The Soldier's Unexpected Family

by Tanya Agler

Over Danny’s head, Natalie winked at her mom, happy for this small glimpse of rebellion from everyday norms.

  “Only for a couple of minutes.” He threw his arms around Natalie’s waist, keeping the contact close. “I love you, Aunt Natalie.”

  Shelby had bestowed the title of honorary aunt on her before Danny’s birth, and Natalie had no problem with keeping that the same, even though she was now his official guardian.

  Diane led Danny over to the newest section of the park, which had been redone in the past couple of years. When Natalie and her siblings were growing up, there was a round playground spinner, a couple of swings and a metal slide that had burned her legs more than once, even in the cooler climes of the mountains. Thanks to the influx of tourist dollars, Hollydale now boasted the largest park for kids this side of Raleigh, with a new splash fountain area, two different playgrounds for all ages, a rock-climbing area, and basketball and tennis courts. Over the summer, she planned to spend many a leisurely morning here with Danny.

  Once the parade float was finished, that was.

  A new project to sink her teeth into. Something unplanned and spontaneous to get behind. Rubbing her hands together, she headed toward the picnic table for the printout of Marisa’s plans. The sooner she evaluated her supplies, the sooner she’d have a sense of what else was possible and stop for the day. She hated to miss a minute of fun with Danny. Summer vacation was too short for her liking, although once August rolled around, she’d love the thrill and challenge of teaching twenty new students. She wouldn’t trade her job for all the fried green tomatoes in North Carolina.

  She grabbed the pages and saw a black car parking alongside her mother’s. The driver’s door opened and a tall man in a blue dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves that highlighted muscular arms emerged from the car. Unlike the typical park runners in athletic shorts, tank tops and sneakers, this newcomer wore jeans paired with dark brown loafers. Sunlight glinted off his dark chestnut hair, its short length reminiscent of... He closed the car door.

  There was also something familiar about the determination in his every step, but she still couldn’t place him.

  The oversize manila envelope in his hand caught her eye. For a second, she worried Danny’s uncle was serving her with some sort of legal action in case he wanted to take his nephew with him once he returned stateside. Considering the uncle hadn’t been involved the past three months, she wouldn’t entertain that kind of negative thinking.

  The man glanced at the envelope and headed back to his car. He must be lost. She transferred her attention to the plans. Movement caught her eye, and she looked up to find him heading straight toward her, no envelope in hand. His gaze gave the distinct impression he was looking for her. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he recognized her. However, Hollydale was a small town, and she’d have remembered anyone with his commanding presence.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “Natalie Harrison?”

  They’d spoken at the same time, and she released some of her nervousness through laughter. She extended her hand, and his grip exerted the right amount of pressure, not too firm, but not too soft.

  “Guilty as charged.”

  “I’d have known you anywhere from her description of you.” He moved his lips into a straight line. She wasn’t quite sure whether that was his version of a smile or not.

  She racked her brain about who would have described her to a total stranger. Then she snapped her fingers. “I’ll be the son of a sea biscuit. Marisa came through already, didn’t she?” Thank you, Marisa, for sending someone with muscles. “I need all the help I can get with this float. You wouldn’t believe the state I’m in with everything literally falling apart at my feet today.”

  “She’s not the reason I’m here. My new assignment starts soon and—”

  “Oh. If Marisa didn’t send you, the mayor must have. You’re the new city manager, then.”

  Mayor Wes had been all aflutter when Bob Woodley announced his immediate retirement. Hollydale gossip speculated age had nothing to do with his decision. Instead, everyone believed he didn’t want to judge the upcoming Fourth of July pie contest again, legendary in these parts thanks to the feud.

  “You’ll have your hands full since this is a tiebreaker year for the pie contest, but you look like you’ll rise to the challenge. Besides, it’s a change that will do everyone some good.”

  “I’m counting on that, but I’m not the city manager. Change is often necessary, and I’m glad to know I have your full support.” He blinked, almost as if he hadn’t expected to say that. “I didn’t anticipate this type of welcome.”

