Heroes Never Die, page 28
Brian ran down the stairs, two at a time. “Anything?”
“No,” her voice shook with alarm. “Where is he?”
“He has to be here somewhere.” Then she saw Brian’s eyes fill with alarm and she followed his focus to the front door. The door was open. “Dear God,” he called out, as he bolted toward the door.
At the same time, Stephanie had a vision of Bobby crawling into the street, and she froze with fear. Then they heard scratching coming from one of the boxes in the living room. They turned their heads toward the box which gently rocked and then came to a standstill. Brian and Stephanie glanced at each other, hoping it was their son, and they hurried to investigate. Bobby was sound asleep inside of the box. He had finally gone down for a nap.
“Bobby,” Brian finally exhaled as he lifted his baby out of the box and squeezed him tight. “You scared the life out of me, son.” He sat down on the sofa and cuddled him close to his chest. Stephanie snuggled up to Brian and put her arm around both of them, and for a moment they were silent, still afraid of what could have happened, and tremendously relieved that nothing did.
“Do you think he’ll ever realize what he put us through?” Stephanie asked. She could still feel Brian’s heart pounding in his chest.
“Never,” Brian said. “He sure put my priorities straight in a hurry.”
“Your priorities always were straight,” she gently corrected, feeling as though she had just been severely reprimanded for allowing all of the little annoyances to crowd her life. “Mine were the ones that needed a fine tuning. I was letting the move get to me. Funny – it just doesn’t seem important anymore – only you and Bobby.”
Brian gently kissed her, and then Stephanie watched as he scanned the room. It would be the last night they would spend there. “I’m going to miss this house,” he fondly reminisced. “We had some great times here.”
“The best,” she sadly agreed.
“Do you remember the picnic we had over there on the floor when we closed the deal on this house?”
“Are you kidding? Now that, Brian, was a great night.”
“Yeah, it was, followed by many, many more. I still remember carrying you up the stairs after we bought this house.”
“Me, too.” She fondly smiled. “I thought you were going to drop me. Do you remember how we spent the next several weeks breaking in every room?”
Brian grinned. “I think I can safely say that I know where every squeaky floorboard is. We certainly toasted a lot of champagne here.”
“Yeah,” she sighed, thinking back over all of the romance they had shared. “We never needed a reason to celebrate. Just being together was always reason enough.” Stephanie smiled with contentment. The happiest days of her life had been spent with Brian. “I think one of my favorite times in this house,” she said as her mind revisited the shadows of the past, “was when we came home from Ted’s party and we danced all night until the sun came up.”
“That was one of the best,” Brian agreed. “I’m almost positive that’s the night Bobby was conceived. I can still remember you heaping all of those candy bars on my dinner plate as if it was yesterday. God, I was happy.”
“How about when we brought Bobby home from the hospital? We stood over his crib for hours and watched him sleep. I remember being so afraid that he would stop breathing and you telling me he would be okay.”
“My favorite memory is coming home to find you waiting at the door to give me a kiss. Seeing you after a hard day’s work has always been the highlight of my day. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Stephanie. Don’t ever stop being here for me.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Brian.” Then she suddenly recalled the time she told him she would wait the rest of her life for him to return from the war. It was one of the most heart wrenching moments of her life. “I can remember some sad times too, Brian. The very worst was when you came home and told me you had to go off to war. It still hurts when I think about it.”
“Yeah, I can still see you blowing me a kiss goodbye. But we got through it.”
Stephanie chose to ignore the hell she went through while he was gone, and the hell he put her through when he found out. Then Brian lifted her chin. “I’ll never forget how you nearly decapitated me when you threw our wedding picture at me.”
“Oh, please,” she giggled. “It didn’t even come close.”
“Bull,” he said with wide eyes. “I can still hear it whizzing by.”
