The Soldier's Secret Child

by Lee Tobin McClain

  Given how strong his feelings for Lacey had become, he had some serious thinking of his own to do, as well.

  * * *

  When there was a knock on the front door, Lacey hurried to answer it, relieved to escape the busy kitchen and the probing questions of Nonna D’Angelo, Miss Minnie and Lou Ann. Not to mention Vito’s thoughtful eyes.

  It was Daisy. “Hey, I was walking by, and I thought I’d take the chance that you were here. Do you have a minute?”

  “Um, sure.” She and Daisy knew each other, but they weren’t drop-in friends. She came out on the porch and gestured toward a rocking chair, tucking her feet under herself in the porch swing. “What’s up?”

  “I just wanted to make sure we’re okay about last night.”

  Lacey forced a laugh. “We were clearly all victims of the grandma matchmaking brigade. What happened isn’t your fault or mine, or any of ours.”

  “And it was fun in the end, right?”

  “Sure.” As she thought back, she realized that it had been fun, sitting and laughing with Vito and Daisy and Dion. Except for that nagging anxiety at the pit of her stomach.

  Daisy was watching her, eyes narrowed. “But...” she prompted.

  Lacey shrugged. “Nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing. I knew something was bugging you last night. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing’s going on.” She paused. “If you’re worried about whether I like Dion, I do, but not as a boyfriend.”

  Daisy waved a hand. “I know. I could tell. And it’s not my business, anyway. I wish Dion would meet someone.”

  Lacey lifted an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. She couldn’t tell if Daisy meant it or not.

  “And I’m not interested in Vito that way, either.”

  Lacey tried to school her facial expression, but she couldn’t help feeling happy. “I...wasn’t sure.”

  “I mean, he’s great,” Daisy said, “but I’m pretty sure he only has eyes for you.”

  Lacey had thought she couldn’t get any more joyous, but an extra wave of it washed over her at Daisy’s words. “You really think so?”

  Daisy nodded. “I sat and had dinner with him, and he was great, he really was. So nice and flattering and kind. But he couldn’t stop himself from looking over at you guys every time you and Dion laughed.”

  A breathless feeling took Lacey over then. Maybe this—her and Vito—could really happen. Maybe it would. “Do you think it’s wrong for me to think about another man, so soon after losing Gerry? As a social worker, I mean?”

  Daisy studied her thoughtfully. “It’s been over a year, right?”

  She nodded.

  “And what have you done to get over the loss?”

  “Well...” Lacey thought about it. “I’ve had counseling, with a psychologist and with Pastor Ricky. And with some of my friends, too, unofficially. I’m doing desensitizing things about kids, because...did you know I lost a baby, too?” She was amazed that she could say the words openly now, with only an ache instead of a sharp, horrific pain.

  Daisy nodded. “I heard, and I’m sorry for your loss. That must have been terribly hard to deal with.”

  “Well...yeah. The worst. And I never thought I’d heal, but Buck, and little Bobby, and the church... Lots of people have helped me, and life goes on.”

  The door flew open and Charlie emerged. He threw his arms around Lacey and said into her ear: “I think Dad’s getting me a dog!” Then he ran down the stairs and across the street to the basketball hoop where a couple of neighborhood kids were playing.

  Lacey looked after him and blinked. “That came out of nowhere. I thought he didn’t like me.”

  “If you seem to pose a threat to his relationship with Vito, he may act out. On the other hand, he might very well need a mother figure.” Daisy leaned back in the chair, rocking gently.

  “A mother figure?” Lacey laughed. “Why would he think of me that way? I’m not even dating his dad.”

  “Yet. Charlie may see something that the two of you won’t yet acknowledge.”

  Heat suffused Lacey’s cheeks and she didn’t know how to respond. Because the truth was, she was interested in dating Vito. After last night, watching him with Daisy, she was sure of it.

  There was a fumbling sound at the door and Miss Minnie Falcon made her way out, struggling a little with her rolling walker. Both Lacey and Daisy jumped up to help her.

