Page 19 of Moonlight Feels Right
He smiled. "I just figured you'd give it to me straight."
"I always do. You did the work, Captain. I told you in the beginning I could only take you so far. You had to go the rest of the way on your own, and you did. I'll see you Monday. Try not to over-exercise before then. Remember what I've always said about pushing too hard, too fast?"
"It will only set me back," he said.
"Exactly."
As she walked away, he turned to see his commanding officer, Colonel Jim Sullivan, enter the room. The forty-nine-year-old was a stocky, fit man who had always set high expectations and demanded the best from those under his command. He was surprised to see him here now as they had a meeting scheduled for Monday after his final therapy session. He hoped Sullivan wasn't going to tell him his evaluation schedule was being changed or postponed.
"Kane," Sullivan said with a brief nod. "I thought I might find you here."
"I've been coming every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for months, so that was a good bet. But aren't we meeting next week?"
"Unfortunately, I have to go out of town tonight. My sister fell and broke her leg and needs help with her kids. I'll be with her until next Wednesday."
"Sorry to hear that."
"She'll be fine. But since I won't be here Monday, I wanted to check in with you before I leave. How did your workout go?"
"Good. I'm ready to move forward with my tests."
"Excellent. I understand your physical is scheduled for next Wednesday, with a psych evaluation the following Monday. If all goes well, you'll move on to the fitness tests, then the simulator and final flight assessment. It's a lot to deal with, and I would caution you to take things one step at a time. In other words, don't get ahead of yourself, Kane," he said, with a knowing gleam in his eyes. "You like to make things happen quickly, but this is a process, and one you cannot rush through. The stakes are too high."
It was the second time in less than five minutes he'd been told to take things slow, which was not his normal way of operating, and both his physical therapist and his commander knew that. "I understand. I will take it one step at a time."
"That's what I wanted to hear. You have been one of my best pilots and team leaders. The Corps needs you at your best. A lot of people wouldn't be able to come back from what you went through, Kane. And I'm not just talking about your physical injuries. You lost a team member and a good friend."
"I did," he said tightly. "But I can't change that. I can only move forward. And I've never been like a lot of people, sir." The cocky words made him feel more like his old self.
Sullivan smiled. They'd worked together for the last three years, and they knew each other well. "That's true. You've always risen above the pack, and you're a hell of an aviator. I want you back on duty, but the next few weeks will be stressful. You're going to be pushed to your limits. Try to relax and trust the work you've put in."
"I won't let you down." He didn't think caring for Gary's six-year-old daughter fit into the rest and relaxation prescribed by his CO. On the other hand, having Olivia around would force him to think about something else besides possibly losing the only career he'd ever had.
Chapter Six
Emmalyn felt more impatient than usual as the clock ticked toward two thirty on Friday afternoon. She usually enjoyed working in the library after her kindergarten class went home, but today she felt restless. Since she'd promised her aunt she'd go with her to the farmers' market on Sunday, she'd been swamped by second thoughts and also memories of the past.
She'd locked most of those memories away a long time ago. She'd compartmentalized her life into three different eras: the first five years of her life, which she barely remembered, the next seven years of living at the commune, which her mom had sold to her as fun times on a farm, and the last sixteen years of her life when she'd become her own person, when she'd tried to forget everything and everyone from her first two eras, including the one person who had hurt her the most—her mother.
While she'd always hoped to get her mom back, the biggest disappointment had come when she was twenty-one, when she'd thought she could talk her mother into breaking away, choosing her blood family over the cult, but her mother had hesitated, then bolted, opting once again to return to Haven. Since then, her mother had been dead to her. She honestly didn't know how her aunt had the energy or the will to keep trying to communicate with her mother, because she'd given up.
But now, she was being coerced into trying again. While she told herself it was for her aunt and not for her mother, she was still dreading the whole thing, and she was afraid her entire weekend would be consumed with worry and anxiety. She didn't want that. So, she needed to put everything back in its compartment and lock it away until Sunday morning. It wouldn't be easy, but maybe she could find some distractions to make the time pass.
Going out for ice cream with Hunter and Olivia would help…or maybe not.
Hunter Kane was a complicated man with a lot of baggage. He was also devastatingly attractive, especially when he forgot how angry he was at the world and smiled. Then it was like a brilliant ray of sun coming out after a terrible storm, and it was so wonderful to see that smile on his face that it made her want to do something to make him smile again. She was too empathetic for her own good. When she saw someone hurting, she wanted to help them. That desire had gotten her into trouble back at the commune. When a child was being punished for breaking the rules, she'd try to sneak them water or a piece of bread if they were forced to go without, and if she got caught, which she did far too often, she would get them both into more trouble.
She had a feeling that could happen with Hunter, that she could get caught up in trying to help him, and her efforts would come back to hurt her.
But she was probably being too dramatic. She was really just helping him take care of Olivia. That was all he needed her for, and she could do that. She could give some childcare assistance without getting emotionally involved with Hunter. She wasn't trying to fix him, just assist with a difficult situation. There were definite boundaries between them. He had his guard up, and she would do the same. She'd be friendly but cool.
Finally, the bell rang, and she grabbed her bag in relief, eager to get away from her thoughts. But as soon as she saw Hunter waiting for Olivia on the playground, looking ridiculously handsome in faded jeans that clung to his lean body, and a short-sleeve button-down shirt that showed off his broad shoulders, a shiver ran down her spine, making a mockery of her resolve to be cool. He might be intimidating and closed off, but there was no denying his attractive male features.
When Olivia ran up to him, and he squatted down to give her a hug and a smile, her gut clenched because she saw a hint of the man he could be, someone more open to caring and affection, someone who was less of a loner and more of a family man. He'd probably give her an incredulous look if she said anything like that to him. He was very determined in his pursuit of self-sufficiency and solitude.
After giving them a moment to connect, she made her way across the playground, seeing some of the moms giving Hunter a second or third look. And when she joined him, those same gazes turned even more curious, but she didn't care. She knew what was going on, and that was nothing, she told herself again.
She avoided Hunter's gaze and smiled at Olivia. "How was your day?"
