Duncan’s Honor (The Aegis Network: Jacksonville Division #7)

Chapter 12

12

C hastity squared her shoulders as she stepped into the large kitchen. The butcher-block-style table, which sat at least twelve when flipped open, had fresh-cut tulips placed in a crystal bowl right in the center. As a child, she always loved being in the kitchen, only not to cook because she hadn’t been given her mother’s talent or passion for it, but just for the rich smells of family suppers.

Her mother stood before the stove, flipping what Chastity hoped would be her mom’s famous homemade buttermilk pancakes. The sizzle of the batter hitting the skillet made her mouth water.

“That smells wonderful,” Chastity said, realizing how hungry she’d suddenly become. She glanced around for her younger brother and sister, but they were nowhere to be found. Neither was her father or Duncan.

“Pancakes always helped me with morning sickness. Only thing I could eat in the morning the first few months.”

“I remember.” Chastity loved babies ever since she was a little girl and with each new sibling, she did her best to help her mother with feedings, diaper changing, and more importantly, playing with her little brothers and sisters. She might have been a tomboy, always getting dirty, playing rough, and doing things associated with little boys, but she loved children. Her lips curved into a smile at the memory of teaching Serenity, the girliest of the girls, how to pee properly in the woods, making sure she never touched poison ivy. Neither Serenity nor Chastity’s parents were too thrilled.

Chastity filled a mug with steaming hot coffee. The aroma hit her nose, sending her stomach sloshing again. She pushed it aside.

“I didn’t like coffee much either and never got my taste back for it after you were born.”

Chastity blinked, staring at her mother’s back. She imagined tears streaming down her face and disappointment etched into every crinkle of her forehead.

“Ma. I’m sorry you had to find out that way.”

Her mother flipped a couple of pancakes before putting them on a plate and turning. There were no tears, no signs of anger, or any other emotion that went along with shame. “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy, but you sounded so desperate as you called for Duncan and banged on the door. I had to know what upset you so much.”

“Well, as you now know, I wasn’t upset, just about to barf.” She snagged one of the pancakes and broke it apart, popping a piece between her lips. The fluffy treat melted in her mouth, immediately calming her stomach.

Her mother tossed the spatula in the sink. “But I sense you’re not thrilled about having this baby, which concerns me.”

“I just found out yesterday and Duncan last night, so we’re both still a little bit in shock. Obviously, this wasn’t planned.”

Her mother folded her arms. She almost always wore the traditional Mennonite attire of a long, plain dress. She occasionally wore slacks when working in the fields, but that was rare. Chastity wished her mother would spread her wings a little wider. She understood her mom would never leave the community, which was fine, but her ma was the smartest woman Chastity had ever known. She resented the submissiveness of women in the Mennonite culture. Her father never treated her mother as if she were less than him. Actually, it was quite the opposite. He joked that his wife was the boss, and the secret to a happy marriage was saying ‘yes, dear’ as often as possible. That usually, his wife was always right about things. But that wasn’t entirely true. Her parents’ marriage was a partnership, something Chastity wanted desperately.

“Do you love him?” her mother asked, taking off her apron and hanging it on the rack near the sink. Her tone was tight and filled with worry but not a drop of disdain.

That only confused Chastity.

“I do,” she admitted, staring into her mother’s warm sea-blue eyes. They emitted love, kindness, and understanding, something she didn’t think her mother could give her under these circumstances.

But her mother constantly surprised her.

“Thing is, I don’t know if he loves me,” Chastity said, biting her lower lip. She couldn’t tell her mother that she and Duncan had only one night and one morning together before he walked out of her love life, saying her friendship had been more important to him.

That hurt and part of her worried that was all she’d ever be to him.

A good friend.

Well, and the mother to his child.

“I see.” Her mother blinked her eyes, clasping her hands together as if she were about to pray. “It’s obvious to me he cares deeply for you and your child. Have you told him how you feel?”

“No. The relationship is still new.”

Her mother hugged her middle and let out a long breath.

“I’m sorry I’ve disappointed you, Ma.”

Her mother raced across the kitchen and wrapped her loving arms around Chastity. “Oh, honey, you haven’t disappointed me. Not at all. I might be old-fashioned and think marriage should come before children, and to be totally honest, I’m so grateful to hear you say you’re going to have this baby.” She stepped back, cupping Chastity’s cheeks. “You’re twenty-six years old and have proven you can make it in this world, and I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. You know, I didn’t realize what a fool I’ve been until I saw you and your young man this morning. You’re a good woman with strong principles. I won’t lecture you or try to push my beliefs on you. I have faith you and Duncan will do right by each other and this baby, even if it’s not in the conventional way.”

