Unexpected Love (Jo's Story) (56 page)

“Yeah, so when are you two going to get married anyway,” he smiles at me.

“Stop, now you sounds like Annie,” I laugh.  “It will come, in time.  Let’s not rush it any faster than it has already gone.  So are you going to be ready to move into the duplex in December?”

“More than ready,” he laughs.  “I was hoping for sooner though.”

“I can’t move until the house is done.”

“Didn’t Jake say they were ahead of schedule?”

“Yeah, they are looking at the end of October right now I think.”

“Oh wow, that soon already?”

“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know much about the building of a house, but it seems like they are getting it done pretty quickly.  They have almost all the downstairs walls up.”

“Yeah, that seems quick.  Well, I suppose, we better get to work,” he stands up and starts to the door.  “Want me to help with some of that paper work so you don’t have to do it all?”

“That would be wonderful,” I laugh and stand up and follow him out.  We bury ourselves in paperwork until lunch time.  I run to go get lunch this time and leave Ryan at the station to finish up the last of the paperwork that was littering my desk.  I am driving to the deli up the road when I get a text.

Hey baby, I just wanted to see how your day is going?  I am done with practice, headed to my house to get some more clothes then going to your place.  What did you want for dinner tonight?

I smile.  I’m pretty sure he doesn’t plan on leaving my place until the house is done.  I think I am ok with that though.  I have been missing him more and more when I am not with him. 

My day has been interesting.  Finishing up paperwork so I can get back to my real job.  I’mnot picky when it comes to food, the girls have their favorites…tacos, spaghetti, and corn dogs.  Up to you what you feel like cookin
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I get to the deli and order our lunch then head back to the station.  When I get there I see that Ricky, Derek, and Bob are back.  I walk into mine and Ryan’s office and set the food down on the counter.  “When did they get back?”  I ask looking at Ricky.

“About five minutes ago.  He said that they found the guys they were looking for and let Northside Station do the arrest.”

“Wow, that didn’t take long.  Some of these cases I don’t understand why we are doing them.  They are so easy.  It took them not even two days to get that case closed.”

“Maybe it is the outside perspective.”

“Maybe,” I shake my head and sit down.  “Well, I hope that we can get these ones done that Chief wants us to take care of so we can get back to our own part of town.  I hate sending our team out to other areas that they don’t know.”

“Yeah, that is the most dangerous part of this project right now.  Maybe we will get our own case to worry about,” he smiles.

“Yeah, I think we should be clear for anything big for a while.”

“Hey Jo,” Ricky pokes his head in our office.

“Yeah?”

“What did you want us to start working on?”

“Give me a couple minutes.  I want to finish my lunch and take a look at the files we have.”

“Ok, sounds good.”  He walks back toward his office.  I see Derek and Bob head out, I assume that they are going to get some lunch.  I finish my sandwich and pull out some files that I had sitting on my desk and take a look at them.  There are about six more cases that Chief wanted us to help out with around town then we have our own workload back.  I am looking at a file when I hear a knock.

“I’m delivering your newest member,” Chief smiles as he walks into the office.  I look up and see him and Danny standing there.  It blows my mind how much he looks like Jarrod.  I had forgotten how alike they looked.  He smiles at me and I stand up and walk over and hug him.

“It’s so good to see you,” I say.

“I couldn’t wait to get here today,” he laughs.  “Thanks for bringing me on.”

“Hey Chief gave me the opening I wasn’t going to pass it up, that’s for sure,” I laugh as I let go of him.

“So, you guys figure things out yet as far as where you are sitting with cases?”  Chief asks me.

“I was actually just going over the ones we have left.  Only six more outside jobs, then back to our own workload.”

“Good, well let me know if you need anything else,” he turns and walks out.

“Danny, you remember Ryan,” I point to him sitting at his desk.

“I do,” he walks over and reaches out to shake his hand.  “How you doing?”

“Doing well, glad to have you as a part of our team,” Ryan smiles.

“Why don’t you two head to the board room, I will go grab everyone else and we will get on this stuff,” I grab the files off my desk.

