Page 35 of All of Me

Angelo chuckled. “I have a car full of toys, bedding, and clothes that our youngest has grown out of.” He reached in and pulled out a car seat. “This can just be a booster seat as well, depending on her weight and height.”

I nodded, incredibly grateful.

“Jesus,” he exclaimed, looking over my shoulder and I turned, automatically reaching for a gun that was still in myfuckingnightstand, only to see Dolly calmly watching us both and eating what looked like daisies.

I pressed my lips together to stop laughing and settled on helping Angelo get the rest of the supplies and carry them inside.

Selena and Maria soon had the room cleaned, and carrying a now-awake Tammy—after sensibly taking her to the bathroom—Shae watched as Angelo and I put the furniture together. They left shortly after that, and I was just thinking we should get some food when Moira appeared.

To be fair, the door was open because I’d been helping put all the cleaning supplies back in their van.

Moira had Maxie in her arms, and we could hear him whining before she stepped through the door. “I’m sorry, but he’s cried on and off since you brought him over.” She glanced at Tammy, who was staring open-mouthed at the puppy from Shae’s arms.

“Well, hello Miss Tammy,” Moira said gently. “This is Maxie, and he’s a little bit scared and needs a cuddle.” And Tammyleaned forward so quickly toward the puppy Shae had to scramble not to drop her. They both lowered their respective armfuls to the rug, and we watched in astonishment as in that moment Maxie simply became Tammy’s. She sat on the floor as the puppy climbed all over her, licking and nuzzling.

And she giggled. It was only the second noise apart from those heartbreaking sobs that I’d heard her make.

We decided to chill for the rest of the day, so I pulled out one of Moira’s casseroles and grinned. Her short-rib cobbler had been known to make grown men cry, and I checked the heating instructions she’d written on the sticky note taped to it and turned the oven on.

Danny texted me ten minutes later to let me know there was a team meeting at the apartment tomorrow and that Rawlings was bringing Pink to watch Tammy and Maxie with the other dogs while we were in the meeting. I showed the message to Shae. “Do you think he’s found something?” Shae asked.

“I don’t know. Let’s hope.”

I glanced down at my phone a second time. I had a special alert when it was one of the team. “Jay is patrolling, and he says a black Mercedes just pulled into the lane.” I paused, then swore. “It’s registered to Ryan Connaught.”

I walked to the window, watching the car turn. I glanced at Shae. “How about you take Tammy and Maxie into her new room? I don’t trust him anywhere near her.”

Shae nodded, clearly agreeing with me, and scooped them both up, growling into her neck like he was the dog and she giggled again. Shae paused, wonder all over his face, and when he glanced at me, his eyes were a little glossy. “Good job, big bro,” I teased, and he reddened slightly and disappeared with them both.

I met Ryan at the door, not particularly interested in him coming inside, set my phone to record just to cover my bases,and studied him as he lumbered out of the car. It had been five months since I’d seen him, and he wasn’t much different. I’d served with some British soldiers when I was doing my UN gig, the Second Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment to be exact, and Sixpence and Ozzie would have both called Ryan a posh git, or a poser. And they weren’t meant as compliments.

He'd always thought he was above the likes of me. He had on his usual suit, white shirt, red tie. Almost a poster-boy.

He sneered as he noticed me, but I wasn’t sure who else he was expecting. “We need to talk.”

I stepped back, letting him enter, changing my mind about him coming in when I realized I might get him to spill something. I walked to the kitchen, turned the oven down, and picked up an empty mug, silently asking if he wanted a coffee.

“Got anything else?” He pulled out a chair and sat at the table.

I had some beer in the fridge and some decent red wine I wasn’t about to waste on him, but then I remembered the bourbon Jim liked that I’d never thrown away. I reached into the bottom cupboard and withdrew the Knob Creek. “This?”

His jaw hardened, but he nodded so I poured him a couple of fingers and got out a bottle of Dogfish Head I liked, then sat down. He lifted the glass and swallowed it in one. I watched as he helped himself to a second, and just waited for whatever he had to say. “I’ll be straight. How much do you want for this place?”

I took a pull of my beer. “I’m not interested.”

He frowned. “Look, this place isn’t for you. It’s a family house. You’re hardly here, anyway.”

“I’ve retired.” I hadn’t, well, not from Rawlings Security anyway, but he didn’t know that. “Looking to put down roots.”

He leaned back. “You could put down roots anywhere with enough cash.”

I shrugged. “I like the neighbors.”

He scoffed. “And how long do you think they’ll be here? The old man’s already had one heart attack.” He picked up his glass, realized it was empty for the second time, and slammed it back down.

“They’re not exactly old. I think they’ll be here a good few years.”

He smirked. “Really? Not unless they get proper help. Like I said,” he paused for effect, “it often happens that a second heart attack follows a first.”

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