Phoenix Alight

by Isadora Montrose

  The moon was setting when Harrison returned home. He was just as sweaty as he had been when he had set out. Probably more. The Arizona night was cool, but he had run far and hard trying to evade his demons. But at least his breathing was ragged from exertion and not from the relentless unfolding of Stephanie and the boys’ deaths.

  It wasn’t even as though the details of his recurring nightmare had any basis in reality. Stephanie had not had time to take phoenix before her minivan plunged into the reservoir. She and their three small sons had drowned as she struggled to get them out of their car seats and harnesses. By the time help had arrived it was too late.

  The medics had put little Kennedy, who was only two, into a deep coma, in the hopes that he could be resuscitated. But Kenny had never regained consciousness. All four of them were buried together. It’d been over four years, yet Harrison’s bad dreams were as vivid as day one.

  And sometimes, it wasn’t just Stephanie and the boys who died. Sometimes he had to watch while his daughter Quincy inhaled that cold dark water and perished before his eyes. She hadn’t even been in the van. The baby had been safe at Stephanie’s mother’s house. But in his dreams, Quincy breathed in blackness and perished like Harry Jr., Willie and Kenny.

  The tepid shower washed his sweat away. If only his mind could be rinsed out as easily as his body. By the time he grabbed his towel, the sky was brightening. Good. He could make coffee and start on his paperwork. He always hated having to go back to bed. If it was dawn, he could just work. Work kept his demons at bay when he couldn’t stop thinking. But there was never enough of it. It was a thousand pities that even in human form phoenixes needed so little sleep.

  * * *

  “What do you mean, you’re going out of town?” Tasha Sutcliffe struggled to prevent her voice from rising in volume or pitch. Shouting or crying only fed her ex’s glee at yanking her chain. “Becky and I are supposed to get on a plane in two hours.”

  “I have to take some clients to Hawaii for the golf tournament.” Blaine Sutcliffe was smugly bland. Bless his mean little heart, he had timed his last-minute announcement for maximum disruption.

  “I bought plane tickets to Savannah expressly so Becky could see you.” Tasha was proud that she kept her voice level. “I’ve made arrangements for us to stay with your mother. You gave Becky your word. You have let her down. Again. And your mother will be just as disappointed as Becky will.” She paused. “And the courts will not look favorably on a your letting your daughter down. Again.”

  Blaine switched tactics. A favorite ploy. “It’s always all about you. It’s my job to sell Cadillacs. There’s nobody else to take these guys to Kapalua. I’m working. Deal with it.”

  “Will you call and tell Becky that you have to work?” She already knew the answer, but she had to ask. Her lawyer had given her a checklist. She reached into her desk and laid it in front of her.

  Blaine’s sigh was loud and gusty. Now he was going for the overworked and put upon breadwinner. As if he wasn’t also behind on his child support. “You tell her. I hate when she gets all whiny.” Blaine was bailing for the umpteenth time at the eleventh hour. And as usual implying that a four-year-old’s predictable disappointment and sadness was the problem.

  Tasha ignored this provocation and continued in her blandest, most businesslike tones. “I have a recording of your promise to Becky to be in Savannah during the week of July 1 for our scheduled court-mandated biannual-visit.

  “I will expect to be reimbursed for any loss I take on our plane tickets. And I will so instruct my lawyers. Furthermore, I will not be permitting a rescheduling of this visit. Have a wonderful time in Hawaii.” Having drawn a line in the sand, Tasha turned her phone off without another word. It didn’t feel anything like a victory.

  She sat down at once and composed an email to her lawyers. She attached the voice recording she had made of her conversation with Blaine. The continual battle she was engaged in to force her ex-husband to honor his obligations to their child broke her heart.

  Blaine had been outraged and appalled when she had filed for divorce, even though he freely admitted to the affair that had precipitated her leaving him. He had retaliated by being as awkward as possible.

  For some reason, he had expected that Tasha would simply accept his infidelity. He thought that because she had never found out before, and it wasn’t by any means the first time, that she should just get over her anger. But by the time she had discovered that her handsome blond husband was stepping out on her, her love had long been only a bitter memory.

