Tyler
It seemed like fate.
It was as if the universe was giving me a chance to do the right thing.
A source had called me and informed about the sad demise of Joe and Alison Crandall, the family that had adopted my daughter.
I couldn't feel happy, nor sad but strangely elated about what this would mean for me, for Vicky.
For us.
I knew of Honor's existence the time I had landed back in Cold-Bay. I'd known that she lived with the Crandall's and I hadn't told Vicky anything because that would be me sighing her up for heartbreak. I'd put a private investigator to work, who tailed after Honor twenty-four- seven and gave me records on how the family treated my daughter.
It was good to know that she was cherished, that even though the family was usually flying out for business, they still loved Honor. She had everything she needed. Granted I would give her more, but no matter how much I had the urge to steal what I wanted and take her away from them, I knew that I couldn't.
It would make the kid sad and confused to be thrust with another couple who said they were her parents but were ultimately strangers. If Vicky knew her daughter was alive, and that she couldn't have her, it would cleave her heart into two.
Despite my inability to love, I was curious about my kid. I kept looking at her pictures that the private investigator had sent and even though I should have stayed away, I couldn't. I flew to Boston one evening on a whim, we had a family home there in Beacon Hill that was usually used by my cousin Max Lockhart. He was vacationing in Italy with his perverted gang so the house was empty.
It was the pull that Honor had over me. I didn't know I was a father until a few weeks back. I wasn't attached to the memory of the child, but as soon as I'd seen her pictures, it's like a switch had turned on and she'd become an obsession. I thought of Honor every day and night, if my girl was okay, or if she had Victoria's laugh, her smile and I wondered if she was like me. My little girl.
So I did what I knew best. I set up a party anonymously and invited the Crandall's. The Lockhart's had several subsidiaries. We had one such company that manufactured toys called Lock & Link Inc the owner was a friend of mine, Adam Lincoln and it had all been his idea but the Lockhart's had invested the maximum amount of shares and I was co-owner although I never showed my face during the launch or when they inaugurated the huge store in New York. I had been clear when I said I didn't need to be involved in this and for people to think the toys would be cursed or some shit like that just because my family name was involved. I never even went to the interviews so it was easier for me to slip into this party. The company name Lock & Link was our inside joke.
There were a variety of toys from age three until thirteen. From real-life doll houses for girls to transforming robot cars for boys. I sat with the younger group of kids who were hanging onto my every word. Kids were easily charmed by me, but there was just one kid I was here to charm.
My eyes followed Honor as she chatted with some kids her age, playing on the inflated castle with them. I showed the kids around me how to use some toys, and even did my usual tricks.
A three-year-old boy had drooled over my jeans, and I was fucking pissed but I still managed to keep appearances. His mother had tried to wipe the drool off my pants even though I told her it was fine and I was starting to believe she had other intentions when she started to get a sting eye from her husband.
I had a giant Rubik's cube in my hand. It was a new design for girls, unicorns and kitties were on it with numerals, it was a fun way to learn math. I was rolling it in my hand, trying to solve the puzzles when I saw her in my peripheral vision, making her way towards me like a moth to a burning flame.
"That's not the right way to do it!" She pointed out, laughing.
I looked up into a pair of familiar ocean blue eyes similar to mine, and silver-blonde hair that belonged to the love of my life. Her nose, her chin, it was all Victoria.
She looked like a mini-version of Vicky, and I was sure that this is how Vicky looked when she was around nine.
She grinned at me, "I can show you how to do this."
Mesmerized, I handed her the cube. She took it into her small hands and began working it, her eyebrows knitted together in concentration, and within ten minutes she solved it, "There. All done. It's easy." She said proudly. "I have the same one. I spent four hours and thirty-seven minutes to solve it."
I chuckled, "I don't know many kids your age that can do it. This is for thirteen-year-olds."
She shrugged.
“What's your name?" I asked.
"Alison told me not to talk to strangers." She said.
"Hmm...she is right, but I’m good friends with Alison and Joe so technically, I'm not exactly a stranger."
"Really?" She asked, adorably.
"Yeah." I lied.
"My name is Honor."
I raised my hand towards her in a handshake, "pleased to meet you, Honor. My name is Tyler."
