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  Mary turned her gaze toward him and offered an understanding smile. “Yes, John was special. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Julie has had to fight her own battles. Being married to a Special Forces soldier takes a courageous woman. I hope you appreciate how special she is. She deserves a second chance to make her dreams come true.”

  Reagan gave her a nod. He understood Julie’s strength wasn’t something seen with the naked eye, like an athlete or even a soldier. What she possessed was so much greater—an ability to carry on, day after day, despite fear, pain, and loss.

  Julie walked back into the kitchen. “Sorry, that was the mother of one of my patients. She had a question about her son’s at-home therapy schedule.”

  “You mind if I take Aiden for a walk to the park?” Mary asked. “I could use the exercise after all that food.” After locating Aiden, she took his hand and herded him out of the house.

  That left Julie and Reagan alone in the house.

  “Would you like another beer?” Julie rested her hip against the kitchen counter then cocked her head in the direction of the back door. “We can go sit outside on the deck.”

  “A glass of ice water would be great. And so does going outside. The air’s finally starting to cool down.”

  They took their drinks and went out onto the wooden deck, which was attached to the back of her home. Placed in the center were two patio chairs surrounded by containers of flowers. Hanging baskets of red and white petunias made a colorful display, and a white arbor in the yard dripped with yellow climbing roses.

  “Looks like you have a green thumb.” Reagan appreciated the vibrant, colorful life around him, being that he was a guy who loved the outdoors.

  “The flowers and garden are my mother’s achievement. Aiden and I help water and pull weeds, but that’s about all. My house at Fort Bragg had several empty flower beds. Well, I guess they weren’t empty since they were full of weeds. I tried unsuccessfully to plant flowers for John to enjoy while he was home. In Afghanistan, everything around him was various shades of brown.”

  “Tell me about John, and your life at Fort Bragg.” He craved understanding her, where she came from, and what had shaped her into the person she was today. Happiness, tragedy, the good and the bad. And what it would take to make this beautiful woman fall in love again.

  She let out a soft sigh and glanced his way. “The first time I met John…he brought me to tears. John had gotten mad that our cross-country coach assigned me as his training partner. After our run, he reamed me out for slowing him down. The next day, I came to practice ready to go and actually beat him. I loved to remind him of that day.” Julie paused to take a breath. “I’m angry at him sometimes, for leaving me.”

  Her voice shook, as if those simple words took every ounce of her strength to say.

  “For all the times he’s left me. I’ve never said that to anyone before.”

  His heart squeezed in response to her pain. “You’re hurting. Anger is part of the grieving process.”

  “I was lucky. For a short time, I had everything I wanted.” She then began unwinding the story of her life. Revealing that in her youth, she hadn’t realized how tough military life would be. She shared the details of her impromptu wedding, and then the many days at Fort Bragg without her husband. “I found out I was pregnant shortly before John left again for Afghanistan. My mom flew to North Carolina for the birth.” Julie paused to take a drink of water.

  He shifted in his chair in order to move closer. “Having your first child without your husband there for support must have been hard.”

  “Oh, yes, it was, but that’s what active duty military wives do, we carry on. Aiden was two months old when John saw him for the first time. We enjoyed our time as a family as much as possible. We never knew how long we’d have together. Many times, John was recalled without much notice. I’d have no idea when he’d come home. He spoke Pashto, a language widely used by the Afghan people. He was a good soldier, and John’s skills in language and weapons were highly valued by his commanders.”

  “You must have worried a lot about his safety when he was overseas.” Hearing her talk about her late husband affected him deeper than he’d expected. He was actually envious of a man who was no longer alive. But John had enjoyed Julie’s love, and he still held her devotion. Yes, he was man enough to admit he was jealous.

  Julie crossed her legs then uncrossed them. She folded her hands and rested them on her lap. “Worry is a natural product of having a loved one constantly in harm’s way, but I tried to stay positive. I never let myself imagine anything bad would happen to John. I wouldn’t let myself go down that road. So when I was told he’d been killed in action, I almost couldn’t believe his death was true. The fact that he was really gone didn’t fully hit me until we started packing our house to move back to Timber Lake.”

