Page 27 of Landry

Camille led him through the living room and down the hallway to the room on the far side of the house. The door stood open, a lamp glowed on the nightstand beside a white iron bed, and Ava lay tucked beneath a cotton-candy pink comforter, her damp dark curls splayed out across the pink pillowcase.

She hurriedly scooted over and patted the mattress beside her. “You can sit here. It’s where Mama sits when she reads to me.”

After a quick glance in Camille’s direction, Landry perched on the edge of the bed,

“Take off your shoes,” Ava commanded.

“Ava,” Camille chastised, “don’t be so bossy.”

The little girl smiled up at Landry. “Please.”

Landry kicked off his shoes, leaned back against the iron headboard and rested his feet on top of the comforter. “Is this right?”

Ava nodded and dug a book out from where it had slipped beneath the blanket. “This is my favorite story.”

He took the colorful book from her and read the title aloud. “Will you be my friend?”

Ava lay back, smiling. “It’s about a bunny and a goose.”

“Do you mind if I listen?” Camille asked.

“Not at all. As long as you don’t heckle,” he said with a lopsided grin. “This is a first for me.”

“You’ve never read to a child?”

He shook his head. “As a Navy SEAL, you don’t get too many opportunities. I’m sure it’s not in the job description.”

Camille settled on the other side of the bed, sandwiching Ava between them.

Ava patted her mother’s leg but turned all her attention to Landry and the book.

Not used to performing in front of an audience, Landry started reading, his voice a little stiff at first. “While walking one day, down our new country lane, I met Waddles the goose. What a sweet, funny name.”

The words flowed with a lilting rhythm. Once he understood the cadence, he relaxed and read page by page, making sure to show Ava the pictures as he did.

By the time he reached the last page, Ava’s eyelids drooped. “Thank you for reading to me,” she said and yawned. “Will you come read to me again?”

Landry laid the book on the nightstand and swung to his feet. “I’d like that.”

He bent to brush his lips across her forehead. As he did, she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. “Mmm, you smell like peppermint.”

When she released him, she burrowed into the blanket, her eyes closing. “Goodnight, Mr. Landry.”

“Goodnight, Ava,” he said softly, his chest tightening.

Camille leaned over her daughter and kissed her cheek. “Night, little bug. I love you.”

“I love you more,” Ava whispered, her voice fading off at the end.

Landry walked to the window, unlocked and locked it, checking to ensure it was properly secured. Then he retrieved his shoes and tiptoed out of the room.

Camille followed, halfway closing the door behind her.

She passed him in the hallway and led the way back to the kitchen. Once there, she smiled. “Thank you for reading to my daughter, for cooking dinner and coming to check on the house.”

“I’ve only done an external check. I’d like to go through the inside and double-check the locks on the windows and doors now.”

Camille nodded and led the way around the house. One by one, he tested the locks and attempted to open the locked windows. When he started for the back door, Camille touched his arm. “Can we wait on the doors?” she asked.

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