Thatcher: Robinson Destruction – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  “You mean someone like the president?” Thatcher was joking, but Rogen wasn’t. “I can’t work for the president of the United States. That’s just.... Well, I don’t know what that is.”

  “I work for him. Indirectly of course, but he signs my paychecks, along with a few other people’s that aren’t military. Winnie isn’t, but Donaldson is, believe it or not.” She pulled out an envelope and told him some of the perks he’d enjoy. “When he goes on vacation, you do. It’s always someplace nice. And when he leaves office you have the say so if you stay with the incoming president or not. The money is great. You’d make more than me.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. You put me on all your accounts. What does that mean?” Rogen cocked a brow at him. “I know what putting me on your accounts means. But what accounts are you talking about?”

  “I have some nice property in two other countries. I have big investments that you share with me. Also, I have a nice 401k that will keep us in money. And since I’m forever on the computer, I know when and where to move my money. Our money.” He asked her how much, ball park. “Just over one billion. Could be more because I’ve not had time to check it since we got married.”

  He drove the rest of the way just answering her questions. Thatcher was having a hard time wrapping his mind around how much money she had. Not that he was a snob or anything. But she had a great deal more than he did. Then he let it go. Money doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have someone that you love. Sappy, he thought, but it was about right.

  “This job that you’re talking about. Will I have insurance? Like malpractice insurance? That’s pretty high for me now. I can’t imagine that I’d be able to pay that if something happened to the president.” She laughed. “You were kidding me, weren’t you?”

  “Not at all. I was thinking that only a doctor would worry about something like that.” He didn’t understand and she laughed harder. “You’ll have a car and a jet at your disposal. Every new thingamajig that you need or even want. You won’t have to wear a uniform or whatever you call that baggy stuff you wear. Which is very unsexy if you ask me.” She laid her head on the seat and looked at him as she continued. “The most important thing you’ll have, which makes me feel better, is round the clock security, as will your parents and brothers. That’s in the event someone gets it in their head that they can kill him off—the president, I mean—by holding your family hostage.”

  “Where did the money come from that you set up for the pack?” She frowned at him. “My head is making the circuit around things I wanted to talk to you about while trying hard not to think of this job offer. Where did it come from? You?”

  “Yes. And you, if you want to be technical. There is no point in letting the pack fail when it was easy enough for me to put the money in there to help out.” He asked her why she didn’t tell Shane. “What would you do if you found out that he had put money in your account so that you could keep afloat?”

  “Good point. All right. Next question. Why did you save the Conrad family? Yes, you were in the right place at the right time, but I think it was more than that. What was it, if you don’t mind me asking?” She looked out the front window; they were nearly home now. “You don’t have to tell me, Rogen.”

  “The little boy, Levi. Every morning when there was school, he’d wave at me. Like it was something that he’d been practicing for days. And he always had a smile on his face. A couple of times, he had one of the babies wave at me too. It touched something deep inside of me that hadn’t been touched for a while. Tenderness.” He told her that he loved her. “And I love you. Would you like to have a baby or two with me?”

  “Yes. Very much so. I’d love to have as many as you want. One or two dozen, I don’t care.” She told him she’d work up to twenty-four children. “Good. I love you very much, Rogen. I don’t think I tell you that nearly enough.”

  Chapter 10

  There were hundreds of people at the funeral. Lisha looked around twice to make sure that Jimmy’s was the only service being held today. And so many people came up to her, wishing her well and giving her condolences. She didn’t know any of them. Not one person except Thatcher’s family and her son and daughter.

  When there was a lull in the line of people, she went in search of Rogen. She was beautiful in her long black skirt and blood red blouse. Lisha had thought it would be tacky to wear to a funeral, but her daughter was not only able to pull it off, but Thatcher had a tie on of the exact same color. They looked like a wedding cake topper.

  “Mom, are you all right?” She looked at her son. Jamie was as good looking as Thatcher was handsome. She shook her head when he asked again. “Do you need me to get you a drink of water?”

