Chapter 7
A fter an afternoon of softball, Steve and Megan got to Jerry’s around five. They settled into a booth. Megan was engrossed in coloring her menu when he spotted Donnie walking in. Steve watched Donnie creep up behind Megan. When he grabbed her on each side, tickling her silly, Megan screamed. Then she burst into giggles.
“Hey, squirt. Do your parents know you’re hanging out in bars?”
“Stop it, Uncle Donnie, stop it! My dad’s right here.” Megan could barely get the words out between giggles. Donnie stopped, dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and then held out his hand to Steve for a shake.
“So what brings you guys to Jerry’s?”
“Burgers!” Megan grinned, her coloring forgotten.
“Ah, of course. Can I tell you a secret?” Donnie leaned in close to her.
Megan nodded, her expression totally serious.
“I came for the burger, too,” he whispered, and Megan giggled again.
Steve smiled at them both. All of Raven team adored Megan. God help any boy who eventually dared to ask his daughter out. He’d have to pass through six special operators to do it.
“You’re welcome to join us, unless you have other intentions tonight?” Steve arched his eyebrow questioningly. Out of all of them, he was closest to Donnie, and his dear friend was seldom without a pretty girl on his arm. He wasn’t envious. He was a one-woman man, that woman being Diane. No one else even came close.
“Nope. Just here for a burger.” He plopped down next to Megan. “Megan, you take up soooooo much room.”
“Not as much as you, Uncle Donnie. Maybe you shouldn’t have a burger.” Megan said innocently. Steve burst out laughing, and Donnie looked at her in horror.
“Are you saying I’m getting too big, young lady?”
“Well, look,” she said very seriously. “You take up more than half the seat.” She motioned to the seat.
Steve grinned at his friend. “Out of the mouths of babes.” There was nothing quite like the innocence of a child. Not that his buddy was overweight. The training the team did meant they were all in top physical shape. The booths were just small.
“Daddy, can I choose a song on the jukebox?” Megan was climbing off the seat.
“Sure, Pumpkin.” He handed her a few quarters and watched her skip over to the big machine in the corner.
“She’s something else, man.” Smiling, Donnie shook his head. “Going to be trouble in a few years.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. I’m not letting her out the house.”
Carly, their regular waitress stopped at their table. “Hey, boys, what can I get ya?”
“Hi, Carly, I’ll take a burger and fries. Megan will have the kids burger with an orange juice. Donnie?”
“I’ll take the same as him. And a beer.”
Carly turned back to Steve. “Any beer for you?”
“No, I’m good with water, thanks, darlin’.”
“You got it boys. Won’t be long.”
“Water?” Donnie looked at him teasingly.
“Let’s just say I overdid it last night.”
“Ouch, that bad?”
“Yeah, you don’t want to know.” The embarrassment was still raw.
“So, you took your leave, can I ask how things are?”
Other than Dex, Donnie was the only other person he’d talked to about his marriage.
“Not great. I’m trying to be patient.”
“I take it she’s at work?”
“Yeah. She was meant to be home for dinner, but she bailed.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
Steve picked up his water. “Hopefully, we can talk when she gets home later, and Megan is asleep.”
“You know if you need me to watch Megan, you only have to ask. Give you guys some space.”
“I appreciate that. By the time she gets home, Megan will be in bed. Plus, you all are likely wheels up soon.”
“I guess. Don’t know much about it. Team brief is tomorrow. It’ll be weird going without you, brother.”
“It will be weird staying behind, but I got to do this Donnie. I have to try.”
“I get it.”
Megan came bouncing back as Taylor Swift burst into song. Donnie groaned. “Not Taylor Swift.”
“Yes,” Megan replied proudly. “And I hit repeat three times.”
“Oh, no, kill me now!” Donnie faked stabbing himself in the heart and Megan laughed.
Carly brought their food, and they chatted nonsense as they ate. Steve was glad Donnie was here. His daughter was having a great time with him. She loved spending time with the team. Going to Dex’s team barbecues had become one of her favorite things. As the only kid of a team member, his buddies all spoiled her, and she loved it.
When Carly had cleared their plates, Jerry walked over.
“Hey, Steve, can I borrow Megan?”
“You know child labor is illegal, right?”
“Now you tell me. But I think Megan might like this task. You see I just got two new ice cream flavors, and I need a tester.”
“I’ll do it! Please, Daddy?”
“Go ahead, but not too much.”
“I promise.”
“Thanks, Jerry. And I don’t just mean for this.”
“You’re welcome.”
Donnie raised his eyebrows at him. “Did you get that pissed?”
“Yeah, he took my truck keys and called Dex.” Steve took a sip of water. His head was finally feeling normal.
“Ouch. Fuck, man. We’ll have to tell him to call me next time.”
