After Shock- Ellie's Chance

by Vikki McCombie

  “Thanks, ma’am. That’d be great if it’s not too much trouble.” The man looked harried. “We came straight from the hospital. Kelly fell off our deck earlier today and broke her ankle. We haven’t had anything to eat or drink since breakfast.”

  “Oh, gosh,” she smiled at the child and addressed her, “I’m sorry you fell. Would you like a glass of chocolate milk?” Ellie directed her next question to the child’s father. “I have dinner ready and it’s more than enough for everyone. You’re welcome to eat with us. You must be starving.”

  Jason hesitated, but then said, “If you’re sure, that’d be great.” His slight southern drawl rolled over her, sending even more shivers through her. “I’ll call the boys while you take a seat at the table.” Ellie moved to the stairs and called out, “Zach? Come on down. Brian’s father and sister are here.”

  The two youths thundered down the stairs and into the open living area. When Brian saw his little sister, his face screwed up in concern. “Kelly, what happened?”

  “I broke my ankle. I’ve got a cast, see?” The little girl swung her leg out to the side. “Just like the one you had last year.”

  “I see that, Squirt.” Brian chuckled. “What’d you do, trip over your own feet?”

  Jason went on to explain that Kelly had fallen when their cat had run in front of her as she went to step off their deck and came down on her right ankle the wrong way. “The doctor said it’s a clean break, but she’ll have to wear the compression cast for a week before she’ll get a booted one.”

  Zach chimed in, “What’s your cat’s name?”

  Kelly crossed her arms over her narrow chest. “Oscar, but I’m mad at him.”

  “Now, Kelly,” Jason admonished. “Oscar didn’t do it on purpose. He’s getting old, and he’s blind in his right eye. He probably didn’t see you.”

  “I guess I’ll forgive him, Daddy.” The little girl’s tummy growled.

  Ellie spoke up. “Boys, take a seat. The lasagna is ready. Let me get it.” She glanced at her son. “Zach. Get the salad out of the fridge, okay?”

  Soon they had the food on the table. She served generous slices of the gooey entrée to all the males and placed a smaller serving in front of Kelly and herself, then took her seat. The boys dug in right away.

  Jason took a bite and his eyes widened. “Wow, this is awesome. Thanks for asking us to eat with you. I really appreciate it. I had planned to run through the drive-thru at McDonald’s, but this is way better, ma’am.”

  Pleased by his compliment, Ellie smiled. “You’re welcome. Besides, I always make too much for just the two of us. This will keep us from having to eat leftovers for several days in a row. Oh, and please call me Ellie. When you say ‘ma’am’ I feel like a grandmother.”

  “All right, Ellie,” his smooth baritone voice washed over her, “but, only if you’ll call me Jason.”

  By that time, Zach and Brian had devoured their lasagna and were asking for more. She gave each of them another piece while the rest of them finished theirs. Fortunately, she’d had a sweet tooth earlier and had baked a cherry dump cake for dessert.

  Once everyone had eaten their fill, Zach and Brian agreed to clean up the kitchen at Jason’s suggestion. The man certainly had a commanding air about him without coming across as domineering. She liked that. So many men, especially Navy guys, were too arrogant for her.

  There was something about Jason that she found more than appealing. If she hadn’t sworn off men, she might have considered giving him a clue she was interested, but no, she was better off leaving it alone. She would never want to get involved with a father of one of her son’s teammates.

  Too many complications.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Throughout the meal, Jason had watched Ellie’s interaction with the children. Her caring manner and concern for Kelly impressed him. Her generosity in asking them to eat with them had taken a tremendous load off him.

  He couldn’t help noticing the pretty woman’s unusual blue eyes. Her bright aqua top turned them to a gorgeous shade of turquoise. Her figure was generously proportioned but not plump by any means. She had what one would call an hourglass figure, full breasts, generous hips with a small waist. While not petite, she wasn’t tall. If he ventured a guess, she was probably around five and a half feet. While he had at least eight inches on her, he wouldn’t tower over her, especially when she wore heels.

