Page 11 of A Moment Never Forgotten
“Thank Christ you have other talents.” Logan shoved a large piece of cake into his mouth, grinning as he chewed.
Berit blushed. “I do have a confession.”
Teagan interrupted, “See, I knew it. You bought this cake in a bakery.”
“Sorry, Teagan, I actually made it, just not for this group.” Berit cringed at her revelation. “My son, Mak, is home this weekend.” She gave Micah a private smile. “Thank you very much, Captain Reid, but—”
“Call me Micah, please. We’re not formal at all around here.” He pointed with his fork at the crumbs on his plate. “But if I can convince you to bake desserts like this for me on a regular basis, you can call me anything you want.”
She ignored his comment and continued, “I baked it for my son and his friends. When I got home from work, I had a cryptic note that they were going out. I couldn’t let this beautiful cake go to waste. And Cap—, Micah,” she quickly caught herself and corrected, “I’ll be happy to make a dessert just for you the next time you’re in town.”
“Careful, Berit,” Elizabeth warned. “He might just take you up on that offer. Every time he’s in town he stays with us because he knows he’ll get a home-cooked meal. Now that Micah is moving to D.C., I guess I’m going to have to put in extra place setting at the table every night for supper.”
“I’m no dummy. Elizabeth is the best cook I’ve ever known,” Micah admitted.
“Are you telling us your mother was a horrible cook?” Berit’s question picked at an old scab.
“I didn’t have a mother. Growing up it was just me and my dad.” Micah shrugged. “He did the best he could in the kitchen, and during the summer he was a master at the grill.” He chuckled. “But growing up on Lake Erie, summer doesn’t last long.”
It had been a long time since he thought about his childhood, and he never talked about it, to anyone. As he looked around the gathering of friends, and Berit, he realized no one there cared one way or the other that he didn’t have a mother growing up. Like them, his childhood was far in the past. They knew him for the man that he was today. They accepted him, as he was. As their friend.
“Did he pass on any of that grilling savvy? Here in D.C., we grill out almost year-round.” Matthew grinned. “You’d better find a house with a deck, because we're coming your way for steaks and burgers. Paybacks are motherfuckers.”
“So, how’s the house-hunting coming along?” Teagan asked.
“I think Sandi has about six lined up for me tomorrow.” He looked at Matthew and wondered how serious he was about bringing the entire clan to his house for an occasional barbecue. Fuck. He’d been looking at two-bedroom condos. Should he be looking for a house?
Glancing around the Saint Clare’s home, he began to worry. He didn’t own that much furniture, or a lawnmower. And ninety percent of the time it would be just him. No. That was ridiculous. He’d continue to look at condominiums in a gated community. Maybe a townhouse. Working at the Pentagon, he doubted he’d be called to travel at a moment’s notice, and he certainly wouldn’t be gone any longer than a week or two at a time. Those days as a young lieutenant running his own small group of SEALs were long gone. He was a big picture officer now. He might have time for a home.
Nah. He hated mowing the lawn and somebody else could plant and care for the fucking flowers.
“I’m looking for something small, two-bedrooms probably.” Micah shrugged. “It’s just me. What the hell would I do with a place this big?” He threw up his hands gesturing to their house.
Elizabeth laughed as she rose. “I’ll be more than happy to send you Austin on a regular basis.” When she started collecting plates, Berit also stood.
“I’ll get these,” she offered.
“Mom, Liza’s bugging us. Make her stop. We’re trying to be good and read books in my room,” Austin yelled from the top of the stairs.
When Elizabeth headed their direction, Matthew grabbed his wife’s hand. “You’ve been on your feet most of the day. Sit down and relax. You take care of Wyatt and I’ll go deal with the other rugrats.” He placed his hand over her growing mound. “I can’t wait to see our next son tomorrow at the doctor’s appointment. I hate that I missed all this with the first one.” Elizabeth gave him a warning glance and sat down with a sigh, rubbing her growing belly.
“Both of mine are right there in the thick of things. I’m going up, too.” Logan stood and strode toward the stairs.
Berit gathered the last of the dishes and took them to Teagan who loaded the dishwasher. As soon as they were finished, Berit returned to the living room and picked up her messenger bag. Micah could see them sitting at the now empty dining room table, reviewing papers and chatting like old friends.
Logan trotted halfway down the steps and looked around. “Teagan, can you come up and help get the girls into bed? Anora wants her new mommy to tuck her in.”
“She calls you Mommy?” Berit asked with a warm smile. “That’s so sweet.”
“It’s also heartbreaking.” Teagan glanced toward the stairs. “She’s already starting to forget Marsha. We talked with the child psychologist about it, and she thought it was a good thing. I’ll be the only mother she knows. Anora still isn’t sure what to call me. Yesterday it was Mama Teagan. Brann took to calling Logan, Dad, the day the adoption petition was filed. I’m still Aunt Teagan to him.”
“No matter what they call you, you are their parents, now.” Berit gave her a hug. Stepping back, she gathered the papers from the table. “Thank you so much for allowing me to come over here tonight. I really appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your busy weekend schedule to see me. I can see myself out. You have little ones to attend to.”
“Thanks, Berit.” Teagan was on the third step when she turned. “Next time I’m in town, let’s just get together for a glass of wine.” She glanced at the top of the steps where the children seem to be having a shouting contest. “Somewhere quiet.”
“I’d like that.” Longing was written all over her face. “I wish we’d known each other when you lived here. I believe we would’ve been friends.”
Teagan flashed her smile. “So, we’ll just be friends now.”
