Ethan

by Chris Keniston

  Chapter Three

  The uncomfortable flight into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport might as well have been a boxcar on a freight train. With seats unsuitable for the average mature adult, comfort was not an option. The bulkhead seating with extra leg room was the only bright spot to the trip home. Though Ethan couldn't completely elevate his foot, the flight attendant had been kind enough to bring some pillows and a blanket from first class to create a hassock of sorts that eased some of the throbbing from swinging himself about all day on crutches.

  Behind the wheel of her car, his sister Grace glanced his way. "How's the leg holding up?"

  "Fine." Dozing in the front seat of her car hadn't done much to ease the pain, but he wasn't about to say the damn thing hurt like a son of a… "Just fine."

  "Glad you got some rest. We're almost home. I have a feeling things are going to be hopping."

  Hanging out at the airport to catch a commuter flight to Abilene or Lubbock only to still have to drive all the way to the ranch would have taken more time and been harder on his leg than the insanely long drive from Dallas to Tuckers Bluff. "You didn't have to do this. I could have rented a car."

  "Oh yeah. I can see Dad and Aunt Eileen agreeing to that one." Grace chuckled, shaking her head. "The timing was great. I've got a short break before my classes start again. It makes more sense for me to make the trip home rather than Finn or Dad making the drive roundtrip."

  He wasn't going to argue. Truth be told, he was damn glad to have a family that cared about him this much. Straightening in his seat and looking around he realized they were indeed practically spitting distance to the ranch. "The least I could have done was stay awake and keep you company."

  His sister smiled at him again. Even as a baby Grace smiled at almost everything. Of course, most of the time she'd get that gleam in her eye that warned everyone she was up to something. As the youngest of the family and the only girl it hadn't mattered much, she was spoiled rotten.

  "I actually like the peace and quiet," she continued. "It's a nice break from the normal hustle and bustle. For a little while anyhow." That twinkle appeared in her eye as her smile tilted a little higher to one side. "Besides, I am sooo ready to meet the new girl in the Farraday clan." She turned her head to face him. "It wasn't easy growing up the only girl with you bunch."

  Easy for who? Ethan almost laughed, but he just didn't seem to have it in him. He wished he didn't still feel quite so numb all over. Since he'd first been told about his recent fatherhood he was having a hard time feeling anything. Wasn't a man supposed to be overjoyed by a child? Or was that only when the child belonged to the love of your life? Once he'd gotten over being stunned, he'd felt almost hollow. Neither love nor hate. The idea scared him. Had being in the drudges of the sandbox robbed him of the depth of human emotion? He forced his mind back to his last visit home. To Adam and Meg's wedding. The smiles. The joy. The love. His heart had been full at the happiness streaming from his older sibling. Yes, he could still feel some things.

  "What?" Grace shot a quick glance in his direction. "No warning not to spoil the little peanut."

  "Peanut?"

  "Well, that's not very girly but it sounded better than pumpkin or pipsqueak. I'm sure once I see her in person something more appropriate will come to me."

  "How about Brittany? It's her name."

  "Yeah." Grace frowned. "Would have been cool if she'd been Heather or Hailey or—"

  "We've already got an H in the family. Hannah."

  "Yes, I know. And it was very thoughtful of Aunt Anne to honor Mom by picking up the next letter after G, but still. Maybe Helen would have been nice."

  He'd actually thought that himself. "I'm sure Aunt Eileen won't object if you go ahead and bring a Helen into the family." Normally, teasing Grace about having babies to make their aunt happy would have had him grinning from the inside out, but not today. It was an effort to even carry on a conversation. The trip to Fancy's old apartment yesterday had been a bust. When the friend finally came home from work she apologized up and down but swore that Fancy had only stayed with her a few weeks before heading to Los Angeles. Something about Fancy getting a better offer but the woman had no details or data.

  "Well, we're not going there," Grace turned off the road and under the arch onto the ranch drive. "I'm personally very thankful to you and Brooks for taking some of the pressure off to reproduce. Connor too. With three young’uns in the house, Aunt Eileen should be seriously busy for a good long while."

