His chestnut hair spilled over light features - bright eyes, rosy cheeks. I reached over and lightly brushed it out of his face.
A smile came to my lips as I shook my head to clear my thoughts. There was something about that boy and I found myself wanting to be in his life. He was curious and smart, serious and happy. He fashioned himself his mother's protector.
I got out of the car and walked around to his side. Pulling open the door, I reached in and lifted him easily. His head fell against my shoulder, but he didn't wake. I shut the door with my foot and walked towards the house. It was unlocked so I shifted Jackson to open the door.
Callie met us on the other side. She stood still for a moment, an emotion flitting across her face that I couldn't place.
“A little help?” I nodded down the hall towards Jackson's room. She scrambled in front of me and pushed open his door. I set him on the bed and Callie worked to remove his shoes. I pulled the covers up over him and leaned down without thinking. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world, putting this kid to bed. My lips grazed his hair and when I looked up, Callie was staring at me.
“What?” I whispered.
She pointed to the door and I followed her out.
“You're a natural.” She wouldn't look at me as she walked into the kitchen.
“You don't have to sound so upset about that.” I laughed, trying to relieve some of the tension. She wasn't laughing.
Callie walked towards the counter and pulled down two mugs. “Coffee?”
“Nah,” I answered, taking a seat at the table. “I'd never sleep tonight.” I watched her as she filled her cup halfway and then reached into the fridge for the milk. “Since when do you drink coffee?”
“Since I need to work late if I'm ever going to get this book finished.” She took a sip and her face showed her disgust. She hated the stuff.
“Don't you think you're going a little too hard lately.”
“No, Jamie.” She sighed. “I don't. Now come here. I don't want to talk about the kids or work. I haven't been alone with you all day and I want you to kiss me.” She set her mug on the counter and waited.
I smiled. She didn't have to tell me twice. I stood up and did my best sexy walk towards her. She finally laughed.
“You're an idiot.”
“A sexy idiot, though.” I grinned.
She reached out and took my hand, using it to pull me in close until our breaths took up the same space.
“Hi,” she breathed.
“Hi.” I pulled her tighter against me as I claimed her lips with mine. I didn't think I'd ever tire of kissing California McCoy. Her soft lips, sexy little body, the way she growled from the back of her throat when my tongue entered her mouth - it was enough to undo a man.
I grabbed her by the hips and lifted her up onto the counter. He legs came around me instantly, trapping me against her. I dipped my hands under her shirt, feeling the soft skin of her back under my rough fingers.
“Mom?” The sound barely registered to my ears, but Callie broke away immediately with a small laugh.
Jackson stood rubbing his eyes in the doorway. Callie leapt off the counter and ran over to him.
“I'll see you tomorrow,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck and avoiding the stare of the young boy in the room.
I got into my truck, breathing heavily.
The email from Sergeant Carlson popped into my mind for some strange reason. Yeah, I thought. There's no way I can leave.
Chapter Seventeen
Callie:
“Liam,” I yelled. “Stay close.” He didn't acknowledge a word I said as his feet took him sprinting across the playground. Selective hearing. That was what my middle child suffered from. Or, I guess you could say it was what I suffered from since I was the one constantly being ignored.
“Come on, Dec.” Jackson took Declan's hand out of mine and started leading him towards the sandbox. “Let's play.”
I shook my head and made my way to the nearby bench. Liam found another boy who looked to be his age to play with. They ran up the steps to the jungle gym, one brown head and one blond.
The sun beat down on us, hot for a November day. I shielded my eyes to look out over the park. It was beautiful, all green grass and screaming kids. Not for the first time, I was glad we'd moved back to Florida.
It was nice to get a break, just me and the boys. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving and it'd be great, but draining. Today I was content.
A shadow crossed my vision, blocking the blinding sun. I looked up and grinned when I saw the grizzled face of Seth Franklin. Ten years later and still kicking. He smiled back at me.
“California McCoy. I thought you left all of us Floridians to our own devices years ago.”
“I figured you all couldn't survive much longer without me.”
He chuckled and walked around the side of the bench. He moved slowly, each action careful. God, he must have been almost eighty years old.
“Mind if I sit?” he asked.
I scooted over quickly. “Not at all.”
He lowered himself as his eyes scanned the playground. Seemingly satisfied with what he saw, he turned to me. “Rumor around town is the McCoys are back in the diner business.”
“Not diner,” I said. “Restaurant. And not McCoys. Just me.”
“I've missed Ally's ever since it closed.”
“Me too.”
Seth was a regular at Ally's since before my mom died. He'd been there practically every day. The only time he'd disappeared from our lives was after his grandson … I shook my head to get rid of that train of thought. It was a nice day and thinking about the shooting would affect that. But, wasn't I thinking about it all the time anyway? I couldn't help it. I was writing a book.
Which was exactly what I blurted to Seth when our conversation lulled. I hadn't meant to tell him, but he'd been like part of the family.
He didn't say anything for a long moment.
“Did you hear what I said?” I asked. “I just had to tell you before you found out some other way. I'm writing about the shooting. I'm sorry if that's painful, but I have to do it. It's still painful for us too and it's been ten years. We need to move on. We have to.” I realized I was rambling and clamped my lips shut.
