Common Enemy (21 page)

****

Connor found his childhood room just the way he’d left it when he went away to college. Model cars were lined up on the shelves. Sports posters hung on every wall. His old baseball bat and glove leaned in the corner. The only new additions were a doll, coloring book, and crayons on the end of the bed.

“These must be for you, monkey. I don’t remember having any dolls.”

“Oh, this is a great room. Can I look at your picture book?” Lizzy ran her hand over an old photo album.

“No, honey, I think I’ve had all the nostalgia I can handle for now. You just play with your things while Mommy and I get cleaned up. Then you can get a bath.” Connor asked, “Miss Hannah, where are my parents?”

“Mr. McCrae went to town to take care of a few arrangements. Your mother had a little shopping to do. She wants your first dinner at home to be special. They should be back shortly. Can I get you anything?”

“No thanks, but could you see that Lizzy gets a little lunch while we unpack and shower?”

“I’d love to.” Hannah closed the door as she left.

Connor unpacked while Jordan used the bathroom, and then took a quick shower. Returning to the room he found Jordan sitting at the vanity, still wearing her robe.

“What’s the matter, boss?”

“I only brought a few clothes and I don’t know what to wear.” Jordan held her arms out. “I didn’t expect all this. The idea of meeting your parents has me a little intimidated. I want to make a good impression.”

“I can guarantee that Dad will wear a suit and Mom will wear jeans or shorts. You can go either way or anywhere in between.” He chuckled a little. “Believe me, there’s always a lot of room in between. The two of them are as different as night and day.”

“How do they get along that way?”

“They’re each other’s alter ego. It’s interesting to watch.”

“So, let me ask you, Connor…” Jordan dropped the towel she had wrapped around her. “Have you ever messed around in your parent’s house?”

“I never had the nerve, until now.”

The moment their lips touched, a knock sounded on the door.

“Your father is back,” Miss Hannah whispered through the crack in the doorway Connor guarded from the other side. “He wants to see you in the parlor immediately.”

Why did it seem like the walk from his room to the parlor was twice as long today? When he saw Ian McCrae sitting in his favorite wingback chair he could have sworn time had frozen him there. His hair was a little whiter, but he was as fit and formidable as ever.

“What do you have to say for yourself, Connor?”

“A lot has happened. I planned to go over it all with you as soon as we’re settled in.”

“I don’t want to hear what I’ve already learned from reading reports,” Ian snapped. “I just left John’s widow picking out clothes for her husband to be buried in.”

“I would never have let something like this happen intentionally. John’s been like an uncle to me. I’ve done my best—”

“I don’t know what to think of you, hiding yourself away for six years, and then resurfacing to get one of my best friends killed. Look at you. You look more like a bohemian than I did in my teens. What the hell are you thinking, son? How do you expect people to give you any kind of respect?”

“I earn it, Dad. It takes more than a suit and tie for people who really matter.”

“Bullshit! You’ve lived like a loser for so long you’ve forgotten how to live like a normal human being.”

Lizzy raced into the room and kicked the older man with the toe of her little sandal. “Don’t you talk to my daddy like that, you mean old man!” She burst into tears. “He’s the best daddy in the world.”

Connor picked her up and held her as her tears soaked into his T-shirt. “She’s been through enough. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. We’ll find a hotel to stay at until after the funeral.”

Ian McCrae looked stricken as he watched his son cuddle the little girl. “No, you should stay. I’m…I’m sorry.”

Jordan walked into the room with fire in her eyes. “Connor, could you take Lizzy up for her bath please.”

“Wait a minute, Jordan…”

“No, I need to talk to your father for a moment. I’ll be right up.” She forced a smile for Lizzy’s benefit.

“Go ahead son.” Ian sighed. “Jordan and I need to get acquainted. Don’t worry, I’ll play nice.”

“The problem is, Dad, she’s not playing.”

“I figure I deserve it. Go on upstairs with your daughter.”

“Are there any last words you’d like me to give to Mom?” Connor asked his father with a crooked grin.

“Tell her that I’ve always loved her.”

“Okay.” Connor shrugged as he walked out of the room with Lizzy.

****

“Okay, let’s have it. I’m ready for both barrels,” Ian stated.

