by Aliyah Burke
“There is nothing for you to be nervous about. They’ll love you.”
Easy words for him to say. She’d never done the “meeting of the parents” before. Battling back another sneeze, she attempted a smile.
“I’m fine, Justice. Now unless you’re trying to get me to believe they live here, perhaps we should go as to not be late.”
He leaned close and before she knew it had placed a chaste kiss on the corner of her mouth and sat back in his seat. The next second he’d shifted into gear and got them smoothly back on the road. Kassidy focused her attention on breathing calmly.
When the car pulled into a large paved circular drive, her eyes grew large at the impressive home sitting at the apex of the curve. Digging deep, she composed her face into her professional mode.
Justice got out and headed to her door. Her gaze tracked his easy movement. Smile affixed, she took his hand and allowed him to assist her from the Vette. His own smile faltered when he caught her expression. Then his brows converged and he frowned.
“What is going on?”
“What?” She glanced down expecting to see something out of place. Her soft magenta shirt, silky and clean, had all buttons properly done. There was nothing on her black slacks or her shoes either. “What’s wrong?”
He backed her up so his car supported her. Head tipped to the side, he reached for and cupped her face with infinite tenderness. Her heart lurched.
“Justice?”
“Where are you, Kassidy?” he asked in a silken tone.
“What do you mean? I’m right here.”
“No.” He shook his head, his thumbs trailing her cheekbones. “Something is different.”
Behind him, she heard a door slam but for the life of her she couldn’t tear her eyes from his, any more than she could stop her heart that exact second.
“Come back to me, Kassidy.” His words were velvet, dark, decadent, and seeped in endless promise.
Her attempt to speak was halted by his mouth landing on hers. The kiss held some anger in it, but she felt no fear. He dominated her until she sighed and gave in to the kiss. Her hands curled around his strong biceps. When it ended, she was limp. Eyes heavy with desire, she smiled when one thumb traced her lower lip.
“There you are, beautiful,” he murmured.
“I didn’t go anywhere.”
“I don’t want my family to meet the professional Kassidy. I want them to meet you, beautiful. The one whose smile makes her eyes shine like the softest dove gray silk in the world scattered with emeralds.” Another light kiss. “The one who takes my breath away.”
She let him guide her to the steps. The idea he could see a difference in her boggled her mind. Not to mention the other bit he said. No time to dwell on that, however, for she met the gaze of the woman who’d given life to Justice.
“I’m Dinah.” Her smile was warm as she reached out and hugged Kassidy. “Welcome to the family, Kassidy.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” When they separated, Kassidy handed her one of the bags. “This is for you.”
“No need to be so formal, Dinah is just…” Dinah took the bag and peered inside. “Ohhh, Lindt chocolates. Milk Mozartkugeln. How did you know?” Justice winked at her and Kassidy found herself in another hug. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
Milk Mozartkugeln was one of her own personal favorites. They had a light hazelnut crème center surrounded by a filling made of pistachio marzipan. Then covered by the milk chocolate shell.
“I will certainly enjoy them. Come inside, brunch is set up on the verandah.”
Dinah nimbly whisked her away from Justice and led the way through the large house. Kassidy tried to listen as things were pointed out but most of it passed with a blur. There was so much to take in and she longed for more time to do just that. It seemed her eyes barely adjusted to the darker interior when they were pushing through back outside.
A nice glass table and chairs were off to one side, the table laden with food and drink. In the other direction sat an older man in a white wicker chair, reading something. Or so it appeared.
“Grandpa,” Justice said, going to his side.
The man stood at once and embraced Justice heartily. “I must have dozed off, sorry.” Sharp eyes found hers. “Introduce me.” The smile the older man bestowed upon her eliminated the remnants of her worry.
Kassidy liked Jamal Graham right away. She had lost both sets of her own grandparents when she was young but it was no difficult feat to imagine Jamal in that role. She sat beside him as he opened her gift. His hands were careful while he undid the ecru tissue paper.
Silence descended and with a shaking hand, Jamal reached out to touch the face of one of the two men in the photo. Then he picked up the pin, his gnarled fingers gripping it tight. When he looked at her, his eyes were shiny with tears. His mouth moved but no sound came out. Kassidy gave him a gentle smile and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“You’re welcome.”
His gaze returned to the picture. It wasn’t the original, but a copya photograph of the Keeper of Pea Island LSS, Richard Etheridge, and of Calvin Running Wolf Graham. Both men had scratched their signature on it as well. It was a rare image. Most pictures had of the men who served at Pea Island LSS were of the entire crew.
She’d also added in a replica of the LSS pin that could no longer be gotten at the small museum. Quiet Harbor had one to honor the men of Pea Island LSS then there was the main memorial on Roanoke Island. The original site had since been transformed into a wildlife refuge.
“Come on, Dad,” Dinah said. “Let’s go put them somewhere safe then we’ll eat.”
Dinah’s eyes were suspiciously shiny when she glanced back during their departure.
“Kassidy.” Justice sat beside her and guided her head to his. The amount and depth of emotion overflowing in his gaze shocked her. “Thank you for that. There was no way to express what that gift means to not just him but to our entire family.”
