by Laura Acton
Adam laughed and shook his head. “No deal. I’m not getting caught in a lie to your mom. I like living too much. Besides, I can’t leave you alone, Uncle Will would skin me alive.”
“Leave me your gun. I can take care of myself.” Dan didn’t like that he was coddled this way. They wouldn’t let him be armed yet—dumb idea he thought. If Pletcher or any of the others with gripes or vendettas came after him, he should be allowed to defend himself.
Pulling out another water bottle Adam shoved it at Dan. “Not leaving you. Drink. You need to rehydrate. No reception on your phone either. We’ll rest here until you are up to walking back.”
Dan drank half the bottle and nodded. He let his exhaustion take him into a light sleep.
Adam thought for a moment he should move Dan off to the side of the trail, but decided not to bother. They hadn’t seen a soul on the trail today. He pulled his pack over, lay his head on it, and gazed up at the sky.
He closed his eyes and went back in time. Images of Sophia floated in and out of his mind dancing around. Her beautiful smile had attracted him to her. She wasn’t what anyone would call a stunning beauty, but she was gorgeous to him. Adam lost himself in dreams of what could’ve been if Sophia had not been taken from him.
The sounds of four concerned voices shouting over each other combined with bicycles coming to abrupt halts in the rocky terrain and being unceremoniously tossed on the ground startled both Adam and Dan awake.
Scott was first to Dan and Jeff was first to Adam. Their voices overrode each other as Scott yelled, “Dan, are you okay?” and Jeff yelled, “Adam, are you hurt?”
Zach and Kyle were only a moment later as they knelt beside them.
Adam sat up still startled. “Where the hell did you come from?”
Dan asked at the same time, “How’d you get here so fast?”
Zach asked, “Fast? You two have been gone for over three hours.”
Kyle said, “Uncle Will and Uncle Ryan were about to launch a full-scale search party thinking Pletcher or whoever …” He trailed off at the bemused expressions on Adam and Dan.
“Three hours?” Adam asked in disbelief. He looked at his phone. Damn, he fell asleep. He must be pushing too hard lately, too.
Dan sat up. “Just following Dr. Larsson’s and Mom’s orders not to overdo. We decided to take a break.”
Adam looked at Dan. He was trying to cover their asses. He joined in the minor deflection. “Would’ve called but we have no signal out here.”
Scott inspected Dan. “Nice try but the scrapes on your knees and hands and the hole in your tire give it away. You pushed too far, didn’t you?”
“I was enjoying the ride.”
Jeff stood. “You’re taking the rest of today and tomorrow off from working out. You need to recharge.”
Zach sat down next to Dan. “I think we all could use the rest. I know I’ve never been this worn out. Not even in basic training.”
Kyle nodded. “Totally agree.”
“I agree also,” Scott said as he stood and stretched his aching back. “Maybe we all should take a trip to Relax Now with Dan tomorrow.”
Dan chuckled.
Jeff glowered, but inside he thought it would feel good to have a massage. He could always pretend he didn’t want one and grudgingly go along.
Adam looked at Dan and grinned. “Ready to walk back?”
Pushing himself up off the ground, Dan shook his head. “Not really but there’s no other way to get home.”
Just then the guys heard the sounds of motorcycles coming up the trail. A few minutes later all their dads came to a stop and turned off their motorcycles.
William took his helmet off. “Daniel, are you okay? I was worried.”
Dan felt his heart swell. “I’m okay, Dad. Only a blown-out tire. Hit a rock. Took a break before we were going to walk back.”
Ryan got off his motorcycle and took off his helmet. He strode to Dan and held out the helmet. “You ride back. I’ll take your bike.”
Dan shook his head. “I can walk.”
Everyone turned to Dan and simultaneously yelled, “Ride the damned motorcycle.”
Dan chuckled. “I guess I’ll ride the motorcycle.”
William gave his son a lopsided grin. “Wise choice, son.”
