Bonds of Duty

CHAPTER TWO

The walk down the hallway towards Detective Tom's office felt like an eternity. Rubbing his sweaty palms on his jeans, he rasped lightly on the door.

"Come in". A deep voice called from inside, making his heart triple in speed.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly pushed the door open and walked in.

Sitting right across from the door was a young lady. Her piercing brown eyes sent chills down his body. From where she sat he noticed she was tall, probably a bit taller than most ladies he had known. Dark brown hair held up in a braided ponytail flaunted across her left shoulder. He felt his heartbeat increase but knew it wasn't from the nervousness of meeting his brother's child.

"Mr. Strucker?”

The detective stood tall, looking to be in his early fifties. His lean, well-muscled physique hints at a lifetime of physical activity. His dark hair was flecked with gray, particularly noticeable in the distinguished stands framing his temples. His eyes, piercing and intelligent, seem to bore into those he meets. A strong jawline and sharp features complete his ruggedly handsome appearance, exuding confidence and authority.

"Mr Strucker?" he repeated. Holding out his hand.

Mentally cursing for staring too long, Ray takes the outstretched hand of Detective Tom.

"Yes, Ray. Raymond Strucker... Cherry's uncle" he said that last part with a bit of doubt.

"Yeah, please have a seat" Detective Tom said, pointing to a chair and taking his place behind his desk.

"So... Do I have to do anything? Like signing some documents of ownership over the child?' Ray asked.

"No. The papers have already made it clear that you are to take full responsibility for the child".

Ray said a short mental prayer of thanks, that he didn't have to go through long processes thereby wasting much time here. "Alright then, where is she?"

"Oh she's right behind you"

Turning abruptly, Ray thought for a split second that he was about to take home with him an adult baby until his eyes came in contact with a pair of crystal-green pairs of eyes staring right back at him. Was that a child? He actually thought it was a heap of laundry waiting to be attended to. Whoever dressed her up like that?

He goes closer to her, bending to her height. Now getting a better look at her face, he could see strands of her blonde hair sticking out of her awfully large hat. He slowly took off the hat and was awed at what he saw: golden brown hair, not blonde, just like that of Brad and himself. Her bright eyes and little lips twisted in what he thought was disgust.

“Are you my dad?” She asked with her tiny voice, taking him by surprise. She could speak, and well too.

He turns to the detective. “Does she know?”

“Not exactly, but she’s probably got a hint”.

Letting out a deep breath, he turned to the little girl, the sight of her innocent bright eyes breaking his heart.

“No Cherry, I’m not your dad” he whispered softly.

“Then who are you? Why do you look so much like daddy?” She asked with all the seriousness a two-year-old could muster.

She was smart for her age, he thought. But not enough to get her through. How would she be able to cope, knowing she had lost the only parent she had ever known?

“I’m your uncle Raymond, your daddy is… was my twin brother”.

“Is he going to come back?” Cherry asked. “ Tina said he’d be gone for a long time, and she wasn’t sure if he’ll come back”, her eyes beginning to tear up.

“Tina? Who’s Tina?” he asked, wondering if she was one of the officers.

“She’s my nanny,” Cherry said, sniffing hard and turning towards the lady seated next to her.

She’d been quiet the whole time. Ray almost forgot about her presence. He looked up at her, his eyes meeting with the same brown ones he had first seen when he walked in there. He quickly diverted his attention back to the little girl in front of him.

“Uncle Raymond” Cherry called. “The police said I was going to stay with you”.

“Yes. Cherry. I am going to take care of you until your daddy gets back”, he said, a little grateful to the nanny for explaining things to her that way.

“Do you mind if she comes with us? To stay with me. I don’t want another person.” Cherry pleaded with her teary eyes.

Was that why she was here? To take care of Cherry. Why had she snuggled her up in an attempt to keep her safe? Why she had to lie to the child about her father’s death? Getting up, he fought the urge to look down at Tina. She was making him feel strange and that made him want to say no. But she knew the child better than he did. She'd been taking care of her for a long time, she would be of help and he sure as hell needed help with the child.

“Of course, she can come with us,” he said. Cherry smiled brightly, exposing a set of tiny white teeth. He couldn’t help but smile along.

******

Tina felt like she had sat down there for what felt like an eternity. Where was he? Late? Had he forgotten about them, or Cherry rather? Or he didn’t just care. A part of her wished that he would show up for Cherry’s sake, but the other part wished he wouldn’t. Then she’d take care of Cherry as her own.

Looking down at the expectant face of the little girl once in a while, she wondered what was going through her little mind. She had told Cherry that her father had left on a business trip and wouldn’t be back any time soon. Raymond was the closest family the child had, and it was the right thing to do to let him take her, although a part of her disagreed.

She had heard some whispers among some of the officers. He seemed to be very influential, wealthy, handsome and very busy. Very busy. Would he have the time to give Cherry the attention she truly deserved?

Looking down at Cherry once more, her eyes traveled up to the big wall clock hanging over the detective's chair. They waited for over four hours. Had he gone off to one of his many business appointments? She thought, when the door opened quietly.

Tina wanted to scream. She had known that Cherry’s father was dead after they had confirmed the DNA, but the man standing before her, staring right back into her eyes, looked exactly like Brad in the face. But his height distinguished him from any other male she had ever seen, including Brad his brother, giving him an aura of authority. He had to be over six feet, with very broad shoulders shooting out from the gray v-necked polo he was wearing. She was tempted to wonder what it would feel like to lay her head on one of them. Shocked by her thoughts, she blinked rapidly in an attempt to push them out. She had never felt that sort of attraction towards anyone at all, let alone so quickly. She was just too busy to love.

The way his eyes stuck to hers made her feel like a fire was being lit inside her, and she was grateful when the detective called him.

She was a bit more amazed when he spoke. It was so deep it sent vibrations through her body. She felt her mouth go dry, her heart skipping a few beats when he came and bent down close to Cherry. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. From the curling strands of golden brown hair covering part of his left eye, down to his scattered brows, she fought the urge to go forward and smooth them out. He had bright green eyes, it felt like a green fire was burning in them. Seeing the muscles in his face as he clenched and unclenched his teeth at Cherry’s words, showing his pain and regret. Not like any of this was his fault.

“Tina? Who is Tina?” She shivered slightly when he called her name. Turning towards her, he looked into her eyes before looking down at Cherry. She swore she saw something flash across his face. Disgust? Irritation? Probably wondering how a lady her age would settle for the job of a nanny.

When Cherry had suggested she coke with them, she prayed silently that he would accept, and he did, although she could sense his discomfort. But he smiled, and she wished with all her heart that the smile was directed towards her.