The Soldier's Unexpected Family

by Tanya Agler

  “Do you know everyone in Hollydale?”

  She shrugged and stopped from whistling at the price of the canoe Aidan was eyeing. “That was one reason I moved back. Homesickness can gnaw at you.”

  “You need a home for homesickness.”

  The electric current between them rushed along like class five rapids. She accepted there was something between them, but until Aidan admitted love didn’t run on a schedule, she wouldn’t make the next move. “Home starts with people who care about you. It’s within your reach if you want it.”

  Her heart raced as it sounded like she was proposing he settle here and create just that, a home. Then again, when it came to push and shove, why else would she have been singing Hollydale’s praises all along? She wanted Aidan to love it here and put down some roots.

  Danny bounced up and down before reaching for a paddle. “I’ve never been canoeing. Is it fun?”

  “Depends.” Aidan gave Danny a slight nudge to place the paddle back on the shelf.

  Danny did just that, and Natalie stepped away, admiring Aidan. That was the type of person Aidan was, encouraging others to do the right thing without coming straight out and saying it. Instead, he gave careful prompts to the person so they’d consider their actions for themselves. Same as her teaching style in kindergarten, although there were times she had to break down and flat-out state the moral in simple terms as clearly as possible.

  Natalie stopped looking at the canoes and patted Danny’s arm. “Hey, Danny. We’ve been out long enough. Time to go home. Staying well for the Fourth is our main priority right now.”

  “I’ll walk with you,” Aidan said.

  “That would be nice.” She winced at how bland she sounded.

  As they edged toward the exit, he slipped his hand in hers, and giddiness spread through her as she entwined her fingers with his. This felt like home.

  * * *

  THERE WAS NOTHING like breaking down and showing your innermost weaknesses to someone to pull two people closer together. With his hand joined in hers, he and Natalie walked along Maple Drive. Dusk was fast approaching. He almost let her go but didn’t want to.

  Could love and acceptance be in his grasp?

  They turned north on First Avenue.

  “Natalie! Aidan! Over here.”

  Natalie’s friend Lucie stood on a blanket spread over the grassy area near the gazebo and waved her arms. With some reluctance, he let go of Natalie’s hand first and they strolled over to Lucie.

  After greetings were exchanged, Lucie held out a pink cardboard box with Night Owl Bakery scripted in black, adorned with a whimsical owl. “Caleb’s taking an overnight expedition of possible donors for the nature conservancy out camping. He won’t be home until tomorrow. I’m sending him in my place on Saturday to work on the float, since I have to be at the Wellness Center. As a consolation prize, can I offer you a cookie?”

  Danny looked at her pleadingly. “Please, Aunt Natalie. I haven’t had a cookie for two whole days.”

  Her conflict played out on her face, Danny’s wants against what was best for him. Her shoulders slumped before she perked up. “We’ll split one. That shouldn’t be too rough on your stomach.”

  Danny’s lower lip jutted out, and he pouted. “I want a whole one.”

  “Half or nothing.” Her usually sunny tone contained a warning.

  Danny kicked at the grass. “Guess I’ll have half.”

  Lucie broke one in half and extended a piece to each of them.

  “What do you say to Miss Lucie?” Natalie nudged his ribs.

  “Thanks.”

  They reclined on the picnic blanket with the twins and two dogs. Lucie offered Aidan a cookie as a bulldog came over and sniffed him while the border collie circled the group as if shepherding them before settling back in place.

  “Have you met Ladybug before?”

  Ladybug was the bulldog’s name? He’d have remembered the name, let alone that face. Ladybug sat on her haunches until he petted her.

  “I promise she’s harmless.” Lucie laughed. “She’s really hoping you’re a pushover who’ll give her a cookie. She knows better than to beg from me since these are my favorites. Oatmeal chocolate cherry.”

  If the smudge of chocolate at the corner of her mouth was any indication, Natalie’s friend told the truth. Lucie waited beside Aidan as if seeking his approval, and he decided to take the plunge. The texture of the oatmeal complemented the cherry chunks, and he held up his thumb for approval. “Thanks. These are really good.”

