A Courtesy Call (Green Division Series Book #2) (2 page)

"Yes Jeeves, I did." She nudged him.

*****

Michael Kerr picked up his glass of sparkling cider and toasted with the rest of the crowd. The wedding was simple, yet elegant. It fit Mister and Misses Mitchell Meyers perfectly. Chance Phillips, now Chance Meyers, danced with their three year old little boy Tucker. The little guy was the happiest child Mike had ever seen.  All he saw when he looked at little Tucker was his late father, a man of the same name. Mitch was signing the paperwork to adopt Tucker and officially make the three of them a family following the wedding. It was a happy ending in spite of a horrible tragedy.

"Mike, dance with me." Chance, an athletic looking brunette, reached her hand out to him.

"No, no." He held up his hand. "I don't dance well. You'll end up with broken toes."

"No worse than Mitch." She smiled. "C'mon." She grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.

The music changed from a fast paced party song to a slow one. He held her waist and they swayed in stride to the song.

"You need to stop blaming yourself," Chance said lowly. "It wasn't your fault."

He pulled back and looked at her shocked.

"I can see it, Mike. You're holding on to it, like I did for so long. And still do some days." She looked down at the floor then brought her eyes back to his. "It wasn't your fault and you need to let go."

"It's your wedding day, don't talk about this now."

"You need to find peace too." She put her hand to the side of his face.

He leaned his head against the side of hers so she wasn't able to see his sadness. He didn't want to talk about the late Tucker Johnston, especially on this day.

"So, where are you two going on your honeymoon?" Mike already knew the answer, but desperately wanted to change the topic.

"That’s your subtle way of changing the topic.”  She wouldn’t press the issue though.  “You know we are leaving for Hawaii on Wednesday.”

Chance deserved to find happiness and Mitch was the perfect man for her. Like Tuck in many ways. 

"I'm so happy for you both."  And he was.

"Mind if I steal the Misses?" Mitch appeared beside them.  Mitch was in his mid-thirties and an average looking man in every way.  Average height, average weight, and a baby face that gave him the appearance of a man no older than twenty five.  He had sandy blond hair and the tan of a Californian surfer, not the typical farmer tanned Maine boy.

"Of course. I have to cut away early, but congratulations to you both. Happy honeymoon." Mike kissed Chance on the cheek and retreated back to his table.

"Sarge!" Ryan Huan, a co-worker, yelled slightly intoxicated from across the room.

I need to get out
. Mike thought.

"Ryan," he said stiffly.

"Great reception, huh." He held up his bottle of Coors.

"It is, but I have to get going. You guys have fun.  Don't get in any trouble I will hear about on Monday."

"Of course not." Ryan leaned against him. "We're angels."

Mike pulled away from Ryan and he nearly toppled over.

"Night guys."  He waved to the table where his co-workers sat. Mitch, Ryan, and Mike all worked for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in the capacity of Game Wardens. The late Tucker had as well. Mike was their superior holding the rank of Sergeant. He'd been with the service for eighteen years and knew no other way of life. Mike was known for his hard-nosed style of keeping his guys reigned in and was somewhat closed off.

Mike opened his Toyota Camry's door and flopped onto the leather seats. Off his tie and coat went in a hurry. The top buttons of his button down shirt were quickly unfastened as sweat beads instantly formed on his brow and chest. He started the vehicle and immediately cranked the A/C. The August heat was stifling and he'd overdressed.

"Hi Cass. Just wondered how your weekend is going and wanted to know when you're going to come home to see your old dad. Give me a call, love you."

Mike clicked the end button, pulled onto the road, and headed for home. Since Cass left for college a year prior, home had been eerily quiet and empty. He'd looked forward to home when she was there, now it was just a place to lay his head at night

FRIDAY

Raleigh packed up the
Audi
Q7
SUV. Her home wasn't lavish for someone of her standing. Her garage on the other hand flaunted her wealth.  The Audi would be low profile and comfortable enough to make the long drive up the eastern seaboard. The other sport cars in her garage would stand out as much as Aiden in small town Maine.

She loaded two kayaks on the roof with difficulty and threw her suitcases into the rear. Then all she had to do was wait for Aiden whom was always dependably on time. This day would be the exception. He was not a happy camper. His life revolved around her, per Tom. Raleigh wasn't as demanding as Tom made her out to be. Well, in her opinion anyway.

Aiden’s sported out Subaru Legacy WRX pulled into the drive of her modest two story home. The vehicle was a perk of the job. He stepped out looking instantly pissed off.

"Morning." She opened the trunk for his luggage.

Aiden’s mouth gapped.

