The Sergeant's Unexpected Family

by Carrie Nichols

  “Thanks, but it can’t be easy for a confirmed bachelor to be bombarded with everything that goes along with housing a mother and baby.”

  Brody used his foot to set the swing moving again. Mary talking about moving out didn’t bring the relief it should have—the relief it would have a week ago. The fact that he wasn’t happy to hear her talking about getting her own place made him uneasy. He didn’t do long-term relationships. He’d experienced the fallout when they turned bitter and wasn’t wishing that on anyone. Mary moving on would be a good thing, a smart thing. For both of them. And yet the thought of her leaving left him feeling...what? Like something would be missing from his life. No, that was crazy. She and the baby had been here less than two weeks. And yet, he’d fallen in love with the little guy. If he wasn’t careful, he might feel the same about Elliott’s mother.

  “Was the army a dream of yours?”

  It took a moment for Mary’s question to register. He pulled his thoughts together. “After the attacks on September 11, my thoughts turned to the military.”

  She touched his chest. “You would have been young.”

  “Seventeen and impressionable, I guess.” He blew out his breath, trying to stay on topic when all he wanted to do was pull Mary into his arms and...and what? Ride off into the sunset? Safer to stay on topic. “I was eager to make a difference.”

  “How long were you in?” She dropped her hand into her lap.

  He wanted that hand on his lap. “Fourteen years.”

  “That’s well over halfway to a career and retirement. Why did you leave?”

  He inhaled—was he going to do this?—held it for a few beats and exhaled. “I suffered a central retinal vein occlusion—a CRVO. It’s a blockage of the major vein in your eye. Like a stroke. It affects your vision in that eye. The sight in my left eye was—is—compromised.”

  He’d left out the details. There was a lot he couldn’t share, some because it was still classified military intel and some because he wasn’t ready. Even with Mary.

  She placed her hand on his arm. “Were they able to do anything about it?”

  Her hand on his arm was comforting. But he didn’t need comforting about his past. The past was just that. Past. “They can treat it, but the loss is permanent. I will always have blurry vision in that eye, but eventually my right eye became dominant. The whole thing affects your depth perception, but your brain learns to compensate for that, too.”

  “And that meant you had to leave the army?”

  “They wanted to stick me behind a desk. I didn’t join the army for that. I was Delta Force, not a clerk, so I bailed when my time was up.” He used the hand on the back of the seat to toy with her hair, enjoying the silky strands running through his fingers.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize.” His fingers traced the curve of her ear. “It’s not your fault.”

  “Knee-jerk reaction.” She leaned closer, almost snuggled into his body. “I hate that you had to give up your career.”

  He opened his mouth to tell her he was resigned to losing his army career. “I’m... I’m going to kiss you.”

  He brought his mouth closer to hers, giving her time to say no or push him away, praying she would do neither. She blinked and parted her lips as if in anticipation. He lowered his mouth to hers.

  Her lips were soft and warm under his, and her scent swirled around him, sending his blood racing through his veins to gather—

  A cry came over the baby monitor, and they jumped apart like guilty teens caught necking on the porch by an overprotective dad.

  He stared at her, his breath coming in short gasps along with hers. Another cry over the monitor broke the spell. “I have to confess... I enjoyed that.”

  She swallowed, her muscles working in her slender throat. “Me, too.”

  He caressed her cheek with his fingertips, savoring the soft, warm skin.

  Elliott cried again, and Mary winced. “I should check on him.”

  Brody rested his arms on his thighs as the door shut behind Mary. He should be grateful for the interruption. So why wasn’t he?

  * * *

  Mary changed Elliott’s diaper and rubbed his back before laying him down. He yawned and drifted back to sleep. Satisfied he was okay and a dream or noise had disturbed him, she went into her room and got ready for bed.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss and what might have happened if Elliott hadn’t interrupted them. Torn between relief and frustration, she stared at her reflection in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. Would getting physical with Brody be a mistake or the best thing that had happened to her? He’d already told her he didn’t do complicated relationships. And yet watching him with Elliott and with the animals, she knew he possessed a deep capacity for caring. He might deny it, but Brody Wilson cared with all his heart.