Daniel and Hobbes
65
November 1
Special Forces Base – Conference Room A – 10:30 a.m.
Lieutenant Colonel Lambert Bonomi leaned back and yawned as he waited for Major Kenric to arrive with the next interviewee. Worn down he eagerly anticipated to his break—his honeymoon. He and Kenric had gone non-stop and been all over the globe in the past four months interviewing current and former members of Special Forces and support staff.
What he and Kenric discovered—not pleasant. So many of those they interviewed were clueless of their actions or rather inactions. Most not cognizant of what transpired right in front of them. But to be fair, most had limited contact with Broderick. Only those with close ties to him comprehended the magnitude of what he went through.
He and Kenric uncovered a rat’s nest as the dug into Broderick’s service. Those interviewed fell into three basic categories—supporters, indifferent, or adversaries. The vast majority, basically indifferent and had little contact with Broderick. However, many fell into the foes bucket for various reasons. Some involved in illegal activities, and others erroneously believed Broderick received special favors for being the general’s son and disliked him for that reason alone.
His musing stopped as his phone buzzed. “Bonomi,” he answered.
“General Broderick here, I’m calling to inform you my son is now in a condition for you to schedule his interview.”
Bonomi swiftly pulled out his planner and flipped it open. “Sir, I’m booked out until November nineteenth.”
“Can you do it sooner? He will be returning to work soon?”
“I suppose I could cancel my honeymoon,” Bonomi said reluctantly.
“No, the nineteenth will be fine. My son may be back in Toronto by then,” William replied—he wouldn’t ruin the man’s honeymoon.
General Broderick’s Home – Family Room – 7:00 p.m.
William’s cheek muscles ached from smiling so much. He soundlessly chuckled at the last joke Kyle told Daniel. He liked his son’s deep laugh. As he observed the boys lounging in the room, all relaxed and enjoying a pleasant evening, he reflected on his son’s journey.
His son genuinely amazed him. Daniel latched onto the challenge to return to TRF. He worked so hard to strengthen his lung capacity and recondition his body. With his determination and help from the family, Daniel succeeded. Well, almost. Next week Daniel would go to Toronto to meet with the TRF psychologist, and if he passed, he would do his requalification.
Daniel arranged to requalify with Walter and another team sergeant. At first, he wondered why but promptly realized Daniel wanted to surprise his team … or not fail in front of them. Both reasons valid in Daniel’s mind. It still boggled his mind only fifteen weeks had passed since his son was shot and Daniel was nearly ready to return to TRF.
His own recovery, eons ago, after his near-death experience, took him a year. But to be honest, he lollygagged in his recovery. He enjoyed being home with Yvonne and Daniel at the time. He would never choose to do it any different if given a chance.
Daniel’s drive to go back meant the team and what he did was important to him. William sighed. He still believed Daniel’s skills were wasted in TRF. His son would make such a difference in Special Forces. Now that it was being cleaned up, there were many openings in the ranks. Daniel would be a fantastic unit leader. If only he could make Daniel understand he belonged in the military. For now, he would let that sleeping dog lie.
Yvonne came up beside William and said, “I know that look. He’s happy at TRF. He makes a difference there. Remember … Danny is not you William. Never has been and never will be no matter how many traits and skills you two ha
ve in common. If you want to continue rebuilding your relationship with him, you must accept that fact and move on.”
“You’re a smart woman, Yvonne. Glad I married you. It’s hard to let go of a dream though.”
Gazing up at William, Yvonne gently said, “I’d rather have the reality we have now. Danny came home, and he knows we love him. That’s much better than any dream.”
William kissed Yvonne tenderly and pulled her into a tight hug. She was absolutely right. The reality was better than his dream. When he released her, he grinned and turned to Daniel. “Son, how about a game of chess?”
Dan glanced up to his dad and noted the smile. “Sure. You want to play in here or in your study?”
Wanting alone time with Daniel, he suggested, “How about the study?”