  “Would you like to sit a spell on your old porch?” Lacey asked. She’d bought the house from Miss Minnie two years ago when it had become too much for her to handle, and she tried to encourage the older woman to maintain her connection. It made Miss Minnie happy, and as her brother’s wife, Gina, had discovered, Miss Minnie and the house itself were full of stories. Besides, Lacey enjoyed the sharp-tongued woman’s company.

  “Thank you, dear. I wouldn’t mind.”

  Lacey made sure Miss Minnie was settled comfortably while Daisy folded her walker and put it against the porch railing.

  “It got a little too noisy in that kitchen. I like children, but in controlled circumstances.”

  “I hear you,” Daisy said. “It’s probably just as well I don’t have children.” Then Daisy’s eyes went round and she looked at Lacey apologetically. “I’m sorry. I guess this is a sensitive topic for you.”

  “Kind of,” Lacey said. Then, to her own surprise, she added, “Especially since I can’t have kids.”

  “Never?” Daisy’s eyes widened, and she reached out to give Lacey’s hand a quick squeeze.

  “That’s what they say.” She lowered her head, and then looked from one woman to the other. “Please don’t tell anyone, okay? I...I’m still getting used to it. And it’s not common knowledge.”

  “It shouldn’t be,” Miss Minnie said, her voice a little sharp. “Young people share far too much about themselves these days. Some things are simply private.”

  Daisy laughed. “I take it you’re not baring your soul on social media, Miss Minnie?”

  “My, no.” The older woman turned back toward Lacey. “There are other ways to nurture children, besides bearing them.”

  Lacey opened her mouth to disagree, and then realized she was wrong. Miss Minnie knew what she was talking about from personal experience. “You taught Sunday school for almost all the kids in Rescue River, so I guess you’re right. That’s one way.”

  “And you’re sure getting close with Charlie, from the looks of things,” Daisy said. “Kids need all kinds of people in their lives to grow up right. Not just their parents.” She turned to Miss Minnie. “Did you ever regret not having kids?”

  Lacey flinched a little. That was definitely a personal question. Daisy was the type to ask them, but Miss Minnie was the type to offer a sharp reply.

  “Not that it’s commonly known, but of course I did,” the older woman said. “That’s the reason I taught Sunday school all those years. If you don’t have a family, you have to do a little more figuring to build a good life for yourself.”

  “You may not have much family, but I hear you do have a boyfriend,” Daisy said slyly.

  Lacey smiled, remembering what she’d seen at the Chatterbox. “Mr. Love, right?”

  “You young people and your gossip tire me out. I need to get back home.” But a faint blush colored Miss Minnie’s cheeks.

  “We’re sorry.” Lacey stood to help the woman to her feet. “We don’t mean to tease. It’s just nice to see...” She paused to clarify her own thoughts. “It’s nice to see a single person having a fun, active social life.”

  “That’s right,” Daisy contributed, picking up Miss Minnie’s walker. “We single ladies have to stick together. And what’s more, it’s crazy that any time you’re friends with a man, people start linking you up romantically.”

  Lacey and Mis
s Minnie glanced at each other as they made their way down the steps. Was Daisy talking about Dion? Was she or wasn’t she involved with him?

  After they’d walked Miss Minnie back to the Senior Towers, they stopped on the sidewalk to talk before parting ways.

  “You going to the fireworks tonight?” Lacey asked.

  “Yeah, I love the Fourth of July. You?”

  Lacey shrugged. “I’ll probably watch them from the front porch, with Nonna.”

  “And Vito?”

  “Stop trying to match-make,” Lacey scolded. “You heard what Miss Minnie said. We all share too much about our personal lives.” But even saying that felt hypocritical, because the thought of Vito, of watching fireworks under the stars together, made a delicious excitement fill her chest. “I’m sure he and Charlie will watch the fireworks, one way or another.”

  “Then I’m sure you’ll enjoy plenty of fireworks,” Daisy teased.

  “Hey, now!” She watched the woman—who was maybe going to become a closer friend—wave and stroll down the street.

