Chapter 2
Michael and Fiona arrived at Sam and Yvette's on time for dinner. Fiona carried a bowl filled with a salad, balancing it on her swollen belly. She glowed from head to toe, ecstatic despite the discomforts of pregnancy. Thankfully, she and Yvette kept their pregnancy stories for after dinner, when Sam and Michael retreated to the back yard and the kids played. They sat on the porch steps and watched Samuel run for the slide and propel himself almost to the top before he slid back down. He giggled, stepped off, and tried again. And again.
Shaking his head, Michael leaned his elbows back on the top step. "That kid is crazy, Sam."
"Yeah, but sometimes he just does that stuff for the attention. And he likes to test his strength." Sam chuckled. "Last week he was messing around and punched me in the eye. Thought I was going to have a shiner, he hit me that hard!"
"Is that what I have to look forward to? If so, who needs all these dangerous jobs when I can get beat up at home?" Michael grinned.
"I thought you already had enough of that from Fi," Sam cracked, and the two men laughed. As the sound floated off on a slight breeze, Sam said, "You know, I think getting away from the jobs for awhile has done you some good. You're starting to develop a better sense of humor, and you're not so tense. That's a good thing."
"I'm sleeping better, too. Fewer nightmares these days, and then they're about baby stuff."
"Don't sweat it. You're well equipped to handle the crises of your kid's life."
"Thanks, Sam. Knowing you have faith in me, well, that means a lot."
Sam turned and looked at Michael with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. "I'm glad. I think you and Fi are going to have some great kids."
"Kids?" Michael's eyebrows rose as his face paled.
He pretended to be astonished at his slip. "Oh, did I say that?"
"Not too loud!" Michael glared at him. "I want to get through the first one before we think about another!"
With a laugh and a grin, Sam leaned back and trained his attention on the kids. "Two is generally more fun. Trust me." Samuel ran around the yard chasing Esperanza, and she twisted and turned just out of his reach, frustrating him. When he had enough, he jumped at her, grabbed her shirt, and tackled to the ground. For a kid nearly half her age, he was strong.
"Samuel! Not so rough!"
"She make me mad, Daddy!"
"I don't care! You be nice to your sister." He turned his gaze on Esperanza and her haughty expression. "And you, young lady, stop tormenting your brother!"
Espie pouted, crossed her arms and marched away to the swing set. She sat on the swing and pushed off, nearly clipping Samuel as he ran toward her.
"That girl..." Sam got up, crossed the yard and stood in front of the swing. As she came forward, he grabbed the seat, stopped its momentum, and brought it back to a resting position, all the while talking to her.
Michael couldn't hear what Sam said, but the results appeared on the little girl's face. She didn't like being scolded, and she bowed her head so Michael couldn't see the effects of her getting chewed out. When Sam finished, she got off the swing, slipped past him, and ran into the house.
"Jeez, Sam, what'd you do?"
"Nothing, other than send her to her room. She's been getting that way lately, bossy, aggressive..." He sighed and sat on the step. "I think Eve and I need to make an appointment to talk to her teacher. See what's going on in that classroom or on the playground."
"She's just being a kid, Sam."
"Until a few weeks ago, she wasn't like this. I'm not going to tolerate that kind of behavior."
Michael's eyebrows rose at Sam's declaration and the insistence in his tone. His friend was always protective of his kids, but he was also realistic. When they went out into the world, Michael doubted that they would be ill-equipped to handle real life and they would certainly be more civilized than a lot of kids running around wild nowadays. He hoped that he would have the same wisdom in bringing up his son or daughter.
"Hey Sam...I know you haven't had much to do lately. I was wondering if you could do a job for me."
"A job? Seriously?"
"Yeah, just a little intelligence gathering."
"It's not for Pearce. Please tell me it's not for her."
"No, actually, it's for a...couple of friends. We met them in the Lamaze classes."
Sam turned his head, unable to believe he actually heard Michael utter those two words. "You've been going to Lamaze with Fi?"
"Well, she can't very well do this alone, Sam."
"Hah, tell me about it!" Pictures of Yvette in Michael's car came back to him.
Michael smiled. "Anyway, I was hoping you could look into something for them, and..."
Sam let his head drop back as he let out a breath. "Actually, unless it involves some after hours internet surfing or something, I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to do." He turned his eyes to Michael's. "I'm working with Jack on a job. It starts tomorrow, going undercover at a charter high school to break up a gang that's trying to terrorize the kids."
"You're kidding. You and Jack, working on a case?"
