Had Hollydale been the best place for Shelby, though?
Guilt fluttered through her about how she’d convinced Shelby to open her lunch café here rather than in Raleigh, like she’d originally planned. If Shelby had experienced those headaches in an urban setting, would it have been easier to seek medical attention sooner? Could that have prevented her untimely death at such a young age? Natalie would never have an answer to those questions.
For now, however, she’d have to explain to Aidan why they were late. She scanned the coffeehouse until her gaze settled on Shelby’s attractive brother. Aidan glanced at his watch, as if he didn’t expect them to show. When he spotted Danny, he smiled broadly, showing off a dimple in his left cheek she hadn’t noticed until now. She pushed the thought away. Falling for this man, or any other military man, wasn’t a good idea.
Besides, Aidan’s smile was for Danny, not her.
Aidan strode toward them, and Danny pulled back. The little boy’s reaction made no sense.
“Danny?” Aidan reached for his nephew, but Danny grasped her leg with the grip of a boa constrictor.
Hurt was reflected in Aidan’s steady gaze. Natalie ached for Aidan over the rejection. “Danny, why won’t you tell us what’s wrong? Your uncle just wants to talk to you.”
“He can go home now.” Danny looked frustrated, which was unlike his normal good nature. She wondered if he meant the opposite, too. “He didn’t come when Mom went away and he’s just gonna leave again anyway.”
She leaned down to look Danny in the eye. “He’s traveled a long way to see you now. He had a job to do, or else he would have come sooner.”
“Danny.” Aidan finally spoke and moved toward his nephew, the anguish clear in his voice. “Your mom was my sister, and I miss her every day. I made a commitment and couldn’t break it. Do you know what a commitment is?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it?”
Natalie urged Danny forward, and he scuffed the floor with his sneaker. “I dunno.”
“It’s a promise to follow through on something.” Aidan moved his hand as if he was about to reach out, but then he pulled it back and folded his arms together. He tilted his lips in a half smile, and she stood close enough for that dimple on his left cheek to imprint itself onto her heart. “I made a commitment to the army that I’d keep people safe. I take that promise to heart every day.”
“But I don’t want you to go back.” Danny contradicted what he’d just said, but Natalie understood. He craved a sense of security.
This time, Aidan rubbed Danny’s arm before meeting Natalie’s gaze. The air crackled as he seemed ready to address the custody arrangements. “I contacted my commanding officer so I could have more time here with you. We can get to know each other and make decisions after that.”
Natalie jumped in. “Thirty days, you’ll be here, right? So much can happen in a month.” Like proving to Aidan the intrinsic value of the town. A cinch, really. “And the Fourth of July is only eleven days away.”
“Speaking of the Fourth.” Aidan pointed to the table where he’d been sitting when they arrived. “I drew up new plans for the float. Thought we could take a look at them.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret.” There was something trustworthy about Aidan that made her believe he’d never reveal anyone’s secrets without cause. At the same time, there was something mysterious about him, so she wanted to urge a few of his own out of him. “I function much better after I enjoy one of Deb’s scrumptious pastries, along with my morning coffee. Then again, that’s not really a secret. Oh, I know, we love ice cream in winter and hot cocoa in the summer, right, Danny?” Danny grinned. “What about you, Aidan? What’s something most people don’t know about you?”
He blinked as if she’d caught him off guard. “That today is my treat. I’ll order while you two man the table.” He reached for his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
She shook her head. “You don’t get off that easily. One small secret, that’s the price of admission.”
Danny gave a quick nod as if he, too, wanted Aidan to answer.
“See, it’s unanimous. One simple fact about you that isn’t common knowledge.”
They made their way to the counter while Aidan looked snared in a bear trap with no way out. He tugged at his shirtsleeve until it covered the small dot of white near his palm. “Give me a minute.” Then he glanced at Danny and released a deep breath. “Well, I like hot cocoa and ice cream, too.”
