Chapter 8
Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.
-T-shirt
James
“Come in.” I said to the straight-laced woman at my door.
“My name is Lillian McBride, and I’ll be conducting the interview today. May I sit?” She inquired.
“Absolutely,” I gestured towards the couch.
I winced when I saw her have to shove one of Janie’s many GI Joe dolls to the side.
“I only show that you have Janie, who do these belong to?” She laughed, then pulled an army out from beneath her as she sat.
“Sorry about that. Those are Janie’s toys. She has a thing against pink and anything girl related.” I quipped.
She smiled. “How funny. How are you doing today, Mr. Allen?”
Bile was slowly rising in my throat, but I played her game. I wasn’t sure if she even knew how nerve-wracking it was to be investigated by CPS, let alone be accused of something so nauseatingly horrific. “I’m well, thank you. And you?”
“Well, also. Now, I’ve already conducted the interview with Janie. She was quite adamant that you were the ‘best father in the world’ and she was ‘tired of seeing me.” She laughed.
My jaw dropped open, speechless.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s nice to see a girl know what she wants. She was very vocal, and told me exactly what she thought. I have no doubts that the claims against you were made under false pretenses. However, we still have to follow up in a few months. Do you have any questions?”
“No, ma’am.” I rasped.
The interview went as expected. She asked me about my home life, about my job. What I did in my spare time. What I did to punish Janie. What happened when I left? Who watched her while I was working? Overall, I felt that I’d answered the numerous questions efficiently.
“My daughter is the most important thing in my life. I’d never do anything to harm her.” I finally said, totally beside myself with worry by that point.
She smiled warmly at me, and then stood. “Now, don’t think that these false reports aren’t being investigated. They are. I give you my word that we aren’t letting false allegations pass. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. Although, from what I understand, you’ve got a fine young lady staying with you that already knows quite a bit about what’s going on.”
Her wink took me by surprise, and I walked behind her as she headed for the door. “Have a good day, Mr. Allen. Don’t worry. This’ll all be resolved shortly.” She proclaimed, before dropping into her red Honda Civic, and pulling out.
Just as she was moving towards the front of the building, my phone rang in my pocket. Digging it out, I put it to my ear and answered with a terse, “Hello?”
“James,” Shiloh said in her husky voice. “They released me to move back into my apartment. Can you meet me there with the keys when you get a chance?”
All the woman had to do was speak to me now, and I was instantly erect.
“Sure,” I answered, even though that was the last thing I wanted to do.
In fact, I wanted her to stay, but I knew she wouldn’t like that. The woman was determined to make it on her own, and damn anyone who got in her way.
“Thanks,” she breathed, and my dick hardened even further.
I decided to accidentally forget that we had her cat, as well. If I didn’t bring Boris, she’d have to come see me again. I’d decided that after the other night, I wouldn’t stop until she was mine. I’d make it to where she wanted me back, but I’d do it slow, because I didn’t want her to take off without telling me.
I’d repeated the sight of seeing her barely covered and fingering herself repeatedly in my mind numerous times since it’d played out. It’d been three days, and I’ve been semi-hard since.
The hard part wouldn’t actually be in convincing her, though. It would be in convincing her brother.
“I’ll come meet you there in half an hour. Does your truck run good?” I asked.
Sam had finished her truck in less than a day and a half, putting new spark plugs, headers, exhaust, and tires on the truck. Then he’d proceeded to tune up everything that he could. As well as changing all the fluids and running a performance test on it. To say he felt bad would’ve been exaggerating.
“It ran great,” she agreed. “I’ll have to remember to thank Sam for getting it done so quickly.”
I snorted. That was what the man was hoping. He’d about killed himself getting her truck running perfectly, and refused anyone’s help when it was offered.
“Alrighty, see you in a few.” I said and hung up.
“What’s that look for?” My sister asked from beside me.
My eyes turned towards her, and I groaned. “Why are you so worried about it?”
She turned her nose up at me, and started walking towards her truck. She was dressed in scrubs, about to head to work for the night. Seeing her dressed in those clothes reminded me of how proud of her I was. She’d overcome a lot, sacrificed so much to take care of Janie while I was deployed and following my career, that I would be forever grateful.
“Janie’s being picked up by mom tonight, don’t forget.” She said, opening the door to her Silverado.
“Sam know you’re driving your truck?” I snickered, goading her.
She lifted her lip in a mock growl. “Careful, James. I have a new sticker to put on your truck.”
“Don’t you dare! I’m tired of having to keep a razor blade in my pocket.” I commanded.
She smiled cryptically, and then laughed. “Hey, make sure you ask Shiloh if she wants to go camping next weekend. We’re going to Caddo Lake. Mom’s watching the kids. No excuses.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’d planned on asking her tonight. Although, I thought that your husband might grow a pair and ask her.” I joked.
She rolled her eyes. “Got another dinner and movie night going on?” She asked as she threw her nursing bag into the floorboard.
“No, not tonight. Shiloh’s house was released as a crime scene and she’s going home.” I answered, trying my best not to sound bummed.
“You’re gonna be my brother in law.” She snickered.
“What?” Sam barked from behind us both, causing us both to whirl around, guilty looks on our faces.
“I didn’t do it!” She screeched.
Sam’s scowl turned on her, and she jumped into her truck, slammed the door, started it with a roar, and took off in a spray of gravel.
I tried to sneak away while his attention was otherwise occupied, but he sensed the movement and returned his attention to me. “What did she say before she left?”
