Commitment (22 page)

“Mom? What is it?”

“Alex, this is loose,” Helen said.

“What are you talking about?” Alex asked in confusion.

“This stone on the pendant Dylan gave you,” she pointed to the diamond. “It’s loose.” Alex moved to grab hold of it, and
Helen stopped her. Her daughter’s eyes were quickly filling with tears. “Alexis,” she soothed. “It’s all right. Don’t play with it. It will make it worse.”

“I can’t lose it. Dylan…:”

“Here,” Helen said as she moved behind Alex. “Let me unfasten it.”

“But…”

“Alexis….I will take it to Marv this afternoon. He’ll fix it as good as new.”

Alex nodded sadly. “I haven’t taken it off since…:

Helen’s eyes danced as she watched her daughter close her eyes to still her emotions. No matter how close they had become, Helen continued to marvel at Alex’s devotion to Cassidy and Dylan. “I’ll bet he can have it done before I leave. I’ll drop it off with Cassidy on my way to Nick’s. Okay?”

Alex just nodded. When she finally looked back at her mother, she noted that a smile had replaced the lines of concern from a few moments ago. “You look like you are relieved about something,” Alex noted.

“I am.”

“What?” Alex asked.

“Well, let’s just say that I believe you. The look on your face when I unfastened this,” Helen reached out and touched her daughter’s cheek. “I just want you to be happy. Your father never felt he could make that choice for some reason. Even when I knew he wanted to. He wouldn’t leave the company, not even….”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

Helen sighed. “No, I’m sorry. I should have said that a long time ago.”

“You don’t owe me…”

“I do,” Helen said as she reclaimed her seat. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I do miss him,” she said softly. “But, you and Nicky have given me more than you know; wonderful grandchildren and two remarkable daughters I never expected.” Before Alex
could respond the waiter returned with their food. Helen saw the silent tear traveling down her daughter’s cheek and smiled proudly. “Now eat your lunch,” she ordered.

Alex quirked a slight grin and toyed with the pasta on her plate. She kept watch on her fork intently. “I love you, Mom,” she barely whispered.

Helen closed her eyes to suppress her tears. “I love you too, Alex.” Alex’s head jerked up at the use of her preferred name. Helen felt her gaze but remained focused on her salad. “Eat that before it gets cold,” she said.

Tuesday, December 23
^rd

oshua Tate walked into the small observation room and peered through the mirrored glass at the fidgety blonde woman on the other side. “When did she get here?” he asked.

“About fifteen minutes ago. She’s very agitated.”

Tate stroked his hand over his chin repeatedly. “Who knows?”

“I’m sorry?” the agent in the room questioned the assistant FBI director.

“Who else knows she’s here?” Tate asked forcefully.

“Myself, Agent Briggs and Agent Stuart at the desk,” he replied. “She asked for…”

“I know who she wanted to see. That’s not an option. Is Agent Fallon here?” Tate asked.

“I’m not certain. Sir, this isn’t his division….he…”

“I think I know who is assigned where, Agent Rolands. Find out. If he’s not, call him in.”

“Sir?”

Tate turned briskly. “It’s not a request, agent. Get Briggs to bring her something to drink and sit with her and send Stuart to me,” Tate directed.

The young FBI agent began making his way from the room. He had never seen his boss issue such succinct and firm demands. He couldn’t imagine what the attractive woman in the other room could possibly have spurred in his mentor that would evoke such a pointed response. Tate waited until the
door closed and made his way to the phone that sat on a small table. “You won’t believe who just walked in,” he said.

“Eleana,” Claire Brackett extended her hand.

“Claire,” the woman accepted the hand before her, taking a moment to stroke it gently. “It’s been a long time.”

“Too long?” Claire asked.

“Perhaps,” the woman answered softly.

Eleana Baros stood exactly even with Claire Brackett. She remained one of the few people in the world that Claire Brackett respected. Claire enjoyed what she had always perceived as the equality between them in every way. That included the reaction that they often sparked in others. Claire had few occasions to travel in Eleana’s company in recent years. Regardless of how much time passed, their mutual presence always solicited interest and attention. It was an appealing benefit to their friendship for the young Claire Brackett. They were opposites that somehow suited one another almost perfectly.

