Herald the Night

Chapter Twenty-Five

Theo’s mask was fooling no one. Not Connor, not the kids. None of them believed the brave face, but he was putting in a valiant effort. He knew it was bad when Theo pulled butter out of the freezer and plugged in the stand mixer on the counter. The last thing they needed was stress baking, even if it was Theo’s go-to when the anxiety was becoming too much to deal with.

“Baby… not right now.” Connor slid in front of him to block his access to the baking cabinet. “I know you”re struggling, but it”s already after eleven o’clock.”

“I was… it’s…” The tension around Theo’s eyes grew more pronounced. “I just need something to focus on.”

“C’mere.” Connor eased his arms around Theo’s body and instantly registered the tremors coursing through it. “How can I help?”

“I don’t know,” Theo hissed almost silently in Connor’s ear. “I don”t know…”

“Do you reckon having a lie down would help?” Connor stroked his palms up and down over Theo’s back in a slow, soothing pattern in time with his own deep, slow breaths. With any luck, he could use the power of suggestion to coach Theo’s breathing into a calmer rate.

“I don”t know!” His voice pitched higher with strain and had the kids casting worried glances toward them.

“Mn, right. Listen to me, baby. We’re all of us gonna head to the living room, okay?” Connor gently shifted his frame until Theo took a singular step backward. “We can put something on the television and sit together, eh?”

Toby jumped up from his seat and immediately moved toward the doorway. “That”s a good idea. Park, Anna, last one to the living room gets the floor!”

The gamified challenge had the kids moving in record time. Connor once more used his body to get Theo moving. His breathing was still too fast, too shallow, too weak where it ghosted over Connor”s elevated pulse in his neck. It took every ounce of his resolve not to freak out himself over it. Step by painstaking step, they moved as one through the kitchen and toward the living room.

Connor stalled at the entrance to the living room. He expected squabbling over the programming and the seating arrangements. What he found was Toby cross-legged on the floor in front of Anna and Parker in the arm chair. On the television was none other than the Great British Bake-Off. He arched a brow at Toby and received only a subtle jerk of the head in return. All of thirteen years old and the kid had more emotional maturity and empathy than most adults.

Somehow, Connor managed to finagle himself and Theo onto the couch, although Theo was more on top of him than on the couch. He pulled a throw blanket around their bodies and tried to maneuver them into a more comfortable position. In the process of moving from the kitchen to the living room, Theo had become nearly catatonic. It was alarming, even if he’d experienced this before. It would always be alarming whenever Theo’s body forced him to shut down out of self-preservation.

The only indication that he was still somewhat present came when his hand slipped under Connor’s shirt to rest over his chest. The skin to skin contact had Connor”s heart rate accelerating, and Theo shifted his hand until his palm pressed against the steady thump. Otherwise, he was vacant and lost to his mind. Connor hugged the blanket closer around Theo’s perpetually trembling body and held him tighter. He’d come back eventually. For now, Connor would simply hold him together.

No one at all paid attention to the calm, comforting, low-stakes program on the television. He knew from experience how often they streamed the episodes, especially during times of stress. If he were a betting man, he”d put his money on all of them finding solace in the show. He’d even grown to find himself growing subdued and soothed by the familiar notes of the theme song over time. It didn”t matter that no one was really paying attention. It was the act of being together and grabbing hold of that predictable comfort while everything spun out around them.

Connor”s phone buzzed in his pocket and forced him to shift the motionless weight against his body in order to slip it from his shorts. Theo shifted, barely, to accommodate the movement before promptly adhering himself back against Connor’s frame. He kissed the chaotic dark curls tucked under his chin and rearranged the blanket before checking the screen. Elias and Caleb would be arriving any minute. He snuck a peek toward the armchair and found the poor little guy fast asleep with Anna, his glasses askew and his mouth hanging open.

He sent a message to the agents on duty to give them the heads up. Elias and Caleb were on the list of always approved visitors, but the night had been a long and stressful one for them all. The reminder would be helpful for everyone considering they were all on high alert. He tossed the phone on the cushion beside them and cradled Theo closer. He had a few minutes to revel in the closeness and provide what little comfort he could.

A soft knock came from the hall and Connor sighed. Extracting himself from the warm little cocoon they were in felt all wrong. Theo protested with a whine. His heavy lidded eyes broke Connor”s heart as he slipped from the couch and tucked Theo under the throw blanket. A touch to his shoulder had him flinching for how unexpected it was.

“I”ll sit with him,” Toby whispered, wedging himself between the arm of the couch and Theo’s tightly curled form. “We”ll be here when you get back.”

“You”re a good kid, Tob.” Connor tousled the boy’s shaggy hair with a weak smile. “Love you.”

Toby’s mouth fell open as his eyes snapped up toward Connor. “Yeah. I… I love you too, Connor.”

