Gideon (The Casella Cousins Book 5)

by Kathryn Shay

  “Any news?”

  “She was already halfway there when we got here.”

  “Shouldn’t be long then.”

  He remembered Lisa’s labors went fast and furious. Kate was older than she’d been, but Kate had already given birth, so this labor should go faster.

  Gideon paced with Seth for a while, then they went to the windows to look out. “A great day,” Seth said.

  “You’ll have yours in no time.”

  “Yeah, four months. I’m excited for Rafe. What’ll I be like when it happens?”

  Ali joined them. “What are you two doing whispering over here?”

  “Just waiting. I—”

  Rafe entered the waiting area, his expression harried and they rushed over to gather around him. “She’s been taken to the birthing room. They said the baby will be here soon.”

  Gideon patted him on the back. “Get in there, bro.”

  “Glad to see you here,” Rafe called out over his shoulder.

  Mama and Judd returned with coffee for everyone. They sat. Sipped their drinks. Gideon was acutely aware of telephones ringing in the background, the sound of the nurses’ voices, the scent of coffee beans, which replaced the acrid scent of antiseptic and furniture polish.

  Ten minutes later, Rafe came out. “We have a hefty one. Eight pounds.”

  “Wow.” This from Julianne, touching her stomach.

  “You can come in when everybody’s cleaned up.”

  Judd clapped his hand on Rafe’s shoulder. “Take your time, son.”

  He hugged Mama and said, “It’s so great.”

  “I know, dear.”

  They were finally called in. Kate sat up against the pillows in what seemed like an ordinary bedroom. Windows had curtains draping them, baby animals formed murals on the wall. Normal house lighting. Gideon’s kids came into the world under glaring overhead lights in a surgical delivery room. He liked this better.

  Rafe motioned to Mama. “Come over here.”

  She took his hand and he led her to the bed.

  “I’d like you to meet Mellie Casella, aka Carmella.”

  “Oh.” Her hand went to her mouth. “I didn’t know you were going to do that.”

  Their mother leaned over and peered down at her grandchild. “Hello, sweetheart. Nana loves you already.” She took in a breath. Tears came to her eyes. “Thank you for the namesake.”

  Kate kissed her cheek. “I love you, Carmella. We wanted to honor you. You’ve been a mother to me for as long as I can remember.”

  When his mom calmed, Rafe motioned to the others. “A few at a time can get a closer look at my little princess.”

  Kate rolled her eyes. “At my strong woman.”

  Everyone laughed.

  When Gideon saw the red, fat-cheeked newborn wrapped in a blanket, he was filled with an odd kind of joy. There was so much good in the world, something he forgot in his daily police work.

  They stayed an appropriate amount of time, then started to clear out. “Gideon and Ali, stay for a minute.”

  When the room cleared, Rafe smiled at them. “We want you to be her godfather, Gid, and godmother, Ali.”

  Ali’s eyes misted. “Wow, I’m honored.”

  “Are you sure?” Gideon asked, “with my job and everything.”

  “You’re a terrific father. We’re sure.”

  “Thanks for the confidence.”

  When they cleared out, Gideon spent some time with the family, then left to go back to work. He was about to exit the hospital through the automatic front doors when they swished open and someone came inside.

  A dark-haired man said, “Hello again, Gideon.”

  * * *

  His cousin didn’t seem surprised to see him. Ronan had come for the wedding ceremonies, so he guessed his appearance at family milestones wasn’t a big deal anymore.

  “Hey, buddy.” Gid hugged the man who’d let him pal around with him and Rafe, though Gideon was three years younger. “How’d you know about the birth?”

  “I have my sources.”

  “Here we go again.”

  A big grin, which used to come easily to Ronan and now was rare. “Your mama called Hayley and Finn. They’re coming out as soon as they can get away.”

  “I wish you’d stay around for more than five minutes.”

  “I…um…I will. I’m moving my stuff into the lake house as we speak. I’ll visit frequently, but I have to finish up a play I’m directing in the city first. Off Broadway.”

