by J. Haney
I head for the shower, stripping my clothes as I go. I step in and turn the water on as hot as I can take it. I lean my head against the cool tile, letting the heat work the tension out of my shoulders. Feeling the tension wash away is an amazing feeling.
Finishing up in the shower, I hop out, wrap one towel around me and another around my head. In the bedroom, I grab some yoga pants and a tank, not sure what time Caleb will be back; I want to be dressed halfway decent.
Crawling into bed, I start to think about all the times my mother and father didn’t get to tuck me in or, once I got older, when I didn’t want them to. Now more than ever, I wish they were here. Grabbing my laptop off the nightstand, I put it on my lap, pull up my e-mail, and type out a message to the only two people, other than my kids, who are like family to me.
From: Us
Subject: Update
Date: May 5, 2015 12:30am
To: Ryans
Dear Ryans,
Hey, I figured it was time for a check-in. I wanted you to know we will be moving again this week. Yes, I know Jax and Ava’s birthday is coming up fast, but I’m not sure what else to do. I started getting the phone calls again. We had someone at the shop watching in the windows. I promise to e-mail as soon as we get settled again.
Until Then,
Us
I set the laptop back on the nightstand and snuggle into my covers. It isn’t long before I am off to dreamland; well, more like nightmare land…
***
Flashback
I wake up hearing this annoying beep… beep… beep… What the hell is that? I open my eyes just a bit and can see Mrs. Ryan in a chair beside my bed. I start to stretch and feel a sharp pain in my stomach, and that’s when everything comes back to me. I’m at the hospital. These rascals decided they wanted to come join me early. I lay my head back down and try to sleep a bit more, but then hear that beep… beep… beep… again.
“What the hell is that?” I shout.
Mrs. Ryan jumps up, looks at the monitors, then at me. “Kyler, are you okay, sweetheart?”
I scowl up at her. “I was till I kept hearing this beeping noise.”
She looks back to the monitors with a worried look on her face. She reaches for the nurse button, but the doctor is already running in to check everything. Looking from the doctor to the nurses and Mrs. Ryan, I can tell something is wrong. I stare at Mrs. Ryan, then I hear her gasp. I feel the doctor between my feet, checking everything. He shouts to get an OR ready.
“What’s wrong? Are my babies okay? Why do we need to go to the OR? What’s going on?” I ask all these questions but get no answers. I try to sit up a little more and another pain shoots through my stomach. I’m starting to freak out a little, then look down and see blood everywhere. Before I can ask anything else, the room starts closing in. What the hell is wrong with me? Am I asleep? My thoughts go crazy. Somewhere in my subconscious I can hear the doctor talking, but it sounds like mumbles. What’s he saying? I try to listen harder, but the beep… beep… beep… is still going. That’s when I hear the voices get louder and someone screams.
“She’s going to die. We have to get these babies out of her now” is all I hear before everything is black once again.
The next thing I know I’m being woken up, something cold and wet touching me. Opening my eyes, I see the doctor checking my vitals and a nurse cleaning me up.
“Welcome back, Kyler. That was quite a scare you gave us,” the doctor says.
“What scare?” I ask and look for Mrs. Ryan.
“It doesn’t matter now,” he says. “You are just fine. Would you like to meet your beautiful babies?”
I nod, and two nurses come toward me, each with a baby in their arms, one in blue and one in pink. They place one in each of my arms, I look into their eyes, and I can see my mother’s green eyes and my father’s nose…
***
I wake to Jaxson and Avaline in my bed giggling. Not letting them know I’m awake, I roll over and throw my arm and leg over them, then start tickling. Before I know it, we are all giggling. Boy, did I need that.
“Quit… Mommy… Quit,” Ava snorts.
“All right you two, go get your showers and brush your teeth,” I say as I rise to get out of bed.
“Okay, Mommy,” they say at the same time.