“To ask my brother in law if he wanted to go for a beer tomorrow.” I said, covering for Cheyenne’s big mouth.
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t call me on it. “Okay, sounds good. How’d Shiloh’s truck run?”
“Good from what she told me. But she only drove it about three miles to work, so I’m sure she hasn’t figured out that you put a chip in it yet.” I laughed.
“It gets better gas mileage.” Sam grumbled.
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s why you did it.” I laughed. “Sam, why don’t you just try to talk to her? Make an effort. She’s a kind person. She wouldn’t have stuck around this long and kept trying if she wasn’t.”
“I fucked up. I was so hurt that I didn’t realize what I was doing. Keeping her at a distance was to protect me, and I regret it with my every breath. I could’ve lost her the other day, and I never even knew her. What kind of a brother does that?” Sam sighed and hung his head.
“A brother that was confused and overwhelmed. I think you’ll find a companion in her. She didn’t have the best of childhoods either. Seems to me like y’all could compare notes.” I explained before heading for my bike.
Sam stood with his head down, and didn’t look up to me as I passed on my bike. I wasn’t worried though. Sam wasn’t the type of man to let things fester. He was a fixer and a doer. He’d get this ironed out with Shiloh, and they’d have a relationship. Which just added one more hold that kept her firmly ensconced in my own life in return.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket as I pulled onto Shiloh’s street. However, it wasn’t until I ignored it for the third time, and pulled into Shiloh’s apartment lot that I was able to get to it.
“Hello?” I greeted my lawyer cautiously.
Normally he just left a message if I didn’t answer, and it alerted me of something wrong when he kept calling.
“James,” He greeted tersely. No bullshitting for him, which I liked. “I just received notice that Janie’s visitation with Anna will start this weekend. She’ll have four hours of supervised time starting at ten in the morning Saturday.”
My breath hissed in between my teeth, and I squeezed my eyes shut tight. I heard Shiloh’s truck pull into the spot next to me, but I didn’t acknowledge her presence. Instead, staring at the speedometer on my bike, eyes locked to it like it was my lifeline.
“Do I get to approve the supervisor that stays with my child?” I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose hard.
“Actually, yes, you can. You have a few options in that department.” He explained them to me.
“So, you’re telling me if the person I choose is a certified social worker, I could have them supervise the visit?” I asked once he explained the options to me.
Looking up, I caught Shiloh’s curious eyes on me, wondering where I was going with that line of conversation, and what I was talking about in general.
She was wearing blue jeans and a black polo shirt that was tucked into her pants. Her beautiful hair was down, pinned up half way with a contraption that looked like a claw of some sort. Her jeans were molded to her body perfectly, and I quickly looked back down at my gauges to keep my mind in line.
“Yes, we can speak with a few. Make sure we find someone that will keep Janie’s best interest at heart.” Todd confirmed.
“Actually, I have the perfect person in mind. She’s also fiercely protective. I think she’ll be perfect.” I said as my eyes locked with Shiloh’s.
Clarity slowly took root in her eyes as I ironed out specifics, and she nodded her head in understanding and agreement before I’d even finished explaining the situation to her shortly after I’d hung up.
“I feel like a weight has been removed from my chest, and I can breathe again. I’ve been dreading this day, going on six months now. They’d told her she needed to finish some sort of therapy session, and then the visitation would start. I’d hoped that she would flunk out or something, but of course not. She was always so determined to do something when someone told her she couldn’t. Now I know she’ll be safe, and I can count on you to watch over her and protect her.”
“I’ll make sure that everything stays in Janie’s best interest, James. Always.”
***
“That movie was shitty.” I declared as soon as the credits started to roll.
“It’s the best movie ever! How could you say that? They died together. They’ll never live without each other again.” Shiloh cried.
“She also didn’t remember him. How torturous is that? I would never wish that on the person that I loved.” I grumbled, upset that the fucking movie upset me so much.
“If that person was truly in love with you, then it wouldn’t matter. You’d remember and that woman would be there, waiting. That’s what love is about. Sickness and health.” She explained, wiping her eyes with the edge of the blanket that was covering her lap.
We’d just finished watching The Notebook, and she’d cried for the last twenty minutes of it. I’d reluctantly agreed to watch yet another romance, and she’d given me this shit. At least the other two we’d watched were somewhat uplifting.
“I liked How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days better.” I grumbled.
She laughed at me. “You would. Sweet Home Alabama was my favorite in high school. The other was a close second. This one always made me sad, so I didn’t watch it much.”
“Then why the hell did we watch it now?” I asked.
“I wanted to see if you’d watch it. Tomorrow’s Twilight.”
“Fuck no. I’m not watching that shit.”
She turned on the couch and surveyed my expression. “Please?”
Fuck me. Just like Janie. If she added a droopy lip, I was a goner. “Jesus.”
“Come on, what will it hurt?” She asked, practically bouncing in her seat.
“My pride.” I muttered.
She leaned closer to me, putting her face inches away from my own. I could smell the sweet smell of her skin. Something that smelled like tangerines. I could see the mirth shining in her dark melted caramel look of her eyes that were boring into mine.
Then she did the one thing that always got me. Curled her lip down in a pout. My eyes zeroed in, begging me to taste her; but before I could make the move, she retreated to her side of the couch. Although, I noticed that she left the pout firmly in place.
“One condition.” I demanded.
“What?” She asked cautiously.
“You have to go on a date with me. Sunday. All day.” I declared.
She looked at me wearily, but nodded her decision. “Deal. As long as you let me choose what we do.”
“Deal.”