  Holy moly. What was he doing? Having less than pure thoughts over a woman he’d just met. That wasn’t something he did, being too wrapped up in his kids to have time to date. Besides, he didn’t want to risk loving again. Too much pain and complications. While the pain over losing his wife to lung cancer two years before had lessened, it still tore at his heart. He’d loved Marsha since his freshman year of high school.

  Pushing those depressing thoughts away, he focused on Kelly. Her adorable face had traces of Italian sauce and bits of the cherry filling circling her mouth. He grabbed a paper napkin, dabbed it in his water glass, and swiped it across his daughter’s face.

  Kelly screwed up her little mouth. “Daddy. I’m not a baby. I can wipe my own mouth. Let me have the napkin.”

  He had to remember his little girl was no longer a toddler and handed her the wet wad of paper. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you’re six now.”

  Ellie caught his eye and grinned. “It’s hard to accept they’re no longer little. Zach stopped letting me wipe his mouth before he turned five.”

  “You’re right,” he agreed, “it takes some getting used to. I guess I tend to baby Kelly. After all, she’s the last child I’ll have.” A twinge of pain tugged at his heart. He and Marsha had wanted three children, but she’d had a difficult time getting pregnant. That’s why there were eleven years between Brian and Kelly. He shook off those depressing thoughts. “Thanks for a great meal, Ellie. It’s been years since I’ve had homemade lasagna. You’re an awesome cook.”

  “Thanks. Glad you liked it.” She glanced at the boys loading the dishwasher. “Zach enjoyed having Brian over for the weekend. Your son’s a good kid and a whiz at history. He helped Zach with his project on John Adams, which is due tomorrow. You can be proud of him.”

  A wave of pride rolled through him. Brian was a good kid and an excellent student. “He’s a real history buff, just like me. Last summer we took a road trip through the northern states and visited Boston and Philadelphia. Went to Valley Forge and Gettysburg as well. Brian loved exploring the historic sites. So did I.”

  “I enjoy history as well; Zach, not so much. He’s too interested in sports, and of course, he’s a genius when it comes to math.” She laid the dishcloth she’d used to wipe the table on the counter. “Have you had time to visit Yorktown or any of the other historic sites in the area?”

  “Not yet. Between getting the house unpacked and the kids registered for school, I haven’t had the time. Maybe next weekend when I don’t have duty.” Would Ellie consider going with them? Even though her son didn’t like history, she did. “I’d love a tour guide. Would you like to show us around Yorktown?”

  A blush rose up her cheeks. “I could do that.”

  “That’s great.” Another wave of awareness rushed through him. Dang it. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked. The last thing he needed right now was anything else that would complicate his life. Oh, well, too late now. “How about I pick you and Zach up Saturday. Around nine?”

  “That will work.” She glanced at Zach. “You okay with that?”

  He grinned. “Well, I do like Yorktown.” He glanced at Brian. “I try to get the workers to break character. So far, I haven’t been able to, but I’m up to trying again.”

  His new friend jostled him. “Not if I succeed first.”

  The boys guffawed, while Kelly stuck out her lip. “Daddy? How will I be able to go with a broken ankle?”

  “I’ll rent a wheelchair.” He reached over and squeezed his daughter’s hand. “That way I can push my sweet pea around, and you’ll have me at your bec
k and call.”

  Kelly beamed. “I’ve never ridden in a wheelchair. That’ll be awesome.”

  By that time, the boys finished loading the dishwasher and asked if they could go outside. Jason glanced at his watch. “Hey, guys, I need to get Kelly home. Maybe next time.”

  “Sorry, Dad. I forgot about Kelly’s ankle.” Brian turned to Ellie. “Thanks for having me. I’ve had a great time and dinner was outstanding.”

  She smiled. “Thanks. Glad you came over. You’re welcome anytime.”

  Jason scooped Kelly up in his arms. “I really appreciate you having us for dinner. While I’m not much of a cook, I grill a mean steak. After we visit the battlefield, I’d love to have you join me and the kids for lunch.”

  “We’d enjoy that.” The boys high-fived each other.