Natalie knelt beside Danny and scrunched her nose. “Ernk. Strike one.” Danny nodded, and they glanced at Aidan once more. “Try again,” she said.
“What’s wrong with that? Not everyone likes those things.” Aidan folded his arms.
“I said it first. You have to come up with a simple fact about yourself that’s original.” She stood and brushed her wavy hair behind her ear.
“So many rules!” He sighed but looked game for another round. “And I usually thrive on order and discipline. This morning, I wrote out my agenda for the day, which included going over ideas for your float.”
“Ernk. Strike two.” She liked making that sound a little too much. She’d have to incorporate that one into her kindergarten repertoire. “I knew that about you within five minutes of meeting you. One more try.”
“What about my mommy? This can be about my mommy and you.” Danny stepped forward and pulled on Aidan’s shirtsleeve. He gave a shy smile but stifled a laugh.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and ruffled his hair, taking note of the length. Time for another trip to Mitzi’s salon soon. “That sounds like an excellent suggestion. I approve.”
“While you two order, I’ll think of a story.” He ushered them toward the short line.
“Danny!” a little girl called out from a table on the other side of the coffeehouse. Her former student Gigi ran over, her cornrow braids bobbing around her. She gave Danny a big hug.
Natalie should have known she’d run into Gigi here as her grandmother, Deb, owned the place, and her mom, also a teacher, helped out by making summertime deliveries.
“Hi, Gigi,” Danny said.
“I haven’t seen you since school let out. My mom promised she’s taking the afternoon off just for me. Hi, Miss Harrison! I missed you, too.”
Gigi leaned forward and hugged Natalie. This was part of what made teaching worth all the early mornings. That, and the joy when something clicked in a child’s mind, whether it was reading for the first time or counting out play coins to buy something in Natalie’s kindergarten classroom shop.
“Gigi, this is Danny’s uncle, Major Murphy. He’s visiting Hollydale.”
She glanced at Aidan, who turned up the corners of his lips for a tight smile, that dimple nowhere in sight. “Hello.”
“Come on, Danny.” Gigi tugged at Danny, who followed. “You can draw a picture for Grandma Deb’s new community board.”
Aidan stepped toward the pair, but Natalie reached for him and pulled him back. “We’ll be able to see them, and I know what Danny wants. He’ll be fine.”
He hesitated as if thinking of an objection.
“It’ll give you more time to think of a great story about Shelby.”
Aidan nodded.
Gigi led Danny to her table, and Natalie and Aidan soon reached the front of the line. She introduced him to the owner and barista, Deb. “I definitely see where Gigi got her sense of style. I love that scarf, Deb, so light and airy for summer.” Natalie smiled and read the blackboard with the morning offerings.
Deb took her order, accepted Aidan’s card and turned to Natalie. “By the way, Gigi loves drawing and was beside herself last night when that pencil thingy you gave her broke. Where can I buy one?”
“No need to buy one. I have extra.” Natalie opened her massive tote bag of a purse and rifled through until she grasped t
wo rainbow-colored pencil grippers. “Love your new community bulletin board idea. Would you mind if I post a sign in the fall asking for donations for my kindergarten classroom store? Little extras like stickers, picture books, small toys, anything arts and crafts.”
“I don’t see a problem with that. Remind me then.” Deb waved and started preparing their order.
Natalie followed Aidan to his table. She’d have been able to pick out which one was his in her sleep, the neat pile of paperwork next to his phone opened to his calendar app. If she’d learned one thing from Francisco, it was how you could take the soldier out of the military but never take the military out of the soldier. Touching the medallion on her necklace for a second, she then lowered her tote onto the back of the chair before sitting.
“You surprised me just now.” Aidan reached for his coffee and sipped it, indicating he’d been here awhile as Deb’s drinks were usually piping hot.
“How?” Not that she was letting him off the hook for revealing one personal fact or story.
“You love your job, and you plan for contingencies.” He placed his cup beside his phone.
