Riding Shotgun

by Joanna Wayne

  His daughter looked his way but made no sign that she recognized him. The jolt hit him then. Hard, as if someone had sucker punched him in the gut.

  His daughter. The reason he was back in Chicago. The reason he’d turned his back on the lifestyle he’d loved. Yet he didn’t really know her and she certainly didn’t know him.

  It was too late to save his marriage, but he was a dad and smart enough to know that if he didn’t bond with Jaci now, he might lose her forever. She’d be swallowed up by the new life Leslie would make for the two of them.

  He hurried to where Leslie and Jaci were waiting. He dropped his duffel to the floor by his feet. Leslie managed a smile and slipped into his arms. Her hug lacked warmth. When he tried to kiss her, she dodged it, offering her cheek in place of her lips.

  What did he expect? Their divorce would be final tomorrow.

  “How was the flight?” Leslie asked.

  “Long.” He bent to pick up his daughter.

  Jaci scooted away from him, trying to hide behind her mother’s shapely legs.

  “Say hello to your father, Jaci. He’s come a long way to see you.”

  Jaci shook her head.

  “That’s okay,” he said, though it hurt like hell. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll have plenty of time to get reacquainted.”

  “Yes,” Leslie said. “If all goes well, the two of you will be spending a lot of time together.”

  Not exactly sure what that meant, he decided to let it ride. “I’ll grab the rest of my luggage from baggage claim, and then let’s get out of here. Maybe grab something to eat. I’m starved for some real food.”

  “We can have lunch at the apartment,” Leslie said. “We need to talk.”

  They needed to talk and get this divorce and the child custody situation over and done with. Couldn’t say it much plainer than that. This was definitely not the homecoming any serviceman dreamed about.

  Talk during the drive to her apartment was all about Jaci, who sat in the backseat playing on an iPad. She shrugged or totally ignored his attempts to make conversation with her.

  The apartment was in a luxury complex, gated, with gardens at the entrance and a man-made brook meandering through the three-story, balconied structures. Leslie hadn’t mentioned a raise or a promotion, but she’d upgraded significantly from the apartment they’d rented together when he’d last been home on leave. She clearly wasn’t living like this on his military salary.

  She parked next to the curb. He followed her and Jaci up the path to the front door. Jaci’s hand was securely encased in her mother’s as if she needed protection from the stranger referred to as her father.

  He was a stranger. That was the problem. A stranger to Leslie, too. A stranger to this life that seemed positively foreign to the secret mission he’d been on in the Middle East for the past nine months.

  “Nice digs,” he said as he followed Leslie through the door.

  “We needed more space,” she said as if that explained it all. “Jaci, why don’t you show your father your room and some of your favorite toys while I put lunch on the table.”

  Jaci looked as if she’d been asked to pick up a slimy fish with her bare hands. Pierce had a handful of medals that claimed he was brave and tough, yet facing Jaci alone daunted him.

  “I can help you in the kitchen first if you’d like,” he offered.

  “No help needed. All I have to do is toss a salad. Everything else I picked up at the deli earlier. I thought it would be easier to talk here than at a noisy restaurant.”

  “No doubt.”

  Jaci left the kitchen and he followed her to her room. It was even more daunting than Jaci. Pink satin and lace everywhere from the curtains to the bed with its multitude of throw pillows. Looked like it had come straight from a designer’s showroom. He wouldn’t have dared sit on the bed and put a wrinkle in the frilly coverlet.

  He wondered if Jaci did.

  Not a toy out of place. Books in perfect order along a low bookshelf. Dolls on display.

  “It’s a very pretty room,” Pierce offered.

  “It’s okay, I guess.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  “I wanted a cowboy coverlet like my friend Joey has, but Mommy said no.”

  “So, you like cowboys?” Maybe they did have some common ground. He’d loved the cowboy lifestyle himself once, had been sure he’d own his own ranch one day.

  “I like horses,” Jaci said.

  “Have you ever ridden one?”

  “Once. At Joey’s birthday party, but they just walked around real slow in a circle. And they were all tied together. I don’t think they liked it.”

  “I’m guessing they didn’t,” Pierce agreed. “I’ll take you riding on a real horse.”

  Jaci tilted her head and cut her eyes at him. “Mommy says they’re dangerous.”

  “For Mommy, maybe. But I’ve ridden lots of horses. I can keep you safe.”

  Here he was, back in her life less than an hour and already usurping Leslie’s authority. That might not be the best of ideas. “We’ll get your mommy’s approval before we ride.”

  “She’ll say no.”

  “But she must let you do lots of fun things.” He wasn’t about to fall into the trap of competing with Leslie. “So show me those favorite toys your mother was talking about.”

  “It’s just kid stuff. You wouldn’t like it.”

  “I was a kid once.”

  Jaci didn’t look convinced. She went to the shelf and pulled out a basket of Lego. “I like to build things.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “Towers. As tall as I can. And bridges. They’re the hardest.”

  “I bet.”

