Page 26 of Blind Prophet

“Dorian, this is gorgeous.”

“It’s not as big as my father’s place, but…”

“That house could double as a hotel.” No one needs a place that massive.

“How are your parents?”

There’s a Pinterest-worthy open kitchen that faces into the great room, and I take a moment to appreciate the Viking refrigerator and range and the dark green cabinetry and exquisite wood island.

“This is truly beautiful.”

“Your parents?” he repeats.

“Fine,” I say, repeating his word, but the short answer feels unnecessarily cold. “Still working.”

“Really? Aren’t they, what? In their mid-sixties?”

“My father loves his job. They’re debating what’s next. I think once they have a plan, they’ll retire. Mom loves her job, too.”

“Teaching?”

“No, she retired from teaching; she’s a part-time librarian. She loves it. Like really loves it.”

“Will they stay in Connecticut?”

“That’s the debate.”

“Ah. Are they considering moving to California to be closer to you?”

“No.” I stare out the windows to the side of the house, taking in his breathtaking view of the mountains. “The debate is between Florida, Arizona, or another country. What about your father? Does he spend his time here or in one of his tropical locations? He’s in his nineties now, right?” Our sources claim his father lives here, but knowing how many properties he owns, it’s difficult to fathom he doesn’t travel to warm locales.

“Ninety-two. But he likes it here.”

Halston Moore was fifty-two when Dorian was born. When his mother divorced his father, she left him behind to be raised by an absent father and a nanny.

“How’s Gloria?”

“She’s good.” His face softens, and he exhales, shaking his head like he’s waking up. He enters the kitchen and pulls out a drawer of pods. “What kind of coffee do you want? Or tea? I have that, too.”

I step up and review his selection, seeking a decaf tea option.

“What’s she up to these days?” Gloria is, in my opinion, the parent who actually raised Dorian.

“She prefers California. She oversees the Montecito property.” I eye him curiously. I would’ve thought she’d want to be near him. “She has one son in LA and a daughter outside of San Francisco.”

“Ah. Perfect location.”

“It is. And I spend a fair amount of time there.”

I skim the drawer. I only agreed to coffee to talk with him, and he’s about to dismiss me.

“You know, I think I’ll take water. I’m dehydrated from the flight. If you need to get to business, I’ll be fine.”

“Right.”

Once again, he squeezes his eyes closed and shakes his head quickly, like he’s waking up.

“Are you okay?”

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