The Soldier and the Single Mom

by Lee Tobin McClain

  In the past, he would have been royally mad that Gina had had coffee with Danny against his advice, to the point where he couldn’t have had a reasonable discussion. He remembered, with some embarrassment, a couple of occasions when he’d gotten jealous about Ivana. Both had led to huge fights. But today, he’d managed his feelings with just a little mild argument.

  And out by the Rescue River sign last week, when Dion had flashed his lights, he hadn’t freaked out. Yeah, he’d been startled, but he hadn’t grabbed Gina and taken her to the ground or some crazy move like that.

  Counseling and AA and prayer must be starting to have an impact, even on a hardheaded creature like him.

  Gina cleared her throat like she’d been trying to get his attention for a while. “Hey,” she said. “If this is too much trouble, I can start asking Angelica to bring me home.”

  “What?” He glanced over at her and was surprised to see her lower lip out and her eyes blazing. “It’s no trouble. What are you talking about?”

  “You’ve been completely silent during this whole drive. You didn’t even say hi to Bobby!”

  “Well, excuse me.” Was he supposed to put on some kind of show for her? He paused, took a breath. She’s a woman. She has different needs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was acting weird.”

  “You’re not sulking about my having coffee with Danny Walker?”

  He frowned, thinking. “I’m not thrilled about it. I don’t trust the guy.”

  “So you are mad.” There was the satisfaction of being right in her voice.

  “No.” He shook his head. “You’re an adult. And...although I feel a lot for you, we’re not a couple. I don’t have the right.”

  They were driving through Rescue River now, getting close to the guesthouse, and he didn’t want to leave things like this. On an impulse, he pulled over beside the town park. “Look, since I neglected Bobby before, how about we take him to the playground for a little bit?”

  He turned off the truck and looked at her. There were two vertical wrinkles between her eyebrows, and her lips pressed together.

  “We don’t have to,” he said. He put his hand back on the keys, waiting for the put-down that might be coming. You never knew with women.

  But then she smiled, her cheeks going a little pink. “Okay. Sure. That would be great.”

  Happiness flooded him. He’d been able to get her from upset to happy. He was learning, maybe at a slow pace, but still. He came around to her side of the truck, opened the door for her and helped her out.

  Her hand was soft, delicate. He pulled in a breath.

  She shot a glance at him and then got very busy unhooking Bobby from his car seat in the back.

  He shouldered the diaper bag while she carried Bobby, wiggling with excitement, on her hip.

  “I have to say,” she said as they headed toward the play area, “I was uncomfortable with Danny this morning.”

  “What did he do? Did he make a move on you? Do you want me to talk to him?”

  “No, no!” She laughed a little. “I just... Well, I question his motives.”

  “I can tell you his motives,” Buck groused.

  Her laugh rang out like a bell. “I love this park,” she said, waving her hand around. “We didn’t have this kind of friendly-feeling place in my neighborhood in California.”

  “I used to play sports here as a kid,” he said, accepting the change of subject. “And do less wholesome things when I was in high school.”

  “You’re such a bad boy.” She rolled her eyes and then looked wistful. “This must have been a great town to grow up in.”

  “It was.” And for a second, Buck got a hard, hot yearning to stay, to raise a family here like had been the plan with Ivana and Mia.

  They reached the playground, and Buck set the diaper bag down on a bench. A couple of moms on the other side of the colorful play structures stood talking while their kids climbed the taller one, yelling out their after-school joy. Off in the distance, someone was stringing lights and people were unloading something from a truck, probably getting ready for the festival at the end of the week.

  Gina carried Bobby over to a bucket-style swing and eased him into it, and then stood in front while Buck pushed it gently from behind, making Bobby giggle each time he swung toward his mom. A light breeze rattled the still-bare tree limbs and the sun warmed the back of Buck’s shoulders.

  When Bobby tired of the swing, Buck lifted him out and helped him toddle over to a play structure. Bobby pulled himself up and climbed through an opening, landed on his hands and then pulled himself through. Immediately, he turned around and did the same thing again.