“I won’t argue with the first part, but the second?” She swallowed a laugh. “Hardly. I throw everything into my purse, knowing I’ll need what’s in there someday. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I find in there. Life’s more fun with surprises, don’t you think?”
“Depends on the surprise.” His jaw clenched, and a shadow fell over his face. Aidan regained his composure and played with the plastic lid on his disposable cup. “I don’t want Danny blindsided. We need to tell him about my intentions.”
“Dr. Laurel Hargraves, his regular therapist, has emphasized the balance between a steady routine and old-fashioned love.” Natalie leaned back and fiddled with the ends of her hair. “If you take him away from all this, it could be harmful.”
“Could be, not will be.” Aidan straightened everything on the table until it was neatly in order.
“You like plans. I get that. So let’s stick to ours for the time being and not rush anything. A couple of weeks getting to know you, and then a couple of weeks for us to hammer out an arrangement.”
He tapped his pencil against the table as though he was finally letting her words sink in and giving them careful deliberation. “Fair enough, Plan B it is.”
“I hope this plan includes more relaxation and downtime in your life. You need those, too, you know.” Natalie looked around, wondering why her order was taking so long. She saw Danny coloring and turned back to Aidan.
“I’m quite content with my life as it is.”
“Are you? Then why change it? Why fight me for custody?” She met his gaze, and something akin to electricity sparked the air.
She must be imagining the tension. There was no way she’d ever let another military man into her heart, even if Aidan had any thoughts about her other than as Danny’s guardian.
Thank goodness Deb chose that moment to arrive at the table with a tray. The obvious look of relief on Aidan’s face probably matched her own. She placed Danny’s order at the empty chair and delivered Natalie’s coffee.
Natalie shook her head when Deb also set a strawberry scone in front of her and one in front of Aidan. “These must be for the couple in front of us. I didn’t order these.”
Deb merely smiled. “A happy surprise for each of you. Yours is on the house as thanks for the pencil grippers.” She turned to Aidan and patted his back, the thump audible where Natalie sat. “And word is getting out around here about you. I’m a navy vet myself, and I appreciate your service. There was one time I wasn’t able to get home for a family funeral, so I understand your sacrifice. The scone’s nothing compared to what you do for each of us.”
After Deb left, silence descended for a minute before Aidan picked up the top sheet of paper and handed it to Natalie. “Here’s one sketch I made based on your chicken wire idea.”
There was something about his resolute look that made her heart thump. His humility was humbling.
“Why did you enter the military?”
“What? We were discussing chicken wire.”
“No, you brought up chicken wire as soon as Deb walked away. She paid you a compliment, and you changed the subject. I’m just trying to find out more about you.”
The subtle clench of his jaw proved she was right. He didn’t like talking about himself. She picked off the corner of her scone and popped it into her mouth, the delicious strawberry flavor the perfect taste of summer.
He replaced the paper and straightened the stack once more. She resisted the urge to reach over and throw the pile up in the air. “My father was in the military. Same as his father and so on.”
“There must be more to your decision than it’s the ‘family business.’”
He sipped his coffee and then craned his neck, checking on Danny, and then scoped out the entrance. “In college, I discovered I have an ear for languages. Since I’d been in ROTC as long as I could remember, the choice was obvious.”
She broke off another piece of her scone and savored the flavors. “Were Cathy and your father in the accident before or after you enlisted?”
“Long after. I wouldn’t have enlisted if Shelby had still been a minor.”
That said so much about his character. She polished off her scone. “How will a little boy fit into your life on base? Who will take care of him if you’re called away to another overseas assignment?”
From the way he recoiled, she knew her point hit home. The tension between them was back, but this time the flutters in her stomach weren’t hunger and they weren’t nerves. Instead, she liked the man sitting across from her, and that scared her.
There was something in his face that bolstered her opinion, signaling the feeling was mutual, but she couldn’t allow that. Danny rushed back to the table, his eyes lighting up at the hot chocolate and sausage biscuit in front of the empty chair.
