SERENITY: A Path Home (Beauty 0f Life Book 6) Read online

Jim shook his head. “Damn small world.”

  Dan took an enormous bite of hen as he grinned. “Yeah, I’ll agree with that. So tell me, how are your wedding plans going?”

  As they ate, Heather gushed about the plans and the menu Jarmal designed for their reception. Jennifer, Jon’s wife, helped her to arrange the location and many other details. Jim indicated his parents would be flying in on the thirtieth and Heather’s would arrive on the thirty-first.

  Dan relaxed entirely and enjoyed his evening, happy to see Jim moving on with his life. He wished he could move forward with Lexa, but he needed to be patient.

  Dan’s Apartment – 10:00 p.m.

  After scanning the room, Dan closed his door and locked it. He switched on the light and headed to his bedroom. Setting his go bag on the bed, he opened it and withdrew his used items and three pieces of paper. Dan placed his dirty clothes in the hamper and repacked his bag, so it was ready for tomorrow. He changed into a comfortable pair of sweats and a loose t-shirt.

  After picking up the printouts, Dan went to his desk and used scissors to cut out five shapes carefully. Rummaging in his drawer, he found only four paperclips and opened them a little. Then he poked one end through the top of four.

  Grinning, Dan hung his new ornaments on his tree. His gaze returned to the last cutout trying to decide what to do with it. Opening the drawer again, he pulled out a roll of tape. Allie won’t mind, he thought as he moved Allie’s star ornament to a special place in the center of the tree. Then he taped the fifth one to the tip of his Christmas tree.

  He ambled to his black swivel chair and sat down. Dan perused his unique little tree. The lovey-dovies topper warmed him, and the corners of his mouth curled as his eyes shone. A grin settled firmly on his face as his eyes moved from the icicle-laden sniper to three mother hens. Dan put his feet up on the table and thought about the past three days.

  This is shaping up to be my best Christmas ever. I only need to make ornaments of Loki, Bram, and Tia to round out my TRF tree. Perhaps something will happen tomorrow, and Loki can help me come up with a photoshop of Bram or Tia.

  I’m probably on my own when it comes to Loki. Maybe not. One of the other team’s techies might assist me. Curtis owes me one for the frozen sniper thing, but perhaps Larry, Sean, or Jarred will help too.

  Dan’s phone rang, and he went to his bedroom to answer it. “Hello.”

  Jim asked, “What’s your pain level?”

  “About a two maybe edging up to three.”

  Jim nodded. Yep, he had read Dan right when he got out of the car tonight. He was hurting more than he let on in front of Heather. “Did you take your pills yet?”

  “No.” He took the bottle out of his bag and opened it. “I’m getting them now.” Dan shook out two pills and recapped the container. He strolled to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

  Hearing Dan rummaging around and the tap turn on, Jim said, “If your pain increases I want you to call me. I don’t care what time of day or if I’m working. Oh, and you are not to run for the next two days.”

  “Will try to comply but as I told you earlier if the job requires it, I will.”

  Jim sighed. “I forgot to ask. Are you taking care of your lungs properly in this frigid weather?”

  Dan returned to his chair with his glass, sat down, and stared at his Christmas tree. “Yes, mother hen. I got those cold weather undershirts we talked about. Worked well when I was stuck in that damned pear tree.”

  Laughing, Jim said, “We never had to deal with something like that in the desert, did we? You only got stuck up in a tree once.”

  Dan chuckled. “Yeah. Ripsaw was none too pleased to help me down.”

  “No, he wasn’t. Did you take the meds yet?” Jim knew the answer. Though Dan would follow his directives, sometimes it took a wee bit of prompting.

  “Taking them now!” Dan popped the pills into his mouth and washed them down with water. He found it easier to comply with little complaint when Jim told him to take meds. He knew Jim never saw his pain or injuries as a weakness. His trust solidified as their bonds forged in hellfire and allowed him to be honest with Jim and abide by his instructions when possible.

  “You should consider skipping workout tomorrow. The extra sleep will help repair the damage. I’ll call tomorrow for your health status. Take care out there. You want to be in shape for …” Jim paused briefly and realized he almost let the cat out of the bag, “… Christmas with your family. Your mom will certainly be surprised.”

