Chapter 19
A lot had happened in the last month, as evidenced by the bold, bright red SOLD sign in front of Risa’s childhood home. For one, she’d come to terms with her parents’ move. Not that she was thrilled with them living over twenty-five hundred miles away, nor did she harbor any illusion that Mum would drive her any less mad. If anything, she’d become more involved in Risa’s life as the move date loomed closer.
Risa parked on the street to keep out of the movers’ way.
“Hang on,” she told the spoiled pups in the back seat. They’d started whining and yapping the minute she’d turned onto her parents’ street. You’d think they were two kids about to sit on Santa’s lap. She grabbed the basket on the passenger seat, then leaned into the back to unhook Athena and Eir.
Dad walked onto the front porch and whistled. The pups made a mad dash for him. He looked good: rosy-cheeked, a few pounds lighter, and a bounce in his step as he came down the stairs.
Mum walked out and waved. Almost losing her husband had taken a toll, but he’d made a fast recovery and the house sold quicker than anyone expected. Risa had secretly hoped they wouldn’t move until after the holidays, but her parents wanted to leave before the first snowfall. So far, Mother Nature had held off, but it wouldn’t last much longer. At least she’d had one last Thanksgiving at home.
“Dad, I brought you a present for the road, and no, you don’t get to take the girls with you.” She kissed his cheek and laughed at his mock crestfallen look. She handed him the basket. “Patriot Popovers.”
He took a deep whiff. Mum swooped in and snatched away the food.
“Oh no, you don’t, Kevin Reynolds. Bacon and cheese.” She shook her head and hid the basket behind her back. “There’s way too much fat in those things, and I have no intention of coming that close to losing you again.”
“Aw, Miranda, love. One or two surely won’t send me back to the hospital.” At her mum’s pursed look, he turned to Risa. “Man cannot live on oatmeal and flavorless food alone. Tell her, Pumpkin. You’re a doctor.”
“I’m a veterinarian, Dad, not a cardiologist. However, if you’ve been good all month and doing everything your doctor said, I don’t think two will hurt you.”
Mum sighed and lifted the cloth covering. As she handed over the basket, she suppressed a smile. “Enjoy. Risa, come help me with the last-minute items.”
The women laughed softly as they went inside. It didn’t matter that she’d only put two popovers in the basket; Dad acted like Sméagol with his precious ring.
The stark, bare living room made Risa drag her footsteps. Gone were the photos of her childhood: smiling with a toothless grin, in pigtails and freckles, the awkward years of braces, and arm-in-arm with Fee in their high-school graduation gowns. The old, worn leather couch and recliner had gone to a battered woman’s shelter. Her parents said it made more sense to buy new furniture after they bought a new place, rather than ship the old across the country only to find it didn’t fit.
New furniture, a new home, a new start on life.
She stopped at the kitchen doorway and ran her finger up the wall, stopping at each mark. There was one for each birthday from five to eighteen, recording her growth.
Sweet memories flooded through her mind: quiet holidays, birthday parties, sleepovers with Fee, her first study date, the first and last time she’d packed up and moved out. It might not have been ideal—her parents could have spent more time with her; more time doing family stuff—but it’d been good, and they’d done the best they could. Despite it all, she turned out pretty good.
At least, she thought so.
Mum stood next to her and looked lovingly at the Wall of Progress. “You were always taller than everyone else your age. Look…” she pointed to one spot. “… here’s you, and this mark was Fiona. I think you two were about seven then.”
Mum ran the back of her hand under her eyes and turned away. “Fall allergies. Hopefully, with the dryer climate in Arizona, they won’t be so bad.”
“I’m going to miss you, Mum.” Risa wanted to hug her, but that would have been awkward. Mum had never been big on physical displays of affection.
“You’ll be so busy with that menagerie of yours, you’ll hardly notice we’re gone. Honestly, Risa, I’m surprised you didn’t bring the goats and rabbits with you this morning.”