“There won’t be a next time. I forgot how bad hangovers are.”
“What happened? It’s been a long time since you got that wasted.”
“I went to surprise Diane at work. Things started off well, then went to shit, and I said some stuff I shouldn’t have.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I needed to blow off some steam.”
“Then you should have called me .” Donnie raised his beer to him. “You know I’d have come right here.”
“To be honest, Donnie, I thought you and Mackie might be here, but you weren't, and we’d just got back. Didn’t seem fair. So, I befriended a bottle of whiskey instead.”
“Shit. How was Dex?”
“He was cool. I crashed at his place. He wouldn’t let me go home until I sobered up.”
“Good call.”
“Yeah, it was.”
“So what’s going on with Diane? Is it just this partner thing?”
“That’s what she’s saying, but I don’t believe her.”
“You think she’s lying?”
Steve waited until Carly finished delivering their drinks.
“Thanks, Carly.” He smiled before turning his attention back to Donnie.
“Not lying so much as just not telling me and I don’t know why. There’s something more happening, I’m sure of it. She admitted there is a problem.”
“Have you asked her outright?”
“Yes. She says she’s busy right now. A big case. That we can talk after.”
“So, what now?”
Steve sighed, unsure whether to say anything to Donnie, but the man was his best friend.
“I’m considering asking Mackie to retrieve the texts off her phone.”
Donnie paused, beer halfway to his mouth. “Are you sure you want to do that? I’m no expert, but I think trust is an important part of a marriage.”
“I don’t think she’s cheating on me. I thought it was me, my job. But now, I also think she’s in some kind of trouble, or something is worrying her, and she’s too scared to tell me. Diane got a text message this morning that upset her. Perhaps if I see it, I can work out what the problem is and why she won’t tell me.”
“I take it you’re not planning to run this past Dex?”
“No, I’m not. The man needs to be focused on the op.”
“Your call, but you know he’ll be pissed if he finds out.”
Steve finished his water. “He won’t find out.”
***
I T WAS CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT when Diane arrived home. Her stomach sank when she saw the TV on through the window. She’d hoped by leaving it this late, Steve might have given up and gone to bed.
Unlocking the front door, she stepped inside quietly, so she didn’t wake Megan. Steve stood in the kitchen doorway.
“Hey, Angel.”
“Hey. I’m sorry I’m so late.” She placed her purse on the ottoman, relieved Steve seemed calm and not annoyed.
“Can I get you a drink? Something to eat?”
“No, thank you. I’m too tired. I’m going to go look in on Megan.”
He nodded and she headed upstairs. Megan looked so peaceful, snuggled up with her favorite teddy bear. Steve had won it for her at the fairground two years ago and she refused to go to bed without it now. She swallowed down the threat of more tears.
“She’s full on a Jerry’s burger.”
Though Steve had whispered off her shoulder where she stood by the door frame, she jumped.
“That’s nice.” She looked back at Megan’s face. “She’s growing up so fast.”
When Steve wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in to kiss her neck, she tensed.
“I know. She told Donnie tonight he shouldn’t have a burger because he’s too big.”
Diane gasped and turned to face him. “No! She did not!” she whispered as he closed the door, and they stepped away from it.
“Yep, she did. It was hilarious. She said he took up too much of the seat.”
Diane covered her mouth, stifling a giggle as she imagined Donnie’s face. She wished she’d been there. She should have been there. She had missed too many moments recently. Pulling away from Steve she walked to their bedroom. Steve followed.
“Angel, please talk to me.”
The way he said it, the slight desperation in his voice, caught her off guard. He was worried about her. Really worried. She sat down on the edge of the bed.
“What do you want me to say? I’m just tired. It’s a rough case. That’s all.” Removing her earrings, she avoided his gaze.
“It’s more than that and we both know it.”
She looked up at him startled. He was leaning against the door jamb, arms crossed over his chest.
“I saw the look on your face when you got that text message this morning. You were scared. Something is going on, and I don’t understand why you won't tell me.”
His voice was gentle. She wanted to tell him, but the words wouldn’t come out. Things were already strained between them. And now...dammit...if she told him... What good would that do? Volkov was just being a bully. It was just a custody case. Yes, she was a little rattled, but she could handle it. She was used to handling things alone.
“Honey, it’s just the case. It’s a bad one. The text, it was bad news. A bit of evidence I was relying on we can’t use. That’s it.” Great. Now she was lying to her husband.
Steve held her gaze, his mouth in a grim line.
“Tell me about the case.”
“You know I can’t. Attorney-client privilege and all that.”
“Fuck that. This is me. I’m not going to tell anyone.” His voice had risen slightly.
Diane stood up. “Do I insist you tell me details about your job? The missions you go on? No, because you’re not allowed to share with anyone outside your team, and you obey that. I might not like it, but I get it.”