But Chastity wanted convention. She wanted to wear a white dress, which made her laugh out loud. She’d probably trip on it as she walked down the aisle. Still, she wanted to be the bride, then the wife, and finally the mother. She wouldn’t give up her job, no way in hell. She loved being a firefighter.

Having it all was something she knew she could do, and no one was going to stop her.

“That means the world to me.” She kissed her mother’s cheek. “I never meant to hurt you when I left. I didn’t want to leave the family; I just wanted a chance to chase my dreams.”

“I understand all that now,” her mother said, pulling back a chair and setting the plate of pancakes on the table.

Chastity sat down and dug in, her body demanding nourishment, her stomach craving heavy starches. Normally, she had a protein shake for breakfast right before her jog, but hell, pancakes, or maybe waffles, she figured, would become her go-to meal for the next few months.

“You’ll understand soon enough, but as a mother, I had my own hopes pinned on my children. You showed me that I need to support my children’s dreams, not my own. Only your sister, Serenity, doesn’t seem to have a dream other than to screw up her life.”

“We found a journal in her room.” Chastity stuffed more food in her mouth, closing her eyes, trying not to moan as she chewed and swallowed.

“What?” Her mother settled into a chair. “Where? What did it say?”

“Under the mattress and Serenity wasn’t as far off the beaten path as you think. She wants to be loved, and she’s looking for it in all the wrong places. Duncan is confident this new information is right on the money.”

“What new information?” her mother asked.

This was where she needed to lie, making her a little squirrely, but it was for the best. Her mother had enough on her plate. “His buddy found Joey, and he’s watching him right now.”

“And your sister? She’s there? Is she okay?”

Chastity swallowed. “They haven’t seen her, but we believe so, yes.”

Her mother slumped back in her chair. “I have a bad feeling about this. I saw something in that boy’s eyes that made me afraid for Serenity. I didn’t trust him.”

“We’ll find her and bring her home.” Chastity wanted to promise, but she couldn’t go that far out on a limb. This morning, they’d found out that it was highly probable that Joey was involved in a human trafficking ring, which meant the worst for her sister.

Her mother nodded, picking at her pancake. “I put too much pressure on Serenity to be more like you. I drove her away. I drove all of you away.”

Chastity rested her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “Ma. Stop. You did what you thought was best, and I love you for it. I’m who I am today because of you, Dad, and the lifestyle you raised me in. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to deal with being pregnant had you not given me the tools to be my own woman while following the path God has for me.”

“You’re going to make a great mother.” Her mom nodded, wiping away her tears.

“God, I hope so.”

“And Duncan is going to make for a good father. I will pray that the two of you work things out and get married. I think you’re perfect for one another.”

Chastity wanted that too, but she had to deal with one thing at a time. “Where is Duncan?”

“He and Dad took their breakfast outside.”

Chastity dropped her head to the table with a resounding thud. “Dad is going to scare the shit out of Duncan. He’s probably sitting there with a shotgun next to him.”

“I haven’t told your father about the baby, and I won’t until you’re ready.”

Chastity snapped to an upright position. “You’ll keep that from Daddy?”

“For now. Remember, he’s a little more open-minded than I am, so don’t worry about it. We will support you no matter what.”

“Thanks, Ma.” Chastity reached out, covering her mother’s hand. “I should get going. I’ll call you when we get to Columbus.”

“I made some snacks and sandwiches. Let me put them in a small cooler. I’ll bring them out in a couple of minutes.” Her mother thought food was the answer to every question, but in this case, having some of her homemade favorite foods made her stomach happy.

She made her way toward the front door. She saw her father and Duncan sitting on the porch through the big picture window. Their backs were to her, so she couldn’t see their expressions, but they both rocked back and forth in the chairs.

There didn’t appear to be any tension, but she could imagine what those two were talking about.

“I can’t tell you how much Laurie and I appreciate you and your friends helping to find Chastity’s sister.”

Duncan set his plate, which he had to resist licking clean, on the end table and lifted his coffee mug. “We’re a tight crew and we never leave a man, or woman, hanging.”

“Is that all this is with you and my daughter?”

Duncan gagged on his hot coffee. “No, sir.” He pounded his chest with his fist and swallowed. “While she’s one of my team, I care more about her and in a different way.” Wow. He sounded like a buffoon. “What I’m trying to say is I care a great deal for your daughter.”

