Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2)

by Santo, JC

  “Holy shit.”

  “That is, unless you want to tell him?”

  I quickly toss the idea around in my head. While it gives me a sense of understanding knowing the truth about my birth mother, I don’t know how much it would benefit Tanner. As Mom said, he’s never been concerned about his biological parents.

  “Nah, it’s okay. No reason to open up any difficult and uncomfortable conversations unless he wants to discuss them. Even without him knowing, I feel closer to him now.”

  “I just want you to know that she did try, Reed, maybe not with you, but she did learn from the mistakes she made with you.”

  “Okay,” I say after a minute of thinking it over.

  “Okay?”

  “I’ll go.”

  “Good, I’m glad you’re finally doing this. Just go and make peace with the past so you can move onto your future with a clear head and heart.” She places a kiss to my temple. “Now, go grab that beautiful girl, your brother, and your father. Dinner is about ready.”

  “Alright, Ma.” I stop just as I get to the doorway and look back to see my mom still sitting at the table, blotting her eyes with a napkin. “Hey, you’re wrong, though.”

  “About what?”

  “I didn’t become who I am alone. I had you and Dad there to guide me.” I walk back over and kiss her on her forehead. “I love you, Ma.”

  “I love you too.”

  Tegan

  I’m so excited to see Detroit today, although I have no idea where we’re going. We spent yesterday with his family, just lounging around the house.

  It was neat to see Charlie so open and unreserved. He’s slowing becoming that way back home in Virginia, but he’s nowhere near this level yet.

  Charlie didn’t mention the conversation he and his mom had the other night. I assumed it was best not to bring it up. I’ve never seen him so upset before. I’m assuming that’s why he is against visiting his birth mother; Marie is a strong woman to be able to even suggest sharing her son with that woman.

  The entire situation is weird for me. I guess not being adopted and my parents still being married, I’ve always had both of them in my life and never had to split up my time between them or deal with forming a relationship with a step-parent. However, seeing them interact with each other, an outsider would never know that Tanner and Charlie aren’t their biological kids.

  I did work up the courage to ask him about the name thing that’s been pestering me. We were lying in the bed in silence when I finally found my voice.

  “Why do your parents call you Reed and not Charlie?”

  He ponders his answer for a moment.

  “I’ve told you my birth father’s name was Charles, right?” I nod. “Well, he left before I was born, I’ve been told he abandoned my nineteen-year-old mom pregnant and alone. She claims she named me after him, knowing he’d come back and be happy for their new family, but when she finally accepted that he was gone, she developed a hatred for the name Charles and the nickname Charlie. I guess it stuck with me, because I’ve never liked for anyone to call me Charlie.

  “After they adopted me, it was left up to me to change my name or leave it. I immediately opted to change it to Reed. I had a doctor at the time that always referred to me as the ‘Reed boy’ and I liked the sound of that better than Charlie, so I asked Ma and Dad if they would call me that from then on. They never questioned it, never hesitated. I’ve been ‘Reed’ to them since then. They were always willing to do any and everything to make me and Tanner, and even some of the foster kids they had throughout the years, as comfortable as possible.”

  “Why didn’t you say something? I’ve been calling you Charlie forever now! If I’d known it made you uncomfortable, I would have called you Reed like everyone else does.” I’m suddenly embarrassed for not catching on sooner.

  Of course his military friends call him by his last name, but they never attempted to call him by his first name even after hearing me say it.

  “Hey, I like when you say it.” He pulls me in closer to his side and brings his face close to mine. “You make it good. Where other people irritated me by calling me that, I love the way it sounds coming out of your lips.”

  Charlie hasn’t told me where exactly we’re going today, just to dress warmly.

  New Year’s Eve in Detroit is way different from a Texas New Year’s. Our weather is cold, but nothing like this. Negative degrees? That’s just about unheard of in central Texas. And snow? Forget that. I’m twenty-one years old, and I’ve never seen more than an inch or two. And that was mush not actual snow; not the fluffy, white stuff. This is a huge adjustment for me.

