Chapter 27
Turkey Day
Alina and Diane spent the better part of the morning cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Serge and Ivan were good sports about being taste testers. They complained about the lack of cabbage dishes, but neither woman had any idea how to cook cabbage. It simply wasn’t a regional specialty.
In the early afternoon. Bull Dog’s mother dropped him off along with Twinkie and Copperhead. Non ran to them and they had a group hug, then they did it all over again for Jaden. Watching Jaden interact with his friends drove home to Alina exactly how good a parent Hammer had been. Though he might not have thought to cultivate age appropriate friendships for Jaden, he had managed to teach his son some very important lessons in caring, compassion, and loyalty. The boy was patient, understanding, and had a special knack for bringing out the best in others. He also wasn’t easily deceived by appearances. Looked past surface issues, he tried to connect with the person inside. Alina felt all those positive traits enabled him to make friends easily. The other kids looked up to him. Even at an early age he was forming friendship that she knew would last him lifetime. Suddenly, it occurred to her to wonder something.
“Dianne, how long have you known Hammer?”
The other woman looked up, her face scrunched up in concentration. “Since kindergarten, I think. There was this kid who used to try to spit in my milk. The teachers didn’t so anything, but little pint sized Hammer made the bully drink it himself one day. Hell, I had forgotten all about that. Anyways we’ve been kind of friends ever since. We weren’t real close or anything but I always knew what kind of person he was.”
Alina beamed at her. “Thought so.”
“Gee girlfriend, you’re getting more mysterious by the minute.”
Kids continued to show up to visit with Jaden as the afternoon wore on. The more people who packed into the small house, the more anxious and vigilant the Russians got. Alina had to ask them to dial it down a couple of times because they were beginning to act like terminators from the future sent to protect them. They got a kick out of the analogy but it didn’t change a thing.
Just as they got dinner on the table, the phone rang. Ivan picked it up and talked for so long, Alina suspected that it was a private call. He eventually placed the cordless phone on the dining table.
“Hello everyone. How the hell is everybody?”
Naturally, everyone began taking at once.
Hammer’s humors voice rose a notch.
“Come on now. One at a fuckin’ time. Let’s hear from Jared…I mean Hawk.”
“I’m fine sir. My whole club showed up for dinner, so the only thing we’re missing is you and the brothers.”
“Well, I got good news. We’re all getting out tomorrow, so I hope you save us some turkey.”
Alina spoke up. “We’ll make one special just for the brothers.”
“Sounds great, doll. How’s your VP and Sergeant at Arms, Jaden?”
Bull Dog sounded off. “We’re fine, sir. Everything got back to normal once Jaden was back. Glad to hear you’re coming home tomorrow. My mom says you’re too nice to be sittin’ in jail.”
“Well now, we know that ain’t true. Let’s keep that our little secret though, okay?”
Everyone laughed.
Hammer’s voice sobered. “How’s Twinkie holding up? Tell her I’m really sorry about her dad not making it and all.”
For once the little girl spoke up. “I’m doing fine with it. I stopped having nightmares about him, so that’s good.”
“Well hell, little one. I didn’t know you were there. Glad to hear it. If you need anything, you know you can rely upon the Kingsmen to get it done.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“How’s the little computer guy doing? His brother is worried sick about him.”
Brian spoke up for Non. “He’s hanging tough. We’re working on a computer program together. One that will scan the net for information related to your club and calculate the probability of security threats. It’s going to really help keep everyone safe.”
“Well now, that sounds like something worth having. Thank you both for that. Guess my times about up. I look forward to seeing you when I get out. We got some business to catch up on, so don’t plan a welcome home party or anything for a day or two. See you all tomorrow.”
Everyone shouted their goodbyes. Alina grabbed her glass of wine and drank to cover the fact that she was becoming emotional again. Hammer had barely acknowledged her. Was he still angry with her? She thought for sure he was. Her appetite disappeared once again, leaving her feeling hallow inside. She always did have the worse luck with men. This situation with Hammer just went to prove it.
She began clearing the table as the youngsters left to play video games and visit once again. It was important that Jaden wring as much fun out of his time with his friends as possible. She needed to stay busy anyway. Shelby and a couple of the other girls from the club had come for dinner. They were helping clear the table as well. Everyone seemed so much happier than Alina felt.
Dianne came back sniffling after spending time on the phone with Marlow. It was unclear if they had just called it quits or if they were reconnecting. Either way, it was pulling the emotions out of her. Alina decided to let the situation rest until her friend came to her wanting to talk about it.
Hearing Hammer’s voice earlier had really gotten to her. Thinking of him sitting in a cold jail cell while they were all here celebrating felt wrong. Then again the whole holiday of Thanksgiving had always felt kind of wrong to her as well. Whoever had thought it was a good idea to celebrate the decimation of the native peoples was a bit of an ass. She was fairly certain Native American’s didn’t celebrate this particular holiday. At some point she realized that she was just trying to focus on anything other than ache of losing favor with Hammer. Worrying about the origins of the holiday was just a silly way to distract herself from the pain.
Ivan approached her as things were winding down. “Hammer’s bail hearing is scheduled for ten am tomorrow.”
“I’ll make sure we’re ready to leave on time.”
“Hammer will be sending Duncan and another gentleman by the name of Rip home with you tomorrow. Do you know these men?”
Nodding yes, he continued.
“Serge and I have a private matter to attend to and we will return as soon as possible.”
“I hope everything is okay. Your family…?”
“No. It is nothing like that. In fact, we have another job to do. It will not take but a few hours. We will return promptly and continue your protection.”
“Okay. Please be careful. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to either of you.”
The man looked at her strangely. “We are the something bad that happens to others, not vice versa. Please remember that, Miss. Alina.”
She had to smile at his polite and professional but clearly arrogant self-perception.
“I will remember that, Ivan. I also want to thank you for all that you do for us.”
Nodding he replied curtly. “My pleasure, mam.”
Pivoting on his heel, he spun away and was across the room before she could reply.