CHAPTER TEN
“Who would have thought there were so many men, and women, named Terry Baldwin,” frowned Olive. She rubbed her temples, then the bridge of her nose as she pushed back from the computer.
“That’s the shitty part of this job. Thank goodness his last name isn’t Smith or Jones,” said AJ.
“You’re doing good. Look, let’s narrow it down by potential age.
We know that he was just nineteen when she got pregnant.
Since we don’t know a birth date yet, based on your age he should be somewhere between forty-five and forty-seven. ”
“That definitely narrows down the possibilities,” she said frowning.
“Here. We have a program that will filter by first name, last name, possible birthdates, and those registered for college at the time we suspect he was in college.”
“Wow, that’s pretty amazing,” she smiled.
“Well, don’t get too excited. This is going to take a while. Let’s head over and have some dinner with everyone else. I’m sure Iggy would like to see you,” grinned Hiro.
“Oh, I-I don’t know. I mean we’ve just started getting to know one another. I mean, learning about one another,” she stammered.
“Olive, if it makes you feel better he was in Grayson’s Marine unit. The guy is a warrior all the way. Stand-up guy who truly cares about the world.”
“If he’s new here, how do you know all that?” she asked.
“We do extensive backgrounds on everyone before they come onto the property,” said Hiro.
“But you didn’t with me.”
“We did, a little. We obviously didn’t have a lot to go on. Now we do. But we don’t expect children to come in with intent to harm,” he smirked. “Iggy had to pass multiple background checks, psychiatric evaluations, personality studies, weapons proficiency, hand-to-hand…”
“Okay, okay,” she said holding up a hand. “I get it. He’s bad ass like the rest of you.”
“Do you like him?” asked Hiro.
“I-I don’t know. I think I’m scared to like him. What if my background scares him away? I mean, what if we find out that both parents were no good?”
“Didn’t Iggy tell you about his past?” asked AJ as they walked out of the office, heading to eat.
“He did. I mean, I know about the abusive teacher, the kind-hearted principal that helped him, a little about his time in the military but he didn’t tell me much about that.”
“You won’t meet a finer man,” said AJ.
“All of you are fine men,” she said looking from AJ to Hiro. They both gave shy grins, nodding.
“That’s true. We are blessed to own the market on the finest men and women in the world. We don’t accept anything less. If your ethics, your morales don’t meet the standard set here, you don’t belong here. Iggy’s definitely meet the standard.”
Olive stopped staring at the dozens of people laughing and eating inside the cafeteria. The days were shorter, the nights longer and the temperatures were only now starting to reflect the remote possibility of fall arriving.
“What if, what if we find something really awful in my background? What if my mother and her gang, her family did horrible things?” she asked.
“Olive, we already know what kind of mother you have. That doesn’t reflect on you. You were taken from that environment when you were just a baby. Nothing of what your parents do, or have done, will reflect on you. Ever,” said Hiro. “You have to trust me in this. Trust Winter.”
“I need to talk to her some more,” she said with a sad smile. “I knew a little of her background but nothing like what she explained to me earlier. She seems so normal.”
“She is. Now.” Hiro stopped when he saw his wife laughing with Skylar.
“When she got here, she was a mess. She wouldn’t let anyone touch her.
She wouldn’t look you in the eye. She was terrified of eating with us or being near anyone.
Mama Irene, she was the one that really brought her out of her shell. ”
“Give yourself more credit, brother. You brought that woman out of her shell. You had more patience and love for her than most men would have been able to provide,” said AJ.
“It’s what you do for love,” said Hiro. “Trust Iggy, Olive. He’s a good man.”
When they opened the doors to the cafeteria, a blast of air-conditioning hit them, almost causing a chill.
Most likely the only reason it was set on sub-zero temperatures was that they were used to the stifling, humid air of summer in south Louisiana.
It hadn’t caught up to less-stifling, less-humid air.
Olive rubbed her arms and then walked over to the table where Iggy, Rowe, and Jethro were sitting.
“May I join you?” she asked with a shy smile.
“You would definitely upgrade the table by joining us,” laughed Rowe. “How are you feeling, Olive? You doing okay? This is a lot to take in.”
“Thank you for asking,” she said. “I’m okay.
Confused. Concerned. But okay. I’m hoping the search we’re doing for my father turns up something soon.
I just want to know what happened to him.
If he died, I want to know where and how.
