“Well,” Caleb said. “You can always talk to your mom, or call me. You’ve got all my numbers, right?”
“Yeah, but…” Cal’s voice was small. “Please don’t go, Dad. Just stay for Great-Grandma Beatrice’s spaghetti. It’s your favorite.”
The watery-eyed glance Caleb shot her was Allie’s undoing. What was wrong with her? Why wasn’t she also begging him to stay?
“Sorry, dude. As good as it sounds, I’m afraid time out for spaghetti isn’t on my agenda.”
“Okay.” Cal hung his head.
“No being sad.” Caleb ruffled their son’s already messy hair. “Now, take off your shoes and run and say bye to Grandpa, then hop in the tub. I’ll send Milo up once his paws are clean.”
“Okay…” Cal’s quivering bottom lip and tear-filled eyes told Allie all she needed to know about how miserable her decision not to marry his father was making him.
When Cal had gone, Allie approached Caleb, started to speak, but he held up his hands in the universal sign of “back off.”
“There’s not a thing you could do or say to fix this, Allie. Don’t waste your breath trying.”
“But all I was going to—”
Cal was back with Vince in tow. Beau and Adam had also appeared.
While Vince and Adam horsed around with Cal, Beau and Caleb cleaned the dog while talking too quietly for her to hear off in the shadowy corner near the door. Were they discussing her safety? Or as Caleb no doubt saw it, her treachery?
Before she could ask, Vince and Caleb made their goodbyes, Adam and Beau trailing after them.
Cal headed upstairs for his bath, and she was once again alone—a place she was becoming all too painfully familiar with.
Monday morning, while Cal was upstairs with Milo getting ready for school, Allie stood at the kitchen counter, fixing oatmeal. Seeing how since she hadn’t slept even half a wink, she was already dressed for work and made Caleb’s favorite breakfast the old-fashioned way. Boiling it, then loading it with both brown sugar and white, butter, milk and raisins.
My mom made the best oatmeal. Loaded it with all the sinful good stuff. Lots of sugar and butter. Got me all good and warm before heading off to school. Mom was great about that kind of stuff. The colder the morning, the bigger her breakfasts.
Clutching the counter’s edge, gasping on a sudden racking sob, the full impact of what she’d done, what she was currently missing, hit her head-on.
Caleb was chuckling over some fond memory of his mom all the time. Just yesterday, Vince had reminisced about his wife. How much less full would both of their lives been without Helen’s even brief time in it?
Allie knew then and there she was a fool.
But no more.
Jogging up the stairs, heart racing with excitement over her plan, she burst into Cal’s bathroom at a dead run.
Out of breath, but smiling, she said, “Hurry, baby. I’m going to drop you and Milo off at school, then go get your dad. We have a wedding to plan and not a lot of time to do it.”
“For real?” Cal asked, mouth foaming with toothpaste. “And then Dad’s going to be here all the time?”
She nodded. “And let’s get him a horse. Remember how he’s always wanted a horse?”
“Mom?” Cal asked after rinsing his mouth. “You okay?”
“Oh, baby,” she said, wrapping him in a big hug. “I’m better than okay. I’m fan-freakin’-tastic.”
“Geez, Mom, you sound just like Billy.”
“Yeah, well—” she hugged him “—I feel a thousand times better. Come on, get dressed. Let’s go. If we hurry, I should be able to get your dad back here in time to pick you and Milo up from school.”
“Awesome!” He dried his mouth on a towel, then tossed it on the floor. And Allie was so happy, she didn’t even care.
Bring on the mess.
Bring on the clutter.
Bring on the joy.
“But, Mom,” Cal said from his room, T-shirt over his head. “What about Uncle Adam and Uncle Beau and the rest of the guys? Won’t they be mad if we just sneak out?”
“Nah. Besides. I think any chance of danger is long gone by now, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Let’s go and be real sneaky. That way, Uncle Beau and Uncle Adam can be surprised, too.”
