Page 17 of Operation: Silent Angel
“Come in,” Garcia said, unlocking the screen door and pushing it open as well.
Mac held a bottle of wine in his hand but completely forgot about it as he watched Yvette take the little boy from his dad’s arms and talk to him animatedly. She strode further into the house, towards the kitchen, which was visible behind the living room area in the front of the townhouse. In the kitchen was a woman he assumed to be Garcia’s wife. She was behind the counter, which was lined with four stools. She stepped into the living room area and greeted Yvette with a hug before stepping towards him and Garcia. She was pretty, with a girl-next-door kind of appeal, not the type of woman Mac would have envisioned Garcia’s wife to be.
“Sienna, this is Mac,” Garcia introduced. “Mac, my wife, Sienna.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said as she reached her hand towards him.
He thrust his right hand towards her, which still gripped the wine bottle. “Oh, sorry,” he said, shifting the bottle to his left hand as she reached for it. “And yes, this is for you.” He handed the bottle of the red blend to her, deciding to forego the handshake greeting. “Well, that was awkward,” he joked. “But it’s nice to meet you.”
They all chuckled.
She glanced at the label on the bottle. “Thank you for bringing wine. This will go great with dinner. Anthony is grilling steaks.”
Garcia motioned to the couch. “Can I get you a drink? You still a bourbon man?”
“I am,” Mac said, wondering how Garcia was at grilling food. He knew he was awesome at grilling suspects. This domestic scene was way too surreal for Mac.
“We have Basil Hayden,” Garcia said. “We keep it in the house for Yvette.”
“And I’d love a glass too,” Yvette said.
Mac sat and glanced around the living room to further take in the domestic scene of family pictures on the walls as Garcia moved behind the counter and retrieved the bottle from the cabinet over the refrigerator. Mac noticed seven or eight bottles were lined up neatly in the cabinet. Soon after, Garcia placed a glass in his hand and then took a seat in the chair kitty-corner from him.
Yvette sat Little T down by his toys in the corner of the room, beside where the television was mounted above the fireplace, and then she sat beside Mac, next to where her glass of bourbon was placed on the end table. Little T turned his attention to the activity table with gears and levers to pull or spin and a host of other things to touch. “He’s gotten so big,” Yvette said. “I haven’t seen him in a few months.”
Sienna had a wine glass in her hand when she joined them, sitting on the loveseat that was situated near the couch. “He has grown so much just in the last month. He outgrew all his clothes. We’re so fortunate that Angel passed all of Sammy’s outgrown clothes to us, and I’m now passing them on to Brielle for Bastian.”
Mac had no clue who Brielle or Bastian were, but he assumed they were the wife and kid of one of the operators. He’d heard that many had married, and several had kids in the past few years. “So, things are obviously much different for you now, Garcia. Yvette tells me that Shepherd has changed mission rotations so that those of you with families get more time at home. Is that working well for you and the team?”
Sienna laughed. “I think on the personal front you should be asking me that question, not Anthony.” Her statement hung in the air for a moment. She noted that Mac looked unsure what to say. “And yes, on the home front, it’s helpful that he’s home more, but I knew what I was signing up for when he and I got together.”
“And as far as the team goes, yes. All with families appreciate Shepherd’s accommodations,” Garcia added. “And it works with the variety of cases the agency now handles.”
“And with less time in the field, you do not feel that you’ve lost your edge?” Mac asked cautiously.
Yvette laughed. “Trust me, neither he nor any of the other operators has lost anything. If I thought for a second the new rotation left our people vulnerable, or didn’t keep them and their skills as sharp, I would have spoken up. Don’t forget, I see every move they make from Ops.”
“Of course,” Mac agreed.
“I understand your concerns though,” Garcia said. “When Jackson and Angel first got together, Cooper and Doc had many concerns. Shepherd almost pulled Jackson from duty, but Jackson proved himself, and their relationship never interfered with his performance. Nor has the birth of his children.” Garcia’s gaze went to his son, still playing in the corner. He dropped his voice to a lower volume. “If anything, since he was born, I’m more focused when I’m in the field than I was. There’s no operating on autopilot, no taking unnecessary risks.”
Mac took a moment to process what he’d said. He picked up on the fact that Garcia didn’t count himself as one who doubted Jackson’s ability to perform after Angel was in his life or after he’d become a father. “I’m sure Shepherd would pull anyone who couldn’t maintain the correct mindset.”
“In a heartbeat,” Garcia agreed. “So, what’s next for you after this mission?”
Mac let out a long sigh. “It depends on how it goes. I have more offenders I’d like to get off the streets before I can say I am finished with my current engagement, but if I’m out of a job,” he began as he glanced at Yvette, who watched him intently. “I’ll find something, I’m sure.”
“If that happens, hit Shepherd up. I can’t speak for him, but there may be a place for you in our organization, and if not, he has more contacts than anyone,” Garcia said.
“I’ll remember that,” Mac said.
“That’s if you can settle into one place at least part of the time,” Yvette said, still watching him closely. “Not everyone can.”
Mac chuckled. “Well, you both have. It may take getting used to, but I’m sure I could manage.”
Just then, Little T let go of the activity table and landed sitting on his bottom. He let out a startled cry.
Garcia immediately got out of his seat and lifted the toddler into his arms. “You’re fine, buddy.” His voice was calm.