  Blaine had given her many reasons other than adultery to regret her youthful marriage. She had only kept trying to make a go of things for the sake of their child. She had put up with Blaine’s selfishness, his spendthrift ways, and his neglect of her and Rebecca. Adultery was just the final straw.

  After the divorce, he had skirted the edges of Georgia’s deadbeat dad legislation. His child support payments were always late, but he made them. As her lawyers had pointed out to her several times, he wasn’t in contempt of court until he fell behind entirely. But he certainly pushed his limits. Deliberately.

  He had fought her proposed move to Texas with every legal challenge he could muster. It had taken his own mother testifying that he had missed eleven of the previous twelve weekends on which he was supposed to have Becky to shut down his attempt to keep them in Savannah.

  The judge had given him a stern talking to about wasting the court’s time. And suggested that he expend some energy on trying to be a more involved parent. The judge had also declined to alter the custody arrangements of his predecessor. Tasha still had sole custody.

  It was with deep reluctance that that judge had honored Georgia law and ordered her to bring Becky to Savannah to see her father twice a year. And on this first visit, Blaine was taking off to Hawaii. She didn’t doubt that he was escorting clients to the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort. He had probably pulled every low trick in his book to snatch this plum assignment from the other sales guys.

  And although he had sprung this trip on her when her suitcases were already packed and her vacation time locked in, he had probably known about it for weeks. It was a classic dominance maneuver. She only had a few minutes to decide what to do before Becky returned from her outing. Should she go to Savannah or stay in San Angelo?

  The crux of the problem was that Tasha had already scheduled a week of her vacation so that she and Becky could go to Georgia. She could hardly change her mind at this late date. On the other hand, if she didn’t actually have to, she did not want to spend a whole week in Savannah – even if Blaine was out of town. Even if she had grown up there. Her divorce had tainted her hometown.

  She turned the pros and cons of staying home over in her mind. Becky’s grandmother, Peggy Sutcliffe, would be disappointed if they didn’t go to Savannah. But Grammy had driven out to San Angelo with them when they moved in the spring, and she had returned last month for a two-week visit.

  Her phone interrupted her musings. It was Peggy. “Hey, how are you?” Tasha faked enthusiasm. “We’re looking forward to seeing you.”

  She loved her mother-in-law. It absolutely wasn’t Peggy’s fault that Blaine was such an unsatisfactory human being. His sister was quite a different person. A kind and loving aunt. There was something wrong with the way in which Blaine was wired. Nothing that Peggy could have done would have changed that, nor had it.

  “I’m fine, dear. But Blaine just called me to say you weren’t coming after all. I thought you had the time off work. What happened?” Peggy’s soft Southern drawl was as polite and ladylike as usual, but there was steel underneath.

  “Oh, I have the time off. But Blaine just informed me that he has work commitments. He has to take some clients to Hawaii to watch the golf tournament.” Tasha made no apologies for contradicting her ex. If Peggy didn’t know Blaine was a liar by now, she never would.

  “Ah.” There was a wealth of sadness in that single syllable.
“I might have known he would put a spin on his tale to put the blame on you. If you want to come anyway, you know that you and Becky are always welcome.”

  Tasha picked up some reluctance in Peggy’s voice. “But it sounds as though you think it’s not a great idea.”

  “The Ladies Auxiliary has a bus trip to Arlington planned for the long weekend. I turned it down, because you and Rebecca were coming. But I had lunch with Gwen Shipley yesterday. Marva Wiser broke her hip and can’t go. They need someone to take her place. I don’t have to go, but if you’re not coming…” Peggy’s voice trailed off.

  Tasha made up her mind. “I can come another time. Or you can come here again. I’m going to cancel those plane tickets. Oh, gosh, I gotta go, Peggy. I clean forgot about Cameron. He’s probably already on his way to Savannah. You have fun in Arlington.” Tasha ended the call and speed-dialed her brother’s number.

  “Hey, Tash, you all packed and ready to go?” Capt. Cameron Reynolds’ voice was blithe. Her only brother was her rock.

