Rundown (Curveball Book 2) (25 page)

“
I
know that, and so does Drew.  He was just as surprised as the
rest of us.”

“
You
didn’t tell Maddie to stop.”

“
You’re
right, Aubrey. I didn’t.”

“
Tell
her she can’t call him that.”

Unsure
of how to respond, I think about her statement for a long minute.
 “Baby, I know it’s hard to put yourself in Maddie’s
shoes, but from her perspective Drew is the only man besides your
Grandpa that she can remember being in her life.  She was just a
baby when—”

“
When
he left us.”

“
Yeah,
when he passed away.”

“
I
can’t either,” she cries into her pillow.

“
Can’t
what, honey?”

“
Remember
him.”

I
crawl up behind her and wrap her up in my arms.  “Shh, baby.
 I know.”

“
I.
Wanna.  Go to.  Sleep,” she chokes out through trembling
sobs.

“
Ok.
 We can talk more in the morning.  Can I hold you?”

Aubrey
nods and eventually falls asleep in my arms, mumbling incoherently as
she enters a peaceful slumber.    

When
I go back downstairs I quietly walk into the living room, watching
Drew play a game of checkers with Colin, while Maddie sits on his
lap.  I know Aubrey’s hurting, and she has every right to feel
that way, but I love the way Drew has respected boundaries yet has
still assumed a father-like relationship with all of them.  I
need to think on this.  Yawning, I straighten my posture and
walk back in the room, letting the stress of that last 30 minutes
shed from me like snake skin.  Drew looks up and gives me a
faint smile.  As I get closer, Colin does the same.  Then
there’s Maddie, who’s not only unfazed, but doesn’t even look
tired.

“
Alright
kids, it’s after midnight.  Say goodnight and head upstairs to
get ready for bed.” 

Colin
gets up and gives Drew a fist-bump and then throws his arms around
me.  He’s more than likely worried about how all of this is
impacting us, than giving his feelings any thought.  “Thanks
for letting us stay up, Mom.”

“
I
love you, Colin.  I’ll be up in a bit.”

“
It’s
ok.  It’s late.  I’ll see you in the morning.”

I
turn to Maddie who has her arms wrapped tightly around Drew’s
neck. 

“
Alright
little miss, it’s time for bed.  You need to let go of Drew.” 
I reach out my arms to take her, only instead of coming to me she
tightens her grip. 

“
No! 
Daddy take me.” 

There’s
that name again. 

My
stomach twists in knots.  I look up at Drew through my lashes,
unsure of what kind of reaction I’ll find.  Panic is what I’m
expecting.  Love is what I see.

“
I
can help, unless you think it’s a bad idea,” he says, hopeful.

I
smile and gesture for him to make his way upstairs.  Once I have
Maddie changed into her PJ’s, I lean against the bathroom door and
watch Drew brush her teeth.  It completely melts my heart. 
When they’re finished, Drew puts Maddie into bed and I’m shocked
that he doesn’t allow her to scam him into reading her a story. 
What’s more impressive is that she doesn’t make an appeal. 
Drew tucks her in and kisses the top of her head, then kisses me on
the forehead as he walks out of the room.  I listen to him head
back down the stairs and then tuck Maddie in myself.  

My
eyes widen in shock.  She doesn’t want to lose Drew.  How
did I not see that?  She doesn’t remember Mark, but she’s
also worried about the possibility of allowing another man into her
heart in that capacity because in the end he may leave too.  

Walking
into the kitchen, I find Drew sitting on a stool at the counter with
his arms tented before him, deep in thought.   I’m a
grown adult, yet I’m nervous as hell to discuss what happened
tonight.  A ghost of a smile creeps across Drew’s face and
it’s clear that he’s just as nervous as I am.

“
Happy
New Year,” he says, kicking out the stool next to him and gestures
for me to sit. 

I
take a seat and rest my elbows on the counter, until Drew spins my
chair so that I’m facing him.  He pulls the stool closer so
that his legs surround mine. 

“
Tell
me what you’re thinking,” Drew softly commands.  I open my
mouth to speak but words fail me.  “Is she ok?”

“
She
will be.”  It’s all I can offer without knowing how he
feels.  “Have we scared you off?”

When
I don’t lift my head to see his response, Drew tips my chin up with
his finger. 

“
Just
the opposite,” he says. 

“
You’re
so calm about this.”

“
How’d
you think I’d react?”

I
shrug.  “
I
don’t know how to react.  On the one
hand, I’m elated that Maddie loves you that much to give you that
title.”

“
And
on the other hand?” he probes.

