The Soldier's Unexpected Family

by Tanya Agler

What?

  He couldn’t love someone he’d just met. He didn’t have “fall in love” circled on his calendar for this month or any other month, and he wouldn’t have chosen someone who had big dreams and a hug for every situation, someone who brought a room to life, someone who made the world better with her rays of sunshine.

  Until now.

  The thought of going to Fort Lewis without telling her they should turn this fledgling relationship into something substantial tore at him. This time, he wouldn’t make it sound harsh and cold but make it what it really was about: home and stability and a purpose. This time, it would be about love.

  Danny might be the reason they first connected, but what he felt for Natalie went beyond that. It was about finding his family, his home, a love that spread light in those dark times.

  He always thought he had to have an exact strategy to make a family, yet what he wanted was so much more than any idea. He wanted a future and love and a warm, gregarious redhead who would remind him about spontaneity in a world where control could only go so far.

  Natalie provided all that, and so much more. He had to talk to her about her and Danny waiting here at home for him, a permanent base at the end of his service.

  If it wasn’t too late.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  NATALIE CLIMBED THE steps up to the gazebo for the few minutes until she had to be at Penelope Romano’s law office. She sat on the bench and from this vantage point, she had the best view in Hollydale to gaze out at all the storefronts of the town she loved. Mrs. Glisson swept the sidewalk in front of the floral shop where Natalie had worked summers in high school. Miss Louise cleaned her windows, wiping the glass in big circles. Deb made changes to the placard in front of The Busy Bean.

  Her heart swelled, but it wasn’t the town itself she loved so much as the people, her friends. They’d be here when she left, and most would be here when she visited often. She’d carry Hollydale in her heart, same as Shelby, same as Francisco. All this time, though, she’d thought she could only function in Hollydale, yet the past year had given her a wake-up call. It wasn’t that she couldn’t function elsewhere, it was that her heart hadn’t belonged to Raleigh.

  Even a month ago, saying farewell to Hollydale would never have crossed her mind. Now? The two Murphy males made the decision easy—emotional, but easy.

  She’d used the rest of the morning to think through her decision to be with Aidan and Danny, since she’d be leaving her principal in the lurch. Marisa could find someone to take her place. Until that happened, though, Natalie would remain here, packing and getting everything in order.

  That was, if Aidan agreed they had something worthwhile, something rare and precious. She had to hear his feelings for herself to make any of this work.

  Something told her she wouldn’t have to wait long. His familiar form strode toward the gazebo. She glanced around, looking for Danny, but not seeing him.

  “Is everything okay?” She jumped to her feet, the silk of her sundress rustling, her pink cowboy boots clattering against the gazebo floor. “Where’s Danny?”

  Aidan started to roll down his sleeves and stopped in midaction, and she hid her smile at having some effect on him. Then she met his gaze, his gray eyes as tumultuous as the clouds hovering over Hollydale. Her smile faded. More than anything, she wanted him to face every moment with the strength he gave so freely to others.

  “Danny’s fine. He’s at Hyacinth’s.” Aidan settled in the middle of the bench, and she scooted to the far end, not trusting her reaction to him, for good reason. His citrusy scent filled the air, and she longed to inch closer until there was little separating them. However, there was too much on the line for her to waver.

  “Danny’s helping her with birdhouses destined for the children’s area of the new nature conservancy. In her words, ‘Only a child can do justice to those dwellings, which will provide nourishment and edification to so many of nature’s creatures.’” Aidan sighed.

  In spite of everything, Natalie laughed. “That definitely came from Hyacinth’s mouth, but why? Why is Danny there instead of with you?”

  “Because he might get the wrong idea when I kiss you.” Aidan closed the gap and placed his warm hands on her cheeks. “May I? One kiss and then we’ll talk.”

  She hesitated. Whenever they kissed, she lost track of everything around her. “That doesn’t sound like the stoic soldier who arrived in Hollydale.”

  “I’m not the same person. A certain redhead told me today there’s strength in confronting your emotions. I thought she’d run out on me, but it turns out, I didn’t follow her.”

  “Aidan. I’m going to find a job in Seattle, near Fort Lewis.”

  “Or my heart, but there’s no time like the present to institute plan B.”

  Their words overlapped, and they met each other’s gazes.

  “What?” Once again, they talked in unison, and she pointed to herself.

  “I know you think I run on emotion.” She breathed in deeply as if she’d made a dramatic statement, but that was the simple truth. She did, and there was nothing wrong with that. “And it might seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision to follow you, but there’s no better time, really. My sister can rent my house from me while she adjusts to her divorce, and I’ll come out West as soon as Marisa has a replacement for me and I have a new job lined up. First, though, I need to talk to my boss and post my résumé online.”

  “I can’t let you do that.” His husky voice made her heart sing. “You love Hollydale.”

  “I love you more.” He needed to know this was all about him, someone loving him enough to not let go, someone loving him enough to not hold back or run away. “And this isn’t to do with Danny. I love the solidness of you, the way you concentrate on every task, the way you devote yourself to what you hold dear.” She kept her gaze on him. She needed to know if he loved her.