After making a quick call to her secretary to clear her already light work schedule, Allie’s next conversation was with her neighbor and good friend Margaret. Ten minutes later, Cal, Milo and Allie stood waiting to get into Margaret’s trusty forest-green Volvo.
“I’m happy to loan you the car,” Margaret said, still in her robe and slippers. “But do you think leaving without your security detail is a good idea?”
Allie waved off her friend’s concern. “I desperately want this day to be all about me and Caleb. Not his brothers and their skulking friends. Besides, Cal and I will be fine. Francis and his thugs are safely behind bars. I don’t even know why the government is still wasting money on having me and Cal protected.”
“Maybe because you’re worth protecting,” Margaret said.
Allie gave her one last hug, made sure Cal had his seat belt on, then headed off for the best day of her life—at least until her wedding day!
“Be sure and bring Dad back,” Cal said in front of Byrd Elementary, half in and half out of the car. Milo stood beside him. “I want him to see how much Herbert has grown.”
“Okay,” Allie said, giving him a hug and kiss.
“Mom, stop kissin’ me!” he complained, making an awful face. “Want somebody to see?”
“Oh, of course not.” Allie laughed. “Want anything special for dinner in case your dad and I get back in time to shop?”
“Ice cream? And get lots in case Uncle Adam eats it all.”
“Yum. Sounds good to me.”
“Hey, Cal! Catch!” A football slammed into the passenger-side backseat window.
Allie jumped, put her hand to her chest.
“Sorry, Mom.” Cal scrambled after the ball. “That was Billy. He doesn’t have a very good throwing arm.”
“Oh,” Allie said. Had Caleb taught him about throwing arms? In the past when she’d dropped him at school, he’d wandered off by himself, or with just his few friends. Now, he was surrounded by a group of boys. If only she’d introduced him to his father sooner.
No, she thought, straightening in her seat.
No more looking back. No more regrets. What was done was done. For now and forever, there’d be nothing but hope and happiness and love.
“Bye, Mom!” Cal slammed his door, slinging his backpack over his shoulder to free up his hands to wave. Milo strutted alongside him.
“Bye, bab—Cal!” She’d been on the verge of calling him baby, but looking at him now, running off to catch another of Billy’s wobbly throws, she saw that he was growing into quite a handsome young man.
Hmm… Kind of like his father.
Just like the previous day when she couldn’t stop crying?
Now, she couldn’t stop grinning.
Carefully maneuvering out of the row of other cars filled with moms dropping off their kids, Allie relished the simple joy of being back in her old routine, then headed off to start her new routine—waking up every morning to a wonderful husband.
She made one last glance in the rearview mirror to check on her son, then screamed.
Slamming on the breaks, grinding the stick shift into Park, she tried yanking off her seat belt, but was stuck.
“Help! Someone, please help!” she cried. “They’re taking my son! Doesn’t anyone see them? They’re kidnapping my son!”
Two men dressed in jeans, dark sweatshirts and ski masks had hold of Cal and were hefting him into a dirty truck.
Milo growled and barked, nipping at them in a frenzy.
“Mom!” Cal yelled, breaking her heart. “Help!”
Finally she got free of the restraint, but it was too late, the red pickup, with its rear window blocked out by a confederate flag, was al
ready roaring toward the end of the street.
Milo chased after.
A male passenger leaned out the window and started shooting. Once. Twice, he fired.
Margaret’s windshield shattered.
Kids and grown-ups screamed.
Choked by exhaust fumes, Allie pulled herself together. She had to get Milo, then find a phone. In her rush to escape her security detail, she’d also stupidly left her cell at home.
Milo was barking and barking. She had to find him, but felt dizzy.
Halfway to him, she realized in a sort of vague haze that her right shoulder stung. She cupped the pain, only to feel sticky warmth reminiscent of the type she’d felt that day in court. The day her face had been dripping in blood.
Not stopping to check herself, she ran on toward the dog. Okay, apparently she’d been hurt. Maybe even shot. She’d worry about that later. Right now, she just had to save her son and his dog. She had to find help.