Stephanie knew he was teasing, but the memory of what might have been pierced her heart with pain. “I’m glad we were able to work things out. I can’t imagine living my life without you. And you were right. We are stronger. And nothing will ever be able to tear us apart again.”
Chapter Forty-Two:
Brian buttoned the shirt on his crisp uniform for the very last time. At noon today he would become a civilian all over again. The Army had been good to him, but now he had to stand on his own. His family was counting on him and he couldn’t let them down.
Stephanie walked up to him, struck by his handsome appearance. “I’m going to miss seeing you in your uniform,” she said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “You look so handsome.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m going to miss putting it on.”
Stephanie felt a twinge of sadness. She wasn’t sure whether she was clinging to everything that was familiar in the midst of upheaval, or whether she was blaming herself for all of the sacrifices Brian was making to protect her. “You had a wonderful military career ahead of you. I feel responsible for taking it all away.”
“It was a joint decision,” he corrected. “We both know we have to make this move. It’s the only way you’ll be safe.”
“But you’re the one making all of the sacrifices.”
He was surprised he needed to explain. “I would eat dirt for the rest of my life if it meant keeping you alive. I don’t want to lose you, Stephanie.”
She embraced his face, wondering what she had done to deserve him. “You are the most wonderful man alive. I love you, Brian. And I can’t wait to have another chat in a year.” Stephanie gazed into the future. “We have a lot of new memories to make.”
“We’ll have another baby by then.”
“And we have a new house to break in.”
“Thank God it’s a big house,” he grinned.
“And lots of champagne to toast.”
Brian brushed her long blonde hair with his hand. “I have no regrets, Stephanie. So don’t blame yourself for taking anything away from me when you’re the one who has given me everything I ever wanted.”
She buried her head in his chest and embraced him as tightly as she could. “I don’t want you to leave,” she whispered. She could smell his woodsy cologne.
“When is the nanny coming?” he whispered back.
“Eight o’clock.” She felt so safe in his arms. “I have to wake up Bobby.”
“Let me,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. “I want to tell him goodbye.” He held her for as long as he could, and then they walked to the nursery to wake Bobby. Brian kissed Stephanie and Bobby goodbye and left to process out.
***
The nanny arrived a few minutes early. Stephanie went to the door with Bobby in her arms. She was expecting to see a younger nanny but was pleasantly surprised when she saw an older, more mature-looking woman. “You must be our nanny,” Stephanie said when she opened the door. “Please, won’t you come in? I’m Stephanie Fairchild, and this is my son, Bobby.”
The nanny slowly reached out her hand to greet Bobby, allowing him the time he needed to feel safe so that she could win his trust. “It’s nice to meet you, Bobby,” she tenderly said, her face bright with a smile. “My name is Lillian Pezan, and I’ll be taking care of you today.”
Bobby looked worried. “It’s all right, Bobby,” Stephanie assured him. Then Bobby looked back at his nanny and smiled shyly.
“How old are you, Bobby?”
“He’s almost nine months,” Stephanie said, proud of her son.
“We’re going to have so much fun today, Bobby,” Lillian bubbled. “How would you like to go to the park?”
“He loves going to the park.” Stephanie liked Lillian right away. She was tender and loving toward her baby, and Stephanie felt comfortable releasing him into her care. “But I have to warn you – Bobby is quite a handful.”
“Not to worry,” Lillian assured her. “I’m used to handling, how should I say, curious children. Bobby and I will get along fine. I understand you’re moving today?”
“I hope that won’t be a problem,” Stephanie said, apologizing. “It’s going to be a madhouse here, and I really need help with Bobby.”
“The trip to the park should tire him. Maybe he’ll sleep through the worst of it when we return.”
“You’re wonderful, Mrs. Pezan. I’ll get his coat and stroller.”
Stephanie put her son into his stroller. She wasn’t used to being without her baby and it helped to know that Bobby was ecstatic. He was going to the park. “I packed a bottle, a snack, and extra diapers.”
