Page 20 of Curves and Cradles

“Because he’s the real hero of the story,” Kevin says.

I meet his gaze. “Yes. Yes, he is.”

“Sounds like you had some great costumes, Janie. I bet you’re just as creative with Stella’s.”

The triplets run by the table carrying something suspicious, and Kathleen jumps up to chase them, effectively ending thehumiliate-Janeportion of the lunch.

Once the food is done, we sit at the picnic table, and every member of my family grills Kevin, one by one.

“You’re a soldier?” my father asks.

“Yes, sir. I’m in the Navy.”

“Are you originally from here?” my mother asks.

He shakes his head. “I was born in Albuquerque and grew up mostly in New Mexico. Don’t have a particular place I call home. Except for the Navy.”

“So, you’ll be going back? Into active duty?” Justin asks.

“I’m on medical leave at the moment.” I watch Kevin extend his left arm and stretch his fingers—something I’ve seen him do often in the last few days. “I took a bullet to the shoulder, and it did some nerve damage in my arm. We’re waiting to see if the damage is permanent.”

“But you’ll go back out there when you’re cleared?” I find myself asking.

He turns to face me, his blue eyes locking onto mine. He swallows visibly. “That’s the plan. But now I have a home base to come back to. You and Stella.”

My heart crumples like a sheet of discarded paper. No matter how I tried not to, I’ve gotten my damn hopes up. Not for myself but for Stella.

My baby girl deserves to know her father.

I nod and go back to my food, pushing the potato salad around with my fork.

chaptertwelve

Kevin

After leaving Jane’s parent’s house, I pull up to the curb outside the Thompsons’ old place. The for-sale sign hangs from a post in the yard. It needs some trim work, but other than that, it looks like the quintessential family home. Eerily like the magazine cutout I’ve carried in my wallet since I was a teenager.

“What is it about this place?” I ask.

“I don’t know. It’s always been my favorite. Seemed like the perfect family place. The backyard has an amazing treehouse, and I’ve always loved the shutters and the big front porch.” She shrugs.

“I stayed in a house like this one. Think I was there for about four months before I was moved somewhere else.”

She reaches over and squeezes my thigh. “I’m sorry your childhood sucked. My family is a total pain in the ass, but they’ve always had my back, and it’s not right that you never had that.”

I nod tightly but say nothing. I like that she doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything for me but calls it like it is. My childhood sucked. “What’s up with your sister giving you so much shit?”

“She doesn’t mean anything by it. I’ve always been a little different than the rest of my family. Not as organized, not as focused. Even before Stella, I had a hard time getting my shit together. I’m good if I end up at school wearing clothes that don’t have food smeared on them.”

“I don’t know what you see when you look at yourself, Janie. I only see a beautiful, sexy, amazing woman. You obviously went to college, and now you’re a successful and popular teacher. You’ve been raising our daughter alone and doing a damn fine job. If my mother had put in a fraction of the effort you put in with Stella, my life might not have been so shitty.”

I look out the window to collect myself. I’m not generally an emotional man, and these big feelings are unfamiliar.

“My mom was beautiful,” I continue. “She was a model for magazines and catalogs mostly, but pretty successful. She got wrapped up in drugs as a way to keep thin. I have no idea who my dad is. I don’t think she knew, either. My mom OD’d when I was seven. I found her when I got home from school.” I shake my head. “I don’t even remember crying.”

She says nothing, but her hand periodically squeezes my thigh.

“So, from where I’m sitting, you going to work with coffee on your shirt is nothing.”

---