“You’re welcome.”
They stared into one another’s eyes until Dinah and Jamal returned to the porch. Over the meal, Kassidy began to see Justice’s family as her own. Once they finished eating and cleaning up, she walked with Justice in the backyard looking at his mom’s flowers.
“I bet when your sister is here things tend to get really crazy.”
His laugh warmed her. “They most certainly do. Jas is a lot of fun. You’d like her.”
She didn’t doubt that in the slightest. “I’d like to meet her.”
He wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to her ear. “You will.” Confidence overflowed in his tone.
“Let go of her so she can come over here, son,” Dinah ordered.
His mouth brushed hers before he sighed dramatically. Kassidy moved to stand near Dinah with laughter in her heart and on her lips.
Chapter Nine
Justice leaned against the chair and followed Kassidy with his gaze. She moved around the yard with his mom talking flowers and decorating ideas.
“Kassidy is something special.”
“I know, Grandpa,” he replied without taking his eyes off the woman he spoke about.
“Heard from Jasira, recently?”
The back of his neck prickled. “No, sir. Something I should know about?” There was no forthcoming answer and he glanced to his right at the man in an identical chair. “Grandpa?”
“Allow an old man his fears. She’s my only granddaughter.” A wilily grin split his features. “Unless you care to tell me you’ve gone n’ married that young woman.”
Justice shook his head and got to his feet. “When I get married, grandpa, you’ll know.” Pressing a kiss to his head, Justice added, “Besides, momma would kill me if I ever thought of getting married without her present.”
Jamal chuckled. “True. Dinah is a bit headstrong.”
A bit? That was like saying the Statue of Liberty was made of a bit of copper. “See you in a few
days, grandpa.”
“Stay safe, Justice.”
“Yes, sir.”
He needed to call his sister and check on her. With an easy leap, he jumped down to the ground and headed toward his mom and Kassidy.
“What are you two lovely ladies up to?”
“Kassidy is giving me some ideas for my planting.”
“Her yard’s beautiful, mom. She’s got great taste and style.”
Kassidy’s head dropped and he knew she was staring at the ground. “Thank you. I only know what my grandmother taught me.” Her cell rang, causing her to look up and blanche. “I’m so sorry, excuse me.”
Justice watched her flip it open and converse with whoever it was.
“You care very much for this woman,” his mom stated.
“I do.”
“I like her, Jamal.”
His mother was the only one who continued to call him by his given name. He supposed it was hard for her to call him Justice, especially since he wasn’t a junior.
“You should see her yard, mom. You’d love it. Flowers I’ve never seen before. Roses I’ve never heard of. It’s like a miniature botanical garden. She also does rock work and laidflagstone, I believedown for a birdbath and small bench area.”
“I’d love to see it.”
Justice continued to watch Kassidy’s expressions. The corners of her mouth tightened but overall there was no sign anything was wrong. His mom began to talk again but the second he saw the slight quiver overtake Kassidy, when she slipped the phone back in her pocket, he walked to her.
“What’s wrong?”
The smile she gave didn’t reach her eyes and he knew she needed to go.
“I’m fine,” she said smoothly.
Brushing by him, she returned to stand by his mom. Dinah stole a peek at him over her shoulder when they turned to face a large bush before them. He merely shrugged and tagged along as the women talked, his grandpa sleeping on the porch.
An hour later he and Kassidy were in his car, pulling out of the driveway. He waited until they were on the road before he opened his mouth. Kassidy beat him to it.
“Thank you. I had a wonderful time today. You have a great family, Justice.”
“I’m glad you did. You seemed stressed after the call, is everything okay?”
She stiffened briefly. “Yes, everything’s fine.”
He longed to dig deeper but he also needed to respect her privacy. “Just remember I’m here if you need to talk.”
“I know and thank you for that.”
At her house he kissed her on the porch. He longed to stay and it was with difficulty he set her away from him.
“You have a wonderful rest of your day, Kassidy. Thank you again for coming with me.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you okay?”
With a smile to cover his unease he nodded. “I am.” Another quick kiss. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye, Justice.”
“Goodbye, beautiful.” He hurried down the steps to his car. A final wave to Kassidy and he headed to his apartment.
Dropping his keys on the clean countertop, he sighed and rubbed his head. With a determined nod, he marched to the living room and grabbed the handset from the base. He hit a preprogrammed number and sat on the edge of the leather couch while it rang. Just when he thought it would go to the machine a feminine voice answered.
“Petty Officer Graham.”
He breathed easier just hearing her voice. “Hey, runt,” he said leaning back, pleased he’d gotten a hold of her.
“Justice. Good to hear your voice, brother. What’s going on?”
“That’s what I want to know.”
She paused. “I’m not following.”
“Jas, I know you almost as well as you do. What’s wrong?”
He meant it. Jasira and he were like most twins, having a very close connection and being in tune with the other’s emotions. Granted, he was willing to concede that he’d been ignoring those things until his grandpa had asked the question.
“Jas?”
