Page 40 of Inevitable Dream

Robert busts out laughing. “God, I want to see that.”

“Well, come along for the floor show. Tomorrow’s as good a day as any,” I say.

“Have you ever seen stubborn Sadie?”

“Not so much.” In all honesty, I haven’t. Even when moving in, Sadie needed time to think on it, but she knew it was right for both of us.

“You’re in for a treat.” He chuckles. The rest of the time with Robert goes well. He likes to fish and loves woodworking. I can’t say I’ve done either, but if we decide on a trip out to see them, I’ll give it a go. Robert shares stories about Sadie as a kid, and I can see how much love there is in their little family. “What about your family?” he asks.

“My parents. They weren’t good people. My sisters and I grew up in an abusive home. Mom wished she hadn’t had kids, and Dad made sure to make our lives hell. My sisters are older, and they married good men who helped them heal. I took off and joined the army to distance myself. I wanted an education, and I wasn’t going to accumulate a mound of debt to get it. I don’t regret my decision because I met the team, and these guys are like brothers to me. My sisters, Jessica and Janie, are both married and living good lives. Their husbands are great guys, and we all keep in touch regularly. I love them, but I have my own way of doing things and my own life to lead.”

As I tell Robert my story, his expression changes to one of sadness, and he clasps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jasper. That must have been difficult. Parents should be supportive of their children, and loving.”

“I didn’t have great role models, but I learned about family from the men in my unit. I’d like to think that the team and I do our part to save a few lives,” I say. “I’m not going to lie, I was angry. Damn, I was filled with rage. Falcon saw it building in me from the moment we met. He’s not much older than me, but he set me straight and found a healthy way of working it out of my system. Where the team has been, what we’ve seen, and the things we’ve done, whether it be for a good cause or not, we have to live with it. Never did I think I’d meet a woman like Sadie. But here she is, and I can’t let her go.” I chuckle. “And she’s nuttier than I am because she wants to be with me.”

Robert laughs so loud, I’m sure everyone on the block heard him. When he finally settles, he says, “I may not be your father, but if you ever need an ear, I’ll be around to listen.”

At that moment, I feel something that I haven’t in a long time. I can’t quite explain it because it doesn’t make any sense, but I feel like I can let the past go. I’m not quite sure how to respond, so I give him a curt nod as we carry on.

Sadie

The next morning…

“Why are we here?” I ask. Nobody is paying attention, and Mom and Dad have already gotten out of the car and are walking toward a sporty dark blue Nissan crossover SUV.

Rebel doesn’t answer my question but unbuckles his seat belt and opens his door. “Let’s go, sweetheart.” I have no choice but to follow them. Rebel waits for me, then takes my hand and leads me onto the showroom floor.

“Are you getting a new car? What for? Your truck is brand-new.” Still no reply as we walk over to the sales manager’s office.

“Hey, Hank,” Rebel greets him. Hank gets up from behind the desk, and they shake hands.

“Good to see you, man. How’ve you been keeping?” Hank asks.

“Living the dream.” Rebel chuckles and tugs me tighter to his side. “This is my girlfriend, Sadie. Sadie, this is Hank.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say politely.

“Likewise,” he responds with a bright smile. Hank is very handsome. Not as beautiful as my Rebel, but he does have deep chocolate-brown eyes and thick, dark, wavy hair. Hank is almost as tall as Rebel and just as fit. I can see that the suit and tie work for Hank and make him seem polished and sophisticated.

“Did you get my message?” Rebel asks.

“Sure did. Got it all prepared. Want to see it?” Hank replies.

“Lead the way,” Rebel says, and we follow Hank out to the service center where a Nissan Rogue is sitting.

“It’s got excellent safety features. Gets good gas mileage. Has a built-in GPS system, leather seats, and all you asked for. All you’ve got to do is sign on the dotted line,” Hank says, holding out the key fob…tome. I stare at his hand, and my gaze moves from Hank’s hand to his face, where he’s grinning ear to ear, then to Rebel.

“What’s going on?” I whisper.

“We’re getting you a car,” he states, like it’s a normal occurrence that we just step out for a while, end up at a dealership, and come home with a new car.

“Are you nuts?” My voice moves into a high-pitched squeal loud enough for those around us to hear, including my parents. Dad gives Rebel an “I told you so” look, and Mom is doing her best to hide her grin.

“Give us a minute, Hank.” Rebel waits for Hank to walk away before turning me to face him. “Peace of mind, babe. I wasn’t there to look after you before, but I’m here now. I’mthatguy. The guy who has a woman he cherishes and takes care of her like she’s a precious gem. I’m not trying to control you. I just need to know that when you leave our home, you’ll be as safe as I can make you. If you don’t like this car, fine, we’ll get what you want, but I can’t do my job if all I can think about is you and the fact that you’re not safe.”

I want to make him happy, but this payment will take a chunk out of my paycheck. “It’s too expensive. We can get a used one. I can afford the payments on a used car,” I explain.

“Hank is cutting me a deal. Falcon, the guys, and I buy from Hank often. He does good business with Storm and all the referrals he gets. This is a demo model, with a few added features. I’ll put down the down payment, and the monthly payment will be something you can afford.” Rebel has thought this through and has all the answers.

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