Chapter Eight
"Are you okay?" Tara Manning asked her sister-in-law as she handed her a cup of tea.
Jade Leland glanced up. Her green eyes troubled.
"Myles was so exhausted and discouraged when he came in last night. And then he only got two hours of sleep. He said the case wasn't dangerous, but…" Jade's voice trailed off and she shrugged one slim shoulder as her gaze turned back to the window where three-year old Robert and Stanley were playing in the small fenced-in yard.
Tara nodded in understanding; her eyes fixed on her sons. "Bobby was beat too." Tara took a sip of her tea and she glanced at the clock.
Her hazel eyes lit up as an idea hit her. "Why don't we surprise the guys with lunch? We haven't done that in a while."
Jade's brow furrowed. "Do you think they'll be in the office?"
Tara shrugged. "We won't know until we get there, but it's worth a try. I know they could use it."
A small smile crossed Jade's face. "You're right. Let's do it."
Tara nodded toward the sliding glass door. "Why don't you get the boys while I txt Sue to see if she and the kids want to join us?"
"Sue's going to meet us there. She said that Jack was really down this morning too. And Bobby has said that Murdoch has been having a rough time so I'm sure that seeing Anna Grace will be good for him."
"What are we taking?" Jade asked as she guided the twins down the hall toward the bathroom to clean up.
"Sue said that she has roasted chicken she can make into chicken salad sandwiches. I made chocolate chip cookies last night. We could stop on the way to pick up French fries or chips."
Jade lifted Robert onto the step stool and squirted soap into his hands. "I have chips and dip and raw vegetables at home. Let's just run by and get those."
"Chips?" Three-year old Robert Manning tilted his head back to eye his aunt hopefully.
Jade smiled and lifted him off the stool so Stanley could wash his hands.
"Yes, chips." She said as she snagged a towel to dry his hands. "We're going to take them to your daddy and Uncle Myles." Jade bit back a grin at the little boy's crestfallen expression. "But if you're good, they might share with you."
"I good." Robert announced stoutly.
"Me too." Stanley chimed in.
The boys grinned at Jade; their matching dimples melting her heart. She felt the all too familiar stab of pain as she wondered what her little boy would have looked liked if he had been allowed to live.
"Shh." Tara Manning held a finger to her lips as the small group headed down the hall toward the bullpen after depositing the lunch in an empty conference room.
"We want to surprise Daddy." She whispered.
Robert and Stanley nodded eagerly; their green eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Like on his birthday?" Stanley whispered.
"Like on his birthday." Tara whispered back, nodding.
Keeping a firm grip on the boys, Tara glanced into the bullpen; making sure that her body blocked the boys' view of the room. She glanced at the evidence board and her eyes widened as she saw the crime scene photos.
Tara quickly stepped back and gave Sue a warning look.
Sue grabbed four-year old Jackson's arm and yanked him back before he could enter the bullpen.
"Stay with Aunt Jade. I'll get Daddy." Tara transferred her boys' hands to Jade and stepped into the bullpen.
What she saw made her heart sink.
The agents were deeply engrossed in reading files, but they seemed to despair more with every word they read. The defeated slump of their shoulders and the exhaustion on their faces tore at her heart.
"Anyone have time for lunch?" Tara asked, smiling as the heads snapped up and swiveled her way.
Bobby's tired green eyes lit up and he quickly strode over to her. "That's the best offer I've had all day, Tara-Girl. But do I have to share?" He grinned and bent down to claim her lips in a quick kiss.
Tara leaned back against Bobby and sent a smile toward Myles and Jack. "Jade, Sue, and the kids are in the hall. Lunch is in the conference room."
That announcement brought smiles to all the faces as they moved as one toward the doorway.
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
Robert and Stanley jerked away from Jade's grasp and launched themselves at Bobby, who scooped them up into his arms a wide, dimpled smile filling his tired face, while Jack knelt down to hug Jackson and Wesley.
Standing, Jack took Anna Grace from Sue's arms and held her close. His dark eyes filled with gratitude as he gazed at Sue. "THANK YOU."
"YOU'RE WELCOME."
