Chapter 16 - Mr. Right Now
Nathan hurried back from his day of Homeland training in Santa Barbara as soon as he listened to Paige's voicemail detailing their kidnapping and escape from the Norteguayans. She briefly relayed how the team saved the United States' currency supply from being devalued and crashing the world economy. In his truck, once he hit the interstate, he called her. "I can't believe I was off doing Homeland training and missed all the excitement today."
Paige smiled at the disappointment in his voice. Nathan always wanted to be right in the middle of the action. "I'm glad you weren't there. Knowing you were safe and that you would be around for Ralph if anything went sideways helped me stay calm and focused. It also helped me stop myself from cold-cocking my mother during the moments she was trying to run a con on the Norteguayans."
"Your mother was there? Is she still in town? "
"Unfortunately."
"Do you mean I'm going to finally meet the infamous Veronica Dineen?" Nathan chuckled. "I definitely need to get back to L.A. if that's the case."
Paige grimaced at the thought of her two worlds colliding. He knew the stories about her mother, he didn't need to sound that excited about it. "I suppose it was always inevitable. I tried to keep you as far away from her for as long as I could. She's a lot, and apparently, she's not going anywhere anytime soon. Walter invited her to stay when Cabe suggested we all have dinner to celebrate the team's successful escape from our diabolical kidnappers. I told him it wouldn't be a good idea, but you know Walter, he doesn't listen to anyone."
"Well, I, for one, am looking forward to it." Nathan didn't even bother to hide his glee at the prospect.
"You say that now, but wait until you actually meet her." Paige couldn't push images of high school boyfriends meeting her mother out of her head. It never went well.
"I'll have you to protect me, so I'm not worried."
Paige chuckled, and after a few more minutes of conversation, she disconnected the call. She jumped when she realized her mother was standing behind her, obviously listening in. "How long have you been there?" she demanded.
"Long enough." Veronica waved her hand airily, dismissing Paige's concern. "He sounds handsome. Is he the one? My grandson's future stepfather?"
Paige's face turned red in embarrassment at such a question. "No… I don't know… We've only been going out for a short time." She took a deep breath and looked her mother straight in the eye. "Not that it's any of your business."
"I see," Veronica said in a tone Paige knew well. One that said the wheels in her mother's mind were turning, and she was looking for an angle to work, a tone that her daughter well and truly despised.
"Just drop it, Mom. You're not going to pull Nathan into any of your schemes."
"Schemes? Moi?" Veronica asked with exaggerated innocence. "I have no schemes, but tell me, dear, what does Walter think about you and this Nathan person?"
"What Walter thinks, what you think for that matter, has no bearing on my relationship with Nathan. So just drop it."
"Fine. I can see you haven't changed a bit, constantly shutting me out of your life. Consider it dropped." Veronica looked around the Garage. "This place is rather… rustic… isn't it? Is there anywhere a girl can get cleaned up before dinner and meeting this man who may or may not be important to you?"
Paige gestured toward the loft. "Walter offered you his shower upstairs."
A cat-like grin spread across Veronica's features at the mention of the handsome leader of Scorpion's name. "Thank you, dear. That one is always such a gentleman. We'll see about this new one."
Paige gritted her teeth as she watched her mother climb the stairs before she moved to join the rest of the team on the roof.
By the time Nathan arrived, the celebration was well underway. Cabe was manning the grill as usual, and the rest of the team was scattered among the assorted picnic tables and lawn chairs dotting the expanse. Veronica, who had never let her attention waver from the access door to the building, immediately looked over when she heard it open to lay eyes on her daughter's new man.
Nathan had barely stepped through the doorway when he saw Paige's mother for the first time. But it wasn't the first time he'd seen the woman. Nathan felt like he'd been hit in the chest with one of Happy's wrenches. This was Paige's mother? Nathan's thoughts went back to an afternoon two weeks ago when he'd been in line at the grocery store.
The temporary Homeland intern had been loading his purchases onto the conveyor belt when a woman stepped in line behind him. Distracted by a text he had just received from Cabe, he jostled the woman's arm.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, ma'am." Nathan apologized reflexively before he even looked at the woman.
"Well, aren't you sweet?" A smoky voice replied.
