Page 33 of Tarek

DARREN

Iwas still chuckling as I opened the first suitcase after accepting the overnight courier's delivery. The unboxing revealed that Xero had apparently decided the word modest meant something rather different to him than it did to most people.

The luggage was beautiful. There was no other word for it. A complete vintage Samsonite set in cheerful yellow, all in what looked like mint condition, with the original locks and even the little keys tucked into their holders. There was a large suitcase, a smaller one, and a cosmetic case that would be useful for toiletries. Three matching train cases had been included for the children, each with a luggage tag bearing its owner's name so there could be no arguments over whose was whose.

And then there were the Hot Wheels carriers. Two sturdy cases with handles, designed to hold the boys' toy cars, had arrived alongside everything else. They could carry them themselves, which I suspected would make them feel very grown-up indeed.

I turned one of the little brass-colored keys between my fingers, laughing softly. "Well, I'll give him this. He certainly knows how to make an impression. Though it’s a good thing I don’t need to try to get these through TSA.”

Evan was already running his hands over the yellow shell of his train case, examining the clasps with an expression of deep concentration. Matt had opened his Hot Wheels case and was trying to decide which of his cars deserved to be packed first. Skye sat nearby, her tail thumping against the floor whenever one of the boys addressed her as if she were an important member of the packing committee.

"These are ours?" Evan asked, looking up at me to make absolutely certain.

"That's what the tags say. One for you, one for Matt, and one for Laura so we can pack her clothes in it for her."

"Mine has my name on it!" Matt announced, holding up his tag. "And I get a car case, too!"

"You both do," I reminded him, pointing to the two Hot Wheels carriers. "Those are for your cars, so you can take them with you without filling your clothes cases with them."

Matt's eyes widened. "We can carry them ourselves?"

"That's the idea."

He looked as though I'd just informed him he was old enough to drive.

I shook my head, smiling as I started folding clothes. Whatever else I might say about Xero, he had certainly understood the assignment when it came to making the boys feel that this move was an adventure rather than something being done to them. The luggage was ridiculous, admittedly, but it was also thoughtful. The boys had something of their own to look after, and they were delighted.

My phone rang while I was sorting a stack of T-shirts. I glanced at it and saw my mother's name. I smiled automatically and accepted the call, expecting another question about when we'd be able to speak next.

"Darren Brooks," I answered lightly. "How are my favorite parents?"

"Oh, don't you dare get clever with me, young man!"

I winced. That wasn't the greeting I'd expected. "Mom?"

"Why have we just had a call from the Panama City Mylos and Dragonii Testing Center asking when their officers can come and collect your things from our garage?" Her voice wavered between anger and distress. "They said you're leaving. They said they're arranging to take your belongings. Why didn't you tell us?"

I closed my eyes for a moment. Of course. I'd known the collection was being arranged, and I'd meant to tell my parents everything properly once we were back at the motel. But between getting the children settled, sorting the luggage, and making sure we had everything ready for the morning, I'd let the evening get away from me. The testing center had called them before I'd remembered to call them myself.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I should have called you last night. We got back late, and I was getting the children settled. It completely slipped my mind."

"Slipped your mind?" Her voice broke, and the anger vanished so quickly that I felt worse than before. "Oh, Darren."

I could hear her trying not to cry, and my own chest tightened. I'd never wanted her to feel that I'd simply disappeared from her life. We'd always been close, and the thought of her sitting there imagining me and the children being whisked away without a proper goodbye, made me feel dreadful.

"It's not like that, Mom. I promise. Let me explain."

"It's not enough that he tore apart our family the way he already did," she said, her words tumbling out through a sob. "Philip was like a son to us, not just a son-in-law. We loved him. We trusted him. And now he's driven you not only across the state, but halfway across the universe!"

I sat down on the edge of the bed, the yellow suitcase open beside me, and rubbed a hand over my face. "Philip didn't drive me anywhere, Mom. I'm choosing this. I applied because I want to go."

"But why so far away?"

"Because it's safe, even with me being an officer, and I can give the children a fresh start. The Dragonii need people, and the work is something I've wanted to do for years, even if I'd forgotten about it for a while." I paused, trying to find the right words. "Remember when I was little, and I was always pretending to be a police officer? I'd put on that dress up costume and march around the house giving everyone orders. You used to tell Dad I was going to arrest him for not eating his vegetables."

Despite herself, she gave a small, watery laugh. "You were very serious about it, too."

"I was. Then I graduated high school, met Philip, and my plans changed. We built a life together, and I was happy with it for a long time. But this opportunity is a chance to do something I've always wanted to do with little physical risk to myself, while giving Evan, Matt, and Laura a safe place to grow up. It's not running away from you. It's moving toward something good."