  I finish dressing, in just about every article of clothing possible, and head downstairs where Marie is cooking breakfast for Charlie and me.

  “Morning,” I call out as I walk into the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Tegan,” Marie calls out from her place at the stove.

  “Hey, babe,” Charlie says as he places a kiss to my cheek when I sit next to him at the table.

  “So, Reed informed me that you guys are heading toward the downtown area today for sightseeing,” Marie states as she places a plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes in front of me. “I booked you two a hotel room at the Marriott at the Renaissance Center.”

  “Ma, that’s not necessary—”

  “Don’t even, I don’t want to hear it. Just consider it a Christmas gift from your father and me. This way you two can go out, have some drinks tonight. It is New Year’s Eve, after all,” She winks at me. “Take Tegan down to midtown to Campus Martius and watch the ball drop.”

  “Damn, I didn’t think about it being New Year’s Eve. You up for the ball dropping tonight?” He watches me carefully.

  “Absolutely. I’ve never been to a big city ball drop like this. We don’t have anything like this in Cedar.”

  “Might do you some good to have some privacy after today,” Marie says to Charlie.

  I look between the two of them, unsure of the meaning behind that last statement.

  What about sightseeing could cause Charlie to need privacy?

  Not wanting to come off like I’m snooping, I focus all of my energy on my plate in front of me. I have to give Marie credit—her cooking tastes great.

  Charlie doesn’t acknowledge his mom, but she continues discussing the secret topic.

  “If you do need us, we’re only a phone call away.” She pats him on the arm. “Although, I know you’ll have someone there who supports you.”

  My face must show my confusion, so Charlie changes the subject.

  “You ready to face your first day in Detroit winter?” He assesses my many layers of clothing. “Looks like you’re prepared for a blizzard, babe.”

  “Hush, I’m not used to this kinda cold!” I teasingly smack him on the arm.

  “Alright, alright. Eat up so we can pack a bag and get out of here. I’ve got a bunch of stuff planned for us today,” He takes another bite of his pancakes.

  Twenty minutes later, each with a small bag in hand, we head out. Marie let us borrow her car for the night, claiming she and Jake could drive his truck if need be.

  “We have one stop to make before we get to the fun stuff,” Charlie says once we’ve started out of his parent’s subdivision.

  “Umm, okay?”

  I have no clue where he’d be taking me that wouldn’t constitute as fun. Having never been to Michigan before, I’ll find something interesting in any place we go.

  The drive is unusually quiet and the air in the car seems tense; not what I was expecting for this day.

  “Where are we going?” My curiosity and Charlie’s silence and odd behavior finally get to me.

  His eyes never leave the road. He simply shrugs his shoulders.

  “You’ll see in just a sec. We’re almost there.”

  Within minutes, he steers the car into the last place I expected. A cemetery.

  “Charlie, wha—”

  “We’re seeing my birth
mother. My mom convinced me the other night that it’s time to forgive her and move on.” His voice is small, timid even, and his attention is focused on his hands.

  “Okay.” I place my hand over his.

  “Okay?” He looks up at me.

  “Yeah, I’m with you, whatever you need.”

  I want to say that I love and support him, but I know this isn’t the time to make that confession. I have a feeling this visitation will be a lot for Charlie to take in anyway. Throwing my emotions into the mix will only make it more stressful on him.

  “Okay, let’s go.” He slides on a pair of gloves and pulls a bag out from the back floorboard as we both exit.

  We foot the short path to the designated grave. Charlie seems as if he knows where he’s going, almost as though he’s been here before. I’m tempted to ask, but I refrain.

  Charlie comes to a stop in front of me, and I move to stand next to him. His hand immediately finds mine. After a brief moment, he leads us forward to the headstone.