  “Be sure to visit the bakery before you leave.” Lucie reclined on the blanket between Mattie and Ethan, and Ladybug followed while wagging her tail.

  Aidan munched another bite, unused to evenings like these. He savored the rest of the cookie before resting his gaze on Danny.

  Natalie rose and wiped her hands. “Busy day tomorrow. Come on.”

  He and Danny stood, and Aidan stretched his back.

  “But I want the last cookie.” Danny stomped his foot into the ground. “Mommy would have let me have it.”

  A pure look of hurt shadowed Natalie’s face before her ankle boots dug into the grassy knoll. “Shelby would have said ‘no way’ simply on that reaction alone. We’re going home.”

  “I don’t like you anymore.” Danny ran ahead, and Natalie glanced upward before turning on her heels and following him.

  Aidan passed her and looked over his shoulder. “I’ll talk to him.”

  She pushed aside her hair, the curly strands swaying in the breeze. Without a word, she nodded. Aidan hurried and reached Danny, both of them shoving their hands in their pockets.

  This guardian act was new and frightening, in some ways requiring a different sort of bravery than what he was used to. “You should always be respectful.”

  “She’s not my mommy.” The catch in Danny’s voice was too real.

  Aidan wished he knew how to comfort his nephew. He reached into his memories of his father after his mother’s death. Nothing. His father had relied on filling every minute of the day with organized activities covering the gamut from archery to zoology. Cathy had tried reaching out to him, and he’d rejected her. He wouldn’t let Danny make the same mistake.

  “Your mommy wouldn’t want you to be disrespectful to the person she chose for you.” Seemed like the catch in Danny’s voice was contagious. For Danny’s sake, and Natalie’s, Aidan pulled himself together and showed Danny his arm. “You know, some days I think about this scar over and over, and I have to stop myself from feeling sorry for myself.”

  “What does this have to do with my mommy?”

  Straight to the point. He liked that. “There are other days when I see it and remind myself I have work to do, important work, just like there’ll be days when you miss your mom a lot and other days you’ll remember how much she loved you and that will wrap you in enough love to keep you going.”

  They arrived at Natalie’s gate, and Aidan stopped.

  Danny jutted his lip out. “It’s not like you’re staying here. If you don’t stay, I don’t hafta stay.”

  Aidan’s breath caught in his lungs and burned. “You need to apologize to your Aunt Natalie.”

  “Are you staying, Uncle Aidan?” Danny’s big brown eyes filled with tears.

  He slowly shook his head. “I have to return to Fort Lewis in three weeks.”

  The use of the singular pronoun didn’t escape his translator mindset.

  “Are you taking me with you?”

  The sweet smell of strawberries filled the air, and Aidan didn’t have to look back to know Natalie was behind him and probably hanging on his every word. “Your aunt and I will figure out what’s best for you before I go back. She loves you and deserves your respect. You have something to say to her.”

  Danny stomped his foot once more before tears streamed
down his red cheeks. He tried the door, but it stayed closed. Natalie must have locked it. She unlocked the door and stood back. Danny ran inside the house, and Aidan heard the boy’s bedroom door slam. She moved past him.

  “Natalie.”

  She paused and turned, her eyes full of a weariness he’d never seen in them before. “Don’t you need to check on Stormy?”

  “You did the right thing by not giving in.” The admission tore out of him.

  If she was a good guardian for Danny, where did that leave him?

  She shrugged and gave him a half smile. “I see kids with meltdowns on a regular basis during the school year. His grief is going to keep coming in waves. Some will fade quietly onto the shore, while others—” she pointed upstairs “—will come like tsunamis.”

  “Would you have given him the cookie a week ago?”

  “Probably.” She hesitated and held on to the door. “Good night, Aidan.”

  He walked over to his house and checked on Stormy, mewing for her next feeding. Without a word, he prepared a bottle and cuddled the kitten on his lap.

