****
Cyrus lived northwest of downtown in one of the most popular neighborhoods in the Seattle area and had bought his house before he married Daniella. The location suited him, being close to the city for a quick commute, and its location on a hill was conducive to his weekend exercise regimen. On any given Saturday he could be found jogging the tree-lined streets past the historic homes that dotted the landscape. He ran in peace here. In this affluent area, his neighbors barely registered his presence, for which he was grateful.
He hadn’t exercised today because he’d recently arrived home after a short business trip to Las Vegas. He was tired as hell, but nothing could have kept him from his niece’s ninth birthday party. He came straight from the airport, still dressed in the suit he’d donned earlier for the weekend meeting with a hotelier who owned several casinos. They were interested in making Full Moon beer the exclusive brand they carried, with the possibility to expand around the country. Cyrus was pretty sure he’d sealed the deal and expected a follow up within a few weeks, at which time he’d bring in his brother, Trenton, to cover the marketing side of the arrangement.
Cyrus parked his car in the garage and dropped his bags at the foot of the stairs. Without prompting, one of the servants appeared and took the bags up to his bedroom.
Gift in hand, he headed to the pool house. His niece, Katie, had wanted a pool party, and initially Ivy—his only sister—had planned to have it at the Four Seasons Hotel where they lived. Then she’d changed her mind and asked him if she could have it at his place instead, to which he’d readily agreed.
He was crazy about his niece and hoped one day to fill his house with children as energetic and intelligent as she was. Her birth had brought so much happiness to the family, particularly since she’d arrived only months after his father died. In some ways, she had saved their family, shaking them out of the deep-rooted sadness at having lost their father so unexpectedly.
At the pool house he encountered a bunch of 8 and 9-year-old girls running and splashing in the water. Besides Ivy, two other mothers kept an eye on the screaming prepubescents. As he approached, one of the girls stood poised on the diving board and did a graceful dive into the water, receiving a series of enthusiastic cheers and claps from her friends.
Music from the latest pop sensation blared from the external speakers. Hired help was on hand to assist with the food prep and serving, and when the girls grew tired and wanted to relax, the pool house contained plenty of seating and an entertainment center to keep them busy for hours with music, videos, and games.
Cyrus took a seat, and before he announced his presence, Katie saw him.
“Uncle Cyrus!” she screamed. She separated from her group of friends and scampered over, dripping wet, her long braids weighted down with water and trailing behind her.
“Katie, you’ll get him wet,” Ivy cautioned, waving her hands in an effort to stop her, but Katie was undeterred. She flung her arms around his neck, soaking his jacket with pool water.
Ivy came over, a chastising frown on her face.
“It’s okay,” Cyrus told his sister. He squeezed Katie with one arm around her tiny waist. “Happy birthday,” he murmured.
She pulled back and grinned. “Thank you.” Unable to contain her excitement, she hopped from one foot to the next, eyeing the wrapped box in his hand. She already knew what he’d brought. Last year, he’d promised to get it for her. “Is that for me?”
“Is there another birthday girl here?” he teased.
She giggled and shook her head vigorously. Droplets of water from her hair dripped onto his handmade leather shoes. “I’m the only one.”
“Then I guess it’s yours.”
She snatched the box and turned to Ivy. “Can I open it now? I don’t want to wait to open it with my other presents.”