She smiled. “I thought about it, but Harle and Totes would have gone nuts in the kennel that long, and I didn’t want them getting in the movers’ way. Did Aunt Liza find you an apartment yet?”
Mum handed Risa food to stack in the cooler. Risa tried not to think about another family filling her childhood home with their memories.
“No. We decided to wait until we get there. We’ll stay with her and James until we do. It’ll be an adventure. We’ve been here so long, it’ll be exciting to start over. Speaking of, have you talked to Jackson?”
“Mum, that’s over.”
She sighed and passed Risa a fresh fruit salad. “You always were too stubborn for your own good. I left my beloved England for your father and I haven’t regretted it, not once in thirty years. When you love someone, you compromise. You make sacrifices for each other—”
“Maybe that’s a sign I didn’t love him or he didn’t love me, because he didn’t offer a compromise either. I can’t just pack up and move, Mum.” Risa walked away, stopping at the doorway again. She had dreamed of a home where her kids could grow up, a home where they’d return with families of their own, filled with precious memories of love and laughter.
She wanted her children to have lifelong friends like she had, not to be the new kid every few years, never having a real place to call home.
“Why not? It’s not like anything is tying you down here.” Mum fisted her hands on her hips and glared.
“No? Just my job, my house, my animals, my best friend, and my godson. Any of those things ring a bell, Mum?”
“Fiona left for the man she loved.”
“And look how well that turned out.”
“That might not have been the best example. However, Fiona would understand, and Dylan could visit. They both could, and Dylan would have a positive male role model to look up to, unlike that poor excuse of a father.”
Valid points… not that they changed anything.
“And my house?” Risa said.” My animals? Do you know how hard I worked on that TARDIS front door? Not to mention the hardwood floors that I personally stripped, sanded and refinished. Or the goat pen Dad and I built. I’ve worked hard, Mum, to make it a home… my home. I can’t… I won’t throw it all away on a whim. Not that he asked.”
Mum sat back down on her heels. “Did you give him a chance, love?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Risa sunk down on the window ledge. “Especially not now.”
“Is he still here?” Mum asked.
“I don’t know; haven’t kept track,” she lied, not caring that the sin would probably send her straight to the big furnace below when her time came. She needed the conversation to end. Besides, if they were meant to be together, they would have worked it out in the last few weeks. “What else can I do to help you get on the road?”
A lanky redheaded guy, who looked like the antithesis of a mover, stepped into the kitchen. “Mrs. Reynolds, the truck is loaded. Is there anything else we can do for you before we hit the road?”
“No. Thank you for all your hard work.” As soon as the mover left, her mother turned back to Risa. “Looks like everyone is trying to get me out of here. Why don’t you take this cooler out to the car so your dad doesn’t try to lift it.”
“Sure, Mum.” Risa walked over and reached for the tote, but Mum stopped her, wrapping her arms around Risa. She looked around for Dad, not sure what to do. Mum didn’t do spontaneous outbreaks of affection. Risa patted Mum’s arm. “He’ll be fine, Mum. All that fresh air, exercise, and healthy food you’ll fix.”
Mum pulled back and took Risa’s face in her hands. “It’s not your father I’m worried about. You’ll be here all alone. They need veterinarians in Arizona, too.”
Aliens had swooped down and swapped out her mother for a semi-good clone. It was the only explanation Risa could think of for the sudden personality change.
“I have heard that rumor before.” She laughed and grabbed the tote. “But I’ve also learned that you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
When Risa walked outside, she found her dad throwing the ball for the dogs. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Mum hadn’t followed.
“You know if she catches you exerting yourself like that, you’ll be in the doghouse?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” He walked over and held out his hands. “Here, let me take that.”
Risa stepped around him. “No way. I’m not joining you in the doghouse. She’s not happy with me as it is, and strangely enough, she’s being physically expressive.”