His eyes looked so sad in that moment that I wished I could take it all back. I thought he was going to get up and leave, disgusted that I'd use his grandson's actions for a story, but he stayed put. He turned back towards the playground.
“You have kids?” he asked.
I looked sideways at him, knowing he must already know the answer since I was sitting here at the park. I answered him anyway. “Three. Jackson and Declan.” I pointed to where Jackson was still playing with his baby brother. “Liam.” I nodded towards Liam who was chasing the other boy across the wood chips.
Seth smiled sadly. “I have one son. Jeremiah. But Jerry had four children. Two boys and two girls.” He nodded towards the boy playing with Liam. “Bryant there is my oldest grandson's kid.”
I couldn't help myself. “So, he's - “
“Matthew's nephew.”
I gripped the edge of the bench until my knuckles turned white. “Why are you telling me all of this?” The question came out more as a breathless gasp.
Seth reached over and patted my hand. “Because Matthew did a horrible thing. No one is ever going to forget that. But he was a son, a grandson, and a brother. He was loved and we tried to help him. Just …” His voice thickened. “Remember that when you write about him, when you immortalize him, what he did. Even if you hate him … he wasn't a monster. He was just a troubled kid.”
The tears in Seth's eyes never fell. I wouldn't have been able to hold myself together if they had.
“Mom,” Declan yelled. “Play with me.”
Jackson nodded his agreement.
I stood up and smoothed down my shirt before glancing towards Seth once more. “I don't think he was a monster.” And in that moment, I knew it was true.
I should have spent that evening preparing for the following day - cleaning the house and everything - but as soon as I powered up my computer, I couldn't stop. I stayed up late rewriting large sections of my book. It was time to tell the story as I saw it at twenty-eight, not as I felt it at eighteen. It was time to get the whole picture.
Chapter Eighteen
Jamie:
“Do you get the feeling that something bad is going to happen?” I asked Colby as I shrugged on my suit jacket.
He gave me a knowing look. “It's different now.”
“I know.” I stood in front of the mirror straightening my tie. “But it's still the holidays.”
Growing up, it wasn't a holiday celebration if there wasn't some blow up between me and my dad. The only good ones I had were spent with the McCoy's, but those had been few because my dad enjoyed being a dick. He'd conditioned a wariness in me when it came to any celebration.
“You know, I haven't celebrated Thanksgiving since I left.”
“Your unit didn't do anything?” Colby asked.
“Some of the guys took leave when they could. But if we were on mission, that wasn't possible. I always stayed on base and got drunk.”
A strained laugh burst out of him. “That's sad, Jamie.” He patted my shoulder and left the room.
“Maybe,” I grumbled. “But I still think the shit is coming.”
I stepped into my shoes, shined to perfection. My father had always expected us to look our best for the holidays. Some habits died hard. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter were the only three days of the year I'd be caught in a suit, especially back then when I'd have been happy living in my swim trunks.
Colby and I arrived at Callie's with plenty of time to spare. Her, Amber, and Jay were doing the cooking while Morgan and the boys ran around the house.
Jackson stopped following them when we walked in. “Uncle Colby.” He nodded to Colby then turned a stern stare on me. “Jamie.”
I laughed, knowing instantly it was the wrong move. His face hardened.
“Jacks,” Colby said, looking between us with his own laughter in his eyes. He was smart enough not to let it out. “Come on, bud. Take me to your mom.”
Morgan walked up beside me. “Little man doesn't quite know what to make of you.”
“He kinda walked in on me and Callie the other night.”
She laughed. “Yep, that'll do it.” Her expression turned serious. “Cal told me he misses his dad.”
I didn't want to think about the man who'd been there when I hadn't. The only thing that mattered was that I was there now. So, I changed the subject. “It's Thanksgiving. Doesn't your family want you with them?”
“Mom and Dad went on a cruise. Mom still has trouble with holidays. And Parker never comes home.”
“How is Parker?” I'd always liked her.
Morgan smiled ruefully. “Really good. I miss her.”
I'd just wrapped my arm around her shoulders when a knock sounded at the door.
“Jackson,” Callie called. “Liam, Declan. I think the door is for you.”
Three pairs of feet thundered across the floor and excited chatter filled the room when the door was flung open.
“Grandpa!” Jackson jumped at the man who caught him mid-air with a laugh.
“Papa!” Liam joined the fray, pushing the younger Declan aside.
“Dad.” Colby grinned as he appeared from the kitchen and scooped Declan up.
“Sorry,” the man said. He was good-looking, with dark hair. I couldn't take my eyes off him. He looked so much like Callie. “I only told Cal I was coming a few days ago. I was supposed to wait until Christmas, but I missed you all. My flight was supposed to get in last night, but it was delayed.”
Colby gave him a one-armed hug before handing him Declan. Callie walked out a moment later to join the reunion. The look she gave her father was one of complete love. I still didn't know everything about their meeting, but she'd spent almost ten years getting to know him in L.A.
