arms around him. He hugged her to his chest and he smelled like daddy: clean spice of aftershave, and a hint of smoky tobacco. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

  “Of course we were coming. Where is my grandbaby? Is she still with Liam?”

  “Where’s Phil?” Gail asked, now standing at Kennedy’s side. Her mother stroked her back, too. She needed her family.

  “We tried calling Phil and didn’t get an answer when we landed. Where is he?” Gail pressed.

  Sally gave a snort, and then crossed her arms in a huff. Kennedy didn’t like the accusation in her mother’s voice but wasn’t alarmed by it. She knew where her mother would land in her marriage drama. But when Kennedy let go of her father she couldn’t help but notice the shift in mood around her. The tension when she came through the door. The long-lasting truce struck between Sally and Gail after Mackenzie was born had been set aside. Sally looked like she would explode any minute.

  “Yes, Mackenzie’s with Liam, daddy,” Kennedy said to her father. She ignored her mother’s question.

  “Where she should be,” Sally snapped.

  Gail took Kennedy’s arm. “I saw the reporters. They tried questioning me.”

  “Mama gave an interview,” Harper blurted out.

  “You did what?” Kennedy wrenched her arm free. Now she understood the circus out front. Her mother had spoken to the press and somehow just added fuel to the fire. Especially since she knew nothing about Kennedy’s decisions regarding her family or her life, it was typical of her mother to assume that she could decide on what was best. “Tell me you didn’t do that!”

  “I just told them the truth. That we’re happy that Liam is alive but you and Phil are a family, and your bond is solid. That everything you three do going forward will be for what’s
best for Mackenzie.”

  “You said what?”

  “Oh, that’s not all.” Sally rose, glaring at Gail. “She said that it’s unfortunate that so many lives have been disrupted. As if my son’s survival is a mistake!”

  “Ladies, that’s enough.” Andrew spoke up.

  Kennedy, however, continued to glare at her mother. She wanted so desperately to scream at her for her interference. To shake her until all her bitterness toward Liam dropped out of her mean heart. It wasn’t Liam who'd made her run from them years ago. It had been her choice. But Gail would never forgive Liam. Hell, it took her years to let go her anger toward Andrew for his role in it.

  “I said no such thing. I just wanted the press to know that this is a family matter and that they should let everyone work through it.”

  “That was not your place!”

  “I don’t think she meant any harm,” Angelina added. “Kennedy, we should all just calm down. Sit down and discuss this rationally.”

  “Oh mama knew exactly what she did,” Harper chimed in. “I’m on Team Liam all the way, Kennedy. Mama did that on purpose. When I saw her little press conference from the airport, Sally and I drove right over here. How did the media know your plane was landing, mama? To interview you?”

  Gail rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

  “I called Angelina to meet us here. I knew mama and daddy would come here first. I tried to reach you, but your cell phone kept going to voicemail. We stayed here to make sure she doesn’t do any more harm.

  “Watch your mouth, Harper Marie,” Gail snapped at her. “I am your mother.” She turned on Kennedy. “And yours, too. I’m here because I’m worried about you. Now where is Phil?”

  “I told you. Phil is gone. That marriage was a sham and Kennedy chose my son,” Sally answered.

  “Mama, you should be ashamed of yourself, holding a grudge after everything Liam has been through,” said Harper.

  “Everybody shut up!” Kennedy shouted. The room fell silent. She felt like someone had smacked the front of her head with a wooden mallet. She narrowed her eyes in anger on her mother. “I want to talk to you. Alone.”

  There was a knock on the door. Harper jumped up as if a spring was attached to her bottom. She grinned. “I’ll get it.”

  “Mama, come with me.” Kennedy walked off. Gail followed her into the TV room. It offered enough privacy for her to give her mother a piece of her mind. “Why would you insert yourself in this situation? Why? You called the press? How could you do that?”

  “Don’t raise your voice to me,” Gail said.

  She paced away from Kennedy, avoiding her eyes. On top of everything she’s put up with the past few days her mother’s interference became the final straw. She couldn’t take much more.

  Kennedy put her fingertips to her temples and tried to calm herself. She spoke in an even, controlled manner. “I want to know what’s going on with you, mama. You of all people know what Liam’s death did to me. What were you trying to accomplish?”

  “I was only doing what you should have,” Gail snapped. “The media has painted you as some love-torn, pathetic woman. You haven’t said one word to them since this thing started. You just let them speculate on you and Phil. They have been interviewing neighbors, strangers! I have friends calling me, questioning me. Your father was questioned at his job. This has affected all our lives.”

  “It’s not your business. None of it is your business. I don’t care what the world wants to know about my marriage, about Liam or Phil. I would never go on television and air my laundry! All I care about is putting my life together the way it should be.”

  Gail slowly smiled. She softened. She approached Kennedy and cupped her face into her hands. “Fine, baby. That’s what I want for you. Phil has been so good for—”

  “With Liam.” Kennedy turned from her mother’s touch. It felt cold and controlling, not loving and understanding like her father’s. “Liam is my husband. He was the day he left. He was my husband the five years they tortured and kept him from me. And he was again the moment he walked back through my door. We’re a family again, mama. The way we should be.”