As the kids run off to their rooms, I sneak a peek out my window and see the squad car that parked last night. I take a look around to see if anything else may be out of place. Since I don’t see anything, I get dressed, then pull some bags out of the closet. Three bags for each one of us. I place three on my bed before setting three on Jax’s bed, then cross the hall to Ava’s room to do the same. Ava walks upstairs from the shower and sees me coming out of her room
“Everything okay, Mommy?”
“Yes, princess, everything’s fine. I need you and Jax to pack for me. Two bags of clothes and one for things you want to take with us,” I say, then turn toward my room.
“Okay? Why can’t we take everything?” she pleads.
“Well, we may be able to later, but this is what we’re taking for now,” I say, then walk away.
Two bags of clothes packed for me and one with things I can’t leave behind. Picking all three bags up, I head downstairs just as there’s a knock on the door. Setting my bags beside the stairs, I walk over and look out to see who’s here. It’s Caleb. I smile to myself and open the door.
“Hi.” I’m looking up into his blue eyes. He must be a good seven, possibly eight inches taller than I am.
“Hey, are you going to let me in or leave me out here all day?” Caleb jokes.
“Hmm... I may just leave you standing out there.” I laugh, then open the door wide enough for him to walk through. He notices my bags beside the door and pauses, but just for a second.
“You going somewhere?”
“Er… Uh… Yeah, we’re going away for a bit. But I planned on leaving my number with the men outside, so they could give it to you, just in case you had more questions.” I shut the door and head to the kitchen. “Coffee?” I ask over my shoulder.
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
I get the coffee pot ready and turn it on, then head over and start to pull things out of the cabinets that we can take with us when we go, not even sure where we will go this time. I walk over to the pantry and grab two boxes, setting them on the table. The next thing I know Caleb is handing me food to put in them.
“Thanks. So, what —”
I’m cut off by Caleb’s phone ringing.
“Hudson,” Caleb says, then gets an odd look on his face and walks to the front door. I walk to the hall and see him talking with another man.
“Everything okay?” I ask, concerned, but all I get in return is a nod. Well, this can’t be good. I see some kind of box in his hand but decide it must be nothing and go back to what I was doing. Jax and Ava walk into the kitchen together.
“Where are your bags?” I ask them.
“We sat them by yours.” Says Ava.
“Would you like us to start taking them to the truck?” Jax asks. I nod and off they go without another word except a polite “hi” to Caleb.
I don’t hear Caleb as he walks up behind me and places his hand on my shoulder. I jump around and swing my fist at the same time, connecting with his jaw. “Damn it! I’m so sorry. Haven’t you learned not to walk up on someone and scare the piss out of them?” Geez, now I feel really bad.
“It’s okay. Calm down, woman. You got a helluva right hook there.” Caleb laughs it off.
“Thanks… I think. So what’s going on?” I ask as I add the last things to the boxes. “Jax… Ava?” I call out. “There are two boxes in here that need to go to the truck.”
“Kyler,” Caleb says, and I look at him. He’s starting to worry me.
“Ye… Yes?” I stutter.
“Do you know a Tyson Banks?”
I’m thrown back to the day my family was murdered. “Yeah, Ty, well, Tyson, is the twins�
� father. I haven’t spoken to him in almost ten years. Why?”
“Well, you have a package from him”
“Oh, just leave it by the front door. I’ll grab it before we leave,” I say as Jax and Ava walk in.
“Can we walk out back one last time?” Jax asks.
“Of course, let’s all walk out there,” I say and head out the back door. The kids wrap their arms around me and we look out over the backyard.
Well, that is until we hear a massive explosion.
Caleb grabs Jax and starts to run to the fence at the end of the yard. I pick up Ava and follow behind him. Once I get to the fence, I set Ava down and look behind me. My house is in flames. Avaline starts crying and Jaxson holds her. Caleb looks the kids over then turns to look at me.
“I’m okay,” I manage with a racing heart and stinging eyes.
