SERENITY: A Path Home (Beauty 0f Life Book 6)

by Laura Acton

  Nick quickly opened the exquisitely wrapped box, but stopped once he laid eyes on the gift. His hazel eyes misted as he slowly lifted them to Lexa.

  “Thanks for letting me redo Martin’s room. You telling me about going to a race with your dad sparked my idea.” Lexa gave him a warm smile.

  Reverently Nick touched the ornament, at a loss for words. Lifting the blown glass bulb surrounding a small race car Nick’s breath caught as he read the message etched into the glass … Always in my heart. “Lexa, …” his voice a little hoarse he cleared his throat. “Perfect! I love it. Thank you.”

  The golden flecks in Lexa’s eyes glistened. He truly likes it. She had debated whether to buy it, worried a good memory from his childhood might also evoke sad memories of Martin, but the genuine smile on the boss’ face as he traced the etched words told her she made the right choice.

  Christiana leaned close gazing at the unique ornament. “You like racing?”

  “Some of my best memories are around racing.”

  “My son is into racing. Kristoffer begs me constantly to take him to a race.”

  “Perhaps I can take him to one sometime,” Nick offered.

  Smiling Christiana nodded. “I’d like that. Perhaps we could talk about that with Kristoffer on Christmas day if you want to come over for dinner.”

  A huge grin played on Nick’s face as he nodded and stared at Christiana. She actually wants me to meet her son. This Christmas is full of wonderful new beginnings.

  Loki beamed. “I’ll tell Ma you have other plans. Who’s next?”

  Nick reached in and pulled out a name. “Bram.”

  Dan handed over his present, wrapped with military precision.

  Bram undid the tape leisurely as he studied Dan’s face. He could see Dan enjoyed the giving of a gift seeing the light dancing in his blue eyes. Lowering his eyes, Bram took the top off the small flat box. Reaching in, he extracted a golden ornament. As his eyes beheld four golden angels, Bram’s smile increased to quadruple the size. Inscribed in the gold-tone metal below each of the four angels were his daughters’ names … Leslie, Emilie, Allie, and Sharlie.

  Kellie stood, rounded the table, hugged Dan, and kissed his cheek as Bram remarked, “Beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you, Dan.”

  Dan nodded, as the corners of his mouth turned up and he lightly blushed from Kellie’s display of emotion. Being with family was always his favorite part of Christmas, even though he had not had that in so very long.

  Drawing a piece of napkin from the dish, Bram said, “Lexa.”

  With bright eyes and an eager grin, Loki passed his gift to Lexa.

  “It doesn’t explode, does it?” Lexa jested.

  Loki laughed. “No, but that’s an idea for next year.”

  Lexa smiled as she peered into the box, finding a colorful plastic ornament in the shape of a toolbox with a tiny hammer, saw, wrench, tape measure, and pliers sticking out of it. “This is so cool, Loki. Wherever did you find something this unique?”

  She withdrew it and noticed that ‘Queen of the Hammer’ was handwritten across the toolbox. She laughed and shook a fist at Loki. “Oh, you’re so dead.”

  Loki busted out laughing as he hid behind Dan.

  Dan glanced at the ornament and started laughing. “Loki, you’re a dead man for sure. Nice knowing you.”

  Curious Ray eyed Loki. “What did the Lokster do now?”

  Lexa showed the message to all the guys, and they erupted in laughter.

  Bewildered by their reactions, Jen said, “There must be an inside joke.”

  Sighing and smiling, Lexa said, “Another ‘S’ date gone wrong.” She then told the story of Stan the Tan and had the entire table cracking up. When she finished, she turned to Loki. “Memorable and funny.” Then she teased him, “I’ll always remember your awesome humor when I put it up in your memory each year.” When Loki chuckled, Lexa pulled out a name. “Jon, you’re up.”

  Ray handed over his present. “Hope you like.”

  Jon studied the wrapping paper … green and red paper decorated with golf clubs. The paper confused him, but once he ripped it off and peered inside, he chuckled as he took out a red and a green golf ball with the saying ‘avid golfer’ imprinted on them and tied together with a silver ribbon. Painted in white on the opposite side of each ball was a bullseye.

  Ray said, “We all know you have a very different version of shooting a round of golf.”

