Page 7 of Only Time Will Tell

“Your father’s body was discovered in Waterfront Park last night. Do you have any idea what he was doing there?” he asked.

“No,” I shook my head. “We haven’t seen him in months. I didn’t even know he was back in town.”

“I’m sorry, but your father has passed away.”

I trembled and Alex held me tighter. “He’s dead? How did he die? I thought he was out of town on a business trip. What happened?” My knees gave way and Alex scooped me up and laid me on the couch.

“There are no signs of foul play. From every angle it appears he laid on a park bench and passed away in his sleep.” Just as Granny had. Were they the lucky ones to have passed so peacefully? Should there be relief in knowing that? Right now, I felt everything but relief. “I’m sorry to have delivered such bad new, but as his only surviving relative we need to ask you to come to the coroner’s office and positively identify the body,” Detective Marlow stated.

I nodded, shell-shocked, my thoughts were all over the place and words weren’t coming. Alex gathered the information from the detectives and told them we’d be there first thing in the morning before they uttered another apology and left. Alex sat beside me and took me into his arms, holding me as I wept. Mourning the father I never knew was lost. Could I have prevented this if I stopped him from leaving the last time?

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” Alex muttered, kissing the top of my head.

“I never thought to look for him. He was always gone, so I figured he was on another business trip. Fuck, I’m not even sure I really knew what he did for a living. All I remember is him coming home with all this shit.” I gestured around to the packed shelving that lined the walls. “I would curse under my breath every time my grandmother asked me to dust them.”

We sat in silence, curled into each another for a while. “How about a nice soak in the tub?” Alex asked.

“Thank you, that sounds wonderful.” While he got it ready I went up to our room fully intending to undress but made the mistake of laying down. He came in a few minutes later and found me sprawled across our bed. My sweet, nurturing partner undressed me and helped me into the tub.

“Aren’t you going to join me?” I asked when he didn’t undress.

“This is for you, to help you relax.” He kissed me then turned to walk away.

I grabbed his pant leg and stopped. “I relax best when I’m in your arms. Please, get in. I need you.”

Alex nodded, undressed, then slid in behind me. The warm water felt so good but what made it even better was having Alex hold me. I can’t believe my father was gone. This is so surreal. My last living blood relative. What in the world was he doing in the park? I had so many questions and they’d likely all go unanswered.

Alex soaped the bath sponge and delicately wiped it across my chest and down my arms. I sighed and sunk back against him, enjoying being taken care of. Alex always knew what I needed even when I didn’t know what that was. He left me to my thoughts as he bathed me, the only sound the sloshing of the water as he moved around, massaging the tension from my shoulders.

When exhaustion overcame me and the yawns increased, it was time to get out. He dried and put me to bed then took care of himself. I was nearly asleep when he came to bed and wrapped his arms around me. My safe space.

As tired as I was, sleep didn’t come. I tossed and turned all night. By the time the sun rose, I was out of energy and dreaded what today held for us.

Every time I emitted even the slightest of whimpers, Alex was right by my side, holding me tight. He was my world, my life, my knight in shining armor, and had been since we met. I knew I was safe when I was with him, and wherever he was would always be home to me.

Driving in that morning to the Coroner’s office, he held my hand as he drove. After parking, he turned off the car and gave me a few moments to collect myself. Now matter what I thought, there was no way this wasn’t gonna be the hardest thing I’d ever done.

“Are you ready, my love?” he asked, his sympathetic gaze fixed on mine.

Shrugging, I replied, “About as ready as one can be for this.”

He nodded in understanding and came around to open the door for me. Always the gentleman, right by my side grounding me, holding my hand as we entered the sterile building.

“Can I help you?” the grandmotherly lady manning the front desk asked.

“I’m Charles DuBois, I’m here to ID my father Henry DuBois’s body.”

Alex squeezed my shoulder reassuringly.

“Please, gentlemen, sign in on this sheet and I’ll need to see your ID.” She pointed to the paper and pen on the counter before walking away, reappearing moments later in a nearby doorway. She verified my license then said, “Please, follow me.”

We walked through a series of desolate corridors, the chemical mixture in the air intensified the nausea I was already fighting. When we reached a double door entry at the end of the hall she held one side open for us. I paused for a moment and took a deep breath to calm my nerves first.

“Nathan,” she addressed the gentleman seated at the desk across the room, “this is Charles DuBois. He’s here to ID body six-two-seven.”

Nathan nodded and disappeared behind another door. Ten minutes later, he reappeared with a linen-covered gurney that clearly held a body beneath its stark white sheet.

I gasped, and Alex was right there. His arms around my waist, grounding me. He whispered, “Are you sure you’re ready for this, my love?”