Chapter 28
MAGGIE
Waiting rooms were the worst. At least we knew that Zoe would be okay. She’d regained consciousness in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She’d sustained a concussion and dislocated her shoulder.
Tiffany was in the examining room with her sister, while the rest of us waited around.
We’d each given our statements to the police.
Taryn Walker, the Salinger Security lawyer, had been with us every step of the way.
Mason Salinger had been taken in for questioning, but that was apparently standard operating procedure when a shooting involved a death.
Two police officers stood respectfully in a corner while they waited for the all clear to question Zoe.
I looked over at the other corner. Connor sat with Jaycee on his lap surrounded by Zoe's friends, as well as Hayden and Ethan. Cooper Wilson and Matty Salinger were Zoe’s best friends and had been waiting when we arrived.
My mind went back to a time or two when we’d waited a time or two for our friends to recover from whatever disaster they’d managed to find themselves in.
Tiffany and the doctor came through the swing doors. The doctor looked around the rather full waiting room. Hunter, Shiloh, and Ryder had stayed, as well.
Tiffany looked over at the police officers. “You can question her now. But my brothers and I will be present.”
“Fine.” One police officer answered as they walked over to her. “Her statement is important to ensure Keith and Charlie are put away for good.”
Theo stood next to me and kissed my cheek. His exhaustion plain across his face. “You okay with me going?”
“Of course.” I nodded and gestured around the waiting room. “Zoe needs you. We’ll all be waiting when you’re done.”
He let out a deep breath, his eyes softened as he spoke. “Good, because I need you to be here.”
The next hour had been a blur of police officers and other agents wanting more statements. By the time we walked into Zoe’s room she looked utterly exhausted.
I took her hand in mine. “Kiddo, I think we need to leave you to sleep.”
“Not yet.” Her small grimace had me on alert and I looked over at Tiffany who had spotted it too.
I nodded and gave her a small smile. “Whatever you want.”
“Do you want me to read you a story?” Jaycee sat at Zoe’s feet, her coloring book in front of her. “That always makes me feel better.”
Zoe gave my daughter an affectionate smile. “Not quite yet, Jay. My head still hurts.”
“Then we must whisper.” Jaycee’s small voice dropped to the loudest whisper, causing us all to laugh.
A soft knock at the door drew our attention.
“Good afternoon, dears.” Millie, the sweetest seventy-year-old, and the wisest woman in town stepped into the room wearing her candy striper uniform. “I hope I am not interrupting but, I found these in a room that’s been cleaned and I figured it could be of better use up here.”
Tiffany immediately stepped away from the bed and went to hug the old lady. “Thanks so much. You’re not interrupting anything. You know, you’re like family.”
Tiffany adored the older woman. She had been the receptionist at Salinger Security after Sue left and before Tiffany had started. Millie wanted to retire and Tiffany needed a job.
Millie placed the flowers on the small table next to Zoe’s bed before giving my baby sister a few words of encouragement. By the time she left, both Jaycee and Hayden were yawning.
I picked Jaycee up off the bed. “I think I need to get these two home.”
Theo nodded and placed his hand on Zoe’s forehead. “We’ll be back first thing.”
“Don’t be silly. You both have work.” She turned to Tiffany. “You too. Even though I think it's high time you quit.”
“What?” Theo frowned. “Do you not like your job? Do they treat you badly?”
“I love my job. They treat me just fine.” She turned back to Zoe. “Its just not my dream. But I am not ready, yet. I need a little more time.”
I could tell that Theo wanted to say more, but I put a hand on his arm. “Leave it. She’ll sort herself out. Now take me home.”
Connor sat in the seat I’d had just stood from. “I’ll stay with her.”
“We will, too.” The words came from Cooper Wilson standing at the door. Next to him was Matty Salinger along with a few more of both Connor and Zoe’s Friends. “If that’s okay?”
Theo glared at Cooper, and I had to hand it to the teenager. He didn't so much as flinch. He’d been friends with Zoe since kindergarten, I had no doubt it was not the first time the boy had received that look.
Tiffany broke the tension as she stifled a smile. “That would be great. She could use the company. But please make sure she gets some rest.”
“Oh.” Cooper let out a chuckle. “We’ll be quiet and make sure she rests. We just want to make sure she’s not alone.”
The look on Cooper’s face was one I had seen a million times before.
It was the way Harry looked at Tess, the way Ryder looked at Shiloh.