  Chuckling, Jon nodded. “Thanks. I love it.”

  Perplexed, Dan asked. “What’s different?”

  Jon glanced to Dan. “I’ll have to show you sometime. Think you would like the way I play golf.”

  When no explanation was forthcoming from Jon, Dan leaned over to Lexa. “What’s his version?”

  Lexa laughed. “He strings up golf balls from a tree and then shoots them. I played once. Kinda fun, except when the wind kicks up.”

  “Sounds right up my alley.” Challenging but fun, Dan thought.

  Drawing a name Jon toyed with Loki. “Hmmm, is it Loki or Dan?”

  “Me, me, please be me,” Loki pleaded.

  Dan snickered. Loki’s such a kid. His enthusiasm is contagious and brightens everyone’s life—reminds me of Brody. “If it’s me, Loki can go next.”

  Jon held up the piece of napkin and declared, “Loki it is.”

  Nick handed over his gift.

  Eager anticipation shone on Loki’s face as he tore into the wrapping paper, pieces flying around him.

  Lexa’s face alight with merriment, she teased, “Such a little boy. I bet your childhood Christmases looked like multi-colored snow fell in the living room.”

  Stopping a moment, Loki squinted at Lexa. “How’d you know?”

  Everyone pointed to the space around Loki littered with tiny pieces of paper.

  Loki only grinned, and his eye got wide with he saw his ornament, “No way! No Way! Boss. Wow! You got me, Lucille.” He pulled out an ornament showing everyone. It indeed almost matched Loki’s bomb robot.

  Ray said, “That’s Johnny Five.”

  Bram snickered. “Ray, if you know that, then you’ve been roped into watching too many of Loki’s movies.”

  “Hey at least it’s not Snow White or Beauty and the Beast,” Ray shot back flashing an amused smile at Bram.

  “Thanks, Boss. This is incredible! Can’t wait to show Ma!” Loki clutched the Lucille ornament. “Your turn, Dan. Last but not least.”

  Bram handed his gift to Dan. He took a breath and held it, hoping he chose the right thing for him. Kellie squeezed his hand, and he glanced at her.

  Kellie whispered, “He’s gonna love it. You selected with your heart.”

  “Thanks for your help,” he murmured back, then kissed her cheek.

  Carefully unwrapping the gift, and savoring the moment, Dan gradually removed the top and found red tissue paper. Moving the tissue aside, Dan choked up as he stared at the oval ceramic ornament nestled inside. Trying unsuccessfully not to become emotional, he let out a few shaky breaths.

  On a pure white background was a painted scene of Santa Claus surrounded by a candy cane house and a little blond boy sat on Santa’s knee. All I want for Christmas is … was written on the bottom arch of the oval.’

  The team saw Dan start to tear up, the welling emotion palpable. Whatever Bram selected touched Dan deeply.

  “Dan, turn it around,” Bram directed with a warm smile.

  With a minuscule tremor in his hand, Dan picked up the ornament and turned it around. A single tear slipped out as he read, Family.

  Swan Lake Hotel – Ballroom – 11:15 p.m.

  The party in full swing, spirits flowed and dance music blared. The dance floor remained packed with the men and women of TRF and their guests, everyone relaxed and enjoying a grand evening.

  Dan kicked back in his chair with a cold beer and observed everyone dancing. So far, he resisted all efforts to get him out on the floor. A dancer he was not. The two official balls he wa
s required to attend for graduation from MP training and for SF training, he and Brody had snuck out of after making the requisite appearance. They ended up at bars playing darts.

  In hindsight, he shouldn’t have made such a big deal about going to them. Brody liked dancing, but as a true brother, Brody didn’t force him to stay at a function where Dan felt awkward and out of place. Growing up at the SFTB Yukon afforded him no opportunities to learn to dance. Being a remote Special Forces training base, it typically lacked women. Sure, there were a few women, but usually in the support staff capacity. And if there were ever a dance, which there wasn’t, the women would’ve danced with the soldiers, not him.

  There was only one time he was forced to dance, his Guardian mission in Makhachkala. He sucked then, and he still sucked now. He was done making a fool of himself—a dunking in the pool was enough. Taking the last swig of his third beer of the evening, Dan stood to go grab another and glanced at those still at the table. “Anyone want something from the bar?”