  Before getting into bed, she opened the bedroom window, enjoying the sound of the wind chimes tinkling in the evening breeze. He’d shrugged off his purchases, but it had melted Mary’s heart to think he might have bought them for her enjoyment.

  She turned off the bedside lamp and tugged the covers over her, and exhaustion soon pulled her under.

  * * *

  Bright sunshine streamed through the windows when she awoke. What time was it? Was Elliott still sleeping? She rushed into his room, but his portable crib was empty. Not bothering to dress, she threw her bathrobe on and tied the belt and followed the murmur of voices down the stairs and to the kitchen. She hesitated in the doorway, her hand curled around the door frame.

  Brody sat in a chair pulled away from the kitchen table with Elliott in his arms. The baby drank from a bottle as he gazed up at his uncle, who looked relaxed and natural. If she’d had any misgivings about coming to find Brody, they melted away. At least this time she’d made a wise choice. Now she needed to be careful not to ruin it by falling in love.

  Brody glanced up. “Good morning.”

  His smile had her pulse in overdrive. “Did he wake you?”

  “No, I was up and heard him chattering to himself and went to check on him.”

  She stepped farther into the kitchen, the wood floor cool on her bare feet. “You should’ve woken me.”

  “I figured I’d let you sleep. I know he’s kept you up the past few nights.”

  “Thanks. He’s teething. But I—” She broke off to stifle a yawn. “I’m sorry if he’s kept you awake, too.”

  “He hasn’t.”

  “But he must’ve if you knew he’s been keeping me up,” she couldn’t help pointing out.

  “I’ve been awake, but it hasn’t had anything to do with Elliott.”

  “Oh?” She glanced at him, but he didn’t elaborate. As much as she wanted to know what demons kept him awake at night, she didn’t have the right to ask. Listen to yourself. He was Elliott’s uncle, and she was a houseguest. Period. A couple of kisses didn’t equal a relationship. He’d offered her a place to stay until she got on her feet in Loon Lake.

  “Do you know of any places in town that are hiring?” she asked.

  “Hiring?” His brows pulled together, and he frowned.

  “I need a job. Getting employment is important so I’ll know what rent I can afford. I don’t want to dip into my savings if I can avoid it. At some point I’d like to be able to buy us a home of our own. Someplace permanent.” A forever home. Something she’d never had but had longed for with all her might. Maybe an old farmhouse that she could restore as time, talent and resources permitted.

  “You don’t have to rush out and take the first job that comes along. Take your time finding the right one.”

  “I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

  “You haven’t.” Brody grinned at Elliott, who reached up and grabbed his nose. “You and this little guy can stay as long as you need. Right, little dude?”
/>   Elliott kicked his legs and squealed. “Doooo.”

  Her lungs expanded, and she exhaled on a laugh. “Did he just say ‘dude’?”

  Brody chuckled. “I think he did. Something wrong with ‘dude’?”

  “Nothing. It’s just not the first word I expected my son to learn.” Elliott was making sounds, nothing more, but she took the opportunity to learn more about Brody. He wasn’t the most forthcoming guy she’d known. “Where did you get that, anyway? You don’t look like a surfer.”

  “I’m not, but I knew someone who...was.” Brody’s blue eyes clouded over.

  “A friend?”

  “We were in the army together. Sean was the stereotypical West Coast surfer, although I suspect a lot of that was put on. But it worked. Had women flocking to him.” His smile was tinged with sadness, the kind of bittersweet smile people got when they remembered the good times with someone they’d lost.

  “Wha—” She stopped to clear her throat. “What happened to him?”

  “He received what doctors label traumatic brain injury while rescuing a fellow soldier.” Brody’s voice was flat as if reciting facts, as if pushing the associated feelings away.

