The SEAL's Surprise Son (The Admiral's Seals, #1) - Leslie North Page 0,49
forgiven him for comparing her to his own mother. “Austin’s a lucky kid.”
“Even luckier now that he has both of us.”
She’d come to understand in the past few weeks that she was enough for her son, for Zach, for her family. The self-doubt left over from her tainted relationship with her father had evaporated as she realized how much everyone relied on her to be strong. They all assumed she could handle their troubles and looked to her to be the one to pull it all together. That was true after the robbery and the fire. And she’d done it both times.
She was way tougher and more resilient than she’d ever thought. She hadn’t seen herself for the woman she’d become, but still as the wounded, abandoned child. The experience of the summer had taught her to let go of the past and embrace the present while she worked toward building a future. So, no, the summer was definitely not all bad.
“I hope I measure up as a parent,” Zach said. “I’m trying.” Like her, Zach hadn’t had a good father figure until the Admiral came into his life, so he was working his way through the fatherhood thing. Quite well, she thought.
“Seriously?” She smiled at him. “Look at you. Your son is strapped to your back as you take him on an adventure. What could be better?”
“Being there for him and knowing how to love him.” His reply came out quickly as he acknowledged his fears.
“You’ve got those down. We both do,” she said, “but I think we better let him play for a bit so he doesn’t get restless on the way back.” She lifted Austin from the pack, keeping a firm grip on his hand. When Zach took the child’s other hand, the pieces of her life settled happily into place. This was all she needed. Almost all. She stole a glance at Zach. She could think of one more thing, but would Zach offer her marriage a second time? Or would he be content with the arrangement they had?
She told herself to be patient. A little more time, and maybe…
Zach stooped to put a white rose on the Admiral’s tombstone. Two flowers were already there, and he knew his brothers had made the pilgrimage to the cemetery to honor the Admiral on what would have been his eightieth birthday. He’d served his country for more than four decades and shared his final ten years with three wayward boys, seeing them change from incorrigible youths to young men with promise and opportunities.
Even though he’d died four years before, Zach felt a connection with him as a friend, father, and guide in life. Zach still remembered the Admiral’s advice and words of wisdom. One of those moments kept coming back to Zach. The Admiral had insisted that Zach would one day be so happy with his life that the injuries and grief of his youth would no longer matter. Zach had popped off that that was bunk. He hadn’t believed a word of it at fifteen, when he bore the heavy weight of the physical and emotional scars of his abusive father and a mother who’d abandoned him.
But these past weeks with Carolyn and Austin had changed his perspective. Zach was happy in a way he’d never been. Happy to see his son’s smiling face, happy to put his arms around Carolyn. Happy for every moment they had in her beautiful home, a home built for a family.
“You old geezer,” Zach said aloud. “You knew so much. I wish you could meet my son.” The Admiral had understood what it meant to be a dad, even if he had come to it late in life. He’d have made some woman a great husband if he hadn’t been married to the sea, as he had liked to say.
Zach snapped to attention and saluted the tombstone. “Wish me luck, sir. I’ve got to ask a woman a very important question.” He walked away, feeling the ring box in his pocket.
After consulting with Charlotte and Faith, they’d agreed with him that he should offer Carolyn the ring from their first engagement. Her sister had insisted that Carolyn loved that ring, but Charlotte’s suggestion that he modify it in some way got him thinking.
He’d taken the ring from Carolyn’s jewelry box the day before, thankful she hadn’t returned it to her safe, and smuggled it into Charlotte’s hands. All That Sparkles’ jewelry technician polished the pear-shaped diamond and inset small pearls on the platinum band. It was the same ring but with an important change, one that made it unique to who he and Carolyn were now as a couple.
Up ahead, he saw Carolyn and Austin where they’d waited for him so he could have privacy at the Admiral’s grave. He felt himself rushing to get to them. When she smiled at him as he approached, he felt so damn happy.
“I think Austin is going to be naturalist,” she declared. The boy did love being outside and all sorts of wild creatures. “There goes a cardinal.” She pivoted away from Zach to point out the bird that flitted from branch to branch of a pine tree. “Isn’t it pretty?” she said to Austin.
Her action gave Zach time to take the jewelry box from his pocket, open it, and drop to one knee. He was going to do this right.
“Oh,” she gasped when she turned back to him, looking between his face and the ring. She was so beautiful. He had a brief moment of thinking he didn’t deserve her, but it passed at the expectant look she gave him.
“I did this once before, but I’m a better man than I was then,” he said. She shook her head in disagreement, but he went on. “I promise to be the best husband and father I can be. I’ll always be there for you and Austin—and maybe another child, if we’re so lucky. You’ll have my love and commitment forever if you’ll marry me.” So far, he’d said everything he’d planned. He just had one more sentence. “Carolyn Evert, will you be my sweetheart, my bride, my wife, my love?”
“I will,” she said, her voice steady as she extended her hand for him to slip the ring on. She studied it for a second before bending toward him and touching his cheek. “I’ll love you always, Zach Vale. I never stopped, you know. I couldn’t.” She kissed him then, her lips warm and soft against his. Behind her Austin giggled and clapped, making Carolyn laugh. “I think our son says yes, too.”
“Good, because he’s part of us and part of this moment. The pearls,” he said, knowing she’d understand the significance of the jewels he’d had added to the ring.
“June’s birthstone to represent Austin’s birth month.” Tears glimmered in her eyes, and he knew he’d done the right thing. “That is so…perfect.”
“I love you, Carolyn. I know not every day will be perfect, but if we’re together…” Words no longer expressed what he needed to communicate. He picked up Austin, holding the boy in one arm as he pulled Carolyn to him with the other. He was as happy as the Admiral had said he would be as he held the two most precious people in his life close to his heart.