The Soldier's Unexpected Family

by Tanya Agler

  “Do we?” Aidan asked.

  The trouble was, she didn’t know Aidan well enough to know how to appeal to his sense of compassion. Besides, Danny deserved better than a compromise. He needed someone in his corner who’d teach him what was important in life.

  She and Aidan had different perceptions of what was important. For her, raising Danny in an environment where love and nurturing would help him blossom was everything. For Aidan, his status as uncle outweighed all the other benefits.

  She jumped off the swing and sent him a smile. “Sometimes taking a moment to breathe when your world falls apart around you is a win. That’s what Danny needs right now. A chance to breathe and find his support system.”

  “I’m his uncle. I’m his support system.”

  There was no denying he was Danny’s family, but so was she. Danny reached the top of the rock-climbing wall for the first time. Celebrating that was important. A win for Danny was having someone in his corner.

  For now, she was that person.

  * * *

  AIDAN WIPED AWAY a bead of sweat with the fabric of his long-sleeve shirt. How did he get stuck sawing new wood for the frame of the trailer chassis? Somehow, Natalie had crooked her little finger, and he did her bidding. From the utility shed, they’d taken two sawhorses and made a makeshift construction zone where he now worked.

  He was a major in the army, a trained military ops specialist. Under normal circumstances, he delivered orders in one of six languages. Military training had impressed on him the importance of teamwork, and he thrived on a set timeline and instructions to achieve every goal. A place for everything, and everything in its place.

  Natalie was turning his settled world upside down. More than ever, he longed for the shelter of the plane that would take Danny and him back to the world he knew. Even he could see the irony in wanting to return to a military base for safety and security.

  The latest overseas assignment had occupied his every moment for three months, allowing him to keep his grief at bay. Seeing Shelby’s favorite blanket on her couch and not hearing her voice had shaken him to the core. Why had he survived fifteen years of military service, including two tours in Afghanistan, while his sweet sister died of natural causes before her thirtieth birthday? The reality of Shelby’s death had sunk in at her house.

  So, too, had his resolve to have Danny near him. Aidan had been there when Shelby lost her first tooth and when she cried over their father’s last army transfer. Danny had her smile and made the same eye-squint whenever he concentrated on something. Aidan couldn’t miss out on the rest of his firsts, too.

  Exerting extra force on the board snapped it in two a bit sooner than he’d have liked for a smoother edge. No matter. He’d sand down the rough edges.

  He opened the toolbox Natalie had provided and checked the supplies. While the hammer and screwdrivers had wear and tear on them, the quality was good. He rifled through the sandpaper, passing over the extra-fine pieces and choosing a square of medium coarseness.

  Sitting with his back to the side of the shed and his legs bent, he made himself as comfortable as possible. This seemed as good a way as any to pass the time until Natalie and Danny returned with lunch. He’d gladly agreed to this tradeoff. He would do dinner with Danny tonight instead, and in return she’d wrangle volunteers and write down revised plans for the float.

  The rhythmic motion of passing the paper over the rough surface calmed him like little else so far on this trip. He wasn’t sure whether the reunion with Danny or meeting Natalie riled him more. There was something in the air whenever he sparred with the pretty redhead, and he needed to focus his entire attention on his nephew. He didn’t do anything halfway, and he wasn’t about to break that streak now.

  “Excuse me. Major Murphy?” A bald man in khakis paired with a light blue shirt and navy blazer approached.

  “Yes, sir, I am.”

  The no-nonsense gait, along with his jacket, created an air of authority, triggering Aidan’s curiosity.

  The man closed the rest of the distance and extended his hand. “Welcome to Hollydale.”

  Aidan set the wood and sandpaper beside him and rose from the ground. He waited until after the handshake to dust the dirt off his legs. “Thanks, and you are?”

  “Wesley Grayson. Everyone calls me Mayor Wes.”

  Aidan’s gaze wandered over the construction area. “Before I leave, I intend to clean up my mess and put away the materials. If the sawhorses—”

  “This does involve the parade, but not in the way you’re thinking.” The mayor laughed and ran his hand over his jaw. “Glad to see you’re helping with the elementary school float. Marisa Garcia called me last night with the update that Natalie was taking over and going with the theme of ‘Reaching for the Stars.’ I like that. You’re staying in our good town for the parade, then?”

  By the Fourth of July, he and Natalie should be able to come to some sort of agreement regarding Danny’s future. It would be his first stateside Independence Day in a couple of years. “Yes, sir.”

  The mayor’s smile widened. “Do you like pie?”

  Is that some sort of rhetorical question? “Can’t say as I’ve turned down many slices of pie in my day.”

  Mayor Wes came closer and patted Aidan on the back. “I have an offer you’ll hopefully find hard to resist, son. All the pie you can eat by some of the finest cooks around.”

  “What’s the catch?”

  “No catch. It’s an honor. I’d like you to be the official pie judge for this year’s contest.”

  “Surely someone else, someone who lives in Hollydale, would be a better choice.” Aidan wiped the sawdust off his fingers.

  The mayor shook his head and smirked. “Believe me, you’re the best choice. You’re an important visitor. A fine military man. What do you say?”