  She yearned to comfort him, but words escaped her. Every platitude that came to mind had a hollow ring to it. And she feared physical comforting would lead to places they might regret.

  Elliott scrunched up his face and grunted. Brody lifted him higher. “Uh-oh. I think it’s time for Mommy to take over.”

  The moment had passed and, although she wished she’d been able to find the right words, she let it go and concentrated on the immediate. “Funny how that works.”

  “I could always switch with you if you’d rather muck out the stalls.” He lifted his eyebrows as if trying to entice her.

  “Hmm...” She pretended to think it over. “I guess I’ll stick with my son.” She reached for Elliott.

  “Sorry, gotta go to Mommy.” Before letting go of his nephew, Brody cupped his hand over Elliott’s curls. “But I was rooting for you, big guy.”

  Mary took Elliott and wrinkled her nose when she got a whiff. No wonder Brody was so eager to escape to the barn. Brody went into the mudroom.

  “Before you go to deal with your...uh, stuff, have you heard anything from Ogle about my car?” she asked before he left.

  “He said he’s waiting for the parts he ordered.” He stood in the doorway, pulling his boots on. “Why? Do you need a lift somewhere?”

  “I need a haircut, and Meg recommended a place in town, Colleen’s Cut and Caboodle.”

  He laughed. “Catchy. Does this afternoon work?”

  “Ha. I can see you haven’t gone to many hair salons.”

  He frowned in confusion. “Is that a no?”

  “It means I’ll have to call the place and see if they have any openings available.” She shrugged. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  A strange look crossed his face, but he lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. “Okay, just let me know.”

  After dealing with Elliott’s diaper and giving him a bath, Mary sat him on a blanket in the living room and called Meg’s hairdresser. As luck would have it, there had been a last-minute cancellation.

  That afternoon on the drive into town, Brody said he needed to pick up a few things from the feed store, so he dropped her off and told her to text him when she was done.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind taking Elliott with you?” she asked as Brody pulled up in front of the salon.

  “Go,” he said and waved his hand. He glanced in the rearview mirror. “Us guys will be fine, won’t we, dude?”

  Elliott waved his stuffed bear up and down. “Dooooo.”

  “See?” Brody chuckled as Mary got out of the truck, and the sexy sound followed her into the hair salon.

  “Welcome to Colleen’s,” a teenage girl with bright purple hair greeted her.

  Mary returned the girl’s smile but took a quick survey of the salon before stepping up to the counter.

  The girl fluffed out her purple locks. “Before you ask, we ran out of purple dye yesterday.”

  Mary snapped her fingers. “Just my luck. I have an appointment. Mary Carter.”

  “Oh, you’re the woman with the baby who’s staying with Brody Wilson,” the girl said with a cheerful grin.

  “Ashley.” An older woman with plain blond hair approached the counter and shook her head at the teen.

  Ashley just shrugged. “It’s not like it’s a secret. Kevin told me he and Danny brought some baby stuff out to the farm.”

  “It’s okay. I’m learning how fast news travels around here.” Mary smiled at the two women.

  “Living in Loon Lake is like playing six degrees of Kevin Bacon.” The older woman shook Mary’s hand. “I’m Loretta—we spoke on the phone.”

  Mary followed Loretta past several other customers, who smiled and said hello. The woman kept up a steady stream of friendly conversation as she trimmed Mary’s hair. After she’d finished, she insisted Mary show her pictures of Elliott. Mary dug out her phone, and soon other customers came over and oohed and aahed over him.

  “Be sure to bring him in here so we can say hi,” Loretta said.

  “And we won’t complain if you bring that fine-looking Brody Wilson in, too,” another woman commented.

  “Ladies, please,” Loretta said but couldn’t hide her grin.

  “We may be old, but we’re not dead or blind,” a woman said to a round of “hear, hear.”

  “Pay no mind to them.” Loretta guided Mary to the front of the salon.

  “It’s okay,” Mary told her. Heck, she wasn’t blind either.