To describe either woman as attractive would have been an understatement. Eleana was an elegant beauty. Claire looked a great deal like a runway model; fair skinned, enviable red hair, tall, and slender with legs that seemed to go on forever. Eleana was athletic; blessed with undeniably feminine curves and olive skin. Her hazel eyes complimented dark hair that often reflected subtle hints of red and gold. Eleana was brilliant, clever, and intuitive; just like Claire; all qualities that the young Brackett admired. The two had known each other since childhood, attended private school together, and created a fair amount of chaos for their parents over the years.

Claire had always been adventurous with an insatiable desire to experience everything in life. She possessed a competitiveness that sometimes drove her to act impulsively. It was something that Eleana had always found both intriguing and
disconcerting about her friend. Eleana, on the other hand, carried herself with a quiet confidence. Where Claire’s demeanor radiated a blatant cockiness; Eleana’s stride did not exude arrogance, but rather assuredness. Claire strived to impress everyone. Eleana cared little how others perceived her, preferring to work with others rather than compete with them. In school, Claire was determined to best everyone whether on the basketball court or the debate team. Eleana was content to guide. And yet, somehow they seemed to accept each other without any judgment.

“What brings you to Minsk?” Eleana asked.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Yes, but I live here,” Eleana winked.

“I was in the neighborhood,” Claire said.

“And whose neighborhood would that be?” Eleana inquired.

“Does it matter?”

“That depends,” the tall brunette said.

“On?”

“On whether you wanted to see me for personal reasons or professional ones,” Eleana said honestly.

Brackett stopped their movement and leaned heavily into her friend. “Eleana, it is always personal when I see you.”

Eleana raised her brow. “Well, I guess I won’t have to be so careful about my pillow talk then.”

Brackett smiled. “You’ll give it all up long before anyone’s head hits the pillow,” she promised.

“Oh, Claire. I do miss you,” Eleana admitted as they entered the doors of Claire’s hotel.

“Mom!!”

“Dylan, where is the fire?” Cassidy laughed as she entered the living room. She looked at the display in front of her and felt her heart swell. Dylan had a large roll of wrapping
paper sprawled across the floor. There was some strangely shaped object covered in bright Santa Claus paper sitting in a heap, adorned by wads of tape in the middle of the room. Another smaller object poked out through a colorful lump that sat nearby. She bit the inside of her cheek gently to prevent her laughter from surfacing. It was a sight that she knew she would always remember. “What’s going on here?” she asked gently.

Dylan huffed in frustration. “They don’t look like yours,” he moaned.

“Mm.” Cassidy sat down on the floor beside her son. “Would you like me to help you?” Dylan nodded a bit sadly. “Dylan, it took me a very long time to learn how to wrap presents like that,” she said, gesturing to the Christmas tree in the corner of the room. He just shrugged. She studied him for a moment. His pout was adorable. She felt a sense of pride at the determination she witnessed in his eyes. Cassidy pointed to the smaller object first. “Do you want to start with that one?” Dylan sighed. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“That one’s for you and Alex,” he mumbled in disappointment.

“Oh,” Cassidy replied. “I understand. How about this?” He looked to her hopefully. “YaYa will be here in a little while. I will just bet she would love to help you with that one.”

“Really?” he asked. Cassidy rubbed his back and smiled at him. “Okay.”

“So, what about this one here?” she looked at the awkward object. “Who is this one for?” Cassidy asked curiously. Dylan blushed slightly and shrugged again. “Dylan?”

“You’ll laugh at me.”

Cassidy jostled herself around and faced her son. “Dylan, I would never laugh
at
you. Only when you are trying to be silly.”

“It’s for my brother,” he whispered.

Cassidy nodded. She pulled him into her lap and kissed his head. “Oh, Dylan. Santa can’t really bring you a little brother; you know that?”

“I know. Not like on Christmas. I have to wait like Cat did.” Cassidy listened carefully to her son as he explained his seven-year-old logic. “But, he should still have a Christmas present. I forgot to ask Santa to bring him something,” Dylan said a bit sadly.

“Dylan…Santa doesn’t actually bring babies.”