A Heart Caught In Crime

Chapter 23 - The Welcome Wagon

The late summer sun beat down on my back as I struggled with the lawnmower, sweat beading on my forehead. Who knew maintaining a yard could be such a workout? As I paused to catch my breath, I caught sight of a moving truck pulling up to the house next door.

Curiosity piqued, I shut off the mower and made my way to the fence. A young couple emerged from a sleek SUV that had followed the truck. The woman, short with straight onyx black hair, stretched languidly after the drive. The man, broad-shouldered with loose-cropped dark hair, was already directing the movers.

I debated for a moment before calling out, "Welcome to the neighborhood!"

They both turned, surprised, then smiled. The woman approached the fence, her blue eyes friendly. "Thanks! I'm Serena, and that's my partner, Owen."

"Christian," I replied, extending my hand over the fence. "My wife Natasha and I moved in a few weeks ago ourselves."

Owen joined us, slipping an arm around Serena's waist. "Nice to meet you, Christian."

Serena pipped in, "Looks like we're not the only newcomers on the block."

We chatted for a few minutes, exchanging the usual pleasantries. I learned they had moved from The United Kingdom for Owen's job as a freelance painter. Serena was a game developing assistant, excited about setting up her home office.

"We should have you and Natasha over for dinner once we're settled," Serena suggested. "It'd be nice to make some friends in the area."

I nodded, surprised by how much I liked the idea. "We'd love that. Fair warning though, Natasha's about seven months pregnant, so her appetite might surprise you."

Their eyes lit up at the news. "Oh, congratulations!" Serena exclaimed.

"I'll be sure to make some extra." Owen said.

As I made my way back inside, I felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the summer heat. The idea of making friends, normal friends who knew nothing about my past, was more appealing than I'd anticipated.

Natasha was in the kitchen when I entered, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over a cookbook. At seven months pregnant, she was radiant, her Southern charm only enhanced by her maternal glow.

"You'll never guess what just happened," I said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

She looked up, curiosity in her eyes. "What's that, sugar?"

"We have new neighbors. And they've invited us for dinner once they're settled."

Natasha's face lit up. "Oh, how exciting! What are they like?"

I filled her in on Serena and Owen as I helped her prepare dinner. Natasha listened eagerly, already planning what she could bake to welcome them to the neighborhood."

It'll be nice to have friends nearby," she mused, rubbing her swollen belly absently. "Especially another couple. Maybe their kids and Rhydian can grow up together."

The thought warmed my heart. This was the kind of normal, suburban life I'd always secretly longed for but never thought I could have.

A week later, we found ourselves on Serena and Owen's front porch, a homemade peach cobbler (Natasha's specialty) in hand. The door swung open, revealing Serena in a pretty dark blue sundress.

"Come in, come in!" she ushered us inside. "Owen's just finishing up on the grill."

Their home was warm and inviting, already feeling lived-in despite their recent move. Family photos adorned the walls, and the furniture was a comfortable mix of modern and vintage pieces.

Owen greeted us in the backyard, a beer in one hand and grilling tongs in the other. "Hope you like steak," he grinned.

The evening passed in a blur of good food, easy conversation, and genuine laughter. It struck me how different this was from the tense, calculated interactions I was used to in my former life. Here, there were no hidden agendas, no power plays. Just four people enjoying each other's company.

As we chatted over dessert, Serena turned to Natasha. "So, have you two thought about childbirth classes? There's supposed to be a great program at the community center."

Natasha's eyes widened. "Oh my, I hadn't even thought about that. What do you think, Christian?"

I nodded, realizing how much we still had to prepare. "Sounds like a good idea. Maybe we could check it out together?"

Owen chuckled. "We've officially become those suburban adults."

We all laughed, but I felt a surge of contentment. This was exactly the kind of life I wanted for us, for Rhydian.

As the weeks passed, Serena and Owen became fixtures in our lives. We had regular dinner nights, alternating houses. Owen and I discovered a shared love for home improvement projects, spending weekends tinkering in our respective garages. Serena and Natasha became thick as thieves, often found poring over baby books or planning the nursery.

One lazy Sunday afternoon, as Owen and I attempted to assemble a particularly complicated crib, he paused, wiping sweat from his brow.

"You know," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice, "Serena and I have some news."

I looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Oh?"

A grin spread across his face. "Serena and I are talking about getting married."

I clapped him on the back, genuinely thrilled for them. "That's amazing man, but why the hesitation?"

Owen replies, "We never wanted marriage to solidify our love, ya know?"

I marveled at how much my life had changed. Just a few months ago, my days were filled with tense meetings and veiled threats. Now, here I was, celebrating a friend's new found desire for marriage and struggling with baby furniture.

That night, as Natasha and I lay in bed, her head on my chest and my hand on her belly, feeling Rhydian's now-familiar movements, I voiced a thought that had been growing for a while.

"I want to start a business," I said softly.

Natasha propped herself up, looking at me curiously. "What kind of business, sugar?"

I shrugged. "Not sure yet. But something legitimate. Something I can be proud to tell Rhydian about when she's older."

Natasha's smile was radiant. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Christian. You've got such a good head for business. Why don't you talk to Owen about it? Maybe he could help with the tech side if you need it."

I nodded, ideas already forming. "Maybe a security consulting firm? I could use my... experience... to help businesses protect themselves legitimately."

Natasha kissed me softly. "That sounds perfect. You could help people, use your skills for good."

As we drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of purpose I hadn't experienced in years. This was the life I was meant to live - surrounded by love, building a future I could be proud of, making a positive difference in the world.

The next morning, I called my father. It was time to completely sever my ties with the old business, to make a clean break. To my surprise, he was supportive.

"You're doing the right thing, son," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "Build something good. Something worthy of that little granddaughter of mine."

As I hung up, I felt the last weight lift from my shoulders. The past was behind me. The future - filled with the promise of family, friendship, and honest work - stretched out before me, bright and full of possibility.

Natasha waddled into the room, her hand on her lower back. "Everything okay, honey?"

I pulled her into a gentle embrace, mindful of her bump. "Everything's perfect, mia cara. Absolutely perfect."

And for the first time in my life, I truly meant it.