"What have you done? Your beautiful hair?  It’s gone! And what is that ghastly thing on your wrist? Have you gone mad overnight?" His accent was eloquent even when insulting.

"It was time for a change."

Raleigh chopped off her long blond locks the previous night.  SHORT. It was a short pixie style and spiked in the back. The “thing” Aiden referenced on her wrist was a butterfly tattoo.

“And this is henna. It’s not real, don't worry. It will wash away in a few weeks. I'm going incognito."

Aiden grabbed his bags and tossed them in hesitantly.

"You've succeeded. Why is it we can't take a jet? I could make arrangements to take a private one if you like."

"I don't like. This is part of the experience. See the sights, relax. Drive across the country."

"You drive for a living. How is this relaxing?" His forehead creased.

"Jeeves, we need to get you laid. You are way too wound up."

"I get laid plenty, thank you." He closed the trunk. She lowered her sunglasses giving him an accusatory stare.  "You talk far too openly for a lady."

"I'm no lady."

"My sex life, or lack thereof, is none of your concern."

"Fine." She pushed her sunglasses back onto her face. "I have my connections though."

"Whom?"

"Oh, now you want my help." 

"Never mind."

"Jenny's a good girl and she'd be perfect for you. I'll give her a call when we get back. Remind me." Jenny was one of her close friends that worked in the office of the team’s garage.             

"Jenny?  She wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“If you insist."  Aiden smiled, but didn’t look at her.

"Of course sir, I certainly am insistent on insisting you go out with my impeccably decent friend." She feigned his accent.

"You are not funny."

Raleigh grabbed a stick of beef jerky she'd thrown in the console for breakfast.

They buckled their seatbelts and headed north.

"Beef jerky for breakfast?" Aiden made a face displaying his disgust.

"Protein."

"Mhm. That's not what I would call it." He took it away from her and passed her a low fat latte he'd picked up and a non-fat scone.

"I hate you."

"You're welcome." He smiled. "You have a shoot in three weeks, can't have you heffing up."

"I hate you." She repeated and took a bite off the disgusting scone. "By the way, nice outfit."

She could see how uncomfortable he was in the clothes she'd purchased for him.

"Yes, I do like the sandals, ripped jeans, and this faded Levi's shirt. I feel so stylish." He said sarcastically. "However, still better than a pair of hoochie shorts and cut off hoochie shirt."

"Hoochie?" She laughed. "These shorts come halfway down my thigh! And this is a tank top, not a cut off shirt.  God, you are so sheltered."

"Whatever you say."

Raleigh pulled onto the highway and they started their long journey to Maine. It would be a journey full of playful bickering and arguing with her much younger, yet old, assistant. He was well compensated for his duties which took him all over the world with her. He'd been at her side for the past year and was like a brother.

*****

"Hey Sarge."

"Ryan, what is it today?"
Mike picked up his phone at 9am knowing Ryan had something up his sleeve.

"Jess has been in labor the past few hours so I'll be starting my time off a couple weeks early."

Ryan asked for maternity leave to be with his wife upon the delivery of their baby, but she was not due for two more weeks. Little Andy decided to make a prematurely entrance.

"Wow." Mike sat up in bed. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, she's doing great." Mike could hear the apprehension contradicting his words. "Won't be much longer now."

"Congratulations, Ryan. I hope everything goes well and I'll be thinking of you both."

"I'll send you a picture of the little guy later."

"Good luck."

"Bye Sarge."

"Bye."

Mike pulled the sheets over his head trying to drown out the sunlight that poured through the window. He didn't have to work and felt compelled to spend the morning in bed. It had been another rough night fighting for sleep. He'd become accustom to sleepless nights, but it was an exceptionally restless night, haunted by the past and worried about Cass. She always returned his calls and she hadn't the day prior.

Ugh
. He sat up and picked up his phone.

"Cass, it's Dad again. I'm starting to get worried about ya. Give me a call and let me know you're okay. If I don't hear from you, I'll be driving down there myself to check on you.”

No more than five minutes went by and his phone rang.

"I was sleeping Daddy."

"You didn't call me back yesterday. I was worried."

"I was hanging out with a few friends and I forgot. I'm alright. I don't have to work this weekend, so I'll be up then and we'll spend the day together." She sounded as tired as him.

"So everything is okay?"

"Yes, Dad. You worry too much. I'm not a little kid anymore."

"You'll always be my little girl."

She yawned on the other end. "I'll call you back this afternoon, I didn't sleep much last night."

He knew the feeling, but wondered if this was because of her “friends” and if they were male friends. He wasn't going to ask though.