“
I
feel sad that she can’t remember Mark.” Drew nods.  “I
don’t want to take away from how she feels for you, and just like
I’m not going to force Aubrey or Colin into calling you something
they may never be able to, I don’t want to tell Maddie that she
can’t call you that.  But I also don’t want to push you away
because this is moving too fast.”

“
Are
you asking me if we’re moving too fast or telling me that you think
we are?”

“
Asking
you?”

“
Nothing
about our relationship has been conventional.  Not feeling as
strongly as we do in such a short amount of time.  Not how we
met.  Let’s not judge our relationship on other people’s
standards.”

“
Normally,
I wouldn’t.  But when it comes to the kids…I’m not sure
what the right thing to do is.”

“
Then
we’ll take it one day at a time, and see what happens.”

The
next morning, Drew wakes me bright and early, reminding me that he’d
planned to take Colin to a charity event, picking out high-tech
gadgets for low-income schools in Boston.  Drew has donated a
sizeable amount of money in addition to this activity.   As
a way to thank him and other benefactors, the charity has organized a
gala that we’ll be attending on Saturday.

“
Are
you going to call the doctor today?”

“
Mmm
hmm,” I moan into the pillow.

“
You
better get an appointment before the weekend.  If you think I’m
going to be pressed up to you in some sexy dress all night without
getting to have my way with you, you’re wrong.”

“
You
said you’re a man of your word,” I tease, throwing his ridiculous
ultimatum back in his face.

“
I
am,” he playful spanks my behind.  “Please put us both out
of our misery.”

“
I’ll
see what I can do,” I tell him, rolling over.  “Give me a
few minutes and I’ll be down.”

Knocking
draws our attention to the bedroom door.  Everett pokes his head
in.  “I need a minute with both of you before you leave,
Drew.”

“
Come
on in,” Drew says.  

Normally
I’d protest having a guest in my bedroom, but the somber yet
focused expression on Everett’s face stops me.

“
I
wouldn’t disturb you so early if it weren’t important.  There’s
been some traction in the case that will be reported today.
 Unfortunately, it’s information that the FBI had for about a
month but weren’t in a position to release.  Now it appears
the media got ahold of it so we have no choice.”

“
What
information?” Drew asks.  

“
When
first responders got to the scene where the Innovation Airways flight
went down, the plane was consumed with flames.  DNA testing
allowed for identification of all passengers.  Since then, other
discoveries were made including the remains of two individuals who
couldn’t be accounted for.  Their remains were found in the
cargo area of the plane and were intact for the most part.”

“
For
the most part?” I question.

“
Both
were missing their thumbs.”

“
Their
thumbs?” Drew asks.

“
Dental
records have confirmed that the remains belonged to the pilot and
co-pilot who were scheduled to captain the flight that day.”

“
That
can’t be right,” Drew says.  “The pilot was shot and
dragged back into the cockpit.”

“
The
pilot and co-pilot were not connected to what happened.  We
assume that whoever flew the plane that day, used them to log the
flight.  The thumbprint technology wasn’t just for passengers.
 Employees used it to clock-in and out, access different areas
of the airport, log into their computers and to lock the cockpit once
entered.  Based on video footage from the airport, we estimate
their time of death as being about half an hour before the flight.”

“
Who
piloted the plane then?” Drew questions.

“
We
aren’t sure yet.  The individual had a thorough knowledge of
camera placement throughout the airport.  There’s not one
single image of his face.  If we had that, we’d run facial
recognition.”

My
eyes dart to Drew, who’s clenched his jaw.  I’m worried
about how he’ll react to this.  Ever since the attack in
California, he internalizes any news related to the case.  I
caress his face and feel the tension rolling from him in waves.  

“
My
apologies for ruining your morning.  Thought you’d rather hear
it from me, than read it in the paper.”

“
Thanks,”
Drew and I say in unison.  

Everett
takes a few steps backward before turning to the door.  Instead
of leaving, he pauses, drumming his fingers on the doorframe.  

“
I’ve
thought a lot about what you said Drew, about being attacked twice,”
Everett says.  “I’m not convinced the same people who found
you at the safe house are the same people who found us at your
sisters.”

Drew
cocks his head to the side.  “What makes you say that?”

“
The
amount of blood in Pittsburgh indicates that four people died a very
violent death.  You were beaten severely.  California was
completely different.  We could have easily been killed, yet
there was little deliberate violence.”

“
O’Conner
was killed,” Drew counters.

“
I
don’t think it was intentional.”

“
Who
attacked us then?”