Page 17 of Spring UnVeiled
Home.
That was the only word Evan heard.
He couldn’t move.He couldn’t breathe.
His ex-wife had invited him to go home with her.To their home.Or at least it had been for over twelve years.
Having her in his arms numerous times over the past several hours had been wonderful.He’d needed her just as much she needed him.It was almost as though he’d never left for the East Coast.
But he had left…both her and Kylie.And now their daughter was gone.
Genevieve hadn’t invited him home to stay with her.She was just asking him to take her home.He was her ride.He’d picked her up and brought her to the hospital.
Evan gestured toward the elevators.“A shower and a few hours’ sleep sound wonderful.”
“Maybe not in that order.”Genevieve yawned.“I might just fall asleep on the way home.”
They both stepped onto the elevator at the same time.
“I swear, you used to always sleep on the way home after a party.”Evan smiled at the memory.
“Several glasses of wine helped.”When she looked up at him with that small smile she gave only to him, he wanted to kiss her lips like he had a million times before.
But he couldn’t.She was no longer his.
Within a minute after starting the engine, he heard her let out a long sigh as she tilted her head to the window.Her breathing quickly evened out.She was sound asleep.
As he drove the familiar way home, Evan made a mental list of everything he had to do, then prioritized each item.
When he pulled onto her street, he fought the growing feeling of coming home.Everything was déjà vu, including Genevieve instantly awakening.
She blinked as she looked around, then her gaze finally settled on him.She straightened and the mask of distance fell into place.“Thank you for picking me up.”She reached across the center console and touched his forearm.“You were right.I was in no condition to drive.”
He loved the feel of her hand on him.Refusing to lose the heat that she passed into his body, he laid his large hand over hers and kept it in place.“We’ll get through this…together.I’m here for you.”
She slid her hand from underneath his.“I’ve always been here for you.You just weren’t always here.”She quickly slid from his SUV but stood in the door.She lowered her head and closed her eyes.“I’m sorry.That was mean of me.”
“Don’t apologize.You’re right.I wasn’t always here.”He slowly shook his head side to side.“And sometimes, my body was here but I wasn’t.I’m the one who needs to apologize to you.”
She gave him a weak smile.“We’ll talk, but not right now.My brain can’t handle anything more.Stores don’t open until ten.Why don’t you pick me up around then?We have a lot of shopping to do so I can bring Ian home.”
“So,wecan bring Ian home,” he corrected.“I meant it when I said that I’m here for you, but that baby back in the hospital is my grandson, too.I’m going to be part of his life.I’m stationed here in Coronado for at least three years, hopefully more.”
For the first time in his career, Evan considered leaving the Navy before he wore stars.He’d fucked up with Genevieve and Kylie.He’d definitely do better with Ian.
Her facial expression, though tired, screamedyeah, right.“I’ll see you around ten.”She closed the door and he waited until she disappeared inside the house.
As Evan drove back to his temporary quarters, he could see dark shadows on the beach.Young men, hoping to someday wear the Trident, exercised together on the gritty sand in the predawn.He wondered how many of those young men had left warm beds with their wives still asleep.Did any of them kiss their baby goodbye before they quietly went out the door?
He had done all those things at their age.With Vivi at his side, he could do anything back then.She had made BUD/S easier to tolerate.Her encouragement, as much as that of his teammates, helped him pass the rigorous training.And she had done it all while pregnant and teaching.She had been amazing.
Hell, she still was.
With his checklist in place, Evan parked the rental car in the garage and went straight to his bedroom.After kicking off his shoes, he crawled into the bed, allowing himself a forty-five-minute combat nap.
One hour later, showered, feeling completely refreshed, he dressed in the designated uniform of the day.
Striding up the steps to the headquarters building, he caught up to Ms.Merkel as she reached for the door.“Allow me.”
