Page 19

Two months later...

Sachie stepped out onto the porch of the Parkman ranch house, followed closely by Teller. She grinned at her friend, Kalea. “He did it. Teller managed to change Kai’s diaper all by himself,” she said, turning toward the man she loved with all her heart and holding out her hands. “Want me to take her?”

Teller frowned, his arms tightening gently around the infant. “No way. I earned some snuggle time with the nugget.” He eased into a rocking chair close to the porch swing where Kalea and Hawk had settled.

“Thank you for pulling diaper duty,” Kalea said. “We’re so exhausted from lack of sleep, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”

Hawk laughed. “And I thought forty-eight hours on a mission was bad. I’ll be glad when Kai is sleeping through the night.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Sachie assured the new parents. “Teller and I will take the graveyard shift for a couple of nights so you two can catch up on sleep.”

Kalea tipped her head back against Hawk’s shoulder and sighed. “You have no idea what that means to us. I still have to nurse her, but it’ll be nice to have someone bring her to me, then burp and rock her back to sleep when her tummy’s full.” She frowned across at Sachie. “Are you sure you have time to do this?”

Sachie leaned against the porch rail, her gaze on Teller and the baby. “I don’t usually work with patients on the weekend, so I’m all yours.” Her lips twisted. “I do have one online session this evening with one of my patients back on Oahu.”

“I’ll cover with the baby,” Teller quickly volunteered. “She likes her Uncle Teller. See? She’s smiling.”

“Dude.” Hawk chuckled. “At a month old, it’s probably gas.”

Teller cocked an eyebrow at Kai, lying across his knees. “Are you going to let your daddy talk about you like that?”

The baby cooed.

“Exactly.” Teller glanced across at his boss, Hawk. “She says little ladies don’t have gas. ”

Kalea glanced across at Sachie. “I thought you passed your patients back to Dr. Janek when you left Oahu.”

“I did. But after all that happened, I gained two online patients.” She smiled. “Luke had talked to Mark about his sessions with me. Despite the fact his twin had committed suicide in front of me, Mark wanted me to help him through the aftermath of losing the twin he never knew he had until it was too late. Plus, he wanted guidance on moving forward after finally being free of the pressure Roland put on him to deal drugs.”

Kalea shook her head. “How could someone who was sworn to protect, honor and serve on the police force hold so many people in fear?”

“Roland was in the perfect position, unfortunately,” Sachie said. “A trusted community servant and a volunteer at the Boys’ Club. As an outsider looking in, I never suspected him—and neither did anyone else.”

“Well, he’ll be behind bars along with Travis Finkel,” Hawk said. “Who’s the other patient you’re seeing as a result of all that happened, if you don’t mind sharing?”

“One of the guys we followed, thinking he might be a suspect—Scott Williams. I met with him and his parole officer. I felt it was my responsibility to report that I’d seen him in the park across from his son’s school, since he wasn’t supposed to be there. When Scott found out I was a mental health counselor, he asked me to help him work to be a better father.”

Kalea frowned heavily. “Do you think he’ll ever hurt his son like he did before?”

Sachie shook her head. “No. He feels awful about what he did and wants to earn back the love his son had willingly given him. He goes before the court next week to ask for custody.” Sachie smiled. “I’m going to give testimony about how far he’s come with anger management and learning proper parenting skills.” She shot a glance at Teller. “He was hurting when his wife left him and his small son. He knows he should never take his anger out on a child, and he feels huge remorse for having hurt the little guy.”

Hawk frowned. “Unfortunately, not everyone is remorseful for the atrocities they inflict on others.”

“Sociopaths feel no remorse,” Sachie said. “Anyway, if Scott gets custody of his son, I promised him I’d keep him as a patient and make myself available when he needs someone to talk to.”

“I heard Hank had a hand in getting Mark a good lawyer,” Hawk said. “Mark’s depositions against Roland, along with Travis Finkel’s, will keep Roland in jail for a long time.”

“And the lawyer got Mark’s juvenile record expunged,” Sachie said with a grin. “He won’t have any black marks on his background checks.”

“Which is in his favor,” Hawk said. “He’s signed up to join the Navy upon high school graduation. George Ingram and Reid Bennet will work with him to ensure he’s in top physical condition. The boy wants to be a Navy SEAL.”

Teller stared down at the baby lying on his thighs. “We tried to talk him into going Army and Delta Force, didn’t we, Kai?”

“What can I say?” Hawk spread his hands wide. “The kid chose the right branch of the military.”

Teller snorted.

“So,” Kalea cocked and eyebrow toward Sachie and then Teller, “you two have been living together for a couple months, what’s the verdict? Are you able to stand each other enough to make a commitment?”

Sachie’s cheeks burned. She shot a glance toward Teller. “Can we tell them?”

Teller’s lips twisted. “I would have told them a week ago, but someone wanted to do it in person.” He smiled. “Go ahead.”

“You’re engaged!” Kalea leaped out of the porch swing and wrapped her arms around Sachie.

Sachie laughed. “Uh, no, not quite,” she said.

