by Ellie Hall
Eisley pressed her hand over her mouth. Tears filled her eyes. That poor, sweet little girl. “How’d you find out she was yours?”
“Thankfully, Tina’s mother did the right thing and tried to figure out who the father might be. The dates lined up with our marriage, even though I was deployed shortly after we’d conceived. She reached out to me. Of course, we went through the proper legal channels and had the tests done. It turns out, she’s mine.”
The idea that the little girl could be theirs—hers and Ford’s—filled Eisley’s heart, which was ready to burst over the heartbreaking story.
“Tina’s parents are elderly and weren’t feeling up for raising a child.” Ford swallowed. “It’s strange how life works, there was a reason, well, a few reasons, that I survived the many battles I fought. The ones I still fight, but I have a renewed purpose.” His hand brushed the scar by his eye.
“So you retired and are now a full-time father.”
“Just about. I’m still in the reserves and have training, meetings, and the like. Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
Eisley scooted closer to Ford on the couch.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve been helping you all this time. You don’t have to do everything yourself, Ford.”
“I never had help. Never needed it.”
“You never had a baby.”
He tilted his head from side to side as though conceding. “Well, I do have help now. I hired a nanny.”
“I meant me. I can help you. You truly could’ve shared this with me.”
“I seem to recall you not wanting to have kids either.”
Eisley cocked her head. “As you said, we were sixteen. I was too young to be thinking about having kids. But someday? Of course. I’ve had to do a little growing up. I’m still finding my way, but it seems...” She hesitated then swallowed back her fear. “It seems I was led back to you.”
He held his head in his hands as though something still upset him.
She lifted her arm and pressed her palm to his back, braving contact. The massive muscles rippled as she gently rubbed his back.
“Ford, are you ready to take off your armor and open up to me?”
He ducked his head and met her eyes. “Yes. I can do that.” He blinked a few times then said, “I distanced myself from you because of the emotions I felt that tied me to you and what I knew being in the military could mean. I could die, go missing, or be wounded for life. I wanted to spare you what happened to your mother—a husband that never returned.”
“So you left anyway,” she said.
“Before anything more could happen between us.”
“But don’t you see? It already had.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Ford leaned back and took her in his arms. She rested her head on toned his chest.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
His heart beat steadily in his chest and it was a comfort as the storm raged outside.
After a moment, Ford cleared his throat. “What about you? What about letting people help you? What about you letting down your guard?”
“My guard is hardly up. No, Ford, like I was saying, I need to grow up. Figure out what I want from my life. I realize I was stuck in the past, holding onto hope that you would return and that was keeping me from moving on.”
“Oh, Eisley.” His tone was strained. “I had no idea. I’m sorry. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“We were young. But you haven’t told me everything.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
She sat up and held her arms out wide. “What is all this? If I recall, you lived in the duplex opposite mine and between the two of us, we barely had two dimes to rub together. Unless I’m grossly mistaken, most servicemen don’t own mansions in their early thirties or at all.”
“Right.” He took a deep breath. “Around the same time I learned about my daughter, I got another, rather peculiar piece of mail. It turns out, my grandfather, a man I’d never known, had passed away. His name was Arnold Conrad, so on my mother’s side. I didn’t know this, but while my two brothers and I had the same father, we had different mothers.”
“Your dad never told you?”
Ford shook his head. “I’m afraid not. So more testing was done, more papers filed, more red tape. It was a headache really. But Arnold Conrad didn’t have any heirs except me. He died alone.”
“I’m so sorry. I don’t feel right accepting any of this, I didn’t earn it, but with the suddenness of having a kid and not having my own parents around, I wasn’t sure what to do. So I came here to regroup and make a game plan.”
“Despite how you feel about the money, I’m glad you found your way to Blue Bay Beach.”
“Me too.”
“So what’s next?” Ford asked.
She didn’t answer because she didn’t know.
Chapter 12
Ford
Ford was going to tell Eisley about the massive changes in his life but until that moment, he wasn’t sure how. As the wind continued to howl outside, the fact that they were in the middle of a storm and the truth had come out was fitting. All things considered, she took it well. But she didn’t answer his question about accepting help and letting him into her life.
Instead, she said, “I look like I was lost at sea for the last ten years and just washed up on your doorstep. It’s silly to ask if you have anything that might fit me, but I’d appreciate something dry.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” The idea of her wearing his clothing brought an old memory to life—she’d always nab one of his sweatshirts and wear it until he didn’t have any clean clothes left and he demanded it back. Fortunately, Mrs. Higgins would wash it before Eisley returned it. Growing up with his dad and brothers, household chores weren’t a priority. His attention to duty and detail had changed when he’d entered the Marines and got away from home. Unfortunately, the sad state of his family’s affairs only got worse.
Ford checked on Coco and then grabbed one of his oversized T-shirts for Eisley to change into. The vision of her in it stirred something inside him.
“Thanks,” she said when he met her in the living room.
“The bathroom is down that way if you’d like to change.”
As she turned, he caught her bring the shirt to her nose and breathe deep.