  Not much scared Ethan. He thrived on adrenaline rushes. Exploring the unknown. Pushing the limits. His career choice hadn't come with any promises of security. But at this very moment, as the house he grew up in grew larger in the distance, he was scared down to his socks. What did he know about babies, children, and parenting? It was one thing to have a buddy's back, but to be responsible for the nurturing and upbringing of a tiny human being? What if he totally screwed it up? Wasn't an absentee father a major cause of dysfunctional children—and military life certainly qualified for absentee. In his case, very absentee.

  The sedan came to a stop by the front porch and before Ethan could shift around, the door flew open and his aunt was at his side. "Don't you move. Your father's coming out to help."

  "I don't need help, Aunt Eileen." Ethan spun about, setting his feet on the ground.

  "I'll get the crutches." Grace slammed her door shut and yanked the rear door open, grabbing them from the back seat, and then hurried around to Ethan's side.

  "Thanks." By the time he'd pushed to his feet, well, foot, half the family had huddled around him like a football team protecting their quarterback.

  "Be careful." Aunt Eileen held her arms out in preparation to stop his fall if he lost his balance. The maternal wishful thinking almost made him smile.

  "Yes, ma'am." He might be nervous and uncertain of his future but he hadn't totally lost his mind. Arguing with his aunt had never been a good idea growing up and he didn't see any reason to point out the absurdity of her efforts now.

  "Give the man some space," his father said with the wave of an arm. "Glad to have you home, son."

  Ethan nodded. Adam and Brooks had followed his father and aunt and now stood off to one side. Each nodded and smiled at him. Neither needed to say anything, Ethan understood, they were there for him. He hadn't needed to join the Marines to understand the significance of Semper Fi, his family had taught him the meaning of always faithful and never leave a man behind, from the time he could walk. Even if, in the case of the Farradays, never leaving a man behind was more akin to not leaving a brother to take the heat for whatever crazy-ass stunt one of them had pulled.

  The trunk slammed shut and DJ appeared behind his brothers, Ethan's duffel bag in hand. "I hope you're hungry. Aunt Eileen has been cooking for days. There's enough food to feed your entire platoon."

  Ethan hadn't had a decent appetite since waking up in the hospital. Even now the smells of roasted meat and what he was pretty sure was his favorite green bean casserole did little to entice his taste buds. "A bit."

  Several pairs of eyes glanced back and forth at each other before crossing into the house.

  Becky was the one to come bouncing out of the kitchen and screech to a halt a few feet in front of him.

  "It's okay. I won't break." Ethan knew she couldn't have changed that much in only a few months and yet, somehow the pipsqueak seemed all grown up. He forced a reassuring smile. "I promise."

  Slowly, Becky closed the gap between them and, careful not to nudge the crutches, wrapped her arms around him. "Welcome home."

  Funny how so much could change in such a short amount of time. To anyone watching, the loving welcome looked very much like any other time she'd hugged him or given him a peck on the cheek, but Ethan felt the difference. Not so much in the physicality, but somehow it was just…different. And no surprise there. She was in love with DJ now. Balancing on the crutches and unable to hug her back, Ethan simply looked over her shoulder
to his older brother. DJ was a good man. All his brothers were, but still. Pinning DJ with his gaze, Ethan conveyed the same thing he would have said to any man who captured the heart of Becky Wilson—watch it.

  With a blink of his eyes, and the slightest dip of his chin, DJ answered—message received. Then his gaze shifted warmly to Becky and Ethan knew those words would never need to be said again. "Okay," DJ stepped forward. "That's enough family love."

  Becky giggled and slid against DJ, fitting just right under his arm. Her fingers threaded with the hand hanging over her shoulder. Oh yeah. Ethan wouldn't ever have to worry.

  "I'd better get back into the kitchen," Aunt Eileen shuffled around him, and he was pretty sure he caught her swiping quickly at one eye. "I was mid whip with the mashed potatoes. And you," she waved a finger in the direction of a new furniture addition to the living room, "go sit."