  “Change of plans, Cam. Blaine has to go to the Tournament of Champions. Clients, don’t you know?” She didn’t bother to conceal her bitterness from him.

  “That useless pile.” Cam drew in air and let it out noisily. “What’s Plan B, Sis?”

  “We stay in San Angelo and you come here for a visit. Unless you really want to go to Savannah.”

  “It’s time I got to see the great state of Texas.”

  * * *

  “D’Angelo,” Harrison barked into his phone.

  “You ever hear of call display, Harry?” said a cheerful contralto.

  “Nell?”

  “This is Frankie.”

  “How are you, kid?” Harrison asked his little sister. “I get you and Nell mixed up.” He glanced at his display. “Just says Capt. D’Angelo on my display. Could be either of you.”

  “Humph. I’m fine, Harry. Snagged a week’s furlough. I’m coming for the Fourth. And so apparently is Grant.”

  “That’s great. Mom was hoping Nell would join us too.”

  “Eleanor couldn’t get leave. But I have a spot on a carrier for me and the bike. I’ll be coming in on Saturday or Sunday, depending on how the roads are.”

  “What’s up with Nell? She on report?” Harrison demanded.

  “Eleanor,” Frankie stressed her twin’s first name, “Is filling in for her CO who’s on leave. She’s not in any trouble, and if she were, having her big brother throw his weight around would only be an embarrassment. How would you have liked it if Dad had interfered in your career?”

  Harrison started to explain that there was a difference between a five-star general intervening in his son’s career and his interest in his kid sister’s, realized there wasn’t, and cleared his throat. “Point taken, Frank. So how come the Little Warbler isn’t singing the national anthem for money on the Fourth?”

  “Grant has something wrong with his voice apparently. I’m not sure exactly. But he’s coming to Grape Creek for a few days.”

  “Sore throat wouldn’t be much of a problem if he had joined the military like a regular guy,” Harrison pointed out.

  “It’s about time you started respecting Grant’s career choices, Harry. It’s not as if singing isn’t in our blood. And our family money comes from Great-Grandpapa’s opera career.” Frankie’s voice was calm and sure. “I’m proud that three of my big brothers are or have been hot shit in Special Forces, and equally proud that the Angel of the Opera is the fourth. You should be too.”

  “D’Angelos go into the Air Force.”

  “Mostly. Grant didn’t. Doesn’t mean he’s not worthy of our respect, Harry.”

  “I respect him. It’s his life choices I object to.”

  “Have you heard from Pierce?” Frankie had said her piece and considered the subject closed. When had his baby sister become so assured? “Mom said he and Diana weren’t going to risk flying this close to her due date.”

  “I think they are enjoying some alone time before the baby comes.” Harrison hated the curtness in his tone.

  Frankie ignored it. “Actually, I think it’s twins.” She sounded thrilled.

  “Really?” Harrison coughed. “Well, there are twins on both sides. Diana is a twin. And we have you and Nell on ours.”

  “Yeah. Be nice to have a pair of nieces. It sounds as though Pierce has come to terms with his new assignment. I never thought I would see the day that Ace D’Angelo found his happiness flying a desk.”

  “It’s different when you have the pleasures of family life to come home to.” If only he had realized that sooner, his mate and boys would still be alive. Pierce and his new bride Diana Lowry were getting their excitement from their phoenix bond. As he should have done with Stephanie.

  “I guess. I thought for sure Pierce would resign and go in with Linc.” After his own retirement, their brother Lincoln had founded a top-flight security company in Michigan.

  “Pierce thought it was more honorable to take his assignment, whatever that was.” Harrison was proud of him.

  “Probably. Listen, I’ve got stuff to do, Harry, before I can leave base. See you in Texas.”

  “See you.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “I’ll be glad to have you join us here in San Angelo, Cameron.” Tasha said briskly. “Becky and I are still newcomers. We can play tourist for a week. And if you can get here, you’re welcome. Becky will certainly be disappointed when she finds out her dad let her down again, but seeing her Uncle Cam would make up for it.”