  “No. I’m just overwhelmed, I guess.” He took her hand, the first time since she’d been living in the house with them that he’d shown any sort of affection toward her. “I don’t know these people. Why are they here?”

  “Some of them are people that I’ve worked with. But I think most of them are friends of Thatcher’s. He’s a good man, don’t you think?” She said that she liked him. “I do too.”

  Jamie had taken her out to his barn just this morning. He’d not wanted to, she could tell, and was reluctant to go with him. But Thatcher said it was a good thing he was doing, showing his mom his job, and Jamie changed his attitude just like that. Oh, to have had that kind of effect on either of them, she thought. A friendly conversation that didn’t end in her crying all the time.

  The barn was filled with equipment that she’d never heard of before. But Jamie had not only shown her around the big cavernous place, but he also showed her how some of the equipment worked. There were two pieces that he’d not been able to run for her, as Thatcher told him he need more practice. Then he showed her his art.

  “I never knew you were so talented. My goodness, Jamie, these are amazing.” He was embarrassed by her praise, but she didn’t think he’d be mad. “Where did you learn to do this? It must take you hours to get just one of them done.”

  “Sometimes when Rogen was working on assignment, she sent me to this nice school around the corner from where we lived. It was really fun, and I asked if I could go all the time.” He showed her his very first piece. “It’s not all that good. Not like I can do now.”

  “I think it’s lovely.” She looked up at her son when he said her name, tearing her out of her memory of earlier. “I’m sorry. I was thinking of something else. What did you say?”

  “I asked you if you wanted to have a seat. The service is about to begin.” She was escorted to the front by Thatcher. Jamie had to be ready to be a pallbearer. Thatcher sat her down next to Rogen, then sat by her.

  The service wasn’t that long. The minister didn’t know Jimmy—few people here did, she supposed—but it was nice, the things he said. He even told about how he’d come to see his children for the last time but hadn’t made it. He died trying to tell them that he loved them. That was when he went into making sure you live everyday as if it were your last. Lisha thought that was good advice, and she was going to make sure she did that as much as she could.

  As they were leaving the church, Lisha thought about the other funeral home that she’d gone to with Rogen. The man had been rude and nasty, and it wasn’t until Rogen stood up to take her someplace else that she realized that he was treating her like white trash. They were nearly to the car when Rogen said she’d forgotten her purse and went back in to get it. It wasn’t until they were riding to the next place that she realized that Rogen hadn’t carried a purse.

  “What did you do to that man?” Rogen grinned and said she’d done nothing. “I don’t believe you. What on earth did you do to him? Rogen, you didn’t kill him, did you?”

  “No. Not yet at any rate. But he’ll never treat anyone like he did us again. I made sure of that. The nerve of that fucking bastard.” The driver laughed and Rogen joined him. “This place we’re going now is the church that is on pack land. Shane offered it
to us when we told him about Dad’s death. He said it was large, and he even told us that we could bury Dad back there. You too when the time came. This way, you can visit him anytime you like.”

  “I’d like that.” Rogen had nodded. “Rogen, Mrs. Robinson, she said it would be her pleasure to teach me how to read. I talked to her last evening. And she’s nicer to me now too. I wasn’t all that nice to her when we first met. I wasn’t nice to a lot of people, including you and Jamie.”

  “You were fine, Mom. It was us. And I’m not going to tell you that we didn’t deserve to be rude, but we should have taken your feelings into consideration more than we did.” Lisha said nothing. “Thatcher said he found a buyer for the camper. And he’s going to buy the truck from you to use.”

  “Thank you for that. I just don’t think I could use it on my own. Too many memories.” She looked out the window and the lovely little church they were in came into view. “Oh Rogen. It’s perfect. Just like a picture. Thank you for bringing me here after me putting up such a fuss about the other place.”