Kalea frowned and leaned back, not releasing her hold on Sachie. “You’re not? Don’t tell me you decided you aren’t compatible.” She shook her head. “Outside of me and Jace, you two are the most amazing couple I know.”

Sachie met Teller’s gaze.

His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“We got married a week ago in front of a Justice of the Peace.” She dug in her pocket, slipped the beautiful white-gold and diamond band onto her ring finger and held it up.

“Oh, no, you didn’t!” Kalea’s expressions ran the gamut of surprise, happiness, disappointment and then back to happiness. She hugged Sachie close, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I so wanted to be the matron of honor at your wedding.”

Sachie returned her friend’s hug and brushed a tear from her cheek. “We decided we didn’t need a fancy wedding, or a long engagement when we already knew we loved each other from the start.”

Teller glanced up from the baby. “When you know, you know. Sachie is my person.”

“Like Hawk’s mine,” Kalea said.

“Only, I had an uphill battle convincing her,” Hawk added.

Kalea shrugged and gave him a lopsided grin. “I wasn’t fighting against you, sweetie, I was fighting myself. I didn’t want a man dictating my life for me.”

“And have I? ”

Kalea shook her head, a loving smile gracing her lips. “We’re partners, lovers and now...” she tipped her head toward Kai, “parents. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Except a little more sleep?” Hawk said with a grin.

“There is that.” Kalea turned back to Sachie. “But enough about us, tell me everything. Did you at least get a special dress, and did Teller wear a tux?”

Sachie grinned. “I wore a simple white sundress. Teller wore a gray suit and a black and gray tie. He brought me the most beautiful bouquet of maile leaves, lehua blossoms and orchids. We both wore plumeria leis. The JP’s assistant took photos. I’m having an album made up with them. I’ll show you when it comes in.”

“I want to be sad that I didn’t get to be with you, but I’m happy if you’re happy,” Kalea said.

Sachie drew in a deep breath and let it out on a joyous laugh. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. Teller is everything and more than I could have dreamed of.”

“And you’re an amazing, caring woman,” Teller said from where he sat, playing with Kai. “I love you, Sachie, more than I thought was possible.”

“Oh, you two are so incredibly sweet,” Kalea said. Then her eyes widened. “We need to celebrate with champagne.” She started for the front door. “Not that I can have any while I’m nursing, but everyone else can.”

Sachie caught her arm before she got away. “That’s okay. We don’t need champagne,” she said, her cheeks heating.

“Then a beer or whiskey to toast your wedded bliss,” Kalea insisted.

Her cheeks burning, Sachie shook her head. “I can’t have alcohol because I’m pregnant.”

Kalea froze, turned and stared at Sachie, her jaw dropping. “What? Wait. How? When?” She shook her head as if to clear it.

Sachie laughed. “You know the penthouse your father so graciously offered after we solved the case of my stalker?”

Kalea’s eyes widened. “You mean you’re two months along and you’re just now telling me? Is there anything else you’d like to share?” She flung her hands in the air. “Oh, what does it matter? My friend is married and having a baby.” Once again, she engulfed Sachie in a hug.

“Now I understand why Teller insisted on changing Kai’s diaper.” Kalea wiped tears from her eyes.

Teller smiled at Kalea. “I need all the practice I can get. We’ll have our own little nugget in seven months. ”

“And Kai will have a friend to play with,” Kalea sighed, released Sachie and gathered her baby in her arms. “Do you hear that, Kai? You’ll have a friend to play with and ride horses with and learn to dance with.”

Kai nuzzled against her mother’s breast.

“Hungry again?” Kalea laughed and pushed to her feet. “I’d better feed her. But we’re not finished with this conversation,” As she entered the house, she called out over her shoulder, “Since you didn’t let us be a part of your wedding, the least you can do is let us host the reception and baby shower.”

“I’d love that,” Sachie called out as the door closed behind Kalea.

“I need to check in with Hank and some of the guys before I call it a night,” Hawk said. “Congratulations on the marriage and your baby news. I’m happy for you both.”

Sachie’s gaze followed Hawk as he strode away from the house toward the outbuilding the Brotherhood Protectors used as their Hawaiian headquarters.

Teller joined her at the railing and slipped his arm around her, his hand resting on her flat belly.

She covered his hand with hers. “I can’t wait until I can feel our baby move inside me.”

“Me, too,” Teller said and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I can’t believe we’re jumping into our life together with both feet.”

She glanced up at him, her brow furrowing. “Any regrets?”

He touched his lips to her forehead. “Only one.”

Sachie’s heart dipped into her belly. “Really?”

He chuckled. “I regret we didn’t meet sooner. You showed me how good it could be to love someone. And once I started down that path, I can’t stop...loving you.”

She leaned back in his arms. “And you showed me what real love is, through your gentle patience and strength.” Sachie turned in his arms. “I love you, Teller, more than I ever thought possible, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life and beyond.”

“Good, because I want the same.” He kissed her, then leaned back and smiled. “When you know...you know.”

Thank you for reading SACHIE’S HERO.