“Dad,” Callie said. “I want you to meet some people. You've met Morgan and Jay, but this is Amber.” She finally walked towards me. “And this is Jamie.” When she wrapped an arm around my waist, he raised an eyebrow before shaking my hand.
“Your grandmother is sad she's missing this,” he said, turning his eyes back to Callie.
“Maybe her health will let her come in a few months,” she said hopefully.
“I'm sure it will. Sweetheart, is there somewhere we can talk?” he asked. “I hate to spoil the fun, but there's a reason I came early other than missing you and I'd like to get it out of the way.”
He was direct. I liked that.
She nodded towards the kitchen and he followed her. Needing a bit of air, I stepped outside and sat on the front stoop.
Sounds from inside drifted towards me, happy and fun, but I couldn't shake my holiday memories.
Dad yelling.
Jay defending him.
Jay's mom refusing to look at me.
He didn't usually hit me during our celebrations. No, he waited until the next day. Dad never hit me hard. He never broke anything or caused permanent bruising, but it was enough.
The door opened behind me, and Jay stepped out. I didn't say anything as he leaned against the pillar and crossed one foot over the other.
“I miss him,” he said.
My bad hand froze up. I massaged it roughly to try and keep my calm.
Jay continued. “I hate that I miss him, Jamie. Especially now. Holidays were the worst time in our house, weren't they?”
“Only because we had to pretend to be a family,” I scoffed.
“You know, I sometimes thought we actually were a family. But you never did, did you?”
“Not since I was eleven.”
He sighed loudly. “I'm sorry.”
“If you keep apologizing, I might have to turn my Ranger training on you again.”
He laughed, but stopped abruptly. “Who's that?”
I looked across the street to where two cars had pulled up. A man got out of the first dressed even better than I was. His suit was obviously designer and fitted. His Ray Bands were pushed up into his short black hair.
The man that got out of the second car, an SUV, wore jeans and a polo. His long copper hair was tied back.
I got to my feet and Jay stood up straight beside me.
“Can we help you?” I hollered at them as they walked up the driveway eying each other curiously. It was obvious they hadn't come together.
“Hello.” The well-dressed man said with a broad smile. Confidence oozed from him with every step. “I'm looking for my wife.”
Jay laughed. “Well, the only married woman in there is my wife, soooo …”
“Um.” I glanced sideways at my brother. “That's not exactly true.” I looked back at the man. “Your name wouldn't be Dean, would it?”
His smile widened, showing perfectly white teeth. “That's me.”
“What about my wife?” The second man had now caught up and he looked directly at Jay as his Australian accent rang out. I watched as recognition showed on Jay's face. He gave me a slightly panicked look then sighed and opened the door.
I had no clue what the hell was going on, but I figured we were about to find out.
As soon as the four of us were through the door, Morgan's scream sounded through the house. Her face had gone white. She dropped the plate of crackers she'd been carrying, sending them scattering across the floor.
“Hi, baby.” Dean's smile didn't waver at her reaction. “Miss me?”
Chapter Nineteen
Callie:
“Dammit Nicole.” I let the door to the oven close and slammed the casserole down on the counter before throwing my oven mitts as hard as I could.
“Hey,” my dad said. “Don't take it out on the green beans.”
“I can't believe I told her that. I knew she'd take it to the studios. Now that they know I am going to eventually sell, they'
ll never leave me alone.”
“That's why you have me.” He grinned. “Sell to Hendrick's. You know you don't want anyone else telling this story.”
“You're right.” I let out a big sigh as I banged my fist against the counter. “I assume you brought a contract?”
“Of course.”
“Since when does the head of the studio get involved in buying movie rights?”
“Since it's about your mom.”
“Touché.” I swiped a hand across my face. “I'll look at the contract tomorrow. In the meantime, Jackson has cleaned his room for you to stay in there.”
“I have a hotel room since this is technically a work trip.”
“Don't even think about it. It'll be nice to have you here for a couple days. The boys will be over the moon.”
He pulled me into a hug and I sunk into it. I was finally letting Emma go. Between the book, the movie, and the restaurant, I was making Mom into a bigger star than she'd even been in real life. I was making her immortal.
“There's something else,” Dad said once he released me.
“There always is.”
He didn't get a chance to say what that something was because Morgan screamed from the living room. I bolted out there, stopping as I took in the two men standing with Jamie and Jay.
“Dean,” Morgan croaked.
“Dylan,” I gasped.
I felt more than saw Jamie's eyes snap to me. Yeah, he knew the name. But he wasn't my worry at that moment. The long-haired former husband of mine was.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
I barely noticed Morgan escaping to the kitchen to get away from Dean or Dean following her.
“Can't a man come to see his family?” Dylan asked. As if on cue, he was mobbed by three excited boys who were having the Thanksgiving of their lives with the appearance of both their grandfather and their father.
Seeing them with him was like a knife to the heart because as sure as I knew the sun would rise tomorrow, I knew Dylan would leave them missing him once again. He hugged the three of them and exclaimed over how big they'd gotten. He said all the things you're supposed to say, but his eyes never left me.
We Thought We Knew It All (Invincible Book 2) Page 10