Dad opened the car door, and Risa put the cooler in the backseat. Athena and Eir sat at Dad’s feet, whining to get in the car. Over the last couple of weeks, she’d been dropping the dogs off in the morning to keep him company while he recuperated. Clearly, the three had done more than watch Netflix.
“You’ve spoiled my girls.”
“And you’ve spoiled your mother. She’s enjoyed spending time with you this last month. If it weren’t for my health, I’d never get her to leave here. You know, there’s a clinic in Sedona that’s looking for a talented veterinarian.”
Risa laughed. “You don’t say?” She slipped her arm through Dad’s and walked him back to the porch. His color was up, and he wouldn’t admit he needed to rest.
“I’m going to miss you too, Pumpkin.”
“Aw, I’m going to miss you too, Dad.” She gently bumped into him. “I mean, I’m going to have to pay for a handyman now. Seriously, you’ll be having so much fun, you’ll be like Risa? Risa who?”
“You could come have fun with us. Learn to golf,” he teased.
Blimey. The last time she tried golf, she took out someone’s car window.
“Eir would miss playing in the snow.”
“It snows in Sedona. Every now and then, for about a minute or two.” He chuckled and tapped his hand on her knee. “We’re worried about you, Pumpkin. This break-up with Jax, well…”
“Dad, I’m fine.” Or she would be if everyone would drop the subject of Jackson Faraday and let her get on with her life. Sure, she still had those moments where she wanted to curl up on the couch and pig out on Ben & Jerry’s and pizza, never to emerge in public again.
And yes, she watched the base security parking lot for a glimpse of him pretty much every day and strained to hear news of his move when she stopped by the kennel to check on the dogs. And yes, her heart ached every single day.
“We only want you to be happy.” Her dad slipped his arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head against his.
“I am, Dad, because I have you and Mum, Fee and Dylan, and my crew. Someday, when the time is right, I’ll meet the one.” She sat up and looked Dad in the eye. “I know this is going to sound strange, but I think it’ll be better because of Jax. He taught me to take a chance and I don’t regret it.”
Tears filled her eyes, and her throat tightened.
No, she wouldn’t ever regret loving Jax Faraday.
Mum walked out, pulling two suitcases and her purse. “This is the last of it.” She looked around and smiled. “We should get on the road, Kevin, before it gets too late.”
Risa helped load up the car, where lots of hugs and kisses were exchanged, then waved her parents off on their grand adventure. “I’m so proud of them,” she told her pups before loading them up and driving home, with tears streaming down her face.
* * * *
A ball came flying out of nowhere, beaning Jax in the back of the head. He turned around to scowl at Casey, who grinned like a fool.
“Jax, my man. This is it, day numero zero. Captivity is over. No more duty days and crappy MREs to eat. No ugly-ass uniforms and boots that kill your feet. Why aren’t you happy?”
“Would you believe me if I said I’m going to miss your ugly mug?” Jax threw the ball back and turned to the window.
She was down there. Three hundred feet away. It would be easy to pop in and say… what? Thanks for breaking my heart? No, that wasn’t fair to Risa. She’d told him from the start she didn’t get involved with military guys. He should have known she had her reasons. Should have seen how deep her roots were planted. No, if anyone needed to apologize, it was him.
Maybe then she’d hear him out… give him a second chance, even.
“Yo, Jax.” The ball beaned him again.
“What?”
Casey shook his head, smirking. “You say I’ve got it bad where Colette is concerned? My friend, you are so gone you didn’t hear me tell you food’s here. Come on. Glaring at the building isn’t going to do you any good.”
“Not really in the mood for a party. You go on ahead.” He walked back to his desk and started packing up… not that there was much to pack. He’d learned over the years that the less crap he brought in, the less he had to take back out.
Casey stood at the door. “Kind of hard to have a hail-and-bail without the guest of honor.”
Shit.
“I’ll be down in a minute. Save me a slice.”