  Hollydale surprised people that way.

  “I’ll support anyone who’s here to help.” She twisted the small disc of St. Michael on her gold necklace. “When the nails came off this wooden frame today, I came this close to landing on my rear end in front of Danny. Now that you’re here, I won’t have that problem anymore.”

  The man’s demeanor didn’t change, his back still straight as an ironing board. “I didn’t realize you considered this situation a problem. Good to know.”

  “The truck chassis is over here, and you can see the state of the platform.” Natalie wiggled her fingers, and he followed alongside her. “Your arrival changes everything. Between you and me, however, I was on the verge of having to call in every favor folks have ever owed me, and for what? I dug a hole that’s simply too deep. The nails are literally coming out at the seams. I didn’t sign up for anything like this, but what’s done is done.”

  “That’s rather harsh.” His low voice was deep and sleek.

  “Not at all. I signed up under a whole different set of expectations.” She halted a couple of feet from the truck and attached trailer. “Oh well, before I know it, this chapter will be done and I’ll hand everything off. Life will then be all rainbows again. You have to look for the silver lining, you know.”

  The man walked around the truck and chassis, and Natalie kept her gaze focused on him. The man’s piercing gray gaze seemed to be measuring up the situation, the wheels in his head turning, she imagined. He picked up a plank from the platform and examined it from all angles. “Just like that? No second thoughts, no regrets?”

  About a parade float? She could use garland or premade decorations. However, creating puffy tissue paper flowers with Danny would give them something to do together. No way would she stay up nights second-guessing her decision to dream big. “When this is finished, I’ll be able to live with myself just fine.” Better than fine if Danny’s laughter is back. “I’ll have my summer ahead of me, free and unencumbered of the commitment. Late mornings, friends, good times ahead.”

  “You have some serious issues.” He turned to her. Concern in his features mirrored something she’d recently seen, but she couldn’t put her finger on what.

  She’d seen those gray eyes somewhere before, but where?

  He pointed to the nails sticking out of the end of the board. “Do you want my opinion about what went wrong?”

  “Even silver linings need the right glue. You don’t use finishing nails to hold support beams together.” She picked up a board and tapped the nail. “When I drove the truck out of the shed for better lighting and more work space this morning, I must have jarred the frame enough for the boards to fall apart.”

  “Looks that way. Glad no one was hurt.” As he spoke, he rolled down his shirtsleeves, unusual in this warm weather. Something running along his left forearm caught her eye, but he folded his arms before she could see whether the mark was part of a tattoo or something else.

  “Don’t I know it? When something harmful comes along, you have to move forward. I’m just the facilitator, so to speak, but I’ll be counting on you in the future. I’m sure your energy and experience will yield dividends in the upcoming years.” She tried to smile, but the man stared at her, his brow furrowing deeper wit
h each passing second. Once again, a rush of familiarity flooded her, but she couldn’t pinpoint why it seemed like she should know him.

  “I had every impression you’d put up more of a fight.”

  “Why would I argue with you? You’ll make life so much easier around here. By the way, I didn’t catch your name. Mister...?”

  Out of the blue, Danny rushed toward her, Diane on his heels. Whatever was wrong with Danny must be serious. “Excuse me a minute.” Her cowboy boots smacked the pavement as she hurried toward the pair. “Mom! What’s happening? Danny, are you okay? Did you fall down?”

  Danny rushed past her, and she twirled around. The stranger stood a couple of feet away, awe and wonder lightening his hard face. Crouching down, he opened his arms wide for the sopping-wet missile heading his way. Danny flew into his chest, and the man absorbed the impact without falling down. Instead, he cradled Danny’s head and held him tight.

  Out of breath and wringing the wet towel, Diane reached Natalie and touched her arm. “He started running before I could find out anything.”