Nathan lifted his eyes at the sound to see an attractive middle-aged woman gazing at him like she'd just seen what was on the menu and she was starving. Nathan made a noncommittal sound and smiled at her politely for a moment before intending to turn his attention back to his groceries, but she put a hand on his arm to keep his attention. The sensation of her hand on his skin made him regret rolling up the sleeves of his work shirt, leaving his forearms bare earlier in the day.
"Except for the 'ma'am' part, that is. Ma'am is a word for an old woman. Most certainly not applicable to me."
The usually affable Nathan nodded, racking his brain for any polite way to get out of the conversation and finding none. "You are correct, miss. You are most certainly not old. It's a habit. I've been in the Navy for more than fifteen years. Addressing people as Ma'am and Sir are just considered good manners." He pulled his arm away from her touch and barely refrained from wiping his arm on his pants to rid himself of the sensation.
The woman gestured to his definitely not regulation length hair and civilian attire."But no longer a military man?" She sounded disappointed.
"Not exactly. It's kind of a long story, and I won't bore you with it. The short version is, I'm currently on medical leave recovering from an injury, and I've been assigned to work for Homeland."
"Oh? My dau– uh… an old friend of mine is working as a contractor for Homeland. Quite exciting. I'm sure a fine specimen like you thrives on the thrill of such exciting work." The woman moved closer, attempting to touch his arm again, and flipped her hair.
He pulled back instinctively. Nathan realized with a shock that the woman was flirting with him. His trouble radar was pinging off the charts. He had heard of women like these before, so-called Tag Chasers, and he'd encountered his fair share, but none so blatant. He needed to get out of this situation, pronto. "It pays the bills."
"I'll bet it does…" she paused as if waiting for him to give her his name.
That was one step too far, even for Nathan. He had absolutely no desire to give this woman any identifying information.
After seeing that her first gambit had failed, she regrouped and tried again. "I never do anything like this…" she began.
Immediately, Nathan knew she was running through a well-rehearsed script of something she had done numerous times.
"But you wouldn't be interested in joining me for a cup of coffee at the diner across the street, would you?"
"Under ordinary circumstances, I would be thanking my lucky stars to have caught the eye of such a beautiful and extraordinary woman. But I am seeing someone." Nathan had never been so relieved to be dating in his entire life
Finally, the grocery clerk started ringing up Nathan's groceries, and he moved toward the payment keypad.
The woman emptied the handful of items she had been carrying in her tote bag onto the conveyor belt. "Well, that's disappointing. I always seem to find the Boy Scouts who would never step out on their girlfriends, and they are never single. It really is true, all the good ones are taken."
Nathan forced a chuckle at her last remark as he swiped his credit card and took his receipt from the clerk's hand. He grabbed two bags full of groceries for the chicken piccata he and Paige were planning to make later. Usually, Nathan was more than happy to chat and flirt with older women, but this one, this cougar, felt more dangerous than most.
"I'll be in town for a while. Maybe I'll see you around, Handsome." Veronica looked up at him through her eyelashes and smiled prettily.
Just for a moment, he saw something vaguely familiar in those flirtatious brown eyes, and he wondered… but like a stone dropping beneath the surface of the lake, it was gone. Nathan had no time to wonder any further, instead, he focused on getting the hell away from this woman that he sincerely hoped he would never see again. "It was nice meeting you, Miss." The lie nearly stuck in his throat, but he couldn't stop himself from being polite even as he turned to flee.
Before he could reach the door, she had already turned her attention to the grocery clerk. "George. A strong name for a strong man. I'll bet you can just toss those sacks of flour I saw on the baking aisle like they're nothing." George's ears turned pink with embarrassment at her words.
Nathan still heard her flirtatious laugh ringing in his ears. He had thought, he had hoped, that would be the last he would see of the woman. And now, here he was face to face with her, and she was Paige's infamous mother, Veronica.
"Well, hello, Sailor," she purred, "I didn't think I'd see you again so soon, and dating my daughter! You naughty boy."
Nathan blushed furiously as the rest of the team looked on curiously.
"Mom!" Paige interrupted, deftly putting herself between Nathan and her mother. "Stop it." She looked at Nathan in disbelief. "You two know each other?"
Nathan managed to find his voice. "I would hardly call it that. We stood in line next to each other at the market a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea she was your mother. That she was anyone's mother."
