Chapter Thirty-Nine Chosen Family
Nissa approved Evie’s vacation time without hesitation, only making a slight face when Evie told her what she planned to do on her time off.
“It’s nice that you want to help them out, but next year, maybe book a trip somewhere.” She passed her a copy of the signed time-off request. “Or take three short vacations instead of one big one if you’re struggling with finding things to fill your time.”
Evie grinned. “After feeling disconnected from everyone for the last five months, I’m actually looking forward to spending time with Cole and Lana and getting to know the baby.”
“Isn’t he gorgeous?” Nissa’s face softened as she gushed about the baby. “He’s gonna be spoiled rotten. Aaron has already bought him a bunch of sports jerseys that he’ll grow out of in two weeks, and when I told him that, he shrugged and said he’d buy him more.”
“He is gorgeous.” Evie agreed. “And I’m not surprised Aaron is excited; he told me he wanted to have an entire baseball team of kids.”
Nissa frowned and glanced at the door to her office. “Does Paula know that? Because she practically recoiled when Cole stopped by to pick up some stuff Lana left at her desk and showed us pictures. Like, she actually looked a little ill when she walked away.”
“I think so?” Evie furrowed her brow as she tried to remember the conversation she’d had with Aaron the previous summer.
“I’m pretty sure he said they agreed to four, and they already have names picked out.
And I want to say she said she wanted to wait until their fifth wedding anniversary before they started trying, but that’s a weird reaction for someone who’s agreed to have four kids. ”
Nissa hesitated, then got up and shut the door to her office.
“This doesn’t leave this room,” she said quietly.
“Aaron and I had a mission together a few months ago, and I got some insight into their relationship. It seems to work for them, and I don’t want to betray his confidence by going into detail, but from my perspective, it’s a really unhealthy dynamic. ”
Evie took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly.
She didn’t like to gossip and didn’t want to get involved in a coworker’s relationship dynamics when they had no idea what was really going on behind the scenes, but she could see how concerned Nissa was for Aaron.
“Yeah, he’s said a few things to me that made me do a mental double-take and wonder what he gets from the relationship. ”
“So, it’s not just me.” Nissa looked relieved that she wasn’t blowing things out of proportion and that someone else had noticed the same things. “It’s weirdly manipulative and controlling, right?”
“Yes, and you’re right about it being weird.
” Evie acknowledged, shifting on her feet as an uncomfortable feeling twisted in her stomach.
“The first day of my self-defence training, when Thorn and I walked in on them arguing in the gym. It seemed like she had deliberately arranged a dinner with her mother the night before Aaron’s best friend was shipping out to Iraq.
He said she’d known he had plans with him, that it was in their shared calendar for three weeks.
She told him he would have to tell his mother why he was skipping it and stormed off in a huff.
Thorn commented on how he usually gave in to her. ”
“Exactly.” Nissa sat on the edge of her desk and folded her arms. “And as much as he wants everyone to like him, have you noticed he never joins in when we make plans to get together after work or comes to birthday parties? I mean, she doesn’t either, but that’s more fitting for her personality.
He tries so hard to be friends and then doesn’t socialize with us. ”
Evie had noticed that, but she’d always shrugged it off as them wanting to keep their social life and work life separate. “There could be lots of reasons for that, though,” she pointed out, not wanting to blow this up into something it wasn’t without actual proof.
“Yeah, absolutely, but he never talks about doing things with the guys or his friends and family; it’s always just them, or her friends and family.
” She leaned in, her voice dropping. “He joined the CIA because she wanted him to, and when he began advancing faster than her, she pushed him to apply here. He didn’t want to. ”
Evie bit her bottom lip, not liking what Nissa was implying. “Did he actually say that? Or did you piece it together? Because don’t get me wrong, you have a sixth sense for these things, and I believe it, but he doesn’t seem unhappy to me.”
“I know!” Nissa threw her hands up in frustration. “That’s why I said it was weird. It’s like he has Stockholm Syndrome.”
“Or maybe he likes being domineered and controlled.” She shrugged, remembering how Aaron hadn’t denied being a masochist. “Lots of men in high-stress, high-profile careers are submissive behind closed doors. They spend all day making decisions and being in control, it’s a relief to have someone else do it when they get home. ”
“Evie, honey, if you knew the number of ops women are sent on where they play dominatrixes to get close to a high-profile target…” She chuckled dryly. “I’ve seen that type of man many times; this isn’t the same.”
Evie sighed and glanced at the clock. She had to get to her office and finish a few designs before she went on vacation. “What do you want to do about it?”
“That’s just it, I don’t know.” She shrugged helplessly. “Kidnap him and take him to a deprogrammer?”
“I really don’t think he’s brainwashed.” Evie snorted.
