“No thanks,” I said. “I need to get back to work.”
“Are you really okay?” he asked with major concern in his tone, as he stood up and walked around his desk toward me. “I know you don't like talking about shit.”
“I am,” I said, moving toward the door. “I've got my baby girl and my work. That's all I need.”
“I'm here if you ever want to talk,” he said.
“You know I don't do that,” I replied. “Have a good day. I'll catch you later.”
I walked out and closed his door. Then I stood still for a moment. She didn't have a man. There was no dad not being there for his child. The baby's dad had died. It was Gabe. He was with Bridget. She was his woman. Shit!
I began walking toward the elevator when I heard someone sniffling. I turned to see Bridget, with her back to me and her shoulders shaking, standing down a short hallway. I felt that shit in my chest. Who wouldn't? Gabe gave me my chance at a new start, and he was gone. She was alone. I'd always wanted to find a way to repay Gabe, and that was my way. I walked up behind her and put my hand on her shoulder. She turned around and looked up at me with tears on her cheeks. Without thinking, I reached out and wiped her tears away.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I'm happy,” she said, as she reached up to dry her face the rest of the way.
“You're crying because your happy,” I said, as more of a comment than a question.
“I'm a bit overwhelmed I guess,” she answered honestly. “It's probably just my body messing with me.”
I knew better. It was definitely my way to help. I reached into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and grabbed a card I'd been holding onto for a very long time. When I handed it to her, she read it and then slowly looked up at me. I was so damn glad I had my glasses on. There was no way I wanted her to see my eyes.
“Why do you have this?” she asked, her voice filled with emotion.
“Don't give me that look,” I said. “That stays between us. Give it one chance. Trust me on this.”
I heard the door open down the hall and heard Gabby call out for her.
“Between us,” I said.
She nodded and tucked the card into the pocket of her pants. I hurried to the elevator and got out of there before Gabby saw me and started her interrogation. There was no way I was dealing with her shit at that moment.
I went back to my office and shut my door, forgetting all about the lunch I'd been looking forward to. Gabe was her baby's dad. I felt so damn bad for ever thinking about her at all and for thinking the dad was shit. Gabe was a good man, not some loser. If he'd been alive, he would have been there for his kid. There was no doubt in my mind about that.
Bridget's reaction to most men popped into my mind. Then I thought about Gabe. No way, I told myself. There was no way he was the reason for that. He'd never do anything to create that shit. Then who did? Fuck! I wasn't taking that on. There was no way it was Gabe.
When my office phone rang, I was relieved. It was my brother letting me know that I needed to see a client. When he told me I needed to head to our local police department, I was shocked. I couldn't wait to find out what that was about, and I was happy to be pulled from the thoughts I'd just had going through my mind.
I got up, grabbed my stuff, and was out the door, hoping more than anything that we were finally getting something huge.
Chapter 13
Bridget
“What are you doing out here?” Gabby asked, as she walked closer.
“I'm just taking a minute to breathe,” I answered.
The moment she got close enough to really see me clearly, a sad look crossed her face and she reached out to wrap me in a hug.
“You having a hard time?” she asked.
“A little,” I answered. “They all know about Gabe now. You know they do. Why else would I have named the baby Gabe? Them talking about him got to me. I can't explain it.”
“I know,” Gabby said. “We miss him. They all loved him too.”
“I know they did,” I said. “It's just hard. He should be here with his boy. I'm so glad you came back. I don't know what I'd do without you.”
“I'm glad I did too,” Gabby said. “I love you two so much. I'll always be there for you. Do you want to go home?”
“No,” I said, as I shook my head. “Not at all. I just need a couple of minutes to myself. I'll come back in there in a minute. Thank you so much, Gabby, for this shower and for everything.”
She gave me one more big hug before leaving me to pull myself together. I pulled out the card Derek had given me and couldn't pull my eyes away. He thought I needed it, but why did he have it? Where did he get it?
The minute he'd touched me, I knew it was him. The hand being attached to a wrist with the end of a suit jacket only verified it. That was when I realized again that he didn't bother me. I didn't freeze. I wasn't nervous. It was the opposite actually. I felt calm and comfortable. That alone freaked me out. It wasn't just the craziness of me being in labor that had me forgetting my worries that day. It was Derek.
My thoughts went back to the card in my hand. Why had he given it to me? His concern wasn't real before. He hadn't come to see the baby, and he hadn't even answered my text. He'd helped me that day because he felt obligated. It was his job. I hadn't heard from him since. So why the card? Then I read the card again. He knew Gabe was the father. He had to have. How did he know, I wondered? Why the sudden concern? I was so damn confused.
I heard laughing coming from down the hall and quickly shoved the card back into my pocket, instantly feeling guilty for thinking about anything other than Gabe and the baby. Those were my loves. That was where my mind needed to be. I went back into my shower and thanked everyone for being there. Then I asked Doug to take me and the baby home. That was where Gabe was. That was where I wanted to be. I knew my hormones were going crazy, and I was exhausted. My mind was messing with me, and I couldn't take it.
