The Soldier's Unexpected Family

by Tanya Agler

Natalie’s stomach twisted at the thought of Danny growing up anywhere other than Hollydale. Shelby had wanted Danny surrounded by people who’d give him roots and pass on something as simple as the Harrison Family Potato Salad recipe. She sliced the onion with an expert hand. At least now, if any tears fell, she’d have a good excuse.

  “Danny’s here!” Her father announced his presence, and Natalie popped out of her seat.

  “So am I.” For right now, although the park was starting to call her name.

  Dad met her halfway and gave her a side hug. “Hey there, Nattie-girl.” Only he was allowed to call her that. “Hey, Danny, want to go work on catching that baseball some more?”

  “I’m supposed to peel the eggs.” Danny reached into the small bowl, pulled out one of the hard-boiled eggs and turned it around as if he didn’t know what to do next.

  Natalie reached over and showed him how to peel one and then caught her father tapping his foot, as if waiting for her permission. How times had changed. “Go ahead outside and have fun.”

  With a second glance her way, Danny waited until she gave a slight nod. Then he jumped out of his chair and hugged her. “Thanks, Aunt Natalie. You’re the best.”

  If Aidan had his way, Danny would be on a plane to Fort Lewis outside Seattle, perhaps even as soon as the fifth of July. Natalie chopped her onion with that much more force.

  “I have the feeling those aren’t onion tears.” Her mom’s hand neared her own before backing away. “Does this have anything to do with Shelby’s brother returning?”

  Her mother always had a sixth sense about her children.

  Natalie laid the knife on the cutting board. “He wants full custody of Danny.”

  “I see.”

  Do you? If her mother could bring all of this into one neat bundle so she and Aidan could do the right thing for Danny, Natalie would love to hear it. All night she’d struggled with balancing Shelby’s final wishes with Aidan’s ties to his nephew. It might have been easier if she didn’t think she and Aidan had some sort of connection, something unrelated to the young boy at the center of all this.

  Ignoring that connection made the most sense. Admitting there was something between them made her more vulnerable than she already was.

  Besides, Danny fit in perfectly with her family. Even now, her father set aside time to teach him how to throw a ball. Would Aidan do the same?

  “You can make this potato salad in your sleep. I’ll be back to pick up Danny in a few hours.”

  Mom laid her hand over Natalie’s and, for the first time, she met her mother’s gaze. “We’ll support you no matter what. You know that, right?”

  Somehow, Natalie didn’t have the heart to hear the rest of that speech, the unspoken “but” giving her pause. She’d heard that same tone whenever she’d suggested having cake before dinner, bringing the ducks in from the rain or staying up all night in order to see the sunrise. “I have to go build the best float in the Hollydale parade. Something fun and bright.”

  “Are you biting off more than you can chew?”

  And there’s the rest of that speech. Her mother would never have asked the same of either Mike or Becks. Natalie jumped out of her chair and grabbed her purse from the hook on the wall. “Shelby thought I was up to the task. I can bring something special back into Danny’s life.”

  She stopped short, unable to leave but unable to face her mother, the person she thought would be the most understanding. Without turning around, she knew her mother was behind her.

  “Sweetheart.” Her mother touched her shoulder.

  Natalie didn’t flinch.

  “I wasn’t talking about Danny. I was talking about the float. Maybe you should call Marisa and tell her something’s come up.”

  Facing her mother, Natalie became that much more determined in her quest to make the holiday special, not just for Danny, but also for Aidan, who needed to see the people around her coming together to build something good and lasting. And that he could see she wasn’t wrapped up in herself.

  “Everything’s going to turn out for the best.” Her own words didn’t sound all that convincing, so she reaffirmed them in a stronger way. “This isn’t just about me. It’ll come together, maybe not as I expected, but life is filled with twists. Just wait and see.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  NATALIE HELD THE door of The Busy Bean for Danny, and he slipped in under her arm. Only ten minutes late this morning, and this delay wasn’t even her fault. At least, it mostly wasn’t her fault. Her sister had called especially early considering Becks lived in California, so Natalie couldn’t cut her off. No matter how much Becks insisted she only wanted to chat about her baby daughter, there was something wrong with Becksher. Natalie was sure of that.