  It had been a long time since anyone had valued Aidan’s opinion for something other than as an expert interpreter. When the mayor put the offer in those terms, it sounded like it was Aidan’s patriotic duty to accept. His stomach already thanked him for the privilege. “You’ve got yourself a judge.”

  Something like relief spread across the man’s face. “Thanks. See you around.”

  Mayor Wes practically sprinted away.

  CHAPTER SIX

  AIDAN SNAPPED THE measuring tape back into its metal carrying case. Measure twice, cut once was one of the first lessons his father had taught him. Now he’d be teaching Danny about tools and passing on those same lessons.

  He walked over to the long boards and grabbed the top one on the pile. Consulting the rough diagram of oversize constellations he’d drawn from Natalie’s sketches after the mayor’s visit, he was satisfied with his choice. Same as his stomach would be satisfied, no doubt, in a couple of weeks after getting his fill of pie.

  Natalie might be right. There might be something about Hollydale that defied expectations. There were other people in town more connected to the community who would make a suitable judge. And yet the mayor seemed to have singled him out. Maybe there was something to small-town life, something similar to military life but without the carousel effect of people coming and going. He knew that feeling too well, considering he was the fourth generation of Murphy men to join the army. His father hadn’t accepted an honorable discharge until Shelby was Danny’s age and they’d settled in Cathy’s hometown of Cincinnati.

  Whistling, he laid the board on the sawhorses and fetched his saw. As soon as he retrieved it, Natalie and Danny returned. Her red hair glinted in the rays of the sun. There was a freshness about her that sparked something in him, the part of him jaded from the impact of all he’d seen over the past fifteen years. Her gaze narrowed in on the neat pile of cut wood near the chassis.

  “Look at what you’ve accomplished since we’ve been gone. If you weren’t holding that saw, I’d give you a huge hug.”

/>   It was easy to see why any parent would consider themselves lucky if their child landed in her kindergarten class; her tone was encouraging without carrying any condescension.

  He laid down the saw. “I’d have been done by now if it weren’t for the interesting offer that came my way while you picked up lunch.”

  Her smile widened, and she leaned forward as if she couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say. “Good news?” She gestured for him to join her at the pavilion, where Danny had already started eating his sub. He should mind the familiarity, even be wary of it, but he was coming to understand her openness was just a part of her.

  Allowing himself this one distraction, he slipped his hand in hers. In the normal course of his work, he’d be winding down the training of recruits, simulating different scenarios, using his foreign-language skills, the main reason he’d already been recruited for his postmilitary career. He felt like he was playing hooky with the blue skies, chatter and laughter nearby and the sweet mountain air filling his lungs.

  And yet? He didn’t want to feel guilty. Natalie’s vitality added something he couldn’t put his finger on, but he had to stop noticing her. The optimism she radiated from head to toe brightened his afternoon, and he pulled back from the unexpected attraction. This was his sister’s best friend.

  He glanced at Danny, who was cramming two chips in his mouth at once. Instead of telling him to eat more slowly, he let it go. Though he felt like he was getting soft at his old age of thirty-six.

  Getting along with Natalie and smoothing the transition would benefit Danny in the long run. So for the next few weeks, he’d make those his top priorities.

  “Aidan? What’s your good news?” She tapped his arm.

  “Mayor Wes stopped by, and I’m going to judge the pie contest on the Fourth of July. Danny can be my helper.” Good thing his leave did come through.

  Her lips curled up, and she brought her hand to her mouth before she bent over laughing.

  He held out his palms. “What’s so funny?”

  One more laugh escaped before she smoothed the ruffled edge of her tunic. “Please tell me you rejected his offer.”

  There was underlying concern in her voice, the type that usually meant someone cared. Still, why the concern over judging a pie contest? “Any reason I should have?”

  “You have no idea what you’ve committed yourself to, do you?” She whistled and reached for her lunch. A loaded submarine sandwich with all the extras, the same way he’d ordered his. “For the past twenty-six years, Hollydale has gone all out celebrating Independence Day. It’s one reason this is my favorite holiday. The town comes together and throws a big party. Everyone contributes something.”

  From what he’d seen so far, he could understand that. People and parties suited her, while he’d like nothing more than to take a couple of days and hike the mountains alone, maybe do a little kayaking.

  “Nothing seems amiss to me. Can no one in Hollydale bake a decent pie?” Maybe that was the problem. Pretty town, bad bakers. Now he could end up with indigestion, or worse.

  “Belinda Chastain is known as the Pie Queen in these parts. She bakes the most delicious cherry lattice pie.” She smacked her lips. “Flaky crust, fresh sweet cherries. It’s heaven on a plate.”

  He wondered if he should get back to work. “Good to know.”

  Natalie patted his arm, and he settled on the bench once more. She handed him his lunch bag. “And then there’s Hyacinth Hennessy. Her lemon meringue pie is scrumptious. The meringue is so light, and the lemon curd is simply to die for.”

  “As judge, I’ll get to try both, along with all the other entries. Nothing wrong with that.” Her hand remained on his upper arm, and he wanted to lean in. He kept back, however, as it wouldn’t do to get used to anything in Hollydale other than Danny. He pulled out his sub and began to unwrap it.