  “Holy cow. You’ve been doing that this whole five years?”

  “Drama, yes.”

  “Hmm. Appropriate.”

  “But I’m ready to join the family again.”

  “Get your head on straight?”

  “With a lot of help.” He thought of Eliza. “From places that surprised me.”

  “Still mysterious, I see.”

  “Pretty soon I won’t be. I’m going to tell Hayley and Finn, and you guys too, about why I went away.”

  “I’m glad, buddy.”

  “Now, go back to work. I’ll want to see my new niece.”

  Gideon arched a brow. “And my godchild. Ali’s, too.”

  “Hey, congrats. Big deal.”

  * * *

  Gideon left the hospital, grateful for all that had happened today. The mid-January wind whipped around him and slapped him in the face. But he didn’t mind it right now. When he reached the car, he found Anabelle waiting for him, holding a white paper bag. And shivering. “Hi.”

  “Hi. I saw you coming.” She held the bag up. “I brought your sub so you can eat on the way back to work. Can we get in your car? It’s freezing out here.”

  “Sure.”

  Once inside, with the heater on, she watched the light snow fall on the windshield. “I don’t want to intrude, but tell me the broad strokes before we go back to work.”

  He took her hand. It too was cold. Where were her gloves? “I thought you said no family-contact.”

  “Another reason I’m not going in.”

  He linked their fingers. “I understand. I’m gonna be…”

  As he told the details, he decided he would enjoy this surprise addition to his happiness today.

  Second thoughts would come later.

  * * *

  The following week, the task force went on a sabbatical for a crash course in dealing with gang violence. They researched, studied videos and discussed plans. Anabelle didn’t like the inactivity, but Mitch had convinced them of the urgency of the matter. Despite this, research showed cops could train a lot but couldn’t predict how they’d react in the streets, if the training would kick in. Or even if it was the right training.

  They consulted with the Hidden Cove police department, firefighters and social services. Some important identifications had surfaced. As far as anyone knew, one boy gang and one girl gang had surfaced in their community and schools. The Savage Skulls were the prevailing boy game. The girl gang, loosely connected to them, were the Savage Sisters. Some violence had been brewing lately, so they’d probably get called soon.

  Another development came in an email to Gideon.

  Tell the others I got the VP job at Computek. I should get a look at the financials soon. Maybe we’ll get lucky and this’ll be it.

  All the while, Anabelle missed Gideon like crazy, but because he was so busy with his family and the new baby, he appeared not to miss her much.

  At times, though, the air crackled with sexual tension. She’d read a study once that Julianne had found in a women’s magazine about the twelve stages of physical intimacy. These occurred without the couple being conscious of doing them. That had happened with Gideon…

  Eye to body contact—When they were alone in her office, she’d taken off her jacket and for a few seconds, he’d eyed the pink blouse beneath it. Hungrily.

  Eye to eye contact—More than once they exchanged glances for a little too long, then looked away quickly.

  Hand-to waist—In what see
med spontaneous, he’d squeezed her waist before walking away from her. Luckily, not in front of anyone on the team.

  Then the indicators graduated to kissing, touching intimate parts of the body, to intercourse, which of course they’d sworn off of.

  Thinking back on all this, Anabelle sighed. At least she had her work.

  * * *

  “So, princess, what are we going to do today?”

  Carina rolled her eyes at the pet name, but secretly loved when her dad used it. “Her royal highness wants to go out to breakfast then bowling.”

  He groaned. Her dad was a great athlete, but for some reason, he sucked at bowling.

  “Do we have to?”

  “You said I get to choose all day.”

  “Until four when the boys get home.”

  “Yep.”

  Since they’d already dressed for the day, he said, “I’ll go find my shoes.”

  “They’re in the bag with your ball in the basement. I better help. It’s a mess down there.”

  “How come?” He liked things neat and when he was with her mother, he’d grumbled about her messiness.

