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"There will be no commando tactics in my office today," she said with a decisive nod. "You can drive me to theoffice—"
"That's a given, mama." I had to swallow a laugh. Shannon couldn't drive out of the garage with her belly. She hadn't been able to reach the steering wheel inweeks.
"I'll get one of the boys to bring me home," she continued, edging up to lean back against the pillows. "Judy promised Abby we'd decorate cookies tonight, so I'll be back forthat."
"The Christmas chaos is going to break loose tonight," I warned. I handed her the toast. "The grandparents have a fuck-ton of gifts for Abby, and that's on top of the specialpajamas."
"I know all about the pajamas," Shannon said. "Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve Eve. She had them custom-made because Abby is a hot potato and can't wear fleece or flannel tobed."
"That's my girl," I murmured. "She's got gifts for everyone. Judy, that is. Your siblings, their wives, Sam's kid. Even Alex. I'm telling you, she went a littleoverboard."
"I know all about the overboard," she replied. "We've talked about it several times. She wanted to make sure it wouldn't feel like she was trying to replace mymother."
"Does it?" When Shannon hesitated, I continued, "You can tell her, and she won't take it badly,Peanut."
"No, it doesn't feel like Judy is replacing anyone," she answered. "It's just different. It's not as if she's trying to re-create childhood memories or anything. She just doesn't like that we trade bottles of liquor in a Yankee Swap as opposed to thoughtfully selecting presents for each other. I'm pretty sure she thinks we'reheathens."
"Judy likes it well enough," I said easily. "It's the Navy in her. She won't leave a sailor behind or let him be forgotten onChristmas."
Shannon considered this as she ate the toast. "Lauren once told me there were always guys from the Commodore's unit coming for Sunday dinner or visiting for the holidays. I made a pervy comment about it at thetime—"
"Of course you did," Imuttered.
Her eyebrow arched before she continued. "But I understand that it's Judy's way. That, and"—she giggled into her toast—"shaking the house down to the damnfoundation."
"I had a talk with the Commodore this morning," I said, glancing away. "I imagine the vasectomy would be only a bit more uncomfortable than a conversation with my father about him nailing mymother."
"They've been loud before, but," Shannon started, shaking her head at the plate, "but that wasintense."
"I don't need the reminder." A whole body shiver shook the thought away. "Eat. Please. Anything but thatdiscussion."
"Do you think Wes is going to make it?" she asked, her teeth sawing over herlip.
"I don't know, Shannon. Chances are good he's stowed away on a cargo plane out of Moscow and he'll show up on our doorstep Christmasmorning."
That was the truth. I had no idea where he was or why he'd missed three check-ins with his CIA handler in the past two weeks, but none of that was atypical for my brother. He took his work right to the edge, and he didn't look back. But I didn't like the circumstances of his recent silence, or the chatter Jordan and I picked up during a Ukrainian mission lastweek.
"I'm worried about him," Shannonsaid.
"Do not worry about Wes," I said. We couldn't add anything more to Shannon's stress list. "He knows what he'sdoing."
"I know, but I saw on thenews—"
"Let me stop you right there," I interrupted. "You're not allowed to watch the news. Remember when you sent me that article about human traffickers hanging out at anIkea?"
"Yes, because that story was insaneand—"
"And I'm not fucking around when I tell you that you're not allowed to read that shit. That is the last thing you need to worry about," Isaid.
"You know what's wonderful?" she asked in the sweet voice that told me I was about to get my ass nailed to thewall.
"What's that,Peanut?"
"That you allow me to read at all," she replied. "You're one of the good ones,Commando."
"Thank you for recognizing that after all these years," I said. "Now, as I was saying, I don't care what you saw on the news because that kind of reporting is four thousand layers away from Wes's operation in Russia. There will not be a time when the reality of covert affairs like his will ever appear on the nightly news or front pageheadlines."
She considered this for a moment, nodding slowly while she nibbled her toast. "So, we'll leave a place for him at the table. There will be plenty of food, and we have theroom."