Chapter Twelve ~ Caleb
After checking Kyler and her twins over, I look back to the house. I can already hear sirens getting closer. I turn to ask Kyler a question and she shakes her head at me. She squats down in between the kids and they lay their heads on her shoulders. Kyler looks like she’s going to cry, but at the same time she’s pissed. I’m not sure how to handle this. I don’t usually deal with this kind of emotion.
“It’s okay,” Kyler says as she rubs the kids’ backs. “I’m walking right over here. You stay with Caleb and I’ll be right back. Can you please stay with them?”
I nod and squat down to the kids, then I see a cop and my brother come around the corner. Fuck. I do not need Liam’s mouth right now.
“Did someone leave the oven on?” Ava asks innocently.
“Don’t be stupid, Ava. That wasn’t because the oven was on!” Jax shoves her.
“Hey now, be nice to your sister, she’s scared!” Pulling them apart, I look up, hearing Liam’s undeniable chuckle. “What do you want, dickhead?” I ask, annoyed by his presence, then I look down at Jax, who is laughing, and Ava, who has her hand over her mouth.
“Real smooth, Caleb. Where did you learn how to talk around kids?” Liam squats so that he’s on the twins’ level. “Caleb has a naughty mouth. I’m Liam, what are your names?”
“I’m Jax and this is Ava,” Jaxson replies as Ava smiles at Liam. Liam stands back up just as Kyler returns.
“Well, that’s all squared away. They have my number so they can get ahold of me if needed. Caleb, they did ask if you could come over so they could ask you a couple of questions.” Kyler looks toward Liam. “Uh... Who are you?”
I can’t help but chuckle at her tone. Liam looks from me to Kyler then shakes his head. “I’m this one’s little brother.” He bobs his fat head toward me. Kyler nods at Liam and then squats down to the twins.
“Okay, you guys ready to load up and get out of here?” Kyler forces a smile and watches the twins as they nod.
Liam and I are still standing, and instead of being quiet until she’s had her moment, Liam opens his damn mouth. “Kyler, where do you plan to go?”
I shake my head and look at my feet. I’m sure Kyler is giving him a “what the fuck” kind of look.
“Liam, is it?” Kyler asks, which makes me look at her and my lips pull up into a smile. “Well, if you must know, I have no idea where we are going at the moment. However, since my house just blew up, I’m guessing a hotel and then I’ll see what my options are!” This makes me chuckle. I love that this girl can put him in his place.
Kyler stands and walks over to me. “You can follow me or call me. I gave you my cell number, but I’m sure you have a thousand and one more questions for me after this.” She waves her hands in the direction of the house.
“Why don’t you follow me back to the office and then we’ll figure out somewhere for you to go from there?”
She nods, grabs the twins’ hands, and walks off. They get into her truck; I stop at her door and watch Liam get into his car.
“If you follow me, we’ll go straight to my office.”
“Will he be there?” Kyler asks with a jerk of her head. I know she’s talking about Liam; damn, he must rub her the wrong way.
“Yes, he will probably be there.” With a snicker, I walk off to my car.
Twenty minutes later, we pull into the office. I park in front and Kyler parks behind me. Getting out, I notice Kyler’s already ushering the kids out. Jax is looking around, but Ava is attached to Kyler. They all look toward me and I motion for them to follow, then position myself behind them as we enter the office. Nell and Liam are already bickering. Fuck, Liam’s been here, what, ten minutes? Jesus, can he not be an ass for one fucking day?
“Would you two just stop? Nell, can you help get the kids some food and keep an eye on them while I talk with Kyler?” I point to the kids. Nell nods and pulls some menus out of a desk drawer to start showing them.
“Liam, go to your office and get some work done.” Just as I finish talking, the phone rings.
“Hudson & Hudson PI, this is Nell speaking. How can I help you today?” She waits a moment before speaking again.
“Oh, hello Mr. Hudson. Yes, Caleb just walked back in. I will tell him you are on the phone now. Just one moment, please.” Nell looks to me. “Line one.”
I nod and tell Kyler I’ll be back in a few.
I pick up the phone and drop into my chair. “Pops, what can I do for you? I’m a little busy right now.”