  Just like there was something wrong with Danny, although she couldn’t put her finger on what was amiss, same as Becks. The Busy Bean was one of his favorite places, right up there with Miss Louise’s Ice Cream Parlor, yet he hadn’t mustered any enthusiasm for this morning’s trip.

  Catching sight of his scowl concerned her. Many times he called Deb’s hot cocoa “the bestest in the world,” and Natalie’d indulged him with weekly visits. Food and drink were no replacement for a mother’s love and attention, but the comfort of the cheerful coffeehouse, with its delicious aromas of chocolate and sugar, seemed to buoy his spirits. The residents who smothered Danny with love made it almost like a second home and well worth the trip.

  She looked the other way when Mitzi Mayfield, the owner of A New You hair salon, sneaked Danny his favorite flavor of lollipop from her not-so-secret stash after a haircut. And Miss Louise always added sprinkles to Danny’s cone when Natalie hadn’t even paid for them, shooing her away when she tried to do so. From the Summer Country Music Series to the Spring Fling, there was and always would be something for Natalie and Danny to do.

  Had Hollydale been the best place for Shelby, though?

  Guilt fluttered through her about how she’d convinced Shelby to open her lunch café here rather than in Raleigh, like she’d originally planned. If Shelby had experienced those headaches in an urban setting, would it have been easier to seek medical attention sooner? Could that have prevented her untimely death at such a young age? Natalie would never have an answer to those questions.

  For now, however, she’d have to explain to Aidan why they were late. She scanned the coffeehouse until her gaze settled on Shelby’s attractive brother. Aidan glanced at his watch, as if he didn’t expect them to show. When he spotted Danny, he smiled broadly, showing off a dimple in his left cheek she hadn’t noticed until now. She pushed the thought away. Falling for this man, or any other military man, wasn’t a good idea.

  Besides, Aidan’s smile was for Danny, not her.

  Aidan strode toward them, and Danny pulled back. The little boy’s reaction made no sense.

  “Danny?” Aidan reached for his nephew, but Danny grasped her leg with the grip of a boa constrictor.

  Hurt was reflected in Aidan’s steady gaze. Natalie ached for Aidan over the rejection. “Danny, why won’t you tell us what’s wrong? Your uncle just wants to talk to you.”

  “He can go home now.” Danny looked frustrated, which was unlike his normal good nature. She wondered if he meant the opposite, too. “He didn’t come when Mom went away and he’s just gonna leave again anyway.”

  She leaned down to look Danny in the eye. “He’s traveled a long way to see you now. He had a job to do, or else he would have come sooner.”

  “Danny.” Aidan finally spoke and moved toward his nephew, the anguish clear in his voice. “Your mom was my sister, and I miss her every day. I made a commitment and couldn’t break it. Do you know what a commitment is?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What is it?”

  Natalie urged Danny forward, and he scuffed the floor with his sneaker. “I dunno.”

&nbs
p; “It’s a promise to follow through on something.” Aidan moved his hand as if he was about to reach out, but then he pulled it back and folded his arms together. He tilted his lips in a half smile, and she stood close enough for that dimple on his left cheek to imprint itself onto her heart. “I made a commitment to the army that I’d keep people safe. I take that promise to heart every day.”

  “But I don’t want you to go back.” Danny contradicted what he’d just said, but Natalie understood. He craved a sense of security.

  This time, Aidan rubbed Danny’s arm before meeting Natalie’s gaze. The air crackled as he seemed ready to address the custody arrangements. “I contacted my commanding officer so I could have more time here with you. We can get to know each other and make decisions after that.”

  Natalie jumped in. “Thirty days, you’ll be here, right? So much can happen in a month.” Like proving to Aidan the intrinsic value of the town. A cinch, really. “And the Fourth of July is only eleven days away.”

