Home to Stay by Maryann Jordan
20
“I hate that I won’t see you later,” Lucy said, her phone pressed between her shoulder and ear as she waited inside her classroom for Mrs. Farthingale to bring her class back from lunch. She was multitasking by taking the call from John while hanging up classwork on the bulletin board.
“Me, too, babe. But each Keeper spends one evening every other week in the headquarters monitoring the security feeds and checking what might come in. This is the first time I’ve gotten the assignment.”
“Is it interesting to watch the security feeds? Are there famous people… oh, yeah, you can’t tell me. Never mind.” She laughed. “Well, for your sake, I hope it’s interesting.”
“I’ve been told it’s mostly boring, but it feels good to be taking on more of the responsibilities that the others shoulder.”
“I’ll miss you, you know. I’ve gotten rather used to some big guy sleeping with me.”
“Oh, yeah? Who’s this big guy and do I need to take him out?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “You goof. Go do your super-secret security thing, and I’ve got to ride herd over twenty-six fifth graders. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Disconnecting, her smile stayed on her face as she tossed her phone into her purse. Her classroom door opened. Knowing it was too early for her class to arrive, she jerked around to see who had entered. Seeing Paula, she cocked her head to the side, curious to see what she needed.
“Um, hey,” Paula said, entering but stopping just inside the door.
She’d seen little of Paula in the weeks since they’d gotten back from Canada, but she’d smiled at her in the hall and across the library during the faculty meeting. But it was harder to pretend that nothing was wrong, so she’d managed to have excuses for not being around her. Of course, that was easier since Paula had not been seeking her out.
“Hi, what’s up?”
“I Just thought that I’d pop in and see how you were. I haven’t seen much of you recently.”
She noticed Paula leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed in front of her either defensively or protectively, she wasn’t sure which. She smiled but continued to hang several pieces of her students' work on the bulletin board. “Oh, you know how the end of the year is. I’ve arranged for help to come in for our Field Day and end-of-year party. I’m trying to keep the kids on task as we finish out the year. Once they’ve had their state assessments, they tend to think the year is over.”
“Tell me about it. My third-graders are nuts right now.” Paula glanced to the side, then looked back toward Lucy. “I heard Mrs. Farthingale say your soldier was coming in for Field Day. Is that who you got to help?”
“Yes, and the kids are so excited to see him again.”
“And… um… she intimated that you two are dating.”
Lucy finished with the last work to go on the bulletin board and turned to face Paula. “That’s true, we are.”
“That seems kind of fast, doesn’t it?”
A bark of laughter erupted, and Lucy didn’t try to keep the incredulity from her voice. “Fast? Come on, Paula, I can’t imagine you thinking someone starting to date after knowing each other for a while would be fast.” It was a dig, one which she wasn’t proud of but felt Paula deserved, nonetheless.
Paula’s eyes flashed, and her mouth tightened into a straight line. She looked to the side and huffed before her shoulders slumped and she brought her gaze back to Lucy. “Look, I know things fell apart for us, and I’m really sorry. The truth is that I miss you, Lucy. I guess it’s hard for me to believe that you’re dating someone, and I didn’t even know about it.”
Some of the fire fled from Lucy in the face of Paula’s obvious discomfort. “Honestly, my relationship with John is still new, so it’s not like I’ve gone around and blasted it to everyone except you.”
Paula attempted a smile, but it still appeared tight. “Well, I’m happy for you. I also stopped by to see if you wanted to have a drink. We could hit one of the restaurants near me. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a glass of wine together and just chatted. But you probably have something going on with John, don’t you?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to decline, but she hesitated. Maybe Paula is trying to make amends. Maybe she’s seen the light and an outlaw biker is not who she wants to be around. Maybe I could be a good influence if she’s still not sure. Smiling again, she said, “As it turns out, he’s busy tonight. I’d love a glass of wine, so thanks for the invite.”
Paula smiled, the first one that reached her eyes since she’d stopped in for a chat. Pushing off from the doorframe, she nodded. “Okay, good. I don’t have to stay late today, so we can meet at the little place around the corner from me at about five.” She lifted her hand in a little wave and turned to walk back down the hall.
Before Lucy had a chance to consider Paula’s change in attitude or her invitation, she could hear her class returning and stepped to the doorway to greet them as they came in.
* * *
“Do you miss it?”
John sat with Bray, who’d volunteered to be his first surveillance partner after most of the others had left for the day. Looking up as Bray settled into a seat in front of a bank of monitors, he cocked his head to the side. “Miss it?”
“The Forces? Your team?”