“Sounds good,” Ryan says and heads out the door.  Danny follows him.  Wow, that was a surprise to see him.  It brought me back to Jarrod.  I realize how much I really do miss him.  I hope that the girls seeing him doesn’t take them back to a bad place.  Danny is two years younger than Jarrod was but a spitting image of his big brother.  I smile and think of all the things we used to do when we were younger, Danny was always following in Jarrod’s footsteps.  The only thing he didn’t do that Jarrod did was become a firefighter.  He took after my influence in that aspect.  I remember Jarrod arguing with him about wanting to be a cop, but he figured out that just like with me it was a lost cause.

“He’s just as stubborn as you are,” Jarrod said to me.

“Yeah, and you.  He’s your brother, so we know where he gets it from.”

“I was hoping he wouldn’t take after either one of us when it came to career path.”

“Yeah, but he knows what he wants to do, so just like you and I, we are not going to be able to change his mind about that.”

“Yeah, I realize that, well hopefully he will work with you, then you can keep an eye on him, and he can watch out for you too.  Then I won’t have to worry about either of you.”

“Hey Jo, are you coming?”  Ryan is standing in the doorway.

“Yeah,” I smile.

“Thinking about Jarrod?”

“Hard not to when Danny is standing right in front of me.  He looks just like Jarrod.”

“I know,” he smiles.  “Same attitude too.”

“This should be interesting,” I laugh and walk down the hall to the board room.

“So how are my nieces?”  Danny and I are sitting in the board room after I assigned all the new cases out.

“They are doing well.  Getting big,” I smile.

“I bet.  Mom said that they got to take them to the cabin for a week?”

“Yeah, before they started school, which actually worked out perfectly because I had a big drug case that week that ended up being a nightmare.”

“I heard, I also heard you got shot on that bust?”  He gives me a disapproving look.

“I did, but I’m fine.  And don’t give me that look, you look just like your brother used to when he wouldn’t approve,” I laugh.

“Sorry,” he smiles.  “How are you with everything this week?”

“I’m doing ok, you know, I used to think that this was always going to be a sad day for the girls and I, but I have come to the realization that Jarrod is with us all the time no matter what.  As hard as the last two years have been for us, it’s getting better.”

He smiles, “I heard about the new man in your life.  Heard you and the girls are getting treated amazingly.”

“We are,” I laugh.  “Jake is a great guy, I can’t wait for you to meet him Danny, it’s almost like your brother sent him to me.”

“Of course he would pick someone like Jackson Adams for you,” he jokes.  “He always just wanted you taken care of.”

“That he did.  So what brings you up here Danny?  Seems almost like this was very unplanned?”

“It was.  I had some shit happen in Ohio that was just too much for me.  Let’s just say a relationship gone very very bad.  I needed to get away before I made a huge mistake and ended up in jail.”

“That bad?”

“Yes, and I knew I would have a place up here to go, even if I didn’t get on your team I knew that I could get in someplace else.  I know it sounds bad but because of you and Jarrod I am guaranteed a job in Baltimore no matter what.”

“It doesn’t sound bad, it’s the truth, and your damn good at your job Danny.  I was so excited when Chief gave me the ok to take you on, even though we just brought someone up from squad last week.”

“Yeah, I was a little worried about that.  He had told me that you just brought someone up.”

“I thought he was asking me if I thought you would be a good addition to squad then he told me you wanted on with us, I jumped at that,” I laugh.

“Well thanks, saves me from having to start at the bottom again,” he laughs.

“So do your parents know you are home?”

“Yes, I’m going over there tonight.  Not really looking forward to it.  Dad knows sort of what was going on, but he is a little disappointed that I handled things the way I did.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here Danny.  I think you will do great with this team.  Should we get moving on this?”  I hold the file up I am holding.  It is a case at SouthSide that they are having problems with.  Nothing too extreme just some underage kids carrying drugs and stealing phones.  Just need to find out who they are selling for.

“Let’s get to it,” he smiles.  I walk out of the room and we head toward the unmarked car that Officer Walsh gives us.  I drive down to SouthSide and we go into the station and talk to a couple of the officers there.  They tell us where most of the stealing occurs and we take one of their officers with us to show us around.  We are there for about an hour when we see a couple kids start scoping out people that are on the boardwalk. 