  His father nodded. "We figured you'd be more comfortable in a recliner than sprawled out on a sofa with a pile of pillows."

  Ethan nodded. Too many vets came home to little or no support system. He was definitely damn lucky with his lot in life.

  "We've been waiting for you." Wiping her hands on an apron, Meg strolled from the large kitchen into the den.

  Ethan looked up from the recliner he'd just sunk into and reached for the lever to lower the footrest.

  "No. Don't get up." She leaned over and squeezed his neck in a strong hug, and whispered. "It's going to be okay."

  Ethan blinked and nodded.

  Meg straightened and smiled. "We ran out of oven space so all the baking is getting done next door. Toni and Catherine are in charge. I don't think Catherine has a clue what she volunteered for, but Toni will bring her up to speed."

  Ethan nodded again, and scanned the room. Where was Brittany? He'd expected her to be cradled in one of the women's arms and thrust at him the second he walked through the door. Was it that obvious to everyone how unprepared he was for this whole situation?

  Meg's smile broadened. "Finn's got her. Ready to meet your daughter?"

  How did she know he was looking for the baby? Then what she'd said registered. "Finn?" The guy was great with animals, but human babies?

  Adam chuckled "Yeah. Turns out that of all of us, he's great at Uncle Mom."

  Before Ethan's mind could contemplate the implications of that statement, six feet of cowboy stood at Ethan's side with a sleeping rag doll sprawled over his shoulder.

  "Should you be holding her like that?" Ethan asked.

  A hand on the baby’s back, Finn shrugged the other shoulder. "She has a little trouble with gas every now and again. She likes the pressure from my shoulder." With surprising ease, Finn patted the sleeping baby at the same time he slid her down till her bottom rested on his forearm and her head snuggled just under his chin. "When she's happy and sleepy she likes this spot best. I think it's because she feels my heart."

  Ethan knew he was gawking. Finn hadn't had any different training than any of the brothers. He hadn't been prone to playing with dolls and, like himself and DJ, Finn had been too young to help with Grace when she'd been born. "Where did you learn all this?"

  Finn shrugged again. "Not much to learn. Just common sense."

  Common sense? Ethan had plenty of that. Street sense too. Both had kept him alive and healthy. But…

  "Ready?" Finn leaned forward, the baby slipping easily into position on Finn's proffered hands. His brother clearly meant to hand off the infant and Ethan thought for the first time in his life he might have a panic attack. Before he could utter a sound, Finn's voice rumbled with laughter.

  Ethan could hear the muffled sound of his other brothers chuckling too. Bug eyed, Ethan's gaze swung to the traitorous siblings. Adam and Brooks had the decency to clear their throats and put on a straight face. Not DJ. Arms crossed, he merely smiled even wider.

  "She's not going to break." Finn extended his arms closer to Ethan's chest and the little arms and legs in pink coveralls wiggled. "Better hurry, she's about to wake up."

  Before he knew exactly how it happened, Ethan had about thirteen pounds of tiny human in his hands.

  "Keep holding her like a sack of flour and she's not going to be happy." Finn reached over. "Turn her—"

  "What?" Ethan's head snapped up toward his brother. Turn?

  "Lord spare me new fathers." Finn huffed out a breath and shook his head. "Put your eyes back in your head. Maneuver, is that better?" Finn cradled Brittany's head in the palm of his hand and helped his brother reposition her so her bottom was in one hand and her head rested in the crook of Ethan's arm, then Finn straightened and stepped back. "Now, was that so hard?"

  At that moment dark lashes lifted up and bright eyes gazed up at him.

  Bracing to have the baby scream bloody murder at this clumsy oaf holding her, Ethan was instead sucked in by the way the little girl studied him. She seemed to be taking in every feature from the root of his hair to the cleft in his chin. As her eyes zeroed in on his, her legs pulled up and kicked out. Instinctively he placed his hand over her tummy and with unexpected agility for one so small, Brittany reached out and snatched his thumb.