Connor pressed his fingertips to the pressure in his chest as he made his way to the door. Hearing those words from the grouchy mini-Theo was a gift he wasn”t prepared for and wouldn”t soon forget. He made a promise to himself to try and build on that bond once they had the chance as he glimpsed through the peephole and confirmed that it was safe to unlock it. Only once the alarm system was disarmed did he throw the deadbolt open and let Elias and Caleb inside.

“Hey, you good?” Elias stepped in first with Caleb right behind. The palpable tension rolled off them both as they searched the hallway.

“Yeah. Park’s asleep in the living room. He”s doing all right. Y’all good?” Connor stepped back to give them room as he shut and locked the door behind them.

“Fuck no. The entire night has been a shit show.” Caleb clenched his hands into fists and glowered. Connor had never seen the small but mighty man quite so angry before. It was startling in its intensity.

“Cay,” Elias warned with a low murmur. “There”s bigger things going on right now.”

“Did y’all want to head out now or… if’n you wanted to talk about it, I could use the distraction.” Connor moved further into the house and nodded toward the living room.

Elias appeared at his side in two long strides before leaning around the doorjamb. Once he spied Parker, still passed out cold beside Anna, he visibly relaxed with a weighty sigh.

“I”m okay to stay a bit. My nerves are shot and he seems comfortable.” Elias ran a trembling hand through his salt-and-pepper hair.

“Wine? Whiskey? Please tell me there”s liquor.” Caleb squeezed between them as he whispered, not relaxing at all despite the visual confirmation of Parker”s relaxed state.

“Dry household now. Sorry. Tea, coffee, or a juice box? Might got some Capri Sun left.” Connor moved toward the opposite door and slipped into the kitchen. He wasn”t alone for long.

“Okay, good for you. Sucks for me. I guess coffee it is. I won”t be sleeping for eons.” Caleb dramatically flung his body into the nearest chair. “Too busy planning an assassination.”

“Jesus, Cay.” Elias pinched the bridge of his nose with a long sigh. “The Secret Service is literally right outside.”

“Good, they can help me. I”m sure they want her gone as much as I do.” Caleb pouted and propped his chin in his palm.

“Do I wanna know?” Connor moved through the motions of getting the coffee pot brewing.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Elias eyed Caleb with a stern expression. Caleb rolled his eyes and proceeded to dive straight into it without looking back.

“Adelaide Montgomery is a joke. A cruel joke and a spineless twat and I swear to God if Aaron weren”t the fucking Senate Majority leader, I would start the phone chain right now to get impeachment papers drawn up.” He flailed his hands over his head with an exasperated sound. “I want him impeached too, while we’re at it. There”s got to be something in the books about how wrong this whole relationship is.”

“I mean, I reckon there is. It”s a conflict of interest for sure.” Connor settled his lower back against the counter and folded his arms across his chest. “What exactly happened?”

“She”s just insufferable. A literal soul-sucking, insufferable cow and I can”t handle it. I thought she had what it took to get the country back on track. She sure talked a good game. It”s the whole freaking reason I jumped on the job opportunity!” Caleb rubbed at his eyes while muttering.

“It”s not good, but we have to tread carefully, Cay.” Elias reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a pair of glasses before carefully setting them in front of Caleb.

“God, you”re perfect.” Caleb proceeded to grab a tissue from his pants pocket and removed his contacts.

Connor shuddered and looked away. “Y’all think she’s actually serious about Aaron?”

Caleb laughed, dry and humorless. “Honey, babe, sweet summer child. She”s been serious about him for a long ass time. Whatever lies she”s fed you guys are just that.”

“Huh,” Connor huffed, turning toward the coffee pot as it beeped and began preparing their drinks. “Ain”t surprised. Isn”t this a problem, though?”

“Technically, there”s nothing barring relationships between Presidents and members of any other branch of the government. Even if they were to get married. Happened with the Clinton administration, if only for a few weeks.” Elias thanked Connor for the coffee and sighed, rubbing his fingers over his sternum.

“El,” Caleb called toward Elias with a concerned shift in his tone.

“Heartburn, Cay. I told you it”s fine,” Elias snapped. Connor had never heard him get snippy, ever, so the response grabbed his attention.

“You,” declared Caleb with a sharp edge. “—are going to excuse me while I use the little boy’s room.”

Connor blinked in confusion as Caleb promptly stood up from his chair and marched from the room. It was more of a sashay than a march, but the effect was all the same. Honestly, none of them could catch a break. He turned back toward Elias and arched his brow again.

“So… wanna talk about whatever the heck that was?”

Elias sighed, laughed, and then hung his head with another exhale. “Yeah. It”s all fucked, Con.”

Well, that was as true a statement as ever. Connor grabbed his coffee and nodded toward the table. Elias had stepped up and given Connor the space to talk about dozens of things over the last few months. It was his turn to provide the older man a chance to get things off his chest. A chest he kept rubbing with his fingers. Worry, more worry, gnawed at the back of Connor’s mind as they sat down together. If they lost the rock of Elias’ calm, they”d all be screwed. It was definitely all fucked, as Elias so aptly asserted. Lord, help them all.