“I’m fine, Justice. I’m just… just trying to figure some things out.”
“Does this have to do with the man I met… what was his name?”
“No,” another hesitation, “not really. And you know good and well what his name is.”
“Sis,” he grumbled, all brotherly protective instincts flooding fast and fierce to the surface.
“I’ve just been looking more into Wounded Knee, even called grandpa on it.”
Wounded Knee. Rolling his shoulders, he sat forward. “What’d you find out?”
“Stone’s been helping me.”
He snorted. “I bet.”
“Hey now, big brother, you may be but I’m not in diapers.”
“Not having this convo with you, Jas. I want to know absolutely nothing about your sex life. Hell, I don’t want to imagine you having any.”
Her laughter made him smile. He missed her.
“I’m okay, Justice. Really. I just have to sort out some things. I’m kinda on information overload here.”
“Okay, I’ll let it go for now. So long as you’re sure you’re okay.” He backed off because he knew it took a lot for his sister to admit she was on information overload. It took a lot to fluster her.
“I promise.” His expelled breath of relief was short lived. “So, how’s your sex life?” Jasira’s question made him choke.
“Jas!”
It took a while for the laughter to subside. When it did he waited for her next question.
“How’s everyone doing?” Her tone had taken on a wistful note.
“Everyone is fine.”
He knew it was hard on her. Jasira loved her family and while they both accepted the inability to always be near their family because of their jobs, he knew she missed them all terribly.
“Good, good. So fill me in on you.”
They talked for another thirty minutes. At the end of the call he felt a bit better in regards to her state of well-being. He got to his feet and walked through his apartment to the bedroom. Every step he took, he compared his place to the warmth and welcome that poured from Kassidy’s. His was sterile. A residence. Hers was a home.
Stepping into the shower, he grinned at the thought of kids in that house. Kids with Kassidy. The thought bounced around in his head until he called it a night.
The next morning, standing near the bow of the MLB, he retained the same image. Teak sent him a few knowing glances but said nothing, bless her heart. The day was busy and took all of his attention. Tired and sore, he ambled slowly to his car at the end of his day.
“Wanna grab a beer?”
Justice glanced at his friend Thomas Grant. “Sure. Billy’s?”
“Awesome, meet you there.” He was gone in a flash of white teeth against dark skin and a wave.
“Great,” he muttered, mostly to himself. Thomas and he had attended the academy together. For the moment, they were on the same post. Checking the time, he sighed. Kassidy would still be at work.
He spoke with a few more people while he made his way to his car. Sliding behind the wheel, he smiled as the powerful engine roared to life. Turning up his radio, he shifted into gear and headed out of the parking lot to Billy’s where a cold one waited for him along with his friend.
A moment’s hesitation to call Kassidy slowed him at the bar but he decided not to. He didn’t appreciate being bothered at work and couldn’t imagine she would either. Hand curled around the handle, he pulled open the door to Billy’s and walked in. Thomas was easy to spot and he headed that way with a smile and wave.
* * * *
Kassidy ground her teeth and prayed for patience. Loud noises floated around her but nothing could pry her eyes off the note in her hand. The paper shook slightly and she knew that was from her nerves.
“Kas. Kassidy? You okay, hon?”
Lucy touched her shoulder and when their stares met she could see the concern in her friend�
�s gaze.
Don’t unload on Lucy. Don’t unload on Lucy. Don’t. It took a few moments before the saying stuck. With a gulp she forced a smile and nodded, all the while she crumpled up the paper in her left hand.
“Just having a hard time digesting what I read. I’m fine, Lucy, really.”
Her brown eyes slashed side to side before they focused back upon her. Kassidy nearly did a double take to make sure it was Lucy who sat across from her, those eyes were filled with so much anger.
“Bullshit!” Lucy hissed. “What is going on, Kas? I thought we were friends.” She pointed at her across the park table. “I’ve known you for a long time now, don’t bullshit me like I just met you and don’t know any better.”
Kassidy nodded and licked her lips before rolling the lower one between her teeth. “Have you noticed anything about my mom lately?”
That question seemed to take her back a bit. Lucy frowned. “Your mom? She seems more tired, but I thought she had a virus or walking pneumonia or something like that.”
“That’s what she told me too but then I found a note saying they needed her back in for more tests. The results weren’t what they’d been hoping for, whoever the heck ‘they’ is.”
Lucy put her foot up on the bench and rested her chin on her knee before sighing. “You think there is something else going on.”
“Yes. Deep down, I can feel it but whenever I broach the subject they change it. Immediately.” She stared out past the table where Libby chased a ball hit by Ethan. “Will you keep an eye on her for me, Luce? Let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary?”
“Of course I will. You know, she’s like a mom to me as well.”
She reached across the table and gripped Lucy’s hand, squeezing her thanks. “You’ll have to make sure she doesn’t catch on.”
“I know. I will be careful. Is that what was on the note in your hand?”
“Yes. Her secretary, Jackie, took the message and I’d ask her what was going on but she’s like a loyal dog to my mom. She’d never say a word even if I threatened her.”
