“Most of the kids...their real fathers take them.”
“Do you want me to take you?” he offered.
“Do you think that would be okay?”
“We could ask Jesse what he thinks,” Gunner said. “Maybe we could both take you.”
“There’s a kid in my class who has two dads.”
“People have families that come all kinds of different ways.”
“I like our family,” she said finally, wrapping a hand around his arm.
He smiled at her, staring down at her wide, innocent eyes with nothing but love. “I like our family too.”
As they walked down the halls in the hospital, Nora counted the numbers on the doors. “Three hundred two, three hundred four, three hundred six, three hundred eight.”
Gunner pulled her to a stop as the door to one opened and he saw a familiar face.
“What is it?” Nora asked, looking into the room. Misty wasn’t someone she’d recognize and Gunner had no plans of changing that.
“Um, nothing, here’s the elevator. Come on.” He let her press the button and they walked onto it quickly.
“Who was that old lady?” she asked as the elevator began to rise.
“Just someone who’s sick, sweetie.”
“Did you know her?”
“Nope, I thought I did, but I was wrong.”
The doors opened again and they were on Reagan’s floor. “Mommy!” Nora cried, seeing her mother standing just beyond the open doorway, talking to a doctor. She smiled up at them, holding her arms out for Nora.
Gunner pointed at the elevator. I’ll be right back, he mouthed the words, holding up a finger. Reagan looked confused, but nodded anyway.
He climbed back on before the doors shut and pressed number three. He was back in her doorway within minutes.
He walked in without knocking. She lay in bed, a thin gown covering her frail body. An oxygen mask had been placed over her nose and mouth. Her bandana was missing, revealing a mostly bare scalp.
Her wild eyes found him. She reached for the mask slowly, pulling it down. “Gunner, my boy,” she croaked. The cancer was killing her rapidly, it was evident.
“Misty,” he said formally.
“Misty? Since when do you call me…” She placed the mask to her mouth, taking a breath before she could speak again. “Misty?”
“Since you quit being my mother.” She shook her head, the mask pressed to her mouth. “All those years, I tried to protect you. Protect them. I hated my father...but all along, you were the only monster under that roof. You were the one I should’ve hated.”
She shook her head again.
“How could you do that? How could you hurt them? What did they ever do to you?”
“Your father...was…” She took a breath and removed the mask. “...a cheater.”
“So were you,” he said indignantly.
“I wish…” she croaked. “That...was...the lie I told...him...to...get even.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He had an affair...when I was...pregnant with you...the bastard.”
“So you had an affair to get even?”
“I never...had...an affair...it was...a lie.”
“You lied about your affair?”
“To...hurt...him...like he hurt...me.” Her chest was rising and falling heavily, a monitor beginning to beep faster.
“So, Gavin and Gia were his kids all along?”
She nodded, sucking down the oxygen.
“You lied to all of us for years? Just to make yourself feel better?”
She sucked in another breath. “Screw...him....” she whispered, a small smile in her eyes.
“You’re sick, you know that? You ruined all of our lives. You ruined your families’ lives for some sick vendetta. And look where it got you, where it got us: he’s dead, Gavin’s on the run, Gia’s seriously screwed up, and I’ve spent years away from the only true family I’ve ever had. All because you’re selfish. And evil.”
“I...did...what I had to.”
“Now, I’m going to do what I have to.” The voice came from behind him. He looked up to see Gavin walking toward them. Misty smiled.
“Back...again?” she asked him.
“I’m done running. You started the fire. You tried to kill your children. You abused us all those years. You’re to blame for everything.”
“I never...started the fire.”
“Well, that doesn’t matter,” he said, walking up beside of Gunner. “Because after today, that’s what people are going to believe. See, I’m done lying for you, Misty, and I’m done hiding. I’m done. Gunner didn’t see all the horrible shit you did to us. How you burned us, broke our fingers, punched our faces, cut Gia’s hair, called her names, starved her. You were cruel to me, but Gia always got it the worst. Were you jealous of her? Was that it? You hated her the most but I never knew why. You were good at hiding. Good at lying. My sister was a good person at one point, but she had no choice with you. She had no choice but to become who she is now. And that’s on you. But I’ll be damned if I don’t find her and make sure she gets the help she needs. And that can’t happen if you’re still alive.”
He grabbed the oxygen mask, pulling it off of her. She grasped for it, clawing and scratching his hands, her nails drawing blood. For a moment, Gunner stood, watching, but he had to stop it. Not for her, but for his brother. He couldn’t let his life be ruined any more.
“Gavin, stop,” he told him, trying to grab the oxygen mask from his hand.
“No, Gunner, you don’t understand. You don’t know what she’s done. You didn’t have to live it.” He was crying, his words coming out in sobs.
“If you do this, she still wins. She still controls you. The only way to be truly free is to walk away right now. She’s dying anyway. She’s going to die soon. But if you kill her, that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You see what killing has done to Gia. It destroyed her, man. Don’t let it happen to you too. I’ll back you up. I’ll help protect you. Help get Gia the help she needs. But you have to stop.” Gunner pleaded with his brother, trying desperately to get him to look at him. “Don’t let Misty control one more thing in your life.”