  Carrying Kelly, he walked to the front door, and Brian opened it for him. Ellie and Zach followed them to his truck. Once he had Kelly settled in her booster seat, he turned to the pretty woman standing beside him with her son. “Well, we’ll be off. Look forward to Saturday.”

  She grinned, giving her an impish look. “Me too.”

  Zach interjected, “Can’t wait.” He fist bumped Brian. “See ya at school tomorrow.”

  His son replied, “Okay, fam,” as he climbed into the passenger seat of the pickup.

  He rolled his eyes heavenward at his son’s usage of slang. Usually, he had to google the word to understand the meaning. “Most of the time, I have no clue what he’s saying.”

  Ellie met his glance and giggled. “Yeah, me too. It’s all the texting and social media. It’s changed how we communicate a lot.”

  “I guess. What happened to ‘cool’ and ‘dude’?” He climbed in his truck and lowered the window. “Well, guess I need to get Kelly home. Thanks again for dinner.”

  “You’re welcome.” She stepped away as he put the vehicle in gear and backed out of the driveway. She waved as he rounded the corner. Man, she was a pretty woman with her long, sun-kissed mass of curls floating around her shoulders, her oval face and those big blue eyes. His breath caught. Ellie was the first woman to catch his eye since Marsha.

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to date anyone. Of course, it’d been two years since he’d lost Marsha, and she’d want him to move on. He’d just see how things went next weekend. Just because he’d see her again, didn’t mean they’d immediately fall for each other.

  After he got to know her, he might not be interested. Besides, while she wasn’t married, she could already be in a relationship, but he didn’t think so based on her lovely flushed cheeks when he’d caught her looking at him during dinner.

  Kelly groaned. “Daddy, my ankle is hurting really bad. Make it stop.”

  “I’m sorry, sweet pea. We’re almost home, and you can take another pill to help relieve the pain.” He shook off his thoughts of the woman he’d just left and turned his mind to getting his daughter home and into bed.

  When he awoke the following morning, he called the base and requested leave for the rest of the week. Once Kelly was in her permanent cast, she’d be able to return to school, but in the meantime, he didn’t have anyone to watch her. Besides, she was in considerable pain. She needed her daddy, not a stranger.

  He spent his days playing board games and Go Fish. While he loved Kelly, there were only so many times he could play Candy Land without pulling out his hair. Brian helped entertain her once he got home from school, so they muddled through until it was time for her to go back to the doctor.

  He tried to push thoughts of Ellie from his mind and managed fine during the day. His nights, on the other hand, were filled with sensual dreams of her. Guilt ate at him. He didn’t want to forget Marsha. If he started dating, he might. After Saturday, he’d make sure he didn’t spend any more time with the woman than he had to. The last thing he needed was another thing in his already full life.

  On Friday, he took Kelly for her appointment; fortunately, the swelling was down, and the doctor applied the cast. Now, in a matter of weeks. her ankle would be healed enough to remove it. The doctor assured him Kelly would be fine since it was a simple fracture, and she shouldn’t have any difficulties once the cast came off.

  The next morning, Jason jerked awake to the alarm going off on his smart phone. Dang it. Why’d he decide to take a run at o’dark thirty anyway? He rolled out of bed and quickly donned his workout clothes and running shoes, then trotted down the stairs and out the door.

  Once he warmed up, he turned toward the park, and soon, he was running down the path. His thoughts turned to Ellie. He looked forward to seeing her that morning. He’d decided to let things play out and see if the attraction was as strong as he suspected.

  After his forty-five-minute run, he returned to the house. He heard the coffeemaker gurgling, so Brian must be up. He breathed in the aroma of the fresh-ground coffee that still hovered in the air. Grabbing his favorite mug, he poured a cup of the hot brew. He drank his strong and black; none of that flavored liquid creamer or sugar for him.

  Brian bounced into the kitchen and made a beeline to the coffeemaker and poured a cup. “Hey, Dad. Did you have a good run?”

  “I did. Can’t you tell?” he joked, as he pretended to wring out his sweat-dampened t-shirt. “Is Kelly awake yet?”

  “I let her sleep. She’ll probably need a painkiller once she’s awake.” His son opened the fridge and removed a carton of eggs. “I’ll get started on breakfast while you get her up.”