“I like hot cocoa in summer, too, just like Aunt Natalie.” Danny smiled at her, and her heart squeezed at the prospect of not seeing that sweet grin every day. Already this year there had been too many days when he didn’t smile. “Have you thought of a story about my mommy yet?”
Natalie glanced at Aidan. He met her gaze head-on, that spark close to becoming a full sizzling current. When she’d allowed one military man into her heart, his death had devastated her. This soldier held the fate of someone dear to her heart in his hands, and extinguishing the flame before anyone suffered irreparable scarring was best for all involved. As hard as it was for her to shutter her feelings, almost impossible as she’d never had to do so before, she averted her eyes and picked up the top sheet from the stack.
She reached for her tote hanging off the chair and rummaged through it until she found what she was looking for, a red pencil. She sketched her adjustments while Danny repeated his question about Aidan’s secret. Her ears perked up.
“There’s something about your mom that’s important for you to know. Your mother was like me, and she liked to plan everything…”
“That was strike two, remember? Ernk.” Danny made the sound, though no laugh followed.
She tightened her grip on the pencil. As hard as it was for her not to blurt out the custodial arrangements, so Danny could hear it from her lips rather than Aidan’s, she kept silent. Their deal had to go both ways.
“You have a good memory. I…” Once again, hesitation halted the major’s forward progress. He scrubbed his clean-shaven jaw with his hand and downed the rest of his coffee as though caffeine was liquid courage. “Shelby threw her whole heart into organizing events. One time she asked your grandma, Cathy, for twenty dollars but wouldn’t say why. Your grandfather didn’t want Cathy to give Shelby the money, but Cathy believed in your mom. She told your grandfather that Shelby must have a good reason for the money and we had to trust her. A week later, Shelby surprised
all of us with a family picnic. She’d prepared all the food from scratch.”
That sounded like Shelby to the core. Creating a plan while keeping everyone in the dark about her ultimate goal. It wasn’t until Shelby had arrived in Hollydale, lease in hand, that she’d confided the truth about Snickerdoodles to Natalie, saying she didn’t want to jinx anything.
The pencil point snapped, and Natalie flinched. Her friend’s ulterior motive in naming her and Aidan as co-guardians wasn’t apparent to her, and she was sure it wasn’t apparent to Aidan either.
This time, however, there was much more at stake than twenty dollars. It was a little boy’s heart.
* * *
AIDAN STEPPED OUTSIDE The Busy Bean. The sun shone full on his face, warming him after the cool, air-conditioned interior of the coffeehouse. Summer had always been his favorite season. The amount of daylight bolstered his reserves, allowing him to get more acclimated after long winters at the base wherever he was stationed. All around Hollydale, the vibrant colors of the season greeted him. Perennials in dark purple and bright yellow lined the walk from the building to the street. The patriotic red, white and blue of the street banner announcing the parade and other festivities for the Fourth touched something he hadn’t connected with in quite a while. Considering he’d arrived on empty, that wasn’t hard.
Hollydale could grow on him if he let it, the memories of his grandmother’s farm returning full tilt. Early mornings, fresh eggs and milk, and her cheerful bustle as she cooked breakfast and finished her chores so they could drive into town in the afternoon. For a special treat, she’d taken him to a matinee complete with popcorn and soda. The brick storefronts of the surrounding businesses on Timber Road resembled those of his grandmother’s hometown, except for the new renovations that propelled him back to the present. He kept searching their shadows, finding nothing out of place.
Danny skipped ahead on the sidewalk, leading the way to his friend’s house, where he’d spend this Thursday afternoon while Aidan and Natalie worked on the float. Other volunteers from the school would be joining them to help with decorations for Natalie’s theme, “Reaching for the Stars.” A good message for young students. The words to tell his nephew how much he cared had been on the tip of his tongue. Then again, he’d best wait. He’d made Natalie a promise to let Danny become reacquainted with him again. Promises meant everything to him.
Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set Page 50