With someone else, John might be tempted to offer a flippant answer, but Bray came from the same background. He sighed as he leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees. For a moment he dropped his chin and studied his boots as he pondered the question. Finally, he lifted his head and pinned his friend with a direct gaze. “Yeah… sometimes. My team had been together for a while, and we could anticipate each other’s movements. Hell, we could almost finish each other’s sentences. They were brothers. and being forced to leave was like having my damn arm ripped from my body.”
Bray pinched his lips together and nodded. “I hear you. I know you think I can’t relate because I left willingly, but I can. I used to lay awake at night, so scared I’d made a mistake I thought I’d piss myself. Never had such self-doubt.”
“I heard about what happened. Man, you were the medic when your team got hit. Bray, no one could ever second guess that you needed a break before you broke.”
“I was a lucky fuck though. I was contacted by Mace. He was friends with my former commander. He told me his vision and how much he needed a medic among his Keepers. He assured me that I would be mostly security and investigations like the others, but just like Drew is our pilot, I’d be able to use my medic skills when needed.”
“Seems like we both ended up in a good place.” John rubbed his chin, a smile playing about his lips.
“Hell, yeah. Mace is picky about who he employs, so the group is tight. He has no time for egos or someone who’s out to play civilian-soldier. He only wants those of us who can do the job and understand the Keeper mentality.”
An easy peace settled inside, and John grinned as he nodded toward the screens. “So, you ready to teach me the task of monitoring surveillance feeds?”
Bray grinned in return and then pointed out the various screens in front of them. “We don’t man the security twenty-four-seven. For a few of our clients, mostly government officials who want an added layer or clients that can afford our level of security, it’s the systems Mace provides. We farm out some of our security feeds to companies that Mace deems worthy who specialize in watching screens continually. We also monitor local law enforcement chatter. Mace wants to make sure that we know what’s going on in our own backyard, so to speak.” He chuckled. “That’s how he met Sylvie. We stepped in to help her when the local police didn’t take her seriously when her son witnessed a murder. There was no body, but Mace was convinced he was telling the truth.”
“No shit?” John shook his head in disbelief.
“Seriously, that’s how they met.” Bray turned back to the monitors. “Mace likes to have someone here at night, especially if we have someone in the field. So, that’s why we each take a night every other week. Now, for our active investigations, we’ll have some surveillance in place and can go back to review when needed.”
“Like Lucy’s place?”
“Yep.” Bray pointed to a screen. “This is on her place.” He pointed to another one, adding, “And here is Paula’s. These others are more current investigations or newer security clients.”
John leaned closer to the screen and stared at the front of Paula’s townhouse. “I thought her place would be trendier. She lives in a decent townhouse but the location is crap. What’s that tall chain-link fence connected to?”
“There’s a storage facility on the other side of her back alley—”
He swung his head around. “Seriously? Do you think she’s—”
“I know what you’re thinking. Josh looked but she doesn’t have a storage unit there. Neither does anyone else associated with the Minotaurs that he can find. Even though she’s got easy access from her back door, she’s never gone over there since we’ve been monitoring her, although that’s only been a short while. Josh is cross-referencing anyone who had a storage unit to see if they might be a front for the Minotaurs. Since we’ve had an eye on Paula, Griz has only shown up once.” Bray leaned back, his eyes on the screen. “I’ve been in that area of town before. That place might be crappy now, but I think that neighborhood is going to be revitalized over the next several years, so the owner might do well. Either sell or raise the rent.”
Curious, he asked, “What about you? Rent or own?”
Bray grinned. “I bought a house last year. On a bay property so I can get my kayak out. Are you still with your grandfather?”
Nodding, he shifted to a more comfortable position in his chair so that when he glanced at the screens, he didn’t need the peripheral vision in his left eye to see them. “Yeah. I’ve been working on his place, fixing things and making improvements. I’m not ready to make any decisions now. He needs some help and I’ve also spent most nights with Lucy.”
“Sounds good and definitely sounds like you don’t need to run out and buy a piece of property now. Save your money, work on your grandfather’s place, and see where things go with Lucy.”
“Things go the way I hope, she’ll be with me permanently and then we can decide where to live and how best to help Gramps.”
Bray grinned, shaking his head. “Damn, you didn’t waste any time, did you?”
Shrugging, he said, “You know, I realize it seems fast, but when it’s right, you just know it.” Holding Bray’s gaze, he cocked his head to the side. “What about you?”
Bray shook his head. “Man, there’s just too much of this goodness to go around. Can’t see holding it all for one woman.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Laughing, John turned back to the monitors but not before he caught what he could have sworn was a wistful look on Bray’s face.
After a while, Bray stood and stretched, cracking his neck as he twisted side to side. “You want some coffee?”
John nodded and stood, ready to move around and take a break. Glancing back at the screen with a view of the front and side of Paula’s townhouse, he leaned closer, then blinked at the sight of the vehicle parking close by. “What the hell is she doing there?”