  “I’ll take another ginger ale,” Nick responded.

  “Beer for me,” Jon requested.

  Dan waited to see if Jen or Christiana wanted something. Both shook their heads. He started for the bar when Kellie stopped him.

  Kellie gripped Dan’s hand. “Come on, Dan. I’ve requested a special song just for you.”

  Dan stared at Kellie like she had two heads. “I don’t dance.”

  “Anyone can line dance to a country song, even Bram.”

  Coming up behind Kellie, Bram snorted. “Hey, not cool. At least I’m out there trying.”

  Flashing a smile at her husband, Kellie said, “And doing very well.” Then she tugged on Dan’s arm. “Just one dance.”

  Dan rolled his eyes, but maintained a pleasant smile. The ladies had hounded him to dance tonight, everyone except Lexa. “No.”

  Loki bopped over and grabbed Dan’s other arm as he batted his eyelashes at Dan. “Team-date, please dance with me.”

  Dan couldn’t hold back the laugh, nor could Kellie and Bram at Loki’s outlandish behavior.

  Sauntering up with Ray, Maurita said, “Pretty please. I’ll help you.”

  As the country song started, Dan found himself dragged onto the dance floor by Kellie, Bram, Loki, Maurita, and Ray. There was no escape. He was surrounded by all of them as Lexa appeared on his left and Kellie on his right.

  “Just follow us,” Lexa instructed with a bright smile.

  Dan looked down at their feet as they all began to move. He had to step with them as the group shifted side to side and front and back. Dan tried in vain to emulate the moves, but he was clumsy and his motions entirely out of step with the others. Everyone called out encouraging comments and confusing instructions to him.

  He started laughing as he stepped on Loki’s foot and Loki hopped around shouting that he was crippled for life. “Serves you right, team-date. Told you I couldn’t dance.”

  “You just need practice,” Lexa encouraged. “Ow!”

  “Sorry.” Dan cringed after stepping on Lexa’s toes.

  “Lots of practice,” she muttered under her breath, but loud enough to elicit chuckles from Bram and Kellie.

  Dan massacred the feet of anyone who came near him as he went left when they went right or back when he should go forward. He was pink with embarrassment but after a while figured they deserved the stomped feet for making him prance around. The only saving grace was that he was sock-footed since his shoes were still soaking wet from his dip in the pool.

  At the table, Jon chuckled. “He wasn’t kidding he can’t dance.”

  Nick wrapped his arm around Christiana’s shoulders as he watched the antics on the dance floor.

  Christiana leaned in close to Nick. Her voice full of mirth, “Sorry, but I seriously don’t think lessons will help him.”

  Nick squeezed her shoulder and snickered. “He’s got two left feet.”

  Jen lightly giggled. “Looks like he’s marching.”

  They all laughed. In some ways it did.

  Her lips near Jon’s ear, Jen spoke softly, “Wonderful to see Dan so happy.”

  Nodding, Jon quietly shared his thoughts, “Nick too. Never seen him smile so much at Christmas.”

  Jen glanced at Christiana. “She’s lovely and right for him. I’m happy he is moving forward now.”

  “Couldn’t agree more.” The music changed to a waltz, and Jon stood, offering his hand. “Ready to dance again or do you want to go up to our room?”

  “A few more dances. Then alone time with you.” Jen rose, and they walked hand-in-hand to the dancing area.

  Relieved the song was over, Dan turned to go to the bar. Now they couldn’t bug him anymore. He danced once if what he did could even be called dancing. That was all he was willing to do.

  Harriet Gambrill stopped in front of Dan. “Will you do me the pleasure of a dance, young man?”

  Dan wanted to groan but plastered on a smile. This was his godmother and his commander’s wife … he couldn’t say no. “My honor, but I’m afraid your feet might not survive.”

  “You let me worry about that.” Harriet then inquired, “Have you ever waltzed?”

  “Sort of. When I was little, with my mother. She loved to listen to the Tennessee Waltz and would spin me around the room with her.”

  Harriet and Dan began a slow waltz, he tried not to trod on her feet and apologized every time he did. Halfway through, Harriet said, “Do you know why your mother liked that song?”

  “No.”