  A fluttery excitement filled her. Maybe it would be a night to remember.

  Or maybe not. She herself was starting to feel like a relationship with Vito might be possible. But she wasn’t sure how he felt. With Vito, it always seemed to be one step forward, one step back.

  Chapter Eleven

  On Monday afternoon, Vito was tempted to turn down his hearing aids as he drove home from the dog rescue with Charlie and his new dog going crazy in the back. Had he just made a big mistake? What was Lacey going to think of this new, and very loud, guest?

  At a stop sign, he looked back to check on them. Wolfie, the new white husky mix, stood eager in the giant crate Troy had lent them, bungee-corded in place in the bed of the pickup. Charlie was turned around as far as his seat belt would allow, poking at the dog through the open back window, talking nonsense to it, turning back toward Vito to shout “look at him, look at him.” The disbelieving thrill in his voice and his eyes melted Vito’s heart.

  Whatever the challenges, he thanked God that he could do this for Charlie.

  When they pulled into the guesthouse driveway, Lacey was outside on her knees, weeding the narrow flower garden that fronted the house. Dressed in old jeans and gardening gloves, she looked up and smiled, brushing blond bangs out of her eyes with the back of her hand.

  Vito felt an unbelievable warmth just looking at her.

  They’d finally relaxed around each other, watching the fireworks together, eating Nonna’s new, healthy concoctions, hanging around the house. Homey, domestic stuff. It was dangerous territory, but he couldn’t resist reveling in it for a little while, at least.

  He stopped the truck, and Charlie jumped out. “Miss Lacey, Miss Lacey, come see my new dog!”

  She stood easily and pressed her hands to the small of her back, smiling, then headed toward the vehicle where Vito was opening the back hatch. “I can’t wait to meet him!”

  Vito opened the hatch and the crate, and Wolfie bounded out. He leaped up on Lacey, his paws almost to her shoulders, nearly knocking her down. Then he ran through the yard in circles, barking, his big feet tearing at Lacey’s flowers. Finally, he approached Charlie in a play bow, his blue eyes dancing, his mouth open in a laughing pant.

  “Sorry, sorry!” Vito ran to hook the new leash on to Wolfie’s collar, but the dog darted away.

  Charlie tackled the dog, and the two of them rolled on the ground together like a couple of puppies, while Vito struggled to find the ring on the dog’s collar to hook on the leash.

  Finally, he attached the leash and put the looped end in Charlie’s hand. “Hold on to him!” he told Charlie, and then stepped back beside Lacey to watch the pair. “I’m sorry about your garden. I’ll fix it. He’s a little excited.”

  “So what happened to the concept of a small dog?” she asked drily.

  Vito inhaled the scent of wild roses that seemed to come from Lacey’s hair. “I know. I’m sorry. I should have called to make sure a bigger dog was okay. It’s just... We were playing with a bunch of the dogs, and it was as if they chose each other.”

  “He was the one, Lacey! Isn’t he cool?” Charlie rose to his knees as the dog bounded around him in circles, barking.

  A smile tugged at the corner of Lacey’s mouth, and in that moment, Vito saw her tenderness for Charlie and fell a little bit more in love with her.

  “Well...we did have Crater here, and he was as big as...what’s this guy’s name?”

  “Wolfie!” Charlie shouted, pouncing on the dog again.

  “Hold tight to that leash while I get his stuff out,” Vito warned, and then turned back to the truck and started unloading dog food and dishes. Rather than an expensive dog bed, they’d stopped by the Goodwill store; a big blanket would do for the dog to sleep on.

  He was carrying it all up to the porch when Nonna came out.

  “What have we here?” she asked, smiling.

  “It’s Charlie’s new dog.” Vito looked over in time to see the dog pull out of Charlie’s grip and head for the porch.

  Before Vito could do anything, Lacey dived for the leash and held on. The dog actually pulled her for a couple of feet before she was able to stop it. “Sit, Wolfie!” she commanded, but the dog just cocked his head at her, his mouth open in what looked like a laugh.