“I was just seeing if you were going to be here for dinner?” he asks, hopefully.
“Well, I’m not sure. I have a client I’m trying to help. Her house blew up today and she’s not sure where she’s going.”
“Then, son, you bring her here,” he insists. “We’ll keep her safe together.”
“Pops, she has a set of twins as well.”
“Caleb, I’ve raised you kids. They don’t bother me.”
“Okay, Pops, I’ll bring them there if there are no other options. I have to go. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Goodbye, son,” he says and hangs up.
Chapter Thirteen ~ Kyler
Caleb walks off to his office and Liam to his, which leaves Nell, the kids, and me to sit and wait. The kids finally decide on pizza. I smile at them as I walk over to the window to look out and see if we were followed. I must have gone off into my own paranoid little world, because I don’t hear anything until I feel the heat of someone’s hand on my shoulder. I stiffen for just a moment, then I feel the tingle and I know without a doubt it’s Caleb. Turning, I look up into his blue eyes and give him my best attempt at a happy smile.
“Kyler, can you follow me into my office? Nell will take care of the kids, I promise.” He nods to Nell.
“Uh…Yeah… Sure.” I follow Caleb to his office. Just as we get to the door, he moves out of the way to let me walk in front of him. He places his hand on the small of my back as I pass him. There’s that tingle again. What the hell is it about this man that makes my hair stand on end and makes me want to tell him my life story?
“Have a seat on the couch so we can talk.” Caleb grabs his tablet as I take a seat. He sits beside me and looks me over before speaking.
“Kyler, I don’t want you to get upset, so we’re just going to start with where you are going to stay.” I nod and look into the deep pools of blue that are his eyes and wish I could have met him under different circumstances.
“I guess a hotel for the night, but which hotel? I have no idea.” Someone knocks on the door, making me jerk my head.
“Yes?” Caleb sounds bothered as Nell walks in with a tray of coffee and places it down on the table next to us.
“If you need anything else just give me a yell.”
“Thanks, Nell.” Caleb barely glances up from his tablet. I smile at her.
“So, before I start spilling my life out to you, how about you tell me what it is you do, exactly?” I ask. “I guess I should know a little about you.”
“Whatever happened to ‘the lady goes first’? But okay. Well, I’m just a PI. I’ve been doing this since I w
as eighteen, so about twelve years now. I mainly track missing people and get evidence for adultery cases. Not very exciting. This is my office. What else do you want to know?”
He watches me closely as I take in everything he’s said. “Do you deal with a lot of murders?” I look away because I’m not really sure I want to know the answer. Of course, since I lived just a few towns over, he should have heard about everything. I look back over at Caleb and see him narrowing his eyes at me.
“Well, unfortunately most missing people end up dead, so I suppose so. I’ve worked on a few cold cases for the King County sheriff. Some cops never get over certain cases, so they hire me to do routine donkey work to try to find out what happened.”
“So I guess I should fill you in a little, huh? I told you I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen. My parents and brother were murdered one day when I went to school early.” I glance at Caleb as I hear the kids shout. He jumps and opens the door to make sure everything is okay then turns back to me, laughing.
“They’re playing a game with Liam and he’s winning.” He shuts the door and takes his seat beside me.
Looking back down into my coffee, I go on. “I went to school early a lot because I was pregnant with the kids at the time.” I take a sip of my coffee — it’s not half bad — and stare into the cup. “As of yesterday, the cops still have no idea who the killer or killers are. So yeah, I’m a little cautious and I know how to keep a low profile… well, usually. I have done pretty well these last ten years taking care of the kids and myself.” I lift my eyes to look him once again. “Okay, start asking questions. I know there are a ton of things going through that head of yours.”
Caleb glances up from his tablet. “My first question is, are you sure you are okay? It’s been a rough day.”
I can’t help but laugh at his question, but then I think about it. Am I okay? Lord, how do I even answer that question? My home and pretty much all of our belongings were blown up.