The SEAL’s Convenient Wife - Leslie North Page 0,3

think the lesson here is that—outside our SEAL team, anyway—you can’t trust anyone with what’s important to you. You have to take care of that yourself.” Patrick had made a big mistake in that regard, and he had to acknowledge it. And now… now he was going to figure out how to fix it.

2

“What would you like to do with your dad?” Imogen asked Ellery. The little girl with ginger hair and blue eyes gave her a shy smile and a shrug.

This wasn’t going to be easy, and Imogen wondered again how she’d ended up in the middle of this situation. Her principal, Ellery’s foster parents, and the staff from Child Protective Services had all insisted that she was a crucial link. She could help father and daughter reunite while supervising the visitation and trying to objectively evaluate the relationship.

“Let’s see. Your dad’s in the Navy, right? Maybe you could make a ship out of construction paper together. I think I have a good pattern for that. Help me look.” She took the girl to a bin stored on a shelf, and they sorted through various projects until they found one that would work. “How long has it been since you’ve seen your dad?” she asked gently as they located sheets of colored paper.

“Long time,” Ellery said softly. “He wasn’t here at Christmas.”

Imogen knew from experience that the softness could shift to defiance in a heartbeat if Ellery was approached the wrong way. Imogen was beginning to understand how complicated the situation with Ellery’s parents was, and her heart went out to the girl. She hoped something could be worked out with Patrick Nelson. She’d learned more about the man since their brief encounter earlier in the week. He was a SEAL who’d just returned from overseas.

She’d had a moment of fear when she’d told him Ellery was in foster care, a moment when she thought an explosion was possible, but he’d clamped down on his reaction. Apparently, he’d headed directly to CPS to sort it out. She had to give him credit for that. It didn’t appear that he intended to be a deadbeat dad, although he had been an absent one.

She glanced out the window and saw Mr. Nelson crossing the lawn in front of the school. Imogen felt a fresh wave of nerves about her role in this. She had good reason not to get involved in anything messy. Her principal had promised to be around in case she needed support, since it was a Saturday afternoon and the building was mostly empty.

“I think he’s here,” she said to Ellery, and the girl’s face instantly brightened. “Do you want to meet him at the door?” Without hesitation, Ellery skipped toward the classroom door. As soon as her father appeared and saw Ellery headed his way, he dropped to one knee and opened his arms. Ellery careered into him, throwing her arms around his neck and seeming to melt against him.

One question answered, Imogen thought, with a smile. There was a real connection between them. The love was obvious. They stayed that way for a long minute, which gave Imogen a chance to study the man. Earlier in the week, she’d noticed his dark good looks and height, especially when he’d sat on the little chair in her room. Any trace of defensiveness or anger was gone as he held his daughter. This was going to go better than Imogen had anticipated.

“We’re going to make a ship,” Ellery announced as she wriggled away from her father. She took his hand and led him to the workstation they’d set up with construction paper, scissors, glue, and crayons.

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Nelson,” Imogen said when he looked at her.

“Call me Patrick.” His face was serious, and maybe a little nervous. “Thanks for doing this.”

“Imogen, then, and you’re welcome,” she said, giving him a little nod of acknowledgment before returning to her desk to grade papers and do lesson plans while father and daughter played. She was to stay in the room and observe but not interfere unless she felt it was necessary. She did have to suppress a giggle when Patrick contorted himself to get in the chair next to Ellery.

Over the next half hour, Imogen listened in on the conversation between them. They’d managed to cut out the ship while talking, but Patrick clearly didn’t understand the purpose of crafting with a kindergartner. She shook her head as she heard him once again insist on a