Page 17

CHAPTER 17

He meant it.

He'd do what it took and that meant calling in the big guns. Which included going to Gabriel's boss. Police Chief Simon Hill.

And that was why they had the Chief sitting in Beatrice Hardy's backyard having some sweet tea and cookies.

"Well, this looks like a party." Gabriel walked in through the back gate with Roland on his leash. And as soon as Roland saw Chip playing in the grass, the Police K-9 looked up at his handler and almost comically looked back and forth from Chip to Gabriel and back again.

"Chief?"

Simon looked up as he wiped cookie crumbs from his mouth and waved his free hand. "We're somewhat off the clock here, Armstrong. Let him play."

Gabriel reached down and unhooked the leash from Roland's harness and pointed at the yard. " Frei ."

Immediately, Roland's tongue lolled out of his mouth, and he pranced over to Chip and dropped down to roll in the grass with the little boy.

Brody, from his place on the steps, laughed out loud.

Gabriel shook his head. "If he wasn't working for us, I think he'd prefer staying here with Chip."

Brody leaned in toward Rhea who bumped her shoulder against his. "Probably."

He leaned in closer, hiding the kiss he placed on her neck. "Maybe we should get him a dog after this has been resolved."

He got a look from Rhea that told him to pump the brakes on that and he shrugged.

"Just a thought. And I did say after this is all resolved."

Rhea leaned in and kissed him on his cheek.

It was quick.

Almost a millisecond, but it felt damn good.

Chip giggled from the grass and looked up at the big dog who was about to take another playful tumble in the grass.

"Uncle Angel!"

Brody sat back, blinking at his brother.

Gabriel shrugged at Brody and turned to Chip. "Yeah?"

"I was looking at the library when we went for school."

"That's cool."

Chip gave Gabriel two thumbs up. "Super cool." Then, giggling, he looked at Roland. " Kuss !"

Roland's big head lifted up and his ears flicked up hearing the word in German. A moment later he leaned in and gave Chip's cheek an enthusiastic lick.

Chip got up on his knees and laughed. "Now, I kuss !" He wrapped his arms around the Shepherd and kissed him on the side of his face.

The Chief of Police from his seat in a chair and shook his head. "I think Chip's going to need a dog before he starts commanding out K-9 out in the field."

Brody heard Rhea sigh beside him.

"Chip, sweetie?"

"Yes, mom?"

Rhea sagged against Brody's shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders to give her his support. "Sweetie, that's Gabriel's dog and you know he's a working dog."

Chip nodded, his whole demeanor serious and staid. "I know. Uncle Angel's dog is a police officer like him."

"Yes." Rhea nodded. "And the commands that he gives Roland are commands that he needs to do his job."

"Of course!" Chip leaned against Roland and grinned at her. "That's why I looked for a book about German in the library."

Rhea looked at Chip and Brody heard her groan.

"It's like when you had that guy who worked at the hospital where you took your patients?"

Brody leaned in, curious about this story.

"He was deaf, and you learned how to sign to say hello and ask him things."

Rhea covered her mouth with a hand. "Brian."

Chip grinned at her. "You learned how to talk to him and now we know Roland and he speaks German."

Simon and Bea laughed from their seats. Bea sighed with affection for Chip shining in her eyes. "It's sound logic, Rhea. I don't think you can be all that upset with the boy."

Rhea leaned forward and looked across Brody, her hand on his knee. "Sorry, Chief."

Simon lifted his hands in surrender. "As long as Chip understands that when Roland is working with his Uncle Angel that he can't call out to Roland and distract him."

Brody looked at Chip who was nearly bursting with excitement.

Chip crossed his heart. "I promise, Chief! Not when he's working." Then he looked at Roland and put out his hand. Roland put his paw on Chip's hand. "That's right!"

Gabriel came to the porch and sat down beside Brody. "Get that boy a dog, Brody."

Chip picked up a ball and held it out in front of Roland. The K-9 stared at the ball as if it was the Holy Grail. "Ready, boy? Ready?" He tossed the ball across the yard and Roland looked after it, tracking it with his eyes. " Bringen! "

Roland ran after it as fast as a bullet.