  No wonder the man’s gray eyes looked so familiar. Natalie saw the same shape and seriousness in Danny’s brown ones every morning across her breakfast table when Danny slurped down his favorite cereal and drank his orange juice. Danny’s uncle, Major Aidan Murphy, had arrived in Hollydale six months ahead of schedule.

  CHAPTER TWO

  FROM THE SECOND Aidan walked into Natalie’s small cottage later that afternoon, he’d been struck with a sense of home. A plump sofa with five bright pillows suited the colorful interior. Vivid abstract paintings lining the walls caught his eye. They matched her vibrant style, and his modern tastes as well.

  He reached for the slightly blurry photo of his half sister and nephew on Natalie’s mantel. Despite the poor quality, he made out the joy radiating from Shelby’s eyes, her cheek touching Danny’s.

  It had about killed Aidan when his latest assignment had prevented him from attending Shelby’s funeral and claiming guardianship of his nephew. Every day since he’d received the fateful call, he’d awakened an hour earlier to finish his work ahead of schedule, shaving months off his intended target date to reunite with his only remaining relative. This week the last clearances to return stateside came through.

  Adjusting to base housing and Aidan’s simple style might take some time, but Danny was young and resilient. Aidan had also lost his mother at the same age, and his father’s steady hand had mattered a great deal more than his surroundings.

  Though he wanted nothing more than to bundle Danny on the plane and move on to the next chapter of their lives, Aidan hadn’t been stateside in a while. In the year since he’d spent the last Fourth of July with Danny and Shelby, who’d flown out to Fort Lewis near Seattle to be with him, the boy’s hair had darkened to the same chestnut shade that greeted Aidan in the mirror, and he’d grown at least two inches. While a clean break from Hollydale would be best, he wanted to give his nephew enough time to adjust to his presence in his life.

  That was why he wasn’t wearing his official uniform. He’d checked in and changed at the Eight Gables bed-and-breakfast before he found Natalie’s neighbor, who knew where she’d gone, and used the rental car’s GPS to find Hollydale Park.

  Listening to his sister’s best friend talk about Danny as a problem easily solved meant he hadn’t arrived soon enough. The redhead was pretty in a wholesome, friendly way, a free spirit, from the looks of her flowy floral sundress paired with bright pink cowboy boots. Any other time, he’d have found himself drawn into her blithe charm.

  However, fifteen years in the army had taught him to always look below the facade. While Shelby had always raved about Natalie’s caring nature, his sister had misjudged her friend’s real character. Natalie obviously craved a return to her previous life when a child hadn’t weighed her down. Aidan was only too happy to comply. Caring for Danny wasn’t a hindrance around someone’s neck. A reliable person and consistent schedule would instill in his nephew a sense of pride, a strength that would get him through anything else life threw his way.

  “I snapped that photo of Shelby and Danny the day before she died. It was pure Shelby, ready for adventure and going for broke.” Natalie’s voice came from the breakfast nook area, and he replaced the picture and headed that way.

  He reached Natalie a second too late to assist her with the full tray she lowered to the scarred oak table. A whiff of cinnamon and sugar reminded him how long it had been since he’d tasted apple pie.

  “This is nice, thank you. But you didn’t have to go to any trouble on my behalf. I won’t be here for long.”

  One week ought to be just the right amount of time.

  “Then you’re just passing through?” She cut a big slice of pie and handed it to him on a bright yellow plate. “I was hoping you’d stay for the Fourth of July festivities. Hollydale goes all out to make it an unforgettable memory. I’d like that for Danny.”

  Taken aback at the way Natalie treated him like a long lost friend, Aidan reconsidered his approach to Danny’s transition. At the military base in Germany, poring over every detail relating to reuniting with his nephew and cutting through the red tape, he’d decided to arrive unannounced. He hadn’t wanted to alert Natalie. Her reaction was the one factor he couldn’t plan for. But so far, things were a lot easier than he’d been anticipating.

  She reached for the carafe already on the table. “Coffee? You might need it to keep up with Danny.”