  “Thanks, son.” He grabbed Kelly’s meds from the cabinet, then filled a glass with water and trotted upstairs to his daughter’s room. After a light tap on the door, he pushed it open and spied Kelly stretching her arms and wiggling into a sitting position. “Let me help you.”

  He approached her, then sat beside her on the bed and kissed her cheek. “How do you feel, sweet pea?”

  “Okay, Daddy.” She snuggled against him. “Are we still going to Yorktown with that pretty lady and Brian’s friend?”

  “Definitely.” Then he asked, “Is your ankle hurting?”

  She grimaced. “A little.”

  He reached for the glass of water he’d set on the nightstand, then handed it and the pill to Kelly. “Here, take this.”

  She swallowed it and handed the glass to him. “I’m hungry. What’s for breakfast?”

  “Your brother is making scrambled eggs,” he inhaled, “and I do believe I smell bacon.”

  “Great, my favorite,” she proclaimed. To save time, he swung her up into his arms.

  “Daddy. I can walk now that I have my new cast,” she protested.

  He had to remember; his little girl had developed an independent streak. “Of course you can, but can’t your favorite dad enjoy having you in his arms?”

  Kelly giggled and rolled her eyes. “You’re my only daddy, but I guess I’ll let you––this time.”

  Grinning at his impish daughter, they headed to the kitchen. It was good to see the change in Kelly. She’d had such a difficult time after her mother had died. The move had been smart. Not only had his daughter improved, his outlook had improved as well.

  An hour later, at nine, he pulled into the driveway at Ellie’s house. The door opened, and Zach jogged to his SUV. “Hey, Mr. Henderson. Mom’ll be out in a minute.” He grinned at Brian. “Ready to see who can get one of the workers to break character?”

  “You know it,” his son replied. Ellie stepped on the porch and waved. His pulse jumped as his eyes roamed from her head to her painted toes. She was just as attractive as he’d remembered. She skipped down the three steps and rushed toward them. “Hi. I’m ready whenever you are.”

  Jason grinned. “Then climb in, and we’ll be on our way.”

  After everyone was belted in, he backed out of the driveway, and headed toward Yorktown. The conversation was lively as he merged with the traffic. Before long, he reached the battlefield, and they piled out of his truck, except for Kelly, of course.

  He jogged around to the back and retr
ieved the wheelchair. Once he had Kelly situated, he wheeled her to the ticket booth and bought the tickets. After touring the park museum and watching a short film, they made their way outside. The boys joked around as they walked through the battlefield observing the activities. Kelly chattered, and Brian attempted to get several of the workers to break character without success.

  Ellie glanced his way. “You know that is not going to happen? Zach tries every time we come here but never manages it.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, but they’re having fun trying. So, I detect a New York accent. When did you move to Virginia Beach?”

  Her smile froze and something flashed in her eyes. Could it have been guilt? When she visibly relaxed, he dismissed that crazy speculation. It was probably his imagination. “I moved here shortly after 9/11. I’d worked at the World Trade Center, so I lost my position when the towers fell. Thought it was time for a change.”

  Her tone was guarded and that only made him even more intrigued. There was definitely more to her story. Perhaps it was guilt after all. No doubt she’d lost several friends and family on 9/11. Dang it, he didn’t mean to be insensitive.

  “I’m sorry,” he replied. “Perhaps you’d rather not talk about it, but you’re the first person I’ve met who was there that day.”

  “It’s all right. It was a long time ago.” She looked at the boys before going on. “I was late for work that day because I’d gone to the bank, so…I wasn’t in the towers. New York stood still for days after it happened. The entire situation was so surreal.” She swallowed and blinked several times. “I lost my best friend and many of my co-workers that day.”

  Good Lord. He should have kept his curiosity under wraps. “I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been.” Turning the conversation in a different direction, he asked, “Why Virginia Beach? Do you have family here?”

  “No…no family.” She turned to him and gave him a tremulous smile, clearly trying to appear less affected by the turn in their conversation. “I visited here as a teenager and fell in love with the area. That’s why I chose Virginia Beach.”