Page 16 of A Soldier's Return

“Where is he these days?”

“He’s coming back to Oregon. His new wife is expecting a baby, and he wants to be closer to his family in Portland so they can help her out.”

She wouldn’t let herself be bitter about that. WhenMelissahad been pregnant with Skye, Cody hadn’t been nearly as solicitous about her needs. He’d been training for a big wave competition, totally focused on it, and couldn’t take time away. Instead, they had lived in a crappy studio apartment on the North Shore. He had refused to come back to Oregon, even for her to deliver the baby close to her mom.

Maybe the fact that he was putting his new wife and unborn baby first for once was proof that her ex was finally growing up. She hoped so, but she didn’t think anyone could blame her for being skeptical.

“And how long have you been back in Cannon Beach?”

“About seven months. For the past few years, Cody’s home base has been Oahu. Last year he moved overseas, so I decided it was time Skye and I came back to be closer to family.”

“That’s nice. And you live in Brambleberry House.”

“For now. We love it there, but I’m saving up to buy a house.”

“And going to school, I understand. Carmen or Tiffany mentioned it today.”

“I’m working to become a family nurse practitioner,” she said as their server set down salads in front of the two of them.

“How’s that going?”

“Not going to lie, it’s been tough while juggling a full-time job and a child. I still have two years to go. I can do most of the work online, which helps.”

“That’s terrific. There’s such a need for well-trained nurse practitioners right now. Good for you.”

The approving look in his eyes sent warmth seeping through her. Going to school and working was tough work, and she had sacrificed sleep and a social life for it, but she was trying to build a solid future for her and her child. All the sacrifices were worthwhile, an investment toward security for Skye.

“What about you? I’m surprised you haven’t done the whole family thing yet.”

He shrugged, a hint of a shadow in his eyes. “You know how it is. Some guys can handle starting a family while they’re in med school, but I wasn’t one of them.”

“You’ve been out of med school—what?—five or six years now? There hasn’t been a chance in all those years to find somebody you want to make Mrs. Dr. Elias Sanderson?”

“No,” he said quickly. Too quickly. The shadows seemed to intensify. Eli Sanderson had secrets. What were they? She had the feeling he had lost someone close to him. Was it a woman?

She wanted to probe, but Skye came back before she could ask a follow-up question.

She was relieved, she told herself. Eli’s secrets were none of her business. He was her employer, at least for the next few weeks. Okay, he might also be becoming a friend. That didn’t mean she needed to know everything that had happened to him since the day he had left Cannon Beach for college.

“Your quarters are gone already?” she asked her daughter.

“Pinball ishard,” Skye complained. “Simon made it look so easy.”

Simon was the son of her friends Will and Julia Garrett, twin to Maddie, a girl who sometimes babysat Skye for her. The last time they had come to A Slice of Heaven, their family had been there, too, and Skye had been fascinated, watching the older boy.

“Simon is a teenager, honey. Almost eighteen. He’s probably had a lot of practice at it.”

She pouted but didn’t have time to fret more as their server fortuitously came by just then with their pizzas, fragrant and hot.

They were all too busy the next few moments savoring their meal, which didn’t leave a lot of room for talking.

In between bites, Skye kept looking back toward the billiards tables with a wistful look.

“You look like you’re wanting to try your hand at pool,” Eli said.

“Mom says I can’t. It’s too busy here on Friday nights. There are people waiting their turn to play.”

“My dad has a billiards table in the sunroom,” Eli said. “You’re welcome to come over and practice a little there before you try to play in the big leagues over here at A Slice of Heaven.”

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