“Watch these kids,” I tell Danny through my radio as I point toward a couple kids coming toward us.  He nods and I keep a close eye on one of the kids.  I see him coming right at me and I take out my phone thinking I can lure him a bit, and of course he takes the bait.  He grabs my phone but he can’t run fast enough because Danny is standing about three feet from us and pulls him down before he gets anywhere.  “Nice job,” I stand the kid up once Danny has him cuffed.  I walk him over to the car and put him in the back.  I radio in to SouthSide that we have one of the kids in custody and we head toward their station.

“That was pretty exciting,” Danny laughs as we are walking out of the station three hours later after finding out all of the information that we needed.  I just don’t understand why these stations cannot get these cases on their own.  Most of the cases my team has helped on have been so easy it is like going back to squad for most of my team.

“Pretty easy for this team,” I smile as I start the car and head back toward the station.  “These cases that Chief has asked us to help on are so easy I just don’t get why they need our help.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I guess maybe my team is just used to the harder cases that take us a couple weeks to get figured out.”  I look at the clock and see it is almost 6:00 already.  I should really call Jake and let him know why I am so late.  I grab my phone out of my pocket and dial his number.

“Hey beautiful,” he answers. 

“Hey, sorry I’m not home yet.  Got stuck in an interrogation room with a snobby little teenage boy.”

“What?”  He laughs.

“Outside case,” is all I say.  “I am on my way back to the station now to drop of the squad car then I should be there.  Probably like 6:30 or so.  You didn’t make the girls wait to eat did you?”

“Nope, they ate and are taking baths right now.  I told Lizzy that they could watch a movie after their baths if they wanted.”

“Perfect, thanks for doing that,” I smile.

“No problem, I will see you soon?”

“Yes you will, bye,” I hang up and shove my phone back in my pocket.

“He lives with you?”  Danny looks at me.

“No, he stays with us a lot of the time though.  There is a lot to tell you about us Danny, and not enough time,” I laugh.  “I will tell you, just not tonight.  I am tired and I just want to go home and relax.”

“Understandable, I have to go to my parents as soon as I leave.  Not looking forward to that.”

“Well, how about this, why don’t you come over for dinner maybe tomorrow night and you can get to know him a little more?  Maybe I will invite a few people over.  I haven’t spent a whole lot of time with my friends in a few days, time for a cookout, before it gets too cold.”

“That sounds amazing Jo.  I’m in,” he laughs.

“Perfect,” I say as I park the squad car.  We walk into the station and I give Walsh the keys back for the car and head to my office.  As I suspected everyone is gone already.  I walk into my office and grab my keys out of my desk and my purse and head back out.  “I’m out of here,” I say to Danny who is talking to one of the captains.

“Ok, see you in the morning.”

“Sounds good.”  I walk out to my car and get in and start toward home.  I don’t know why but tonight I am extra excited to get home.  Maybe because I feel amazing getting back to doing my real job after almost three weeks, or because Danny is home, or it might be because my amazing boyfriend is waiting at my house with my babies.  I can’t stop smiling as I pull into my driveway and park in the garage.  I see Jake has switched out the car for the truck at some point today.  I get out of my car and walk toward the door and go inside.  I see Jake and Lizzy sitting on the couch, and Abby is sprawled out on the floor.

“Mommy,” she squeals and gets up and runs toward me.

“Hey,” I smile and give her a big hug.  “How was your day?”

“It was fun, Jake let us help make sgetti,” she smiles.

“Oh he did huh?” I smile.  I can just imagine that mess.

“Yes, and it turned out so yummy.  There is some in the fridge for you,” she runs to the kitchen.  I walk behind her and set my purse down next to the couch.

“Hi,” I smile at him.

“Hey,” he says back.

I bend down and kiss him, “everything went smoothly here tonight I take it?”

“For the most part,” he looks in Lizzy’s direction.  I notice that she is sleeping.  “She said she isn’t feeling the greatest.  I told her just to snuggle up and relax.  You think she really doesn’t feel good, or you think it is for another reason?”  I assume he is referring to Jarrod.

“Could be both,” I touch her forehead.  “She feels a little warm.  Maybe I should give her some medicine and send her to bed.”

“I can do it, you go eat dinner,” he smiles.  “Abby and I worked hard on that.”