Veronica preened a bit at his last remark. "I take excellent care of myself. Not a day over thirty-five is what most men say."
Paige felt a familiar sense of irritation rising at her mother's actions as her mind whirled and the pieces fell into place. Veronica had hit on Nathan, obviously. He was just her type. Good looking, age-inappropriate, and breathing. "I don't think that's what he meant, Mom. I think he can't believe anyone's mother would act the way you act."
"Are you sure you think I'm Paige's mother and not her barely older sister?"
Paige groaned in frustration. "Enough, Mom. Why don't you go sit down with Ralph and let Nathan get something to eat? He's had a long day, you don't need to make it any longer."
Veronica waved her hand dismissively. 'Fine. Fine. Still embarrassed by me, I see. That doesn't bother me, but if it will make you feel better, I'll leave that gorgeous man alone. He might be one of the best-looking ones you've ever snagged." Veronica gestured to Walter, who was seated nearby. "He really gives this one a run for his money. Walter, dear, let me have a look at you and those lucious curls. Why do men have all the luck? It would take me simply ages to get my hair to do what his does with a shower and a comb." Walter looked up at the sound of his name, his expression quickly changing to one of discomfort at Veronica's frank assessment. She coughed dramatically and waved the cloud of smoke from the grill that had wafted toward her away. "I hope Nathan isn't too hungry. Looks like your Homeland agent burned the burgers and dogs."
Paige swung her gaze to Cabe, who stood sheepishly in front of several lumps of charcoal that had previously been intended to be dinner. "Sorry everybody, I got distracted by the show."
Veronica smiled at the older man and blew him a kiss as she winked at him. Paige pushed her mother's hand down in embarrassment at her flirtatious action. "It's fine," she called to Cabe. "Mom, will you just please behave? This is my workplace, and these are my coworkers and friends. I'd like to keep it that way even after they've spent time with you."
"Fine. Fine. I know when I'm in the way. I'll go join my grandson while you apologize for me, like usual." Veronica made her way to the picnic table on the far side of the roof and joined Ralph.
Paige watched her mother cross toward her son with relief that she was no longer talking to any of the members of the team and turned to Nathan. "I am so sorry about her. I hope you weren't offended by her nonsense."
Nathan chuckled, a true smile on his features now that his embarrassment was easing.
"She's colorful, I'll give you that."
"That's one word for it," she groused, despite feeling her mood lift as Nathan pulled her close and dropped a kiss on her temple.
His stomach grumbled, and Paige pushed him away, toward Cabe, who was cleaning the burnt mess of what had previously been food off of the grill. Nathan approached the older man. "Let me help," he offered.
Cabe nodded, and the two men got the grill cleaned off quickly, adding another round of meat to the heated surface to replace the ruined ones.
Paige was watching the two men when Toby approached her. "This answers a whole slew of questions, Paige, and opens the door to so many more."
She covered her face with her hands for a moment before speaking. "I'm sure it does, Toby. And if you must psychoanalyze me, I don't suppose I can stop you, but just don't talk to her about me. I'm begging you."
Toby put his hands up in mock surrender. "Whatever you say, Paige. The two of you would make a great case study, though. I could get published in Annual Review of Psychology with this gold mine of maternal baggage if you change your mind. But I promise, I won't discuss you with your mother."
Somehow, Paige didn't find that particularly comforting. Before she could say anything else, Toby's words had caught her mother's attention.
"Mr. Psychiatrist Man, please don't use that word when you refer to me," Veronica's voice carried across the rooftop. "It's fine for Paige to talk about me using that language, but I won't have it from anyone else. Call me Veronica or nothing at all."
"What word?" Toby was baffled.
"She doesn't like the 'M' word." She elaborated when the behaviorist still appeared confused. "Mother," Paige told him with a sigh.
Meanwhile, across the roof, Veronica waved Walter over to join her and Ralph after he had rummaged around in the cooler a few feet away to get another Doctor Shazz. Veronica patted the picnic bench next to where she sat. "Walter, it's been a while." The genius sat beside her, and she continued, "Ralph here has been telling me about his mother and her new beau." Walter grimaced. "Not a fan of the situation I see."
"It's fine," he protested weakly. "Nathan is my friend, and Paige and I had decided not to be anything more than friends."
