Page 49 of Special Agent Isabella

Bella laughed and nodded her agreement. “You were right. I shouldn’t have worried. Just don’t let the kids bug you about it. If anyone gives you a hard time, you look my way and let me deal with the little canker.”

“What’s a canker?”

“It’s a type of a sore like a blister.”

Abbie looked up, glee written over her face, “Just don’t shoot them, okay?”

“Promise.” Bella squeezed her hand, and they stepped into the classroom.

The morning went smoothly, and Bella loved seeing Abbie so carefree, waving her blonde hair around her shoulders playfully just as her friend with the natural long locks did.

Lately… she’d watched as the little one often glanced towards the windows when the protesters got louder than usual. How could she not be affected? The child had eyes and ears, and not surprisingly, a good brain even for a six-year-old. No doubt, she knew things were wrong and all that venom directed at the woman she loved couldn’t be normal.

She’d demanded answers more than once from her mother and even from Bella and Tanner. Bella decided that Tanner’s explanation made the most impact. Both Bella and Stacy had tried to put into words that the sign-wavers outside had a right to their opinion and to voice it, even though it meant discomfort for the ones inside.

She’d seen the ho-hum screens lowering over Abbie’s eyes and it wasn’t until Tanner spoke that she truly connected with the words. “Ignore the idiots. They’re not respecting our privacy. They should go home and write to their congressman if they have any issues.”

That’s when Bella saw acceptance and understanding.

“They aren’t going to hurt us, right?”

“Hope not, kiddo. Most of the goofballs outside have nothing better to do, so they stand out in the heat, waving their idiotic signs, hoping a reporter will come and take their picture. It’s dumb, but we can’t stop them hanging out on the road. Unless they actually step foot on the property, they’re in a public area.”

Abbie grinned for a few seconds and then became serious again. “What do they want? Is my mommy doing something bad?”

Tanner took a coin from his pocket and crouched beside her. Flipping it one way and back again, he said, “There’s two sides to this coin, right?”

“Yes.”

“Is one wrong?”

Abbie thought about it for a second and then giggled. “No. It’s just the way it’s made.”

“You’re right. It’s the same with most situations. There are always two sides to every point. There’s the right one – ours. And then there’s the opposite one – there’s.”

“But if one of those people saw the coin, they’d say they had the right side.”

“Yep. But we know they’re wrong.”

“How do we know that for sure? Don’t they think they’re right too?”

“Probably. The way I see it is this. Are we hurting anyone or just trying to make the world a better place?”

“My mommy would never hurt anyone.”

“Exactly. She believes in freedom.” He pointed to the window. “They don’t.”

Abbie flung her arms around Tanner’s neck and squeezed hard. “I love you, Uncle Tanner.”

Bella watched as Tanner became a puddle of a man, mushy and loving every minute of having those thin young arms holding him with such adoration. How the hell could she stay angry with such a sappy, loveable man? He might be big and strong, wear a gun, and scare those who are his enemies, but good God, does he love those who matter to him.

She watched as he glanced at her, and the tenderness he sent her way spoke volumes. Thank the Lord, he’d included her in that special group.

ChapterThirty-Nine

Back home now, Bella checked the call display and then answered her cell with questions for Tanner crowding her mind. “Have they come up with a match for the prints?”

“We’re working on that right now. The techs say it’ll take a while. I’ll call you back when they’re finished.”

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