She gave me an infections smile, her dimples kicked in. Emotions welled up inside me, emotions that I never thought existed.
When Honor was born, I hadn't been too attached to the baby and when I'd tracked her down, it was just a means to end my curiosity, to make sure she was well taken care of but now as she stood here in front of me, something changed.
My world had spun and done a fucking one-eighty.
My heart hurt for the kid that I couldn't call mine. There was an overwhelming urge to grab her and take her back to Cold-Bay, to her real home, consequences be damned.
The more I kept looking at her, the worse the urge started to become.
“What’s that on your arm?” She asked me, pointing at the marks on my forearm.
“Snake bites.” I told her.
She stared at me in surprise, her mouth wide like an ‘O’ “What happened? Did you go out in the jungle?”
“Nah,” I said, waving my hand. “I had caught a venomous snake in the woods behind my house when I was younger and he bit me.”
“But why did you catch the snake?”
“I’m a certified snake handler, it’s my job to rescue the reptiles and put them in a better environment where they are safe. I have non-venomous pet snakes too.”
“You have pet snakes?!” She all but shrieked. A few people passed us looks.
“Yes, I do,” I responded with pride. “I also have several other reptiles like Iguana, Leopard Gecko, Chinese water-dragon. Ever heard of those?”
Honor’s eyes shone with newfound respect as she nodded her head earnestly. “Tyler, don’t mind me being too forward but can I invite myself to your house so I could see your reptiles? Maybe you could even teach me stuff about them, you know, since we’re friends now.”
I laughed so hard. She sounded too much like Vicky. She had her sass and my confidence and charm. She was also extremely smart for an almost nine-year-old, a Lockhart gene. This kid was mine, alright. I knew that as sure as I knew the sun rose from the east. She was a creation that came from my loins.
The plan had been for me to charm the girl, but it had worked the other way round and Honor had me wrapped around her little finger.
“Of course, honey, you’re more than welcome to visit me.”
“Yay!” She said excitedly. “Where do you live?”
“Cold-Bay.”
“I’ve never been there.” She said, sitting beside me.
Funny, she said that when she was born there.
I smiled, “I’m sure you’ll like it. My house is huge surrounded by trees and a lake.”
“That sounds amazing. I’ll try to convince Joe to take me there, or maybe you can talk to him since you guys are friends.”
“Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.” It was instinct when I pushed the silver locks of hair away from her round face, but really I wanted to kiss her head and wrap her in my arms. I wanted her to know that I was her father and that her mother still cried to her memories to this day.
“Honor!” A male voice yelled loudly breaking our trance.
“Joe, look I’m friends with your friend.” Honor announced innocently.
I stood up as Joe Crandall, fake father of Honor marched into the play-area and towards us. He snatched Honor’s hand and pulled her towards himself. Rage slithered into my entire body, my temper would bounce off the roof if I didn’t control myself.
He stared straight at me, and from the man’s expressions, I knew that he knew who exactly I was. The eyes gave it away, if not the face structure surely would.
“Joe.” I smiled. “You’ve been avoiding my calls.”
Joe turned to Honor. “Pumpkin, why don’t you go find Alison? she saved you chocolate pudding.”
She looked between Joe and me and somehow picked up the tension. “Tyler said I could visit his house. He said he’s gonna show me his pets and—
“Did you not hear what I said?” He snapped at her. “I told you to go find your mom.”
She flinched and I watched as the smile on my little girl’s face vanished. Her expressions turned to stone, almost as if she was battery operated. She gave me a polite smile and turned around to leave. She walked farther away and turned back to look at me, and gave me a small wave.
I stood there hopelessly, watching my kid walk away, and felt completely powerless.
“Listen here, Mr. Lockhart. We’re Honor’s parents. If you wanted her, then what the fuck was she doing with Bethany? We paid a good amount of money for a child of good breeding.”
I laughed humorlessly. “For fucks sake, she’s not a horse. She’s my daughter.”
“I will go to court if I have to, and this will be settled.” He threatened. “I will have a restraining order against you.”
“Do your worst, Joe. I’m counting on it but you best believe I’m going to get my daughter back.”
That said I stormed out of the place.