  “I had no idea that he’d be a jackass, but I had heard that he was a prick. I’ll take care of him too.” She didn’t know what that meant and was positive that she didn’t want to. Rogen was good at whatever she did, and that was all she knew. “Mom, are you all right?”

  For the second time in the last few hours, she’d been pulled from her memories. Vowing to pay attention from now on, she walked with Thatcher on one side of her and Rogen on the other. Once they were standing near the open grave, Thatcher went to the hearse to be a pallbearer with Jamie. Sitting in the chair offered to her, Lisha watched as her husband, her friend, was brought to his final resting place.

  There were nice words being said, Lisha was sure. But all she could think about was that she was alone now. No more would Jimmy be there with her when she was watching television. He’d not be around to help her with small things around the house. There would be no more plans for the future for the two of them. The trip to Florida was finished.

  Leaning on Rogen’s shoulder, she told her that she loved her and Jamie. Loved them for taking her in, for giving her peace, and most of all for accepting her when she needed them most. Jamie handed her a tissue, then hugged her too. Lisha felt something that she’d never felt before—love from her children. Something that she was positive she did not deserve.

  Going back to their home, Lisha sat at the table, just watching the people that had come there. There were a great many of them that were well dressed, some of them in military uniform. And all of them seemed to know Rogen.

  She was delightful, Lisha noticed. Friendly to everyone. Hugged a great many of the men and women alike. Some of the people were introduced to her, but Lisha knew that she’d never remember their names. And it was doubtful that she’d see them again.

  When Maggie sat next to her and put a plate of food in front of her, Lisha started to shove it away. She didn’t think she could eat, ever again.

  “No, you don’t, young lady. You eat something. I’ll talk, you’ll listen. I was thinking about something that I think you might be on board with. I have a place in town that caters to some of the handicapped veterans that come home. Some of them are damaged physically, a lot of them emotionally. There are even a few of them that I worry won’t be able to come back from where they’ve been.” Lisha opened her mouth. “Unless you’re putting food in there, you close that mouth of yours right now. I’m talking.”

  “You’re very rude, aren’t you?” Maggie laughed, and Lisha couldn’t help but join her. “I guess it works when you have six boys running under foot. Jimmy and I, we wanted more children. For all the wrong reasons. But these two—while I had nothing to do with them being what they are, I’m very proud of them.”

  “You should be. And don’t cut yourself short. Had you been a better parent, then maybe they’d not have turned out like they did. Yes, I’m rude, but I don’t beat around the bushes when I have something to say. You’ve come a long way, Lisha. I didn’t want to like you, but you’ve turned me around.” Lisha thanked her. “You’re so very welcome. Now, I want you to come and help me out at the veterans’ offices. It’ll do you good to see people that are suffering more than you. Get you to realize that there is more to life than grief.”

  “Have you ever lost anyone?” Maggie nodded and looked away. “I’m so sorry. That was really mean of me. I’m sorry.”

  “My parents. They were tigers too, as you can guess. They’d been captured by some very bad men, and they...they killed them horribly. Then they skinned them. I wasn’t very old, maybe twelve or so, but for a long while I didn’t trust humans at all. I wanted nothing at all to do with any of them. They’d all killed my parents, was my thinking.” Lisha asked what had turned her around. “That man over there. My Thatch. He’s the best thing that could have happened to me. And I just don’t know what I’d do without him with me. I can’t feel your pain of the loss of a husband, but I do hurt for you. And want to help you.”

  “I’ll have to think about it. I mean, I feel so fuddled right now.” Maggie said that she understood that. “Thank you, Maggie. You’ve been wonderful to me and my children. Jamie cannot say enough great things about the two of you. He said you take him to dinner out all the time. I’ve never been anywhere but a fast food place. It’s easier to read the menu there.”

  “I have a girl’s day out, and you’ll come with me.” She started to tell her that she wasn’t up for that. “We do it once a month, and when the weather is nice, we have teas in someone’s flower garden. You’ll get to meet women of your own age as well as have some fun. Do you want anything else?”