“That’s different and you know it.”
“Why is it? Because your job is more important than mine? I take my job just as seriously as you take yours, so at least show me the decency to respect that.”
As they stood staring at each other, Diane prayed he would drop it.
Steve dropped his arms. “So this is how it’s going to be going forward? Any big case, we’re never going to see you. Our marriage comes second?” Steve asked.
“Our marriage has come second to your job for years. To me and Megan for years. Just because you’re with Onyx now and are home more, you don’t get to demand more of our time. This is my time, my career, my dream, remember?”
As soon as she said the words, she wanted to take them back. Steve looked like he’d been slapped. She’d never spoken to him like that before. She hadn’t meant it the way it sounded. The words had just spilled out of her mouth. What the hell was wrong with her?
When he pushed off the door jamb, she waited for the onslaught. She wouldn’t blame him for being upset. But it never came. Instead, when he spoke, he was calm, his voice low.
“You’re lying to me, Diane, and you’re hiding something. You're either going to tell me the truth, or I will find it out for myself. You decide which one it should be.”
He walked out and she listened to his footfalls going downstairs.
Shaking, Diane sank down on the bed. Oh, God! The hurt on his face. She wanted to go to him, tell him she didn't mean what she said. But her feet wouldn’t move.
***
S TEVE STARED UP AT the ceiling, hands behind his head. He’d barely slept a wink all night and that had nothing to do with having chosen the couch. He heard Diane get up, shower and leave. She hadn’t even come into the living room. He had contemplated going to her, trying to talk to her again, but her words were on constant replay in his head.
Our marriage has come second to your job for years. To me and Megan for years. Just because you’re with Onyx now and are home more you don’t get to demand more of our time.
He couldn’t believe she felt that way. Had no idea. His family came first, always, but his job meant hard choices. Choices that were often taken out of his hands. She’d known that when they started dating, though, and it had not seemed a problem before. They’d been happy. Or so he thought. Perhaps he had been wrong. Maybe he didn’t know his wife very well at all. It appeared his job was an issue.
After making sure Megan was awake, he took a shower before going downstairs to make breakfast. His phone pinged.
I’m sorry.
He stared at the words, fighting frustration. What was he supposed to do now? He loved his wife. His family meant everything to him. Christ, the thought of Diane leaving him caused a pain so fierce in his chest he couldn’t breathe. He braced against the kitchen island, his fists clenched. She said she loved him, and he damn well loved her. That was all that mattered. Everything else could be sorted out. If that meant stepping away from Onyx, it would be hard, but he’d do it. If she really thought their marriage, her and Megan had come second, it was time to prove to her they didn’t.
Despite all of that, his instincts still screamed she was holding out on him. The fear he’d seen on her face in the diner had nothing to do with him not putting their marriage first. It had to do with the text. What the fuck could be so bad she wouldn’t talk to him about it?
When Megan bounded into the kitchen, Steve straightened and gave her a warm smile.
“Hi, Pumpkin. Here you go. Cereal and toast.”
“Where’s Mommy?”
“Mommy left for work already. She didn’t want to wake you.”
“On a Sunday? Again?”
Steve managed to keep his smile in place. “Yes. It won’t be every Sunday. Mommy is just really busy right now. But the good news is you get to spend the day with me.”
He winked and she grinned.
“Now eat your breakfast.” He poured a cup of orange juice and slid it across the island before pouring himself a glass. Megan was focused on eating, so he pulled out his phone and shot a text to Mackie.
Hey, let me know when you can do that favor for me.
He only waited seconds for the response.
Just out for a run, send me the number and I can do it when I get home.
Steve sent the number, feeling guilty as hell, but he had to know. Had to know what was going on. If Diane was in trouble. There was a chance he would discover something he didn’t want to know, but he pushed aside the thought. He trusted his wife.
“So what mischief are we going to get up to today?” He leaned on the island and looked at his daughter. She was a miniature of Diane. The same soft curls framed her face. Big brown eyes and a splattering of freckles across her nose.
“Can we go to the party store and choose some things for my birthday party?”
“I think we can do that.”
A few hours later, Megan had chosen magic dragons as her party theme. No princess stuff for his little girl. They had bought party favors, plates, napkins and a bunch of other stuff. Steve loaded everything into his truck. Then he leaned in the back to ensure Megan was strapped in. When he closed the door, a black Ford sedan caught his eye. He couldn’t see inside due to the sun. He didn't recognize it, but he was sure it had also been on his street this morning. He shook his head. Jesus. It was a busy mall parking lot; black Fords were everywhere.
Getting in the driver’s seat, he started the engine. When he cranked Taylor Swift on high, Megan burst into song, and he joined her. The two of them sang their hearts out as they made their way home.