  It’s a small one. It’s apparent no one bothered putting any personal touches on her tombstone. The gray, flat stone is very bland compared to those around it.

  Carmen Marisol Delgado

  Feb 27, 1968- August 12, 2011

  In Heaven, may you find your way.

  We stand in silence, Charlie rereading the words over and over, almost mesmerized by the stone while I take in this huge moment that I’m witnessing. From the very little I’ve heard Charlie say about his birth mother, I know they didn’t have a good relationship. For him to come here is a huge accomplishment in itself, and I can only imagine that the peace he’ll leave her with will make an even larger impact on him.

  “I, uh, I don’t know what to say.” He looks to me for advice.

  “Say whatever’s in your heart, Charlie.”

  He ponders over it for a moment.

  “I don’t know what’s in my heart when it comes to her.” His eyes trail back to the tombstone. “Ma claims that she loved me in her own way, but I don’t know that she’s right.”

  “I’m sure she did. Her heartbreak over your father leaving may have been too much for her to overcome.” He looks at me now. “I’m not saying it to defend her, but I’m sure being a young girl all alone, it was easy to put all of her eggs in one basket when your father came along. You said she was a runaway, right? She probably felt unwanted at home and thought she found her place when he came along. When he took off, it probably destroyed her.”

  “I never thought of it like that.”

  I shrug my shoulders. By no means am I a fan of his mother, but I know how heartbreak can consume you. I experienced it, not nearly as severely as his mother did, but I’ve also seen the way it’s changed Jo recently. I don’t know for certain that depression and heartbreak were the reasons his mother acted the way she did, but for Charlie’s benefit, it’s the story I’ll go with.

  “She had to have loved you on some level, Charlie.” I run my gloved hand across his cheek. “Look at Sawyer’s biological mother. She knew that she wasn’t the best role model for Sawyer, so she chose to step out of her life. Is it the path I would have chosen had it been me? No, but Anna did what she thought was best for Sawyer. Her love for that little girl is what influenced her decision. Maybe it was the same with your mom.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  My guess is somehow, pushing Charlie away was, in some twisted way, her showing love. Perhaps she knew he didn’t need to be close to her; maybe she thought he’d spiral downhill with her.

  “You’re focusing on the negative in all of this. Think of the positive aspects. You ended up with an amazing set of parents who love you beyond belief, and a younger brother who looks up to you. You’re a Petty Officer in the Navy now. You’ve made something great out of bad circumstances.” Before I’m able to stop myself, the little words I’ve been fighting against win out. “I love you, Charlie.”

  Reed

  Holy Shit. Tegan just confessed to being in love with me.

  I’m speechless, I know I need to respond to her, tell her that I’m in love with her too, but the words just won’t come.

  “Tegan, I—”

  “Wait.” She places her hand to my lips. “Just don’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything, this isn’t the time or the place; this is about you and your birth mother.”

  I should tell her that this is the perfect time; that I needed to hear those words, especially now.

  She is right to an extent; I need to finish what I came to do regarding my biological mother. Then, I’ll come back to address what she’s just admitted.

  I give her a single nod, then focus my attention back to my mother’s headstone. I don’t feel like words are needed.

  To be honest, I’ve never understood how people can carry on conversations at the graves of loved ones. And even if I did, this isn’t one of those situations where I’d talk to the departed.

  No, words aren’t needed. My mom knew, getting me here was all that was needed. I crouch down and wipe some debris from the cold stone.

  When I found out she had died, I didn’t question whether or not to pay for her headstone. I knew Mom had kept tabs on her over the years, now I’ve been enlightened as to why.

  I place my fingers to my lips and then place them over the letters of Carmen’s name. Maybe Tegan is right; I can only hope that this woman who gave me life did care about me. Growing up I tried like hell to hate her, but I couldn’t actually do it. I fought against every foster parent, every teacher, and every counselor who tried to show me love and support.

  Until Jake and Marie.

