Page 30 of Chaos has a Name (An FBI Romance/Thriller #66)

She was standing in front of apples. That’s when she picked a giant one, and then she ran up to the woman that had just spoken to them.

She was adorable with her pigtails and hopeful eyes.

In her hands, she showed the older woman the giant apple.

It was good to see the woman nod, and then add it to her cart for the child.

“Her daughter ran off to escape the reservation,” Elkie admitted. “She left her child behind. Now, she’s being raised by her grandmother. This food helps. The daycare helps because it’s giving the child a head start when it comes to learning.”

Oh, they knew what that was like to be lost and behind.

Only, their mothers didn’t run off.

One let someone abuse her son, and the other died from cancer, but they understood how it felt to be alone and not having the same things other children had.

What saved them?

Each other.

Ethan glanced over at his brother.

I love you, he mouthed.

He saw it, and Callen returned it.

“I’m glad it all worked out. I’m also glad we could help a little bit,” Ethan admitted.

“A little? You’ve saved lives. Again, please have your wife come in. I would love to see her again. I want her to know we appreciate it. That night she came to help that young girl, she couldn’t stay long. I would love to spend some time with her.”

Callen and Ethan knew why she did it. She had Native children, and she wanted all children to have food. She also was making amends, in her way, for what her ancestors did to their people.

Elizabeth always used the scale of justice to balance everything in life, even when it had nothing to do with the law.

Just decency.

Many times, they told her it wasn’t her burden to carry, but Elizabeth…she had a big heart.

When the little girl headed their way, Ethan, and Callen both crouched down.

This time, Gryphen didn’t look twitchy.

“A’ho,” Callen said.

The little girl handed each one of them an apple, and she smiled at them with her big, toothy grin.

Callen immediately took money out of his pocket, and handed it to the little girl.

“Give this to your grandmother. Tell her you found it,” he whispered. “It’s a gift to get you some pretty dolls or a tea set. From us to you.”

That made her smile even more.

The little girl skipped away, and Callen knew it was time for them to skedaddle. He didn’t want to make the grandmother feel awkward.

“Can you get her some things?” Callen asked, handing Elkie some money. “Maybe luxury things like toys she might want?”

The woman took the cash.

“I can. I’ll run out later, and I’ll drop it at their home. She could use some air conditioning for their cabin, and Lily likes dolls.”

Then, that would work perfectly.

“Thank you, Elkie. We will tell Elizabeth to come in. She’s around working out of the FBI office. I’m sure she would love to spend some time here. Maybe we can have our daughters help out. They love being around people.”

At that, the woman patted both of their cheeks in affection.

“I look forward to talking to her. I know when Timothy was alive, he loved you both more than anything. He was proud of both of you, and her.”

Oh, they both were well aware of who was Timothy’s favorite. The warbonnet had been gifted to Elizabeth in his will.

That said it all.

Deep in his heart, Ethan had one dream, and it was to have his children be able to grow up with this too. What he hated long ago, he now saw as special.

Maybe Wyler coming here was meant to be.

As they headed back toward the main area, there was another space. It was the medical center. Inside, there were doctors and nurses. They were paid by the Blackhawks to be there full time.

They’d always wondered if Timothy had a place to go on the reservation if he would have lived longer.

The place was busy, and that was a good thing.

Callen waved at the Native doctor and nurse he’d been able to hire to work there. Bringing them here had been a blessing for the reservation when it needed it most.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Ethan said.

Callen looked over.

“What?”

Ethan laughed.

“The old man still wouldn’t have gone to the doctor. He was stubborn as the day was long.”

That amused Callen.

Yeah, he’d been thinking about it.

“If anything, EJ, I’ve learned not to live in the past. I like living in the future. It’s so much brighter here.”

That.

It.

Was.

Moving toward the back of the community center, that’s where the daycare was. Peeking in, there were twenty or so little kids playing, napping, and having snacks.

Seeing this…

It made Ethan feel so much joy.

For the first time being back here, there wasn’t pain or anger.

There was a sense of peace.

“They’re so happy,” he admitted, watching a few younger kids play with a ball. When it rolled their way, Ethan picked it up, and tossed it back to the little kid who was chasing it.

He waved him into the space, and the childcare workers waved in welcome.