The affectionate gesture made him smile. In fact, he was still grinning when she returned, practically swimming in the shirt it was so big on her. He chuckled.
“It’s not my fault you’re a giant.”
“Where are my manners? Are you thirsty? Hungry?” he asked.
She nodded.
He showed her to the kitchen with modern appliances and custom woodwork.
“I figured you’d ring a bell and a butler would appear.”
Again, he laughed and he imagined that sound wasn’t common in the mansion when just his grandfather lived there. From what he’d gathered, the old man was rather unpleasant and was codgery as someone in town had said. Still, he didn’t like the idea of the old man living and dying alone.
Ford fixed them both carbonated water and lemon.
Glass containers filled with chopped fruits and vegetables, organized by color, lined the refrigerator shelves. There were also yogurts, string cheese, and other kid-friendly, but healthy foods.
“I can offer you raspberries, melon, cucumber...”
Eisley laughed. “Wow. No butler, but your cook really keeps things organized.”
Heat rose to Ford’s cheeks.
“Actually, that’s me. You can take me out of active duty, but you can’t take the Marine out of me,” he mumbled. “Or something like that.” He picked up a parenting book and set it in front of Eisley. “I have no idea what I’m doing. The book said to offer an assortment of healthy fruits, vegetables, and protein early and often so that’s what I’m trying.”
“I remember the fridge at your house when you were
younger: hot dogs, ketchup, and milk. Somehow you grew up into—” Her eyes scanned him up and down.
“This is the result of three squares a day starting in basic training.”
“Well, you didn’t do too bad for yourself, soldier.” She waggled her eyebrows.
Ford smirked.
“You turned out mighty fine yourself, Eisley.”
“You think so?”
He reached for her waist. “I do think so.” He dipped his head to meet her lips and she yelped then started laughing.
His face fell in alarm then he remembered her ticklish spot. He tickled her some more before she lifted onto her toes and threw her arms around his neck. He hoisted her onto the counter so they were eye level.
Then they kissed and kissed and kissed.
With Eisley, time didn’t matter. They had the rest of their lives. He hoped. Then the hope started to falter. First, it flickered like the lights above in the kitchen as the power threatened to go out due to the storm. Then it dimmed a bit.
Would she want to have a family? He hardly knew how to take care of a two-year-old, but was learning. Would she be willing to do that? Especially since she wasn’t the biological mother? Eisley mentioned she needed to grow up, but did that mean apart from him?
He didn’t dare ask because that meant he’d have to break the kiss and at least for the time, the power was still on, she was still there.
But as their lips mashed together, thoughts repeatedly swirled in his mind. Could they make a life together? Could she deal with some of the fallout from the war that he still struggled with from time to time?
The room went dark. Eisley’s eyes were closed so she must not have noticed as her hands clutched his jaw, holding him in place, kissing him deeply. But he sensed the light change behind his lids. In the darkness, as so often happened, the big fears emerged. Would he be able to handle being a dad and figuring out a relationship? He’d told himself that until Coco was grown, he’d focus solely on her and give her the life she deserved—what he hadn’t been able to give his first love or Coco’s mother. He owed his daughter the world and worried there wasn’t room in it for Eisley too.
As though she sensed his troublesome thoughts, they parted. Ford certainly didn’t want her to think he was rejecting her because that wasn’t his intention. He just didn’t know what he was doing. Granted, children didn’t officially come with instruction manuals, but there were plenty of parenting books. He’d have to go to the bookstore in town and see if there was one titled How to be the best father possible to a kid you didn’t know you had and renew a relationship you didn’t think you’d ever get back.
Ford needed time, space to think, to figure things out. However, like the wind and rain outside, life just kept on raging.
He went to check on Coco and then they returned to the living room. In the meantime, the generator had kicked on. Ford clicked on the news to get an update on the storm.
“Should downgrade by mid-morning. You should call your mom and let her know you’re safe and that you’re staying the night.”
Her eyes widened. “No, I should get going.”
“Text her,” he commanded. Under no circumstances was she going back out in that mess.
Eisley sighed and did as he ordered.
He grabbed a throw blanket from a chest behind the couch and draped it over her shoulders. He took one for himself then grabbed two pouches of fish crackers from the kitchen.
She smirked. “Now I know why you had the kids’ bug spray.”
“Always best to be prepared.”
“Tell me about her,” Eisley said as she nestled into the pillows on the couch.
“How about in the morning you meet her and she can tell you all about herself. All thirty-nine words.”
“Are you counting how many words she knows?”
“I just want to make sure she’s on track developmentally.”
Eisley got up from her spot and then rested in the crook of Ford’s arm. Memories flooded back of the two of them lying in the field after football games and gazing at the stars in much the same position.
“Make sure you keep Daddy and Drill Sargent balanced.”
He chuckled, knowing he leaned heavily on his training, but that was all he knew. “Maybe a Mommy could help me do that,” he hinted.
He’d meant it playfully, but the moment the words were out of his mouth, Eisley stiffened.