“It shows.” George raised his leg, resting his ankle on his knee, rocking back and forth. “As her father, I feel I should warn you that Chastity is a strong, stubborn woman and fiercely independent.”

Duncan let out a slight laugh, trying to remain respectful. “I’m well aware. She’s the only woman on the crew and at first, I think we all tried to lighten her load. She quickly put us all in our place.”

“I bet she did. She was always a handful, but in a good way. I knew she’d leave, but her mother hoped Chastity would settle down into this way of life. It’s not an easy one.”

“Neither is being a female firefighter, but Chastity is one of the best.” Duncan’s pulse raced, and a little sweatband beaded across his forehead.

“You speak with pride.” George turned his head. “I only want my girl to be happy and being a firefighter makes her smile, but being with you seems to be the icing on the cake.”

Duncan took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He assumed, based on the conversation, that George had yet to hear about the baby. Duncan hoped he’d still be in her father’s good graces when he found out.

“I speak the truth.” Duncan nodded.

“I believe that about you,” George said, shifting in his seat. “So, please don’t hold back your thoughts, feelings, or any information you have about Serenity. I don’t think she walked away from this farm on her own accord.”

“Why do you say that?” Duncan was thrilled to be off the subject of him and Chastity. He glanced over his shoulder. While he wouldn’t lie to Chastity or her father, he worried how her mother would take the news, and he sure as hell didn’t want the two younger children hearing it.

“Laurie would say she saw something in his eyes, but I found him completely disrespectful, and I didn’t like how he tried to fit in as if he knew and understood our culture. It was so fake, and he had a subtle arrogance about him.”

“My buddy has uncovered disturbing information about some of the people he’s been hanging out with.” Duncan stared out into the morning sun. Its rays stretched over the crops like long tentacles from a jellyfish floating in the ocean. It was almost as calming as the ocean.

“How disturbing?”

“Human trafficking, disturbing.” Duncan held up his hand when George opened his mouth. “It doesn’t mean he’s involved.”

“But it’s a possibility.”

“Yes, sir. My buddy has eyes on Joey and I have other friends poking around, not to mention my father is a JAG lawyer, and he’s doing his own digging.”

“You really do care about my daughter.”

Duncan more than cared. He loved Chastity, but he needed to tell her before her father.

“Hey, you two,” Chastity said with a bright smile as she inhaled the sweet floral scents of summer in Ohio. The sun heated her skin, wrapping her in a warm blanket. “You both look cozy.”

“Just enjoying a fine morning and good conversation,” her father said, raising his mug before taking a long sip.

Chastity’s stomach sloshed as the bitter smell filled her nose.

“Duncan, have you heard anything more from Darius or Dylan?”

“Dylan has eyes on Joey, and Darius is working his magic. But we should get going.” Duncan stood, his face tight like a terrified small boy. “I packed up our stuff, and it’s in the car. I think I got everything of yours.”

“Thanks. Mom is bringing out sandwiches for the trip.” She tried not to smile as she glanced between her father and Duncan. Her father had been her hero her entire life. Duncan was the man of her dreams.

“I don’t know how anyone in this family stays fit and trim with your mother’s cooking,” Duncan said.

“Yeah, well, don’t get your hopes up. Chastity’s a crappy cook,” her father said.

“I know,” Duncan readily agreed. “During overnight shifts, we all take turns cooking dinner. The one time Chastity did it, not only was it inedible, but she slipped on whatever it was she tried to make and sprained her wrist. We don’t let her near the kitchen anymore.”

Her father burst out in a big old belly laugh.

“I don’t see what’s so funny.” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at her father and Duncan, who had joined her father in his fit of hysterics.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you’ve always been such a klutz,” her father said.

“Everywhere except when she’s working. It’s weird. She can’t stand on her own two feet half the time without falling over, but under pressure, during an emergency, she’s amazing,” Duncan said as he puffed out his chest like the proudest man on the planet. “When it comes to fighting fires, I trust her with my life.”

Her father’s laughter halted. He stood, extending his hand. “You’re a good man, Duncan. I look forward to getting to know you better.”

“Me too, sir.” Duncan nodded. “We best be on our way. We’ll call as soon as we get there.”

Chastity hugged her father.

“You picked a good man,” her father whispered.

She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, making it hard to breathe. There was so much confusion and too many unanswered questions swirling around what might or might not be a relationship with Duncan. He kept saying he wanted to date her, but how the hell did you do that when a baby was in the picture? Dating implied dinners and long walks on the beach, not doctor visits, morning sickness, and picking out a crib.

Life had certainly given her quite a twist.