Jax finished shoving his few personal things into his backpack and took a quick look around. Tomorrow he’d do his final check-out with the command, hop in his truck, and head south to Texas, where Bella awaited him. His last official day in the Navy wasn’t for another three weeks, but he had leave to burn. After the last couple of months, a vacation and spending the holidays at home sounded like a good idea.
Which baffled the hell out of him.
Listening to Missy and Brice bicker, Mom nagging him about taking the job with NCIS instead of the local PD, and then nagging some more when he excused himself to spend part of the day with Dad.
What the hell had he been thinking? Standing watch in sub-zero temps, freezing his nuts off held more appeal.
A knock on the open door caused him to look up. “Hey, Kels. I was just heading down to the potluck. Did you need something?”
She stepped into the room. “If you’ve got a minute? I heard about Bella’s adoption. That’s really great, Jax.”
“Thanks. I’ve missed her.”
“Yeah. So here’s the thing. I know you’re leaving soon for training and all, but I was wondering if you’d like to go out to dinner with me tonight? To celebrate and stuff.”
“Thanks for the offer, Kelly, but I’ve still got a lot to do. I’m planning to hit the road tomorrow afternoon. Plus, I’m—”
“Of course. I just thought with you leaving, the fridge would be bare, and you’ve got to eat, right?” She laughed. “See, the thing is, you’re leaving, and if I don’t say this now, it’ll be too late. I really like you, Jax. I have for a long time. I know my timing is bad, but I’ll wait for you to get back. I’ll wait for however long you need.”
Wow. That was some declaration. He’d known she was kind of sweet on him, but he’d had no idea it went this deep. He rubbed the back of his neck. Kelly was a nice woman. She was always doing stuff for him and everyone else at the command, like baking treats, running errands, clearing out paper jams in the printer, bringing back lunch. You name it, she did it for them. But he wasn’t interested in her and never would be.
Guess he should have listened to Casey.
The longer he took to answer, the more her face fell. He saw the hurt and anger flash in her eyes. Crap. Now he’d hurt another person.
“Kelly, I appreciate the offer. You always take such great care of everyone. But the timing is wrong. I’m—”
“It’s her, isn’t it?” Her voice wobbled. “The veterinarian. You’re still hung up on her, even though she dumped you. Even though she wouldn’t wait for you. You’d never have to worry about that with me. I’d wait for you, Jax.” She was on the verge of tears.
“Kelly, you’re a nice person.”
She huffed. “Nice? Is that why you won’t go out with me, because I’m nice? You’d rather be with some snooty bitch who doesn’t appreciate you. You know what? Forget I asked.” She stormed off.
Way to go, Faraday. Guess that’s my cue to take my bows while everyone sings what a great guy I am. Too bad he couldn’t slink away like the rat he felt like.
He waited a couple of minutes, in case Kelly had gone straight to the party. He wanted to give her a few minutes to compose herself without having him rub his rejection in her face just by being nearby.
When he finally entered the room, Mike walked up and slapped him on the back.
“About time the guest of honor showed up. I think Casey might have saved you a sliver of pizza, but you know these guys. You snooze, you starve.”
“Thanks, Senior. Glad to see nothing has changed just because I’m, you know, leaving. But don’t worry, I brought you a box of tissues for when you give your good-bye speech.”
“Are you joking?” Mike slapped his back again and laughed. “I’m hosting the first round at the chief’s club this afternoon. Make time to join us. I dropped my retirement papers today. Nine months from now, I’m a free man. Although, without your and Casey’s constant bickering, I was tempted to stay.”
Mike walked off, leaving Jax with his mouth hanging open.
“Nice of you to join us.” Casey handed him a paper plate stacked with pizza.
“Thanks. Hey, have you seen Kelly?” He needed to apologize.
“No, but you know her. She’s probably manning the desk or running an errand or sewing a button on someone’s shirt.”
“More like avoiding me.”
Casey shot him a puzzled look.
“She asked me out, and I didn’t turn her down well.”
“Man, I warned you.”
