18. Battle of Wills
Chapter 18
Battle of Wills
Rebel
R obert and Nancy have only just arrived, and I can sense how wound-up Sadie is becoming with each passing minute. She’s so tense, I expect her to burst any second and bounce off the walls. Sadie started off nervous when we left for the airport, and her tension has been escalating ever since. Yet, nothing has happened. Robert has been nothing but warm and polite, and her mother, Nancy, has been great.
Robert and I carry the suitcases into the apartment, and since our place isn’t huge, I put them directly into the spare room.
“Isn’t this room lovely, honey?” Nancy says to her husband, looking genuinely pleased with the newly painted cream walls with an accent wall in a cool blue, where the headboard from the bed sits. To maximize the space, I added several shelves to clear out clutter on the surfaces that can be used to set down their suitcases. I cleared out the closet in the room to make it more comfortable. It’s not the Ritz, but Sadie and I worked to make it cozy and comfortable.
“I know it’s not huge,” Sadie starts, “but we hope you like it.”
“It’s perfect, baby girl,” her father says. “We need a place to sleep. We hope to be spending most of our weekend with the two of you.”
“That’s the plan, Robert,” I tell him with a grin.
“We’re on a list for a bigger apartment in the building. We like it here. Jasper has some of his buddies in the building, and I’ve made great friends with Maya and Kailyn. Oh, and I can’t wait to introduce you to Gertie,” Sadie rambles.
“The lovely older woman who lives down the hall?” her mother asks. “We can’t wait to meet all your friends.”
“Absolutely,” her father agrees.
“They’re amazing people, Dad,” Sadie say quickly. Too quickly, and very unlike Sadie.
“Babe, why don’t we let your parents settle in? Give them some breathing space,” I suggest, pressing lightly on her lower back and guiding her out the door.
Sadie heads straight for the kitchen. “Should I prepare lunch?” she asks, pacing the short length of the kitchen.
I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s only ten in the morning. “Sadie, what’s happening in that head of yours? It’s ten o’clock. Your parents told you on the way over that they had a huge breakfast before they boarded the plane. You’re looking like you’re walking a tightrope a hundred feet in the air without a net. Your parents have been great. You’ve been a basket case,” I tell her, coming closer. I clamp her waist and pull her up flush to my body. “What are you afraid of?”
“They have to like you,” she blurts out.
“What makes you think they don’t? I’m likable,” I tease, giving her a little shake.
“I love my parents, and I love you. I’ve seen what happens when families don’t get along. My friend Suzie, back home, she fell in love with this great guy. Her parents hated Bill from the first moment they set eyes on him. I never understood it. Bill is so good to her and loves Suzie so much that when she was pregnant, he literally carried her around so that she wasn’t overexerting herself. It was ridiculously sweet. It got so bad when they were dating that Bill didn’t go over to her family’s gatherings anymore. They would meet up or go to his place. They nearly broke up because Suzie would go to her parents’ house for dinner without him, and her parents would have other guys over for dinner to try to break them up. Bill finally had enough and gave her an ultimatum: her parents or him.” Sadie squeezes my biceps, tears threatening to fall. “Your job is dangerous, and my whole life, my parents have tried to protect me from getting hurt. I don’t want them to react that same way to us.”
“What did Suzie do?”
“She chose Bill. They’re happily married, with a little girl, Ruby, and Suzie is pregnant with her second.”
“And her parents?”
“They’ve never forgiven her for choosing Bill. To this day, I’m not sure they’ve ever seen their granddaughter. Suzie has an older brother and sister. They all get together with their families, but if her parents know that Suzie and her family are invited to one of her siblings’ homes, they won’t go.”
“Her parents are idiots. They’re missing out on seeing their grandchildren because of pride. It stopped being about Bill a long time ago. Her parents turned it into a control and pride issue. Your parents aren’t them, and this is not the same situation. I’m hoping that if Robert or Nancy have an issue with me, my work, or anything, they can come and talk to me about it. We might not always agree, but I’ll respect their opinion, as long as they respect mine,” I tell her, caressing her cheek and kissing her forehead. “I can’t foresee the future, but I can promise that I’ll always do my best to make you happy.”
