Page 30 of A Soldier's Return

“We’re going to settle in Portland, near my folks. Since I lost my sponsorship, I need to find a more reliable paycheck. Got that baby on the way and all. My dad’s been pushing me to join his office and this seemed as good a time as any.”

Nowhe wanted to be financially stable? For the five years they had been married, he had been perfectly content to let her support them with her nursing career.

“You’re going into real estate.” She tried to process that shocking information, but it was too much for her brain, after the day she’d had.

“I guess I have to pass some kind of class and stuff before I can actually do any selling. But I’m going to start small and see where it goes.”

Knowing her ex as she did, she had no doubt he would probably be brilliant at it. Cody had always been good at convincing people he had exactly what they needed.

After her dad died, Cody had been so sweet and attentive, making her feel like the most important person on earth. She had been grieving and lost, and he had helped remind her the world could still have laughter and ice cream and sweetness.

“You know how you’ve been bugging me to spend more time with Skye. This is my chance! We’re moving into one of my dad’s rentals in Portland and working out of his office there. We’ll only be a few hours away.”

“Great.”

“Amalia can’t wait to meet her. She’s been asking every day.”

“Amalia.”

“My wife. That’s one of the reasons I stopped by before we go out to dinner with Ace and his wife. I want you to meet her. Babe, get out here.”

A young woman who looked to be in her early twenties rose from the passenger seat of the convertible with a grace that matched Cody’s. She was dark and petite, tanned and fit and gorgeous. And very, very pregnant.

“Oh.” The word escaped before Melissa could swallow it down.

Cody glowed likehewas the pregnant one. He held out a hand to the woman, who moved to his side looking elegant and beautiful—so different from the way Melissa had looked when she was pregnant with Skye, when her ankles had disappeared and all the baby weight had somehow settled in her hips and butt.

“This is Amalia. I met her in Brazil. She doesn’t speak much English.”

“Hello, Amalia.”

“’Ello.” The woman’s voice was low and throaty and exotic, though she looked nervous. Cody didn’t speak a word of Portuguese, as far as she knew. If his new wife didn’t speak much English, Melissa had to wonder how they communicated.

“Like I said, she’s been dying to meet Skye. Where is she?”

“Not here,” she said, pointing out the obvious. “This is my workplace. She’s at the babysitter’s.”

“Oh. Right.” He gave a little laugh. “I should have realized that. Where does the babysitter live? I can go see her there.”

Skye would be thrilled to see her father. She adored him despite his chronic negligence.

“It would be better if I picked her up. Why don’t you meet me at Brambleberry House in about an hour. Do you remember where that is?”

“I think so. Sounds good.”

He started to lead his wife back to the car, then apparently noticed Eli, still waiting and watching the scene beside his father’s Lexus SUV.

Cody’s gaze narrowed. “You look familiar. Have we met?”

Eli coughed politely. “Yeah. Eli Sanderson. We went to school together. You and some buddies ambushed me in the parking lot once during a school dance.”

Cody let out a rough laugh. “You’re kidding me. Why would I do that?”

Eli shrugged. “You apparently weren’t very happy with me for asking Melissa to dance.”

“Kind of a dick move, dude, asking another guy’s date to dance with you.”

“Sometimes. In this case, I guess I figured you wouldn’t care, since you had been ignoring her all night.”

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