A slow smile graced Yvonne’s face as her two favorite men strolled out of the room together. She knew their path would still have bumps and hurdles. William needed to let go of his dreams, while Dan needed to wholly accept his father loved him. She maintained hope one day they would fully reconcile, and the bond would be stronger because it had been forged through adversity.
General Broderick’s Home – Study – 10:00 p.m.
Becca kissed her dad’s cheek. “Goodnight, Dad. Thanks for agreeing to let me go to Paris. I can’t wait to start at Mariette Beaudouin Fashion Design School.”
William hugged Becca still unsure about this even though he trusted his friend Dominique Savoy implicitly. “Becca, you listen to and follow whatever security procedures your godfather stipulates.”
Nodding, Becca said, “I understand. I’ll be good.” At the raised eyebrow from her father, Becca changed her words. “Well … at least I won’t be bad. I know Pletcher is still out there, but this is important to me. So thank you for arranging this.”
Sighing, William shook his head slightly. Becca was a wild spirit, and hard to rein in. He hoped while Becca stayed with Dom that Nicolette and Anna-Marie would have a calming effect on her. He also hoped that Becca’s zest for life would help Dom’s girls after losing their mother. Jeannette passed away in early August from cancer, and all three were still grieving. Sending Becca to Dom would benefit both families. Becca could bring cheerfulness into their lives, and Dom would keep Becca safe from Pletcher as she attended the prestigious Paris fashion design school to which she had been accepted.
Becca bounded over to Dan and kissed his cheek, too. “Goodnight, Dan. In case I don’t see you in the morning before I leave, thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. Make sure you call me once you start back at work. I want to hear all about your first day back. Well, not all of it, only the nice parts.”
She glanced back at her dad and back to Dan. She had been the reason for some of their more heated arguments. It felt terrific to have a champion in her corner—her big brother. Becca wondered how things might have been different if she and Dan grew up together instead of separately. Would they be close or distant? Becca liked to think they would’ve been close.
Dan said, “Night, Becca. Don’t make me regret taking your side. Pletcher is still a threat. Stay aware and listen to Dom.”
“I won’t. I promise.” She hugged her brother intensely. With a huge smile on her face and a lightness in her step, Becca left her dad and brother to their game of chess—she had to finish packing.
“It’s your move, Daniel.”
Dan considered the chess board, but a small irritation popped back into his head at hearing his dad call him Daniel. He never called Becca by her given name of Rebecca. He always used her shortened version. But his father remained so formal when he said his name—always Daniel—except a rare Danny. He got up the nerve to address it. “Sir, why do you always call me Daniel?”
The ‘sir’ took William by surprise. Daniel mostly called him Dad but reverted to ‘sir’ when he was angry, unsure, or if they were in the presence of anyone in the military other than family. William took a moment to study Daniel to determine his state of mind. He read something unfamiliar in his eyes. William couldn’t quite place the emotion because it had an element of envy in it which he didn’t comprehend.
As his dad looked at him, Dan wished he hadn’t said anything. He was feeling envious of Becca over a stupid name. “Never mind. You don’t need to answer that.”
He flicked his eyes away quickly and back at the board. Dan picked up his chess piece to move it. He was startled when his father’s hand grasped his. He jerked, dropped the chess piece, and his knee bumped the table which resulted in many pieces falling over and rolling off the small table.
William held fast to Daniel’s hand. Their eyes met across the chess board. His voice soft, William answered, “Because you asked me to.”
Dan blinked. “I asked you? When?”
Giving Dan’s hand a small squeeze before releasing it, William sat back and smiled. “You were six. It was after Becca was born. You were so sincere and adamant, and I had to hide my laugh at hearing my six-year-old boy say his first curse word. You told me and I quote, ‘Sir, please call me Daniel. I don’t want to be called Danny anymore—it’s for babies, and I’m not a baby—I have Mom and two little sisters to take care of when you’re not here.’
