Chapter 795: Damian Gannon's Cottage
Thursday, March 30th, Evening
The sun had set and left the room with shadows of the various lights. Sitting on the coffee table was a brand-new bamboo plant; he stared at it, not knowing what to do with it. He leaned back against the back of the sofa. Leaning his head back and closed his eyes. The moment of peace in a busy day.
Damian sat up and rested his hand on Jordan's hand. She was curled up on the sofa, head resting on Damian's lap, napping. She had a busy week so far, and the unpacking had only just begun. There are only a few more days before Jordan would start school again. Damian sighed and looked around the house. The furniture is in place, but many things must be unpacked. There's a lot of work to do, but Damian had plenty of time since he didn't have to work immediately.
His smartphone vibrated on the table. Damian leaned forward and picked it up. Looking at the screen, he smirked, nodded, and answered it.
"Hello, Mom," Damian said.
"My son, how are you settling in?" Mary-Kay Gannon said on the other end.
"We've been here for a few days, but there's still a lot to do," Damian said.
"Of course, you just moved, and it's just the two of you now," Mary-Kay said.
"I know," Damian said.
"How is my granddaughter?" Mary-Kay asked.
"She's doing well; in fact, she's napping right next to me; her head is in my lap," Damian said.
"Awe, is she still clinging to you?" Mary-Kay asked.
Damian shrugged, "Not as much as she was, but yes," he said.
Mary-Kay sighed, "You could've come home. We still have the smaller house. You and Jordi could come and live here. Jordi will have cousins, and we can get you a decent living," she said.
"Mom, I promised Jocelyn that Jordi would know her family," Damian said.
"Even if the Allen Travis's don't like you," Mary-Kay said.
Damian nodded, "They are her family," he said.
"I don't trust Porter Allen-Travis, Damian. I want to protect Jordi," Mary-Kay said.
"Mom, I understand, and I'm worried about Jordi as well," Damian said.
"Has she started school yet?" Mary-Kay asked.
Damian shook his head, "Monday, she'll be starting school," he said.
"Get some more normality back into her life," Mary-Kay said.
"Yeah, she's resilient; we've moved enough, so it's just normal for her to start a new school, hopefully her last school," Damian said.
"Unless the Allen Travis's screws you over," Mary-Kay said.
"Mom," Damian said.
"I'm looking out for my family," Mary-Kay said.
"Thanks, Mom," Damian said.
"Damian," Mary-Kay said.
"Yes," Damian replied.
"Have you met any nice ladies since you moved in?" Mary-Kay asked.
"Mom, I just moved in, and Jocelyn hadn't been gone a year yet," Damian said.
"I said meet, not date, not marry," Mary-Kay said.
"But you were implying," Damian said.
"You have a young girl who needs a strong female hand to guide her," Mary-Kay said.
"Jordi is fine for now. She has me, and I don't want to force anything; it might cause more damage," Damian said.
"I respect that, but what about you? You shouldn't be alone either," Mary-Kay said.
"I'm not; I have Jordi," Damian said.
"For a few more years, then she's on her own," Mary-Kay said.
"We'll ford that river when we have to cross it," Damian said.
"Ugh! I forgot you went to West Point," Mary-Kay said teasingly.
"You encouraged me, just like your two-time great-grandpa Pate," Damian said.
"Yeah, he would've survived if it was for Johnston and Bentonville," Mary-Kay said.
"Yeah, anyway, I want to worry about Jordi now," Damian said.
"Don't be a recluse, Damey," Mary-Kay said.
"I did meet my neighbor this morning," Damian said.
"That's good," Mary-Kay said.
"Yeah, she gave Jordi and me a bamboo. I wonder what that means," Damian said.
"I don't know," Mary-Kay said, "You said she."
"Yes, it's a woman, Mom," Damian said.
"Tell me about her," Mary-Kay said.
"Not much to say; she's about Catlin's age, and you'd like her name," Damian said.
"Oh yeah, what's her name?" Mary-Kay asked.
"Bobbi-Lee Burke," Damian said.
"A good name, a strong name, a dignified name," Mary-Kay said, "Is she a Galway Burke?"
"I don't know, I didn't ask for her genealogy," Damian said.
"I might be an old woman, Damian Gannon; I can still whoop you," Mary-Kay said.
"I'm also a retired US Army Colonel," Damian said.
"Hell, Douglas MacArthur's mom got him his general star; I can still whip you," Mary-Kay said.
"Anyway, it's getting late, and I have to get Jordi to bed," Damian said.
"Okay, and be nice to your neighbor," Mary-Kay said.
"I will, Mom, and bye," Damian said.
"Bye," Mary-Kay said and hung up. Damian put his phone down, sighed, and looked at the bamboo plant.