  “Yeah, looking forward to it. Tell Heather thanks again for a delicious meal. Roasted French hen was perfect after today.”

  They both said goodbye and hung up.

  Dan scooched down in his chair. He lifted his legs onto his table as his eyes roamed over his little tree. Considering Jim’s words, Dan pondered an idea. Would the mother hens stop their pecking if he demonstrated taking care of himself? Worth a try, because I can’t put up with another day like today.

  He typed out a quick text to Jon and the boss. Sleeping in tomorrow. Be there at 6:30. He pressed send.

  Within a minute his phone pinged with a message from Jon. Dan chuckled as he read. About damned time! Glad you wised up and are taking proper care. Get some rest Sleeping Beast.

  It buzzed again. He smiled at the boss’ response. Great, now Jon can focus solely on working my butt off! Seriously though, the right decision. See you tomorrow.

  Dan’s gaze shifted to the ornaments again as he thought about the team, his family. It felt so right. Perhaps he could begin to trust them more. He already opened up to Bram and was accepted. Though opening up with Boss and Jon could be dangerous given he and Lexa were breaking a rule which could get him booted from the team.

  Staring at his decorated tree, Dan wondered what Brody would think of his tree. “Brody, I miss you and wish you were here. Christmas this year is so different than last. Do you like my tree?”

  In the quiet of his apartment, Dan drifted off to sleep as Brody whispered, “I love your tree. This Christmas you will continue your journey and find a path home, brother.” Dan never saw the glow which surrounded the tree when Brody touched the lovey-dovie ornament. “Danny, you deserve the beauty of life. May this season bring you joy and serenity.”

  Lights, Sparrow, and Jesus

  13

  December 15

  Falcon Hardware and Home Improvement – 7:45 a.m.

  Nick’s hands were out in a non-threatening manner as he inched his way out from behind the shield Ray held. He was getting through to the man holding the pneumatic nail gun. Mr. Arnie Brennus hadn’t fired the gun in the past ten minutes. That allowed the rest of the team to go in with shields and escort customers hiding from Arnie to a safe zone. Jon and Dan helped the last ones out of range only moments ago.

  “Arnie, thank you for allowing everyone to move to safety. You made the right choice. Now, are you ready to put down the nailer?”

  “No, Nick. Their ad guaranteed they had the lights in stock.” Arnie paced, and he shot five nails into a plastic snowman. “I must have those lights. My little granddaughter asked for them specially. I called before I came and asked them to hold five boxes for me and Stan said he would. He lied.”

  Arnie turned to Nick. “I need the star lights before my granddaughter gets here. I haven’t seen her in two years, and she is expecting a decorated home. They must make this right.” He nailed a reindeer made out of twigs.

  Loki whispered. “Boss, I found the ones he wants online with two-day delivery.”

  “Thanks, Loki. Hang on,” Nick said quietly understanding Loki’s idea. It might work. “Arnie, would you put the gun down if you could order the same lights online and have them delivered in two days?”

  “For less than the ad, Boss,” Loki added.

  “My computer crashed. I can’t order online.” Arnie put three more nails into the deer.

  “We would like to resolve your problem. What if we help you place an order. My teammate just told
me they are cheaper online too.”

  Arnie stopped pacing. “You would do that for me?”

  Lexa rolled her head around her shoulders as she observed Boss with the subject. Arnie set down the pneumatic gun, one she considered buying last summer, and Ray cuffed him. Loki went to Arnie carrying his laptop. Boss and Loki started to place the order as Ray maintained a hold on Mr. Brennus in case Arnie lost it again. This was a crazy call with a desirable outcome.

  Though, she didn’t care for being in this store. She used to come in here routinely, until one stupid date with Stan the Man, as he referred to himself. Amy is right. I need to stop dating men with S names.

  Stan was general manager of the store. She met him when she needed to return a defective facet, after which he bugged her for months to go out with him. Once she said yes, and had a dull date, one less exciting than watching paint dry, Stan had been relentless in asking her out on a second one. It got to the point this place held no allure to her, and she started frequenting the home improvement store five miles farther from her house just to avoid Stan.