  “How come you went away for so long? Joey’s daddy comes home every night and they go to the park and play. Sometimes they take me with them.”

  “I had an important job to do that was too far away to come home every night, but I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere. How about you show me that park after lunch?”

  For a half second he thought she was going to smile, but the curve to her lip turned downward as quickly as it had appeared.

  “Lunch is ready.”

  Pierce looked up. Leslie was standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression troubled.

  Leslie crossed the room and put a hand on Jaci’s shoulder. “Go wash up, sweetie. Your dad and I will meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes.”

  Jaci marched off. The tension in the room soared. Pierce figured the moment of truth had come, but he stayed silent. Always better to know the enemy’s position before you sprang into action.

  “I thought this could wait until after lunch,” Leslie said, “but I’m not good at these games.”

  “I’m not too keen on them myself.” Especially when he didn’t know the rules of engagement. “Don’t spare my feelings. I’m a big boy. Hit me with it.”

  “I’m planning to remarry in the spring. I felt you should know.”

  “Is the groom anyone I know?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Probably not.”

  He waited for the sting of betrayal. Or rejection. Or whatever a guy was supposed to feel when his wife of six years told him she’d replaced him with someone new. It didn’t come.

  He’d known it was over for months, would have been even if there wasn’t another man in the picture.

  They’d tried the last couple of times they were together—at least he’d given it a halfhearted shot. Things had gone fine in bed from his standpoint. Leslie was a beautiful, sexy woman.

  The problem was there was just no connection anywhere else. He’d actually been glad when his leave was over.

  Except for leaving Jaci. It always hurt l
ike hell to say goodbye to Jaci.

  She was three months old when he saw her for the first time. He’d been anxious, afraid he wouldn’t bond, nervous that he’d be expected to hold her or even tend her alone.

  And then he’d peeked into the crib and she’d kicked her tiny feet, waved her pudgy arms and smiled up at him. His heart had melted like a slab of butter in a hot skillet.

  The sting he’d expected a few seconds earlier finally hit. Struck everywhere at once, pain scalding his skin and burning his insides, the way it had on that pitch-black night when he and his team members had crawled through the mud into a bed of huge fire ants.

  Leslie was welcome to a new life with anyone she chose, but he would not just turn over his parental rights like Jaci was a prize in a competition. Might as well get that straight right now.

  “I’m good with you remarrying, but I left the navy SEALs to come home and be a father to Jaci. I am going to be in her life, and not just as a bystander who gets to show up a couple times a year at your convenience.”

  “I didn’t expect that you would, though you missed the first five years by choice.”

  “That’s not fair. I served my country. I was with you and Jaci every opportunity I had.”

  “That’s a moot point now, but you should know that Dan and I will be moving to Cuba next week.”

  “Cuba? You’re moving to Cuba?”

  “Temporarily. Dan works for a wealthy developer and is researching possible business opportunities now that the two countries have reopened ties.”

  The impact of her words hit with dizzying force. His muscles tensed.

  “You can’t take Jaci to Cuba without my permission. I’m her father. I have rights.”

  “I haven’t threatened your rights, at least not yet.”

  “If you try to leave the country with her, you better be ready for the fight of your life.”

  “Keep your voice down. You’ll upset Jaci.” Leslie closed the bedroom door. “If all goes as planned, Dan will finish the assignment and we’ll be back in the States within six months.”

  “So you worked out all the details before you even ran this by me?”

  “It’s come up suddenly. I haven’t even mentioned this to Jaci yet.”

  Pierce stabbed his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans. He was angry, frustrated. And now he was confused. “When do you plan to spring it on her, when you’re boarding the plane?”

  Leslie sighed and shook her head. “If you’d just let me explain.”

  “Go right ahead.”

  “Of course, I had planned to take her with me. I had no other choice, since you were never around.”

  “I’m here now.”

  “Yes, and Dan and I have talked about that at length. If you’re willing to care for Jaci until I’m back in the States, we can work out a temporary custody arrangement that puts you in charge of Jaci’s care.”

  He couldn’t have heard that right. “You’ll give me custody of Jaci?”

  “Shared custody, actually. But she can live with you, that is, if you think you can be a reliable full-time parent. It is time she gets to know her father.”

  Jaci would live with him. Full-time for the next six months. He’d be responsible for her. When she was sick. When she cried. When she had nightmares. When she was hungry.

  She was only five. She probably still needed help with even the little things like her bath and getting dressed. And with brushing her hair. He’d never brushed anyone’s hair in his life. He wouldn’t know how to start.

  “If you don’t want her—”

  “No,” he interrupted quickly. “It’s not that.” His head was spinning. “Jaci barely knows me. She clearly doesn’t like or trust me. How will it affect her if she thinks I took her away from you?”

  “She won’t think that. We’ll tell her of the decision together, convince her this will be a great adventure for the two of you to share. I need this, Pierce. Dan wants me with him. I want to be with him.”

  Her voice had taken on a desperate edge. Obviously, new man Dan wielded a powerful influence over her.