Gabriel laughing at the whole scene. "Oh, boy."

Rhea sighed, smiling. "We'll look into it."

Brody squeezed her shoulder at the 'we.' "I'm sure my dad can help us."

They all looked as Simon got out of his chair and came to sit down on the edge of the porch to talk. He addressed Rhea first. "Custody fights can be the worst. And while we're a small town and I'd stake my life on it that we have a lot of good people here, there is always a concern when it comes to children."

Rhea nodded beside him and Brody tightened his hold around her.

"So when Gabriel came to me and explained about the custody fight, I asked him to look into your husband's family to get some background information. Especially photos. So we can keep an eye out for them if they come here to Fallport. I know you've made sure that you have all of your paperwork in at the school detailing who is allowed to pick him up."

Rhea nodded. "Absolutely. The school already covers that in their forms when I registered him."

Simon nodded. "I can call and have them add a note in Chip's file to make sure that they're on the lookout for anyone out of the ordinary."

Rhea sighed. "Thanks, Chief."

He got up and smiled at her. "We'll do whatever we can to make sure he's safe."

Rhea got up and as soon as she was out of the circle of his arms, Brody was up on his feet, moving with her.

She wrapped her arms around the Chief and Brody had to hide a smile at his wry smile and awkward hug. "This means a lot."

When she stepped back, he nodded. "And Gabriel? I mean Uncle Angel ?"

Gabriel lifted a brow at that. "Yes?"

"See if you can find any reasons behind this custody case."

Brody was thankful, but Rhea explained what she'd told him before. "If they're wanting money, I don't have much. Whatever was left in Charles' account is all but gone with the move here. Before his death, Charles gave his family a lot of money to help them. I was the one who stopped. I had to take care of us. Oh, are you thinking they want me to pay them support to take care of Chip?"

Simon shrugged. "People will do crazy things when they want something. Let's just be careful until we know what's going on. Okay?"

Rhea nodded in agreement and Brody pulled her into his arms. He meant what he told her. He'd be there for her and Chip. How could he do anything else when he already thought of them as his.

* * *

On Saturday, Rhea and Brody swung by the park to watch soccer practice.

Some of the Search and Rescue team were holding a skills day to encourage kids to join sports teams. Zeke Calhoun, who owned the bar 'On the Rocks' was out there with his son, Tony, and a bunch of kids from the school. They were running passing drills and because there was a lull in calls, Rhea and Brody got out to watch from the curb.

"This is wonderful."

Rhea looked at Brody. "We'd always planned to put Chip in sports but after..."

She stopped talking and continued to watch the kids.

She felt Brody turn to look at her and then he leaned close.

"What's wrong, honey?"

She felt horrible. "Sorry. I don't think you want to hear about Charles all the time."

Brody turned to face her, but he didn't block her view of the kids in the park. "Hey. You can talk about him as much as you want to, Rhea. He was your husband. And he's Chip's father. You don't have to worry about... hiding him from me. I don't mind hearing it."

She looked at him before looking back at Chip. "I don't want you to think that I'm throwing him in your face."

He shook his head, smiling at her. "I don't think that, Rhea."

She nodded and he turned back to the park.

At that moment, Chip caught sight of them and jumped up and down and waved his hands above his head. "Mom! Brody!"

A little girl stopped beside him, and he pointed across the park at her and she could see him talk to the little girl for a moment and then they turned and waved at her together.

"That's so sweet! He's making friends."

"I had no doubts," Brody whistled and then dropped his hand into his pocket for his phone. "Looks like we have a call."

* * *

Later, when they were back at the firehouse, Brody couldn't seem to get enough of Rhea. Wherever she went, whatever she did, he followed. Cooking dinner for the crew turned out to be a family affair as his sister, Rachel drove up with Bea and Chip in tow.

Brody felt his whole life falling into place like a game of Scrabble when all of the letters he pulled out of the bag ended up making a seven-letter word that gave him all the extra points.

He knew that he'd have to talk to his parents sooner rather than later, because as soon as Rhea was ready to make this public, he was going to put a ring squarely on her finger.