The Soldier's Unexpected Family

by Tanya Agler

  She raised her chin before giving a slight nod. “Good.”

  An afternoon of fun with a dog disrupted his schedule more than he cared to admit. They were on a tight timeline. Rolling with the punches wasn’t his favorite way of getting the job done, but he’d do whatever it took to make his nephew happy.

  Even if it meant playing with a puppy.

  * * *

  NATALIE CRUISED THROUGH downtown Hollydale with Danny and Aidan as her passengers. Volunteers scrambled to decorate the large gazebo with red, white and blue flag bunting. Others hung welcome banners from one side of Main Street to the other, attaching them to the tops of the new-and-improved bronze light poles. A nearby sign announced road closings while another flashed the early starting time for the parade. Glancing at her rearview mirror, she caught sight of a solemn Danny, quite different from the chatterbox she’d known four months ago. She’d give anything to have that boy back in her life.

  Now his uncle was also part of her life. If she remembered the details Shelby mentioned, Aidan enlisted in the army straight out of college. Hollydale might seem a little dull to him. Meanwhile, there was nowhere else she’d wanted to live, teaching in Raleigh until a position finally opened at the local elementary school last year.

  Driving slower than her usual Indianapolis 500 pace, she wanted to show off her beloved little town to Aidan. For some reason, she wanted him to view it through her eyes and like it as much as she did.

  “If you look out your window, you’ll see our courthouse that dates back to the year Hollydale was put on the map. Our town centered around the timber industry at first, but now we have our fair share of tourists. And that’s the Main Street Pharmacy. Mr. Hoffman’s been the pharmacist forever, and his tech, Tami, knows everyone by name.”

  Hollydale might be small, but the residents cared about each other. Missing out on the fun and love of her family made her decision to return that much easier. Okay, she’d been homesick in Raleigh and wasn’t afraid to admit it. And Shelby, after visiting Natalie a couple of times with Danny, decided to make Hollydale her home and open a lunch café. The business property she’d purchased with a large chunk of her mother’s life insurance policy proceeds still sat vacant on Pine Street.

  “The town square is rather larger than I’d have expected.”

  “My brother married his wife in that gazebo five months ago.” Natalie pointed out the driver’s-side window, keeping a cautious eye on the newest traffic light, which brought the grand total up to four. “If you have time before you go, you have to try one of Miss Louise’s ice-cream cones. When did you say you were leaving?”

  “I didn’t.” Aidan’s arms remained folded, with a guarded expression to match. “If all goes according to schedule, a week from today would be for the best.”

  “You’re not staying with me?” The hurt in Danny’s voice gutted her.

  “I’m based in Seattle at Fort Lewis.”

  Her heart screamed out that his quick departure wasn’t for the best. Danny needed more time with his uncle, a positive influence from the past, someone who knew Shelby when she was little. Her lips remained silent on the subject. With Aidan having a limited layover, it wouldn’t do for her to put her foot in it like she had this morning. If only she’d recognized Aidan, she’d have gone out of her way to start his vacation on a happier note.

  Although they had both connected through Shelby, they’d always missed meeting each other over the years. First in college, then in Raleigh, before Natalie moved back to Hollydale for good. Whenever she invited Shelby to her parents’ home for the holidays, her friend had stayed behind, awaiting Aidan’s visits, or she’d flown to meet him.

  “We’ll squeeze as much fun as possible into a week. A lifetime, so to speak,” Natalie said.

  She concentrated on the traffic light at the corner of Main Street and First Avenue, trying to ignore the effect Danny’s uncle was having on her. Whether it was positive or negative, though, she couldn’t say, as she turned left.

  “Uncle Aidan.” Natalie wanted to kiss Danny for breaking the tension building in her SUV. “You’ll like Toby. He’s gentle and sweet and, if you sit still, he’ll lick your hand.”

