Page 26 of Abigail
“I know, I know,” Charlotte shakes her head. “I don’t know what I was thinking either. I guess I’ve seen the movie,RVtoo many times and romanticized the cross-country trip in my head. We still have time to cancel the RV rental and get plane tickets.” Hawk hugs her to his side and kisses her temple.
“Nope,” he answers. “I’m a Marine. A Special Forces Marine. I will not accept defeat. This will be a cake walk.” Charlotte looks at him skeptically. She doesn’t appear to be as confident as he is trying to be. “Besides we have the whole team at our disposal. We aren’t in this alone.” She smiles at him then looks around the park at all their friends. Abigail follows Charlotte’s gaze and thinks to herself, surely this big group can wrangle the group of children as they drive back to North Carolina over the next week, right?
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Straw can’t ever remember feeling as carefree as he’s been since Abigail finished her heavy conversation with the admiral. It is like the weight of the world has lifted off her shoulders, and she is finally free. The happiness and carefree abandon she’s shown as they’ve played with the children at the park is spectacular. A sight to behold. From the moment he saw her picture on the news, he’d been taken by her beauty. Seeing her in person the first time had stolen his breath, but today, he is blinded by the sheer magnitude of her splendor. Her laughter has him enthralled. He wants to hear her laugh every day for the rest of his life. He’ll never get tired of hearing it.
When she ran from him earlier and threw that sassy ‘catch me if you can’ look at him, he’d been caught off guard but quickly recovered and gave chase. Catching her and holding her in his arms, best feeling ever, but when she kissed him like they were the only two people in the world, he was a goner. He’d been half in love with her before, but now watching her squeal in delight as she rides the merry-go-round with Ellie, he is head over heels. Hawk approaching from his right draws his attention. He glances at his mentor, but he only has eyes for Abigail.
“Well, my friend,” Hawk begins in his fatherly voice. “I can see you’re a goner.” He pauses to chuckle when Straw jerks his head in Hawk’s direction.
“That obvious?” Straw asks, but his focus returns to the two females who have captured his heart. He knows without a doubt it will never be his again. His heart belongs to Abigail and Ellie. He definitely feels different, but he didn’t realize everyone else could see his change. Hawk’s chuckle grows into a belly laugh. “You find me losing my heart funny?
“Yes.” Hawk’s simple reply isn’t what Straw expected. “I find it fucking hilarious seeing as how you ripped my woman and Emma a new one just a few short weeks ago, declaring you weren’t meant to have this.” Hawk points to his woman and her baby girl.
“I’mnotmeant to have this. I’m still afraid I’ll fuck this up,” Straw admits. “But I can’t stay away from her even if it would be for the best for her…I guess that makes me a selfish asshole, but I can’t walk away. Not when she desires me, too. You know I apologized for what I said to Charlotte and Emma.” Straw sighs heavily. “She deserves happiness, Hawk. She’s had nothing, but shit, yet she’s still smiling and caring to others. She’s an exceptional woman.” Straw spares Hawk a glance. Hawk’s face is set in a soft almost understanding look. Straw is a little concerned. He’s only seen that look on his commander’s face when he looked at his wife and children, never at one of the team.
“Straw…” Hawk’s voice is surprisingly thick with emotion. “Destiny will only send us strong women. A weak woman would drown around us. It takes a strong woman to wrangle us in and keep us grounded. You deserve this as much as she does. Embrace it, let it sweep you under the tide of love and happiness. You’ll never regret it.” With that, Hawk walks away toward his wife and kids. Straw watches him join Charlotte. Hawk pulls her into his side, kissing her temple. Charlotte looks up at him with such love and devotion clear on her face. Straw wants that, to see Abigail look at him that way. He looks back at Abigail to see she’s looking at him. He’s shocked to see an echo of Charlotte’s expression on Abigail’s face. Straw’s face splits into a huge smile. He’s no longer afraid of the future. He’s going to follow Hawk’s advice. He’s going to get swept away on a tidal wave of happiness and pray that destiny will ensure they’ll both be happy.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Abigail is having the best day of her life— other than the day her daughter had been born. It started out as a day she’s dreaded for four long years, but it has been anything but what she’d expected. Robert has been a rock for her, giving her strength she never thought she could feel. He’s been so concerned for her and Ellie. He’s gone out of his way to be there for her in her most difficult hour. When the conversation with the admiral had ended, he let loose, and they’ve had a blast this afternoon. They’ve been carefree like children.
She’s certain now that Robert is the boy from her childhood. The little boy who protected her, kept her from falling apart and losing her mind when her mother died right next to them. She saw glimpses of that boy all day today. Now as she’s spinning round and round with Ellie, Jessie, Joshua, and several of the other children, he’s right there staring at her with what she can only describe as love in his eyes. Could he love her? Is it too soon? But who’s to say when it’s too soon to fall in love, because she feels it in her heart too. She’s in love with him.
Wow! She really is in love with him, and she isn’t freaked out about it. She should be freaked, because she doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to men, but Robert is the exact opposite of the men from her past. She gives him a huge smile as a new determination comes to her heart. She’s no longer willing to be afraid, to hide from her feelings for him. Indecision gone, she’s going to have to have a conversation with Ellie about leaving their home and moving, but it’s the right thing to do. Ellie has fallen in love with the twins and the other children, too. At her young age, it won’t be that difficult on her to move. Ellie has friends at daycare, and Abigail knows she’ll miss them but having Jessie, Joshua, baby Lilly, and the other children nearby will make the move easier. So, that’s it. Abigail has decided to move back to the Carolinas. Robert is stationed in North Carolina, but the admiral used to be in South Carolina the last she knew. Maybe she can find somewhere in between? Well, no point in worrying about it right this minute. She will talk to the admiral and Robert before she decides where she’s going to live.