“I know.”
SECOP stood up and cleared her throat. The room quieted down and she rambled off about Jax’s accomplishments since arriving. Yada, yada, yada. If they could just skip this part, that’d be great. After a dozen years and four commands, he still didn’t feel comfortable being the center of attention at these things.
“Chief Faraday, if you’ll join me, please?” SECOP asked.
Jax handed off his plate to Casey, knowing he’d get it back empty.
“This is to certify that the Secretary of the Navy has awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Chief Master at Arms Jackson Faraday for meritorious achievement while serving as chief investigator and noncommissioned officer in charge, accident investigation…”
Jax let her words fade. He’d heard it all before. The first time or two, it was pretty chill, getting your ego stroked by the Navy. If you stuck around long enough, watched others leave and heard the same song and dance, it hit you: Awards aren’t that big of a deal; just another box that had been checked off.
What really counted was all the things they didn’t or couldn’t talk about: saving a person’s life, stopping a fight before someone got hurt, comforting a child in an accident, and locking up scum who got their kicks harassing others.
The award was nice, but it didn’t beat the feeling he got when he escorted that jerk Stone to the brig for sexually harassing a female officer this past summer. At least then he was doing something worth mentioning. Not that he wished for more bad stuff to happen. He was just sick of sitting behind a desk. Yeah, it was definitely time to move on.
The photographer’s camera flashed in his face, and he shook the CO’s hand as she handed him the award.
Mike stepped forward. “We are here to farewell Chief Faraday. He has decided to leave this great Navy of ours and move onto other things. I know that he’ll succeed in his new role and count myself lucky to have served as his boss. Chief Faraday’s leadership, foresight, and love of the job are second to none. Farewell, shipmate.”
“You know, Senior, that’s nice, but I’ve got to tell you, I’ve spent two tours with this guy.” Casey pointed to him. “And well, what can I say that hasn’t already been said about this great man? Oh, I know, he’s a quitter. Yes, I said it a Q-U-I-T-T-E-R. Quitter.” Casey slapped him on the shoulder. “He is leaving the great Navy life to be an NCIS agent. Don’t let him fool ya. He isn’t doing it for the adventure, or the love of the job. No, he wants to meet Ziva. There it is. His secret is out of the bag.”
Jax laughed and punched Casey’s shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
“But in all seriousness, the Navy is losing a truly outstanding Chief Petty Officer.”
Mike stepped back up. “I almost forgot. We couldn’t let you leave without a little something to show how proud we are of you and wish you the best of luck. Who’s got it?”
Sanchez came out from the back of the crowd and handed him a flat, large, package in wrapped in plain brown paper. “I would like to state for the record that this was Chief Thomas’s idea.”
“That might be my clue to open it when I get home,” Jax said.
“It’s SECOP-approved,” Casey assured him. “Open it.”
Jax peeled off the paper and laughed. It was a framed poster of Gibbs’s rules.
“Remember, with every slap of the head, I’m there saying told you so.” Casey laughed.all right
MA3 Moore came in and spoke softly to the senior chief. Jax wouldn’t have noticed it, except for the anxious look on his face. Moore was supposed to be manning the phones so Kelly could join them for the party. But she’d never showed up. Mike said something that sent Moore scurrying out of the room.
Shit. It didn’t take much to put two and two together, and for the activity and conversation in the room to come to a dead stop.
“Senior?” the CO asked.
“We have a situation, ma’am. We’ve got a report of an abandoned bag in front of building one eighteen.”
“You heard the man. All hands on deck, people,” SECOP said.
The command scattered, and Jax headed for the door.
Casey grabbed his arm. “Where the hell are you going?”
“That’s the clinic. Risa’s in there.”
Casey blocked his way. “I know. What are you going to do? Run over there, play the big hero, and possibly get yourself and her blown up? Come on, man. Think. You and I both know, some kid probably dropped his bag and forgot it. But we’ve got protocols for a reason.”