Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
“Miss Jodie!” Juni yelled as she ran into the reception area. Maren and Colin followed behind the little whirlwind.
“Well, hi there, Miss Juni,” Jodie said as she stood up behind the reception desk and came around it. “I was so excited when I heard you were coming in. You’re my excuse for playing with the puppies today.”
“Yay! We get to play with the puppies!”
Jodie opened her arms as Juni flung herself at the woman. She laughed as she looked up at Maren and Colin.
Maren gave her a huge smile back. For the first time since all of this began, she was feeling human again.
She thought of all the times she hadn’t wanted to leave her house in San Diego and deal with traffic and other people and long lines in grocery stores.
But now, after just a few days of being forced to stay home, the walls of the safehouse felt like they’d been closing in.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Arden, Kyle, Gina, Mac, Ellie, and of course Colin were absolutely wonderful and did everything they could to make sure she was happy.
But enough is enough. Maren couldn’t believe she was actually getting out for the day. Colin had told her the plan the afternoon before, right after her shower.
“I can’t believe they’re letting me go into town,” she’d told him.
“Gina said it would be all right. You saw how it worked with Carla and her disguise. By the time Nettie’s done with you, nobody’s going to be able to recognize you.”
“Can she make me about fifteen pounds slimmer?” Maren joked.
“Why would you want her to do that?” Colin asked. “I mean, you’re…” He looked away. “You’re perfect as you are.”
If she’d been happy about getting out, that made everything one hundred times better.
“Hi, Jodie,” Maren greeted her. “Thank you so much for watching Juni today.”
“My pleasure,” Jodie said. “Like I said, she’s my excuse to go play with the puppies.”
“Is Pretzel okay?” Juni asked.
“Pretzel’s doing great, sweetie. He’s already getting so big you’re probably not even gonna recognize him.”
“I’ll recognize him,” she said. “He’s my puppy.”
“Pretzel’s your puppy, huh?” Jodie asked Juni. “I think you’re going to have to talk to your Uncle Kyle about that.”
Oh dear, Maren thought. This might get a little complicated.
If all went well, Pretzel was destined for Lackland AFB and the Military Working Dog program there.
During one of their talks, Arden had told her that Kyle’s greatest wish for the Watchdog dog training program was to be accepted as one of Lackland’s suppliers.
Arden told her he was this close to realizing his dream and Pretzel was in one of the first litters that would be considered if Kyle got the final acceptance after an inspection of the Watchdog kennels scheduled for later this year.
The door at the other end of the lobby opened. Out stepped one of the men she recognized from the conference room—the one who’d stared at the wall like he was trying to burn a hole through it. He looked much more relaxed today. He had a boy with him who looked around nine years old, give or take.
“Hi there,” the man said as he smiled at Maren. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Shane Foti and this is my son, Kevin.” He turned his attention to Juni. “We’re gonna be hanging out with you today, Juni.”
Juni looked from Jodie to Shane and then to Kevin. “Hi,” she said shyly.
“Hi,” Kevin said. “You like the puppies too, huh?”
“Yeah, I do. I like Pretzel.”
“Pretzel?” Kevin asked. He looked at his father and then back at Juni.
“She renamed one of the puppies,” Maren said. “Hi, I’m Maren. I’m Juni’s mo—aunt.” She almost slipped again and said mom.
I’m sorry, Mira. She sent up a quiet prayer to her sister. I never wanted to take your place. I don’t want to erase you even though I’m pissed as hell at you right now.
“Hi, Maren.” Shane crossed the lobby as he extended his hand. “I know who you are.” There was a tinge of sadness in his eyes as he shook her hand. “Juni’s father was a very good friend of mine.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said almost automatically. “Juni’s a sweet, sweet girl. I’m sure she’s just like her father.”
Shane smiled and nodded. “Thank you.” He turned away and looked at Juni. “All right, are we ready to go see the puppies?”
Juni nodded. She looked back at Maren and Colin. “Hang on,” she told Shane. She ran back through the lobby and stopped in front of them. She held up both hands, pinkies extended. “Pinkie promise,” she sing-songed.
Maren and Colin each hooked a pinkie around hers. “Pinkie promise,” they both said.
“We’ll be back later. In the meantime, you have fun,” Colin told her.
Juni threw her arms around his legs and hugged him. Then she hugged Maren.
“Bye, Auntie Mer. Have fun playing dress up and going shopping. I’ll be right here,” she added. “Don’t you worry about me.”
“Okay,” Maren said, stifling a laugh. “Have a good time.”
Juni disappeared with Shane and Kevin, who was already telling her about one of the other Watchdog puppies named Bennie.
