Page 24 of Hers to Hold
“There you are.”
Kady’s smooth, slightly husky voice pulled him from his musings. She stood on the opposite end of the swing, a shy smile asking him if he wouldn’t mind being disturbed. Wes patted the bench beside him. As Kady sat, he eased his arm behind her, resting it on the swing.
“Chastity is wholly engrossed in the movie,” Kady began with a light laugh. “I love how…old she is for her age.”
Wes laughed. “For her father, it’s absolutely terrifying.”
“I can imagine. Girls can be like that. But she seems quite happy.”
“I hope so. Her mother and I…” He glanced at her, questioning whether or not he should continue. He wasn’t used to opening up to anyone outside of Drew and his therapist. Kady watched him without judgment, and he continued. “We used to be high school sweethearts. Then I came back home after being away for so many years. It was a fling. Nothing more than that. We grew up and discovered we don’t work well together. I got word she was pregnant when I was on my…second tour? I’ve been on so many I’ve lost count.”
“Wow. That must’ve been…” She bit her lip and looked away.
“Yeah, I know. Made me speechless too. Trying to process becoming a father and how your team was going to stop the Taliban from gaining ground.”
“You were distracted, of course. Are you and her mother… Any chance the two of you can work it out?”
He shifted toward her and caught her gaze. “None,” he said firmly. “I won’t go back. Besides, she ran off and joined the circus.”
Her brows slowly came together and then she laughed loudly. When he didn’t join her, her joviality died. “Wait… You’re serious?”
Wes nodded. “Yup. That’s why I had to go pick up Chas the other day. She wasn’t in school because Caroline had overslept. Told me she was leaving with her boyfriend, who’s in the circus.”
“Wow. That’s…I don’t even know what to say. How irresponsible!”
“You have no idea. She had a dog and cat. No idea where they’re at. Chas said she hadn’t seen them for days.”
“You mean she…”
“Took them to the humane society? Sure. More like left the back gate open. Honestly, they’re probably better off.”
He forced out air, fluttering his lips. He leaned heavily on the elbow behind her, their faces mere inches apart. But he was thinking about his new life as a full-time dad. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it. Raise her, I mean.”
“Hey, look at me.”
With one hand on his cheek, she nudged his face back in line with hers, dragging his gaze from his daughter, who he saw in the kitchen through the glass door, back to her. Kady’s eyes burned with intensity. “You’re going to be fine. Do you hear me? You’ve been through war! Raising a precocious, yet brilliant daughter is going to be fulfilling, trust me. I was raised by a single mom, and she told me it was the honor of her life.”
One hand gripped her waist, holding on for both life and hope. “But what if I do it wrong?”
“You’re not perfect. No one is. She had a mother who ran off with the circus.You’rehere. I’d say you’re doing infinitely better.”
He half-grinned. “I guess you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.”
He cocked a brow at her, scanning her self-assured grin and bold brown eyes that never left his. “You scare me a little.”
“Ha! I doubt it.”
“Your mother…I take it you got her confidence from her.”
Kady nodded. She settled against his arm, rocking with him. “I did. If she was ever overwhelmed to the point of giving up, she never let me see it.” Her eyes narrowed. “It was her strength…her need to prove herself that had the deepest impression on me.” She briefly smiled at him, but her lips appeared stiff. “Raising a child alone can be done. Successfully. And you have community here. That always helps.”
“Kat and Kori dote on her. And Drew’s been a really good friend.”
“I’ve seen his opponent’s commercials.”
Wes crossed his arms. “Yeah, they’re total lies. The ones claiming he’s corrupt and everything. He knew this would happen. It’s politics. But I still feel for the guy. He’s the same brother now as he was on the battlefield. The one you’d want at your six.”