We both hear the sound of a man clearing his throat, and we turn to face Robert and Nancy. Nancy is tucked into Robert’s side, looking upon us with soft, warm eyes.
“A father holds his baby girl for the first time and vows to never let anything hurt her. He watches her skin her knee or get the measles, and he sits up all night until whatever is hurting her is gone. The day you left home, I saw you get on that plane, and I thought my heart would never feel whole again. I couldn’t protect you anymore. I couldn’t chase away the monsters that hid under your bed. And I sure as hell wasn’t around to stop a mugger from beating you. But my little girl is still standing. Stronger and smarter than ever. And she found herself a man who would give his life for her. I’m not going to miss out on seeing my grandchildren. Your mother and I are going to babysit every chance we get. Christmases are going to be big family events, where Jasper and I are going to go out and cut down the tallest tree we can find and come home to watch the family decorate it. That’s what our future holds,” her father says, holding open his arms.
Sadie rushes into his arms, and the three huddle together. Both Nancy and Sadie sob tears of joy. I give them a minute before interrupting.
“Babe, I think they’re ready for Gertie,” I say with a chuckle.
Sadie sputters a laugh, which leads into a hard belly laugh, as she grips her stomach. “You better go see if she’s ready for the McCowans,” Sadie replies. I think the better question is if the McCowans are ready for our Gertie.
The father-boyfriend talk was slated to happen eventually. Ours happens on the way to the grocery store to pick up the list of items the women need to make enchiladas. At first it was only Gertie joining us for dinner, but the invitation has now been extended to Phoenix and Kailyn, Maya and Bull, and Wire and Falcon. As soon as Falcon found out that Wire declined, he opted out as well. Chances are Falcon’s making a trip out to see Wire to see what’s going on with him.
Remmi’s abduction has had an impact on him, and I’m not sure why. Then again, everyone on the team has seen and done things in the heat of battle that trigger us to this very day. We were all affected by Cory’s death, Phoenix more than the rest of us. But other situations have happened that have scarred us brothers in one way or another. I wouldn’t say Wire’s reaction is typical, but it is understandable.
Falcon has been the one who talks us off the edge and brings life back into perspective. It’s one of his many talents, but basically, he’s the older brother we all need and the greatest leader there is.
Even with Falcon and Wire missing, there are many mouths to feed; Hubert makes the tenth. Sadie wanted to have her father meet the man who took care of her when she first arrived, and Hubert was happy to be invited to a family dinner. Our place isn’t big enough for all of us to have a sit-down meal, so Gertie suggested dinner on the roof.
I didn’t even know we had a rooftop sitting area. None of us did. That’s when Gertie said, “Why would you? I never told you. It was put in for me.” Gertie’s been in this building the longest, and she and the owner are close. When Gertie started her battle with cancer, the owner put in a rooftop patio for Gertie to go and spend time outdoors without having to leave the building.
So here we are, with all the plans made. Robert and I are on our way to the store, and Bull and Phoenix are setting up tables and chairs on the roof.
Robert doesn’t beat around the bush, and as soon as we’re off the main road, he says, “You love her.” It’s not a question but a statement.
I glance in his direction. “More than anything.”
“She loves her job.”
“I know it. We met while she was looking after me.”
“What I mean is, she wants a career.”
“Then she should have what she wants.”
“Double shifts, long hours. That can be hard on a marriage,” Robert says. I see what he’s getting at. Many marriages begin with the best intentions, but people grow apart.
