8. Chapter 8
Chapter eight
Greg
“You already gave me a gift,” Anelya said, as she joined me in the small kitchen the next morning.
I was making waffles on the waffle maker we’d picked up on the way to her cabin the night before. “I’m just using a mix,” I said.
She laughed. “I know there wasn’t a waffle maker here.”
I shrugged. “So we made a stop on the way.”
She wound her arms around me as I poured batter into the appliance. “Burris is in the shower. I was going to go in there, but smelled waffles.”
The smile on my face was starting to feel familiar, though I was not generally a person who smiled a lot.
Soon the three of us were eating breakfast back on the back patio.
I kept remembering what it was like to be with her here the night before.
I was grateful the cabin had a king sized bed, but was already thinking about getting an extra large bed for our home, in case she wanted to stay with us for some nights, or even permanently.
“I like starting my days like this,” she said.
“So do I,” Burris said.
I nodded my agreement. “We were thinking we’d drive you to Knoxville today with our pickup and get some of your stuff, if you like. We don’t have to go into the office.”
She smiled. “I am off until Tuesday. Are you sure you can spare the time?”
“We want to spend our time with you, whenever you can. We can work our hours around your shifts.” I smiled at her.
She stared out at the beautiful scenery, then reached to cover each of our hands. “Thank you. That sounds nice. I’ll treat for lunch and gas, though.”
I glanced at Burris as we got up to help her clear the plates. There was no way we’d let her pay for anything. But I was starting to understand that I had to reign in my instincts if I wanted to keep this wonderful woman. No need to announce that things would go my way. I would just quietly pay.
“I see that,” she said. “I’m still paying.”
Burris and I both laughed.
***
“Dad?” Burris was riding with Anelya to our home to get the truck an hour later, and I was driving the rental car behind them. A call came through from my father, from the cruise ship. “We’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“We extended the cruise, but I did call Rhonda,” his voice sounded far away. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know I had twins.”
“Their mother never contacted you?”
There was silence. “I sent her a lot of money after our brief affair, as an apology for ending it so quickly.”
“Are you serious?” He really thought that was an okay way to end an affair?
“It wasn’t smart. I blocked her contact after that then, too. Can we talk about this when I get back?”
“Dad, people have been hurt.”
“I know. You and Burris should help anyone with anything they need, including the twins if you can.”
The phone cut off soon after that and I was shaking my head as we pulled up to the house.
So we had to clean up this mess. I know my Dad was a better man now, and Burris’s mom Rachel was a big part of that, but he’d always taken money for granted.
He was lucky that he’d had my mom and Rachel in his life.
I think having Burris as a friend then as a stepbrother helped me see past the entitlement my family had in this town. My mother and Rachel had helped me be a better person, too.
***
I got out of the car and walked towards the garage behind Anelya and Burris, and heard a pinging noise.
“Gun!” Burris shoved Anelya down, and covered her body with his. I got down, trying to figure out where that came from.
“I think he’s in the house,” I said. Then the garage door closed again and we were inside with the person who wanted to hurt us.
“That shot came from the side door,” Burris whispered.
Anelya was still and quiet, watching us. She was waiting for our lead, but I knew our first responder girlfriend would be cool and calm. She tilted her head towards the garage door opener by the inside door.
Burris nodded. If one of us could get to that, the other two could run out.
He moved slowly ahead of Anelya, all of us watching the side door. I saw the outline of a hooded figure in the side porch, peeking at us to see if we had a weapon.
“Burris,” I said as quietly as possible. “Shovel.”
He nodded again. We’d just purchased new ones for the grounds crew that week and they were along the side of the garage not far from the switch. Burris needed a weapon if he was going to get to that switch.
“Be careful,” he said.
This time I nodded. I knew there was only one way to give Burris coverage so he could open the door.
“Jared. I want to talk to you. I didn’t know I had another brother.” I projected as loud as possible while Burris crawled forward.
Crouched between Anelya and the side door, I motioned for both of us to get ready to run.
“I’m your only brother,” came the voice. “He’s not your real brother by blood. He shouldn’t be running the company with you.”
I heard the clang as Burris picked up the shovel, then the garage door opened.
Before Jared could close it again, I grabbed Anelya’s hand and we bolted for the opening. I felt a bullet hit my shoulder and another seared my arm. The door was halfway up and started to stop as we slid under it.
Then the side door opened, and I could see Jared’s legs before Burris stepped behind him and knocked him down with the shovel.
“You will stay with me, Greg.” Anelya pulled off her shirt and held it against my shoulder as I lay in the driveway. Then she pressed her leg against my arm.
“Your arm is ok, but I don’t see an exit wound on the shoulder. You should not have risked yourself.” Her voice was stern, but I could see the worry in her beautiful eyes.
“You would have gotten shot,” I said. “I knew you’d save me if I did.”
“Not smart,” she muttered as she applied pressure.
I could hear Burris on his phone telling police the intruder was tied up and disarmed.
Anelya rode with me on the ambulance, taking over my care on the way to the hospital. I stayed awake and talking with her and a police officer who had also ridden with us, until I was moved into surgery. I asked to have police go over the house and factory to ensure no other traps were set up.
As I was rolled into surgery with Anelya still holding my hand, I let myself rest.