  Small lines crinkled around his eyes, genuine surprise flowing out of him. “That’s a lot, considering we’ve only known each other a couple of weeks.”

  “I know it seems strange, but there are times you know when something’s right.” She reached for his hands, grasping them.

  “This isn’t right.”

  Her heart thudded. She’d been so sure he cared for her, even that he loved her.

  “Oh.” The word slipped from her mouth.

  He gripped her hands and squeezed. “You’re right for me, but what you’re prepared to do for me, for us? That’s not right.” He slipped one of his hands out of hers and ran his fingers down her cheek, wiping away her tears. “You came into my life like a breath of fresh mountain air, sweet and revitalizing.”

  “There’s an us.” That sounded like a question and a statement rolled into one.

  “I want there to be an us. We’re both right. We need time to grow, to test the waters, so to speak, to make sure we don’t screw this up for Danny.” His shoulders began relaxing as if he’d realized he didn’t have to carry the weight of the world on them.

  “That’s what I’m saying. I’m going to move to Seattle.”

  He shook his head. “Shelby had the right idea. Danny should stay here until I’m done with the military. By then, we’ll know everything about each other.”

  She laughed again, the colors of the world becoming crisp and clear again. “I can’t imagine a military man without a few good secrets.”

  Aidan’s face sobered. “It’s true I’ll have to keep some information classified, but I’ll share everything I can about my present, and I’ll talk to you about my past. In return, you’ll tell me about Danny and Stormy.” He paused, and she saw the first hint of a smile. “And Hyacinth and Belinda.”

  “What about them?” Natalie winced.

  Aidan explained about Sweet Shelby’s Tea Room, and her mouth dropped open. He leaned over and kissed her, and she pulled him close, the kindness and brav
ery of him irresistible. For seconds, maybe minutes, the kiss swirled everything inside her into a kaleidoscope of color and wonder that this man wanted her in his life.

  She pulled back and gasped, reveling in the taste of coffee and Aidan remaining on her lips. “Penelope!” She glanced at her phone and moaned. “We need to be there in five minutes.”

  “That should be enough time for us to make a plan together.”

  As they walked hand in hand, he talked about the tea room and a series of his own phone calls, including one to Mayor Wes and one to the firm in Washington, DC, which agreed to having him act as a consultant on a contractual basis after his discharge. He’d live here but fly out when needed.

  They arrived at the lawyer’s office with no time to spare. In a mere five-minute walk, they’d settled Danny’s future, at least as far as the next year was concerned. She’d stay in Hollydale with him, while Aidan would visit when he could do so. Once his discharge came through, he’d move here permanently. Until then, Becks could rent Shelby’s house. Her sister being close by would help out not only her sister, but all of them. And Bob Woodley, the current city manager, would stay on long enough to get his full pension and benefits before Aidan arrived to take over the job.

  “You thought of everything, Murphy,” she joked as they climbed the stairs to the front door.

  “Well, I didn’t know if you’d give me another chance, Harrison.”

  She went up on tiptoe and he lowered his head as their lips met for a brief kiss.

  “I think the grand marshal, who helped a small kitten survive and negotiated a truce in the town, deserves one more chance. Heroes don’t come along every day, you know.”

  “Neither do vivacious redheads who turn my life upside down.” He smiled.

  EPILOGUE

  AIDAN CHECKED HIS duffel bag in the parking lot. New cat toy for Stormy, check. Lego set for Danny, check. His honorable discharge papers, check. Until last week, he hadn’t expected the military to release him from his duties three months early. However, the JAG attorney who’d met with him had explained he received credit for his medical injury, which had pushed up his discharge date to March instead of June.

  Spring break never looked so good as it did at Hollydale Park, with green shoots coming out of the hickory tree branches and the red maples in full leaf. Working with Diane and Carl Harrison, he’d arranged a surprise for Natalie and Danny.

  A knock at his window grabbed his attention. There was Danny with a load of balloons. Aidan jumped out of the car and hugged his nephew.

  “Surprise, Uncle Aidan!” Danny held him tight while the sunlight streamed across his face.

  Somehow, he should have known he couldn’t catch Natalie and Danny off guard.

  Barking filled the air. A puppy on a leash was headed his way, tugging Natalie along the path. His breath caught. For a minute, he wanted to check to make sure this was all real. Despite everything thrown at her, she hadn’t given up on him. Her bangle bracelets provided a soft melody, and she stopped and smiled as he soaked in her yellow sundress with matching yellow-and-brown cowboy boots. He’d dreamed of this moment, but nothing beat the reality of coming home and being with her.

  He was thrilled to see them both. He dropped his duffel bag on the sidewalk. “Is this the puppy we talked about adopting?”

  A tan puppy sniffed him and decided he liked Aidan as he licked his leg and flopped onto the sidewalk for a belly rub. Aidan complied.

  “I know it seems like I talked you into it,” she began. “But someone dropped a litter of puppies off at Lucie’s house, and she’s eight months pregnant, so we all pitched in. Georgie and Mike took one, Becks took two—she’s such an overachiever—and who could say no to this face? Even Stormy approved.”