“I have a challenging job too. It’s something that Sadie and I have discussed at length. There are nights that she’ll sleep alone, and nights that I’ll sleep alone. But our plan is to have as many nights as possible together and make our time about quality moments,” I tell him. He seems satisfied with my answer. A father needs to know that his daughter is safe, so I decide to give him my plan. “Sadie needs a car. I plan on taking her out to buy one. No more waiting at bus stops. And I know how she is when she’s working. She forgets to eat. When she works nights, I’ll bring her dinner when I can.”
Robert grins, shaking his head. “I can’t wait to see how she reacts when you try to get her to buy a car. I’ve offered a hundred times, and she’s refused every single time. She can be as stubborn as a billy goat.”
“I’m not asking Sadie. I’m driving to the lot, and I’m telling her to pick one or I will. I can’t do my job if I’m worried about her safety. One mistake and it can cost a life. We saved a father and daughter the other night. It was a dangerous situation. I need to be focused on every mission because my brothers are counting on me. Sadie gets that, and if she doesn’t, I’ll buy a car anyway. Sooner or later, she’ll cave.” I shrug.
Robert busts out laughing. “God, I want to see that.”
“Well, come along for the floor show. Tomorrow’s as good a day as any,” I say.
“Have you ever seen stubborn Sadie?”
“Not so much.” In all honesty, I haven’t. Even when moving in, Sadie needed time to think on it, but she knew it was right for both of us.
“You’re in for a treat.” He chuckles. The rest of the time with Robert goes well. He likes to fish and loves woodworking. I can’t say I’ve done either, but if we decide on a trip out to see them, I’ll give it a go. Robert shares stories about Sadie as a kid, and I can see how much love there is in their little family. “What about your family?” he asks.
“My parents. They weren’t good people. My sisters and I grew up in an abusive home. Mom wished she hadn’t had kids, and Dad made sure to make our lives hell. My sisters are older, and they married good men who helped them heal. I took off and joined the army to distance myself. I wanted an education, and I wasn’t going to accumulate a mound of debt to get it. I don’t regret my decision because I met the team, and these guys are like brothers to me. My sisters, Jessica and Janie, are both married and living good lives. Their husbands are great guys, and we all keep in touch regularly. I love them, but I have my own way of doing things and my own life to lead.”
As I tell Robert my story, his expression changes to one of sadness, and he clasps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jasper. That must have been difficult. Parents should be supportive of their children, and loving.”
“I didn’t have great role models, but I learned about family from the men in my unit. I’d like to think that the team and I do our part to save a few lives,” I say. “I’m not going to lie, I was angry. Damn, I was filled with rage. Falcon saw it building in me from the moment we met. He’s not much older than me, but he set me straight and found a healthy way of working it out of my system. Where the team has been, what we’ve seen, and the things we’ve done, whether it be for a good cause or not, we have to live with it. Never did I think I’d meet a woman like Sadie. But here she is, and I can’t let her go.” I chuckle. “And she’s nuttier than I am because she wants to be with me.”
Robert laughs so loud, I’m sure everyone on the block heard him. When he finally settles, he says, “I may not be your father, but if you ever need an ear, I’ll be around to listen.”
At that moment, I feel something that I haven’t in a long time. I can’t quite explain it because it doesn’t make any sense, but I feel like I can let the past go. I’m not quite sure how to respond, so I give him a curt nod as we carry on.
Sadie
The next morning…
“Why are we here?” I ask. Nobody is paying attention, and Mom and Dad have already gotten out of the car and are walking toward a sporty dark blue Nissan crossover SUV.
Rebel doesn’t answer my question but unbuckles his seat belt and opens his door. “Let’s go, sweetheart.” I have no choice but to follow them. Rebel waits for me, then takes my hand and leads me onto the showroom floor.
“Are you getting a new car? What for? Your truck is brand-new.” Still no reply as we walk over to the sales manager’s office.
“Hey, Hank,” Rebel greets him. Hank gets up from behind the desk, and they shake hands.
“Good to see you, man. How’ve you been keeping?” Hank asks.