  Everything happens for a reason. Those two, they’re the reason I’m the man I am today. I may still be cracked in some spots, but they healed a lot of the wounds I had as a broken child.

  The moment my hand leaves the cold headstone, I feel as if a weight has been lifted.

  Mom was right—I needed to let go and forgive Carmen.

  I pull a floral arrangement out of the bag I carried over and place it in a small vase next to her headstone.

  “Bye, Carmen,” I whisper to the grave before standing and wrapping my arm around the waiting Tegan. “You ready?”

  “Whenever you are.” Her nose is pink from the wind and whether she wants to admit it or not, I can tell she’s freezing.

  We follow the path back to my mom’s car in silence. I’m sure Tegan is giving me the solace to process everything we’ve just gone through, and I’m mentally replaying her confession and how to approach the topic again.

  It’s freezing. So after loading back into the car, I drive Tegan to a Michigan staple, Tim Horton’s. She’s as addicted to coffee as I am.

  We sit at a small corner table, me with my black house coffee, her with some frilly drink and a piece of banana nut bread to split.

  There has been an awkward silence between us since the cemetery. I can tell she wants to ask questions; I haven’t ever given her a lot of information about my birth mother. Her mind must be running wild with unasked questions and images of my childhood.

  “So, go ahead and ask.”

  “Ask what?”

  “Whatever it is you want to know.” She goes to argue, but I stop her before she gets a word out. “I know you’re curious, Tegan.”

  “I wanna know everything, but I don’t want to pry.”

  I grab her hand. “If I thought you were snooping, I wouldn’t have taken you with me today. I wanted you there. Fuck, I needed you there with me.”

  Taking a deep breath, I tell her everything.

  “Carmen passed away four years ago, shortly after I enlisted. The last time I came home to Detroit, it was supposed to be for the funeral. I couldn’t do it. I flew home but couldn’t bring myself to attend. Mom went in my place. She always had a soft spot for Carmen for some reason. I think it was just because Carmen gave me to her in a sense. I paid for her headstone, I figured it was the least I could do, she did manage to clothe and feed me for the fir
st ten years of my life.”

  “That’s really admirable, Charlie.” She squeezes my hand. “You are a great man, I’m sure she would be proud of how you turned out and thankful that Marie and Jake took you in and raised you so well”.

  “I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for them, and other people who make me a better person. People like you.”

  She smiles nervously and pulls her hand from mine.

  “So, uh, what’s next on the agenda? Please tell me we’re doing something indoors for a while. I’m freezing; I don’t know how I’m going to survive tonight!”

  I don’t understand why she’s pushing me away. Typically, Tegan loves the romantic moments. Now that I’m ready to confess I’m in love with her, she’s avoiding any closeness or intimacy.

  I’ll let her have her distance for now. I know that I’m in love with her, but before I admit my feelings, I want to be sure that hers are real and not the result of the high emotional situation we were in.

  “Well, let’s go check into the hotel—” I check my watch “—and then I can take you to see Greektown, they have restaurants, little shops, and a casino we can warm up in.”

  As much as I’d rather stay in the hotel and make her admit her feelings again, she needs to see some of the sights Detroit has to offer. Deep down, I know she didn’t say those words without meaning them, now I just have to get her to admit them again.

  Reed

  After a few hours of sightseeing, we arrive back at our hotel room to get ready for tonight. While Tegan jumps in the shower, I call my mom.

  “Hey, sweetie,” my mom answers after the first ring.

  “Hey, Ma.”

  “So how did it go?”

  “Good. I just needed to call and say thank you.”

  “Thank you for what?” she asks, surprised.

  “For loving and taking care of me. You and Dad have always been my saving grace.”

  “Sweetie, we did it because we wanted what’s best for you.” I hear her shuffling around. No doubt going to find a tissue; I can hear the slight tremble in her voice as she continues. “Carmen doesn’t know what she missed out on with you. You’re a wonderful man, and I’m so glad to be your mom.”