  Dan glanced at Jon as they waited near each other. He arrived at headquarters at six thirty, as he communicated to Jon and Boss. Dan just passed the dispatch desk when the critical call came in. With Delta Team already out on another call, Alpha Team geared up early and headed out to deal with a man shooting up a store with a nail gun. “The stress of Christmas sure can drive people to do strange things.”

  Jon chuckled lightly. “Yeah, don’t I know it. Joey’s heart is set on a drum set, and he even asked Santa for them. The bongos are bad enough. I can’t disappoint Joey, but I think I’m going to go deaf when he gets them on Christmas morning.”

  Bram laughed. “Man, thank goodness I have girls. Ponies, dolls, art supplies, tiaras, and teacups are all I have to contend with.”

  Jon smirked at Bram. “I might get Leslie a set of drums. Your girls need music in their lives.”

  Dan snorted when Bram gave Jon the evil eye. A loud voice interrupted their banter. “Queen of the Hammer! Hey, Lexa, long time since you came to visit me here. Where’d you sneak off to?”

  Lexa cringed. Not Stan. If I weren’t in uniform, I would walk out without speaking to him. As she turned she flicked her gaze at Jon, Dan, and Bram who were staring at her. Lexa plastered on a fake smile. “Stan.”

  “That’s me, Stan the Man. So, Lexa, I knew you were a cop but didn’t realize you were with TRF. Isn’t that too rough for someone as delicate as you?”

  Lexa hated the way Stan patronized her. “Not at all. Just like I can handle drywalling a ceiling, placing tiles, and installing plumbing by myself.”

  Stan flashed a cheesy grin. “Well, you’ll need a man to ensure you do it right. I could come over and check out all your work.” He eyed her up and down suggestively. “Perhaps I’ll even prime your pipes for you.”

  The last was said with much innuendo and caused Jon, Bram, and Dan to move towards Lexa. Protectiveness on various levels surged in all the guys. Bram’s and Jon’s were of the brotherly type, and Dan’s was primal.

  “I’m capable of priming my own pipes.” Lexa cringed when she realized how that sounded, especially in front of the team.

  Jon tried to keep it light. He noted the artificial tanning on the man before he said, “Stan the tan.”

  “The man.” Stan corrected as his gaze took in the other three constables.

  Dan and Bram smirked at Jon’s dig.

  “Ah, well, Stan, as Lexa’s personal assistant, I can assure you that she has no dates available for you. Now, we are working here, so you need to exit the area or Lexa here will show you how capable she truly is.”

  The hard glare Stan received from a pair of gunmetal eyes, the icy one from blue orbs, and the sheer size of the third officer made him back up. He was not stupid, and he knew when to cut his losses. He didn’t bother to offer parting words.

  Once Stan was gone, Jon’s face broke out into a grin as he teased, “Queen of the Hammer. That fits you nicely.”

  Dan and Bram laughed as Lexa slugged Jon in the bicep and stormed off.

  Watching her head out of the store, Dan thought, today should be interesting.

  Vega Apartments – Roof – 8:20 a.m.

  Lexa held the shield protecting Nick as he engaged with the distraught fourteen-year-old girl who was threatening to slash her wrists with a butcher knife and jump. Jon, Ray, Bram, and Loki set up the net two floors below. Dan stood on the roof, a little back from Nick and Lexa, covering them as Zulu One instead of holding the safety net.

  He disliked aiming his weapon at a young girl, but Dan conceded this was the right position for him. Supporting the catch net would put stress on his chest muscles. When Jon eyed him and told him to cover Boss while he negotiated, Dan didn’t balk and followed Lexa to the rooftop. He understood Jim was truthful with him and he might end up on medical leave if he overstressed his muscles. That was not a risk Dan wanted to take.

  Winona Sparrow’s red-rimmed eyes never left the man who kept talking to her. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t. “Leave me alone,” she sobbed.

  Nick glanced at Lexa. He hated to do this to her, but whispered, “Lexa, can you try to connect?”

  Lexa bit her lower lip. It was difficult to maintain her composure. Everything Winona said hit her hard. She had been there herself at thirteen. Though she realized she might be the only one who could talk her down.

  She gave Boss a slight nod, and they switched places. Moving out into the open, knowing Dan covered her, Lexa softly said, “Winona, my name is Lexa. Losing your mother is a terrible thing.”