  “I’ve got nine days’ furlough. I’ll see what I can swing.” Cameron’s voice was confident and cheerful. “I’ll just have to arrange transport out of Yuma. I might not be able to make it for the full nine days. It’s going to be hard to get flights around Independence Day. You know how it is. Everyone and his brother will be traveling this weekend. But I’ll find a way.”

  Her eyes filled up. Tasha tried to choke back the sob in her throat. “Thank you for being so calm about having all your plans upset. I really appreciate it. I know you were looking forward to getting together with Donny, Tom and Rory.” Donny, Tom and Rory had played football with Cameron in high school.

  “They’ll keep, sis. What I care about is that mindless jackass upsetting you again,” Cam growled. “Don’t let him get to you, Tash. He does it on purpose.”

  “I know.” It felt better to have Cam remind her of what she already knew. “Hang on, I’m just going to cancel my flight – thank heaven I sprung for the cancellation insurance.” She began to tap on her keyboard.

  “Good to know,” he growled. “But you shouldn’t have to.”

  “Between kids getting sick, and Blaine being so unreliable, I figured it was worth the extra money. There. Done. I should get a credit.”

  “You get your lawyer to get the money out of that weasel.”

  “You bet. I emailed them before I called you. Sent them a recording of my conversation with Blaine. I don’t think he believed me when I told him I was going to record all future conversations. But I meant it, and I have.”

  “Good. Chin up, Tasha. I’ll be there tomorrow or the next day and we’ll have a fun time exploring Texas. Bound to be a bunch of stuff going on for Independence Day. I can’t wait to see Becky.”

  “That kid is going to be crushed. She was practically floating on cloud nine thinking that she was going to have a daddy for a little while. No matter how many times Blaine lets that child down, she never gives up hope. I’m not looking forward to telling her this.”

  “Typical. But the poor kid is better off without that useless son-of-a-biscuit-eater in her life.”

  “Bless his heart, he always leaves it to me to break the bad news,” she said.

  “Put her on, I’ll tell her,” he offered at once.

  “That’s a kind thought, but she isn’t here now. Caroline D’Angelo took her and Quincy to the park so I could pack. They should be back any minute.”

  “How’s that working out?”
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br />   The D’Angelos were an older couple who had been friends with their late parents. George D’Angelo had been at the Air Force Academy with Adam Reynolds. He and his wife lived just outside of town and had taken Tasha under their wing when she had moved to San Angelo. Becky’s new best friend was their granddaughter Quincy.

  The only catch was that Quincy’s father Col. Harrison D’Angelo was the officer Cam’s Special Forces squad reported to. Tasha hadn’t met Harrison since she was a girl – except for a time or two when they had exchanged waves while he was chatting to Quincy on Skype. But her friendship with the D’Angelos shaded into awkwardness for Cameron because of Harrison.

  “We get along really well – considering the age difference,” Tasha said, deciding to ignore the whole issue. She infused cheerfulness into her voice. “I think Caroline and George are glad to have another child around Quincy. They have been looking after her since her mother died, and they like having a sort of pseudo-cousin for Quincy. And it helps that Becky and Quincy are BFFs.”

  “Yeah?”

  Tasha chuckled. “Those two hit it off the second they met. And I really like having someone I can trust to leave Becky with occasionally. It’s like she has another grandmother.”

  “That’s good. I didn’t like to ask the colonel how it was going. I mean, there’s stuff you just don’t ask a superior officer.”

  “Becky loves having sleepovers at Quincy’s. Or having Quincy here. Your Col. D’Angelo – Daddy Danger to your niece – always reads Quincy a bedtime story. And he just rolls Becky into the deal when she is around. You’d think if a guy who is hot stuff in Special Forces and being sent all over the states by the military can manage to read his kid a bedtime story every night without fail, Blaine could call his daughter once a week.”

  “Col. D’Angelo is a stand-up kind of guy. Blaine Sutcliffe is not. End of story. If that son-of-a-beardless-goat was interested in Becky, he’d call.” He paused. “I do try – when I’m allowed to get on the internet or use a phone.”