  “You know Mom, neatness isn’t her forte.”

  When they got to the finished part of the cellar, he said, “Things are cluttered but not too bad.”

  “Just wait.” She headed through a door to the storage space. Her dad had put up walls of shelving, but most of the stuff was on the floor.

  “Damn.”

  “Me and Cory can clean it up some weekend.”

  “I’ll help.”

  “We’d rather do something fun with you.”

  He grinned. “Sweet.”

  They dug through the boxes and found the family’s shoes.

  “Got ‘em.” When he picked up hers, he said, “Too small, baby. Maybe you can fit into Mom’s.”

  A searing pain shot through Carina. Her mom had abandoned her. Well, she thought, fuck her.

  “Yeah, I bet.” She took her own bag and ball but would use her mother’s shoes.

  The weather was nasty outside, where the wind whipped snow around their car. Her dad was an excellent driver and they reached Deluca’s Diner in no time.

  After they slid into a booth, she said, “This is where we saw Anabelle.”

  “Yeah.”

  A hesitation. “How come you’re so stiff and nervous around her?”

  “I’m not.”

  She gave the sucking sound of teenage disgust. “Like that’s true.”

  “In some ways, maybe I am uncomfortable around her. Probably because she got a promotion and I didn’t.”

  “But that wasn’t your fault. You saved those two teenagers and hurt your back.”

  “That’s life, kiddo.”

  They both ordered large puffy waffles with mounds of strawberries and whipped cream. Carina couldn’t finish hers. “Sorry, it’s too big.”

  “No kidding.” She liked when he teased.

  “Let’s go so I can make a fool of myself.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  The sounds of rolling balls and the cracking of pins greeted them when they entered Arnold’s Alley. They were assigned one of the many empty ones, and Carina went first. She got out her ball, stepped up on the alley and brought her hand back, hurled the ball forward. She managed a strike.

  “Geez. You got even better!”

  “Kids come here sometimes.”

  Her dad got up and threw a perfect gutter ball.

  Carina burst out laughing.

  His eyes danced as he watched her. He wanted her to be happy so much it scared her.

  They weren’t even halfway through the game when his phone buzzed. As always, he had to keep it on for the other two kids.

  “Hello.” Her dad frowned. “It’s our day off.” Deeper frowning. “I can’t.” Then… “All right, sir. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

  When he clicked off, she went right to the seat and began to remove her bowling shoes. He sat down next to her and took her hand. “There’s an emergency. They need us to come in.”

  “Fine, go.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She tugged her hand away.

  “Say something.”

  A long pause. Then she blurted out, “I hate that you’re a cop.”

  Chapter 4

  * * *

  At midnight. just as the task force shift ended, Anabelle’s text chimed. She read it. “911 call. Disturbance on Baker Street. “Holy, shit,” she said. “It’s gang related.”

  “Talk about timing,” Radford put in as he raced out the door.

  They took the big three-seated van. The ride was quick and they arrived at the dimly lit corner in minutes. A police car pulled in behind them. Two uniforms got out.

  Exiting the car, they threaded their way through a crowd of about twenty bystanders—all staring at two girls wielding knives, poised to lunge at each other.

  One was visibly pregnant, wearing camouflage, holding her own weapon. “I’m his baby mama now,” she yelled at the other.

  They rushed each other.

  The task force team ran to them but they’d already connected. In seconds, the pregnant girl fell to the ground, her weapon clattering away. Before the knife-wielder could do more damage, Gideon came up behind her and wrestled her to the pavement. Her weapon hit blacktop, too. With a knee in her back, he held her down.

  Anabelle dropped to the ground to tend to the injured girl.

  TJ whipped off her coat and pulled her shirt over her head. She handed it to Anabelle, who pressed the material into the wound.

  Brolin called out, “I’ll call for an ambulance.”