  He stopped any other words with a kiss, a long one he didn’t want to end.

  Danny hopped up and down beside them. “I got to name him, Uncle Aidan. He’s Edison cause we were studying him at school, but Aunt Natalie shortened it to Eddie.”

  He grinned and met her gaze. Sparks zinged the air.

  “Welcome home, Aidan.”

  Diane came out of nowhere and grabbed the leash. “Come on, Danny. Come on, Eddie. Let’s get this party started.”

  Natalie moved into his arms, and he held her tight, the strawberry scent soaking into him. He knew he’d never forget this moment as long as he lived.

  “I’ve missed you,” she said.

  “I love you.” The words spilled out of him as he repeated himself in five other languages for good measure.

  She cupped his face and kissed him. Seconds passed, and he gave in to the sweetness and the love. Breaking away, she took his hand and pulled him toward the pavilion, where half the town seemed ready to welcome him back officially.

  “You knew, didn’t you? Who told you? Your mom? Your dad?” After all, when he’d called her parents to tell them his intention of asking Natalie to marry him and sought their approval—rather old-fashioned but something Aidan felt compelled to do—he had revealed his homecoming date.

  “When you Skyped me last week, the discharge papers were on your desk. So was the airline ticket.” Her eyes twinkled. “It’s hard to fool a kindergarten teacher. You might want to remember that.”

  Tonight he’d surprise her when he proposed. He knew she’d say yes. The look in her eyes communicated enough love for a lifetime and then some. In Hollydale, he’d found a home. He’d found Natalie.

  She tapped his shoulder, and he leaned over. “By the way, I’m going to knock your socks off when you see me in my green cocktail dress at Hollydale’s new fancy restaurant tonight.” She beamed. “Just in case any important questions get asked.”

  His laugh was full and rich. One day he’d surprise her, although he didn’t know when and he didn’t know how. After all, unexpected twists had made his life that much fuller, starting with his nephew, and the redhead who was leading him into the pavilion to share her friends and family with him.

  Natalie was the bright star that would always guide him home.

  * * *

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  PROLOGUE

  “I SHOULD HAVE called this in,” Seth Reagan muttered. Alone in his two-room private living quarters in the S.R. SoffTec corporate tower, he paced back and forth. Seth hated waiting for others to decide what he’d do for the next three or four months. He stopped by the floor-to-ceiling windows and looked down twenty-one stories at rain-drenched Seattle. The storm had passed, but the choppy waters of Puget Sound were almost black.

  Seth exhaled and turned away from the gloomy day to glance at his surroundings—the place he’d lived for the past seven years. It was functional, with all-white walls, an exercise room through a door to the left by the sauna and a bathroom. The main space had a long computer center and a large platform bed that faced the views. Only one decoration hung over the bed. It was a framed picture of three teenaged boys with a large rugged-looking man, all four of them grinning into the camera near a horse corral. It had been taken during Seth’s last year at the group foster home on a ranch north of Eclipse, Wyoming.

  He remembered the day clearly, that moment when James “Sarge” Caine had rounded up Jake Bishop, Ben Arias and Seth by the stables. The man declared that his wife, Maggie, wanted a picture of him and his boys. The boys had been fifteen-year-old strangers when they’d arrived at the ranch, but they w
ere family when they’d each left at eighteen. His family. Seth quickly crossed to the photo and took it off the wall. After he put it in his suitcase, he zipped up the bag, anxious to leave.

  When the connecting door to his executive offices opened, Owen Karr, his executive vice president, finally showed up. Seth greeted him with a blunt, “It’s about time.”

  The slender man was forty, seven years older than Seth, and looked more like a CEO than Seth ever had or would. In a gray pinstriped suit and polished oxfords, with his red hair newly styled, Owen was corporate all the way. Seth, on the other hand—wearing jeans, a gray thermal shirt and scuffed leather boots, along with the shadow of a beard—probably looked like he belonged in maintenance.

  “I’m here now,” Owen said as he motioned Seth to one of two leather chairs by the windows. “Sit and I’ll make this quick.”

  Seth dropped into the chair closest to him and raked his fingers carelessly through his hair, which was in desperate need of a trim. “Okay, what did the board say?”

  Owen swiveled his chair to face Seth. “They agreed to your sabbatical with a return set at three months. They also agreed to your request for me to be acting CEO while you’re gone.”

  “Great,” Seth said. The priorities that had driven Seth’s life as an adult had all been about his company and about protecting anything to do with it. But that had shifted drastically when he’d received a phone call just after Thanksgiving last November. Sarge had taken a fall on the ranch. He hadn’t been found until hours later by the only ranch hand who still worked there.

  From that moment on, Seth’s life had changed. Work had ceased to control his every waking hour. The company he’d founded and grown was strong and could survive without him for as long as Sarge needed him. “Now I’m going home.”

  Owen nodded. “Got it.”

  Seth glanced at his wristwatch. Just over an hour before he could make a break for it. “Conrad, my pilot, called ten minutes ago. The storm’s over and it’s clearing up to the east. So, I’ll need the town car in the lower parking garage at one o’clock to get to the airport.”