by Kathryn Shay
“No they’re staying with Nick now. They’ve had offers to stay in four different places. We don’t know if they’ll want their own.”
“Four?”
“Sure, here. There’s a first floor den for them. Nick and Gabe both have another suite and you should see the house Connor and Calla built. It’s got a guest house behind the main one.”
“Befitting a princess.”
“And the heir to the throne.”
“Seriously? She’s pregnant?”
“Before the wedding.” He lasered her with a look. “Just like us.”
“Are they happy about having a baby so soon?”
“Yes.”
“Unlike us.”
“I know we were wary at first, and especially when I was away those six months, but when she came we were happy, Lila.”
She shook her head releasing a few more tendrils. “I know. I guess what followed, what brought us to where we are is too much in the forefront for me.” She shook her head. “I thought we were invincible.”
“I did too. What happened to those kids?”
“They grew up. And modern life was too much for them to withstand, I guess.”
“How sad.”
The children burst back through the door at the end of the kitchen. “Daddy, they left their jungle gym. It’s got a fort, and a slide and swings.”
“I was thinking about tearing it down. That you’re too old for it.”
Their faces fell. Until Lila laughed. “Daddy’s kidding.”
“Oh, oh, good.”
The bell rang again.
Dec stood. “That has to be our furniture.”
“Yay! Mommy, can you stay and help us set up our rooms.”
She looked to Dec. He said, “Sure, I’ve got my hands full with the rest of the stuff. Can get out of work.”
“I just have to make a call.” She looked down. “And I have workout clothes in the car.”
“Then it’s settled.”
The caller did bring the new furniture. And right behind them was the moving van from Lakeville. Dec signed papers and Lila headed to her car. Halfway down the sidewalk she looked over her shoulder and said, “I can’t believe you’re here.”
He didn’t know what to say. Or if he could even speak around the sock stuck in his throat. Had he made different decisions, if life and circumstances had gone their way, they could be buying this house together, settling in together, building on a life they made through the years.
But that was a fairytale, and he wasn’t a doctor marrying a princess, like Connor. He and Lila were two soldiers who just couldn’t merge their lives.
Again, he thought, How sad.
o0o
When Lila reached her sporty civic, she took a deep breath. Declan had moved down here. For his parents. When he refused to move for her when she got her dream job. The notion galled her but she had to keep her head. She’d made mistakes that hurt her family too, and bitterness wouldn’t help either of them. Sitting in the front seat she called work. The recording switched on- You’ve reached the VA Benefits Division. If you know your party’s extension, please connect now .”
Lila punched 418 and waited for the secretary. Instead, she heard, “Director Vance.”
“Robert, hello. I didn’t expect you to answer.”
“Mable went to lunch. What’s up?”
“I’m going to take some of my comp time this afternoon, if that’s all right.”
“Let me check the main calendar.” She waited. “You’ve got an appointment at four with one of the veterans.”
“There was a message on my cell that he canceled. I forgot to change the calendar online.”
“No problem. Everything okay?” He knew she was heading out to see her family.
“None. But the kids are settling into their rooms and I’d like to help.”
“Of course. What time will you be home for dinner? I have a late meeting, but should be there before eight.”
“I’m sure I’ll be home by then, but why don’t you grab something to eat? I will, too.”
A pause. “All right. See you then, honey.”
After she clicked off, she wondered why she’d not committed to dinner. Her emotions were in a tumult because of the conversation she had with Declan and because this move pulled the scab off old wounds. Stop it, Delilah. Your life’s good now.
Yes, it was. She worked at a job she loved, though she’d left the army reserves at thirty-six when her commitment was over. Unlike Declan who couldn’t seem to give it up and still went on specialty missions. Stop thinking about him. To that end, she whipped open the door, got her bag out of the backseat, and headed back inside.
A furniture store employee was carrying in a double bed of oak. She followed him inside and upstairs to Meli’s room. Her daughter was practically jumping up with glee.
“You got a new bed?”
“Yep. A big-girl’s bed.”
Lila had bought her a white canopy bed with covers sporting unicorns for her house. “Did you get new bedding?”
“Yeah.” She raced to a box and pulled out a spread and sheets. Lila crossed to them.
“Who are those people?” she asked.
“Mommy! Those are singers.”
“Current pop stars?”
“Uh-huh.”
She wondered what Dec planned to do when they went out of fashion. And what had she done by picking baby things for her almost adolescent girls?
Morgan popped in from her bedroom through the bath. “Mommy. Come see my bed.”
“Okay. Then we’ll set up a plan for placing furniture and unpacking other stuff.”
If Meli’s room was big girl, Morgan’s shouted teenager! Twin beds, a bit oversized, graced the spot between two windows. Bedding was stacked on the mattresses. The quilt was zebra print only in purple. The sheets a lighter lilac. “This is very sophisticated, Morgy.”
“I’m going to be thirteen soon.”
How had that happened? It seemed like only yesterday that they were born. Though they’d been totally unexpected, like Maggie, Lila had loved them unconditionally.
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