Page 2 of Dead Rattled
“And strawberries,” Ten added, absentmindedly. He had a picture in his mind of what his future family looked like and it didn’t involve a wife. Yet one more secret Ten needed to put under lock and key.
“You got it.” Kaye headed off toward the food tables.
Ten enjoyed his last few minutes of blessed quiet before his mother returned. As he’d been speaking with Jason, he’d figured out how to turn his gift off and then back on. He’d been amazed when Jason told him that he could do it, and was even more so when he discovered how easy it was. It would be an invaluable tool for Ten going forward. He had no doubt that Jason’s path would be his own if he ever said a word to either of his parents about his gift.
Like Jason said, he only had five years to go until he could leave this town, and it’s backward thinking, behind.
1
Ronan
May, present day…
Ronan O’Mara loved Parents’ Day at Salem Elementary School. Originally, it had been a Mother’s Day celebration, but five years ago the school had changed it to celebrate all parents, so every child could participate.
The kids had come home with a sign-up sheet a few weeks back, asking what their contribution to the party would be. Ten had signed Everly up for a platter of finger sandwiches, which the two of them painstakingly stuffed the night before. Ronan knew Wolf was bringing Cope’s famous hummingbird cupcakes. Ronan referred to them as “kitchen sink” cupcakes, because of the varied number of ingredients. Aurora had signed up for a pasta salad. Fitz had been so excited to make it with her.
Other parents had signed up to decorate the classroom and to help serve the food. Ronan noticed the colorful family drawings posted around the room. He had quickly spotted the one Everly had drawn of their family. It included not just himself, Ten, Ezra, and Everly, but their dog, Dixie, and cat, Luna, as well as ghostly images of Erin O’Mara and Bertha Craig. Ronan had to admit she’d captured their family perfectly. After the celebration was over, he was going to take their portrait home and frame it.
Ronan and Ten sat at a table with Jude, Cope, and Fitz, who watched as their kids served them lunch.
The point of Parents’ Day was to serve the adults lunch as a way to thank them for all their hard work. Ronan grinned as he watched Everly approach their table. She wore black pants, awhite shirt and a bright blue apron. “Hi, Daddy! How can I serve you today?”
“The Mustang could use a tire rotation and an oil change.” Ronan laughed.
Everly rolled her eyes. “How about a chicken salad sandwich, chips, pasta salad and a fruit cup?”
“Add one of Cope’s cupcakes and you have a deal,” Ronan agreed. He couldn’t believe how grown up Everly looked in her server outfit and wondered if waiting tables would be in her future.
“And for you, Dad?” Everly beamed at Tennyson.
“I’ll have the same as Daddy, but with a tuna sandwich, please.”
“Great! I’ll be right back with your order!” Everly hurried back to the food tables. Ronan watched as she gave their orders to Betty, Kenny P’s Mom. The kids in their class called Kenny “Booger Boy” thanks to his uniquely disgusting snacking habits. Ronan hoped to hell the woman had clean hands. Next year, he’d suggest the parents serving the food wear gloves.
With their orders placed, Ronan turned his attention to Tennyson, who was unusually quiet. “You okay?”
Ten sighed. “Maybe. I’m still struggling with what Autumn Miller did to me. To our family.”
Autumn Miller had been responsible for Tennyson being arrested and spending a night in jail several weeks ago. She and her sidekick, former police captain Dutch Vance, had been responsible for throwing a brick through their living room window, shards of which cut Everly and Aurora. They later attacked Ten at Salem Mercy Hospital.
Ronan had been having flashbacks himself. He couldn’t get the images of his crying, bloodied daughter out of his mind and of Vance holding a gun on his husband. Ronan knew if he was still struggling, Ten would be too. “You’ve been so down over the last few weeks, babe. What can I do to help you?”
Ten smiled at Ronan. “You’re not going to believe me if I tell you.”
Ronan leaned in closer. “You want to go away for an adults-only, clothing-optional weekend? We’ll pack flavored lube, get couples massages, order room service, and try out our new biker costumes.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“That’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had,” Ten agreed. “Not having to cook or clean up sounds like heaven, but I was thinking working a case with you would go a long way in feeling better and recovering some of my lost faith in law enforcement.”
“You want to come back to work for the Salem Police?” Ronan asked. During the height of the Autumn Miller situation, Ten had been put on administrative leave by Police Chief, Cisco Jackson, after his arrest. That leave had been rescinded as soon as the truth of the matter had come out, but Ronan knew Ten had some residual resentment for the way he’d been treated by the Danvers Police Department, the Essex County Department of Corrections, and the Essex County Jail. The fact that Ten wanted to go back to work was a miracle.
“I do,” Ten agreed. “I think it’s time.”
“You’re right, Dad,” Everly said, setting Ten’s lunch in front of him. “It is time to go back to work.” She did the same with Ronan’s plate.
“What do you know about that, little miss?” Ten asked. A worried look flashed over his face. The last time Everly told himabout his future, it was to say that something bad was coming. She hadn’t been wrong.
“We’re gonna work a case together really soon.” Everly grinned brightly at her father.