“Now don’t you worry about a thing, Mrs. Fairchild. Bobby and I are going to have a wonderful time together.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate your help, and please, call me Stephanie.” Stephanie kissed Bobby goodbye. Then she closed the door and hurried to prepare for the movers. She ran upstairs and set aside the clothing she didn’t want the movers to pack.
The doorbell began to ring over and over. She checked her watch. Cripes, the movers are early. She hurried back down the stairs to let them inside. They sounded as though they were anxious to begin.
Stephanie swung the door open expecting to see a crew of movers, but no one was there. “That’s strange,” she said, wondering who had been ringing the doorbell. Then she noticed a note taped to the door. She reached for the note and read it out loud, “We have your baby. Come watch him die.”
Come watch him die? Her eyes instantly bulged with terror. “Bobby!” she screamed, knowing that the terrorist had arrived. “Bobby!”
Stephanie ran outside to save her baby. She saw two foreign-looking men jump out of a car. One man slammed his fist into the nanny’s face, knocking her unconscious to the ground, while the other man grabbed Bobby from his stroller. The man put a gun to Bobby’s head.
“Noooooooo!” Stephanie screamed.
Chapter Forty-Three:
A warm ocean breeze blew in through the patio screen. A school of dolphins was swimming in the distance. Stephanie stood at the screen, the breeze swirling her long hair, as she scanned the entire horizon. She filled her lungs with a deep breath of fresh air and slowly exhaled with relief. After all of the months of living in fear for her life, she was finally safe. She was in her new home, and thankful that she and Bobby were still alive.
“We fooled them all, didn’t we?” she finally said as she turned around and focused on Kyle.
Kyle was bouncing Bobby on his lap. He glanced up at her and smiled. “We fooled them, all right,” he agreed, his Virginian accent smooth and confident. “You’re safe now, Stephanie, you and Bobby both.”
Stephanie took a seat beside them and pressed her nose into Bobby’s face. Her eyes filled with tears when she felt his warm little body next to her skin, and she smothered him with kisses, deeply relieved that her baby was alive. She looked into Kyle’s eyes, her own eyes brimming with gratitude. “I still don’t understand how you did it?”
Kyle shrugged his shoulders. “It wasn’t all that difficult. But I couldn’t have done it without Matt’s and Zach’s help. They borrowed some fresh bodies from the morgue and set up the crime scene. And of course, Lillian was one of our agents. She passed Bobby off to another agent before she left your porch. Bobby was never in any danger.”
“And the hit men?”
“No one will ever find them,” he said, omitting all of the gory details. “An operative has already notified Tareef, but just to be sure he believes that you and Bobby are dead, Minute Magazine is going to run a spread. It will look like just another random act of violence to anyone here, but as far as Tareef is concerned, he’ll never come looking for you again.”
It still sounded too wonderful to be true, but she knew all along that Kyle would never let her down. “You’re an amazing man, Kyle. You always have it all figured out way before anyone ever thinks to ask the first question, and you’re always so sure of yourself. I still don’t understand how you did it, but I’m glad you were there when Bobby and I needed you.”
Kyle’s face filled with cockiness. “And you didn’t believe me when I said I would get you out of this mess.”
Stephanie puffed with exasperation. She had expected him to be a little more unassuming, but then she remembered that it was Kyle she was talking to. “You’re also the most arrogant, most conceited man I’ve ever known.” But that was a part of Kyle she had once loved.
Kyle’s intelligent blue eyes smiled all the more. “Now that’s a fine way to be talking after I saved your life.”
Tears began to stream down Stephanie’s cheeks. “It’s not the first time you saved my life, Kyle.” She remembered all of his threats after all the love they had shared. She never understood why he had been so cruel, but now she knew. He had been protecting her all along. “You came to my rescue in George Town, too. You’re the one who killed Hamid and all of his guards, aren’t you?”
Treason wasn’t anything to brag about, and Brian was the only other person who knew. “Brian told you?”
