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“That’s what I thought,” Dorthea said. “I knew it was related to whatever work brought you to town.”
Laura Lee and Dupont gave her the abbreviated, unclassified version of why her life and her family’s lives were threatened. She omitted the rape and blackmail part of the story, instead claiming she was an unknowing witness of a crime at her university nearly a decade earlier. Her mother knew it was a very watered-down version of the truth, but she didn’t press for more information.
“But the bottom line is the threat is gone, we’re all safe, and not only did it give you a stay at a world-renowned Parkinson’s research clinic, but it also gave Donna and the kids a great vacation at the beach. I just wish I could have been there to see the kids having fun,” Laura Lee said.
“I saw the news of the shooting at the university after I was home and something told me it had something to do with why you were home and why we were sent away,” Dorthea said.
Laura Lee took her badge and credentials from her backpack. “This is the last part of what I can tell you now, Mom. I’m no longer in the regular Army. I’m in a special unit that interfaces with the FBI, and I have completed all the coursework needed to earn my credentials as an agent.” She showed her mom her badge and creds.
“Oh, Laura Lee, your dad would be so proud of you. And I’m sure your birth parents would be as proud of you as I am.”
“This has to remain confidential. You can’t tell anyone this is what I do for a living.”
“I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
The remainder of the morning passed with the three of them cooking family favorites and a few new recipes. They talked, they laughed, they reminisced, and Brad and her mother got acquainted. It was comfortable and her mom appeared to have more energy than she’d had in years.
Later in the afternoon, an unfamiliar minivan pulled into the driveway. Donna and the kids were due, but this was not Donna’s minivan. The three of them were sitting in the living room watching a movie by this point as all the dishes were prepared and, in the oven, and the table was set.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Laura Lee exclaimed, jumping up from the couch when she saw Rich Burke get out of the driver’s seat and open the sliding back door to pull Jeriah from her car seat.
“Guess who’s coming to dinner?” Dupont joked.
“Not funny,” Laura Lee snapped.
Dupont caught up with her at the door. He wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Burke carried the little girl to the door, following the two little boys who ran ahead, excited to see their grandmother and their aunt. Donna brought up the rear of the little group, carrying the kids’ coats and a pie. “Happy Thanksgiving!” Donna called when Laura Lee opened the door and was immediately hugged by both her nephews.
“Hi guys,” Laura Lee greeted them, hiding her shock that Rich Burke was there with her sister, and hiding her anger at her sister for probably guilting him into coming. Her eyes went to Rich. “You were at work the day before yesterday and never said anything about coming?”
He smiled and gave her a hug and then shook hands with Dupont. “Sorry for the surprise,” he said. “I promised the kids I’d be here.”
She pulled him closer in the embrace. “You should have told me,” she whispered.
There were more hugs. “It is so nice to see you again, Richard,” her mother said, embracing him, making Laura Lee cringe. She took the coats from Donna. “Isn’t it beautiful out? We’ll have to let the little ones play with that new fort I got them until dinner is ready. It’s in the garage.”
Laura Lee and Dupont got Burke alone in the garage as they went to drag the play fort out and onto the front yard. “Give it up. What are you doing here?” Laura Lee asked.
“There’s nothing to give up. I had fun at the beach with the kids and I didn’t want to disappoint them when they begged me to come for Thanksgiving.”
“The kids?” Laura Lee demanded. “And Donna?” She knew damn well Donna had put the kids up to it.
“Donna and I had a lot of opportunities to talk while I protected them at the beach, and we got to know each other. I admire her. She’s a good mother,” Burke said. “It’s not easy being a single mother, completely responsible for three children.”
“Oh no, no, no, you do not have something going with my sister!” Laura Lee exclaimed. “And watch it, she gets pregnant just by being near a man.” And Rich was an honorable man. If Donna got pregnant with his child, he’d most likely marry her to do the right thing.
Burke laughed. “It’s not like that.”
“Does Donna know that?” Laura Lee asked.
“She knows you don’t approve of her life,” Burke said. “What you don’t realize is that Donna had it harder than you. She was only twelve when your father died. Then your mother got ill, and then you left. She felt like everyone had left her. She did her best to cope, and maybe she trusted the wrong guys and made a few bad decisions. But she did it all out of love and trying to create the family she missed. I get it.”
“Yeah, she sure played on your sympathies,” Laura Lee said.
“It’s between them,” Dupont said, wrapping her in an embrace. “Let’s not get into this today.”
“Laura, are we friends?” Rich asked.
