Commitment (28 page)

“It will be,” the replay came.

“Will be is not good enough. The sooner, the better,” Admiral Brackett responded heatedly.

“Daddy, calm down,” Claire Brackett answered. “I’m surprised you would call me.”

“Claire, I don’t have any illusions about you; daughter or not. Believe me, I don’t. You do know as well as anyone that this has to be contained. And, you do know that if it isn’t, Dimitri will hold you responsible. It compromises everyone’s work. I have Edmond and Strickland to deal with now. You need to…”

“Well, it’s nice to know you have such confidence in me,” Claire answered sardonically.

“Your abilities were never what I have questioned, Claire. Just take care of it.”

“All right. We’ll start the new year off with a bang,” she chuckled.

“I’m glad you find it so amusing,” her father sighed. “You do realize that innocent….”

Claire Brackett rolled her eyes on the other end of the call. “There is no such thing as an innocent person, Daddy. You taught me that a long time ago. Now, I have to go. It appears my father found me a date to ring in the New Year,” she said as she hung up the call.

Admiral William Brackett stared at the phone in his hands. He struggled against the sudden wave of nausea that swept through his organs. “Jesus, Claire,” he whispered.

Alex had been up for a few hours, eagerly awaiting Cassidy’s appearance. She wondered how a short week could have felt so long. Alex had enjoyed the Christmas holiday immensely. She hated having to pull herself away and back to Massachusetts for the week. The news of Cassidy’s pregnancy had motivated Alex to finish moving the executive offices at Carecom as soon as possible. There were T’s to cross, I’s to dot, and loose ends to tie up. While Carecom was, at its heart, a CIA sanctioned business; in order to operate efficiently it functioned as a legitimate corporation that employed nearly a thousand people. Alex understood that the vast majority of people within her father’s company remained completely unaware of the true nature of the business. They depended on Carecom for their livelihood and the well-being of their families. It was a responsibility that Alex had not considered when she agreed to take her father’s place. Her intention was to achieve greater access for her investigation, not provide for the workers. It weighed on her at times; the deception that was her life. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. She was startled from her thoughts by the sudden feeling of two arms encircling her waist.

“Hey there,” Alex said. Cassidy just grumbled. Alex turned and kissed her wife’s forehead. “You want some breakfast?” Alex asked. “Speed had his usual delicacy. You know….cereal,” she laughed. “I can make you an omelet.” Cassidy shook her head. Alex noted that the color had drained from her wife’s cheeks. “Cass?” she asked with concern.

“No food,” Cassidy answered and rested her head against Alex’s chest.

“You all right?” Alex asked as she stroked Cassidy’s back.

“I’m not puking,” Cassidy said bluntly. “I can’t even look at food right now.”

“Are you sick?”

“Mm,” Cassidy groaned. “I’ll be all right,” she mumbled.

“Cass, maybe we should cancel having people over tonight.”

Cassidy pulled back and narrowed her gaze at Alex. She patted her wife’s cheek and smiled. “Honey, I’m fine. Believe me, if this is as bad as it gets I will be grateful.”

“As bad as what gets?” Alex asked in concern.

Cassidy chuckled. “Let’s just say that I would prefer not to test my driving skills from the couch for the next couple of weeks.”

Realization dawned on Alex. She kissed the top of the smaller woman’s head and recalled one of the first stories Cassidy told her about herself. Cassidy had just handily beaten Alex and Dylan at a driving game, and Alex couldn’t help but be curious where the teacher had learned the skill. Cassidy laughed and explained that she had spent several weeks on the couch keeping close company with a bucket and a PlayStation when she was pregnant with Dylan. “Oh,” Alex said softly. “Let’s just cancel, Cass.”

Cassidy smiled. She was looking forward to their New Year’s Eve. She hadn’t seen Jane Merrow and her daughters since the early fall. Life had been insane for everyone. Stephanie and Alexandra Merrow were both away at school. Jane was still adjusting to life without her husband, and the press had been relentless is pursuing all things Jane Merrow. Cassidy spoke with Jane quite frequently, and it infuriated her that the public could not seem to respect the former first lady’s time for grieving. Cassidy had distanced herself from most of the friends in her life. They had been part of the social scene she traveled in as a congressman’s wife. When she left that life, her social calendar diminished considerably. She had come to cherish Jane’s friendship, and she was anxious to see her.

“No. I promise, I am all right. At least for now, okay? Besides, I want to tell Jane and the girls about the baby,” Cassidy explained.

Alex nodded. “I know. Me too. But there will be quite a few people here and Cat for the rest of the week. They’ll understand if you’re.…”

“Alex, I’m fine,” Cassidy promised. She kissed Alex on the cheek and made her way toward the family room to see Dylan.

Alex paced the floor a bit and sighed, sipping her coffee thoughtfully. She could hear the determination in Cassidy’s voice and she was certain that any effort to dissuade her wife would be futile. Ten minutes later she walked into the family room with a bowl of cereal and a glass of juice.

“What’s this?” Cassidy asked.

Alex shrugged. “You have to eat. Better to have something on your stomach even if you do get sick,” Alex said as she placed the items in front of Cassidy. “Just try; okay?” Alex asked hopefully. Cassidy nodded. “Take it easy today; all right? I’ll take Dylan with me to get Cat this afternoon. I called Rose, she’ll be here early. No one will be here until at least five. Just relax.”

“Alex…”

“You won’t win the argument,” Alex chuckled. “You can play hostess tonight.” Alex smiled and placed a kiss on Cassidy’s forehead before leaving the room. “She’ll be fine. It’s all worth it, right?” she mused to herself quietly as she left the room.

Cassidy giggled and called out to her wife. “I am fine and yes it is. Every single second.”