  “I’ve raised Jaci practically by myself, Pierce. It’s your turn to take some of the responsibility for our child.”

  He couldn’t argue with that and deep inside he didn’t want to. He’d come home to bond with his daughter, to be a real father like his father had been before death had claimed him years before his time.

  Jaci would live with him. He would be solely responsible for her care, her health, her happiness. It was the scariest challenge he’d ever faced in his life, and that was saying a lot.

  He might no longer technically be a SEAL, but he was in his heart. Now it was time to put that same energy and commitment into being a full-time father.

  Failure was not an option.

  Bring it on.

  Chapter Three

  “You have got to be kidding. Your wife, who barely let you speak to your daughter on Skype, much less on the phone for the past six months, is suddenly going to toss her to you like a deflated football?”

  “Poor analogy, but that’s about the size of it,” Pierce said as his brother Riley questioned the current scenario. He changed his phone to his left hand, picked up his half-finished beer with his right and took a swig.

  “But I can’t say much against Leslie. I know she loves Jaci and I think she really wants our daughter not to be traumatized by the divorce.”

  “I hope that works out for all of you. When did this custody offer come down?” Riley asked.

  “Two days ago when I arrived in Chicago.”

  “You’ve been back in the good old USA two days and you’re just now getting in touch with me?”

  “No. I texted you two days ago and again yesterday. Do you ever check your messages?”

  “Every now and then.”

  “Where are you anyway?” Pierce asked. “Tucker said last he heard you were in Colorado.”

  “That was four or five months ago. I’m in Montana now. Too long in one place and people start thinking you’re permanent.”

  “By ‘people’ you mean women?”

  “And the occasional employee. Actually, I’ve been on a cattle drive up into the mountains. Wide-open spaces and the biggest, bluest sky you can imagine.”

  “Tucker said you’d be somewhere hanging out with cows and horses.”

  “It’s in my blood. And his, I might add. How is our younger brother anyway?”

  “Still chasing the next rodeo, but having a pretty good year according to him.”

  “If he admitted that, he’s probably headed to a world championship. But back to the issue at hand. What’s Jaci’s reaction to being deserted by her mother?”

  “She seems okay, though Leslie says Jaci is being excessively clingy since we told her about the arrangement. She sees this as more my fault than her mother’s. None of this would be happening if I hadn’t come home.”

  “I hope Leslie isn’t feeding into that.”

  “Not to my knowledge. Leslie keeps assuring her that this is only temporary and that I am going to take her on a grand adventure.”

  “So what’s the adventure?”

  “I wish the hell I knew.”

  “Better come up with something fast. I can’t quite picture you playing with her Barbie dolls and going shopping for frilly dresses.”

  “Neither can I.”

  “Here’s a thought. Forget the little-girl stuff. Get her some jeans and cowboy boots. Take her to a dude ranch.”

  “She does like cowboys.”

  “I like the kid better already. You could probably use some new boots and a winter Stetson yourself. Pick up a couple of Western shirts and you’ll be good to go. You’ve always had the swagger.”

 
“And the looks in the family.”

  “You’re delusional. Wait a minute. I’m getting a brain jolt here. Forget the dude ranch. I know exactly where you and Jaci should go on your adventure.”

  “Hit me with it.”

  “Texas. Go spend some time with the Kavanaughs. God knows Esther and Charlie were lifesavers when we lost our parents. Not that Jaci has literally lost her mother the way we did, but it must feel almost that way to a five-year-old.”

  “You know, that’s not a half-bad idea. I’d love to see Esther and Charlie. Haven’t heard from either of them in almost a year, maybe longer.”

  “Me, either, but Tucker spent a few days with them last summer when the circuit took him to San Antonio. Said they were still holding the Double K Ranch together and doing fine. Claimed it was just like old times. Except for getting a little older, they hadn’t changed a bit.”

  Pierce considered the option. Spending a few days with Esther and Charlie might be the best place to start his six months of bonding with Jaci. He’d truly love to see them and there was no one’s advice on child care he’d trust more than Esther’s. She was love itself.

  And Charlie. Well, there was no one else like Charlie, either. Contrary as a mule, said what he was thinking and thought everyone should carry their share of the load.

  But when your world had come to an end, as Tucker, Riley and Pierce’s had when their parents had died instantly in a car crash, Charlie and Esther were the ones who’d stepped in. They’d taken them into their home so they wouldn’t be separated, helped them through the grief and given them the courage to go on.

  “Don’t go getting the big head, but I think you just landed on a capital idea,” Pierce said.

  “Glad I could help and it’s about damn time you get back to your Texas roots, bro.”

  “You could be right about that, too.”

  “Keep me posted and good luck with full-time fatherhood.”

  “Thanks. I’ll need it.”

  Boy, was he going to need it. But at least he had a plan and Texas on his mind.

  * * *

  GRACE TOOK HER right hand from the wheel and massaged her aching neck. It was her third day on the run, keeping to back roads, avoiding towns, stopping only at service stations where she could fill the fuel tank, use the facilities and grab a bite to eat.