They were all members of the reservation. Now, they were gainfully employed and making enough money to support their families.

That mattered too.

Seeing that they could come in, the kids tossed them the ball, and Callen and Ethan helped them play. They were trying to get it into the hoop.

When a little boy caught it, Callen picked him up and held him up over his head so he could get it into the hoop and score.

They all cheered.

Together, they played a little longer. When the caretakers called for snacks, the boys took off. That was on par with boys.

Heading out, Ethan was quiet.

“What are you thinking?” Callen asked him.

“Is there more space here? Maybe over by the computer lab?” he asked.

Callen nodded.

“Yeah, there’s another space. What are you thinking?” he asked.

Ethan shared what was in his heart.

“You know how Chris gifted Gene and me that company?”

He nodded.

“I want to give back.”

Oh, he wasn’t surprised that was what the two men would do with the company. Elizabeth did the same thing with the gift Chris had given her.

“What do you want to do?” he asked, as they headed over to that space.

When Ethan saw it, he knew what he wanted it to be. There was no doubt in his heart and mind that there was something missing.

Not only here on the rez, but also in his life.

So, he shared with Callen.

“I want to endow the Catherine Blackhawk Library,” he said, more tears in his eyes.

“She taught me to read, and loved reading books to me. She made sure I wasn’t left behind in learning.

I want to give her a memorial that she deserves.

I want my mom to be remembered here as my educator.

I need her memory to live on for our kids. Without her, I wouldn’t be this man.”

Callen thought that was perfect.

“She’d love that, EJ.”

It was rare that his brother spoke of his mother, and with good reason. So when he spoke of her, Callen listened.

There was pain there, but there was also healing.

It was a raw wound that had never fully healed. It had been what began his spiral into trauma. Losing Catherine had been that first crack in a pristine soul that only fissured bigger over time.

“Her family told her if she married Wyler, she was cut off, and still, she chose this poverty and love over money. I want to be giving like her and her soul. I want people to know that Catherine Kennedy Blackhawk was a good person. I want this to be her legacy. Not me. Not my father. Her kindness.”

Callen dropped his arm over his brother’s shoulders and kissed him on the temple.

“That is a beautiful legacy, EJ. Let’s make it happen. I love reading. Your mother gave me books from the library when I was a child. I would take them home, and hide them so Charlene couldn’t destroy them. She gave me the love of books, and I want to help give that back, if you’ll let me.”

He looked over at his brother.

“You were her child too. I remember the moments she’d hug you and sneak you food. I didn’t understand then, but I understand now. She was your Mom too.”

Yes, yes, she was.

She gave Callen the same loves in life that she shared with Ethan. Catherine would give him Christmas presents that she made.

A coloring book that had things in it that he needed to learn that she hand drew for him.

To that day, he had one of her books that she lent him, and then let him keep. Callen would save that for Christmas to gift his brother. Her handwriting was in it, and it would be a welcome gift, he was sure.

He’d carried it all through life as a way to be connected with Ethan, and now, it was time to share it with him.

Along with compassion, kindness, and love, Catherine had given him that spark of hope, and never made the bastard child that destroyed her marriage pay the price.

She was a good woman.

Without a doubt.

“Maybe we can make it fun,” Ethan said, picturing it.

“We can get Dad to carve a totem for the middle of the library, and there can be story times there. Our canoes are in storage, but they would make amazing light fixtures for overhead. It would be a place my mother and our father would be proud of in case he crosses.”

Callen would make it happen.

They would make it happen.

Not only for Catherine, but for Ethan, because clearly, he needed it.

“That sounds like something that could be enjoyed by all. I love me some books.”

Ethan rested his head to the side and on Callen’s cheek as they stood there, imagining the space.

It felt good to give back, and to place themselves into the reservation again.

“I’ll talk to Gene later, and we’ll get started. Can you help me, CJ?” he asked.

His brother could and would do that.

It was clear that Ethan was making his way home via this route.

Giving.

“Sign me up.”

As they stood there, they knew they needed to get moving. They had to clear Elizabeth’s arrival on the rez, and that was going to take some tap dancing—or arguing on their part.

While they had helped the reservation, the FBI, and the Natives…

Not friends.

By any means.

Heading out, Gryphen followed as they moved toward the council house.

Once there, they warned him.