  Aidan’s quick intake of breath wasn’t lost on her as she made another left, this time onto Oak Street. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to him since she’d kept him informed of everything through emails, not that he’d bothered to respond. If he knew how far Danny had come since he’d been seeing Toby, he’d be more accepting of Danny receiving counseling after Shelby’s death.

  Besides, Danny was right. Toby had stolen her heart the first time she’d laid eyes on him.

  Natalie pulled into the parking lot. The long, nondescript commercial brick building was rather unassuming. For the longest time, this had been the local video store, until streaming became popular and the new owner turned it into a medical complex.

  Aidan cleared his throat. “One of Danny’s friends lives in an office park?”

  Natalie turned toward Aidan, his scowl deepening the crinkle lines around his eyes. “I think you’re under some sort of misunderstanding. This isn’t a playdate.”

  “So far all you’ve told me about this activity is Danny will be playing with a golden retriever puppy.”

  Right. “Did you get my emails?”

  “What emails?”

  She winced.

  They were already running behind, and Aidan deserved the whole story. She reached to her necklace and slid the clasp to the back of her neck again, touching Francisco’s medallion for added confidence. “Let’s get Danny and Toby together, and then I’ll explain.”

  Danny clutched Natalie’s hand as they neared the entrance of the Timber River Counseling Center. Aidan held the door open, and she ignored the questions in Aidan’s gray gaze. He hadn’t lived through the nightmares Danny had endured in the weeks after Shelby’s funeral. While Natalie had hoped time and love would provide a level of comfort, it had become obvious Danny needed professional help.

  Once inside, Natalie signed Danny in while he bounced on the big red exercise ball in the cheerful children’s waiting area. The spot brought a smile to her face. The rainbow mural livened the other beige walls, and Danny always found something new in the bin of toys. She started for the middle chair but stopped when someone tapped her shoulder.

  “This is a counseling center.” Aidan folded his arms, a gesture Natalie had seen too often over the past couple of hours. “Toby’s an emotional support dog?”

  “A therapy dog,” Natalie clarified and lowered her voice. “They tried play therapy first, but Danny relates to Toby best. We’ll finish this conversation after they call him back.”

  The door opened, and a nurse with a gorgeous golden retriever in a vest called Danny’s name. Danny jumped up and hurried to Toby’s side. “My uncle came to visit me. Be nice to him. He’s a major.”

  Natalie went over and spoke to the nurse for a few seconds before returning to Aidan’s side. “Follow me. The nurse is going to take him for his monthly attention test before he settles in with Toby and the PA, who’s subbing for his regular therapist today. We have a couple of minutes until Danny will be back.”

  She led Aidan to one of the therapy rooms and closed the door behind them. Parts of this room reminded her of her classroom, with its bright yellow walls and toy kitchen set. However, her room didn’t contain a low-resting orange sofa across from an aqua chair where the therapist usually sat. She sank into the sofa opposite the major, who’d already made an impression on Danny. She only hoped he wouldn’t be devastated when Aidan left in a hurry.

  Protecting Danny and keeping him on the road to recovery were her top priorities.

  “Why don’t you start at the beginning?” Aidan scrubbed his clean-shaven face with his right hand. Then he lowered both sleeves to his wrists, but not before she again caught a glimpse of a faded but rag
ged scar running about four inches to the back of his hand.

  “What happened?” Natalie pointed to his arm.

  “That happened years ago and isn’t important. Danny is. How long has he been coming here?”

  That was as much of an answer as he was probably willing to give her at this point.

  Her life centered around making sure kids could be kids. Too often the pressures of the world weighed them down too early. In Danny’s case, he’d lost his mother so young, and Shelby hadn’t listed a father on his birth certificate. Loss wasn’t easy at any age, a lesson she’d learned the hard way, but Natalie would do her best to give him some semblance of a normal life from here on out. Love and laughter went a long way in childhood.

  And in adulthood as well.

  Natalie leaned back and fingered her necklace. His stare verged on becoming a glare, but she didn’t wilt easily.