  “He is so close to walking.” Gina squatted down and reached into her pocket, then looked at the basic flip phone with disappointment. “Oh, man, I wish I’d brought my other phone to take a picture!”

  So Buck pulled out his phone and snapped a bunch of photos and a video—of Bobby, mostly, but also of his pretty mom. She’d be happy to have memories of herself and Bobby together as he grew.

  He sure was a cute kid. As cute as Mia had been, though in a different way. Sadness and nostalgia washed over him, but gently, a spring shower rather than a storm.

  He could think about Mia now. And yeah, it hurt, a lot. That was only natural. Losing her and Ivana would always be the biggest sadness of his life.

  He glanced up at the sky, pale blue with fluffy white clouds scudding by. Mia and Ivana were with Jesus now. And he didn’t know what heaven was like, but he was sure that mother and daughter were together and happy. Maybe there was a big swing set somewhere up there.

  His throat tightened. He swallowed, then focused on Bobby. “Come on, little man. Ever gone down a slide before?”

  * * *

  Gina watched as Buck lifted Bobby halfway up the plastic slide, then whooshed him down. As Bobby laughed, Gina’s heart melted a little.

  Buck was so kind. Even when they were arguing, even when she’d been a teeny bit unreasonable, he didn’t blow up or sulk. Instead, he tried to make things right.

  She was starting to trust that Buck had her best interests at heart, that he wasn’t trying to manipulate her the way Hank—and, yes, her father as well—used to do.

  Moving to the bottom of the slide, she knelt down so Bobby could glide into her arms, safely guided by Buck. A couple more trips, and he wanted to wander over to a low play table. She helped him, and he stood banging the table like a drum.

  “Sit down over there,” Buck said, pointing to a smooth stretch of rubberized play surface. Then he lifted Bobby and set him down a few yards away, holding him by his shoulders. “Walk to Mommy,” he said.

  Gina’s mouth dropped open. “Do you think he can?”

  “Call him,” Buck said. “I won’t let him fall.”

  So she held out her arms to her son. “Come on, sweetie.”

  Bobby chortled and lifted one awkward leg after the other, staggering unsteadily toward her. Buck was supporting him—and then he wasn’t.

  Never taking his laughing eyes off her, Bobby toddled into her arms.

  “Oh my word! His first step!” She was laughing and crying at once as she pulled Bobby to her and hugged him tightly. Such joy. And such sharp pain that Hank wasn’t here to see it.

  A movie of memories flashed through her mind, the good ones this time: Hank in the delivery room, flourishing the scissors as he fearlessly cut the cord. The way he’d insisted on taking Bobby to visit every friend he had, the moment the pediatrician had okayed it, just to show off his brand-new son. How he’d swept her into a huge hug when they’d seen Bobby’s first smile.

  Hank hadn’t been perfect, not by a long shot, but he had loved his son. And he would have loved to see this milestone.

  Buck knelt beside her and wrapped both her and Bobby in
his arms.

  Tears flowed down Gina’s face even as she laughed and kissed Bobby. “I’m happy and sad at the same time,” she said to Buck.

  “Me, too.” His voice was a little choked.

  She looked into his eyes and realized it was true. He’d lost as much as she had. More.

  She tightened her arms around both of them—Buck, who’d seen so much, and Bobby, who was only beginning to explore the world. Closed her eyes and lifted a wordless prayer.

  Bobby struggled free, used Buck’s arm to pull up to a standing position and then looked from her to Buck expectantly. “Go!” he demanded.

  “Has he said words before?” Buck asked, laughing as he scooted a few yards away and held out his arms for Bobby.

  “Not that clearly.” Gina wiped her eyes and steadied her baby and let him go, lurching from leg to leg with undeniable independence.

  * * *

  The next day after his lunchtime AA meeting, Buck stopped by the hardware store as planned. He picked up a few needed supplies while he waited for Mr. Love to finish giving detailed instructions to his granddaughter, who’d run the store alone in his absence.

