Olivia studied the group at the table and then returned her gaze to Amber.“Thank you.I don’t know how to thank you all.”
Amber squeezed her hand.“Let us be part of your life.Let us be part of Ella’s life.We’d like to watch her grow to be a strong woman just like you and Mary.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks even as they did the same on Amber’s face.
“Thank you.”Her voice was barely audible, but she knew they all heard it.
Knox clapped his hands.“Okay.It seems we have a few layers of security in place and that should be enough for now.We’ll each do some thinking and digging over the next few days.For now, why don’t I grab Charlie and let’s talk Christmas decorations.”
For the next hour they did exactly that.And when she finally closed the door behind her and she was safely ensconced in the room with Ella, she knelt beside her girl and brushed her hand over her hair.“We’re home, Ella Mae.We’ve found ourselves a home.”
Nash struggled to sleep.So many emotions swirled in his head, it was difficult to focus on any of them.Finally, he shoved out of bed and tugged jeans over his boxer-briefs.He listened at Charlie’s door and then Olivia’s but heard no signs of movement.Hopefully, they were sleeping peacefully.
He crept down the stairs, avoiding the squeaky bits and headed to the kitchen.Someone had lined the hallways on both levels with soft solar powered night lights.He wondered who the other restless sleepers were.
In the kitchen, he found Knox filling a mug with steaming water.When his friend spotted Nash, he grabbed another mug and another tea infuser.
Without a word, the two of them sat at the kitchen table and waited for the tea to cool.
Finally Knox spoke.“Can you tell me Adam’s last name?I’ve got contacts with the bodyguard firm I worked with back in Boston.I assume you also did a couple of internet searches, but they should be able to dig deeper.”
Nash tapped his fingers on the mug.“Parsons.Adam Parsons.”
Knox nodded.“I’ll check into it tomorrow.You’ve got yourself a strong woman there, Alice.”
His callsign made him smile.He hadn’t been surrounded by many military friends down in Florida, so he hadn’t heard it in years.It didn’t feel bad though.Instead, it reminded him he was part of something.A different kind of family.
He blew on the tea to cool it a bit while he gathered his words.“I hope so.I’m worried she’s going to want to high-tail it with Ella.”
“Would you go with her?”
He nodded before his brain had even considered all the angles.“Yeah.Charlie would want to go with them as well.”
Knox grinned.“Your kid’s one of the real good ones.Got a compassionate streak a mile wide and a protective one that’s even wider.”
He couldn’t stop the grin.“He amazes me every day.”
Knox nodded.“You’ve done a great job raising him.”
“Thanks.”
“We want you to stay here with us—all four of you.Neither of you have your name on the paperwork for the place, so that adds another layer of protection.”
Nash nodded.“It’s a bonus.Is this what has you up in the middle of the night.”
Knox shrugged.“I’m also working on a way to get Lawson here in the spring.Burke’s going to take longer.But having extra people means more safety.Not only in numbers but in awareness.I wish I’d been able to talk them into coming for Christmas.”
Nash knew how much his friend wanted to ensure his family remained close.Their grandfather and his brother had lost contact with each other.Knox and his siblings hadn’t known Jay Malssum existed before they got letters saying they’d inherited his farm.
“Can I help you out with Bobby or Boss Man?”
Knox grinned.“I’ll have to think about how we can use you to help lure them in.I don’t think baby Ella is much of a lure.And unless you’re willing to back off with Olivia, she’s off limits.”
Nash flipped him off, making Knox laugh.“That’s what I thought.Maybe we should get Charlie working on plans to bring in more people.We still need someone to cook with all these apples.I wonder if your boy has any inkling to be a chef.”
Nash laughed.“Not so far, but his interests change all the time.Currently, I think he wants to be an author and a baseball player.”
“Good choices.So, your girl is a famous author?”
