Page 1 of Shine: Sins of the Father
CHAPTER ONE
Fiona—
The rich smell of morning coffee hits my nose when I come downstairs. My father leans against the counter when I walk into the kitchen. He’s in a pair of charcoal sweatpants and no shirt, his chest covered in ink—a full-color image of a wolf done for him by a famous tattoo artist named Jameson O’Rourke. It does the job it was intended to do, but when the light catches it just right, the ropey scars it covers are still visible.
My mother told me the story long ago… about how my father almost died trying to save her. Somehow, he survived, and after separating one final time, my father won her back for good. They made it through a lot, but somehow their love only grew stronger. That’s the kind of love I want someday—a man willing to die for me.
Hank, my father’s German shepherd, jumps up and puts his front paws on my father’s chest, waiting for the inevitable ear scratch, and my father obliges with a grin.
“Who’s a good boy?”
I lean a shoulder against the doorframe. “Not Hank. He chewed up one of my shoes yesterday.”
My dad looks up, his eyes sweeping over me. “Did he? Sorry about that.”
“Luckily, they were an old pair.”
“Standing there, you look just like your mother did when I first met her. Same hair, same eyes. Pretty as a picture.”
When I roll my eyes, he huffs a laugh.
“What’s got you up so early, baby girl? I thought classes were over.”
My father is talking about the summer school classes I’ve been retaking because I missed too many days last spring semester.
“They are. Janey’s picking me up. We’re going to her parents’ place for the week.”
He frowns. “Mom know?”
“Dad, I’m twenty-two.”
“And you’re still my little girl; I don’t care how old you are. Especially after…” he trails off, but I know what he was about to say. He pushes Hank down and walks toward me, his eyes searching mine. “You doing all right, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine.” I know what’s coming before he even gets the words out.
“You still seeing that counselor?”
“Yes. Though she’s going to be on vacation next week, so I won’t see her again until the following week.”
“It helping? Talking to her, I mean.”
I shrug. “I suppose so, but you don’t have to worry about me, Daddy. I’m okay. Really.”
“You were abducted, Fiona. You went through a traumatizing experience.” He cups my face and dips to stare into my eyes. “I know you’re a tough cookie. Always have been, but you went through something no woman should ever have to go through. I worry. I’m your father. That’s my job.”
I nod, and he pulls me in for a forehead kiss, then wraps his arms around me in a big hug—the kind that makes me remember how he used to hold me when I was a child and upset about something. Usually, because I fell off my bike and skinned my knee or one of my brothers had teased me. Daddy’s hugs healed everything. His arms were my safe space.
Someday, maybe I’ll find a man who makes me feel this safe in his arms.
A horn blows outside, and I pull free.
“That’ll be Janey.”
“Jane Reilly from high school? You two hanging out again?”
“Yes. She’s home from school.”
“Where’d she go again?”
