Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
“I’ll let you pick first, JT.” Jeff wasn’t sure what the young boy liked to eat. Sometimes children could be finicky about food. Having spent four years at the Naval Academy serving on ships all over the world during the summers, he’d been introduced to the foods of many different cultures. His SEAL training had included survival skills such as eating snake and bugs. Jeff was certainly not a picky eater.
JT glanced toward the door that Lizzie had just disappeared into. “Maybe we should wait for Miss Lizzie.”
Jeff shook his head, aware that women could spend an exorbitant amount of time in the bathroom. “She said to go ahead and start eating. I think we should do as we were told.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.” JT took half a ham and cheese sandwich from the large stack and placed it on his plate as Jeff poured two glasses of milk from the gallon jug the men who had accompanied the cook had brought with them.
“How about some fruit?” Jeff encouraged. “Do you like berries?” The bowl was filled with sliced strawberries, fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
“Yes, please.” Although his voice was small, the boy’s eyes were huge.
Instead of passing the beautiful glass bowl to JT, Jeff scooped a few ladles full onto the boy’s plate and his own. He loved fresh fruit. There was plenty left for Lizzie.
“How about some macaroni and cheese?” Jeff pointed to the steaming dish.
With a smile, JT answered, “Yes, please.”
Jeff gave him only one heaping spoonful because his plate was filling up fast. “You can always come back for seconds. Let’s get started on this and then we’ll decide on the rest once we figure out how full our stomachs get.” Jeff checked out the mound of sandwiches before he picked one stacked high with turkey. He looked around for condiments. He wasn’t a fan of mayonnaise but loved a good spicy mustard on his. Before he searched further, he decided to give it a small bite. Absolute heaven. As he chewed, he lifted the piece of bread to see what was on it. He was shocked to find cream cheese, a spread that looked like cranberry jelly, and tiny sprigs of green leaves. He replaced the bread before taking a large bite.
With his mouth full, he almost bit the side of his cheek when he saw Lizzie coming out of his room. She was pretty in a girl next door kind of way. She carried her body in a very nonsexual confident stride, so different from the women he’d seen in the past two years. In the San Diego area, most of the women wore short shorts and cropped tops to show off their beautiful bodies and tans. They all seemed to have a natural rock and sway to their hips that exuded soft sexuality.
Lizzie, on the other hand, had a harder edge that came from a tougher life. The more Jeff thought about it, most of the women he knew back in Kansas were like that. They could handle anything life threw at them…and probably had. He doubted that any women in San Diego had ever suffered through bitter subzero wind chills just to get into their car to drive to work. Yet where he’d grown up, women did it every day without giving the arctic winter a second thought.
“I’m so glad you went ahead and started,” Lizzie said as she sat in an empty chair between the man and the boy. “Everything looks so good.” Her gaze went to JT as the child scooped up the last of his macaroni and cheese. “What do you suggest I eat?”
He held the fork halfway to his mouth. “This is the best mac & cheese I’ve ever had.” Without waiting for a reply, he shoved the huge forkful into his mouth.
“I can attest this turkey sandwich is the best I’ve ever eaten,” claimed Jeff.
Lizzie put a small scoop of everything on her plate before she grabbed a sandwich off the top and examined it. “This chicken salad has all kinds of things in it. I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten chicken salad with grapes and nuts.” She shrugged and took a huge bite. As she chewed, she moaned.
Every nerve in Jeff’s body came to attention. She sounded as though she was quietly having an orgasm. Orgasm. Is that what she sounds like when she comes? No. Erase those thoughts. Thinking of Lizzie and orgasm in the same breath was not a good thing. They hadn’t exactly been friends in high school and given that he hadn’t called her that morning to tell her about the change in plans, he wasn’t sure Lizzie even liked him at that point in time.
“This has to be the best chicken salad sandwich I’ve ever had,” Lizzie declared, holding the sandwich in front of her. “I wonder if the cook would give me the recipe?” She set the sandwich down and picked up her fork, proceeding to sample small bites of everything on her plate. “Maybe it’s because I didn’t have to cook any of this, but I swear everything here is delicious.”
JT and Jeff nodded their heads because both had a mouthful of food.
They ate in silence for a few moments before Lizzie asked, “So, JT, how do you feel about all this?” She made a circle with the fork in her hand.
The boy chewed thoughtfully before he answered. “I’m getting full, but I saved room for one of those brownies.” His gaze dropped to a plate of desserts.
