Page 15 of Vision of Truth

Julie was lying on her stomach, hip-to-hip with Sabrina, gently encouraging her to participate in the puzzle they’d started. She was trying to develop some semblance of a routine to help her adapt to her new environment, but the stress and changes going on around Sabrina were overwhelming. The puzzle lay half pieced together on the floor.

“It’s your turn, Sabrina.” She glanced at her in time to see a tear roll down her soft cheek and disappear against a strand of straight pale hair. There was a pang in her heart. She was intimately aware of the staggering loss of a parent. The way it left part of you hollow. As the days went by without Mr. Vesey being found, she was more and more aware that she might be responsible for filling the role of parent permanently. She knew she could never replace Sabrina’s father, but she’d do her best to be a supportive role model and loving caregiver. Loving Sabrina came as naturally as breathing, but she didn’t want her to go through life without the bond she had with her father.

“Dad?” Sabrina’s voice was muffled with tears. Her striking jade eyes were trained on the floor, pale hair curtaining her face.

She wrapped her arm around the girl’s slight shoulders and gave her a hug. “There’s a group of people working very hard to try to find him. I know it’s tough, and you’re missing him a lot.”

“Burrito game.” Sabrina whispered and leaned into her embrace. There it was again. That spear to the heart as the child mentioned her favorite game she liked to play with her dad.

She knew better than to make promises, but she desperately wished to offer Sabrina something more. Some assurance that her life would go back to normal and her nurturing father would return. Despite the current evidence suggesting otherwise, Mr. Vesey wasn’t the type of man to take risks with his daughter’s safety, let alone engage in illegal activities. She never had a clue he was working as a deep cover agent.

With one last squeeze and a kiss on the top of her head, Julie stood up and grabbed a throw blanket from the couch and laid it out on the floor. “Do you want to play it with me?”

Sabrina nodded and scurried up, a smile returning to her lips.

Julie kneeled down on the rug near the blanket. “Hmmm … let’s see. I’m making a burrito. What should I add?” She glanced at Sabrina, and a small smile had formed on her lips. “How about some lettuce?”

“And cheese,” Sabrina shouted, pretending to sprinkle cheese on their makeshift tortilla shell.

“What about some tomatoes?”

Sabrina wrinkled her nose. “Rice.” White rice and some shredded cheese were probably the only thing she’d tolerate from the list they were building, served separately of course.

“There’s something missing … what could it be?” she tapped her chin, like she was thinking hard about the last ingredient. Sabrina circled her waist and rocked forward, a peel of laughter breaking from her lips. The little girl knew what was coming. “Maybe … Sabrina! Her pale hair swayed as she scrambled over the floor pretending to scurry away. Julie scooped her up, placing her in the center of the blanket. “Now I’m gonna roll you up in a tortilla shell,” she said loosely draping the blanket over Sabrina. “And nom, nom, nom.” She tickled Sabrina, tightness constricting her throat as laughter filled the room.

They were both breathless laughing when she glanced up to find Isaac and Rowan watching her. Rowan had a smile on his face, but Isaac’s expression was something else entirely. For a moment, she swore his eyes glistened with tears, but Sabrina had popped out of the makeshift burrito shell and noticed the men. She shot across the room, grabbing both of their hands and pulling them into the center of the living room. Right away she made Rowan lay down in the blanket and proceeded to try to roll him up. Isaac’s arms came around her shoulders, and the warmth of his breath tickled her skin as he kissed her temple. He led her to the couch and sat, pulling her onto his lap.

“Watching you with her,” Isaac rumbled. “It makes me wish for things I shouldn’t.”

“Don’t do that,” she said quietly. She could read Isaac well enough to know he was thinking about the children he’d never dared to hope for, mistakenly thinking he wouldn’t be a good role model. Sabrina and Rowan were playing, both laughing hard, still she kept her voice hushed. “If Mr. Vesey is gone, we’ll care for Sabrina together. You’ll be an amazing influence in her life and down the road, we’ll give her brothers and sisters.”

His hands tightened on her hips at her words. “Just like that? You’re not afraid of—”

She squirmed in his grip, angling her body. “Look at me,” she snapped, angry because his trauma made him question the honorable, brave person he was. “You are nothing like her. Your mom was sick, Isaac. Addicted. That in no way excuses what she did, not even close. I hope she dies a thousand deaths for what she put you and Easton through, but you are not her. You’re honest, courageous, honorable—way too much sometimes.”

“I want to be the man you see me as.” He ran his hand down the length of her hair, and she leaned into his touch. God, he was going to shatter her if he pulled away again.

“What I see, Isaac, is who you are.” She placed her hand on his cheek, so he wouldn’t look away. “Straight through to your soul.”

On a shriek, Sabrina evaded Rowan and ran toward the couch, jumping into Isaac’s arms. “Hide me,” she giggled. Once Sabrina said the words, her smile faded and the laughter twinkling in her eyes died. She seemed to go to a different place in her mind. “Hide in the closet,” she whispered to no one in particular. “If he comes, hide in the closet. The closet is safe.”

Isaac’s expression was stricken, but he gently touched her face, gaining Sabrina’s attention. “Who were you supposed to hide from, sweetheart?”

“The man.” Her light brows drew together wrinkling her forehead.

Rowan had padded over to the couch and sat with his body positioned toward Sabrina. “Did the man have a name?”

Sabrina shook her head and nibbled on her bottom lip. She opened her mouth, like she was going to say something and shut it again. “Uncle Dale.”

“Okay, you don’t have to worry. You’re safe here,” Isaac said.

Sabrina curled her fingers into Isaac’s shirt and buried her head into the crook of his shoulder. His gaze lifted to meet hers, then shifted to Rowan.

“I’ll call Gus,” she murmured, slipping off the couch and heading toward the office. Rowan was right on her heels as they walked into the room where her and Isaac had been exploring their physical relationship in stolen minutes after checking in with their family every six hours. She wanted him, but she wasn’t going to push him until he was ready. He’d been through extreme trauma. Something she didn’t want to add to in any way. Isaac hadn’t tried to take the words he’d given her back. His admission that he cared about her was precious, and she’d been so afraid he would come to his senses and go back to denying them the chance at a relationship.

“Does uncle Dale mean anything to you? Do you think he hurt Sabrina?” Rowan closed the door behind him and pulled out two chairs by the phone.

“I think that’s what Mr. Vesey was afraid of. Honestly, from what I saw he was a really good dad. He didn’t seem like someone who would put his daughter in harm’s way if it could be helped.” Julie sat down in one of the chairs, even as Rowan continued to stand. “The task force director who came to our house introduced himself as Dale Mancuso. I don’t know if the man is the same person Sabrina was referring to, but I think Easton would want to know.”

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