With that, Gavin thrust the oxygen back into her hands. “She doesn’t deserve to live,” he said firmly, walking away and out of the room as Misty’s breathless, evil cackles echoed behind him.
“You think you’ve won,” Gunner said, “but the truth is...we win. We win because we get to keep on living. But you, you’re done here. You may have another week or maybe a month, but this is all of the life you have. You’re alone, Misty. You’re going to die alone.” Without another word, he strolled from the room, wanting nothing more than to see his family.
* * *
When they got home, Gunner helped Reagan from the car. “I’m okay,” she told him. “Honestly, I am.”
He backed up, still staying close beside her. He opened the door, setting her bag down. “Are you hungry?” he asked. “I can make you something to eat.”
“We just ate lunch half an hour ago, Gun,” she assured him. “I’m okay. The doctor said I should resume normal activity.”
“The doctor also said you should take it easy.”
“I appreciate you worrying. But, really, I just need to change out of these clothes and take a shower.”
The doorbell rang behind him and Nora rushed to get it. “Nora, what did your mother tell you about—” Gunner began to scold her.
“Grandma and grandpa!” she yelled, jumping into their waiting arms.
“Hello, my sweet,” Gemma kissed her on the head.
“Mom, dad, what are you doing here?” Reagan asked, hugging them both slowly, trying to hide her pain.
“We came to see if Nora wanted to spend the night with us. That way you can get settled in.”
“You don’t have to take her,” Reagan said. “I’m not sure I’m ready to be away from her again.”
“She’ll be fi
ne. We’ve missed her too, you know,” Gemma said.
“Please can I go, mommy? Please?” Nora begged.
“You don’t want to stay home with mommy?” Reagan asked, pretending to pout.
“Grandma and Grandpa let me have brownies,” she said, rubbing her hands together as if she had an evil plot.
“They do, do they?” Reagan raised her eyebrows.
“You weren’t supposed to tell that.” Gemma touched her forehead to the girl’s. “That was our secret.”
The girl shrugged. “There’s too many secrets.”
“Are there more?” Reagan asked.
“Don’t look in the trash!” Nora giggled.
“Have you been feeding my child sugar?” Reagan teased Gunner.
“I was coerced, I swear.” He ruffled Nora’s hair playfully.
“Oh, fine, grandma and grandpa are cooler than mommy,” Reagan said, giving in.
“Not cooler, mommy. Just a little sweeter,” Nora said, leaning from her grandmother’s arms to kiss Reagan.
“Go get your bags packed, little missy.” Gemma patted her bottom.
Nora ran from the room, returning a few seconds later with a bag.
“You’ve got everything you need? Toothbrush, hairbrush, pajamas, socks, underwear, clothes?” Reagan recited the list.
“Yep, I’ve got everything!” she exclaimed.
“All right, give me a kiss then.” She kissed her daughter. “I love you.”
Nora walked to stand in front of Gunner. He bent down. “Have fun,” he told her.
“Take care of my mommy,” she instructed, wagging her finger at him.
He held out a pinky. “Pinky swear.”
Her eyes lit up. “You know about pinky swears?”
“I know a thing or two.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you, Gunner.”
“I love you too, Nor,” he said, rubbing her back.
With that, they were off. “Take care of her.” Reagan and Gunner waved to them as they pulled down the street. Once they were gone, Gunner shut the door.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m better than okay,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. He fell into her kiss, his arms surrounding her waist, minding her bandages.
“I missed you,” he said.
“I’ve been missing you for a very long time.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked, pushing her back into the wall.
“Yeah,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Never again,” he said.
“Never,” she agreed.
His lips found hers again, his skin suddenly on fire for her. He lifted her shirt over her head carefully, revealing the gauze that ran down her sides. “Is this okay?” he asked.
“You don’t have to ask that anymore,” she said, pulling his off as well.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She grabbed his hand, pulling him down the hall. “You won’t.” They entered her bedroom, shutting the door behind them. She attempted to pull her bra off but winced and stopped.
“Here,” he said, “let me.” He moved slowly, his hands finding the clasp. His face was next to hers, his lips on her ear. “We don’t have to rush.”
“I’ve been waiting for you, for this, for eight years.” Her hands found his pants and she undid the button quickly, pulling them down.
“I don’t have protection,” he told her.
She reached into the dresser drawer, pulling a condom out. “Not that it helped us much last time.” He tried to ignore the fact that this particular condom had probably once been meant for Jesse. She kissed him, his passion growing as she walked him backward toward the bed. He sat. His hands moved to her pants and he slid them carefully over her legs, pulling her onto the bed. His hands cupped her breasts, his mouth running over them. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
She pulled him close to her, taking the condom from his hands, tearing open the package and sliding it over him. He was ready. He rolled over so he was on top of her, staring down in amazement. He slid inside of her as she let out a shocked moan.
