Chapter 7

 Jake went up to Derek’s room seeing the door was open he stepped inside. Derek was looking out the window at the snow falling. Jake tapped on the door to get his attention.

Derek looked to see who it was, then turned back to the window. “I really don’t want to talk, Jake,” Derek said, staring outside.

“It’s cool. Mind if I stay up here where it’s quite?” Jake asked. Derek just shrugged his shoulders. “I think it’s great that you and Becky are engaged. I told you, your mom and Dad would be okay with it…you just had to time it just right.”

“I guess.” Derek sighed heavily. “They knew what they were going to tell me would throw me, so they gave in to the engagement.”

“I got the impression, they thought you’d be happy. You’re the one who threw them. They love you, Derek. They wouldn’t tell you anything to hurt you, intentionally.”

“Mom committed a sin. I’m the product of that sin. You know how that makes me feel?” he said, angrily.

“I think I know a little of what you’re feeling. I felt like hell when I found out I was the product of rape. You were conceived in sin, but your parents loved each other. My so called father, raped a fifteen year old girl when he kidnapped her,” Jake said, feeling a touch of anger himself.

“That’s what happened to Allison? I’m sorry, I never knew that,” Derek said, sympathetically. “How did you get over the feeling you had?”

“I haven’t, completely. Mom and I talk about it…helps her being a shrink,” Jake said with a chuckle. “You’re very lucky, Derek, to have two very loving and caring parents. At times, I wish I had a Dad like Frank, especially when I see the two of you together.”

“From what Dad has said about you, you and he didn’t get along when he first took control of the team.”

“We didn’t. I like to do things by instinct. Your dad wanted to do them his way or no way,” Jake said, thinking back.

“I know that side of him too. He and Mom are alike when it comes to being in control.”

“Don’t I know it. When they work together it gets confusing as to who to take the orders from.”

“Flip a coin. That’s how I do it,” Derek said laughing. “Thanks for the chat, Jake. I’ve always felt close to him. I guess this explains why. It also explains why everyone says I look like him.”

“You do a little,” Jake observed. “I think we should go back down to the party.”

“Yeah, I have to talk to Dad. He’s probably angry at how I reacted.”

“Just worried…not angry,” Jake said when they headed back down.

Derek went straight over to his Mom and Dad. “Can we go talk alone for a minute?”

“Sure, let’s go in the dining room,” Frank suggested.

Derek took his mom by the hand while they walked together.

“I’m sorry, if I was a jerk earlier. I’m thrilled to know that you’re my real Dad. Still a little confused, but thrilled,” he said to Frank.

“We’re all still a little confused. I just wish that I’d known Frank was your father sooner. I’d never had stayed with Collin if I had known.” Elaina stared passed them as if thinking about something.

“Mom, are you remembering something about that night? You got quite all of a sudden.”

“Remembering, but not that night. I should have left Collin long before I had you.”

“Why do you say that? You had to love him because you married him.”

“Collin changed after we married. He wasn’t as affectionate as he was when we dated. I know now, I was just a piece of the puzzle, which he used to rob all those banks. He thought I loved him enough to overlook the crime and leave with him. Hindsight is 20/20, I just wish foresight were. I don’t want to talk about my marriage to Collin any more,” Elaina said, hugging Derek.

“If we’re going to get up before anyone else to ride the snow mobiles Hank gave us, we better hit the sheets,” Frank said.

“About the sleeping arrangements?” Derek asked. “I don’t suppose you’d let Becky and I celebrate our engagement by being together tonight?” Derek blushed.

“I bet it’s really embarrassing to have to ask your parents for permission to sleep with your fiancée?” Elaina teased him.

“Embarrassing as hell,” Derek stated, with his face turning bright red.

“I have one word for you,” Elaina said, seriously.

“What…No?”

“Condom,” Frank said with Elaina covering her mouth, trying not to giggle.

“Dad! Now, that’s embarrassing! You both have drilled it into my mind, since you found out we were having sex,.” Derek said, blushing even more.

“Well, it’s not like half our guests won’t be doing the same thing you want to do.” Elaina laughed. “Becky can be in your room, which will free up a room for some of our guests. I’ll go show everyone to their rooms,” Elaina said, going out of the room. 

“I guess now, I can truly say I’m following in my father’s footsteps becoming a Federal Agent,” Derek said, hugging Frank.

To be continued in the next story.    J & S

 Merry Christmas!