Chapter 13

So rare was the circumstance of waking up with the sun already in the sky that it often disoriented Dan. The voices raised in high emotion woke him from his heavy sleep and forced him into alert mode. Unfortunately his head, his body—everything—felt as if he’d been hit with a ton of bricks, and there was a throbbing in his finger, too. Probably for the best if I get moving.

He stood and stretched, and his joints popped and resettled. He could hear Aria and Jimmy arguing. Nothing that seemed dire or urgent…she just sounded very frustrated.

He checked his thumb. The septic line had completely disappeared. Pulling back the bandage, he saw the cut was still deep and angry. When he pushed on it, blood welled up slowly. It looked clean otherwise.

Grabbing the rubbing alcohol off the floor, he ignored the cotton balls, peroxide, and bandages and poured it straight on the wound. It burned! “Mother—” He didn’t finish the statement as the door opened and Aria walked in.

“Oh, good, you’re up. How are you feeling?”

She came around to his side of the bed, picked up a cotton ball, added some peroxide to it, and held it to the wound. Then she put a butterfly bandage over it to close the gaping hole, added antibiotic ointment, and wrapped a dressing around it. His wife looked at him and then placed her hand on his forehead. “No fever, and the wound’s clean. I think you’re going to survive it.”

“Good, I have today off and I’d hate to spend it in bed.”

“Really? Off.” Her face brightened. “Then after a trip to the doctor’s…”

“Aria, I don’t need the doctor. I’m good.” He took her hands in his. “What I need…is to spend the day with my family, Jimmy and you.” Bringing her fingers to his lips, he kissed each one tenderly.

“Fine,” she said, withdrawing her hand. “At least let me see if they’ll call in a prescription for your own antibiotics, though.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her nose. “What? You don’t think I had food poisoning?”

“Daniel Gregg McCullum, don’t you dare say that or I’ll never make another home-cooked meal.” Aria’s eyes were wide and her chin jutted out defiantly.

“Just kidding,” he said, hugging her.

“Ahem,” came a voice from the door.

He looked up to see Jimmy.

“Dan has the day off and wants to spend it…with you. So go get ready.”

Dan looked over at the sullen teen. Oh, yes, this is precisely how he wanted to spend the day off…with a pissed-off teenager. He’d prefer that Aria were with them, but he was up to a challenge. Besides, whether Jimmy liked it or not, they were all family now. Perhaps the teen would be better off getting that fact through his head sooner rather than later, and without the attitude. “What did you want to do today?”

Jimmy shrugged and went down the hall to his room. When he disappeared inside, Dan looked at Aria. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“Hell, no. I’m staying home. I’m at the end of my coping scale. He’s all yours.”

***

Dan put the Mustang into high gear and passed the slow-moving camper van. He wasn’t quite sure what activity he should do with Jimmy, and getting him to talk was like pulling quills out of a pup that had surprised a porcupine—unpleasant. The fact was, Jimmy was more likely to talk to another guy when they were alone than with his “mom” close by. It was hard to admit that Aria was right to suggest that they make an outing without her. The problem was…this was one cranky kid.

“Since none of my suggestions seem to suit you, is there somewhere you’d like me to drop you off?”

Jimmy said the words quickly. “I want to go back to Mark’s house.”

Works for me, Dan thought as he turned the car in the direction of San Diego.

“You were just there last night, but I can have you there in less than five minutes. Ten, if there’s traffic.” Dan pulled onto Orange Avenue and headed for the bridge.

“You better not.” Jimmy looked at his feet. “Aria will get mad.”

“Is that what you two were arguing about this morning?”

“We weren’t arguing…just disagreeing strongly,” said Jimmy.

“Hate to break it you, dawg, but that was arguing. Dressing it up and making it sound pretty doesn’t change the fact.” Dan was comfortable calling anyone on his shit, because in the Teams that’s what they did every day—owned emotions and reactions—and worked their asses off to be better.

Jimmy turned in his seat. “Why aren’t you more like Mark? He loves her! You ruined everything.”

Dan drove over the bridge and took the first exit off. The street was clear of traffic, and he pulled the car over next to a small park. “Get out.”

“W-what?” Jimmy held his gaze, and despite the fact that it was a rather sketchy area, he got out of the car. Holding the door open, he said, “If I get killed, my sister is never going to forgive you.”

“That, my young ward-to-be, is not going to happen.” Dan got out of his car and beeped the alarm on. “Come on. We’re going to have a talk.”

The boy hesitated and then followed him. When they got to a picnic table, Dan sat down. Jimmy was reluctant but eventually sat in front of him.

The birds were chirping and someone was yelling at a house close by. The smell of grilled meat permeated the air, and the rush of traffic on I-5 and the bridge gave off sporadic waves of air movement. None of it was pleasant.

“Okay, I get it…I was wrong…I apologize.” Jimmy shoved his hands into his pockets, refusing to meet Dan’s stare.

