9
HEY, CUZ
SYDNEY
At six-thirty, Caroline pulled into the garage of their parent’s two-story Alexandria home overlooking the Potomac River, and parked beside her mom’s car. She got out, tapped the garage door opener attached to the wall. Once the door shut, Sydney exited from the back seat, rubbing her neck. On the ride over, she’d spent most of the time peering out the back window.
“My neck is killing me,” she said.
“You were a good lookout.” Caroline smiled. “Are you ready for a million questions, starting with your wig?”
Sydney had selected a short wig with light brown hair and bangs. On her eyes, she’d worn oversized sunglasses. Even with the tinted windows, she was prepared. More than prepared. And she was packing heat in more than one location. She housed her shades in her handbag.
“So ready.” Sydney stepped into the house and breathed in the familiar and comforting aromas.
I’m home.
More than the house itself, she adored the two people in it, and she couldn’t wait to see them. The delicious fragrance of a freshly baked apple pie filled her with joy. Though her mom worked full time, she always managed to bake something whenever they’d have a family dinner.
Her mom came bolting around the corner, the biggest smile on her beautiful face. Kathrine Austin was a force in her own right. Before marrying, Kathrine competed in the Olympics, winning bronze in the women's 50-meter freestyle and silver in the women’s 100-meter freestyle and relays. Sydney got her athleticism from her mom.
Kathrine had worked at the National Security Agency for most of her career. While she didn’t talk about her work, both she and Caroline got the impression their mom’s job was clerical. Her mom would make comments like, “I’m a tiny cog in a giant wheel of big shots.”
But the thing Sydney loved most about her parents was their relationship. For thirty-five years, they were the light to the darkness in the world. They were best friends, choosing to do things with each other over anyone else. Every single time. She’d heard her dad get “angry” with her mom a handful of times, but it was so foreign to all of them that her mom would burst out laughing, her dad too. They’d apologize, kiss, and all would be right in their world.
Her mom was the heart of their family. Her dad, the guts. For as long as Sydney could remember, her parents had been her rocks. They didn’t drink, rarely cussed, but they did have their own secret fun. Years earlier, Sydney had ventured into their huge walk-in closet in search of a dress… only to discover a few racy outfits hanging in the back on her mom’s side.
If there was anything both she and Caroline wished, it was to have a relationship like them.
Instead of hugging them, their mom stopped short, her gigantic smile filling Sydney with love.
“I just want to take this in for a few seconds,” Kathrine Austin said. “The last time we were all together was Christmas.” Then, she barreled into them, enveloping them in a loving Mom embrace.
A myriad of emotions flooded Sydney. If she lost it with her mom, there would be no recovery. She’d turn into a blubbering mess. Clearing her throat, she clung to her mom until her dad entered the room.
“Daddy.” She broke away and hurried over, hugging him with so much force, he started laughing.
Mark Austin held her close. She breathed deep, appreciating the strengthandthe tenderness in his embrace. When she separated, he stared into her eyes, glanced at her wig. “Things got intense, huh?”
Lying to him would be futile. “Yeah, cray-cray.”
“Worse than usual?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Are you safe here?”
“I better be.”
Mark Austin was a retired police detective who taught civilians tactical training. He loved what he did, loved helping his students. A true people-person, he was well respected in law enforcement.
Sydney’s mom clasped her hand. “Can you wait to eat or are you two starving?”
“I’m fine,” Caroline replied.
“Same.” Sydney glanced around the clutter-free kitchen. “Are we going out?”
“Of course not,” her mom said. “When Caroline told us she needed to park in the garage, your dad called some of his security guard buddies. The house is being watched.”