When the merry-go-round comes to a stop, Abigail’s head is spinning. So is Ellie’s and the other children’s. They all stagger from the ride. The children are giggling and stumbling around. Abigail starts to take a step to catch Ellie as she sways, but Abigail is entirely too dizzy. As the world spins off its axis, she feels strong arms wrap her up tight before she hits the hard ground. Abigail is laughing as hard as the children. Finally the world stops spinning so fast that she can focus on the man holding her close. When their eyes lock on one another, Abigail can feel the change between them. As if they have both decided to stop fighting their demons and just hold on to one another.
“Careful there, sweetheart.” Robert’s rumbling voice rolls over and sinks into her skin, settling deep inside her. Butterflies take flight in her belly, and her core spasms. Desire floods her body. Her pulse spikes. Her breaths become short and shallow; goosebumps erupt over her sensitive skin. “The ground is hard.” Hmm. I bet that’s not the only thing that’s hard. Crap! Not the right time for her mind to be in the gutter. Her breath catches and before she can get her mind out of the gutter, he makes it all the more difficult when he lowers his lips to hers. It’s a warm sensuous kiss that rapidly deepens. She angles her body to come flush with Robert’s. She eagerly presses herself into him as her arms go up and around his neck. His arms tightening around her, holding her to his hardening body. Yep, the ground’s not the only thing hard.
As if he suddenly remembers they have an audience, he breaks the kiss. He touches his forehead to hers, and she notices his breathing is labored too. A chuckle escapes her and he joins her as they hold one another. “You seem to make me lose control every time I’m near you, Abigail,” Robert whispers to her. “What is this hold you have over me?” His question catches her off guard. She pulls back to look him in the eyes.
“You make me forget myself, too, Robert.” Abigail’s voice is soft, unsure. “I’m still scared, but I’m tired of being afraid. I trust you, Robert. I want to take the chance, to give us a chance. I need to talk with the admiral and I’ll need to have a talk with Ellie, but I want to move back. I want to be close to you, see where this, whatever it is between us, can go.” Abigail doesn’t think it’s possible for Robert to look any better, but when his face lights up at her declaration, he is absolutely Greek god gorgeous.
“You won’t regret it, sweetheart,” Robert declares. “I swear to do everything in my power to make sure you and Ellie will be happy and have what you need.” There it is. Abigail has no doubt he will go above and beyond to ensure she’s cared for in the best way.
The admiral approaches them with Ellie in tow. He has spent a good amount of time with her and all the children today. It was comical to see the sixty-something-year-old man playing with the children. They’ve played everything from hide and seek, Navy verses Marines, to red light/green light. The man might be getting older, but he has stamina. He’s kept up with the kids step for step. He, too, has been a kid again, if only for a few hours. Abigail is happy for him. She has a feeling he hasn’t had many opportunities to let loose and have fun.
“Abigail, Straw,” the admiral greets them. “Thank you for an incredible day.” He glances down at Ellie’s sweet up turned face. “I have really enjoyed spending time with your daughter, but I’m afraid that duty is calling me. I have a meeting in a couple of hours.” His voice is filled with regret.
“Admiral,” Abigail begins hesitantly. She feels Straw give her hip a gentle squeeze of encouragement. “I think it’s time we properly introduce you to Ellie.” The admiral’s eyes lock onto Abigail’s as if he is trying to validate the sincerity of her words. He gives a sharp nod. Abigail kneels down on Ellie’s level.
“Ellie.” Abigail’s voice cracks, and she clears her throat before continuing, “I want you to meet your grandfather.” Ellie frowns at Abigail for a moment then looks up at the admiral. He also then kneels in front of the little girl.
“Hello, Ellie,” the admiral’s voice is thick with emotions, and moisture fills his eyes. “I’m happy to have spent some time with you today.”
“Hi,” is Ellie’s soft reply. “I had fun today, too. I didn’t know you were my grandpa though.” The adults chuckle nervously. Abigail feels like she is messing this up so badly. Ellie’s face suddenly lights up. “I have a grandpa! I’ve never had one before.” Now the adults are laughing at the child’s delight. “Will you always be my grandpa?” Ellie asks as her sweet face contorts in confusion.
“Yes, Ellie,” Admiral Jenkins replies. “I will always be your grandpa. I would like to get to spend time with you again. Would you like that, too?” The uncertainty in the man’s voice made Abigail’s heart constrict. So many years they’ve lost, but now is not the time for regrets; it’s for moving forward. Ellie eagerly nods in agreement.
“Ellie, the admiral, your grandpa lives a long way from here,” Abigail begins, unsure how to approach this with a four-year-old, but she’s just going to wing it while praying for the best. “I was thinking that we could…uh…move closer to him and Robert. We would be closer to your new friends, too.” Ellie’s face lights up.
“I would get to play with the boys every day?” Ellie asks hopefully. She looks over to where the boys are playing with their baby sister in her stroller.
“Well, I don’t know about every day, but you would get to see them pretty often, I’m sure,” Abigail replies. “It will depend on everyone’s schedule and work. If we move though, you won’t be able to see your friends at daycare anymore. At least not for a long while because it’s so far away.” Abigail wants to help Ellie understand but knows the little girl can’t fully comprehend what it will mean until she’s experienced it firsthand. Ellie frowns as she thinks about this for a moment.
“Will I get to tell them good-bye before we move?” She asks in a quiet voice.