  “What do you know of it?” Winona placed the tip of the knife on her wrist. “Go away. I want to die.”

  “I understand how you feel. I was thirteen when my mother died. It wasn’t a sudden heart attack like your mom’s, but it was just as devastating. I was so lost without her.”

  Winona glanced up. “How did your mom die?”

  Relief and pain warred in Lexa. She had hooked the girl, but now she had to talk about mom’s death. “She fought cancer. Three types, thyroid, breast, and skin. I was too young at first to realize what she went through with the first two. I only knew mom was sick a lot.”

  Lexa took several steps towards Winona when her knife lowered. “The last one, I was fully aware of her struggle and pain. She had gotten the all-clear from breast cancer and started reconstruction surgery. It was when she was in the hospital that they discovered the skin cancer on her back. She had a sore which didn’t heal for months, and she thought the reason was that her bra irritated the area. It was stage four and cancer spread throughout her body. She died within three months.”

  Winona’s eyes teared up. “Mom and I were making a special dinner for my brother who was coming home from university for winter break. I was taking out the apple pie when mom clutched her chest and fell down. I dropped the pie and raced to her. I was all alone. Dad was at the airport picking up Corbin. I watched her die. It all hurts so much. Corbin and my dad blame me, they won’t speak to me or look at me.”

  Now only a few feet from Winona, Lexa stopped. She needed to figure out what to say to the girl’s last words.

  Dan thought about what happened with Blaze, Jim, and Winds after Brody’s death. He whispered, “Maybe her pain is too much for her dad and brother to bear, and they don’t know what to do or say to reduce her grief.”

  Lexa glanced at Dan. Perfect! “Have you considered they love you very much but are at a loss as to how to help you?”

  Winona shook her head. “No.” Her eyes locked onto Lexa’s with a little hope edging into the wasteland of her heart.

  Taking one more step towards the teen, Lexa said, “My brothers helped me through the loss of our mom.” She kept to herself. Dad checked out, he didn’t know how to deal with it. “Perhaps we can call Corbin and ask?”

  Winona dropped the knife and crumpled to the ground sobbing as she nodded. After kicking the butcher knife away, Lexa wr
apped the grieving girl in her arms and soothed her.

  With relief, Dan lowered his MP5 and moved to take the knife from Boss so he could begin contacting Winona’s family. This call ended well, and Dan hoped the girl received the help she needed to come to terms with her loss.

  Thirty minutes later, Winona was in the embrace of her brother and father on the way to the hospital to treat her minor cuts. Nick made arrangements for a grief counselor to meet the family there. A somber and subdued team rode in the SUVs back to headquarters.

  Dan glanced at Lexa who insisted on driving even though he offered. He recognized Lexa had been affected by Winona’s grief. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Fine?” Dan challenged.

  Blowing out a breath, Lexa peeked at Dan. Yeah, I’m Fouled up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional right now, but I don’t want the team to know. “I meant I’m alright.”

  Dan recognized the shuttered expression. No, she is FINE, big time FINE. Unsure how to help, he said the first thing which came to mind. “How ‘bout we stop and grab some chocolate?” The heat which pierced through Dan from the glare Lexa shot him told him that he said the wrong thing. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  Lexa cut him off. “No, don’t apologize. Thanks for what you said on the roof. What made you think of that?”

  Dan stared out the window not wanting to talk about it, but said, “Happened to me with the unit. Though at the time I believed they blamed me for Brody’s death.”

  Surprised at the way Dan shared, Lexa opened up a bit. “My father didn’t cope well with my mother dying. He basically shut down. I relied on my older brothers. Brayden, Keagan, Finley, and Aidan helped me through my grief.”

  Dan nodded and didn’t push Lexa for more information. Though, he was curious why she never wanted to discuss her family and never went home for Christmas. Something serious must have happened, and he guessed it played a role in why Lexa shied away from commitment.

  Further contemplation was shelved when Tia came over their headsets. “Alpha Team, critical call, Grace Christian Mission. A man, armed with a semiautomatic rifle, is threatening anyone who tries to make him get out of the baby Jesus cradle in their outside nativity scene.” She provided them the address and Dan switched on the lights and siren as the team speed towards the church.