Alex chuckled in amazement. “I hope our kids don’t inherit that skill.”

“Cassie?” Rose called out.

“In here!” Cassidy called back from the kitchen.

“I thought you were supposed to be resting?” Rose questioned her daughter.

“Alex give you orders for me?” Cassidy laughed watching her mother nod. “I wasn’t aware I married a doctor,” she joked.

Rose watched as Cassidy moved about the kitchen. “She just said you weren’t feeling well.”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

Rose pulled up a stool and watched her daughter work steadily preparing platters for the evening. “You started the minute she left; didn’t you?” she asked her daughter. Cassidy just shrugged causing her mother to roll her eyes. “Well?” Rose asked.

“Well what?”

“You know perfectly well what, Cassie. How sick are you?”

“Jesus!” Cassidy threw her hands up in exasperation. “I’m not dying for God’s sake. I’m pregnant. Don’t you go siding with Alex on me,” she warned her mother. “She’ll have me in lockdown the moment she sees me running for the bathroom.”

“She’s just nervous, Cassie.”

“I know. She’s been wonderful,” Cassidy said. “I just don’t want to be put on house arrest.”

“Well, there’s a first,” Rose laughed.

“Excuse me?” Cassidy asked.

“And here I thought you married Alex for her handcuffs.”

Cassidy plopped onto a stool and shook her head. “You are sick,” she said.

“Nah, just jealous.”

Cassidy raised her brow. “You want to share my bucket?”

“No, but I wouldn’t mind the handcuffs,” Rose quipped. Cassidy swatted her mother. “And, thank you for the confirmation,” Rose added. She saw her daughter pout slightly. “How long have you been getting sick?”

“A few days,” Cassidy admitted. “But honestly, nothing all that horrible. Certain smells trigger it. It’s nothing like it was with Dylan.”

Rose understood. “Are you sure you are up to this tonight?”

Cassidy sighed. “Mom?” she began, watching her mother’s eyebrows raise in question. “It really won’t be very long, and I will have Dylan, a newborn, and Alex to contend with,” she said. “If I can’t navigate a little queasiness now, I am in
big
trouble.”

Rose let out a hearty laugh. “Point taken. So, what can I help with?”

Cassidy started to give her mother directions when the doorbell rang. She looked up at the clock, puzzled. It was still early for guests. “I’ll be right back,” she assured her mother before heading for the door. She blinked in surprise at the sight that greeted her. “Pip?” Jon Krause just smiled. “Well, get in here,” Cassidy directed him. “I thought you were away? Alex said…”

“Yeah, I was. I got this,” he reached in his coat pocket and retrieved a small Lego keychain that spelled the word ‘uncle’.

Cassidy smiled and rubbed his arm. “He will be thrilled that you made it,” she said. Krause shrugged, somewhat embarrassed by the way in which Cassidy and Dylan could affect him.

Cassidy, sensing his discomfort intervened. “Well, come on. Since you’re early, you get the wonderful prize of contending with Mom and me for the next hour. And, you get to help!”

Krause followed his friend back into the kitchen and waved to her mother. “Jonathan!” Rose greeted the man. “Happy New Year. Sorry, we didn’t see you over the holiday.”

“It’s good to see you, Rose,” he said genuinely.

“What the?” Cassidy was startled by the sound of the front door opening.

“Hello!” Helen’s voice called out.

“I’ll go help her,” Rose said.

Krause couldn’t help but chuckle at the constant bustle of the Toles’ homestead. “What?” Cassidy asked. The smell of Helen’s homemade lasagna began to permeate the house, and Cassidy felt her stomach rebel. “Shit,” she grumbled and ran down the short hallway toward the bathroom.

“Cassie?” Krause called, following close behind.

Helen glanced down the hallway at the sounds echoing from the bathroom. “Oh boy,” she looked at Rose.

“Think we should rescue him?” Rose asked.

“Nope,” Helen replied. “That’s one way to hear the news,” Helen pursed her lips in amusement. Rose giggled conspiratorially.

“Cassie?” Krause called through the bathroom door.

Cassidy regained her bearings and splashed some cold water on her face. She opened the door slowly and offered her waiting friend a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that,” she apologized.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Mm.” Cassidy leaned against the sink and sighed. “I wanted Alex to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” Krause asked.

Cassidy faltered slightly. “Alex and I,” she uncharacteristically stumbled, “we’re expecting in July.” It took a moment for the statement to register in Krause’s head. Cassidy watched as his expression moved from confusion to what looked like sincere happiness. “Pip?”

“That’s great, Cassie,” he said, taking her into a hug. “I’m happy for you. Both of you,” he said.

“Thanks.”

Krause pulled back and brushed Cassidy’s hair aside. “So this is what? Morning sickness? It’s not exactly morning,” he observed.

“It doesn’t always work that way,” she winked.

“You’re okay though?”

“I’m fine. Apparently the smell of garlic and I are not the best of companions these days. Guess Helen’s home cooking is off the table for me,” Cassidy joked. She saw Krause shift his stance uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry,” he said tacitly.

Cassidy laughed. “It’s not your fault,” she said. “Believe me it was much worse with Dylan,” she told him. “It will pass in a couple of weeks.” Krause just nodded. “Pip? What’s wrong?” Krause looked up at Cassidy and shook his head. Cassidy wasn’t certain, but she thought she might see a tear forming in his eye.
“What’s going on? Something is bothering you,” she observed. “Is it this…I mean, I don’t want…”

Krause took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “No. Nothing is wrong at all. I just am not used to this uncle thing,” he said.

Cassidy watched him closely. “Mm-hm. Okay. I’ll let it go for now, but there is something you are not telling me.”