She gripped his back, pushing him into her harder, her face buried in his shoulder. He kissed the side of her head, putting his weight on one arm so he could hold the back of her head. Her body moved rhythmically with his, their breaths heavy.
“I love you,” she said. He felt cool tears gathering on his bare skin and he stopped moving, looking at her.
“Is it your stitches? Are you hurting?”
“No,” she whispered, “it’s my heart. It’s finally stopped hurting.”
He sank into her again, his mouth meeting hers. Mine too, he thought, mine too.
* * *
“Where are we going?” Reagan asked again.
“Patience grasshopper,” Gunner taunted. Beside him, Nora snickered, covering her mouth.
He led her to the edge of the black pavement, staring at the large white building. “Open your eyes,” he whispered in her ear.
She moved her hands from her eyes and gasped instantly, her face lighting up at the sight of the large helicopter. “You remembered?” She squealed, covering her mouth and jumping up and down.
“You don’t forget something as crazy as that,” he said, laughing. “Now, you don’t actually get to fly today. Nora and I wanted to go with you and lessons only allow you and the instructor to go up. But I figured this would be a good starting point and then, if you want, you can take the course.”
“I’m going to learn to fly a helicopter?” she asked excitedly.
“You’re going to learn to fly a helicopter.” His happiness grew, realizing how much this meant to her.
She grabbed Nora’s hand, running to where the pilot was waiting for them. He handed them helmets and began explaining how everything worked. Reagan was hardly listening, her over-the-moon excitement completely evident. He told them all where they should sit so the weight would be distributed evenly and helped them to get strapped in. The cockpit was almost entirely made of glass and much to Gunner’s surprise the doors were shut, closing them in. Action movies had done so little to prepare him for this.
Reagan reached over Nora, squeezing Gunner’s hand. “Are you excited?” she asked Nora, a bit too loudly, into the microphone. Nora nodded, though she looked a bit nervous.
The pilot began talking, asking for clearance, and pretty soon the blades above them began to whirl. They were extremely loud, even inside the aircraft, and Gunner suddenly understood why the headsets were necessary.
“All right, folks, here we go,” the pilot said as the aircraft began lifting up. There was no runway, in fact, it felt more like an elevator than anything as it lifted straight into the air. Gunner’s stomach lurched just a bit as he stared out over Atlanta, the sun gleaming off the tall buildings. He looked over, no matter how beautiful the city was, it couldn’t come close to the sight of his girls looking out the window, their eyes wide with pure joy. Reagan looked back at him, her smile wide.
“It’s amazing,” she said.
“Yes, it is,” he agreed.
The pilot told them what they were seeing, pointing out a few landmarks here and there. For the most part, Gunner wasn’t listening. He couldn’t take his eyes off Reagan, who looked like a two year old on Christmas morning. Everything was more magical through her eyes. He rubbed Nora’s shoulder, grinning as her smile grew.
“This is awesome,” she told him, giving him a hug. “Best surprise ever.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
Once they’d made their trip around the city, the pilot let them know they would be headed back. There was a bit of turbulence as the helicopter found its way to the ground and Nora squeezed his arm. “We’re okay,” he assured her.
She nodded, though she didn’t let go. As they made their way out of the helicopter, Reagan was still gushing. “Thank you,” she told the pilot as she handed back her helmet.
“So, what did you th
ink?” Gunner asked.
“Oh, Gunner, that was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. I can’t believe you set that up for me.”
He smiled. “It was fun. Number one thing on your bucket list? Check!” He made the ‘checkmark’ motion with his hand in the air, throwing an arm around her shoulder.
“No,” she said.
“Okay, well, not technically because you didn’t learn to fly it yet. But, we can go right in here and pay for your lessons so you can learn. I just wanted to make sure you loved it as much as you thought you would.”
“No,” she said again, turning to face him. “I mean, that isn’t number one on my bucket list. Not anymore.”
“No?” He cocked his head to the side. “What’s number one then? Are we moving on to submarines now? ‘Cause I don’t know if I can swing that.” He smiled at her playfully.
“Becoming your wife.”
He gulped. “Wait, what?”
“Marry me, Gunner.” She stared at him, her face stoic. “Marry me.”
“What?” he repeated.
“I know it’s soon. Too soon. But, I mean...is it really? We’re like ten years in the making with a slight break in there, right? I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of hoping. We’ve wasted too much time. I love you and you love me, so why wait anymore? Right? Let’s do this thing, Gunner. Like, for real. Let’s be all in. You and me.”
“And me!” Nora interjected.
“And her,” she said, her eyebrows raised as she let out a laugh. “So, say yes, Gun. Say yes and marry me already.”
“No,” he said.
“No?”
“You aren’t supposed to ask me.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a ring box. “I was going to ask you. Tonight.”
“Oh, no,” she said, covering her mouth. “Well, I asked you first. And you said yes.”
“I haven’t said yes.”
She took the ring box from him and slid the diamond band over her finger, kissing his lips with a full smile still on her face. “You said yes. And that’s the story we’re telling the grandkids. Face it, mister, you were too slow. Momma had to make the first move.”
The Cleaner Page 18