Lizzie giggled. “Well, I’m glad you’re filling up, but that’s not exactly what I meant. I want to know how you feel about everything that happened today. You’ve had a very big day since early this morning.”
JT set his fork on his plate and placed his hands on his lap. Jeff was impressed with the young man’s table manners. He knew grown men who would have kept shoveling food into their mouth, chewing with lips open, speaking all the while. This boy seemed to be checking his emotions, trying to put them into words.
Finally, his gaze rose from his hands to meet Lizzie’s. “God gave me a miracle. Or a chance for one. We learned in Sunday school that sometimes miracles can happen at Christmas. I never had two parents until Momma and Poppa C. At first it was just me and Mom. Then it was me and Aunt Nellie. Then I had all the doctors and nurses in the hospital…and you…but none of them were like parents. No offense, ma’am.”
Through gritted teeth, Lizzie smiled and patted his hands. “None taken. I’m not here to be your parent, or anybody else’s. My job is to protect you, advocate for you, and find you the best foster parents available.”
“Momma and Poppa C were very good to me,” JT interjected.
Lizzie’s smile became real. “That’s why I chose them for you.”
Until that moment, Jeff hadn’t realized exactly what a huge job Lizzie had. He wondered how many other children she was responsible for. Was she this vested in each of those kids as well?
JT’s gaze swung to Jeff. “I’m thankful for everything you’ve done for me. Not just the clothes and the suitcase, but for reading my dad’s letters and finding Mr. and Mrs. Wolf. And for bringing me here. And for tomorrow when you take me to go meet them.” His head bounced back and forth between Jeff and Lizzie. “You’re both part of my miracle. Thank you. When I was little, I would pray for parents. I thought God had granted my wish when you sent me to the Cantrells’ home.” His smile grew huge, seeming to take up most of his face. “But this seems to be even better. It’s where my dad wanted me to go.”
Jeff threw his arm around the boy and pulled him in for a half hug. “You were very brave bringing your dad’s letter to me. I’m happy to escort you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Wolf.” He hoped everything would go well tomorrow and this amazing young boy would find a loving family in them.
There was an awkward moment of silence before Lizzie pointed to JT’s plate. “Are you going to eat the rest of this amazing food, or do I need to scrape it down the garbage disposal?”
JT’s face lit up. “No, ma’am. I’m only this full.” His hand went to mid chest. “I’ll eat everything else on my plate.” His gaze swung to Jeff. “And maybe I can have seconds of the macaroni and cheese?”
Jeff chuckled as he reached for the bowl. “There’s no need to belong to the clean plate club here. There’s lots more mac and cheese.” He spooned another dollop onto the child’s plate, stared at the delicious pasta dish for a second before he heaped more on his own dish.
As they were all slowing their eating pace, there was a knock at the door. Jeff got up to answer it. “Hey, Rock. What can I do for you?”
The man who had been so kind to JT answered, “It’s what I can do for you. And JT.” He glanced at his boots for a second before he met Jeff’s eyes. “I have a boy about the same age as JT. He loves to play games online. There are gaming controllers under the TV. I thought I’d log him into some of the games that my son likes to play.”
“That would be awesome.” Jeff opened the door wider and gestured for Rock to come in. As he followed the guest into the main living room, he noticed how stiff his legs had become. Even though he’d had more legroom in the first-class seat, he hadn’t had time to run that morning. He also hadn’t worked out with weights in days. He wondered if Lizzie would stay with JT while he hit the gym for an hour or two. “Drew mentioned that you have a gym, and we were welcome to use it.”
Rock smiled. “Guardian Security has an amazing workout facility on the fifth floor,” he explained as he entered the living area.
“I’m not much for working out,” Lizzie admitted as she and JT picked up the dishes and headed to the kitchen. “Sweating isn’t my thing.” She glanced over her shoulder at Jeff. “But if you want to go work out, I’ll gladly stay here with JT. Legally he is my responsibility.”
Jeff did a mental fist pump.
“JT, what games do you play online?” Jeff asked when he picked up the last dishes from the table and carried them to the kitchen.
The boy’s body seemed to collapse in on himself as his shoulders rounded and head dropped.
Rock grabbed a gaming controller and sat down on the couch. “Come sit by me, JT. I told you I have a son about your age. He loves to play online games. I’m going to log you into some of the ones he likes best. Which are your favorites?”