  “What about Phil?” Gail stepped back.

  “Phil moved out. it’s over. Liam and I will be starting our life together. So we don’t need you addressing the press or updating strangers on us. In fact, you stay away from them. If you make one statement, if you say anything to the press or Liam that is out of line you have to go.”

  “I can’t believe you are still this foolish! I’m sorry that he was hurt. Thank God he’s alive Kennedy, the man had to have been through hell. But you have a daughter to consider. Are you saying you would put Liam over Mackenzie? You can get angry, but I have to say it. That man ruined your life. He ruined your future. He destroyed our family. He’s back to do it again! And finally you got a chance at happiness—”

  “GAIL! That’s enough!” Andrew’s stern voice boomed behind his wife.

  Gail whirled on her husband, shocked. She shook with anger and tears. She looked from Kennedy to Andrew with her mouth curled in anger. “This is your fault, Andrew. All of it is your fault. Do you see! Do you see what you’ve done to her, by enabling her?”

  “I told you in the car that we’ll leave if you do any more damage here.”

  “Damage? She’s our daughter. You have never stood up for her. You handed her over to that…that man, and you’re still doing it!” Gail stormed out of the room. Andrew watched her go as if he wanted to follow her. He looked stricken. One thing Kennedy knew for sure was that her father adored her mother. Why and how, she never understood, but if Gail was upset so was he. She loved her dad and how complete and giving his heart was. She also felt a lot of guilt over the pain she inflicted on her parents. Kennedy put her hands to her face and sucked in a deep breath.

  “I’m sorry, honey.” Andrew comforted her, rubbing her shoulders.

  “It’s not your fault, daddy. Mama can’t forgive any of us for hurting her. I get that. And I love her, daddy, I love her so much but I won’t let her take me back there. I made my choice at seventeen. There’s no undoing it. All these years she’s helped me start again with Phil as if that could be what I wanted. What I want, daddy, is Liam. It’s all I ever wanted. Why can’t she see him the way I do?”

  Andrew turned Kennedy and lifted her chin with his finger. “Hey, look at me. You and your mother are so much alike. You love hard. This is just her way of protecting you. Remember, I told you she took the same chances on love with marrying me that you did with Liam. I worked hard to give her the life she deserves, and in the process she has forgotten what we sacrificed to gain our family. In her own way, she thinks she’s protecting you. She thinks she’s responsible for your choosing Liam. That we didn’t protect you.”

  “I caused you two problems, didn’t I? When I ran away and you helped us. She hasn’t forgiven you completely, either, has she?”

  “Daddy’s a big boy. And I never regretted one day of helping you find happiness. I in believe in you, Kennedy. I always have. I always will.”

  “Thank you, daddy. I love you too.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  April 1995

  Each time Liam heard the chimes ring above the glass door of the Denny’s, his heart dropped. He stared down into his coffee, waiting. A cup of coffee was all he could afford. He hadn’t eaten last night. He bought Kennedy a burger and fries. He said he wasn’t hungry, and to be honest he wasn’t. His nerves were shot. The waiting was the worst. He had no idea what to expect or if his plan would work. He just knew that he had to try.

  “Liam?”

  Liam’s eyes lifted to a tall black man with powerfully set shoulders and a deep scowl. He felt ten years old under Andrew Washington’s hard gaze. Liam eased out of the booth seat and extended his hand. “Hi Mr. Washington, sir. How was your flight?”

  Andrew looked down at Liam’s hand, then up into his eyes again. Liam lowered his hand. He understood why his handshake was r
efused. He and Kennedy had been gone for three months without a word to her family. Sierra updated them on whatever she could find out. The police were looking for them at first, but now they’d classified Kennedy as a runaway. Andrew Washington had hired a big detective agency to hunt for them. They almost caught them in DC. That’s when he had to sell his car and get the bus ticket that led them to Texas. But the money was out and so were their options. He only had one option, and it would require help.

  “Please, sir, sit down.”

  Andrew sat stiffly in the booth. His gaze never left Liam’s. Liam nervously checked his watch. He had left Kennedy in the dirtbag motel, asleep. He didn’t like the people hanging about and wanted to get back to her as soon as he could. He’d walked the three miles to the Denny’s to wait for her father.

  “Where’s my daughter?” Andrew asked, his lips barely moving.

  “She’s safe.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Close. Um, sir, look. First, I want to apologize to you. I never properly introduced myself to you and your wife. My name is Liam Flanagan—”

  “I know all about you,” Andrew said.

  He had that darkness in his eyes that Liam knew well. The same look his stepfather wore before he’d beat and kick the shit out of him. Liam never feared violence. He had endured his fair share, and a little more to keep the evil bastard off his mother and his sick sister. However, Andrew Washington’s glare reduced him to feelings of unworthiness. As if he were some cradle-robbing pervert. It cut him deep. Inside, he wanted this man’s respect.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard about my troubles in the past. But that’s changed. I mean it’s all in the past. I’ve changed. To be honest, sir, I changed because of Kay.”