  “I got this, Granddad,” she said good-naturedly. “You can take an hour off to do some visiting!”

  Reluctantly, Mr. Love headed out the door. Buck crooked his arm for the older man and alerted him to curbs during the three-block walk to the Senior Towers.

  “Now, see,” Mr. Love said, lifting his face to the spring sunshine, “isn’t this nicer than riding in a car? Not that I didn’t appreciate the offer. But any chance to be active and outside, I take it.”

  “A good philosophy.” Buck listened to the birds singing in the trees, just beginning to offer a few buds, and smelled the earthy scent of spring. He’d like to share in that feeling of new life, but truthfully, his insides were in turmoil.

  He’d spent more time with Gina and Bobby during the past week than during any of the previous weeks since she’d arrived in town. They’d worked long hours, and tag teamed on child care and cooking and dog walking, since Crater and Spike were now established residents of the guesthouse. They’d shared conversations about their pasts, argued amiably over final paint colors and finish details, and generally made a great team.

  They’d shared Bobby’s first step.

  Passing the Chatterbox Café made him think of Gina meeting Danny. He shouldn’t begrudge her starting to establish other friendships, and he didn’t—as long as the friendships were female. But Danny Walker’s obvious interest in Gina bothered him.

  Danny was too slick for Gina, and he didn’t think them a good match, but then again, he had no right to comment on or criticize her choices. What say did he have?

  “What’s got you bent out of shape?” Mr. Love asked.

  “Who says I’m bent out of shape?”

  “It’s more than obvious. You’re wound up tighter than a drum. And I’m a fast walker, but you’re rushing me here. Cut me a break. I’m eighty-seven!”

  “Oh, man, sorry!” He slowed down. “And...you’re right—I’m a little uptight.”

  “Woman problems?” Mr. Love asked.

  “Now, why would you jump to that conclusion?”

  Mr. Love chuckled. “I couldn’t help noticing the attention you paid to that young lady in the hardware store. Gina? Is she going to be there today?”

  “She’ll be there.” Buck debated denying everything, but Mr. Love had known him a long time. “And yeah,” he said. “I like her. But she’s got issues, especially with addicts and drunks. And I’m leaving town. And someone else is after her.”

  “You’ve got problems.” Mr. Love nodded. “Serious problems, but there’s one thing—you’re not defined by being a drunk. Kid I knew, who worked so hard in the store, he wasn’t a drunk.”

  “I’ve changed.”

  “Yes, you have. More than once. A man can be forgiven for going a little crazy after the losses you had, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be crazy forever. You seem kinda sane to me right now.”

  “Maybe.”

  “And why are you leaving town? Rescue River is your home!”

  Buck shook his head. “Burned too many bridges. Bad reputation. I need to start fresh.”

  “Like my mama used to say, no matter where you go, there you are. You think your problems won’t follow you into another town?”

  Buck guided the man around a broken section of sidewalk. “That’s exactly what I think. In another town, they won’t look at me like the criminal who busted up a restaurant or got his license taken away.”

  “You’re going to give up your woman just so you don’t have to have hurt feelings?”

  The question echoed in the air, and Buck wondered: Was that what he was doing? “Sounds kind of cowardly,” he admitted.

  “Yes, it does. And you’ve never struck me as a coward.”

  Buck blew out a breath. “Speaking of women...anything you want me to do to promote your case with Miss Minnie Falcon?”

  “Hey, hey now.” Mr. Love held up a hand. “Show respect for your elders.”

  Buck chuckled. “You can dish it out...”

  Mr. Love bumped a fist into Buck’s upper arm. “We almost there? I’m getting tired of talking with you.”

  “As a matter of fact, we are. But I’ve got my eye on you.” Buck was grinning, satisfied with having turned the tables on the old man.

  When they walked into the homey, plant-filled lobby of the Senior Towers, Gina and Miss Minnie Falcon—and a whole cadre of Miss Minnie’s friends—were waiting for them.