  “Should I put you down for a trim in about six weeks?” Ashley asked as Mary paid. “You can always change it if something comes up.”

  Mary glanced around the small salon, smiling at the women who were there. When they smiled back, she nodded. “Yes, I’d like that.”

  * * *

  Brody texted Mary while the kid from the feed store loaded supplies into the bed of the truck. The café was located two storefronts away from the hairdresser, so he told her he and Elliott would wait for her there. He had no idea how long it took for women to get their hair cut. In his opinion, Mary’s hair looked fine, but he’d kept that to himself.

  Brody set Elliott’s infant seat on the table in a booth by the windows and marveled at how the baby’s smile and dark eyes attracted everyone’s attention.

  “You’re a male version of your mom,” he whispered to his nephew.

  The door to the café opened, and Mary stepped in. Brody’s heart beat against his chest, and he had to swallow several times to keep from drooling.

  Elliott kicked his legs and began babbling when he spotted his mother.

  “Hello to you, too, sweetie.” Mary squished his chin.

  “I thought you were getting your hair cut?” Brody asked as she slipped into the bench seat across the booth from him.

  Trudi, the waitress who’d led Mary over to the booth, gasped and bopped Brody on the head with her order pad. “Brody Wilson, what is wrong with you?”

  “Hey.” Brody brought his arm up in a defensive gesture.

  “You do not say something like that to a woman just back from the beauty salon,” Trudi sputtered.

  Elliott drew their attention when he burst into infectious baby giggles.

  Brody turned to Elliott. “You think that’s funny, do you?”

  The baby laughed harder, and Brody put his hand around Elliott’s stomach and tickled him. “Don’t encourage her, dude. We guys have to stick together.”

  Mary ran her fingers through her hair. “Maybe I should have gotten purple like Ashley.”

  “Is that what color it is this week?” the waitress asked.

  Mary nodded. “I’m not sure purple would work with my nat
ural hair color, though.”

  Trudi tilted her head as if studying Mary’s hair. “Yeah, I’m not sure that—”

  “You two can’t be serious,” Brody interrupted. “I love Mary’s hair. It looks great just the way it is.”

  “Now, that’s the right answer,” Trudi said and winked at Mary. Lifting her chin, the waitress leaned toward Elliott. “Let that be a lesson to you, young man.”

  His response was to blow spit bubbles and giggle.

  “What can I get you two to eat?” Trudi’s pencil hovered above the order pad.

  Brody motioned toward her pad with his head. “I see that thing is good for something other than hitting me?”

  “Don’t tempt me,” Trudi shot back. “The special today is fresh lobster roll.”

  Heck, he’d let Trudi whack him all she wanted if it meant putting that grin on Mary’s face. “Do you like lobster?”

  “I love it, but—”

  “We’ll take two,” Brody said and tucked the menus back into their place between the napkin holder and the salt and pepper shakers.

  “Curly fries?” Trudi stuffed the order book into her apron pocket.

  Brody raised his eyebrows at Mary, and she nodded.

  “Good choice.” The waitress hitched her chin at Brody’s empty white ceramic mug. “More coffee?”

  He raised his hands. “No, I’ve had enough. Just a water refill to go with lunch. Mary?”

  “Water’s good for me.”

  The waitress trotted off, and Mary turned her attention to Elliott. “Have you been behaving yourself for Uncle Brody?”

  “Your son is quite the little flirt. He’s been entertaining the ladies.” He grinned and canted his head toward Elliott. “If I’d known babies were such chick magnets, I might have gotten one a long time ago.”

  Mary rolled her eyes. “I doubt you need any help in that department.”

  “He wouldn’t if he didn’t keep to himself out on that farm of his.” Trudi appeared and set a red plastic tumbler in front of Mary and used a pitcher of ice water to fill it and refill Brody’s. “He’d like nothing better than for all of us to think he’s an ogre like that...you know, that green guy in my grandkids’ movies.”