Carol Ericson - Eyewitness

If anyone could get to the bottom of Michael’s trauma, Elena could. She wasn’t sure about Elena hypnotizing Michael but if she thought it would help, Devon just might allow it. She wanted her son back, and then they could work on building a family with Kieran.

Maybe Michael’s skittishness was scaring off Kieran. If she’d presented him with a well-adjusted, uncomplicated boy would Kieran accept his role of fatherhood more readily? If that were the case, she didn’t want him in Michael’s life. Loving a child was all about taking the good with the bad.

Nothing like bad timing.

She cruised past Columbella House and Michael jabbed the window. “Columbella.”

“That’s right. We’ll explore the beach again down there, but you have to promise not to climb up through the sea cave.”

She pulled into the Roarkes’ driveway, and Kieran stepped out on the porch. Must’ve been waiting for them.

He slid into the seat beside her, smelling of soap and a hint of the sea. The scent took her back to cool nights wrapped in a blanket in the sand, snuggling against Kieran’s warm, smooth skin. Making plans. Laughing. Loving.

“Everything go okay last night?”

Devon blinked. “I called you when we got home. Everything was fine.”

“Why’d you decide to take those teens home?”

Lifting a shoulder, she backed out of the driveway. “Saved my neighbor a drive out and she brought me some squash from her garden this morning, so it’s all good.”

She could feel him studying her profile. She should probably come clean about the silver sedan she thought was following her, but she’d do it away from Michael. They had a lot of catching up to do…away from Michael.

“Where’s Dr. Estrada’s office?”

“It’s downtown. She’s on staff at the University of California at San Francisco, too, but she sees clients in this office only. She does research at the university.” She took the turn from the coast highway onto the street that led into town. “While she’s at it, she can probably recommend a good ophthalmologist in the city.”

“I’m good.”

“You don’t want to find out if…?”

“I’m good.”

She gripped the steering wheel and gritted her teeth. “Will you talk to Elena…Dr. Estrada?”

“Maybe. I’d like to see what she has to say about Michael.”

Devon pressed her lips together. That’s not what she had in mind, but she let it go. This new Kieran was not a man to be pushed around. Was he ever? She’d never tried before.

She’d changed, too. She’d had a protective father, fiancé and brother. One had died. One had been presumed dead. And one had gotten consumed by his career. She’d been left with a helpless mother and a helpless infant, and she’d had to step up to the plate. She’d become the protective one.

But now was not the time to assert her new-found strength.

They rolled onto Main Street, coming alive with tourists eating late breakfasts or browsing the antique shops, and surfers heading back into town after hitting the early-morning waves.

She turned off the main drag and parallel parked into a space on the street in front of a two-story stucco building.

“Dr. Estrada’s office is upstairs. I’ll stay with you for a little while, Michael, and then you can play with Dr. Estrada by yourself.”

Michael clutched her hand as they walked up the steps, Kieran trailing behind them. She had faith Elena could break through Michael’s barrier and ease his fears. Then Kieran could really get to know his son.

Elena shared the floor with a dentist, a financial adviser, a Realtor and an empty office. Kieran opened the outer door of Elena’s office and Devon ducked under his arm, pulling Michael with her. Elena had left the door to her inner office ajar. She was a one-woman operation with a light indicator in the reception area instead of a receptionist.

Devon tapped on the door. “Hello?”

“Hello, be right out.”

Devon stepped back from the door, and a few seconds later Elena bounded into the outer office, running a hand through her salt and pepper curls.

She enfolded Devon in a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you, Devon. How’s the nursing going?”

“It’s going great. I work with a fantastic group of doctors, and there’s nothing more satisfying than bringing babies into the world.”

“And now you have your own baby.”

Michael stared at Elena with his wide, brown eyes, and a lump formed in Devon’s throat. Normally, he’d angrily assert that he was not a baby. Now…the stare. He seemed fixated on Elena’s hair.

“Michael, this is Dr. Elena Estrada. She’s going to talk to you just like Dr. Mowry did at home.”

Elena knelt in front of Michael and took his hand to shake it. “Very nice to meet you, Michael. You can call me Dr. Elena, and you can talk to me about anything in the world.”

Michael shook her hand, his gaze floating to her head.

“Do you like my hair?” Elena shook her curls.

“Your hair is gray.”

Elena laughed. “Yes, it is. Is your grandmother’s hair gray? I know your grandmother.”

He shook his head. “My grandma’s hair isn’t gray.”

Devon snorted. “Yes, it is, but she makes sure it stays blond through artificial means.”

“Who has gray hair like mine, Michael?”

Michael dropped her hand and nestled close to Devon.

He hadn’t mentioned Mrs. Del Vecchio since the murder. He’d called her Granny Del at her suggestion. Maybe he’d tell Elena all about Granny Del and her gray hair. It was the first time he’d even come close to referring to her.

“Elena, this is Kieran Roarke. Kieran, Dr. Estrada.” Elena already knew Kieran was Michael’s father, and Devon had already told Elena in advance that Michael wasn’t in on the secret.

As they shook hands, Elena’s thin brows rose. “I know all about Mr. Roarke. It’s good to have you home, Kieran. Gary from the garage has already told half the town of your return.” She pushed open the door to her inner sanctum. “Shall we get started? Your mom and…Kieran can join us first, Michael, and then if you’re okay with it, just you and I will have a chat.”

They all squeezed into her small office, Devon and Michael claiming the comfy, floral sofa while Kieran perched on the edge of a chair across from them. Elena settled into a deep chair, cradling a steaming mug.

“We’re here to talk, Michael. You can tell me anything, and it’s private. We’re also going to play some games. How does that sound?”

He nodded.

Elena looked at Devon. “Mom, do you have any questions?”

“Do you think you might use hypnosis?”

“I don’t think so. Michael probably just needs to process some feelings he has about death and dying…and abandonment.” She shifted a glance toward Kieran.

Was that her subtle hint that she and Kieran needed to tell Michael he had a father? As Michael began to notice all the dads at the hospital day care, Devon had answered questions about his own father with vague murmurings about him being away. She’d probably done a poor job of it.

“Michael, do you want to check out the toy chest?” Elena pointed to a wooden chest in the corner, painted with brightly colored suns and flowers.

Michael shimmied off the couch and trotted toward the toy chest. He yanked it open and pulled out a squirt gun and a G.I. Joe action figure and settled cross-legged on the floor.

Elena jerked her thumb toward the door.

Devon clasped her hands between her knees. “Michael, Kieran and I are going to leave now. Is that okay? We’ll be right across the street.”

Michael looked up, his gaze darting toward Elena. Licking his lips, he put up his hand in a tentative wave.