  He blinked at how she seemed to read his mind about being tired. Jet lag must be muddling his brain more than he thought.

  “I personally like coffee with my pie, but some people find hot beverages in summer overwhelming.” Natalie poured him a cup and handed it to him.

  He accepted the mug with sunflowers and lowered it to the table, taking care to shield his left hand from view. “I love my nephew, Miss Harrison.”

  “Call me Natalie.” She poured her own coffee and then sat, indicating for him to do the same. “I hope you can arrange for leave and stay longer at Christmas.”

  Stay longer? Once he and Danny boarded the plane, he had no intention of returning to Hollydale. Natalie was part of Danny’s past. He was Danny’s future.

  He readjusted his weight in the hard oak chair and picked up the mug while keeping his left hand under the table. “I haven’t given much thought to Christmas until now.”

  The first without Shelby. His half sister always sent him the same package with her homemade sugar cookies, an ugly Christmas sweater and some souvenir trinket she’d picked up on one of her adventures with Danny. Pain ripped through him at the thought that he’d never open another box from her.

  This would also be Danny’s first year without his mom. He’d plan something special for his nephew. They could go to the Space Needle or maybe the zoo.

  “Too bad you won’t be here for the Fourth of July. Everyone loves the parade in the morning and the pie contest in the afternoon. I like to think our fireworks celebration is the best in the state. And speaking of a little firework.” She glanced upstairs. “I wonder what’s keeping Danny. He’s normally in and out of the shower in seconds flat. He’s so quick that I have to check that he used soap and shampoo. Being a kindergarten teacher has taught me some of the tricks of the trade.”

  Her working with children seemed like a natural extension of her personality. He hadn’t been around kids since Shelby traded her stuffed animals for a cell phone and her first boyfriend.

  “Does he always take a shower in the middle of the day?”

  Sipping her coffee, she leaned back, thumped her chest and coughed as though the liquid went down the wrong pipe. She lowered her mug and composed herself. “Most of the time it’s all I can do to convince him to bathe, period. Running around in the splash fountains, though? That calls for an early shower this afternoon before our appointment. We love playing out in the rain
, running through sprinklers, anything where water isn’t contained in a tub or coming out of a showerhead. Showers are second only to broccoli on his yucky list.”

  From Natalie’s observation, it sounded as if she knew Danny well. If that was the case, his nephew had been looked after well and Aidan was grateful. He shook his head, refusing to go down the road of warm fuzzies. If he did, guilt might swoop over him about leaving before the Fourth of July, and there was nothing wrong with him claiming custody of Danny. In fact, everything was right, considering Natalie wanted to live an unencumbered life, free of problems related to a six-year-old.

  Hard to believe anyone so kind could be so cold and heartless about a young boy.

  “However,” Natalie continued, “he likes to look his best for his afternoons with Toby. Hence the shower.”

  He pushed away his coffee, the heat getting to him. “Toby? Given the circumstances, Toby’s mother will understand if you call and cancel the get-together.” The sound of the shower stopped, and Aidan rose. “I’ll break the news to him.”

  “Excuse me?” Natalie came over and touched his arm, breaking off the contact after less than a second.

  He recoiled at the tingle from a mere touch.

  “I can’t call Toby’s mother since she’s a seventy-pound golden retriever. Trust me, this visit with Toby is important to Danny and his well-being. I’m not canceling.”

  A visit with a dog was more important than preparing for a life-changing move? Her stubborn attitude was the final part of the equation. The clean break he’d decided on for himself and Danny was for the best. Natalie’s home might be cozy and welcoming, but there was something about Natalie that challenged what he wanted for Danny. The sooner his nephew was away from this place, the sooner they’d lean on each other to get over Shelby’s death.

  “Then I’m coming with you,” he told her.

  She looked at him, her deep blue eyes sizing him up. He’d withstood the stares of drill sergeants, four-star generals and enemy combatants. However, none of them saw through him like she was doing right now.