Chapter Yankee
Yankee
Woken from a dead sleep, Burke came awake with a start as all three kids pounced on the bed, pounced on him. He’d been woken by the kids this way when sleeping on the couch at Donna’s apartment. It was no less jarring that it occurred on a bed this time.
He rolled over, bringing Elijah with him so that Elijah landed on the far side of the bed, the boy laughing.
Jayden decided to pile on, joining in the early morning laughter that filled the room.
Not wanting to be left out, Jeriah jumped on her brothers, nearly landing on the floor, but was saved by Burke at the last moment.
Donna sat up and viewed the scene, a smile pulling at her lips.
This was exactly what she wanted for herself and her children: a family with a father who they were comfortable enough with to crawl into bed with, laugh, and wrestle with.
And seeing the smile on Rich’s face was even more satisfying to know that he enjoyed it too.
Burke made eye contact with Donna and returned her smile as he held the boys off, who thought they could overpower him. “Should we go down and see if Santa came?”
The three children squealed and jumped off the bed. They were all down the stairs before Burke and Donna had even pulled themselves out of bed. They chuckled as they left the room.
Laura Lee and Brad Dupont arrived just as the coffee was ready, and Dorthea got up.
As on the prior Christmas morning, the family celebrated a combination of old traditions for the Saxton family with new ones being made.
Gifts were opened. A Christmas morning brunch was eaten, and then the kids played with their many new toys while the adults lingered at the dining table discussing the purchase of the house, the upcoming move, and the plans for the future.
Laura Lee was surprised by the proposed purchase of the house and the living arrangements.
She wouldn’t ask Burke if he was sure, though, as she knew he was.
And she really did like to see her sister and nephews and niece as happy as they were with him.
She agreed her mother needed to move to Illinois if her sister did.
With her mother’s Parkinson’s, it was not wise for her to live alone out of state.
And long-term, yes, she would need to live with one of her children, which obviously, due to her job, Laura Lee was not the ideal choice.
Dorthea agreed to move in with Donna and Rich at Laura Lee’s agreement; it was the best choice.
It was decided that because they could rent the house until closing, they would also rent a U-Haul to drive back with beds, and some other furniture, clothing, toys, and other personal and household items that they’d need for a few weeks until the remainder could be packed and moved by professionals.
Burke’s furniture and belongings could be moved over from his condo right away, so they’d have a couch, a small kitchen table set, and a bed in the master bedroom.
They’d be strategic in what they moved back with them from Virginia.
Later in the afternoon, Wilson called and asked if they could stop over.
Laura Lee and Dupont had already left by this time.
Upon arriving, Lilly went into the family room with the kids to play, leaving the four adults to sit in the front room.
Dorthea was taking a rest in her bedroom.
“Hey, I was thinking, given the situation in Virginia with that detective and the move, I could come out and give you a hand. I assume you’ll be driving back,” Wilson offered.
“It’s a twelve-hour drive, and we plan to rent a U-Haul to fit what we can. We figured we’d try to drive straight through, so that would be two drivers to a vehicle if you came,” Burke answered. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“My mom said she can drive, but she can’t and shouldn’t, Rich,” Donna said.
“Okay, so we rotate the rest of us, so no one drives straight through,” Burke said. “We do have Laura Lee and Dupont, too.
“I could come out a day early and help load the truck too,” Wilson said. “That’s only two days I’d be away. No big deal, right, babe?” he asked Rae.
“Right. Rich, you helped us when we moved in. Jimmy’s happy to return the favor.”
“And I talked to Rogers a while ago. They got back very early this morning. He’ll come out too, if you need an extra set of hands,” Wilson said.
“How’d their Op go?” Burke asked quietly. He glanced at Donna. He knew she wanted to know the outcome.
“It was successful. It was a cartel kidnapping of a district attorney’s kid in Florida.
Regular authorities had no probable cause on the suspected locations he was being held, so they couldn’t go in.
The team had to kick in doors at several locations before they acquired their target.
They got him home in one piece in time for Santa.
” His lips tipped into a grin. “Shepherd Security saves Christmas.”