  “What other entries? No one else ever dares submit a pie. Hyacinth has thirteen blue ribbons, same as Belinda. It’s gotten to the point where it’s almost unbearable to live around here for a year until there’s a tie again. What’s worse is the judge who does break the tie moves into the doghouse with the family of the losing baker. Norm Braswell had to drive to and from Asheville for a year to buy his fish bait when he declared Hyacinth the winner since Belinda’s husband owns the local gas station, which is also the site of our best local bait shop. Mary Anne Whitten was banned from the garden club for a year when she declared Belinda the winner.”

  She settled back, and he crammed a bit of sub into his mouth and chewed. “So, I’m it, the fall guy.” Something about that rubbed him the wrong way.

  Here Natalie had been trying to sell him on Hollydale, and now? His opinion of the town turned on a dime. However, he’d made a commitment, and he’d see it through.

  He wrapped up the remainder of his sandwich for later and jumped off the bench, more determined than ever to finish sawing the wood for the frame.

  “Aidan, wait!” Natalie caught up to him quickly.

  “I want to complete this part of the project first.”

  She tapped her cowboy boot. “Listen to me first. Now that I’ve thought about it, you’re the perfect choice. You’re calm and you inspire confidence in those around you.”

  “If you believe all of that, why fight me about Danny? I’m his uncle, and I should be the one who inspires confidence in him in the future.”

  She glared at him before looking over her shoulder and then returning her gaze his way. Danny gave no signs of having heard them. Instead, a chocolate chip cookie held his complete attention. “You promised you’d give Hollydale a chance. Shelby felt there was something about this town that could give Danny stability and a home. There’s more to the town than what’s on the surface.”

  The underlying context didn’t escape him. She wanted him to give her a chance.

  The sky darkened, gray clouds rolling in out of nowhere, an afternoon shower in the immediate future. He quickened his pace.

  She turned around. “Danny, stay there. We’re going to clean up so we don’t get caught in the storm. They come up quickly here in the Great Smoky Mountains.”

  Arriving at the area with the sawhorses and piles of wood, they reached for the same board, their fingers brushing each other’s. His awareness of her heightened.

  He pulled back and picked up the tools from the ground. “I’ll keep an open mind.”

  She smiled, and a distant rumble of thunder cut off any further explanation as they worked together to protect the supplies from any damage.

  * * *

  NATALIE SLIPPED HER hand out of Danny’s as they entered her mother’s kitchen the day after a whopper of an afternoon storm. Unlike her bright yellow kitchen, Diane had painted hers bright red to match her ceramic rooster collection sitting atop the cabinets.

  Every Valentine’s Day, her dad presented her mom with a new addition to the rooster collection, and her mother laughed and placed it alongside the others. Each time, Natalie saw the love reflected in her father’s eyes for his wife. Becks and Mike had always groaned and left the room when the parents started hugging, but Natalie remained, soaking in the love in this space, hoping someday someone would look at her the way her parents looked at one another.

  For a while, she’d found that someone when she and Francisco were engaged. Then he died too soon, and her dreams fell by the wayside.

  Bubbling water on the stove sparked Natalie’s curiosity. The starchy smell of potatoes greeted her, and she glanced at her mother, who rested her paring knife alongside a big ceramic bowl.

  Diane rose and greeted Danny with a warm embrace. “I’m so happy you came over to help me this afternoon. Nothing like a handsome fellow to make the cooking more fun.” Diane winked at Natalie.

  “Thanks, Mom, for watching him so I can work on the float. You’re an angel.”

  “Where’s Aidan?�
��

  “He’s meeting with the Realtor about Shelby’s house and her downtown property. He texted me the electricity’s back on, but the water and gas have to wait until Monday.”

  “Glad I can help, then. Danny can peel the eggs, so it worked out for the best.” She winked again, this time in Danny’s direction.

  Natalie headed off, intending on a quick getaway, but her mother wasn’t having any of that.

  She shoved a chopping knife her way. “Your father wanted a test run of potato salad before our big family picnic this weekend. Out of the three of you, for some reason, yours always comes out the most like my mom’s.”

  “Probably because Becks follows the recipe too closely and measures everything, and Mike makes a goofy joke and always forgets to add something.” Five minutes couldn’t hurt much, and Diane was doing her a huge favor.

  Natalie settled onto the wooden chair across from her mother. Danny sat next to her at the oak table, which had seen more than one food fight between her and Mike before Becks ran for Mom. Natalie discarded the first Vidalia onion and the second before settling on the third.

  “Why that one, Aunt Natalie?” Danny propped his arms on the table.

  Natalie waited for her mother to say something, but there was only silence from the other side.

  Natalie reached for the two discards and showed them to him. “This one has a black spot, and this one is too soft in the middle. For me, it’s touchy feely. That’s how I get the sense of which one’s right.”

  Danny touched each of the rejected ones. “Why not use the good half of these?”

  Diane reached over and ruffled his hair. “You’ve got old-fashioned common sense. Natalie’s going to have her hands full in a couple of years with you.”