Page 15 of Valiant

She smiled at him. “I know how Kelsey can get when she’s focused on a project, but I should be able to convince her to take a break. I’m glad you thought of calling me.” While she spoke, her eyes shifted back and forth between Cole and Eddy, no doubt taking in that father and son had started to form a bond. She didn’t comment, but Cole could guess what she was thinking. “Where is Kelsey?”

“In the kitchen. Come on,” he said, leading the way. “You’ve got company,” he said to Kelsey when they entered the room.

“Huh? Who?” Kelsey didn’t look up.

“Me, sweetie. I haven’t talked to you in a couple days. I thought we could catch up. And I brought your favorite,” Maureen said, holding up one of the cups. “White chocolate mocha.”

“Oh, hey. Thanks for the drink, but I can’t stop now. I’ve—”

“You can,” he said, his hand on the lid of the laptop to close it. “You need to walk away from this project. Take a breath. It’ll do you good.” He could see that she wanted to argue with him.

“You’re probably right,” she finally conceded, letting him close her computer. “My eyes are going blurry staring at the screen.”

“Go into the living room, put your feet up, talk with your friend. I’ve got Eddy.”

“Are you sure? I can take him.”

“I’m sure. He’ll want to eat soon. I’ll get it.” He’d made enough bottles in the past two days that he felt comfortable handling that.

“Okay.” She gave him a smile before turning to Maureen. “He called you, didn’t he?”

“Maybe,” Maureen said. “But I’d have come by soon anyway. I’ve got a story to tell you from last night’s support group. Lisa’s ex-husband came by and caused a scene.” They went out of the room with Maureen giving an engaging account of what had happened. Cole was grateful for Kelsey’s friend. She’d done what he hadn’t managed. Gotten Kelsey to step away from the screen.

Eddy started to fuss and indicate that it was bottle time, so Cole prepared it. While Eddy ate, he talked to Raymond and David on speaker phone.

“Any progress on decoding the file?” David asked. Cole had told his buddy to be prepared to take over from Kelsey if needed.

“She’s working on it, running various programs. I don’t get that world, but I’ll let you know when she’s run through all her options. Anything new about Edwin’s disappearance?”

“Nothing but rumors,” Raymond answered. “The current one is that he was given a private island in the South Pacific in exchange for providing military secrets to terrorists and that’s where he’s holed up.”

“Ridiculous,” Cole said.

“Yeah, well, a lot of people are starting to believe it,” David said. “He’s losing friends and supporters fast.”

That pissed Cole off. Seeing the evidence in Dobson’s office had raised doubts for him, but when he thought about the man he’d known, they were erased. “What SEAL who served with him would believe that?”

“None of them—but there’s plenty of other personnel on the base willing to gossip,” David said. “The sooner this is resolved the better.”

“I hear that. I’ll be in contact. Let me know if you learn anything new.” Cole hung up, feeling discouraged.

In the living room, he heard the front door open and close. A second later, Kelsey entered the kitchen, looking notably less stressed.

She came toward him and leaned to kiss Eddy’s forehead. The baby’s face lit up and his arms and legs wiggled with delight. He loved his mama. That was clear. Kelsey laughed, her tension all but gone.

“Thanks,” she said to Cole. Her hand dropped to his shoulder, and her lips pressed against his in a quick kiss. It was over before it started, like the kind of kiss you’d give an old friend, but it stirred something heartfelt in him. Sure, their relationship might have seemed casual, but there had been moments of real connection between them. An intimacy he’d never known before or since. Her kiss reminded him of that.

“You’re welcome,” he said as she moved away to sit back in her spot in front of the laptop.

“Back to work. I’ve got this.”

“That’s the spirit.” He didn’t voice his concern that time was slipping away.

NINE

“Ihave to go,” Kelsey declared over breakfast, a week later. “This is my work, and I have commitments.”

“Right. And the most important commitment is to keeping yourself and Eddy safe,” Cole argued from across the table.

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