A Chance at Love (A Ferry Creek Novel): (a billionaire romance novel) by Karolyn James

explain to his father that Sullivan had called and said he
didn ’ t want to come to see
him. Somewhere inside Bobby he knew it would have killed his father. If this
was the one thing his father had been holding on for, then that would be it. In
that moment, Bobby actually saw himself lying to his father. He saw himself
explaining that he was still working on finding Sullivan. That Sullivan was a
busy man. Maybe he was out of town... no, he was out of the country on
business. He was a hard man to reach because he was so rich. He was just so
busy... so hang in there, Dad, I won ’ t
let you down ...
    It pained Bobby that the thoughts
were so vivid in his mind. But the love he felt for his father had no boundary.
It was like any other person in the world. They ’ d
do whatever they had to do to make sure their loved ones were alive and safe.
    However, Bobby ’ s conscience was too big and he
knew he would have to face the truth. It wouldn ’ t
be easy, but nobody said it would have to be done that very morning. Or
afternoon. Or even that day. Hell, he could wait a few days, a week. Maybe
Sullivan would change his mind. Bobby figured he could give Sullivan a few days
to really process it all and then call him again. After all, Bobby had made the
promise to his father that he would try his best to find Sullivan and bring him
to Ferry Creek.
    Then his cell phone rang.
    All the thoughts, all the emotions,
all the attempted lying and perceived truth meant nothing, because it had been
Sullivan Chasen on the other line. And he delivered an apology, sincere words,
and a shocking last statement that sent Bobby into even more disarray.
    Sullivan Chasen was coming to
Ferry Creek.
    Bobby had done it. He would give
his dying father his last wish. His father would get to meet his first born
son, a title that Bobby always thought he held and something he always joked
about. Bobby remembered when he wanted to do something and his father told him
no, he ’ d tell him he was
the oldest. And his father would always respond with, you ’ re an only child, Bobby... When his father wanted him to do something and Bobby had no care for it, he ’ d tell his father he was the
baby in the family. His father, again, would laugh and say, you ’ re an only child, Bobby ...
What seemed funny and innocent then were actually lies. Bobby had to face the
fact that his father had lied to him for years.
    Bobby told himself he could deal
with that later. Right then, he had to prepare for everything that was about to
happen. He had to prepare his father for Sullivan ’ s
arrival. He had to prepare himself. The talk around Ferry Creek would certainly
be intense. People were already whispering here and there about some kind of
big secret Bob had. Bobby had blown it off until then, but there would be no
avoiding it now.
    Bobby started to stand when he
caught sight of another picture on the cork board above the desk. It was a
picture of Bobby ’ s family.
The entire family. He, Annie, Billy, and Claire. They were at a pumpkin patch,
sitting on hay bales. Bobby had his arm tight around Annie ’ s shoulder, keeping her close.
Billy sat next to Annie, his head resting near her chest. He was always
attached to his mother ’ s
hip. Claire was on Bobby ’ s
lap, her big eyes with a pacifier still in her mouth. The picture was three
years old. Bobby wasn ’ t
exactly sure if he was happy but he appeared happy. It wasn ’ t the context of the picture
that mattered, it was the people in it.
    Reality settled in.
    His father was going to die. Probably
soon. Maybe he ’ d die before
Sullivan got there. Maybe his father just wanted to know Sullivan was alive,
well, and that Bobby had spoken to him. Maybe it was his father ’ s trick to get Bobby and
Sullivan to connect. His father had always been good at little ploys like that.
    Or maybe his father would meet
Sullivan and then pass away peacefully.
    Whatever was going to happen Bobby
knew he couldn ’ t control
it.