Son. Is Harper with you?”
Kissing his mother on the cheek, he smiled at her warmly before replying. “No, she had a meeting tonight, so I worked late and then thought I’d stop by here on my way home.”
Moving to the kitchen, she offered, “Let me fix you a sandwich.”
He knew better than to protest and simply thanked her before walking into the den. “Where’s Dad?”
Tara smiled and inclined her head toward the back yard. “He’s in the back with Colleen and Erin. He brought his telescope out and is excited to show the stars to Colleen.”
A sense of peace settled over him and he grinned. “How many hours did we spend in the back with Dad talking, showing us his findings in the telescope?”
Tara laughed, her face softening as she nodded. “Between he and Chauncey, all of us kids were well versed in the heavens!” They were quiet for just a moment before she added, “I have to confess that it’s really cool for Colleen to get to do the same thing.”
“You’re a wonderful mother, Tara.” The only time he ever saw his self-assured sister have doubts cross her face was when she was thinking about her daughter. “Look, what happened with Calvin was not your fault.”
“I know, but even after all these years, every time Colleen does something new or special, I think about what he chose to miss.”
“You said it right there, Sis. He chose to miss these things with his own daughter. He didn’t want that responsibility and walked away from his child and his wife. You could have wallowed in self-pity or gone so far as to cast blame upon your innocent child. But instead, you forged ahead, giving her the best mother and extended family.”
Tara tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, holding Sean’s gaze. “You’re a pretty awesome big brother, you know that?”
He waved off her praise, but it pleased him, nonetheless. Glancing out the back window, he asked, “How’s Erin?”
“I’ve talked to her. I’m glad you said something to me, but I think it’s been obvious to all of us that something hasn’t been quite right.”
He waited to see if she was going to say something else, but she remained silent. Lifting his chin slightly, he cocked his head to the side. “Is that all?”
Tara sighed slightly. “She’ll talk to everybody when she’s ready. There were definitely some things that happened overseas on her last tour and she’s having to deal with them.”
Sharon plopped into the seat next to Sean, setting a plate with a large sandwich and chips on it next to him. “I wish she would talk to me.”
Sean watched as his sister’s face softened again. “Mom, she needs a little time. Coming back home has been more of a struggle for her than she thought it would be.”
Sean jumped in before his mother questioned further. “Tara, I’m glad she has you. You’re a good sister and a good counselor.”
Shrugging, Tara said, “I think it helped for Erin to talk out a few things that were bothering her, and as she becomes more comfortable with being back home, she’ll talk more.”
Further conversation was thwarted as the back door opened and Colleen rushed in, a blast of cold air coming with her as she was followed by Erin and Colm.
“Mom! It was great!” Colleen’s cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright as she exuded, “Grandpa showed me so much, and I got to see the stars and everything up there. They were so big!”
Tara gathered her daughter in her arms, giving her a hug and kissing the top of her head. Looking up, she smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”
Erin walked in and greeted Sean, and as he finished his sandwich he continued to listen to his dad explain more about the stars they had seen. Glancing at his watch, he realized that it was almost time for Harper to leave her meeting. Giving a round of hugs, he said his goodbyes and headed back out into the evening.
Lying in Sean’s king-sized bed that night, Harper rested her head on his chest, comforted by the sound of his steady heartbeat. With their limbs still wrapped around each other from their lovemaking, she breathed in the heady scent of the combination of his woodsy cologne and pure Sean. She was almost asleep when his voice cut through the night, rumbling against her head.
“Do you think Smokey would like my house?”
She blinked several times, uncertain if what she heard was what he actually said.