On the way home, I told Doug he should move into the house with Gabby and me. I think he was surprised. I did let him know that would put him in the nightly baby rotation, which was a complete joke, but he didn't know that. He accused me of using him. By the time we got there, my mood had lightened. He carried in all of the things I'd gotten from the shower and then headed back to work. I began going through everything to put it all away.
Gabby called looking for him after some time had gone by, and I let her know that he'd left right away. I'm not sure what happened between them. As soon as she came home, she went to bed. I wasn't sure if it was because of the shower and her feelings, if she was sick, or if there was something going on between her and Doug. It didn't take long before I realized it was definitely Doug, I just wasn't sure what. I decided to go to bed and try to get a bit of sleep so I didn't get between whatever it was that was going on with them.
When I woke up the next morning, I walked into the kitchen to find Gabby cooking breakfast with a huge smile on her face. When Doug came in, he had a smile just as wide. When Gabby lifted the spatula to flip a pancake, I saw it. It sparkled in the light, and it was huge.
“Your engaged,” I yelped, as I shifted the baby to my left arm and reached out with my right hand to inspect the ring. “It's beautiful. I must have missed a lot last night.”
Gabby burst out in laughter and turned to Doug. He nodded, and she looked back toward me.
“I have something to tell you,” she said.
“What?” I asked, as my eyes widened.
“We're getting married,” she said with a smile.
“I got that part,” I said, as I shook her hand with the ring on it. “That's what this means.”
“No,” she said. “We're getting married Monday.”
“Which Monday?” I asked, as I dropped her hand and spun around toward Doug.
“This Monday,” she answered from behind me.
“Seriously,” I said, as I pointed at Doug. “When I said you should move in, this was not what I meant. You
couldn't just move your shit in.”
The smile on Doug's face spread even wider. Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
“Don't worry,” he said. “She'll still be right here to take baby duty at night.”
I looked up at him and rolled my eyes. Then I pulled away from his arm and wrapped my free arm around Gabby.
“I'm really happy for you,” I said. “I'm pretty sure Gabe would be too. He obviously knew something nobody else did when he forced you two together.”
“I guess he did,” Gabby said with a smile.
“He knew nobody else would put up with her,” Doug said with a laugh, before putting on the most innocent face.
“You better watch yourself,” Gabby said, as she pointed the spatula at him.
“That spatula would go better across your ass than anywhere else,” he said with warning.
“You're disgusting,” I said, as I pulled away from Gabby. “Do you have to ruin everything in the house?”
“That's just payback for the nasty things you've told me about you and my brother in this house,” Gabby said.
“Just so you know,” I said with a smile. “That spatula does feel pretty good across the ass.”
I turned without another word and walked out of the room. Then I heard the spatula hit the garbage can. As soon as I rounded the bend, I yelled out a congratulations. Then I burst into laughter. I could only imagine the look on her face. It was totally worth the cost of a new spatula.
I really was so happy for the two of them. They had a past that they'd both walked away from for many years. It was their second chance, and they weren't wasting it. If it weren't for Gabe, they never would have found their way back to each other. His company was doing better than ever, but I don't believe that was why he'd made them work with each other. I think he knew that they belonged together, just like we belonged together. How long he had the ring in his drawer and why he'd never given it to me I will never know. I did know however, that if I was ever able to find a love like what I felt with him again, I would never waste it. Neither of us had ever said the words. We'd never told each other how we felt. Not a day had gone by since the accident that I hadn't regretted it. That was not a mistake I would ever make again.
Monday afternoon, I watched my best friend and the man she almost lost forever profess their love to each other. It was absolutely beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. Not everyone got that chance, and I was so damn happy they were getting theirs.
When I finally got home, I was exhausted. I put the baby down for a nap before going to my room to rest for a bit. When I looked down at the card that had been on my dresser since my shower at work, I picked it up and ran my fingers over the words “Single Parents Who've Lost Their Spouses Support Group” over and over. The meeting was starting in less than an hour. I wasn't taking Little Gabe with me. He was sleeping. Besides, I wouldn't know anyone anyway, I thought. Gabe hadn't been my spouse. I honestly didn't know what he'd been to me. How would I have explained that without looking like an idiot? What would I have said? There was no way. I wasn't about to do that alone. That was not happening.
“Maybe next week,” I said into the empty air around me, as I opened a drawer and stuck the card inside, just before crawling into bed, pulling the covers up around me, closing my eyes, and doing my best to try and get some sleep.
Chapter 14
Derek
I walked into the meeting Monday night and looked around, but she wasn't there. Just as the meeting was about to start, the door opened, and I quickly looked, hoping to see her smiling face. Instead, I saw Taylor's ugly mug. He plopped his late ass down in the chair next to mine.
“Don't look so happy to see me,” he said with a laugh.
“Shut the fuck up. I just saw your ass a bit ago,” I said, as I turned my attention back to the group.