  “Speaking of the Fourth.” Aidan pointed to the table where he’d been sitting when they arrived. “I drew up new plans for the float. Thought we could take a look at them.”

  “I’ll let you in on a little secret.” There was something trustworthy about Aidan that made her believe he’d never reveal anyone’s secrets without cause. At the same time, there was something mysterious about him, so she wanted to urge a few of his own out of him. “I function much better after I enjoy one of Deb’s scrumptious pastries, along with my morning coffee. Then again, that’s not really a secret. Oh, I know, we love ice cream in winter and hot cocoa in the summer, right, Danny?” Danny grinned. “What about you, Aidan? What’s something most people don’t know about you?”

  He blinked as if she’d caught him off guard. “That today is my treat. I’ll order while you two man the table.” He reached for his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.

  She shook her head. “You don’t get off that easily. One small secret, that’s the price of admission.”

  Danny gave a quick nod as if he, too, wanted Aidan to answer.

  “See, it’s unanimous. One simple fact about you that isn’t common knowledge.”

  They made their way to the counter while Aidan looked snared in a bear trap with no way out. He tugged at his shirtsleeve until it covered the small dot of white near his palm. “Give me a minute.” Then he glanced at Danny and released a deep breath. “Well, I like hot cocoa and ice cream, too.”

  Natalie knelt beside Danny and scrunched her nose. “Ernk. Strike one.” Danny nodded, and they glanced at Aidan once more. “Try again,” she said.

  “What’s wrong with that? Not everyone likes those things.” Aidan folded his arms.

  “I said it first. You have to come up with a simple fact about yourself that’s original.” She stood and brushed her wavy hair behind her ear.

  “So many rules!” He sighed but looked game for another round. “And I usually thrive on order and discipline. This morning, I wrote out my agenda for the day, which included going over ideas for your float.”

  “Ernk. Strike two.” She liked making that sound a little too much. She’d have to incorporate that one into her kindergarten repertoire. “I knew that about you within five minutes of meeting you. One more try.”

  “What about my mommy? This can be about my mommy and you.” Danny stepped forward and pulled on Aidan’s shirtsleeve. He gave a shy smile but stifled a laugh.

  She placed her hands on his shoulders and ruffled his hair, taking note of the length. Time for another trip to Mitzi’s salon soon. “That sounds like an excellent suggestion. I approve.”

  “While you two order, I’ll think of a story.” He ushered them toward the short line.

  “Danny!” a little girl called out from a table on the other side of the coffeehouse. Her former student Gigi ran over, her cornrow braids bobbing around her. She gave Danny a big hug.

  Natalie should have known she’d run into Gigi here as her grandmother, Deb, owned the place, and her mom, also a teacher, helped out by making summertime deliveries.

  “Hi, Gigi,” Danny said.

  “I haven’t seen you since school let out. My mom promised she’s taking the afternoon off just for me. Hi, Miss Harrison! I missed you, too.”

  Gigi leaned forward and hugged Natalie. This was part of what made teaching worth all the early mornings. That, and the joy when something clicked in a child’s mind, whether it was reading for the first time or counting out play coins to buy something in Natalie’s kindergarten classroom shop.

  “Gigi, this is Danny’s uncle, Major Murphy. He’s visiting Hollydale.”

  She glanced at Aidan, who turned up the corners of his lips for a tight smile, that dimple nowhere in sight. “Hello.”

  “Come on, Danny.” Gigi tugged at Danny, who followed. “You can draw a picture for Grandma Deb’s new community board.”

  Aidan stepped toward the pair, but Natalie reached for him and pulled him back. “We’ll be able to see them, and I know what Danny wants. He’ll be fine.”

  He hesitated as if thinking of an objection.

  “It’ll give you more time to think of a great story about Shelby.”

  Aidan nodded.