Veronica was determined not to let Walter off the hook quite so easily, so she continued pressing. "Hmm. Ralph enjoys spending time with him."
"He is very good with Ralph," Walter agreed, regretting his decision to sit next to Veronica.
Ralph sensed his mentor's discomfort and took control of the conversation. "Nathan took me surfing last weekend. He said I was a natural. We're going to have another lesson in a couple of weeks."
Veronica turned to her grandson, "That sounds fantastic, Ralphie-boy. It's good to hear that you are out in the world at least some of the time, instead of glued to a book or computer screen all day." Walter made a noise of irritation in his throat. "You're not a fan of Ralph getting some sand and sun, I take it. Eh, Walter?"
Walter bristled at Veronica's teasing tone. "There's the looming risk of skin cancer from excessive sun exposure, but it's also a waste of Ralph's intellect to spend on such frivolous physical pursuits with Nathan."
"And you say he's your friend?" Walter nodded. "And you're fine with him dating Paige?"
"Of course."
Veronica looked unconvinced. "O-kay… I guess I'll let that go for now. So tell me, what's new with the team? Saved any celebrities lately?" The conversation turned to more comfortable topics. Walter and Ralph's recent work on improving airplane wing stability. Ralph's Game Theory class at CalTech. Veronica listened and reacted appropriately to the conversation, but what she was most interested in was the fact that Walter's attention never truly left Paige. Though he didn't look at her directly very often, his awareness of her was constant. She saw Walter stiffen every time she or Nathan touched. It was all very informative.
As the evening wound down and members of the team began gathering their things to head home, Paige called to Veronica. "Mom, it's time to go back to the condo for the night."
"Oh, honey, I don't want to intrude. I'll stay in a hotel. All I need is a ride."
Toby sidled up to Veronica. "I can take you if you'd like."
Veronica nodded and moved to place her hand on Toby's proffered arm when Paige spoke up. "If you don't want to stay with me and Ralph, that's fine, but let me take you to a hotel." That was the last thing she needed, Toby and her mother alone together.
Walter looked over at Nathan, who nodded his agreement, and then Scorpion's leader spoke up. "No need for a hotel, Veronica. You are more than welcome to stay here."
Nathan agreed, "I've been crashing here with Walter in the Airstream while I'm working with the team, but I can stay on Cabe's couch while you're in town so you can have the trailer. It's actually pretty cozy, and I've made it fairly livable." He turned to Cabe. "If that's all right with you."
Cabe nodded his head. "You're always welcome, Nathan."
Veronica studied Walter's face as he gazed intently at Paige, thinking no one would notice. "I don't mind if I do. Walter and I need to catch up anyway."
Paige shuddered to think what her mother would say to Walter, but she wasn't worried that he would get taken in by Veronica's nonsense. He was much too intelligent and obtuse in so many ways for that.
As she shepherded Ralph toward the door, Paige stopped right next to her mother and hissed, "Behave yourself."
"Don't I always?"
"No, but it doesn't seem as if I can do anything about it. Just remember, Mom, Walter isn't like other men. Your tired old routines won't work on him."
"I'll be good. Scout's honor." Veronica held up two fingers of her right hand, her other hand's fingers crossed conspicuously behind her back.
Paige chose to ignore that display. "Come on, Ralph. Let's go. Let's leave Grandma and Walter alone."
And with that, the Garage began to empty, until at last, Walter and Veronica were the only ones left. Walter brought a pile of blankets and towels to Veronica as she made herself comfortable in the trailer.
Veronica accepted the linens. Walter turned to leave when her words stopped him. "It's still early, at least for me. Are you interested in a nightcap?"
Walter blinked. "I don't drink." But then he considered her offer further. He didn't sleep much, and Veronica would be an entertaining diversion from the direction his thoughts usually went during the long sleepless nights he was so well acquainted with: Paige and Nathan together. "There might be a few beers left in the cooler on the roof if you want some alcohol."
Veronica chuckled and disappeared into the trailer for a moment before returning with a bottle filled with a deep amber liquid in her hand. She gestured to the seating area in the main area of the Garage. Walter followed her as she moved toward the sofa and then made herself comfortable. "I always travel prepared. And with the good stuff. Not that swill your friend Toby brought."