In a lifetime of idiotic mistakes, sneaking out of the house this morning—believing that just because Caleb and Adam and Beau and the rest of her team made her feel safe, that she actually was—had to be the dumbest, most careless, most—
The air was knocked from her lungs as someone tackled her just as she’d reached the school steps.
“Got her!”
“No-oo-o!” she screamed, kicking and fighting her captor. If they had her, how could she save her little boy?
“Allie! Stop fighting! It’s me! Beau.”
He had her around her waist and she sagged against him, sobbing uncontrollably. “Beau, please! Find Cal. You’ve got to find him. And Milo. He might be hurt. You’ve—”
“Shh…” He smoothed back her hair like his brother, sounding like his brother, even smelling a little like his brother. Only he wasn’t Caleb. Could never be Caleb in a million years of trying.
Why hadn’t she forced Caleb to stay last night? Why had she ever sent him away?
“Shh…” Beau said. “Everything’s all right. Adam and Bear have Cal and Milo. Police have the trash who took your son.”
“Thank you,” she said, trembling all over. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” When she’d calmed enough to stop crying, she said, “I have to see my son. I have to call Caleb. Tell him I’m sorry.”
“Sure.” Beau led her to the school curb that was suddenly swarming with police and gawking parents and students. “All in due time.”
“H-how did you find us?” she asked, allowing him to help her into the backseat of the now welcoming black SUV.
He laughed. “We were right behind you. Just let you think you were on your own. Hell, if something happened to you or Cal on my watch, my brother would have my balls.” He winced. “Sorry to be crude, but it’s the truth.”
In the backseat, Beau beside her, signaling for the marshal driving to take off, Allie leaned against this man who would soon be her brother-in-law—assuming after her latest screw-up, Caleb would even want her as his wife.
“I love him so much, Beau—both of them. Your brother and Cal. Even Milo.”
“I know,” he said, awkwardly patting her leg.
“I just wanted to be on my own to tell him. You know, figured it would be more romantic, but…”
“It’s okay,” he said. “Dumb, but ultimately, no harm done.”
Easy for Beau to say, but what if there had been harm done? Cal and their family dog was now safe, but what about her future with his father?
“Beau?” Allie said right before her world started a slow fade to black.
“Yeah?”
“I forgot to tell you… I think I’ve been shot.”
That night, exhausted after an endless day of police questioning and paperwork and alternating fury with Allie and love for her, Caleb helped her tuck their brave son into his bed.
Milo shared Cal’s pillow.
Thank God, the shooter’s bullet had only grazed Allie. The emergency room doctor surmised it was stress, not loss of blood, that caused her to pass out. The only first aid she’d needed was a squirt of antibacterial cream and a bandage. As for Caleb, after hearing the initial news that she’d been shot—he’d needed a gallon of antacid and a defibrillator.
“Sure you’re all right?” he asked his already half-asleep kid.
“Yeah. Only my stomach kind of hurts after all that ice cream.”
Caleb ruffled his hair. “I believe it. We all had to eat fast to get it away from Adam.”
“Yeah…” Cal yawned, then rolled onto his side, shut his eyes and hugged his dog.
Caleb’s breath hitched, thinking what a close call they’d all had today. No matter what Allie said, he should’ve never left. No one could watch over the two people he most loved like him.
But then in Allie’s case, the person she most needed protecting from was herself.
She kissed their son’s cheek, and in the process got too close for Caleb’s emotional comfort. The woman smelled the same—soapy and good. Felt the same—soft and warm. Only trouble was her insides had turned out to be about as cozy as a brick.
After Cal and Milo drifted off to sleep right before their eyes, Caleb got up, gesturing for Allie to precede him to the door. He left Cal’s airplane lamp on, just in case he woke up spooked. He’d taken the kidnapping amazingly well. Maybe too well. The only thing that would tell them for sure was time.
“Thank you for getting here so fast,” Allie said out in the hall. “It meant a lot that all of you could be here with him.”
