Page 5 of Troubled Water
Dr. Rhumed, who fixes our broken minds after every mission, which is why I thought he could help Libby, has asked me if it was Libby I was so enamored of or if it was someone like her—someone who possessed many of the same characteristics my own mother has. The iron core wrapped in a beautiful package. A woman of uncompromising morality. A woman who didn’t search for the easy way out but would fight by her partner’s side.
To date, Libby is the closest woman I’ve ever had the fortune of coming across to meet those standards and it worries me that her heart belongs to a man who lied to her from the moment they met. Still, it’s a pleasant surprise to know it’s not Libby, herself, I want. My only feelings for her are a deep friendship, even though at first I wondered if she wasn’t with Cal if it could have been something else.
Who knows? It never was the case. She has always been his.
It’s one of the many reasons I may respect the job Cal does—did—as a covert government contractor who covered my ass on more than one occasion. I respect him. Hell, I even consider him a friend. But I’ll never hold the same level of respect for him as I do for his wife, considering what drew me to her.
A smirk crosses my face as I find myself staring across the yard where Cal took their monster-sized dog, Darcy, for a walkin the DC suburbs. “Surprisingly, I’ll be in less danger in my new role.”
Libby hums. “Can you talk about what you will be doing?”
Just then the screen door opens and slams shut. There’s the jingle of dog tags before Darcy takes off in a mad dash in my direction. I huff out a choked laugh when he lands on me—all ninety pounds in one fell swoop. “Who trained this mutt again?”
Cal saunters over to his wife and brushes his lips against her forehead, placing his hand against her stomach. The product of their love lets out a hell of a kick as I observe the force that moves Cal’s hand. Taking careful note of the open adoration on Cal’s face and then Libby’s gorgeous face flushes when he murmurs something in her ear I can’t quite make out, I couldn’t be happier the worst is behind them and they have this upcoming blessing to look forward to. Cal’s eyes gleam with amusement when he meets my gaze with wry amusement. “Libby’s brother, Josh.” He crosses behind her before joining her to face me, sitting in the double rocker.
Libby chimes in with more detail. “He only got around to potty training Darcy.”
Cal wraps his arm around her shoulder and she snuggles against him. “To be fair, Libs, that is all you negotiated with him.”
I quirk a brow. “You negotiated…”
Libby shrugs. “Josh wanted me to talk to Cal when things between us were…strained. So, he bartered potty training Darcy while I was away on vacation.”
A haunted expression flashes across Cal’s face so fast, I’d miss it if I wasn’t watching him carefully. I align the age of their dog with that nuance and add one and one together. “It was when you were on theSea Force.”
Libby nods. Thoughtfully she regards me. “You know, I’m not certain if I ever thanked you, Thorn.”
“For what?” I lift the glass of sweet tea Libby had poured earlier to my lips.
“For saving our marriage.”
I really wish I’d swallowed before asking her that question. The tea comes spraying out in all directions, hitting the top of the table and Cal’s bare leg. “Excuse me?” Me? I saved their marriage?
Cal glares at me before he lets go of his wife, leans forward, and snatches up a cocktail napkin to wipe up the mess. “Don’t sound so surprised, Thorn.”
“I’m flabbergasted. If I’d known I was a marriage counselor, I’d have added it to my CV a long time ago.”
Cal throws up his middle finger in my direction even as Libby chides him for being rude. She amends her statement, “I mean by introducing me to Dr. Rhumed.”
“Ahh, that. You know I wanted—want—nothing but the best for you, Libby.” My voice gentles at the end. Cal glowers. I smile beatifically in his direction over his reaction. I seriously enjoy the fuck out of getting a rise out of him.
Notwithstanding our friendship now, I still harbor some lingering resentment against him. After all, he practiced at being a professional liar—not that it didn’t help me on more than one occasion. Still, those lies almost blew up his own marriage. My expression must reflect my inner thoughts because Cal’s face takes on a rueful cast.
Libby informs me, “We spoke with Dr. Bern a few weeks ago for the five-year anniversary special.”
“I’m impressed you did any interviews.” I let the Navy Media Relations office handle my statement, much as I did for all the interviews conducted after the events of that week.
Cal sits back and wraps Libby back up in his arms. “It was healing.”
I shoot back. “It took away your anonymity, Sullivan.”
He looks me straight in the eye. “I don’t need it anymore. Not with the job, not to protect Libby.”
No, I guess he doesn’t. Shortly after the events that almost ripped Libby and Cal’s lives apart, Cal’s company was approached for a takeover by Hudson Investigations. Cal, in addition to owning part of the lucrative firm, now heads their Missing Children division. I’ve heard from my contacts that it not only gives him a taste of the old life but also puts his best talents to use.
I’ll have to remember that for the future in my new role.
Libby talks about how she spoke about our shared psychiatrist in a general sense and also gives me a bit more insight about how much she’s healed and how far her and Cal’s relationship has come. I’m happy for her, for them. Truly.