Our group wasn't huge, but there were a few men and women that showed up each week and a few that came when they could. That group had been a lifesaver when I needed it most. They would never know just how much they helped me. If I told them, which I wouldn't, they'd never believe me. I was pretty quiet and did way more listening than talking. Actually, I barely talked at all. That didn't change how much it helped just sitting in a chair next to people that knew my pain.
The meeting went on, but I didn't hear a damn word anyone said. I was too busy wondering where the fuck she was, and why she hadn't shown up. I heard the voices around me, but no matter how hard I tried, my ass could not focus.
“What's your deal?” Taylor whispered, as he leaned over toward me.
“Nothing man,” I answered quietly. “I'm just tired.”
As soon as everyone had said what they had to say for the night, the group broke apart and everybody began talking about everyday shit while they had snacks and drinks. Taylor got up, grabbed a plate full of stuff, and plopped back down next to me.
“Did you hear back from the station yet?” he asked.
“Not in the last hour that we haven't seen each other,” I answered sarcastically.
I'd gone to the local station for a short meeting Friday and spent a few hours there earlier the morning of the meeting as well. The other guys were just as excited as I was over the thought of getting into something more interesting. The thought of helping the police catch someone that was doing bad in our community excited the shit out of me. Helping keep the world safe was what I was made to do. I loved my time as a SEAL. Did I regret leaving? No, I didn't. I missed the shit out of it, but it was more important for me to be right where I was.
“They said they'll call if they need us,” I said, when he didn't respond. “When they do, we have to prove ourselves. They don't usually work with new people, but you're brother was a SEAL right along with me. That means shit to them. They know we can handle what they throw at us. The training we have goes beyond what many of them have experienced. That means something.”
“You know what this is going to mean for the business?” he asked, as if I might not know.
“More business and more risk,” I answered honestly. “You're brother and I will be taking care of anything they give us.”
“Come on man,” he said.
“Not going to happen,” I said, as I looked over at him. “These are criminals, Taylor. They're not cheating spouses or petty thieves. We have the training. That was one thing I had to agree on. It can only be the two of us.”
“I was a fucking cop,” he said in a pissed tone.
“I get that man,” I said. “The cops are the ones hiring us though. You also have a little boy at home that needs his father.”
“What about Jenny?” he asked, as if that was going to make me reconsider.
I opened my mouth to defend myself, which I didn't have to, and the woman that ran the group walked up saving me from the argument that was about to begin.
“I thought you were bringing someone new tonight,” she said.
I'd sent her a message letting her know Bridget might be coming. I didn't tell her anything about Bridget's situation, just that there might be a new face. If Bridget wanted her story out there, she'd be the one to tell it.
“I guess tonight wasn't her night,” I said, as I shook my head.
“Her,” Taylor said, as he looked between me and Stephanie. “What are you talking about?”
I stood from my chair and looked back down at him.
“Mind your own damn business,” I said, before turning back to Stephanie. “I'll see you next week.”
I hadn't said a word to anyone else. I just left. Taylor was already pushing my buttons about shit he shouldn't have been talking about there. It didn't help that I'd already been on edge anyway. I needed to get out of there and home to my bed. I hadn't slept for shit that weekend and was hoping I'd finally be able to get a solid eight hours.
I walked through the door, went to my little girl's room, and kissed her little forehead before heading to my room. I stripped out of the jeans and t-shirt I'd worn to the meet
ing and fell down onto my bed with my phone right next to me on the nightstand. The more I stared up at the damn ceiling, the more I wanted to let her know that I'd noticed she hadn't shown up. It wasn't like I wanted to see her, but I knew it would help her if she went and had the biggest feeling she was never going to show up. After about an hour of not falling asleep, I grabbed my phone, went back to her thank you text, set her name as a contact, and typed out a quick message.
Me: You weren't there.
I sent it off before thinking she might think it was some crazy stalker shit. Oh well! She'd get the point, right? I put the phone back down and closed my eyes. The ding of the phone woke me up some time later. I looked at the clock to see that it was one o'clock. I quickly typed in my password thinking it was work, but it wasn't.
Bridget: How would you know?
What the hell did she mean how would I know? How did she think?
Me: I would have seen you.
She didn't say anything for a few minutes, and neither did I. Just when I'd given up and set the phone back down, it dinged.
Bridget: I couldn't make it. Maybe another time.
Bullshit, I thought. She was going to put it off. Been there, done that.
Me: Really? Don't think I didn't use that one. What kept you away?
When I read her reply, I couldn't help but laugh.
Bridget: Doug and Gabby got married today.
Good one, I thought. Did she not think I'd find out she was totally full of shit?
Me: Yeah right! You couldn't come up with something better than that.
Bridget: They really did.
No way! That was not possible. They just recently admitted that they actually liked each other. She had to be messing with me. Was she?
Me: Seriously?
Bridget: Yes. I couldn't make that shit up.
Me: Did you just swear? Didn't they just stop hating each other.
Bridget: They sure did. She was pissed about something when I went to bed Friday night. Somehow, he asked her to marry him sometime after I fell asleep, and they got married this morning.
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