“She hooked you up with your Sarge.”
“Sarge was her uncle and agreed to take me on. He was … special.” The former Army Ranger had been part drill sergeant, part therapist, and part father. “I wish he had lived long enough to know I’d made it as a SEAL.”
“I’ll bet he’s looking down on you now proud as hell.”
Bennett grunted. He didn’t believe in some afterlife bullshit. Nothing he’d seen or experienced led him to believe some benevolent deity was watching out for him. Instead of voicing his unpopular opinion, Bennett offered half of his extra treat to Noah. The silence between them wasn’t at all quiet or uncomfortable this time. Birds and squirrels made noises in the trees and critters rustled in the leaves at their feet.
“Can you keep a secret?” Noah asked.
“Who would I tell?” Bennett ignored the sad commentary his answer revealed.
“Harper’s pregnant.”
Shock zinged through him. He pulled Noah in for a sweaty slap across the shoulders. “Dude. Congratulations. Why are you keeping it a secret? Your mom would lose her shit.”
“It’s early yet and Harper wants to wait until her doctor’s appointment.”
“I’m happy for you guys. I really am.” And he was. The Harper he sometimes dreamed about wasn’t real. She was like a favorite mixtape he’d assembled in his imagination. The greatest hits of her letters.
Noah looked grim considering the news should be joyous. “This put the future in perspective, you know?”
“How so?”
“Harper can take care of herself. She’s strong. But a baby…” Noah scrubbed a hand over his buzz cut. “What if something happens?”
Bennett didn’t have to ask what he meant. He knew. Every SEAL knew. The thought was like an infestation of termites in the backs of their minds. It’s not like they worked behind a safe desk in a safe cubicle in a safe building. Things could go FUBAR in seconds.
But it’s what they’d signed up for. What they loved. “You thinking about getting out?”
“Not a chance.” In Noah’s pause, Bennett could hear the doubts. Drawing his words out, Noah continued. “Bu-u-ut … I have been thinking about contingencies. Listen, you can say no. Don’t feel obligated or anything, but I can’t think of anyone else. An-n-nd … well.” Noah petered into silence after tripping over his tongue.
“Damn, Peaches, are you working up the courage to ask me on a date or something?” Bennett stared at Noah in amused fascination. He hadn’t seen Noah this worked up since the day he’d shown Bennett the ring he’d bought for Harper.
Noah cracked a smile. “Not exactly. I want you to be a sort-of godfather. If you’re willing.”
Bennett straightened from his slouch against the tree. Religion hadn’t made an impact on his life, but he’d seen enough movies to know a godfather was supposed to guide a child spiritually. Or head up a Mafia family, but he assumed Noah wanted the former. “I’m not qualified to teach a kid about God or anything. I would only warp its little mind.”
“That’s not what I’m asking you to do.”
“Then what? Get the little tyke a present on his birthday? Are you going to name him after me or something?”
Noah barked a laugh. “That’s not a terrible idea actually, but what if the baby is a girl?”
“‘Benjamina’? Or how about something trendy like ‘Bentley’?”
“I’ll talk to Harper and see what she thinks.” Noah moved to stand in front of Bennett and look him in the eyes, his laughter fading into solemnness. “I want you to promise me something, Griz.”
“Anything.”
“If something happens to me, I want you to promise to take care of them. Harper and the baby.”
Bennett’s mouth felt like he’d chewed on a dozen cotton balls. He tried to swallow, but his words came out garbled. “Nothing is going to happen.”
“Probably not, but I need to know they’ll have someone to count on.” Maybe because Noah had been thinking about the offer for a while, he maintained a calm Bennett was having a hard time locating. “I want that someone to be you.”
“Why me? I’m kind of messed up, bro.” There were a half-dozen better choices than him. Darren’s nickname was Family Man, for goodness’ sake.
“Bullshit. You’re not just my brother-in-arms, Griz. You’re my brother. Maybe not by blood, but in every other way that counts. I’d trust you with my life. And my life is Harper and this baby.”
Bennett’s heart shattered and reassembled itself in that moment. A brother. A family. He’d never had either but had wished for both every day when he was young. He’d put the foolish dream away with his childhood, but the dream had survived and now it flourished under Noah’s request.
“I promise I’ll take care of them.” What he left unsaid was the promise he made to himself standing in that soybean field in Georgia. He would make sure nothing happened to Noah even if he had to sacrifice himself to do it.
Chapter 15
Present Day
For the second time, Harper woke in bed entwined with Bennett. Neither time had involved sex. Which was just plain sad. She’d thought she’d been ready for more than cuddling after the panty-melting kiss and the feel of him on top of her. But, with sunlight and reality diffusing through the room, she was thankful one of them had practiced self-control.
She slipped out from under his arm and held her breath, but he remained deeply asleep. On tiptoes, she made her way back to her room. A sound froze her in the middle of the hall. Her mom was coming out of her room in a robe, her face caught in mid-yawn when they made eye contact.
Harper shook her head and continued into her room, shutting the door and pressing her flaming cheek against the cool wood. Any other mother might have been discreet or embarrassed enough not to question her. No such luck with her mom. It would be the Inquisition over coffee.
Harper took her time showering and dressing but was still the first one downstairs. The kitchen was empty, although a fresh pot of coffee steamed and pancake batter was mixed and ready to cook. Harper sent up a quick prayer and headed toward the coffeepot.
“Well, well, well.” Her mom’s voice came from over Harper’s shoulder.
She fumbled her thankfully empty mug and decided to play ignorant. “Good morning.”
“I planned to chew your butt this morning about how rude you were last night. But looks like you apologized already. How was it?”
“How was what?” She poured a cup of coffee and hoped her mom didn’t noticed her shaking hands.
“The sex,” her mom said in a stage whisper.
“Oh my God, shush. Nothing happened.”
“Nothing?”
“Almost nothing.” Harper rolled her eyes. “A kiss. Or two. That’s it. It was late, and I fell asleep in my clothes.”
Her mom made a grumpy harrumphing noise. “That’s disappointing. But I take encouragement from the fact at least one part of your body made physical contact with a red-blooded, very handsome man.”
A blush raced over her body, setting her on fire. “Mom. Please, don’t embarrass me.”
“Who me?” Her mom was the picture of refined innocence. Except for her smile. It was pure mischievousness. “I’m tickled pink to see you interested in a man.”
“But—”
“No buts. Noah would want you to be happy, and Bennett would get his stamp of approval. After all, Noah thought enough of him to name your son after him.” Her mom ladled pancake batter on the hot griddle.
If only it could be that simple. Or could it? Could she ignore the intersecting of their lives now they were on the same road?
Bennett’s heavy footsteps on the stairs were accompanied by the patter of dog paws. Without making eye contact with her, Bennett let the dog out the back to do his business. Of course, that could be because she was studiously avoiding Bennett’s eyes. What had seemed simple in darkness was drawn in stark terms in the light of day.
He took a seat at the kitchen table. Harper flipped two pancakes on a plate and slid it in front of him like a short-order cook.