“When I asked you if you wanted to be called Dan, you replied, ‘No, sir, I might think you’re mad at me if you call my name twice because it could sound like damn Dan.’”
“I don’t remember that.” Dan’s mouth twitched up at the corners. Damn Dan came awful close to Jon’s ‘Dammit, Dan’ comment when he did something Jon didn’t like. Weirdly, he was looking forward to hearing Jon say that to him—it would mean he really returned to the team.
William stood and strode to his desk. He opened the center drawer, moved things around a bit searching, and removed a small item. He strolled back to Daniel and stood next to him. “Calling you Daniel was one of the few things you ever asked of me. So I have honored your request, and your name fills me with pride every time I say it.”
Dan was shocked by his father’s comment. “I didn’t know … I didn’t remember.” The name Daniel forever changed in his head. All envy for Becca and for her less formal name vanished.
William said, “I have something that I kept for you. I have struggled to determine the right time to give it back to you. I think now is appropriate, Daniel.” In his open palm, William held out a piece of gold colored circular cardboard.
Dan stared at the paper circle as tears filled his eyes. His hand shook a little as he reached for it. He breathed in a shuddering breath as he held the golden circle to his heart. Memories of the day he received it flooded back in. A lump formed in his throat. “Sara made this for me. I threw it away after she died.”
He pulled it away from his heart and stared at the black crayon writing in childish print as he wiped the tears away, not allowing them to drop in front of his father.
Our Danny is
the world’s bestest
big brother!
Love, Sara and Becca
William put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “I recall this was part of her gift to you on your ninth birthday. I found it in the trash. I thought one day you might want it back. Daniel, I am and have always been proud you are my son. You are and have always been an excellent older brother to your sisters. Thank you for all you did for Sara. And thank you for championing Becca and helping me figure out a solution which lets her stretch her wings yet keeps her safe.”
Emotions welled up in him. Dan abruptly stood. “Excuse me please, Dad.” He rapidly left the study and raced up the stairs to his old bedroom.
General Broderick’s Home – Dan’s Childhood Bedroom – 10:30 p.m.
Dan sat on the edge of his bed holding his old Hobbes stuffed tiger. He locked the door when he came in so no one could see him do something so childish. He let the tears silently fall and clutched at Hobbes tighter.
His room hadn’t changed one bit from when he was nine except for some added pictures. A few from his years with Bella, one
from his police academy graduation, and a candid one of him and his cousins when he visited here before he and Brody deployed.
It staggered him when he walked in here the second time he climbed the stairs without stopping for breath. Knocked speechless when he noticed Hobbes sitting on his bed. Just like the gold circle, he threw Hobbes and several other things in the trash after Sara died. He tossed away things he felt he didn’t deserve or hurt too much to keep.
The first time he came into this room, Mom found him sitting on the bed holding Hobbes. They sat together on his old bed and had a long talk. She told him she saved Hobbes from the trash bin. Then she asked him why he threw Hobbes away. He choked on his lie as he told her he didn’t recall.
Dan startled when he heard the door open—he locked it.
Yvonne stood in the doorway, her face, full of motherly concern. Though she could tell he wasn’t, Yvonne asked, “Are you alright, Danny?”
Dan shook his head.
Slowly moving into the room after closing the door, Yvonne sat on the bed and positioned her back on the headboard and her legs out straight in front of her on the bed. Compassionately she beckoned, “Come here, Danny.”
Hesitating only a fraction of a second, Dan turned on the bed and lay his head in his mother’s lap like he did as a child. The tears flowed—he couldn’t stop them nor did he want to.
Yvonne lightly brushed through his hair offering her son comfort. William told her what happened in the study and Danny seemed overwhelmed by his emotions. That occurred with some frequency over the past months.
Every time it did she sought him out, and he willingly accepted the comfort she offered. Her heart and soul cried out with joy each time her son allowed her to do this. He may be a fully-grown man, but it was something they both had been denied when he was a child, and he needed now.