Walter sat on the overstuffed chair positioned a few feet away. "A nightcap is not just about the consumption of alcohol, but also the human interaction. I've been working on leveling up my interpersonal skills," he explained when Veronica looked at him questioningly.
"I'm impressed, Walter." Veronica took a sip from the bottle, and closed her eyes in bliss as she swallowed. "Paige never liked to let me enjoy a nighttime libation. As an Irishman, even one who doesn't drink, I'm sure you understand."
Walter nodded. "My father often waxed poetic about the joys of a fine whiskey."
After several minutes in companionable silence, she put the cap on the bottle and set it aside. She turned her attention to Walter, choosing her words carefully. "You're not thrilled about Paige and Nathan dating, are you?"
Walter didn't trust himself to speak, but his expression told Veronica everything she needed to know.
"Your own mother isn't around much, is she?"
Walter shook his head tersely.
"Heaven knows Paige would never take motherly advice from me. Not that I blame her. I haven't exactly been in the running for Mother of the Year with her for pretty much any of her life. But I have seen a few things. I have gained some semblance of wisdom. So I am going to give it to you straight."
"Please do. I don't like trying to interpret signals or subtext."
"Refreshing," Veronica smiled. "So here's the thing. I like you, Walter. I like how you are with my grandson. I like how you look at my daughter. What I don't like is how I teed you up the perfect shot, showing you the way to Paige's heart, and what have you done with that information? Absolutely nothing. I thought you were smart. A genius!"
"I am a genius. But I'm not sure what golf has to do with Paige's circulatory muscle."
Veronica stifled a giggle at Walter's consternation as she motioned for him to continue his point.
"She and I both decided, for the good of the team, not to pursue our attraction for each other."
Veronica had heard enough. "Blah blah blah. I think I'm starting to get it now. GI Joe here just came in and swept her off her feet, and you didn't do a thing about it."
"GI Joe is a fictional army character. Nathan is an Ensign in the US Navy," Walter explained patiently, surprised that Veronica would make such an elementary mistake.
"Oh, Walter, you really are missing the forest for the trees. My grandson has been keeping me up to date on the goings on in this Garage, and he seems to be a pretty big fan of Naval Nate. Apparently, you are as well. Do you have no sense of self-preservation?"
"Nathan is my friend, and his happiness is important to me."
"Yes, yes, we've covered that. Nathan is your friend. But he is also your rival."
"I respectfully disagree, Veronica. Paige and I both decided not to act on our mutual attraction. I am happy for both of them that they have found happiness together."
Veronica moved to the end of the sofa closest to Walter and put a maternal hand on his cheek. "Oh, Walter, you are working so hard to convince yourself of that." She dropped her hand and leaned back. "I've met him, and I like him too. I like how he treats my girl, and he cares about Ralph. He could be so good for them. She could be very happy with him. If there was no you. If she had never met you. I think she could have a beautiful life with him." She pulled her hand away and rearranged herself slightly on the couch. "I might be a bit interested in him myself if he gave any indication he was open to slightly older women. He is delicious." Walter's eyes opened wide at that remark, but he didn't speak. Veronica continued, "But as much as she tries to convince herself, as much as she believes it right now, he's not the one." She looked at Walter and leaned forward again as if she was imparting the wisdom of the universe. "Be patient. Something will come between them." Veronica's voice dropped to barely a whisper, "Your time will come."
Walter felt hope bloom in his chest at her words, even as he was uncertain of their likelihood of coming true. "I don't believe that your assessment of the situation is correct. Paige and I will not have a 'time', as you put it. Any feelings I had for her are in the past. Dwelling on the past is inefficient. Time only flows in one direction."
Veronica opened her mouth to argue with Walter, but when she saw the stubborn set of his chin, thought better of it. "I will leave the science of the flow of time to you. I don't think I remember a single thing from high school Chemistry. Too much chemistry with Cyrus Wilson, quarterback."
"Physics," Walter corrected her under his breath.
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Veronica continued as if Walter hadn't spoken. "But if you give it time, you might be pleasantly surprised. Now tell me what you and my grandson have been up to. I heard that he helped you break into Air Force One to save the election."
Walter smiled, relieved that the conversation had turned away from Paige and Nathan as he began to recount how the team realized that the votes were being siphoned out of the servers to throw the election into chaos, destabilizing the US government.