  * * *

  NATALIE STARED OUT her living room bay window and wrapped her hand around her cup of herbal tea. Bright stars illuminated the dark sky. During the school year, she rarely saw this many stars as she and Danny shared the same early bedtime. Now, sleep eluded her. Aidan’s reminder that he had to leave soon burst her bubble already deflated from Danny’s resentment of her.

  She didn’t want to take Shelby’s place, but she did want to forge her own path as his guardian.

  Moving to her couch, she placed her tea on the end table and cuddled with a pillow. She stared at her fireplace, the gas logs pretty even without the flames and heat of winter. A week ago, she’d have given in and allowed Danny another cookie in a second. After holding him in her arms and singing the lullaby, however, she had realized parenthood was more than just fun and games. She had to put her foot down when health and safety mattered.

  Whether that would cost her her contact with Danny in the long run, she wasn’t sure, but she was sure she wouldn’t have kept her promise to Shelby if she allowed Danny whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

  Then again, Dr. Laurel, his therapist, had warned her this type of outburst might happen. Whether this fresh moment of grief was a result of missing Toby this week or a result of the hard weeks leading up to now, resuming visits next week after the holiday was a must.

  “Aunt Natalie.” Small sniffles came from behind her, and she whipped around to find Danny there in his dinosaur pajamas, wiping his nose on his sleeve. “Yes, darlin’.”

  “I’m sorry.” He launched himself at her from his corner of the living room, and she pulled him close on the couch, breathing in essence of little boy. “I love you, Aunt Natalie.”

  Hiccups replaced the sniffles, and she waited for a glimmer of a laugh from him. Before Shelby died, he had always laughed whenever he suffered a case of the “hiccumps,” as he called them. No laugh, but his arms wound around her, holding her tight.

  “No one can take your mommy’s place, but I’ll do my best to be the best auntie I can be.”

  That was, if Danny remained here when Aidan returned to Fort Lewis. His even breathing, a sign he had fallen asleep, calmed her, and she continued to stroke his thick hair. Ever since Francisco died, she relegated planning to the curb, preparing everything, except her lesson plans, on the spur of the moment. There were times that worked, but this wasn’t one of them.

  She was in this for the long haul. Danny deserved her best, and he deserved her fighting for what was right. This was right.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  AIDAN RUSHED INTO the Timber River Counseling Center, concern marking each stride as he made his way to the front desk. Of all the mornings to forget to turn his phone off “do not disturb” after his run. Only after he’d finished playing with Stormy had he realized his mistake and found his phone had several text messages from Natalie telling him of today’s unexpected visit during the Friday lunch hour.

  “Aidan Murphy.” He introduced himself to the receptionist, Jean, and almost saluted.

  “I remember, Major. I never forget a face or a case. That’s why they keep me around here.” Jean nodded. “Go on back. Danny and Natalie are in room C with Dr. Hargraves and Toby.”

  Hurrying through the hall, he stopped abruptly in the doorway with the three faces, four if you counted Toby’s, staring at him. “Sorry I’m late.”

  Upset at his failure to turn his phone back on, he sat in the empty chair just as Toby laid his head on Danny’s knee.

  Next to him, Natalie sat on the low aqua couch with plump yellow and white stripped pillows. Her red hair was pulled back in a messy bun emphasizing her wholesome beauty, which didn’t stop at the surface. He expected reproach or something similar in her eyes. Instead, she radiated a message of laid-back forgiveness. She was easier on him than he was being on himself.

  He could understand why he was attracted to that. Also, why he and Natalie mixed like oil and water with two such different approaches to life.

  The doctor, tall with straight black hair, rose from a bright green chair and extended her hand. “I’m Laurel Hargraves.” In contrast to Natalie’s bubbliness, the young therapist conveyed an air of calm capability, the image of what he thought he’d be drawn to once he retired.

  Still, for some unknown reason, Natalie was the one who had caught his attention and held it.