“Living the dream.” Rebel chuckles and tugs me tighter to his side. “This is my girlfriend, Sadie. Sadie, this is Hank.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say politely.
“Likewise,” he responds with a bright smile. Hank is very handsome. Not as beautiful as my Rebel, but he does have deep chocolate-brown eyes and thick, dark, wavy hair. Hank is almost as tall as Rebel and just as fit. I can see that the suit and tie work for Hank and make him seem polished and sophisticated.
“Did you get my message?” Rebel asks.
“Sure did. Got it all prepared. Want to see it?” Hank replies.
“Lead the way,” Rebel says, and we follow Hank out to the service center where a Nissan Rogue is sitting.
“It’s got excellent safety features. Gets good gas mileage. Has a built-in GPS system, leather seats, and all you asked for. All you’ve got to do is sign on the dotted line,” Hank says, holding out the key fob…to me . I stare at his hand, and my gaze moves from Hank’s hand to his face, where he’s grinning ear to ear, then to Rebel.
“What’s going on?” I whisper.
“We’re getting you a car,” he states, like it’s a normal occurrence that we just step out for a while, end up at a dealership, and come home with a new car.
“Are you nuts?” My voice moves into a high-pitched squeal loud enough for those around us to hear, including my parents. Dad gives Rebel an “I told you so” look, and Mom is doing her best to hide her grin.
“Give us a minute, Hank.” Rebel waits for Hank to walk away before turning me to face him. “Peace of mind, babe. I wasn’t there to look after you before, but I’m here now. I’m that guy. The guy who has a woman he cherishes and takes care of her like she’s a precious gem. I’m not trying to control you. I just need to know that when you leave our home, you’ll be as safe as I can make you. If you don’t like this car, fine, we’ll get what you want, but I can’t do my job if all I can think about is you and the fact that you’re not safe.”
I want to make him happy, but this payment will take a chunk out of my paycheck. “It’s too expensive. We can get a used one. I can afford the payments on a used car,” I explain.
“Hank is cutting me a deal. Falcon, the guys, and I buy from Hank often. He does good business with Storm and all the referrals he gets. This is a demo model, with a few added features. I’ll put down the down payment, and the monthly payment will be something you can afford.” Rebel has thought this through and has all the answers.
“You shouldn’t have to do that,” I counter.
“Are we together?”
“What does?—”
“Are. We. Together?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Then this is our first purchase as a couple. I put money down, you do the payments. I’m meeting you halfway, sweetheart. My first instinct was to buy it outright and bring it home,” he confesses. “This is a fair compromise,”
I gaze at his face, and I can see how much this means to him. “Next time, we talk about it before you corral me into a situation like this. Got it?” I say, poking his massively muscled chest.
His lips brush over mine. “We’ll see,” he replies with a mischievous grin. If he weren’t so sexy, staying mad would be easier. But his intentions are sweet, and I must admit that I wasn’t too keen on taking the bus to and from work. This brings up the fact that I’ve been getting more and more agitated when I was thinking of my ride to work.
“I think I should go see a counselor,” I blurt out, expecting to see Rebel’s surprised expression, but instead, he nods. “I thought I was handling it, but the idea of getting on public transportation alone scares me.”
Rebel takes my hands, lifts one to his lips, and kisses my knuckles. “That’s understandable. You’ve been through a trauma, and it’s good that you recognize that talking to a counselor would be the right move for you.”
“I hate that I’m weak,” I whisper, my lower lip trembling.
“Baby, you’re anything but weak. I can see our future having a few battles of wills, but it’ll be worth it,” he says to lighten the mood, then more seriously, “I want to teach you self-defense. I think it’ll help you to know that you can defend yourself if you need to.”
I can feel the heaviness lift off my chest. I’ve been trying to ignore this feeling of fear, but it’s been growing and gnawing at me. “I’d like that.” Relief washes through me. Rebel feels it too.
“Nothing’s going to hurt you again, Sadie,” he says, and I believe him.