“I bet you did,” I smile and go to the kitchen.  Abby is standing on a chair putting a plastic bowl with spaghetti in the microwave.  “Here, let mommy do it,” I take the bowl so she doesn’t spill.  I start the microwave and scoop her up in my arms.  “So, guess who mommy saw today?”

“I don’t know,” she smiles.

“Do you remember Uncle Danny?”

“Yes,” she gets a big smile on her face.

“Well, he moved back up here and works with mommy now.”

“So will we get to see him?”

“Absolutely you will.  He is actually coming over tomorrow for supper.”

“Yay,” she giggles.  I set her back down on the floor.  “Can I go finish watching my movie now?”

“Yes you can,” I laugh and she bolts to the living room.  I am standing there waiting for my dinner to warm up when I hear Lizzy’s door close.  I turn and see Jake coming toward me.  “Did she wake up?”

“Just enough to take some medicine.  I told her you were home, but she just zonked back out.”

“Well, if she is sick then she should sleep.  It’s best for her.  So how was your day,” I smile up at him.

“Not too bad.  I’m exhausted though I tell you that.  Coach is busting my ass the last couple days.  He thinks I’m getting weak,” he laughs.

“I’m sure you’re not,” I smile.  The microwave beeps telling me my food is warm so I turn and grab it out.  “This smells good.”

“Well, I don’t think it is hard to mess up spaghetti, especially when you can buy sauce.  All you do is heat it all up,” he laughs.  I smile at him and go sit at the table.  “So how was your day?”  He sits next to me.

“Really good, we got done with all of the cases that Chief wanted us to help with, and I have another new guy.”

“Another one?”

“Yeah, well I couldn’t pass this one up.  Its Jarrod’s little brother Danny.”

“I didn’t know he had a brother,” he looks at me.

“Yeah, he is two years younger than us.  It was interesting seeing him today.  Brought back a lot of memories,” I smile.

“Good ones I hope?”

“A mixture.  With this week being his memorial I will probably be an emotional wreck.  But I think Danny being back is a good thing.  Now the girls will have him here also.  Danny, Jarrod, and I were always really close.  But after Jarrod died Danny sort of cut ties with everyone, even his parents.”

“So he is a cop too?”

“Yeah, only thing he did different than his big brother,” I smile.  “Danny and Jarrod did everything together.  They both played football, they both did track, took almost all the same classes, but once Danny started trying to decide what he wanted to do after high school that is when they started being less alike.  Jarrod hated that his little brother wanted to be a cop too.  He would always tell me to stop helping him with stuff for school then he would maybe flunk out and he wouldn’t have to worry about his brother and me.”

“Well, I know how he feels,” he laughs.  “I hate worrying about you.  And now that you decided you don’t like desk duty anymore,” he looks at me.  I give him my don’t go there look.  “I’m sorry, I want you safe that’s all.”

“I’m fine Jake, I promise.”

“That is what you said about that bust too, and spent two days with you in the hospital after they removed a bullet from your shoulder.”

“I’m fine, it’s going to take more than a bullet to the shoulder to bring me down,” I smile.  “This is great dinner by the way, I think you are hired as the new chef.”

He shakes his head and smiles.  “So I heard you say something to Abby about someone coming over tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I invited Danny over.  I thought I would ask Annie and Michael, Bobby and Marie, Ryan and Molly, and Lisa and Mark over too?”

“Sure, cookout?”

“If you want to.  I am going to try and get out by 5:00 tomorrow so we shouldn’t be this late again.  Danny is tagging along with me so when I get done he will too.”

“Ok, I’m good with that.  I will cook some stuff up,” he smiles.  I just sit there looking at him and thinking about how lucky I am right now to have all these amazing people that I do in my life.  We talk for a while longer then decide at about 8:00 it is time for bed.  I’m beat and I know he is too. 

~~~~~

“So what time do you want us at your house tonight?”  Ryan asks me as we are looking at a couple things in our office.

“I don’t know, I want to be out of here by 5:00 tonight.  I didn’t get home until after 6:30 last night.  You know, I’m beginning to think that these other stations are just lazy and can’t handle a workload and that is why they are handing these cases off.  I mean the one that Danny and I took yesterday was so stupid.  We caught the kid within fifteen minutes of being at the boardwalk.  The hardest part was getting him to talk at the station.”