  A sudden swell in his chest forced all the oxygen held in his lungs out in a rush. Her feet pumped one more time, her hand shook his, and the corners of her mouth lifted upward. She was smiling at him. Emotions tumbled about inside him faster than he could identify. Joy, love, pride and for the first time since hearing of her arrival—anger. Not at Brittany, but at Fancy. In a box under a bench. The fury at the mother of his child spiked only to be squelched by another kick, another shake and a small gurgling noise to accompany the smile. His little girl. His to love and protect. No one was ever going to put her in harms way again. Ever.

  Ethan had no idea how he was going to raise this child alone and do right by her, but do right he would. He dragged his gaze away from his daughter—his daughter—and looked up to see his entire family circling him, staring, including Connor with a young girl on his shoulders, and Connor's new other half. He hadn't heard them come in. Every last person in the room was grinning at him like damn Cheshire Cats. And he couldn't blame them.

  Shifting his attention to DJ, Ethan sucked in a deep breath. "Whatever it costs, I want the best lawyer your friend can recommend. With or without Fancy's help, I want everything finalized so I can be damn sure no one can ever take Brittany away from me."

  Brittany tugged at his finger, demanding his attention. Ethan smiled back at his little girl. Heaven help anyone who tried to come between him and his daughter. "Semper Fi, baby girl." Semper fi.

  Chapter Four

  A million things ran through Allison's mind during the long drive home. Planning, organizing, categorizing, and follow-through had been her strengths most of her life. It was one of the skills that made her a good team leader working for MHI. By the time she'd finished processing what the investigator had told her yesterday afternoon about her sister's life since Francine had left home all those years ago —what they could track—Allison's head was spinning. Even a night's sleep at the roadside motel midway between San Diego and home hadn't helped clear her mind. And now, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, after hours of thinking, she didn't understand any better how her sister could have just left her own flesh and blood with a damn near stranger—in a box.

  The one thing she did feel for sure was that Brooklyn hadn't lied. According to the minimal documentation she'd received, the family had asked her for a medical history. Apparently someone was thinking ahead. That made her feel moderately better. But it was her own research that had put her more at ease. Enough to get the first decent night's sleep since learning she had a niece. With a name, she'd been able to do a quick search with her phone on the family caring for Brittany. Only able to scratch the surface, she was eager to get home, get on her desktop, talk to her lawyer, and arrange for a trip to West Texas. ASAP.

  Her dashboard lit up with an incoming call and Allison hit the answer button on her steering wheel. "Did you mi
ss me?"

  Mark, her mentor, and head of her department at County Hospital, responded. "What's your ETA?"

  His tone had her on alert. "About thirty minutes from home."

  "And the hospital?"

  "Next exit."

  "Good. There's been an emergency. Car accident. An expectant mother, twenty-eight weeks. Stevens is on his way but I'd rather have you on this one."

  She glanced at the clock. Whatever distress the fetus was in had to be dicey if Mark was willing to wait for her. Texas and her niece would have to wait at least another day.

  ***

  "You're going to have to go before a judge." Grace passed the bowl of garlic and cheddar mashed potatoes to her right.

  "That doesn't make sense." Connor grabbed a biscuit and looked to his fiancée.

  It had only been a few hours since Ethan had come through the front door, and already all his siblings, and the newest additions to the family, soothed his soul like a balm.

  Catherine shrugged. "I don't do family law, but I do know that much. Signing an affidavit relinquishing parental rights is only the first step. To be effective you'll have to go to court and get a judgment for termination."

  "See." Grace stuck her tongue out at her brother. "We’re lucky the promulgated form that woman used covered all the key things needed to be acceptable to a judge."

  "And that she had it notarized," Catherine added. "I just wish she'd had it witnessed too."

  Grace nodded. "Normally an irrevocable termination of parental rights like that woman signed—"

  "Francine," Ethan corrected. He didn't know why, in many ways he agreed with his sister. Anyone who left her child in a damn box on the doorstep didn't deserve the respect of a given name, and yet, Fancy would always be Brittany's mother. Somehow that woman just didn't seem right.