Page 13 of Mother Parker
I huffed and kissed my teeth. I used to have a lot of respect for my old commander, but he was either out of his depth or losing it. And considering his decorated naval background, I was leaning on the latter.
“I told you I don’t know what that means.”
“I’ve set up a…helpline,” he replied.
“A helpline?”
“It was Maddox’s idea. We set up a number people can text if they’re in trouble or in need.”
“A helpline?” I repeated, this time with more disbelief. “So you brought me to the island to be what? A good samaritan?”
Wyatt looked behind him as if we suddenly weren’t alone, which only strengthened my thoughts about him going nuts. Maybe Goodman couldn’t help me after all. Maybe I needed to start over somewhere else. But where?
“I’m hoping when people come face to face with any seedy people, they’ll contact us, and we can deal with them. But for now, we’ve got a lot of people coming to us for help. Handiwork, supervision, farm hands,” he whispered.
“So what? You want me to be a nanny?” I stood up from leaning on the sink and started walking. I’d heard enough.
“The community needs help either way. I thought you needed the money,” Wyatt said.
“Yeah, and I thought you needed a SEAL, not a fucking farm hand.”
What a shitshow. I’d gone from killing terrorists to being at the mercy of a crazy man.
“I thought you said you were trying to keep a low profile? How the hell are you doing that if you go around telling people to call your number if they need help? You don’t think that’ll raise any eyebrows?”
“I’m not going around. Autumn is doing that,” he said.
Did he just…?
“Excuse me?” I asked.
I felt the heat rising in my face and knew the next words I said would be far from calm, but I no longer cared.
“It was her idea. She wanted to get involved—”
“You brought my sister here to be a barmaid. And instead, you’re putting her in danger? What the fuck is wrong with you, Commander? Have you completely lost your freaking mind?”
Goodman’s jaw dropped, and he stood straight.
“Keep your voice down, Hawkins. I would never put your sister in danger,” he shouted back.
“And what do you call making her do your dirty work?”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I’d trusted the man. I’d put him in touch with my sister when he told me he needed someone trustworthy to help him run his bar. And he’d gone and done the unspeakable. You didn’t send a civilian to do a SEAL’s job.
“What dirty work? She’s only going around and talking to store owners. There’s nothing dangerous to it!”
“You have gone mad, haven’t you? I should have listened to Ford, but I didn’t want to believe it.”
“What the hell is going on in here?” Autumn walked into the kitchen flustered and wide-eyed.
I gazed at her in disbelief. She was tiny. She was helpless. She didn’t know anything about our world. She didn’t even know how to fire a gun.
“We’re going. That’s what’s happening,” I said and grabbed her arm.
“What do you mean we’re going? Going where?” she shrieked as I dragged her out of the kitchen.
“You’re going back to New Harlow with Cam. Your little stint here is over. And I’m sorry I put you in that position. It’s all my fault, really,” I shouted, but I wasn’t even mad at her. I was mad at myself.