  Lisha looked at the now empty plate. Then she looked up at Maggie. With a wink, the woman slipped away and left her there. She did feel better, she thought. Having just a little food on her belly made her feel like she could do this.

  Getting up, she walked around the room and let people talk to her. At first, she was nervous. Then the more she did it, the better she felt about it. As she was talking to a gentleman, Rogen came up to stand beside her and hugged the man. Lisha couldn’t for the life of her remember his name.

  “Leave my mom alone, you old letch.” The man laughed. “I didn’t think you’d be able to come here, Mr. President. My family and I thank you—”

  “You’re the president?” The man laughed and told her that he was. “I’m so sorry. I feel so stupid. I had no idea who— I’m so sorry. I feel so foolish.”

  “No reason to feel that way, Mrs. Hall. You have a great deal on your mind, and you just lost your husband. When my wife passed away, I could barely get out of the bed. You’re going much better than I was. And I want to thank you for just being you.” She asked him what he meant. “You were talking to me as if we were old friends. I don’t get that a great deal in my line of work. I do hope you’ll come and visit me sometime when I have to see Rogen. She’s my best man, and there isn’t anyone that I trust more than her. You did a fantastic job with both your children.”

  She started to tell him that she’d not been a good parent at all when Rogen cut her off. “My mom is going to be staying with us until we can find her a house. But she won’t be far away. I think that’ll be wonderful for us when we have children.”

  Lisha let them talk, thinking that Rogen was either embarrassed about her or she didn’t want the man to know. When he walked away, hugging them both and telling them once again that he was sorry, Rogen turned her to look at her.

  “I’m neither embarrassed or whatever else is running through your mind. You did make us what we are. And when someone says that to you, you simply say ‘Thank you. I did, didn’t I?’ We’re starting over, Mom. We don’t have to bring up the past anymore. I’d like for us to move forward from now on, and not think about the past.” She nodded, her eyes and heart so full then. “Mom, I’m sorry. About everything. But I’m serious. We need to move on. All right?”

  “Yes, that’s fine with me. I’d like that.”

&
nbsp; Rogen hugged her and took her around the room. So many people, her mind kept saying, and all for her children. It hit her then that she was exhausted, that the food had made her sleepy.

  “Rogen, do you think I could go lie down? I haven’t been sleeping all that well.”

  She was helped up the stairs to the room she’d been staying in and laid down. Lisha only had one thought before sleep took her under, and it was that she was home. For the first time in her life, she felt like she was home.

  ~*~

  Rogen was still doing research on the hospital when she found something that wasn’t adding up. In order to find what the key was, Rogen broke into one of the emails from the hospital board and found the answer to a great many things. Getting up and dancing around the room, she turned when Thatcher asked her what she’d found.

  “The key to the jackpot. The reason nothing is being paid.” Rogen showed him the email from a bigger firm inquiring about the sale of the hospital. And when it would come to fruition. “They’re making it look worse than it is. I’m not sure why yet, but I’ll figure it out. I mean, if I was going to sell off a hospital like this one, I’d want it to be worth more, wouldn’t you?”

  “Not necessarily.” She asked him why not. “Because there is a profit sharing with the place. It was put in place right after I did my internship. Every time we make a profit on something, even small things, like saving gloves that cost, sheets that need to be replaced, we get money back once a year. If there is no profit—which there never seems to be—then the money that is left over is for the board and their time. Otherwise, they don’t get anything much for helping the hospital.”

  “That’s just stupid. Why would they save that money instead of getting more for the hospital in the long run?” Then it hit her. “You’d get a part of that too. A profit off the sale. What a slimy piece of shit. So, if they sell a falling down hospital, they would come out more ahead than they would from the sale of a profit making one. And all the money that isn’t used for the things that you guys need, it goes to the board. That fucking sucks—you know that, don’t you?”