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“Yes. It’s funny though. The director of the organization I’m involved in was friends with my father. I never knew it. Of course my father never talked about the time he’d served in the Army. I just discovered that the real healing began when my father insisted on having me return home for a few months, spending more time with me than he’d done my entire life. He was the reason the nightmares started to ease.”
I looked at him, no longer just seeing a man who’d sparked my passion or the one I’d fallen desperately in love with, but also a decent human being I was happy to call my best friend. I only hoped that circumstances in life and the bitch called karma didn’t steal it away.
We sat in silence as he headed into Virginia to my parents’ house. I’d been curt on the phone with them, demanding that they both be there. I wanted the truth exposed so that neither one of them could run away from it. Then I’d move on, likely never seeing them again. At least that was my current plan.
As soon as he pulled into the driveway, I took a deep breath, unfastening my seatbelt. “You’re accepting another mission. Aren’t you?”
Snorting, he cut the engine then leaned over the steering wheel. “That’s what the director wants but he has offered a position where I can stay stateside. I’ll likely accept.”
Which meant he’d stay in Washington. The terrified girl inside of me, the one who wanted that knight in shining armor after all was hoping he’d tell me he’d follow me anywhere. Then I reminded myself there was no such thing as the perfect fantasy. Reality was too harsh, far too controlling.
“Let’s get this over with before I change my mind.”
“You’re stronger than you think, Willow. You can do anything you want.”
How many times had he told me that? Maybe I could start to believe it.
“However,” he continued. “I need to tell you something that you might not want to hear but it’s important you listen to me.”
I tipped my head, studying his pensive face. “Okay.”
“Your mother was working with the DEA and CIA to bring an indictment against Castillo. She had been for over a year. What you thought you knew was wrong. She never had any intentions of working with him or combining companies. Unfortunately, he found out about your identity and used it against her as leverage. I don’t know the details because it’s not my place. Your mother will need to fill in the details.”
A light fog formed around my thoughts for a few seconds as I absorbed what he was telling me. “Your director knew this all along?”
“Not immediately, but at some point, yes.”
“And he didn’t tell you,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. I wanted to believe what he was telling me, but it seemed so impossible she’d do something outside her personal needs.
“No; he supposedly didn’t have the authority.”
“That doesn’t change my opinion of her.” I climbed out, slamming the door behind me. I’d hated my mother for so long, did it really matter that she’d tried to do something good?
After walking around the front of the truck, he took my hand, pulling my knuckles to his lips before we headed for the door. I gave him a single nod, allowing him to press the doorbell.
Instead of a staff member answering in their required uniform, the man I’d called my father opened the door, immediately glancing at Santiago.
“You must be the man who saved my daughter’s life,” my father said, immediately sticking out his hand.
“Yes, sir.”
There was more genuine emotion in my father’s eyes than I’d seen in a long time. With the exception of on the video call.
“James Cavanaugh,” he said.
“Major Santiago Rodriguez.”
“It’s an honor to have you in my home.” My father finally shifted toward me, uncertainty crossing his face. “You’re safe.”
A part of me wanted to call him by his first name but I realized he would always be my father, the man who changed my diapers and read to me so I could get to sleep. He’d been the one to attend school functions more often, encouraging me in school. He’d even been happy when I’d made the decision to become a veterinarian. Something broke inside of me and I wrapped my arms around him.
“Thank God you’re alright. Thank God,” he whispered as he pulled me tightly against him. “My baby girl.”
No matter the outcome, to him I’d always be his baby girl, although he hadn’t used the words since I was a teenager. As I noticed movement, I almost recoiled seeing my mother walk into the foyer. She seemed much frailer than during the video call, her usual composure not what I was used to. Instead of a fashionable dress or suit that cost more than I made in a month, she was wearing jeans and a simple blouse, very little makeup, and I could tell she’d been crying.
After pulling away from my father’s arms, I felt Santiago press his hand against the small of my back for another boost of encouragement. I took yet another deep breath and walked around my dad, moving to within a few feet of her.
My mother swallowed hard, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I know you’ll never be able to forgive me, but I never wanted you hurt under any circumstances. I hope you know that.”