  “Trust a man to be late,” Miss Minnie said, leaning forward to check the grandfather clock. “No sense of time.”

  Buck took a breath, but Mr. Love squeezed his arm, communicating nonverbally not to respond.

  “They’re right on time,” Gina soothed, “or maybe a few minutes late is all. Should we head up to your apartment, Miss Minnie?”

  “We should. I’ve got everything all ready.”

  After a few words with the other women in the lobby, the four of them went upstairs and were soon looking through the trunk of materials Miss Minnie had saved or inherited over the years.

  “We’re looking for something from 1850 or thereabouts,” Gina said, her face flushed with excitement. “How much do you know about what’s in here, Miss Minnie?”

  “I surely do wish I could see better,” Mr. Love said wistfully.

  “There are letters from some of my ancestors,” Miss Minnie said. “And drawings, jewelry, even some early photographs. A good deal of family history.”

  “We’ll respect your privacy,” Gina said. “Are you sure it’s okay with you if we go through it?”

  Buck loved that about her, that she was sensitive to the older woman’s concerns. Gina hadn’t had an easy life, and maybe that was how God was using her trials: to make her kinder than the norm.

  “It’s perfectly fine. I’m so old now, I don’t care who knows my business.”

  “I know exactly what you mean, Minnie,” Mr. Love said.

  Miss Minnie blushed. “Look for a pair of daguerreotypes in a brown leather case. From what you’ve told me, they’ll be very interesting to you.”

  Buck and Gina knelt in front of the trunk and opened the lid. Inside was a jumble of letters, a blue military uniform, jewelry in worn velvet cases and pewter candleholders.

  Gina sat back on her heels, very close to Buck. “Wow, Miss Minnie, this is awesome! It belongs in the historical society for sure!”

  “If we had one, I’d gladly donate it to them.”

  Buck carefully picked up a brown leather case. “Is this the one?”

  “I believe,” Miss Minnie said, “that those photographs are images of the couple in your old diary, Abraham and Minerva.”


  Gina’s eyes sparkled as she studied the images: on one side, a beautiful African American woman in an elegant wedding dress; on the other side, a handsome white man in a formal suit, including a vest and short tie. “So they did get married!” She practically glowed with excitement.

  Miss Minnie shook her head. “No, dear. Those photographs were taken weeks before the wedding was to happen. You’ll notice the style of dress conceals her pregnancy.”

  “I imagine any pictures had to be taken in secret, given the times and her status as a runaway,” Mr. Love said.

  “Wait—I’m confused.” Buck was studying the photograph. “Did she have Abraham’s child?”

  Miss Minnie shook her head. “It wasn’t Abraham’s child, you see. She arrived pregnant. She’d been assaulted by a plantation owner down South.”

  “How awful,” Gina breathed, glancing over at Buck.

  “I respect the fact that he was willing to marry her in that circumstance,” Mr. Love said. “It must have been quite unusual back then.”

  Miss Minnie nodded. “What happened to her was awful, and yet if she hadn’t found a safe place to bear her baby, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “You’re a descendant?” Buck looked up from the trunk. He’d known Miss Minnie for years, ever since she’d been his Sunday-school teacher, but he hadn’t known that she had a slave ancestor.

  “That’s right. Miss Minerva Cobbs was my great-grandmother.”

  “Wow. You were named after her,” Gina said.

  “Yes, young lady, and proud to be. Since that day, there has always been a Minerva in the Falcon family.”

  Buck was impatient to hear the end of the story. “You said they didn’t marry. Did she decide to move on with the others headed north?” Buck was remembering his Ohio history. “Because the Fugitive Slave Act would’ve put them at risk, right?”

  “The rest of the group wanted her to come with them. They were worried Abraham would take advantage of her, that he wasn’t serious about marriage, but they were wrong.”

  Gina moved a little closer, her shoulder brushing Buck’s, and he felt his blood pressure rise. Did she know what she was doing to him? He leaned back against the couch and put up a pillow for her back, and she scooted back and sat right next to him, the side of her leg burning into his.