  “Danny and Shelby were very close. His world caved in when she died. He hasn’t laughed since then, and the nightmares started right away.”

  “You should have consulted me before starting the counseling.”

  “I tried. You didn’t respond.”

  “That must have been for the few weeks I didn’t have access to email. Either that, or yours went to my spam folder.”

  If he thought that steely look of determination would cause her to cave, he’d never been around twenty kindergarten students ten minutes before lunch when they were hungry and snapping at each other. She always kept her control around them, and she’d maintain her sense of calm now. “I’m a teacher, and I know when a child needs immediate help. He deserves a chance to be a kid, and I’m doing all I can to help him.”

  His jaw clenched, and she worried she’d crossed a line. In spite of everything, a judge could decide if Aidan, as Danny’s sole living relative, should have custody over Shelby’s wishes. Her focus had to be on Danny rather than his attractive uncle, who could make everything more difficult if he chose to do so.

  “Then it’s a good thing I’m here.”

  Finally, he said something she supported. He must be coming to his senses at last. “Then you’ll arrange to stay longer? I’m no expert, but there must be some sort of bereavement leave, or something like that.”

  “It’s too late for me to contact my superior officer at Fort Lewis today. You’ve opened my eyes to some details I hadn’t considered before.” He frowned and started to rise. “I’d best call about the arrangements tomorrow.”

  Natalie’s heart soared at how reasonable Aidan was about extending his leave with only a slight suggestion on her part. The real benefactor in the decision was Danny, who’d bloom under his uncle’s attention. “That’s great.”

  “Who’s the best person to talk to on staff about getting Danny’s records transferred?” His words brought that level of wariness back into her spine.

  “Why would you need to do that? Danny has his appointments scheduled for the whole summer. That makes it easier to sleep in or plan our adventures.” Some of which would now have to include Aidan. A twinge of excitement at the three of them doing something together lodged deep in her, and she tried to push the feeling away. Aidan would return to his military base near Seattle too soon while she and Danny remained here.

  Aidan rose, and she followed suit, thankful for the extra inches from her cowboy boots, allowing her to draw even with his taller-than-average height. “I’m not extending my leave.”

  Her stomach sank at how disappointed Danny would be at Aidan leaving so soon. She’d have to console him, and this might set his progress back.

  “I’ll arrange for Danny to continue his therapy at Fort Lewis. I’m taking him with me on Monday.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  “THANK YOU FOR seeing us on such short notice, Ms. Romano.” Natalie shook the attorney’s hand and Aidan did the same.

  “Call me Penelope. I’m glad I could fit you in this morning before my other early appointments.” The petite brunette signaled for them to occupy the seats on the other side of her desk, and he and Natalie did so.

  Part of him bristled at having to come to the law office when there were pressing matters at hand, like packing Danny’s belongings and signing releases for his medical information. He was Danny’s only living relative, and blood trumped everything as far as he was concerned, especially given Natalie’s earlier words about how Danny was a problem she’d be glad to be rid of.

  Aidan handed over the legal documents pertaining to Danny’s custody for Penelope’s examination.

  “This shouldn’t take up much time. Daniel Murphy is my nephew. Unfortunately, there were pressing matters that needed my attention before I could fly over and procure custody. That’s been taken care of, and everything’s in order. I’ll be returning to Seattle next week with Danny.”

  Natalie shook her head, her red hair flying. “After Shelby’s death in late March, I signed custodial papers with Mr. Mahoney. Shelby named me as Danny’s guardian.” Her voice trembled, and she inhaled a deep breath and smoothed the silky fabric of her sundress. “You should have a copy of the custodial order. We came straight here after dropping Danny off at my mother’s, so I don’t have mine with me.”

  “Thomas made some notes here in the file. I need a moment to review them.” Penelope extended a tight smile before focusing her attention to the paperwork.