Donna’s heart clenched hearing that a child had been kidnapped on Christmas Eve. What kind of monster would do that? “I’m glad they got him home safely,” she said. “I can’t imagine what he went through or how worried his parents must have been.”
“I’ll shoot Rogers a text later and take him up on his offer. I’d like to have two drivers per vehicle, and the loading of the truck will go a lot faster with six of us,” Burke said.
Later that afternoon, Burke initiated a video call with his parents.
Donna sat beside him, but out of the camera shot at first. Burke first told them about her and her children and that they planned to live together.
He had not previously told them anything about her, and they were surprised to hear that they’d been close friends for over a year.
His parents understood the long-distance nature of the relationship and why it had been kept casual for so long.
Donna was relieved that his parents didn’t ask him if he was sure about becoming a father to her three children or even question the sanity of becoming involved with a woman with three children.
Had they, it would have set a sour tone.
Then Burke invited her into the camera frame so she could ‘meet’ them.
It was a comfortable meeting, and they seemed genuinely pleased to meet her.
“I wish you had told us, son; we would have come to Illinois for Christmas had we known,” his father said.
“We would have liked to meet you in person, Donna,” his mother said. “Another time, very soon,” she promised.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” Burke replied. “I figured we’d either solidify our relationship or cool it considerably.”
Then her children were briefly introduced. It was a fast call, as most were between Burke and his parents.
***
On the twenty-sixth, Burke went into the bank branch.
He’d set up a meeting with the branch manager, who was the senior loan officer, earlier that morning.
He completed the loan application and was given a pre-authorization letter for the amount of the house on the spot.
He emailed it to the realtor. He also arranged for the home inspection. It would be the following day.
Back at the DVR house, Burke booked the flight for them later in the afternoon on the twenty-seventh.
They’d fly out after the home inspection.
Laura Lee and Dupont booked an earlier flight for themselves and Dorthea.
They’d get started at Dorthea’s house as soon as they arrived.
Dorthea also contacted a real estate agent she knew, to whom she’d give the listing of her house.
The realtor would meet her at her house first thing on the twenty-eighth.
Burke was surprised when later that day he received a meeting invitation from Shepherd for zero seven hundred the next morning. He prayed his leave wasn’t being canceled. He had to get Donna, and the kids moved, and he had to be there to help.
Arriving at HQ, Burke ran into Wilson and Rogers in the parking garage. They too had gotten meeting invites.
“Tessman didn’t get one,” Wilson said. “So this isn’t a Charlie Team meeting or mission.”
“Or not one that involves him. We’re three, it could be there are three from other teams coming in too,” Burke said, getting a bad feeling about this. “If I have to dump the home inspection and the move on Donna, her sister, and Dupont, I’m going to feel bad about it.”
“She needs to be able to handle everything without you,” Wilson said as they mounted the steps.
Burke knew that, but he wanted to be there for her move. She’d get shit thrown on her; he was sure. And she would handle it; he was also sure. But to set the tone for her new life with him, he didn’t want it to be now.
They found Saxton and Dupont in Shepherd’s office when they arrived. They all took seats at the conference table.
“Thank you for coming in during your vacation,” Shepherd said. “I was notified of your intended travel, and I need to ask: are you planning to do anything about the Richmond police detective while you’re in Virginia? Or more specifically, is that the reason for your trip?”
“No, sir,” Burke answered for all of them. “You sanctioned no missions regarding him. We’re not going off the books or rogue. We’re specifically going to move Donna and her kids, and her mom here.”
“I see,” Shepherd said. “He was harassing her.”
“And we’ll ensure he doesn’t continue to before we have her moved here,” Laura Lee said. “We know the case was turned over to the Richmond Police IAB.”
“We’re not looking to engage the detective, but if he pays a visit while we’re there, as Saxton said, we’ll ensure he leaves her alone,” Burke added. “It’ll be a moot point after we move them out of Richmond.”
Shepherd’s gaze went to Wilson and Rogers. “And your role?”
“Extra drivers for the U-Haul and two vehicles, and muscle to help load the truck and cars, same as Saxton and Dupont’s roles,” Wilson replied.
Shepherd let out a sigh. “Why is it that I suspect the situation could get out of hand?”