“Jimmy, look at me. I married your sister. I’m family. Mark isn’t. You can trust me.” Dan’s jaw clenched. He forced himself to relax, but the muscle throbbed with unexpressed emotion.

The teen’s gaze lifted slowly.

“I want you to tell me why Mark is supposed to be with Aria.” Dan used his softest tone so that Jimmy would lean forward to hear him.

“You’re not going to punch me?”

“No,” said Dan, startled by the question.

Withdrawing his hand long enough to rub his sleeve over his nose, Jimmy looked at him with a dubious expression, a cross between shock and awe. “Mark came to our house in Vermont a couple of times. He told me how he was going to marry Aria someday and that we’d all live together in a castle. He has a lot of money and this whole wall of pictures from the time my sister was little through this month. Mark told me how he watches her and knows what she needs and wants. I asked him questions, and he really knows her, too.”

“Did he take the photographs?”

“Some of them…” Jimmy squirmed in his seat and then stilled.

“Where did he get the pictures?” Dan didn’t move. He kept his outside very calm and relaxed, but inside he was contemplating the various ways he could get rid of Mark and bury the evidence. The man was becoming a major hassle.

“I gave them to him. It was a secret between him and me. I thought because he would be her husband…it was okay.”

“What did you get in return?

Jimmy’s fingers twisted the string on his hoodie, making a giant knot out of the end. “None of your business.”

“Tell me,” said Dan, leaning forward. He didn’t succeed in keeping the hardness out of his eyes this time.

Looking at the table, Jimmy’s fingers laid flat—spread wide. When he looked up, there was something dark there. “He gave me money. Nothing you do is going to make me tell you how much.”

“Really?”

Tears welled in the corners of Jimmy’s eyes as Dan stared at him. “A hundred dollars a picture.” The kid looked away and then wiped his eyes. He laid his head on the table. With his face covered, he asked, “My uncle and I needed the money. Did I…did I do a bad thing?”

Dan resisted the urge to tell the kid it would be okay, because he wasn’t sure yet. He’d never say something unless it was true.

Patting Jimmy’s back and comforting him wasn’t going to get the lesson across, and this was going to be a major issue. Dan didn’t know where to begin. Mark had not been honest with Aria, who was operating on a completely different understanding of what their friendship was about. Christ, he needed help on this one! “What do you think, Jimmy?”

The teenager shook his head and wouldn’t lift it up to meet Dan’s eye.

“Time to get moving.”

Jimmy pulled away instantly as if he’d been struck. He scrambled away from the table and crossed his arms over his chest. “Where are you taking me?” asked the kid, on the verge of crying.

“To meet a friend of mine who owns a climbing gym and is one helluva good guy.” Dan beeped the car open and watched Jimmy climb in and secure his seat belt. Then he walked around the car and got inside. As he started the engine, he wondered what Aria would do when she learned the truth about Mark. For now, his job was clear…to work with the kid and help him find his footing. What better way to get the process moving then to climb—reaching for increasingly higher handholds and footholds—even if it was in a gym?

***

“That’s it, Jimmy, keep going.” Dan explained the issue to his friend and mentor Pete Anson, whom he’d met years ago when he was a lowly tadpole going through BUD/S training and assisting at one of the West Coast Navy SEAL reunions. The man had a bevy of girlfriends vying for his attention, but the retired frogman seemed happiest when he was working.

Pete had imparted an excellent piece of wisdom: “Anything can taste like honey if you think it is.” The phrase had stuck with him through survival training and some rather awful Ops where he had to eat dirt and bark just to stay alive. The basic premise was sound. He had changed the way he looked at things and made the experiences more pleasant. Now he was a master at turning stuff around and making it into something better than it actually was.

He hoped Pete could give him some advice about what to do with Jimmy. As the teenager climbed, Dan filled him in.

“Son, that’s why I’m a bachelor…I never could stomach handling complications with relatives.” Pete scratched his ear. “But if he were mine, I guess I’d tackle the honesty thing first…about him coming clean to his sister. Next I’d get him to understand that no one has a right to mess with his personal space.”

Dan nodded his head. “Yeah, I’m hoping there isn’t an issue. Regardless of the answer, I have to help him move forward in a way that can be peaceful to his heart and soul. No one needs to move through life with the weights of regret attached to his every step.” His eyes tracked Jimmy’s movements on the wall.

“Help!” Jimmy yelled as he lost his footing and was hanging by his hands.

“Don’t panic,” said Dan. “There’s a foothold to your right at four o’clock and one to your left at seven. Remember, you have a safety line. Be fearless.”

The teen nodded and then found the spots Dan had directed him to. There was a huge grin on the kid’s face.

“I got it! I did it!” Jimmy yelled and then was moving up the wall again. Even fourteen-year-olds could lose their cool and get centered again. The best part was watching the achievement happen.

Pete came up behind Dan and put a hand on his shoulder. “Take some friendly advice. Don’t bury that Mark dude. Let the police in on it. Handle what’s on your plate.”

A woman came up and asked Pete to come answer a call. His friend nodded to him and then left.