“He didn’t have to. I figured it out myself.”
“How?”
“It was simple,” she replied, remembering how she used to adore him. “You were always my hero – and heroes never die.”
“God, I miss you, Stephanie.” He held Bobby’s hand inside of his. “This little guy could have been ours. I really messed up.”
“We both did,” she confessed, knowing they would have been married if she had stood up to Duke.
“You still love me, don’t you?”
Stephanie’s reeling emotions confused her. Kyle was her first love, her hero, but he was no longer the man she adored. “I love Brian. I love him more than anything else in the world.”
“Any regrets?” he asked.
“None,” she fondly replied. “I wouldn’t trade my life with Brian for anything. I’m very happy.”
“I wish I could say the same. I’ll always love you, Stephanie.”
“Don’t say that,” she pleaded, knowing she could never return his love. “With all of my heart, I want you to be happy, too. There have to be hundreds of women out there who would kill to have you. You’ll find that someone special.”
“There’s no one out there like you, ladylove.”
“Probably not,” she ventured. “She’ll probably end up being better. So don’t stop looking until you’ve found her. You have to let me go, Kyle. You have to move on with your life.”
Stephanie heard the front door open and close. Brian had finally arrived. “Stephanie,” she heard him call to her, knowing that he needed to be reunited with his family.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she jumped from her chair and hurried to see him. “Brian,” she cried as she ran to him and threw herself into his outstretched arms. “Oh, Brian – you’re home.”
“Thank God you’re safe,” his deep voice trembled.
Bobby began to squirm on Kyle’s lap. “Da da,” he squealed with excitement, reaching out to Brian with both hands.
“Bobby!” he cried. Stephanie could see Brian’s face explode with intense happiness and relief.
Kyle stood to his feet and handed Brian’s son to him. “Nice looking boy you have,” he said.
Stephanie saw their eyes clash, both men strong and unwilling to be the first to back down. Brian glared at him. Kyle was still in love with Stephanie.
“Brian,” Stephanie pleaded, wanting him to at least be pleasant to the man who had saved hers and Bobby’s life.
Brian finally reached out his hand. “Thanks. Thanks for saving my family.”
Kyle reached for his hand. “Take good care of her.”
Then Kyle looked into Stephanie’s eyes. What last words do you say to the woman you will always adore? There was so much to tell her. “Goodbye, Stephanie.” Then he turned and walked out the door.
Stephanie stared at the door. Kyle was gone forever.
Brian reached for her and turned her focus away from the door. “You still love him, don’t you?”
Stephanie didn’t know if she could make Brian understand. “I know this is going to sound crazy, Brian, but when I look back, I’m not sure if I ever did. I was so young when I met him. Maybe it was just an adolescent crush – hero worship, if you will. Who knows? It seems so long ago now. But then I met you. And that’s when my life began. I love you, Brian Fairchild. I always have, and I always will.”
Brian smiled. “That’s all I wanted to hear.” He pulled her close, holding Bobby in one arm and Stephanie in the other.
“Oh, Brian,” she cried, finally able to release all of her emotions. “I was so scared.” She buried her head in his chest, refusing to let him go. “I was so scared.”
“I know,” he whispered, his voice wavering with intense relief. “When I thought you were dead…”
“Shhhhh,” she whispered back. “We’re safe now. And nothing can ever tear us apart.” Her nightmare was finally over. She was free to enjoy the rest of her life. “How’s Dad?”
“You scared the life out of him. He told me to tell you that he’s giving you until the count of ten, and then he’s coming after you.”
She laughed and cried at the same time. “I wish he had decided to move here with us. I miss him, Brian.”
“I have good news for you, sweetheart. Your dad and Jamie have agreed to become my partners.”
Tears of joy streamed down her face. It was much too wonderful to be true. “You mean we’ll all be together?”
“All of us – for the rest of our lives.”