“I let you bully me on the phone. Maybe you think I’m a pushover because of that, but not where my family is concerned. I don’t know what you said to upset my daughter, but I’m betting you were laying into Connor. He’s sick over what happened to John. That man was closer to him than you are. You should think about that. You have two wonderful sons that you treat like shit. Why the hell did they follow in your footsteps? Think about that too. I want to get along with you for Connor’s sake, but if you can’t get along with Connor, why should I try? We can go back to Mayville and live very happily without you. My daughter hasn’t had anyone but me for most of her life.” Jordan stopped for a breath. “She was really looking forward to this visit. It’s the first thing she’s had to look forward to since this nightmare started. And if you think it’s been a nightmare for us, try living it as a five-year-old. Now, her first impression of you is that you hate the man she loves most in the world. If you ever make her cry like that again, I’ll tear you to little pieces and put you back together wrong.” By the time she stopped for another breath she was just inches from his face.

“I believe you mean it.”

“You need to believe it. It may be the only thing that saves you.”

“What can I do to fix the mess I’ve made?” Ian asked. “I didn’t expect her to be close enough to hear us.”

“She’s five, she hears everything. The truth is you shouldn’t have said whatever you did in the first place. Connor has been through hell. He didn’t need this, his first day back. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to make up to both of them or we’re out of here. How you do it is up to you.”

“I’m sorry, Jordan.” Ian seemed to shrink into himself.

“Yeah, I already got that impression.”

“No, I really want to apologize. I’m glad Connor has a woman like you. You’re strong. I can respect that. You’ve sure made a change in him. I can tell he has his confidence back.”

“Then don’t try to take it away from him again,” Jordan said.

“Do you think that’s what I was trying to do?”

“I don’t know if that’s what you were trying to do, but you were doing a good job of it anyway.”

“I want my son back. I want this family to heal.”

“The ball is in your court, Mr. McCrae.” Jordan turned and left the room.

When she returned to their room Connor was putting the last band around Lizzy’s braids. Jordan opened a suitcase and began hanging clothes in the closet. A tap sounded on the door.

“Who is it?” Connor called.

“It’s me. Are you decent? Can I come in?”

“I’ve never been decent, but that’s never kept you out before.”

The door flew open and Melanie McCrae ran into her son’s arms. “I can’t believe you’re here. You look terrific. Look at your hair. Your father must hate it. I love it. Have you had anything to eat? I’m making all of your old favorites tonight. How long can you stay? God, I’ve missed you,” Melanie McCrae babbled.

“I’ve missed you too, Mom, but we can only stay for a few days.”

“Are you Daddy’s mom?” Lizzy asked from her seat at the vanity.

“Yes I am, sweetheart. That makes me your grandma. Is that okay?”

“I guess so, but I don’t think I want to have a grandpa.”

“Well, I don’t think I blame you right now, but you may change your mind.” She hugged Lizzy. “Will you give him one more chance to show you what a great grandpa he can be?”

“Do I have to?” Lizzy hung her head.

“No, but it would make me so happy if you would.”

“I guess I can try.”

Jordan watched from the door of the walk-in closet. Her future mother-in-law pleasantly surprised her. She looked to be closer to fifty than sixty-years-old. Her blonde hair was cut in a feathery short style. She had the same blue eyes and tanned skin as her sons. Her five-foot-eight, athletic form had gotten slightly soft with age. She was the type of person who smiled with her whole face, and you could tell she smiled a lot. Not knowing what to say, Jordan cleared her throat.

“Mom, I want you to meet Jordan Holbrook, my fiancée.”

“Oh…” Melanie sighed as she walked over to take Jordan’s hands and look her over. “So you’re the woman who has stolen my son’s heart.”

“I think Lizzy had a lot to do with that, Mrs. McCrae.”

“I can tell that he’s crazy about her, but that twinkle in his eye could only have been put there by a woman. I know my sons. That one is in love. You can call me Melly. That’s what my friends call me. I heard you’ve already met my husband. You made quite an impact on him. He’s still in the parlor, licking his wounds.”

“I’m really sorry about that.” Jordan’s face warmed.