Dan’s eyes went back to the kid clinging to the wall, whose fingers were white-knuckled and whose face was an expression of pure concentration. The posture was tense and his body was almost contorted as he made his way forward. Muscles would be screaming in protest at this point, shaking with the strain and beginning to ache with the sheer pain of holding.

Under his breath Dan said, “The police can’t put him away long enough. Someday everyone gets free.”

***

“I never knew I was good at climbing. Thanks for taking me, Dan. Can we do it again…soon?” Jimmy had eaten his way through two bacon cheeseburgers and was opening his third. If he kept eating this way, a growth spurt was going to occur—either up or out.

“Slow down,” said Dan. “We have food at home.”

“Yeah, but there are vegetables involved.”

Oh man, that will be a whole other thing to tackle—good eating habits. Dan finished his salad and drew a large gulp out of his fruit smoothie. “Listen, I know we talked about it in the car and you agreed to tell your sister the truth, but this can’t be a one-time thing. Anyone who asks you to do anything who isn’t either your sister or me—you have to tell us. I don’t care if your teacher asks you to jump up and down while you hum the alphabet song, you have to tell us. Keeping secrets screws with your brain, and it ultimately hurts you and your family. Do you understand?”

“You keep secrets all the time.” Jimmy challenged.

“If I reveal information that needs to stay secret, people die. Anything having to do with my job that I can share, I do. But I won’t intentionally put people in harm’s way—that’s my rule.” He scratched his chin. “If information is vital for someone’s safety, then I figure out a way to talk. Do you have any rules you live by?”

“Like what?” Jimmy stuffed the rest of the burger into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed, and went after the last of his French fries. Drowning it all down with a chocolate shake, this skinny kid was looking around for more.

Dan pushed his apple slices toward him. The kid ripped into the bag and scarfed them down. Mental note…buy more food.

“If people don’t communicate with each other—share the stuff that hurts, scares, or brings pain—how can life get better? I’m not saying you have to do it with everybody, just the people who are closest to you,” said Dan.

“Like Aria…and you.” Jimmy wiped his mouth on the sleeve of sweatshirt. “I guess I never thought of stuff that way before.”

“Did you have a girlfriend, or was there someone you liked?” asked Dan. He was curious—was fourteen old enough to be interested in dating? Thinking back to his own experience, he decided it was probably right on track.

Jimmy’s cheeks pinked. He rolled his eyes and then dropped his hands to his lap. “Maybe.”

“Come on, dude. I get that we’re just getting to know each other. But we need to have a dialogue of some kind. I can be your friend, your brother, or”—he paused and scratched his chin—“whatever you want.”

Jimmy heaved a long, slow sigh and then he said very quickly, “There was one girl that mattered. I dated her a couple of times and had sort of settled on Sara, when…I came out here for the wedding.”

“Sorry, man, do you want us to fly her out here sometime?” He knew he could arrange the visit. Maybe it would help Jimmy feel better about his life in California, too. Of course, they’d have her mother come out with her. Shit! Will I have to give “the talk” to the kid? Oh, man, that isn’t going to be fun. Better to do it now than wait. As a matter of fact, he could tackle the whole subject while they did another activity—make it a “guy talk” experience. “Let’s dump the trash and get going.”

“Wait…I, uh…” Jimmy looked up at him, his face going through several contortions. “I have something to say to you, and I don’t know where to start.”

“Just go for it,” said Dan, encouraging him.

Jimmy pulled his hood up over his head. The kid’s eyes were so wide, Dan felt as if he could gaze into his soul. “I didn’t know…that it could be like this.”

Dan was at the door and he held it until Jimmy caught up with him. “Like what?”

“What the other kids talked about…what it’s like to have a dad?” The kid smiled up at him, and every protective instinct in Dan’s body stood on end. He knew it…he’d move mountains for this kid. Whether Jimmy was officially his or not, that kid had made a spot for himself in his heart.

He followed the teenager outside, and they both got into the car. There was still a lot more foundation to be built beneath them, but Dan knew personally what it’s like to feel alone in the world and how to find a path that fits how a person’s spirit is supposed to thrive. Perhaps he could guide Jimmy, help him find his way, and learn what a different life it could be when an individual could one hundred percent like who he is and what he does with his life.

Turning on the ignition, Dan headed for the base.

“This isn’t the way home,” said Jimmy, perking up.

“No, it isn’t,” said Dan. “We’re going to pick up some firearms and have that gun-safety lesson Aria talked to you about. Then we’re going to do some target practice. I admit it will be fun, but I want you to take it seriously.”

“I will! I promise! This is awesome. This has to be the best day of my life,” said the teen as he started dancing in his seat. “Thanks, Dan, this is too cool!”

Squeezing the steering wheel for the count of three, Dan paced his words as well as his speed. Coronado had pricey speed traps, and this next path with Jimmy might be costly, too. “Jimmy, if we do it right, this is just the beginning of many wonderful things to come.”