  She smiled. “It was the first song she ever danced with your father at the Majors Ball. That night they fell in love. Your mother was so radiant that evening. Your father was quite debonair too. Lovely watching the two of them glide across the floor.”

  “Wow, I never knew that. Oh, sorry.” Dan moved his foot off her toes. “Guess I missed out on the dancing gene.”

  Giggling, Harriet divulged, “Your father only waltzes. He had to learn at the military academy. With practice, you could be as smooth on your feet as him. Ladies love a man who can waltz.”

  When the song ended, Dan was feeling rather good. Harriet put him at ease and gifted him with a story of his parents. “Thank you, ma’am,” he said as he escorted her back to his godfather.

  Walter took his wife’s hand and smiled at Dan. “Enjoying your evening?”

  “Yes, sir. Quite a party. Can I bring you something from the bar?”

  “No thank you. I believe we are heading home shortly. Have a wonderful rest of your night,” Harriet answered.

  “I will. Thanks again for the waltz.” Dan inclined his head to the commander. “Good night, sir.”

  “Evening,” Walter replied. He tucked Harriet’s arm in the crook of his as she gathered her purse. Tonight had been superb with one tiny exception, Mr. Bewick.

  Dan turned and ambled away from his godparents. He had to keep it on a formal basis with them at a TRF function. So far there had been no backlash when the team found out about their affiliation. Many things were different at TRF versus the military. For that he was grateful.

  He nearly made it to the bar before he was waylaid again and dragged back to the dancing pond. Ah hell, just let loose and have fun, Broderick. You might look like an idiot out there, but it’s okay, you’re with family, and they accept you.

  An hour later, the ballroom filled with far fewer people, couples having gone to their rooms or headed home, leaving mostly the single officers, the DJ called out, “Last dance,” and started a gentle waltz.

  Lexa tugged on Loki’s hand. “Dance with me then we can grab the cab as we discussed.”

  Loki shook his head. “My feet ache.”

  “Come on. Last one.” Lexa begged, secretly desiring to ask Dan instead of Loki. Though, she refrained from doing so, unsure how either of them would react if they held one another intimately.

  “You danced with me three songs tonight. Take Dan. You haven’t danced one with him yet. He won’t murder your feet as bad on a
slow song as he does on the fast ones.”

  Dan snorted. “You guys are the ones who kept pulling me out there. Mangled feet are the price to pay.” He stood, now or never. Dan wanted to hold Lexa close all night. A dance would be a great cover.

  Bowing at the waist, but keeping his eyes on Lexa, Dan said, “May I have the honor of this waltz, m’lady?”

  Lexa gave in and curtsied. “My pleasure, sir.”

  Dan led Lexa onto the floor. He pulled her into his arms, and they began waltzing. Their rhythm natural, as if they had danced together forever, Dan found his feet light and sure, never threating to land on Lexa’s toes. They spun around the almost empty floor, their eyes locked together as the world around them faded away. The only part of reality to make itself known to them were the romantic strains of the Tennessee Waltz.

  Stealth Gift and Making Cookies

  30

  December 19

  Dan’s Apartment – 1:45 a.m.

  After a quick scan of his darkened apartment, Dan let himself in, ready to fall into bed. Questioning why he still checked out his place every time he entered, Dan shuffled towards his bedroom. Not in Kandahar anymore, shouldn’t need to scan for threats. Habits are hard to change. Though, tonight I did let loose a bit. Dancing with Lexa beautifully capped off a fun-filled evening.

  Not even bothering to turn on a light, he flopped onto the mattress nearly asleep before his head hit the pillow. A slight cough bubbled forth as he nuzzled his pillow recalling the waltz. A smile on his face, Dan was pulled into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

  Dan’s Apartment – 2:30 a.m.

  Dead asleep for the first time in ages, Dan never heard the soft snick of his front door opening. A lone figure moved about Dan’s kitchen in the dim light provided from the moon.

  Quick as a mouse the slight person set to work. When finished, soft feet padded across tan carpet which had seen better days. Creeping into the bedroom, a mischievous smile broke out on the face hidden in the shadows. The figure stood over Dan for a long while only staring until he moved in his sleep. Ensuring no sound was made, the shadowy figure made a hasty retreat from the apartment. “Mission accomplished with nary a creature stirring!” a soft voice said entering the stairwell.