Page 48 of Tango

“Hi, it’s me.” I pressed my hand on the wall as I spoke.

“Are you—” she stumbled as her words rushed out, “are you okay?”

“I am, just a bump to the head, but I’m good.” She exhaled, and my heart swelled, pleased she cared. “I’m back in Washington.”

“Good. When will you be home—or, rather, Shadows,” she corrected herself.

“Tomorrow. I just have to meet with,” I stopped myself as I realized I didn’t want to give her more to stress about, “some people. Then I’ll be back.”

“Good, that’s good.” Her last word got caught in her throat. “I’m, ah, I have to jump into session.”

“Yeah, of course.” I suddenly felt a wall between us, and it made me uneasy. “I’ll see you tomorrow—” I squeezed my eyes shut. “Ivy?”

“Bye, Ty.” The line went dead.

Okay.

As I grabbed my things and headed toward the elevator, I mulled over why she seemed different. I barely noticed I’d arrived at the private hanger where Frank and Daniel were to meet me. We waited for Mr. and Mrs. Brown to arrive.

“For the record,” Daniel said quietly by my side, “I’m incredibly impressed with what you pulled off over there.”

“It wasn’t just—”

“No,” he shook his head as he turned to face me, “Ty, this was you bringing closure not only to you but to that boy’s parents. Take this as a win, son.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Not only am I impressed, but I’m also honored to have a soldier like you at Shadows. There’s no doubt in my mind that Dark Water will be everything we hoped because of your leadership.”

“Thank you,” I choked out and blinked away the unexpected emotion. My strained relationship with my own father suddenly hit me. I knew with sudden clarity how much I needed to hear that I had done a good job by a father figure. I also knew my father loved me and that I was the one who needed to fix things. I made a mental note as the plane landed.

“Ty?” Mrs. Brown’s voice found me as they came into the hanger. “Did you—” She reached for me as Mr. Brown stayed a few feet back. I understood. They’d been through the wringer.

“I brought him home,” I told them and stepped back as Frank wheeled in the wooden casket with the American flag draped over the top. “At least he’ll be laid to rest here at home.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Brown put a hand over her mouth and reached back for her husband. He stepped up and placed a hand on the flag. “My dear, sweet boy.” Tears leaked down Mrs. Brown’s weathered face as she stood next to the coffin and wept.

“You’re home, son.” Mr. Brown lowered his head.

I cleared my throat a few times, but it was no use. I cried with them. I had to. It was a bittersweet moment for us all. Mr. Brown reached over and tugged me into him. His arms locked around my shoulders as he hugged me. It was unexpected, but I embraced it.

“You did good, kid.” He sniffed. “I can’t imagine what you went through to bring him back, and for that I’m grateful.”

“I’m sorry,” I confessed. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to stop what happened.”

“No,” he pulled back, “I’m the one who’s sorry, Ty. You were his brother. You would have done what you could. If he ever knew what I said to you at the funeral…” He shook his head. “I just had so much pain I couldn’t see anything but red.”

“I know,” I assured him. “Me too.” I hesitated, unsure if this was the right moment. I caught Frank’s eye, and he gave me a nod. “I wanted to run something by you.” I looked at Brown’s mother. “By both of you.”

“Oh?” She dried her cheeks and came closer.

“I wanted to ask your permission for something. Can we talk?”

They looked at one another and nodded.

My head was killing me by the time I was finished with the Browns. I walked slowly and purposefully the long way down to the cafeteria. As I walked past his door, I listened and heard a chair squeak and a moment later footsteps. My phone rang right on cue.

“Hey, man.” I raised my voice a bit as I answered.

“Was the bait taken?”

“Seems so.”

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