Page 52 of A Soldier's Return

“I’m afraid so. You had a big weekend with your dad. You don’t want to be too tired for school tomorrow, right? It’s your big field trip.”

“Oh, yeah!” To Eli, she said, “We’re going to the lighthouse in Astoria and my teacher said we could maybe even fly paper airplanes off the top of it. We’re going to write our names on them and see whose goes the farthest. I bet it will be mine.”

He remembered flying paper airplanes off that lighthouse when he was in elementary school and still remembered the triumph of his particular design beating everyone else in his class. “Sounds like fun. You’ll have to let me know if you’re the winner.”

“I will.”

Together, they started the process of winding the string from the kite back onto the reel. The kite fought them on the currents until he was able to pull it back down to earth.

“What do you say to Eli?” her mother prompted once they had the colorful kite back on the sand.

“Thanks a ton for helping me, Eli.”

Skye beamed at him. Before he realized what she intended, she threw her arms around his waist and gave him a tight hug.

Emotions came out of nowhere and clogged his throat, much to his embarrassment, his mind on another girl who would never have the chance to fly kites on a beautiful April afternoon.

“It was my pleasure. Truly.”

“I hope we can do it again sometime.”

He didn’t know how to answer. He would be gone again soon. Even if his father wasn’t yet up to full strength, Eli would have to go and let a substitute doctor take his place. “Maybe.”

“And you said I could play pool at your dad’s house. Can we do that tonight?”

“No,” Melissa said firmly. “Maybe another time.”

He regretted that he likely wouldn’t have the chance to follow through on his offer to let her come over and practice before he left town. Maybe his father could take on billiards lessons while he was recovering from his knee surgery. He would suggest it to Wendell the next day when he went to his father’s rehabilitation center.

“I’ll walk you back,” he said after Melissa had gathered up her things.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Somebody needs to haul this guy back for you.”

She didn’t argue, but he could tell she didn’t need or want his help.

He couldn’t tell her he would find any excuse to spend more time with her, already dreading the moment he would have to say goodbye.

As she walked along beside him, with Skye again racing ahead of them holding tight to Max’s leash, Melissa came to the grave realization that she didn’t need to worry any more that she might do something stupid like fall in love with Eli.

She already had.

Watching him fly a kite with Skye, seeing his patience and his kindness and the sheer fun he seemed to have with her daughter, had made that truth abundantly clear.

How could any woman hope to resist him? He was sexy and sweet and wonderful.

What a complete disaster. He was going to leave again. What was she supposed to do then?

When they reached Brambleberry House, he opened the sea gate for her. She was relieved when she spotted Fiona, who immediately rushed across the lawn to greet Max, tail wagging.

“Looks like your neighbor is back.”

She waved to Rosa, who was sitting on the swing looking out at the water.

Rosa waved back, and Melissa didn’t need to see her expression to guess she was wearing a speculative look seeing her with Eli again.

Rosa could speculate all she wanted. They were only together temporarily. He would be leaving soon and she would be alone again.

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