JT approached Rock cautiously. “Sir, I’ve never played video games. At the Cantrells’ house we didn’t have internet, and you’re not allowed to play games on the computers at school.”
Rock smiled at the young boy. “Son, I’m about to corrupt you forever.”
Alone in the kitchen with Lizzie, Jeff asked quietly, “Are you sure you don’t mind staying with JT while I go work out?” He carefully watched her face for any indication that she was lying.
“It’s no problem.” She glanced into the living room then lowered her voice to just above a whisper. “I want to talk to him some more. He’s been through a lot in the last ten hours. I need to get a handle on his emotions and help him work through any questions that he may have.”
Jeff nodded in understanding. “Will two hours give you enough time?” He figured he’d run for an hour on the treadmill, if they had one, then work out with either free weights or whatever they had for machines.
“That would be perfect. And when you get back, I’ve got some reports I need to handle. By then, it’ll be about suppertime.” She looked through the cabinets and drawers before finding storage containers.
“Okay, I’m going to go change.”
Ten minutes later, as Jeff stepped into the workout facility on the fifth floor, he was greeted by chin lifts from every man he passed. He scanned what had to be one of the most excellent gyms he’d ever been in. The military’s equipment was hard used and rarely replaced. Every machine and free weight looked almost brand-new, but he could tell by the way the men in that room pushed their bodies that the equipment got used often. His gaze stopped on a line of treadmills. Fortunately, one was available. It took him only a few seconds to familiarize himself with the control panel and he was literally off and running.
“You the new guy?” the man next to him asked.
“No. Just passing through,” Jeff replied. After a second, he thought he’d better explain. “Drew said it would be okay if I used the gym.”
“No problem. You must be the navy lieutenant who’s bringing Alex and Katlin the boy.” Although his T-shirt was sweat stained, the man on the treadmill next to him wasn’t even huffing and puffing. It seemed as though every man in the gym was in great shape.
“Yes. I’m Lieutenant J.G. Jeff Arwood.” His arms were pumping so he didn’t bother extending his hand. He was warmed up enough to increase the speed of the belt, so he fiddled with the control panel.
“I heard you’re a SEAL,” the man two machines down called out.
“Yes, I am.”
“I was BUD/S class…” After the man rattled off a number, he asked about instructors, none of which Jeff had, but it had been over five years since the man had been through the school in San Diego. Another man bent over a bicep machine jumped into the conversation mentioning his class number.
Jeff finally felt comfortable enough to ask, “Does Guardian Security only hire Navy SEALs?”
The man on the next treadmill next to him answered his question, “No. I was Army Special Forces.”
Someone from the other side of the gym yelled out, “I was MARSOC, like Alex.” Jeff really didn’t know much about the Marine Special Operations Command. If that’s what Mr. Wolf had done in the military, he needed to familiarize himself with it more and explain it to Lizzie in layman’s terms.
“It sounds like Guardian Security hires a lot of special operators,” Jeff noted.
The man on the treadmill next to his was slowing down to a jog. “We only hire former special operators.”
Alarm bells rang in Jeff’s head. Could Guardian Security be a cover for a black ops company? That might explain why this company and the Wolf family were doing so well. Government contracts could be very lucrative. “Do you guys still play in the sandbox?”
Jeff hadn’t noticed that Steve had entered the room until he hopped on the machine that the former Army man next to him had just vacated. “I’m sure you’re very curious about our business. Here in Chicago, we do a lot of personal protection. There are many Fortune 500 corporations headquartered here that do business all over the world including some very ugly places. We also do corporate and residential electronic property security. We’re starting to expand into commercial cybersecurity.” Steve looked over his shoulder at Jeff and smiled. “I’m sure that answered one of your questions, but you could’ve learned all that on our corporate website. It didn’t answer the question you just asked.” The man grinned. “I will admit to you that Alex and Katlin are on a first-name basis with General Lyon who currently heads up USSOCOM. If you want to know more, you need to ask them.”
“Thanks for your honesty. Now I understand why JT could be a target for kidnap.”
Steve nodded once and changed the subject. “We have a damn good gun range if you’re interested. I’m heading down there when I’m finished here if you’d like to join me.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I told Lizzie that I’d be back upstairs soon and take over entertaining JT.” Jeff chuckled. “Given that Rock just introduced him to video games, my job may have gotten much easier.”