  Gigi led Danny to her table, and Natalie and Aidan soon reached the front of the line. She introduced him to the owner and barista, Deb. “I definitely see where Gigi got her sense of style. I love that scarf, Deb, so light and airy for summer.” Natalie smiled and read the blackboard with the morning offerings.

  Deb took her order, accepted Aidan’s card and turned to Natalie. “By the way, Gigi loves drawing and was beside herself last night when that pencil thingy you gave her broke. Where can I buy one?”

  “No need to buy one. I have extra.” Natalie opened her massive tote bag of a purse and rifled through until she grasped two rainbow-colored pencil grippers. “Love your new community bulletin board idea. Would you mind if I post a sign in the fall asking for donations for my kindergarten classroom store? Little extras like stickers, picture books, small toys, anything arts and crafts.”

  “I don’t see a problem with that. Remind me then.” Deb waved and started preparing their order.

  Natalie followed Aidan to his table. She’d have been able to pick out which one was his in her sleep, the neat pile of paperwork next to his phone opened to his calendar app. If she’d learned one thing from Francisco, it was how you could take the soldier out of the military but never take the military out of the soldier. Touching the medallion on her necklace for a second, she then lowered her tote onto the back of the chair before sitting.

  “You surprised me just now.” Aidan reached for his coffee and sipped it, indicating he’d been here awhile as Deb’s drinks were usually piping hot.

  “How?” Not that she was letting him off the hook for revealing one personal fact or story.

  “You love your job, and you plan for contingencies.” He placed his cup beside his phone.

  “I won’t argue with the first part, but the second?” She swallowed a laugh. “Hardly. I throw everything into my purse, knowing I’ll need what’s in there someday. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I find in there. Life’s more fun with surprises, don’t you think?”

  “Depends on the surprise.” His jaw clenched, and a shadow fell over his face. Aidan regained his composure and played with the plastic lid on his disposable cup. “I don’t want Danny blindsided. We need to tell him about my intentions.”

  “Dr. Laurel Hargraves, his regular therapist, has emphasized the balance between a steady routine and old-fashioned love.” Natalie leaned back and fiddled with the ends of her hair. “If you take him away from all this, it could be harmful.”

  “Could be, not will be.” Aidan straightened everything on the table until it was neatly in order.

  “You like plans. I get that. So let’s stick to ours
for the time being and not rush anything. A couple of weeks getting to know you, and then a couple of weeks for us to hammer out an arrangement.”

  He tapped his pencil against the table as though he was finally letting her words sink in and giving them careful deliberation. “Fair enough, Plan B it is.”

  “I hope this plan includes more relaxation and downtime in your life. You need those, too, you know.” Natalie looked around, wondering why her order was taking so long. She saw Danny coloring and turned back to Aidan.

  “I’m quite content with my life as it is.”

  “Are you? Then why change it? Why fight me for custody?” She met his gaze, and something akin to electricity sparked the air.

  She must be imagining the tension. There was no way she’d ever let another military man into her heart, even if Aidan had any thoughts about her other than as Danny’s guardian.

  Thank goodness Deb chose that moment to arrive at the table with a tray. The obvious look of relief on Aidan’s face probably matched her own. She placed Danny’s order at the empty chair and delivered Natalie’s coffee.

  Natalie shook her head when Deb also set a strawberry scone in front of her and one in front of Aidan. “These must be for the couple in front of us. I didn’t order these.”

  Deb merely smiled. “A happy surprise for each of you. Yours is on the house as thanks for the pencil grippers.” She turned to Aidan and patted his back, the thump audible where Natalie sat. “And word is getting out around here about you. I’m a navy vet myself, and I appreciate your service. There was one time I wasn’t able to get home for a family funeral, so I understand your sacrifice. The scone’s nothing compared to what you do for each of us.”

  After Deb left, silence descended for a minute before Aidan picked up the top sheet of paper and handed it to Natalie. “Here’s one sketch I made based on your chicken wire idea.”

  There was something about his resolute look that made her heart thump. His humility was humbling.

  “Why did you enter the military?”

  “What? We were discussing chicken wire.”