  He accepted Dr. Hargraves’s handshake and noted a dollhouse nestled against a blue wall beside built-in shelves filled with toys. “I rushed over once I realized Natalie texted, Dr. Hargraves.”

  “No need to stand on such formality. Call me Laurel.” She pointed toward the hall. “A word, please.” Natalie started to rise, but Laurel shook her head. “Just Aidan.”

  “I’m his co-guardian. If it’s about Danny, I deserve to know.”

  Laurel walked to the door. “I’d like to catch him up on today’s session and get to know him a little better.”

  Without missing a beat, Toby nudged Natalie’s hand, and she petted him before Toby returned his full focus to Danny. It was as if Toby knew Natalie’s and Danny’s sense of well-being depended on each other.

  In which case, where did that leave him? He’d messed up his relationship with Shelby. He couldn’t let her down by forsaking her son.

  Perhaps a solid plan and the promise of continuing therapy at Fort Lewis would convince Laurel he had this under control. Aidan followed the doctor out of the room.

  Laurel swiped on her tablet and, from the looks of it, brought up Danny’s file. “I heard you and Natalie found a kitten. Studies have proven the positive effects of owning a pet. Decreased loneliness, increased responsibility for children, and cats are particularly effective in lowering stress levels, all of which should bolster Danny’s self-confidence in the upcoming months before he starts first grade.”

  Aidan didn’t think she pulled him out into the hall to explain the benefits of pet ownership. “What’s the real reason you brought me out here?”

  “I was on vacation, and my partner saw Danny last time. I wanted a minute to find out more about you. It was either move the three of them or the one of you. I chose you.” Her steady brown eyes gave nothing away.

  “I don’t have a good excuse for not being here.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Playing with Stormy is hardly justification for missing this.”

  Laurel kept her gaze on the tablet, although he guessed she registered his every move. “Interesting. Go on.”

  At that moment, Natalie cleared her throat and approached them. The door remained open, his view of Danny and Toby clear. “Sorry, but I couldn’t sit still any longer.”

  Laurel glanced at Natalie, then Aidan. “Danny’s torn at the uncertainty between the two of you.”

  Finally, someone in Hollydale w
as blunt. He wouldn’t have minded, though, if she’d beaten around the bush a little longer.

  “I have a couple more weeks before my leave is over. I promised Natalie I’d take that time and assess every detail in order to make an informed decision about the future.” Promises should matter to a trained therapist.

  “While that’s commendable—” Laurel lowered her voice “—Danny needs stability at this time.”

  “Exactly what I’ve been saying.” Natalie inserted herself into the conversation. “By the way, thank you for thinking of Danny when you had a cancellation so he wouldn’t miss this week’s session. I imagine it’s quite busy the Friday before the holiday weekend.”

  “He also needs wise counsel and solid guardianship.” Laurel tucked her tablet under her arm. “He’s making progress, but it’s slow going. Anything disruptive might slow it even more.”

  Aidan’s gaze was drawn to Toby, whose head still lay on Danny’s leg. His nephew stroked Toby’s fur, nervousness in those familiar brown eyes.

  Aidan returned his attention to the adults. “Is Toby helping?”

  “It’s early yet, but I see small and positive changes. He’s a little boy who lost his mother not that long ago. You need to present a united front when you’re with him.” Laurel looked at him, then Natalie, and back at him again. “In the long run, Danny has the potential to thrive, but he needs a support network. He needs to know there are people who are there for him and who will let him be himself in a manner that’s not rude or harmful.”

  Aidan faced Natalie, and his gaze went to her neck.

  She wasn’t wearing Francisco’s medal.

  “Is Hollydale providing that support network? Should he stay in his established home?” Natalie’s words were a bombshell to his heart.

  It would be hard for a court to go against Shelby’s decision and the advice of a therapist.

  Laurel adjusted the tablet to make another note in Danny’s file. “Based on today’s session, that’s something the two of you need to discuss and decide.”