  Natalie crooked her finger, and Aidan leaned toward her, catching a whiff of her light floral perfume. “Thomas is Mr. Mahoney, who was like an institution in Hollydale since he’d practiced law here before my father was even born. He suffered a heart attack a couple of months ago, sold the firm to Penelope and moved to Arizona.”

  For some reason, Natalie was intent on telling him every detail about every resident of this town. He knew his taciturn demeanor usually dissuaded people from wanting to chitchat. Instead, he usually only heard the strictest of confidences. So this was a new experience. While he could wrangle details out of others, he tried to keep his own conversations short and businesslike.

  Penelope cleared her throat, and he snapped to attention. Sitting ramrod straight, he tried to glimpse some of the paperwork in the file, but Penelope was having none of that.

  “I’m not sure where the confusion has come from, but it seems both of you are under some misconceptions.” Penelope doffed her wire frames and placed them alongside the file.

  “Apparently some of my emails and other communication didn’t reach me while I was on a mission, but she’s indicated she’s only too happy to relinquish custody of Danny and get on with the rest of her summer.” He’d had quite enough. He hadn’t flown over four thousand miles for this. Natalie had a way of getting underneath his skin like no one had in some time, but he needed to settle this now and take Danny with him.

  “I did no such thing.” There was fire hidden in those happy, calm depths of her eyes.

  “You said you were looking forward to having the whole summer ahead of you, free and unencumbered. You agreed that my coming here helped you.”

  “A summer with Danny after the parade is finished. I thought you were the new city manager, remember?”

  “You called Danny a problem, and you said you had dug a deep hole.”

  “You’re twisting my words. I can see where some of what I said might have sounded bad when taken out of context. I meant I’d dug a deep hole in agreeing to work on the float. I never meant anything bad about Danny. I held him the day he was born, and he’s a part of my heart.” She turned toward him, her voice raised. “I’m Danny’s legal guardian. I signed papers to that effect. That has to count for something. Shelby wanted him to grow up with a family, with love.”

  Penelope patted the desk with her hand, and he broke eye contact with Natalie. “I don’t have a gavel, but it’s important to remember we’re here for a reason. The legal standard for a court to decide custodial cases is what is in the best inter
ests of the child.”

  “I’m Danny’s uncle, his flesh and blood.”

  “I’m his legal guardian. I’ve helped him with school and tucked him in every night since Shelby passed.”

  Penelope replaced her glasses and glared at each of them until he and Natalie quieted. “From what I understand, Shelby Murphy listed no father on Danny’s birth certificate.” She looked Natalie’s way and received a nod for her efforts. “And she moved to Hollydale earlier this year, since she had a support network.”

  “Danny’s father was never in the picture. Since Aidan’s in the military, Shelby didn’t want to move to Seattle in case Aidan was transferred yet again. She had enough moving as a child, and she wanted Danny to stay in one place. When she visited me, she loved Hollydale and decided this was where she wanted Danny to grow up. She was going to open a lunch café, Snickerdoodles. It was her pet name for Danny, since those are his favorite cookies.”

  “When she completed the paperwork to purchase the property on Pine Street, Thomas asked her to complete a will.”

  Aidan leaned forward at Penelope’s words.

  “She names Aidan Murphy, that’s you, as Danny’s financial guardian.”

  He breathed in the sedate smell of old books combined with a scent of the fern on the corner of the desk and relaxed. “Thank you. Are there any papers I need to sign to extinguish the previous guardianship forms?”

  “Hold on. I’m not finished. There’s more.”

  Aidan’s stomach roiled at Penelope’s precise diction. He could have used someone of her caliber when dealing with rogue new recruits.

  “She also named Natalie Harrison as Danny’s co-guardian in the event you were still in the military. Is that the case?”

  He nodded. “At least until next summer and my reenlistment date.”

  “Your sister expressed her sincere desire that Danny remain in Hollydale if anything should happen to her prior to his eighteenth birthday or his high school graduation. Before you ask, it’s legal in the state of North Carolina to have unrelated co-guardians of a minor child, unusual but legal.”