  “Get off me you fuckin’ bastard.” Instead, Gideon cuffed the girl as he said, “You have the right to remain silent. If you—" He finished the Miranda and motioned the two uniforms into the fray.

  “Screw you, popo.” She writhed, but the two cops restrained her. They yanked her up and dragged her away.

  A medical truck swerved into the area.

  Captain Grady O’Malley leaped out and over to the injured girl and examined the wound. “We need to get her to the hospital right away.”

  TJ and another EMT retrieved the backboard and they slid the victim onto it, then carried her to the truck. It sped away as quickly as it had come.

  Anabelle crossed to what was left of the crowd. Among them were girls dressed in yellow and black, the others in civilian clothes. “Who knows what happened here?”

  “Like she said,” one of the gang members spat out, “She takin’ care of business. Nobody messes with the Savage Sisters.”

  “Is the other girl in a gang?”

  “No way.” From another onlooker. “She ain’t no shithead.”

  That was a matter of opinion.

  Anabelle got a version of the same from the others before they dispersed the crowd. She leaned back on her heels. God, she hoped the baby mama survived.

  * * *

  After they got back from the hospital, Chief Jaspers walked onto the task force floor. He asked them to join him in the conference room as an all-night pizza delivery people brought in huge boxes and sodas. They sat.

  “What’s all this for?” Anabelle asked. She looked tired. Adrenaline had subsided in all of them.

  Jaspers lazed back in a chair. “For defusing a potentially fatal situation.”

  “We called the hospital.” This from TJ. “The girl was in surgery so we don’t know if we prevented a death.”

  “You did.” The chief smiled. “She had a C-section and the two-month preemie is small, but will live. Same for the mother.”

  Cheers of “Halleluiah” all around.

  “I’m proud of all of you. You did good. Because you’ve been up all night, you’re taking next shift off. I’ll get coverage.” The chief stood. “Thank you. Now, enjoy your breakfast.” It was only five a.m.

  When he left, they attacked the pizza. Gideon loved the crisp crust, marina sauce and melted cheese even at this hour.

&
nbsp; Afterward, Anabelle said, “Let’s debrief.”

  She kept it short. Then she dismissed them from work because they’d been up all night.

  Gideon waited till they cleared out and walked into her office and closed the door. “Can we talk a minute?”

  “Not about us.”

  He stared at her, then, “Whatever you say.”

  She cocked her head. “I wish things were different.”

  “I’m not quite sure of that.”

  Gideon left without saying more. He stopped when he got to his car, his fists clench, anger seething inside of him. Since he had the rest of the day off, he got inside and then started home. But he knew he shouldn’t see his kids like this, and they’d be at his mother’s soon, anyway. So, he turned onto Main Street instead. He’d go to the Y and take his emotions out on a punching bag. 6-7 a.m.

  * * *

  Anabelle walked up to Julianne and Seth’s house at four that afternoon. She’d taken a nap, then showered and did errands. Jules would be home from school by now and she wanted a favor. “Hey, come on in.”

  Anabelle stepped into the house. “Thanks.”

  Julianne pointed to the wrapped box Anabelle held. “Put that down and come sit out here. I made coffee.”

  “You can’t drink coffee.”

  “Sure, I can. Decaf. Sit and I’ll make you a regular with the Keurig.”

  They headed to the kitchen. Julianne did her thing and they sat facing each other. Steam came off Anabelle’s cup and she watched it.

  “What’s in the box?”

  Anabelle raised her gaze. “The reason I came. It’s for Mellie.”

  “Who lives two doors down.”

  “I know. I don’t want to see Gideon’s family.”

  “Trying to extricate yourself from the Casellas? Good luck with that.”

  “I have no choice, Jules.”

  “We need to talk about you and Gideon.”

  “He told me what happened at the family dinner. You know we had an…interlude after your wedding. A one-night stand.”

  “And that’s all it was?”

  Sick of pretending, Anabelle stared out the window. Snow piled on the lawn and back porch. She was roiling with emotion and couldn’t contain it.