Special Forces Father - By Mallory Kane Page 0,70
“Max, you know how you sometimes ask me about your daddy?”
“Uh-huh,” Max said, rolling the car up her arm. Kate stopped it with her hand.
“Max, listen to me a minute. Tell Travis what I’ve told you about your daddy.”
Max pouted a little but he finally answered. “My daddy is a soldier. He’s protecting the United States. He—um—”
“He doesn’t live with us—” Kate prompted.
Travis heard a slight break in her voice.
“He doesn’t live with us but he’s a good man. He’s a—” Max looked thoughtful for a second, then gasped. “Mommy!” His face lit up and he beamed at his mom. Then he turned his attention to Travis. “You don’t live with us and you’re a hero! Does that mean you’re my daddy?”
Travis felt hot tears sting the backs of his eyes. He couldn’t speak. A lump the size of Louisiana was suddenly blocking his throat. His hazy gaze turned toward Kate.
“Well, soldier?” she said, her voice quavering.
“Wh-what should I say?” Travis muttered.
“It’s up to you,” she said. “But if you were telling me the truth the other day when you said you would never leave me alone again, then maybe you should tell your son the truth, too.”
“I’m—” Travis began, but that lump was still there. He tried again. “I’m your daddy, Max,” he said gruffly. “Is that okay with you?”
Suddenly, Max’s eyes got wide and he looked unsure of himself. “Mommy?” he said in a small voice. “It’s okay, right?”
Kate pulled him close and kissed his face over and over, until he squealed. “Sweetheart, you’re awfully young to be as wise as you are. But yes. Your daddy is a hero and a soldier and he’s sitting right here in front of you.” She took a shaky breath, glanced sidelong at Travis, then said, “He’s been hurt and he’s going to have to have some help getting better.” She glanced at Travis again. “But we just might end up being a family together. Would you like that?”
Max looked at her for a moment. Then he turned and looked at Travis.
Travis smiled and winked at him, and Max hid his head in the curve of his mom’s shoulder.
“Max? What do you say?” Kate asked him.
Travis couldn’t breathe. He’d faced enemy fire. He’d faced captivity, severe hunger, cold and darkness. He’d faced beatings and torture. But nothing had ever scared him as much as waiting for this little boy’s answer did.
Then Max nodded, his head still buried in Kate’s shoulder. “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “Wait till I tell Justin and Marcus that my daddy’s a hero.”
Epilogue
Dr. Kate Chalmet was nervous as a cat. She had to go to Robert and Betty Carole Delancey’s home to attend a Memorial Day cookout by herself. Travis had been gone for the past three days to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, then to Washington, D.C., to receive his medical discharge. His plane was due to land at six o’clock. Lucas was picking him up at the airport.
Kate parked in front of the sprawling white house in Chef Voleur, Louisiana, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. She exited and opened the back driver’s side door to let Max out of his car seat. He was halfway done with the fastenings by the time she opened the door.
“Max, I’ve told you before, don’t start undoing the belts until I stop the car.”
“I didn’t, Mommy. I’m fast.”
Kate laughed. “You sure are, and getting faster every day.”
“Kate!” a pleasant, lilting voice called.
Kate finished undoing Max’s seat belts and he jumped out of the car. “Stay with me, Max. Hi, Cara Lynn.” Kate held out her arms and Cara Lynn and she hugged. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too long,” Cara Lynn agreed. “Max, come here,” she said. “I’ve got something for you.”
“For me?” Max exclaimed. “Yea! What is it?”
Cara Lynn handed him a small paper bag. “See for yourself.”
“Mommy, it’s an LSU baseball cap. It’s your school, right?”
“That’s right.” Kate smiled at Cara Lynn. “Too cute. Thanks.”
Cara Lynn was looking at Max, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it from the beginning. Even as a newborn he had that hair and those eyelashes. He’s just like Travis—looks and actions. Look at him. My first nephew! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m sorry,” Kate said. “I guess I was afraid of what you would think. And now I’m terrified of what your folks are going to say.”
Cara Lynn gestured for Kate to walk with her up the long curving sidewalk. “Don’t be. Mom’s sweet. She’ll adore you