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“Greedy bastard couldn’t even allow us to watch,” Neal snickered.
I turned to them both and they immediately placed their headphones on, and relaxed into their seats.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said as he placed his bag in the overhead compartment.
“Had fun?” I questioned, knowing full well he had.
H smiled and winked in reply. “Jinx knows where to meet us?” he asked a few seconds later and I nodded.
I’d sent Coraline a message telling them to stop in England. They hadn’t been in the air for that long anyway. We all needed a break from the chaos; even if it was just for a day or two.
A sudden movement caught my attention, and I looked towards the front to see Mina, with a little girl in her arms, speaking to the flight attendant. She passed our row and stood where Neal and Declan were seated. I watched as she looked at her tickets, which were no doubt the ones I had sent to her, before looking at Declan.
“I think you’re in my seat,” her soft but confident voice caused Liam to look to me in surprise.
“Oh, sorry,” Declan said as he stood up and looked around in confusion. Then he shuffled off to his assigned seat. The little girl in Mina’s arms reached over and smacked Neal, in an attempt to get his attention.
“Sorry about that,” Mina said to him.
“No, it’s no problem.” He smiled.
I turned in my seat, and looked forward with a small smile on my face.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please turn on your screens to view a message from the President of the United States,” the pilot spoke over the intercom.
“Right on time,” Liam whispered before he turned it on.
“Good evening. Tonight, I am pleased to report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that has resulted in the disorganization and decimation of the terrorist group known as Rsamas.
“As you all know, they have been responsible for the murder of dozens of innocent men and women within the last month. Today, at my direction, special agents targeted an operation in the small town of Roster, Alabama. And after a firefight, the men responsible for The Blue Garden Massacre, the bombing of the J. Edgar Hoover Building, and the murder of federal agents across the country, including my daughter, as well as many of your sons and daughters, were brought to justice.
“Today, all those who seek to bring forth terror are reminded of the greatness and zero-tolerance of this country and the determination of the American people. We will not bend to terror. We will face it and say not today. Not Ever. As such, a memorial shall be built to commemorate the fallen. We must—and we shall—remain vigilant. Thank you. May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.”
The passengers erupted into cheers as Liam kissed the back of my hand.
“We won. It’s over,” he whispered to me.
“This is can never happen again,” I whispered back.
“I know.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t speak. Yes, we’d won this war and I was going to make damn sure that it would be the last one we ever fought. Things were going to have to change. But right now—right now all I cared about was having my son in my arms and my husband at my side.
EPILOGUE
“Clothes covered in red,
Eyelids sore and blue,
Never forget the ruthless
Because they won’t ever forget you.”
— J.J. McAvoy
MELODY
I sat patiently with my legs crossed and my hands folded. I was trying my best to keep calm as the teacher in front of me went on about what was possibly wrong with my son.
“…it’s my personal belief that your son has a social anxiety disorder. He rarely plays or talks to the other children. In fact, in all of his time here, I’ve never seen him interested in anything other than his doodles. I understand that you are both incredibly—”
“I’m sorry, is my son failing your class?” I ask her through a smile.
“No, but—”
“Has he been disrespectful in anyway?”
“Again, no—”
“Are you a licensed psychiatrist?”
Her nostrils flared as she took a deep breath.
I smiled. “I’ll take that as a no. You're a teacher, a very well paid teacher I might add. After all, this is the best private school in the state. Now, if you took the time to actually look at these doodles, you would see that he has a great talent and a very imaginative mind. I’m guessing the reason he isn’t responsive in your class is because he’s bored…those packets you give, he finishes in less than a few minutes while at home. So instead of blaming my son or trying to label him with a disorder, which we’ve already established is not in your job description, why don’t you try a few other methods?”
Her mouth dropped open as if she hadn’t been expecting me to say anything, as if I was supposed to just take my son and get his head checked.
“I think we’re done here, Ms. Henderson, thank you for bring us in.” Liam stood and fixed his suit and tie before he offered me his hand.
“Of course, Mr. Callahan. And Governor, I just want you to know that I’m an avid supporter of —”
“Goodbye, Ms. Henderson,” I cut her off, and took Liam’s hands as he led us out.
Fedel and Monte both stood, at the doors.
“Why do you look so glum, sugar plum?” I asked my son as he swung his legs back and forth on the bench in the hall.
“Am I in trouble?” he asked softly.
“No, your mom here yelled at your teacher,” Liam snickered.
His dark brown messy head snapped up and his mouth dropped open. “Mommy!” he scolded.
“I did not yell. I just corrected her mistake is all,” I said to him and he crossed his arms, and glared at me as though he didn’t believe me.
“I don’t want to be moved into another classroom again, I just started to like this one,” he groaned, as he put his head in his hands.
Dropping to my knees in front of him, I brushed his hands away. But he still refused look at me.
“Wyatt, look at me, please.”
He sighed and looked to me with his familiar, big, brown eyes, though his had specks of green in them.
“If you like the class, why don't you speak? Or talk to the other students? I know you aren’t as shy as you act. You and Ethan can talk the ears off an elephant.” I said with a smile as I tickled his stomach.
He tried to not smile, as he wiggled away from me. “I don’t know. Can we go home now?” He looked to Liam who stood behind me.
“Fine,” I said, as I held out my hand to him, but he ran between Liam and me, and grabbed both of our hands.
“Daddy, can we get burgers from Sal’s?” he pleaded.
“Grandma is having a picnic this afternoon, you don’t want to be too full, do you?” Liam asked.
Wyatt gave him a look. “Daddy, I’m seven now, my stomach is bigger. I can eat just like Uncle Neal.”
God, I hope not! I thought as we stepped outside.
Our car, along with two others, one in the front, and the other in the back, pulled up. Kain stepped out and opened the door for us, and Wyatt hopped in, took off his backpack and threw it aside.
“Take us to Sal’s please,” he demanded before buckling himself in.