  Lacey sat up cross-legged and held the leash firmly. “Nonna, this dog’s a little crazy. Make sure you’re sitting down when he’s around, and wear long pants until he settles down.” To Vito she added, “He’s strong and he’s got big claws. He could knock Nonna down in a second, and those claws could scratch her up pretty bad.”

  “He knocked me down,” Charlie said, almost proudly. “And he scratched me, too.” He held up an arm. Even from this distance, Vito could see the thin line of blood.

  They’d definitely start training Wolfie today.

  “Why was Wolfie at the shelter?” he heard Lacey ask Charlie. “He looks like a purebred, and he acts like a puppy.”

  “He’s two years old, and the people who had him said he was un, un...” He looked up at Vito.

  “Unmanageable?” Lacey asked drily.

  “That’s it!”

  Lacey rolled her eyes at Vito, looking exactly like she had as a teenager.

  He put down the supplies and spread his hands. “I know. I know, and I’m sorry. It was just something in his eyes.”

  “Wolfie’s, or Charlie’s?”

  “Both. Charlie fell in love with Wolfie as soon as he saw him, for whatever reason.” He noticed the “I found a home” placard they’d gotten at the shelter. “Supposedly, we have two weeks to test everything out. If he doesn’t work for us, we can choose another dog.”

  “And two other families tried him and he didn’t work out, so he was really sad,” Charlie said. “I hope we can keep him. We can keep him, can’t we, Dad?”

  Vito blew out a breath. “We’re going to do our best to give him a good home. With love and attention and discipline, he should settle down.”

  “Like me,” Charlie said offhandedly, and went to hug Wolfie. “Don’t worry, guy. Dad let me stay.”

  Lacey’s hand flew to her mouth and Vito felt his throat tighten. They glanced at each other, and it was as if they agreed without words: this had to work.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket, and seeing that the dog was safely under Lacey’s control, he pulled it out for a quick look.

  He didn’t recognize the number, but it was local. “Hey, I’d better take this just in case it’s about a job,” he said to Lacey. “Can you...” He waved a hand at Charlie, the new dog and Nonna.

  “Got it,” she said instantly. “Come on, Charlie. Let’s see if we can teach him how to walk nicely on a leash.”

  The fact that she had his back so
readily and without complaint made Vito’s heart swell with gratitude. He clicked on the call.

  “Vito D’Angelo? This is Sandra Sutherland, head of the school district’s summer programs. You interviewed with one of my people last week.”

  “That’s right.” He sank down onto the porch step to focus. “What’s up?”

  “I’d like to talk to you about a job opening for this summer, with a possibility of extending into fall. How are you with special needs boys? Older, say from eight to sixteen?”

  Without even thinking about it, he laughed. “That’s getting to be my specialty.” He looked down the street at Charlie.

  She went on to detail the job of Vito’s dreams: part-time for now, sports centered, mentoring and counseling a small group four mornings per week. “We thought you’d be perfect for it.”

  “Can I ask why?”

  She spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “Your background as a veteran, your leadership experience and the fact that you’re familiar with the foster care system all play into it. And...” She hesitated.

  Why would she sound so uncomfortable? Even as he thought of the question, Vito’s hand went to his face and he knew the answer. “Do some of the kids have physical disabilities? Visible ones?”

  “That’s it,” she said, sounding relieved. “We actually have two boys, siblings, who were in a terrible house fire. They lost their mother, and they have some disfiguring burns. They’ve been acting out, even within the small group, so when Marnie came to me and said she had a good interview with you, and she mentioned your scars...”

  Vito blew out a breath and looked skyward. Was this what God was doing? He’d never thought his scarred face would be an asset.

  “Look, if you’re interested and available, we could set up a time to talk. Sooner rather than later, though. Their current group leader just quit.”

  He couldn’t help chuckling again. Between Charlie, and Wolfie the dog, and these boys, it looked like he was headed toward a career in rehab. “I’m free later today,” he said, and they set up a time.

  He clicked his phone off and just sat a minute, thinking.