  Tears dripped off her cheeks like raindrops on a rose petal.

  “I’m sorry.” He took her small hand into a protective clasp. What he really wanted to do was wrap her in his arms, but he stopped that impulse. “No one should have to go through what you did.” He wanted to shelter her from any more pain.

  “After everything John did for them, the Army still won’t tell me how he died. I was cheated from a future with my husband and now I am being deprived of justice. I’m sorry.” She inhaled deeply and wiped a tear away with the back of her trembling hand. “I’m having a hard time going on, day after day, and staying strong.”

  “You amaze me. The fact that you’ve come through the firestorm and are still standing tall is evidence of your strong spirit. You’ve provided a good home for Aiden, and he’s a great kid. Getting answers may take more time, but those barriers will eventually be knocked over. The truth always has a way of coming out.” He considered the fact his fame granted him access to people and information others didn’t, and he could use that influence to help Julie. Perhaps he should make a few phone calls later tonight and start knocking down some of those walls.

  The gate flew open, and Aiden and Mary arrived home from the park. “Hey, Reagan. Can I get a ride in your car?” Aiden’s footsteps pounded as he ran onto the deck. “It looks super cool.”

  “You bet.” He looked over at Julie. “That is, if it’s okay?”

  “Of course. I’ll get his booster seat out of my car.” She stepped off the porch and walked over to the detached garage.

  Aiden tipped back his head and groaned. “I hate that baby seat.”

  “Come on, big shot.” He took Aiden’s hand, and they walked to his car.

  They met Julie, who installed the booster seat, and then buckled Aiden inside. Catching a glimpse of the interior of the car, she let out a long whistle. “Nice ride.”

  He imagined Julie riding in the seat next to him. His hand moving slowly to take hold of hers. Julie’s lips curved in a smile while they drove down some secluded country road. And his pulse raced in anticipation. “We won’t be long. I promise to go slow. And don’t worry, the passenger side airbag is turned off.”

  “I trust you.” Julie patted his hand.

  The act sent heat flickering across his skin. Her touch lit a spark of brightness and warmth inside his chest.

  I trust you.

  No words could express how much her trust meant. He closed the door, pushed the ignition button, and the engine produced a low rumble. Within a few seconds, the car was at the end of their street. Before they turned the corner, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw a miniature version of Julie, standing at the edge of the driveway, waving and smiling.

  Looking back one last time, something stirred deep within him, something that had been quiet for a very long time. He needed to call Brynn and permanently end their on-again, off-again relationship. No use in denying the truth any longer—he’d unintentionally fallen in love with Julie Ellis.

  Chapter Nine

  DeMarcus jabbed his fist into Reagan’s shoulder. “Hey, man, you sleeping?” He sat in the open seat across the
aisle. “Got any plans for tomorrow?”

  “Why can’t I be left alone for ten minutes? Is it a crime for a guy to get some sleep?” Reagan rested in the large, leather airline seat. The muscles in his abs cried out in pain. His whole body had taken a beating during that afternoon’s game. But nothing a hot bath and a good night’s sleep couldn’t cure.

  “You’re on a team plane carrying over seventy guys who’ve just won a big game. No rest until you get back into your own bed.” DeMarcus reached over and pulled off Reagan’s headphones. “We haven’t had a chance to hang out for a while. You want to come over tomorrow? I could grill some meat, and we could throw back a few beers.”

  “I can be there later in the afternoon. I’ve got a few things I need to take care of in the morning.”

  “Those ‘things’ wouldn’t have anything to do with Julie, would they?” DeMarcus wiggled his bushy eyebrows.

  “Maybe.” Reagan refused to yield any more information.

  “How’s that going with you two? You sure spend a lot of time together. You still sticking to the story she’s just a friend?”