He shrugged. “Thank Joe. He’s the one with enough cash to charter helicopters to fly the whole crew over.” Gillian, Joe and the kids were now at the Morning Glory Inn for the night, after assuring Cal they’d be back first thing in the morning.
Together, silently, they trudged down the back stairs and into the kitchen.
“How long are you going to do this?” she asked.
He opened the fridge, staring blindly into the jumble of Chinese food take-out cartons. “Do what?”
“Give me the cold shoulder.”
“Rest of our lives I guess. Not much else I can do.”
“Do you even care why I tried sneaking past your brothers?”
“Nope.” He reached for the leftover sweet and sour pork.
“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway. I wanted it to be just the two of us when I showed up at your office or apartment or wherever I had to find you in order to spill my heart out and basically grovel my way back into your life. I love you, Caleb. I love you no matter what you do. I get it that you love me, too—or at least you used to. And that because you love me, you’re not going to go out of your way to do something stupid like get yourself hurt.”
He slammed the food in the sink. “That’s rich. For you to stand there telling me you trust me not to be stupid about getting hurt when you’re the one who actually got herself shot. How could you be so careless with not only your life, but our son’s? Do you realize that if my brothers hadn’t been tailing you, odds are we might never have gotten Cal back? You might be dead? Why, Allie? Why the hell would you ever do such an asinine thing as sneaking out of here without protection?”
Crying, she stammered, “D-didn’t you hear me? Because I love you. I—I wasn’t thinking straight. I want to marry you. Spend every day of the rest of my life with you. It was like I had tunnel vision. All I could think of was getting to you. Begging you to give me a what? Third or fourth chance. B-but I guess I blew that, too.”
Ashamed for letting her go on crying this long, Caleb drew her into his arms. “God help me, I’d give you a thousand chances, woman. Sometimes I have to wonder why, but I love you. I seriously love you.”
Kissing him, laughing, crying, she said, “I love you, too.”
“Okay, but listen.” He cupped her cheeks with his big, protective hands. “In order to avoid any future misunderstandings, we’re getting married. Now.”
She nodded. “Yes. Now. We won’t even wait for Christmas.”
“Agreed.” He
kissed her hard and claiming and soft and every way in between.
“But what about Gillian? She was planning a big Christmas wedding.”
During another kiss, Caleb emitted a low sound somewhere between a groan and growl.
“Okay,” Allie said, getting the hint, loving the hint. “Let me go call one of the county’s other judges.”
Upstairs, peeking through the slats in the stair rails with Milo beside him, Cal grinned. Whew. Finally his mom and dad were back together.
Good thing, too, ’cause he was really getting sick of always having to ask Clara for advice. People were starting to think she was his girlfriend and that was just wrong! Girls were okay to have as a mom and aunt and cousins and stuff, but as girlfriends? Yuck!
Joe put his arm around Gillian and squeezed. “Would you quit pouting. This is a beautiful ceremony. Look how happy they are.”
“I don’t care,” Gillian said. “I had big plans for their wedding. Now I’m going to have to wait forever to have a big, fancy Christmas wedding at our house. You know about my mom’s holiday wedding list. If only my brother could’ve waited a few more days.”
Joe sighed, kissing the top of her head. “There’s always Meghan’s wedding. Why not start planning now?”
“Ha ha.” She jabbed his ribs before eyeing the bride and groom. “Vegas. It’s not a fit place for a wedding nearly a decade in the making.”
“Then how about the two of us just have a second wedding? Would that make you happy?”
“Really?” She beamed.
“I was about to say, ‘no, not really,’ but damn, you have a gorgeous smile.”
“Thank you,” she said, kissing him just as the happy couple shared their official first kiss as man and wife.
At the business end of the ivory rose petal-strewn aisle, Allie sighed with happy pleasure.
No one had ever had such a beautiful wedding.
Gillian and Joe, and a fleet of private jets, had seen to it everyone she loved was there. Her mother, all of Caleb’s family, her security crew, her neighbor Margaret and Margaret’s husband, Mike. Even Allie’s work friends.
U.S. Marshals: Chased (U.S. Marshals Book 2) Page 19