Page 56 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
“You want…all three of us?” I finally manage, my voice rough and uncertain.
Eli nods, his expression solemn. “I wish I could have all three of you. But I don’t know if kids can have three daddies.”
I rub the back of my neck awkwardly, unsure how to respond to such honest innocence. “Honestly, buddy, I’m not sure either,”
Eli hesitates again, eyes wide with vulnerability. “But… do you want to be my daddy, Cole?”
My heart clenches, the sincerity in his voice hitting harder than expected. I pause, gathering my thoughts before speaking.
“Eli, when you have a mommy, she’s usually the one who chooses your daddy—or daddies,” I explain. “But I promise you, no matter what, me, Jax, and Liam will always be here for you and your mom. Always.”
Eli studies my face intently. “Forever? You promise?”
I nod seriously, holding out my pinky finger. “Forever. Pinky swear.”
He smiles, his little finger curling around mine as we seal the promise. Before I can react, Eli wraps his arms around my neck, hugging me fiercely. I freeze, stunned, before returning the embrace, holding him close.
For the first time in my life, I realize how I want this. How much I wish I could be a dad, especially to Eli. The thought settles deep within me, unexpected yet fiercely strong.
When he finally pulls away, his smile is bright and satisfied. My chest aches with emotions I never anticipated feeling so deeply. Because now, this little boy has woven himself irrevocably into my heart. And no matter what the future brings, I know I’ll do anything to keep that promise.
24
AVA
It’s just me and Eli inside the quiet cabin today. Jax and Cole left early this morning to handle something outside the sanctuary, though neither offered details, and I didn’t push for them. Frankly, with everything so tangled and awkward, I’ve been going out of my way to avoid them lately anyway. Liam is outside somewhere, pacing around on a phone call, his voice low and serious as usual. His conversation drifts indistinctly through the closed windows, but I deliberately don’t try to listen in.
Instead, Eli and I sit cross-legged on the worn, plush living room rug. Eli’s playing idly with his blocks again, stacking them into increasingly elaborate towers, humming softly to himself. I’m pretending to read, though my thoughts stubbornly refuse to focus on the pages in front of me. It feels nice, just being quiet together like this, even if my mind is still caught in a tangled web of uncertainty.
Suddenly, Eli looks up, those big blue eyes serious and thoughtful.
“Mama?” he says, the tone of his voice already making my heart clench nervously. “I haves a question.”
“'Have' and of course, sweetheart,” I reply, setting my book aside to give him my full attention. “You can ask me anything.”
Eli hesitates, chewing his lower lip. “I’ve been thinking…who was my daddy? I mean, really.”
My stomach drops, heart racing. I wasn’t prepared for this conversation right now. Eli has always accepted the simplified explanation I gave him—that his father passed away before he was born. But I can see in his earnest expression that simple answers won’t suffice anymore.
I swallow hard, trying to buy myself a few precious seconds. “Why do you ask that right now, Eli?”
He shrugs, eyes wide and solemn. “I was just thinking, because I see the other kids on TV and in my books and stuff, and they all have daddies. And now that Liam, Jax, and Cole are here, I was thinking about it more.”
I draw a slow, shaky breath, my heart aching painfully at the innocence and vulnerability in his voice. The thought of telling him the truth, of explaining what kind of man Randy really was, terrifies me. Eli deserves better than that stain on his subconscious.
“Eli,” I begin, my voice careful. “Your dad…he wasn’t someone who could be there for you. I told you before that he passed away?—”
He shakes his head, impatiently interrupting. “I know, Mama. But I’ve been thinking, maybe Liam or Jax or Cole could be my daddy instead.”
I blink, totally stunned and unsure how to respond. Eli rushes on, sensing my hesitation.
“I mean, I’ve thought about it a lot. It doesn’t have to be just one daddy. It can work, Mama, even if you don’t want to be boyfriend and girlfriend with them. I know they love me. They love me like daddies are supposed to love their kids.”
My heart breaks softly at the earnestness of his words. I scramble for the right words, but they fail me.
“Eli, sweetheart,” I say, choosing each word. “Usually, people only have one daddy. Having three might be complicated?—”
“Compitated is okay,” he insists, his small face determined. I don’t bother correcting him on his pronunciation of ‘complicated’ this time. “It would just make me special. Things don’t have to be normal to be good.”