“Like from the song ‘Bennie and The Jets,’” Maren heard Kevin say. “It’s a litter name.”
Jodie smiled fondly after them. “Why is it that Watchdog has the cutest kids? I guess it starts with good-looking bodyguards.” She winked at Colin and smiled at Maren.
Maren knew Jodie didn’t mean anything by the wink. She wasn’t actually flirting. But all the same, she felt the teeniest, tiniest little bit of jealousy.
Oh boy, I really do need a day out. That’s not like me. Jodie’s a sweetheart. And as for Colin, I’m not... I’m not…
Nope. Forget it. She couldn’t lie to herself and deny that she was attracted to him. Not just because he was drop-dead gorgeous, but because he was kind and considerate. He was funny when he let down his guard, and he let it down around her.
She immediately flashed back to the almost-kiss on the couch.
Okay, that’s enough of that.
“So,” Jodie asked, mercifully distracting Maren from her thoughts. “Is Mac coming along with you guys?”
“Not today,” Colin said. “He’s got the day off.”
“Oh,” Jodie said. “I see.”
Was that the smallest bit of disappointment in Jodie’s voice? Hmm. Interesting. Of course she’s a little flirty with all the guys from what I’ve seen, but—hmm.
The door behind them opened and Gina walked in with Nettie. Gina gave Maren a warm smile, the absolute opposite of the scary golden stare she could dish out at will.
“Maren, you remember Nettie from the other day.”
“Of course she does, Gina,” Nettie said. “Are you excited about your big day out?”
“I sure am. Thank you so much, Nettie. This is really, well, a lifesaver honestly.”
“Oh, I can imagine. That safehouse can get pretty small after a few days. All right, let’s go.” She wheeled in the same two suitcases she had the day before. Colin held the door open for all of them at the other end of the lobby leading into the offices.
“Let’s head on down to one of the empty back offices,” Gina said. “That’ll give us some privacy.”
Half an hour later, Maren couldn’t recognize herself in the mirror that Gina held up.
“This is absolutely amazing. Like if I was walking down the street and I glanced in a window and saw my reflection, I would think that it was somebody else looking out at me. You do amazing work, Nettie.”
“Thank you kindly.” Nettie gave her a small bow. “It’s my job and my pleasure. I love it.”
“Are we ready to go?” Maren asked, impatient to get back out and see the little town of Lyons. She’d heard so much about it at this point that she wanted to check it out for herself.
“Let’s see, where’s Charlie?” Gina asked as they opened the door and left the room.
“I’m right here,” Charlie called from down the hall.
Maren had seen her in the conference room on the first day, too.
Charlie stood out in a crowd, literally.
The woman had to be over six feet tall and absolutely, stunningly beautiful.
When Maren had seen her the last time, she was wearing a professional-looking dark suit.
But today she was dressed casually, her hair up in a ponytail, a few strands loose around her face.
“Hi, Maren, I’m Charlie King. Sorry we weren’t introduced that first day.” They shook hands. “I was really good friends with Juni’s dad.”
“Like Shane was,” Maren said, gently. “I understand.”
Charlie gave her a sad smile almost identical to Shane’s. “We served together as Swicks. He was a hero. Juni should be proud of her father and—with your permission, one day I’d like to talk to her and tell her a little bit about her dad.” Charlie swallowed hard and looked away.
Maren completely understood those tears. She felt her own eyes prickle. “I would be honored for you to talk to Juni, but on one condition.”
Charlie looked back at her, a little wary. “What’s that?”
“That I can hear those stories, too. If Juni, who is such a sweet, wonderful girl, is anything like her father then—” Maren couldn’t finish.
“Thank you,” Charlie said quietly, putting her hand on Maren’s shoulder. “Thank you for understanding. I wish Sean could have met his daughter.”
“I think…well… I like to think that maybe Sean and Mira are both looking down from heaven on Juni and keeping her safe. Keeping all of us safe.”
“Oh, goodness,” Charlie said, wiping a tear from her eye. “I don’t mean to cry.” She laughed a little nervously.
“It’s all right,” Maren said. “Like I said, I understand.”
“Well,” Charlie said, sniffing and standing up straighter.
“Let’s not stand around here being all maudlin.
Let’s give you a fun day out. I know you probably want to go clothes shopping and there are some good places to eat, oh, but if we don’t swing by Riversong Coffee, April will have my head.
But there is one place that you really have to see. ”
“Really?” Maren said, brightening. “Where is that?”
“Oh, it’s a surprise,” Charlie said, mischief in her eyes. “But you are going to love it. Especially after having been cooped up.”