Sam was surprised to see the look on his friend's face, like he'd betrayed him. "Mike, I took the job because you were taking it easy for awhile. I didn't think you'd actually come up with anything!"
"Well, what are you going to do for Jack?"
"I'm posing as a substitute teacher." He waited for Michael to laugh, but his friend simply looked at him as if he waited for more details. "What, no reaction?"
"Why? I think you'd make a great teacher, Sam."
Sam nodded, again surprised. "Thanks, Mike."
"Where's the school?" He seemed genuinely interested, and Sam had to wonder why.
"It's Chase Academy, in Coconut Grove."
Michael nodded. "I've heard of the place. It's..."
The screen door squeaked and Fiona stepped out onto the porch. "Sam, thank you for having us over, but I really need to get some rest. Michael?"
"Is everything okay, Fi?"
She smiled at Sam's concern. "Yes, it's just that carrying around this extra weight can be a challenge. It seems like I can never get enough rest these days, but I suppose that's normal."
"I'd like to assure you that once the baby is here you'll get some rest, but I'd be lying." Sam grinned.
"Believe me, I know! Michael..."
"Yeah, we better get going."
The men stood and Michael handed Sam his empty glass. "We were glad you could come, Fi, Mike. Don't be strangers, and let us know when that baby's coming!"
"Yeah, I might need someone to drive us to the hospital,"Michael joked. Then he sobered and asked, "Will you think about it? I'll call you tomorrow night and give you some more details on what we're looking for."
"I'll think about it, Mike. If it involves leg work, I'm not sure I can swing it." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry."
Michael smiled and clamped a hand on Sam's upper arm. "It's okay. You've helped me out plenty of times. Maybe you can at least talk to some of your buddies and they can get some intel."
"That I can do."
"Michael, you promised you weren't going to take any more jobs until after the baby was born!"
"This isn't a job, Fi, it's just a...a favor."
Fiona sighed and stepped down the porch, passed him and waved good night to Sam and Yvette. She and Michael disappeared into the falling darkness, and Sam heard two car doors, followed quickly by the Charger's engine.
"Samuel! Time to go inside!"
The little boy came flying out of the wall of shadows beyond the porch light and ran into Sam's leg. If he'd been a little off to the left, he might have done some damage to Sam's knee.
"Gotcha!" Samuel giggled.
"No, I got you!" Sam quickly bent over, picked up his son and threw him over his shoulder. Some day soon, he would be too old to carry like that. Until then, Sam did it whenever he could, because Samuel loved it. As he went inside, Samuel's laughter echoed off the garage. It was one of the sweetest sounds in the whole world.
After Yvette settled Samuel in bed, Sam turned out the lights downstairs except for an old television lamp Yvette found in an antique shop. With a flat screen it was impractical, but it made a nice warm glow from where it sat off to one side on the fireplace mantel. Until winter came and the fireplace could be used, the lamp cast a romantic glow in the living room. He added to the ambience by lighting a set of candles on the coffee table.
Yvette let out a heavy sigh as her feet hit the bottom step.
"Everything okay upstairs?"
"Yes. But just so you know, Esperanza is still up. She insisted she did all her homework earlier, and then when she came storming in here, I decided to go check." Her brow crinkled. "She didn't finish her reading assignment, so I made her stay up and finish it."
Sam took Yvette by the shoulders and steered her to the couch. They sat and he put his arm around her. "I don't understand why she's being so...ornery...lately."
"I don't get it either. I think you're right, we need to talk to her teacher and find out what's been going on at school." She settled into his chest and they sat quietly for awhile.
Eventually, they heard feet thumping down the stairs, and Esperanza stood in the living room. "I finished my reading, Mom, and I'm ready for bed."
"Okay, sweetie. Night." She accepted a hug and kiss from her daughter, and watched as she approached Sam to kiss and hug him. She hesitated for just a moment, then buried herself in his arms.
"Night, punkin. I love you."
"Love you too, Daddy." She whispered something in his ear before breaking away and running upstairs.
"What was that about?"
"She apologized for acting up outside tonight." He fell back into the couch and let out a deep breath. "I think I should get to bed. If I have to have to handle three classes of kids tomorrow, I'm going to need my rest. And they're big kids!"
"Scary." Yvette smiled, leaned forward and kissed him. "You're a brave man to take them on, Sam. I'll be thinking about you all day." They stood, and while she extinguished the candles, he turned off the lamp. By the dim light spilling from the street light into the dining room, Sam moved to the back of the house to check the door. Yvette took care of the front, and together they ascended the stairs to their room.