Page 47 of Fierce Hope
“Maybe someday,” DJ replied. “We gotta wait until your hands get a little bigger.” He demonstrated, his right hand making circular motions while his left executed a completely different pattern.
The birthday girl scrunched up her tiny nose. “Or we could get littler cards.”
DJ’s grin could have lit up a room. He patted the tiny girl on the shoulder. “Are you sure you’re six today? You’re way smarter than most grown-ups.”
Deke watched, genuinely impressed. He’d had no idea DJ had developed such skilled sleight of hand. The practical applications weren’t lost on him either—the ability to distract, misdirect, and execute precise movements under pressure were valuable skills in certain high-stress situations.
None of which held a candle to the boy’s generous heart.
“Where’d you learn all that?” he asked later, when DJ had organized the kids into teams for an elaborate game.
DJ shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. “Online, mostly. And I practiced a lot ...” he hesitated. “It got kinda boring waiting around for mom sometimes.”
The admission hit Deke like a physical blow. Before he could respond, Chantal called for DJ to demonstrate his “magic hands” again.
“Your son has some interesting talents,” Jade said, appearing at Deke’s side. “Those are some impressive dexterity skills.”
“Yeah,” Deke agreed, watching as DJ demonstrated to the older kids how to make a coin disappear. “I had no idea.”
“The best kind of skill,” Jade observed, “is one nobody knows you have until you need it.”
Her words struck Deke as oddly prescient, but before he could dwell on it, the cake crisis demanded their attention.
The rest of the party unfolded in cheerful chaos. The “shipwreck cake” was a spectacular success, the magician eventually arrived (though the kids unanimously declared DJ’s tricks better), and presents were unwrapped with gleeful abandon.
Throughout it all, Deke watched his son with new eyes. The dexterity and quick-thinking DJ had demonstrated weren’t just party tricks—they represented adaptability and resourcefulness that Deke hadn’t given him credit for.
As DJ performed one final trick for Chantal, making a rainbow ribbon seemingly materialize from thin air with those quick, clever hands, Deke couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Whatever challenges lay ahead, his son had unexpected depths—and abilities that might one day prove more valuable than either of them could imagine.
27
Deke trackedJade through the grocery store’s produce section on Monday afternoon, maintaining what he told himself was a professional distance. In reality, he was distracted by the domesticity of the moment—something he hadn’t experienced in ... years? Ever? Even his marriage had never featured mundane moments like this. When he wasn’t on deployment, Karen insisted his downtime be filled with parties and social gatherings. Lunches and brunches and dinners out. “Making up for lost time,” she’d say.
But it left them with zero time for day-to-day life together.
“Do you think DJ would eat this?” Jade asked, holding up a mango. “I was thinking of trying that grilled chicken recipe Kelli mentioned at the party.”
Deke swallowed against the unexpected warmth in his chest. It had been her idea to bring DJ over for dinner tonight. She felt he’d been away from his dad for too long. “He’d try it if you made it. Kid’s been eating everything in sight lately.”
“Growth spurt,” Jade nodded sagely, placing the mango in the cart beside ingredients he recognized as favorites from his own kitchen. He caught himself wondering what it would be like if this was real—not protection detail, but partnership.
“I still can’t believe you told Chantal that sharks say ‘nom nom nom’ when they eat,” Jade said, eyes dancing with amusement. “She’s going to be quoting you as a marine biologist expert for weeks.”
“Kenji started it,” Deke defended himself. “He’s the one who organized the mermaid-versus-shark water balloon battle.”
“Which was a stroke of genius. Those kids were ready to riot after the cake disaster.”
“Speaking of disasters, Izzy’s reporting frosting sightings on the Admiral’s?—”
His phone buzzed, Chief Frazer’s name lighting up the screen. He answered immediately, tension climbing his spine as Cory’s voice came through.
“Chad Delgado confessed.”
Deke’s hand tightened on the phone. “Outstanding. He still sticking with that ‘online hire’ story, or did he give up names?”
“That story lasted about ten seconds once we explained his options. You’re gonna want to sit down for the name.”
“I’m standing in the middle of a grocery store, Chief. Just tell me.”