I hate the thought of him being buried somewhere and I can’t even visit him. ”
“Well, if it’s possible, we’ll find him,” said Iggy lacing his fingers with hers.
“That’s our cue to leave,” smirked Rowe. “Let us know if you need anything at all, Olive.” She smiled as the men left and then turned to Iggy.
“I didn’t mean to run your friends off.”
“You didn’t run them off. They just know how to take a hint. I’ve been hoping to have some alone time with you,” he said smiling.
“Iggy, do you know what you’re getting into with me? Do you understand who that woman is and what she is?” Iggy chuckled shaking his head.
“Olive, I was in one of the most elite Marine units in the military. I’ve met predators, killers, cannibals, drug traders, traffickers, psychopaths, and more narcissists than I care to admit. Meeting someone like your mother is an average day for us.”
“I hate that she’s my mother,” she said looking down at her lap. “I always felt like the men and women here, the teachers at school, they were my parents.”
“Then keep thinking that. Jessica and Elizabeth seem to think of you as their daughter. So does Moose and Skull. But I want you to think of me as your family, too.” She looked up at him and had a strange expression on her face.
“Oh. Right. Like a brother,” she said pulling her hand away.
“No. No definitely not like a brother,” he grinned. “I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clear. I’m crazy about you, Olive. I have been since the day we met at the wedding. I’ve tried so many times to speak with you in private, to be alone with you but there always seems to be something in our way.”
“Nothing is in our way right now,” she said softly. He pushed back the long strand of hair that was hiding her face. Lifting her chin, he smiled down at her.
“Grab a plate of food and let’s go sit out in the grove.
Get some fresh air.” She nodded and disappeared into the food line.
She loved that they’d set everything up like an upscale cafeteria.
There was no skimping on ingredients and recipes and definitely no skimping on the silver and china used for every meal.
When she returned, Iggy took her plate in one hand and then took her hand. They walked out to the grove where several couples were sitting in the relative quiet of the bayou.
The cicadas were singing a sexy song tonight, the bullfrogs providing the bass to the symphony.
“I’ve always loved being here,” said Olive. “My aunt and uncles’ home was dirty all the time and smelled. They always seemed to have enough food but I definitely didn’t. I was a scrawny kid. I’ve made up for it.” She laughed at the self-deprecation and Iggy frowned.
“Please don’t do that to yourself. You’re beautiful.
I love everything about the way you look.
Your skin is beautiful. It glows, like it’s been kissed by the sun with a sheen of coconut oil on it.
Your eyes draw me in every time. And your curves, your fucking curves make me forget that I need to act like a gentlemen. ”
Olive’s skin flamed red. She could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck and set her fork down on the plate.
“Th-thank you,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to cut myself down. That wasn’t my intention. I’m not used to being around men my age. Men who are interested in me.”
“But there are a lot of men here,” he frowned. “Are you telling me that none of the guys you went to school with ever asked you out?”
“Yes. I mean, they did. But you have to remember we were all raised like brothers and sisters. I never thought of guys like Grayson as anything but an older brother or cousin.”
“But he’s not,” said Iggy with a grin. “None of them are. So, you’ve never dated anyone? Have you ever…”
“No! No, no, don’t say it,” she said taking another bite from her plate. “I know I’m old to not have had an intimate relationship. I dated a few guys in college but it never felt right. They were nice, friendly, and we had fun when we were together but I couldn’t see myself with them long-term.”
“I understand that,” said Iggy nodding. “I had a few serious girlfriends but most couldn’t handle the life of a Marine being deployed. One was only interested in what I could give her, as long as I wasn’t around.”
“What do you mean?” asked Olive with a serious expression.
“She wanted me to give her a credit card to use while I was deployed,” he chuckled. “Thank goodness I’m not an idiot.”
“What a horrible woman!” said Olive. When her dinner was finished, she pushed the plate aside and yawned.
“You’ve had a long day,” said Iggy. “Let me walk you to your cottage.”
Olive nodded, taking his hand as he led the way, as slowly as he could, toward her cottage.
“Why are we walking so slow?” she asked.
“I’m trying to make this evening last longer,” he grinned. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want it to end.”
Olive stopped him and turned looking up at him. She’d never met a man so handsome, so solid, and so perfect to be around.
“We can walk as slowly as you want to. Maybe. Maybe we could sit out on the porch for a while and just hold one another.”
“I think that’s perfect.”