Aaron’s personality was too strong for that.
“Look, unless he comes to us and asks for help, there’s nothing we can do.
Even if there are issues in their marriage, when he talks about her, he’s either defending her prickly personality and making excuses for her or gushing about her.
I’ve never heard him complain about her, have you? ”
“Not directly.” She frowned. “His facial expressions give away that he’s annoyed with her for things, like quitting the CIA and coming here.
He was annoyed when he said Paula thought it was best for him to go because Tommy wouldn’t have given her a chance.
He was embarrassed that he had to call in a favour with his friend to get on Tommy’s calendar, but it was immediately followed up with him saying her happiness meant more to him, so he did it anyway. ”
“Alright. I agree their dynamic is weird, and I think she uses disappointment, guilt and probably silent treatment to get her own way, all of which are manipulative, controlling and abusive.” Evie conceded that point to her because she had seen those aspects in their relationship.
“But Aaron isn’t a victim, or at least not a victim that needs to be saved.
He is capable of standing up to her when he wants to, and he does, which means if he wanted to leave, he would.
” She reached out and squeezed Nissa’s arm.
“By all means, keep an eye on him, I will, too, but I really think he’s with her because he wants to be, not because he’s stuck.”
**********
Evie’s three weeks helping out Lana and Cole sped by.
The first week was spent getting the house back in order and cleaning up.
It wasn’t dirty exactly, but it was definitely disorganized and messy.
With Lana unable to move much without pain, Cole had taken over most of the baby care so she could rest and heal.
He had done his best to stay on top of things and helped Evie as much as he could, but confessed that cleaning had never been a high priority for him.
“I’ll let things pile up until they’re in the way and then put them away out of sheer irritation,” he explained as he sorted through a stack of mail, pulling out cards and envelopes and tossing junk.
“I don’t like it when things are dirty. I’ll make sure the dishes are in the dishwasher and the floors are swept and vacuumed, but actually putting things back where I got them after I’m finished is another story. ”
Cole had to go back to work during her second week, so she spent more time helping Lana as she needed it.
Watching the baby so she could shower or nap, keeping things tidy, cooking meals, and just keeping her company.
She was careful not to overstep with Colton, only holding him when Lana passed him over.
He was a happy baby who only fussed or cried when he was uncomfortable, and Evie enjoyed every minute she got with him, telling Lana only half jokingly that she might be addicted to the baby smell.
Her third week there, Lana was four weeks into her recovery and moving around much better.
Evie stepped back a little more each day, letting Lana do what she felt she could, but wanted to make the week and a half before Cole’s parents arrived as easy on her as possible, so she filled their freezer with pre-cooked meals they could just heat up when they were hungry.
A few days after she returned to work, Cole walked into her office holding a gigantic gift basket and set it on her desk with a flourish. “For you, my lady.”
“What’s this?” Evie stood up and leaned in for a closer look, smiling when she saw it was full of bath stuff: bubble baths, bath bombs, Epsom salts, face masks, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotions.
“Lana and I wanted to give you something for helping out.” He dropped into the chair and began spinning side to side. “You have no idea how much we appreciate it and miss you now that you’re gone.”
“You didn’t have to get me all this. Thank you.” She untied the bow holding the cellophane in place and peeled it open, flicking through the stack of face mask packets. “I’m just glad I was helping and not being a pest.”
“Are you kidding? Lana already wants to make sure you’re available after the next one.” Cole shook his head, chuckling as she pulled things out to inspect them. “Did you even hold the baby while you were there?”
“Yeah, of course, usually while Lana was showering, napping or using the bathroom,” Evie murmured as she opened the body wash and sniffed it, closing her eyes as the scent of mango and pineapple filled her senses. “This smells good enough to eat.”
“The point is, you used your vacation time to help us, let us focus on the baby, and let Lana heal. Really, this isn’t enough.” He gestured at the basket. “So, we’d like to ask you if you’d do us the honour of being Colton’s godmother.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m honoured I was even up for consideration.” Evie beamed, dropping the body wash into the basket as she wrapped her arms around Cole’s shoulders and hugged him tightly. “Yes, of course. Who’s the godfather?”
“You didn’t hear Thorn’s whoops ten minutes ago?” Cole laughed, hugging her back. “Since he’s still in Germany, I called him on Skype and he practically blew out my speakers cheering, I figured the whole floor heard him.”
“That’s what that was about?” Evie giggled as she stepped back. “Why Thorn?”
“Well, besides the fact that it felt weird to ask anyone else after we decided you were the best choice for godmother, Thorn has had my back at every turn since I started working here. He’s always got solid advice and grounded insights, and since your jobs are to provide moral guidance, I don’t know anyone better suited. ”