Page 62 of Complicated Past

“I take it I don’t need to sign anything.” Kendra’s gaze shifted from Linc to the receptionist.

The receptionist gave a guilty shrug. “I know you’re busy playing catch-up, and he didn’t have an appointment, butI’dwant to see him if he asked forme.” She batted her lashes.

“Is there someplace private we can talk?” he asked Kendra.

“I can see if either conference room is available,” the receptionist offered.

“That’s okay. We’ll go outside.” Kendra motioned him to exit.

Was she going to blow him off? His airway constricted, and a tightness spread from his chest to his gut, but he wasn’t going to retreat, no matter what artillery she lobbed his way.

“How are Bri and Regina doing?” She remained standing rather than sit on one of the metal benches to the side of the entrance.

“They’re good. Between the kidnapping charges, firing on a law enforcement officer, and the drugs, cash, and weapons found, Tawnya, Malloy, and their boss are going away even without them testifying, which is great news. Bri went back to work today. Regina wants to get home, but she’s not comfortable driving to Atlanta yet. I think she wants to tell her friends in her book club and bridge group what she went through to get some sympathy, so I’m driving her to Atlanta today.”

“You and Regina in a car for six hours? That sounds above the call of duty.” The dawning of a smile and her light laugh eased the tension.

“Well, she’s now referring to me as her step-grandson.”

“It sounds like you two have made progress. When do you have to go back to Europe?”

“I fly out of Atlanta this evening. That’s why I had to see you before I left. I’ve been thinking about what you said. A lot. I’m accepting that my upbringing impacted me more than I wanted to admit. You keep getting the message that you aren’t worthy, and it sinks in.”

She moved slightly closer and held out her hand. He took hold of hers. The electricity still there between them gave him hope he hadn’t damaged this beyond repair.

“After Christmas, classmates would talk about the gifts they got from Santa. Mom barely had money for food or rent—and that was before drugs took priority over gifts. But the idea of Santa knowing who’s been naughty and nice made me feel I wasn’t as good as kids who got lots of great gifts. Regina taking in Bri, but not me, after Mom died reinforced that.”

“I understand. I’ve seen similar situations play out. But it doesn’t make it true.”

“It wasn’t a one-time thing. At the group home, we were enrolled in a program providing gifts for kids in foster care. They asked us to list what we wanted. We put down things like a gaming system and new sneakers. I said a bike so I could ride to see Bri. Instead, I got socks, underwear, a warm winter coat, and a basketball.” Since he didn’t play basketball anymore, his foster brother had traded him for a decent pair of sneakers he’d outgrown.

“I’m sure the family who had your name had good intentions. Often, good-hearted people think they know best. They don’tstop to think that kids experiencing foster care want to be like their classmates and friends. Have the same kinds of things.”

“Exactly. Then, there were the girls who didn’t want to date a boy in the system. Or their parents didn’t want them dating the child of an addict. That information gets out and spreads. It’s hard to shake that kind of history.”

“And while my family had similar experiences and wouldn’t judge, the bias against military members was a trigger for you.” She sighed with an apologetic expression.

He nodded. “Joining the military has been the best thing in my life. It’s provided income, skills, routine, stability, and acceptance. It appealed to my sense of justice. Most of all, it gave me family. Maybe I didn’t have a father figure growing up, but I’ve had mentors and role-models there. I need to get a few things straight in my head. This morning, I called a Green Beret friend. His wife is a counselor. We talked briefly, and she referred me to her colleague.”

“That’s a pretty major step.”

“It is.” It’d been hard to accept that he needed help, but it’d given him the courage to be here. He had to be willing to change. “But it’s what I need to do if I’m going after the things I want in life, like a wife and kids. And I don’t want just any wife. I want someone who gets me and isn’t afraid to challenge me—or tell me my thinking is screwed up. If she’s beautiful and compassionate, those are perks too.” He took hold of her other hand. “I’m hoping you’ll give me another shot. And that while I’m deployed, we can talk and message each other.”

“I would like that. Very much.” She closed the remaining distance between them. “I’m also willing to challenge Grandma Ruby. Because I’m not willing to settle for just any guy. I want someone who makes me feel the way you do. Safe. Protected. Respected. I get mushy inside watching you interact with Jalen.And you give me butterflies when you smile at me. Even more so when you kiss me. Which you should do right now.”

He’d put his heart out there. This time, it hadn’t been rejected. He happily followed Kendra’s order to kiss the woman who instilled the required sense of worth to complete him.

TWENTY-THREE

Linc grabbed his rucksack the moment the plane stopped taxiing after landing at Fort Liberty.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you as eager to get off the plane as today,” Chief Lundgren said with his usual dry humor.

“This time is different.” The two other times he had someone waiting to welcome him home from a deployment, he’d known it wouldn’t be permanent. Tonight, Bri would be here with Jalen. More importantly, Kendra would be here.

His team all knew about their developing relationship. And so did Bri, who’d been surprised but happy and totally on board. Kendra’s family also knew about them now.

Not surprisingly, Grandma Ruby had reiterated her opposition to military men. After Clara voiced her support, Ruby agreed to a video chat to meet. He survived Ruby’s interrogation and was granted temporary approval, though he wouldn’t get final judgment until they met in person. Between talking with Kendra almost daily and the weekly counseling sessions over the last two months, he had different plans for his future. A future he now realized he deserved and could see with Kendra.

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