And recently, it was the way Theo looked at me.
And if I wasn’t mistaken, it was also the way Hunter looked at Tiff.
But that was something those two would need to work out for themselves.
With a long round of goodbyes and Zoe promising she would rest, we left the hospital in much higher spirits than when we arrived.
As we pulled into the driveway at the mansion, we found Hunter in huddle with the security guards. I knew things would be returning to normal. It was just so surreal to know that for the first time in more than a week, there would be no armed guards at each entry point of the house.
“They were contractors, right?” I turned to Theo, as we stepped out of the car. I opened the door for Hayden while he got Jaycee from her seat. “I mean, they won’t have work tomorrow.”
He shook his head and narrowed his eyes. “They’re long term contractors, but they’ll have work. We’d pulled them from other jobs, offered overtime. Whatever it took. They knew this job was temporary. But they were not worried about job security.”
“Oh, that’s good.” I wondered about that for a second.
“Actually, it's also kind of sad. Salinger Security has a pretty huge… fleet? Collection? There has to be a collective noun for a group of bodyguards or security. And the fact that they constantly have work tells me how many assholes are out there.”
“True.” He took my hand as we walked to the front door, leaving Hunter to the rest of the guards.
Theo placed his palm on the door, before entering the code.
He pushed open the heavy door, allowing Hayden and I to walk ahead of him.
As the door clicked shut behind us, something inside me settled.
Before, that sound had represented a fortress sealing off.
Guarding its inhabitants. Now that sound meant home, sanctuary, the one place in the word I could let my guard down.
Getting the kids to bed was a quiet affair. Jaycee had nearly fallen asleep while I had her in the bath. Her eyes were drooping while I tugged on her pajamas. “Mama, can you tell Unca Feo that I am very sorry, but I cannot do a story tonight.”
My lips twitched, it had become their little thing. Mostly because she could convince him to read more than one.
“I’ll be sure to let him know.” She was gone before I turned out the light.
Hayden was a different story. He tried to put on a brave face, but I saw the way he checked the window before climbing onto his bed.
Theo noticed it too. “Son, would you like to do a perimeter check with uncle Hunter and me?”
“Can I?” His eyes went wide with wonder.
Theo nodded. “Sure. We don’t need to do it every night. But we are doing one tonight just to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
Theo pulled his phone from his pocket, no doubt letting Hunter know about the change of plans.
That ten minute walk around the house made me fall even more in love with the man. He saw a frightened child who needed something and he didn’t hesitate to give it to him. When they walked back into the house, Hayden’s shoulders were visibly relaxed.
“Mom. The house is safe.” Hayden even had a trace of smile as he stepped through the kitchen door. “Uncle Theo—” My little boy's forehead creased in a frown, then he looked at Theo. “Uncle Theo, that man, my dad, Fred. He said that you think that Jaycee and I are your children.”
Theo lifted Hayden onto the tall chair at the island and sat facing him directly. “He is not wrong. You and Jaycee are my children.”
That frown never left as my little boy tilted his head to the side. “Then if we’re your children, can we call you Dad?”
Tears threatened at the corners of my eyes. And I watched as Theo swallowed hard.
“Nothing would make me prouder, son.”
Hayden nodded. “Thanks Dad. I will make sure Jaycee knows in the morning.”
The emotion playing over Theo’s face was a beautiful thing to watch.
“I’m glad you’ll handle that.” He winked and glanced back down at Hayden. “You ready to go to bed now?”
He nodded and then looked at me. “Night, Dad. Mom, will you tuck me in?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” I walked him up to his room and watched as he climbed under the covers. “Do you need a story?”
He shook his head. “No, thank you. Are you okay with Uncle Theo being my dad?”
“Yes. He’s a good man. I think you’ve chosen wisely.”
My little boy twisted his lip, reminding me a little of his sperm donor. “Will you choose wisely when he asks you to marry him?”
“What makes you think he’ll ask me to marry him?” I mean, it was what I wanted, but still.
Hayden rolled his eyes. “Please Mom. Dad is not stupid, he knows a good thing when it’s in front of him.”
I let out a laugh and kissed the top of his head. “Good night, sweetheart.”
“Night, Mom.”
I switched off his light and pulled his door on just a little. Theo stood waiting for me in the hallway. “He’s not wrong. I need some time to pull off the logistics, but yes, I know when I have a good thing in front of me.”