“Yeah, this dude keeps calling asking for her. I told him she’s been busy.”
Cade’s busy teasing Theo this morning. An expression for the memory books, Theo’s mouth drops open in shock, his eyes eager for more of an explanation. If I didn’t feel sorry for him, I would take part in Cade’s ribbing. But I can’t. Poor thing looks panicked.
Farther into the kitchen, Cade continues his torture, goading Theo with thoughts of competition. Both men are relaxed, lounging at the small breakfast table, Cade with his back to me, his feet kicked up on the glass tabletop. He knows better than that.
“You don’t know his name?” Theo’s apprehension is evident as he adjusts his posture, sitting taller in his chair, squaring his broad shoulders. Now, barely on the edge of his seat, he scoots closer to Cade, desperate to know more.
“Nope,” Cade pops the “p” in nope, reveling in making Theo squirm, “just that he keeps calling.”
Okay, that’s enough. He’s had his fun. I waltz in, knock into Cade’s chair, startling his feet off the table. He turns slightly, looking every bit of sheepish as he should. “Morning, Commander,” he drawls lazily, flashing me a boyish grin.
“Major. I see you’re in good spirits this morning.” I jerk my head in Theo’s general direction so he knows I heard his bullshit story.
The brilliance of his smile ratchets up, his cheeks plumping along his strong, angular jaw. Body tense, he stands, holding in a laugh. “Now that you’re here, I have some business I need to attend to.” Those emeralds glisten mischievously as he gives me a sly wink, leaning in and placing a chaste kiss to my cheek.
A growl interrupts him.
Chuckling, Cade heads toward the back door that leads out to the barn. “Von Bremen,” he calls, tipping his chin in a playful gesture.
As soon as the door clicks shuts, Theo pops off. “He is such a dick-bag. What kind of business does he have to attend to anyway? Wiping asses? Admit it, he sits around here all day watching bullshit HGTV, all cozy in his beige robe, eating Oat Bran out of Grandma McCallister’s fine china.”
I try really hard not to laugh and encourage Theo’s behavior, but I can’t seem to help it when he keeps on, obviously on a roll this morning. “I mean, he has to get that stick out of his ass somehow, right?”
Giggling, I smack his arm, pulling up a chair to face him.
“Don’t start this morning,” I scold, tugging his clenched hands from his lap, the only indication that his joke was a mask to cover his anxious mood. With slow, methodic massages to his palms, I ask soothingly, “What are you doing today?”
He’s only home for the next two days, then it’s back to D.C.—or the pits of hell, as he likes to call it.
He shrugs, almost childlike. “I have something this afternoon but nothing after that. You think we could go out for dinner later?”
He’s uneasy, his usual cockiness vanishing with each twitch of his fingers. He chews absently on his bottom lip, his mind somewhere else. What’s going on with him this morning?
“Sure. Anywhere in particular?”
“Uh, I have a place in mind. I need to see if we can get a table though. I’ll let you know.”
This is new. Theo and I have frequented most all the restaurants Madison has to offer at one time or another. I’m not an expensive date. We usually gorge on tacos and takeout at our two favorite hole-in-the-wall places, ten miles down the road. So, the need to call for a table sparks my interest immensely.
“Sounds exciting. Just let me know. Cade and I have a meeting with the Veteran’s Association this afternoon about establishing a foundation.”
“What? You’re establishing a foundation?”
Now it’s my turn to be nervous. I haven’t really discussed my vision with Theo. Cade and I agreed it was something we both wanted to do. We’re in this for the long haul.
“Uh, yeah. I didn’t mention it?”
Theo eyes me like I’m hiding something. I’m not. I’m just not sure how he’s going to react to this new admission. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job as a physician. I love the MLB, too. But, Ilovethese vets and want nothing more than to help them integrate back into society. They deserve kindness and compassion and nothing is going to stop me from giving them everything I possibly can. I finally feel like I’ve found my calling.
I finally feel a sense of redemption for my father.
Had someone been there for him like I am for these guys, then maybe, just maybe, I would have had him longer than two short years.
“No, you didn’t mention it. What about your job?”
I shrug, buying time. This is the hard part. I need to be honest. Theo and I love to delude ourselves into thinking that hemusthave me to be able to pitch with expert precision.
“You don’t need me full time, Theo. You never have.”