  Reagan closed his eyes and pondered the direction his life had taken him over the past few months. Julie had come into his life when he’d least expected, unassuming and refreshingly genuine. What had started as an innocent tour of the stadium had developed into a strong connection. Julie continued to steer the direction of their relationship, even when it meant only remaining friends.

  “You’re right, I’m probably over there way more than I should be.” Ever since their first dinner in August, he’d become a regular at Julie’s house. Some days, he’d bring over a pizza and a DVD, and the three of them would assemble on the sofa to watch the latest family movie. Or Julie would cook the most amazing meals that had him wondering how he survived on the food he’d eaten before.

  DeMarcus laughed. “Do what makes you happy.”

  Was spending so much time with Julie really a mistake? Every time he convinced himself to pull away, he found himself back at her doorstep. He seemed to be drawn there like Icarus to the sun. Would he end up being destroyed like the Greek mythological man, only because of his own stubborn fascination? “Julie and I have only known each other for three months, and I can honestly say we have a strictly platonic relationship. I don’t see that changing.” He put on his headphones. No music played, but the headphones were good for blocking out annoying background noises, like the sounds coming out of his friend’s mouth.

  DeMarcus stood in the aisle and leaned over the back of the chair in front of Reagan. “I’m not buying what you’re selling for one minute. I’ve been telling you for a while, just because you have a girl don’t mean you can’t be on your game. You can have both.”

  The plane started its descent toward Timber Lake Airport. DeMarcus took his seat several rows ahead. Reagan grabbed his duffel bag and put away his hunting magazine.

  How could you fall in love with someone you’ve never held in your arms or tasted her lips? His past relationships had been predominantly physical, with very little emotional connection. Maybe that’s what made Julie so special. Even Sarah, his college girlfriend, hadn’t possessed so much power over him. Over the years, he’d worked hard to protect his heart. Now, he’d opened it to a woman who loved another man.

  The private plane landed in Timber Lake well after dark. The team disembarked, grabbed their luggage, and made their way to the parking lot. Reagan slid into his SUV, glad to be heading home. He checked his phone and noticed a text and several voice messages waiting. He opened the text from Julie first.

  **Great game! Especially enjoyed you throwing your helmet at the bench. **

  He laughed out loud. That exhibition of temper was the result of some miscommunication from the defensive coordinator. Unfortunately, the cameraman had been right there to catch the whole rage-filled display.

  —Thanks…it was a good game. Heading to your mom’s tomorrow to play Mr. Fix It. See you there?—

  **Nope, got to work. Have fun!**

  Probably for the best, since his home repairs skills were very rusty, and Julie would definitely be a distraction. He began listening to his voice mails—the first was from Brynn and was quickly deleted. He hadn’t spoken to her since he’d broken off their relationship, and he wanted to keep it that way. The second was from Greg Jackson, a reporter he’d contacted a few weeks ago. He was an investigative journalist who worked in Washington. While listening to the message, he grabbed a pen, took a few notes, and then saved the message. The reporter’s response was exactly what he’d hoped for.

  Greg agreed to help uncover the mystery surrounding John Ellis’s death, and Reagan decided not to tell Julie. No point in getting her hopes up, just in case this effort led to another dead end.

  ****

  On Monday morning, Mary stood at her front door, waiting, with a cup of coffee and a bagel extended in her hands.

  “Just what the doctor ordered.” He stepped inside before reaching for the coffee. The smell started recharging his sluggish morning brain.

  “You had a tough game yesterday. Are you sure you want to be here working on my house? These projects can wait.”

  “Sitting around isn’t good for sore muscles. Plus I promised to come over soon, and I don’t have many days off.”

  “I appreciate you being willing to help me out. It’s nice to have a man around.” Mary led him into the kitchen, where she’d laid out her small collection of tools. “Julie, Aiden, and I watched the game together. You played well. Whenever you made a tackle, Aiden cheered, and Julie would cringe. I think she was afraid you’d get hurt.”