“Ford, we still have our own lives to sort out before we start to think about making one together.”
Something sharp filled his throat and drove itself down into his chest.
But she didn’t move from his arms.
During his time overseas, Ford had come to know God, to talk to him, to listen. He prayed then with gratitude for the time he and Eisley had together because that in itself was a gift. As much as he talked about fate and destiny, he knew that ultimately, it was all in the Lord’s hands. At that, he drifted to sleep with the woman he loved nestled safely in his arms.
Instead of waking to the sound of wind and rain, a pleasant babbling brought Ford’s eyes open the next morning. On the baby monitor screen, Coco sat up in her crib, clapping her hands together and singing. A smile lifted Ford’s cheeks. He tried not to disturb Eisley who was still in his arms. His grin doubled.
Ford tended to his daughter, but by the time they made it back downstairs, Eisley was awake and had several bowls and ingredients spread across the kitchen counter.
“Pancakes, anyone?” she asked as she flipped one on the griddle. “I found your wholegrain flapjack mix and figured if we add some fruit, we can call it a balanced breakfast.” She was teasing, but seeing her making herself at home in his kitchen brought warmth unlike he’d ever known, especially not growing up with a stable home where Mom made pancakes and Dad did the dishes—or any variation of that.
Coco smiled—she had the kind of grin that could light up a room.
Eisley crossed the kitchen and said, “Hi, I’m Eisley. I’m your daddy’s friend.”
Part of him wanted to hear the word girl in front of friend, but the other part told him to stand down and focus on his priorities.
“I’m Coco.” Her voice was small and squeaky.
“Coco?” Eisley asked. “I love your name. It’s very nice to meet you, Coco.”
Eisley took the little girl’s hand and shook it, but Coco pushed from her father’s arms and reached hers around Eisley’s neck. She hugged Coco back.
Eisley’s eyes widened in surprise then dipped closed as though enjoying the embrace.
Ford dashed to the griddle to keep the pancakes from burning. “I have to warn you, Coco gives really good hugs. I sometimes call her Coco the Koala. It might make you want to stick around.”
“Koala,” the little girl repeated.
The three of them had breakfast as the last of the rain and clouds moved out to sea. They chatted and played a game with the blueberries so Coco would eat them.
Afterward, Eisley called to check on her mother to make sure she was okay. “Apparently, the King and Queen of Concordia just had a baby,” she reported after they got off the phone.
“Congrats to them, but how’s your mom?”
“She loves babies so I think she’s doing just fine.” Eisley set her phone aside. “I think she’ll really like this koala.” Eisley scooped up the little girl so they could wash her hands.
Eisley and Coco got along perfectly. It was more than he could ask for or expect. For the rest of the morning, she played with the little girl, read her stories, and they sang songs together. Eisley’s clothing had dried so she finally changed out of his shirt—though he did like the idea of her wearing it.
Ford took a few minutes to assess for damage around the property. By the afternoon the sun was shining so they walked along the beach looking for treasures. Oftentimes, after a storm, interesting things washed up. As the day faded, he realized he’d already found the greatest treasures: Eisley and Coco.
They had dinner a
nd then Ford put Coco to bed. He was tired from the late night and long day, which didn’t help put his thoughts in order.
Eisley waited downstairs, pacing by the windows that opened to the ocean. “We should talk,” she said.
“Is everything okay?” He sat down because her tone indicated it was something serious.
She stopped abruptly. “When I got back here, I got annoyed with my mother. She’s always been so meddlesome. I told myself that if I ever have kids, I’ll take a hands-off approach. Let them figure things out.” She shook her head. “I was mistaken. Looking back and still to this day, my mother has only meant well. She’s been nothing but helpful, a guide, so generous and patient.”
Ford wasn’t sure where the conversation was going. “She’s a special lady.”
“Listen, I don’t know what kind of lady I am—never mind what kind of mother I’d be, but I know now it won’t be hands off. Not at all. Sure, I’ll let them figure out some things, but after spending the day with Coco, I have so many questions. But one thing I know for sure is that I’m not ready for this.”
“Eisley, no one is. Do you think I was?”
She opened and closed her mouth. Her shoulders rose and fell. “I just don’t know, Ford. I need some time to think.” She started toward the door.
He needed time too, but before she left, he reached for her arm. She spun into his and then he planted a kiss on her forehead. “I understand, but let’s not have another decade pass.”
A small, sad smile formed on her lips and she fled into the coming night.
Ford’s limbs felt heavy and a scratchy sensation filled his throat. He’d left Eisley once and that time, she was leaving him. He forced himself to remain rooted and not run after her because the truth was, he needed the time too. He was brand new at being a dad and had to get that down a bit better before he added to their family. But the hope in his chest, the one that carried him through the horrors of war, blazed on.
Chapter 13
Eisley
The time spent with Ford and Coco was amazing, but it also gave Eisley a lot to think about. They shined a light on how little she’d accomplished in her life. She could blame being stuck in the past, but the truth was, she’d been putting off her life, waiting for Ford to return—for her hero to swoop in and save the day.