“I’m not,” Melly laughed. “He must have deserved it. I’m glad you put him in his place right from the start.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Connor was sitting on his bed looking through his high school yearbook when his father knocked on the open door.

“I need you to go over to the Truman house with me, Connor. Laura is worried about Josh. She just found him with a gun.”

Connor noticed that he wasn’t looking directly at him. Could he actually be sorry for the way he’d behaved earlier?

“I sure hope you’re kidding, but I know you’re not. What is that boy thinking?”

“I don’t know, but you’re better at this kind of thing than I am.” Ian looked at the floor with his hands in his pockets. “Will you go?”

“I’ve never dealt with a teenager who had a gun before. I don’t know what I could say.” He stood to follow his father down the hallway.

“Well, I’d probably yell at him for a while.”

“Anything is better than that,” Connor scoffed. “He’d probably end up shooting you.”

At the Truman house, Josh was sitting on the porch swing. His head hung down with his arms crossed, like a pouting child. But, he wasn’t a child, he was nearly a grown man, and at the moment he was dangerous. A second family tragedy had caused him to backslide into a rebellious teen. Connor felt responsible; it was his job to help…somehow.

Laura Truman was nervously watching from the door when the two men got out of the car and walked toward the house. Connor sat on the other end of the swing.

Josh had grown up a lot in the last four years. He was taller and thicker. His black hair had been cut short. The only signs left of his previous rebellion were an earring and a tattoo under his T-shirt sleeve that read
Born Bad.

“You got any coffee, Laura?” Ian asked as he guided her into the house.

Connor was silent until they’d been left alone, although he knew they’d be listening from the other side of the living room window. “I hear you’ve got a gun.”

“Yep, and I intend to keep it, too,” Josh sneered.

“What do you plan to do with it?” Connor leaned back casually.

“I’m going to kill the son of a bitch.”

“I figure you mean Butler. What’s your plan when that’s done?”

“I don’t know. What does it matter?”

“Well, I was just asking because I was thinking about doing the same thing myself not too long ago. Did you know that he’s the same guy who cut me up?” Josh gasped, but Connor continued. “I wanted revenge. I thought of doing all kinds of nasty things to him, just to watch him suffer.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I want to see this guy squirm. So, what changed your mind?”

“I met Jordan, my fiancée, and her little girl Lizzy.”

“So you fell in love and now you don’t care anymore? They say women make you weak. I guess it’s true.”

“No, I don’t think so. I started seeing myself through their eyes. It made things seem clearer. I realized I was turning into the same kind of animal he is. Listen Josh, Jordan is a stronger person than I am. Butler hurt her a lot worse than he did me, but she’s not looking for revenge. She wants justice. I decided if I want to have a decent life after Butler’s gone, justice is what I need, too. Then I can go to Jordan a clean and whole man. We can live our lives out happy together. You know, if an ugly ogre like me can find someone like Jordan, there must really be someone out there for all of us. Just look at my dad. He’s an asshole. So what makes him deserve a woman like my mom? But she’s crazy about him.”

“I don’t care about that shit.” Josh turned his face away.

“Neither did I,” Connor admitted. “But it happened. And when it happens, it suddenly becomes the most important thing in your life. If I were to let those old feelings for revenge take over, I’d miss out on so much now. Keeping my family safe is my priority. That was a big priority for your dad, too. He was a damn good man. He talked about you the last time we spoke.”

“Did he tell you what a fuck-up I am?” he groaned.

“No. He said you’d been through a hard time, but that you were getting past it and becoming a man. He was proud of you, Josh.”

“I don’t know if I want to grow up.”

“It’s an awesome responsibility, but we don’t have much choice. Sometimes, I’m still not sure I’m ready. That’s when I crawl into bed with my woman and let her baby me until I feel like a man again. It’s so worth it, Josh. I hope you don’t give all that up for someone like Butler.”

“Mom wants me to be a pallbearer tomorrow, along with you, Cal, Ted, and my two uncles.” Josh wiped a tear from his cheek.

“She loves him, Josh. She wants the men who he loved most to take care of him this one last time. Who else could she trust with that?”

“What if I screw up?”

“Then we all screw up, but we’ll do it together.” Connor held out his hand. “Now, show me the gun.”