  He already knew Julie cared about his wellbeing. But did she care about him as more than a friend? He doubted her affection went that deep. “Well, luckily I’ve walked off the field after every play of my career.” Reagan downed his coffee. The caffeine slowly forced the synapses and neurons in his brain to flicker to life. “So, what would you like me to work on first?”

  Four hours later, he had fixed the leak in Mary’s bathroom faucet, changed the light fixture in her kitchen, hung several curtain rods, and quieted a squeaky door. Mary compensated him for his time by making lunch. Set before him on the table was a wonderfully large sandwich full of turkey, cheese, tomato, and lettuce. In addition, she made potato salad and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Being a good guy had its perks, and all this food was at the top of the list. He ate with fervor, not leaving even a crumb on his plate. “Everything was delicious. You’re too good to me.” He leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek.

  Mary blushed. “Aiden told me you’re coming to his birthday party next week. Are you really subjecting yourself to a houseful of children?”

  “How bad could a kid’s birthday party possibly be?” He looked over to see the amused smile on Mary’s face. “That bad, huh?”

  “You’ve played against three-hundred-pound linemen. I’m sure you can handle a few second-graders.” She shrugged before picking up his empty plate.

  “If they’re anything like Aiden, we’ll have our work cut out for us.” He noticed the time and stood. “I probably should be going, thanks for lunch.”

  “Thank you, Reagan.” Mary reached over to touch his arm. “Not only for helping me today, but for everything you’ve done for Julie and Aiden. I don’t know what’s going on between you and my daughter, and it’s none of my business. I do know you mean a lot to her, whether she’s said the words or not.” She walked him to the door. “Have a good week, dear, and try not to hurt anybody.” She stood smiling and waving goodbye.

  He breathed in deeply the crisp, autumn air. “Now what fun would that be?”

  ****

  A week later, Mary stepped out the front door and raised her face to the sun. What a beautiful October day—the kind that made her forget the Wisconsin winter was just around the corner. The sound of Julie and Aiden coming down the sidewalk shook her out of her daydreaming.

  Julie wore a Warriors jersey, slim-cut jeans, and
low brown boots, ready to attend her first Warriors game. But instead of appearing excited at the prospect of going with Reagan’s family, Julie’s lips were set in a firm line and her face seemed pale.

  Aiden darted up and gave her a fervent hug. “Hi, Grandma. I wish I could go with Mom to the game to see Reagan play.”

  She wrapped her arms around her little grandson and squeezed him tight. “I know, sweetheart. But we’ll have fun watching the game together on TV. I got those mozzarella sticks you like.”

  He waved a piece of paper in the air. “Look what I made!”

  Mary took it from Aiden’s open hand. On one side was a child’s drawing of a family—crayon stick figures representing Mom, Aiden, and Dad. The picture was titled: My Family. This drawing showed Aiden held memories of his father, which should put a smile on Julie’s face instead of a frown.

  Aiden pointed to the figure that was taller than the other two. “That’s Reagan. He’s holding Mom’s hand. I told Mom I want him to be my dad.”

  Julie came up behind him and sighed. “Aiden, remember what I just told you.”

  “Huh?” Aiden answered, distracted by his picture. “Oh yeah, but Joe’s mom has a boyfriend and now they’re getting married. Joe said he’ll have two dads, and I don’t even have one.”

  “Dad loved you very much, but now he’s in heaven.” While Julie stroked his hair, she used her other hand to swipe away a tear in the corner of her eye. “Reagan is not my boyfriend, and we’re not getting married. We’re friends, just like you’re friends with Penny from across the street.”

  “Whatever.” He kicked at the sidewalk. “But I still want Reagan as my dad.” Aiden’s shoulders sank as he walked around to the backyard.

  “I don’t know how to make him understand.” Julie pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s got a one-track mind…everything in his small world revolves around Reagan.”

  Mary wasn’t surprised by Aiden’s insistence. He was more perceptive than Julie gave him credit for. Time for Julie to hear the truth, whether she wanted to or not. “Honey, both of you are single, attractive adults who obviously enjoy spending time together. Even Aiden can see that Reagan adores you.”