Page 58 of Aviator
“Must not have tried hard enough,” Callum says with a grin.
“Come in, you fuckers,” I say and open the door wide for them.
They both give me slaps on the back that may as well be massive bear hugs. Gramps hobbles down the hallway to his customary chair by the fire, Sunny following close behind. Kenna appears next, a thick blanket wrapped around her. She rocks to a stop, and her eyes go wide when she sees the two freaks of nature taking up most of the room in the entry.
I go to her and sling an arm around her waist. “Kenna, I’d like you to meet Ford and Cal, two of my buddies from the Marines.”
She meets my eyes as her mouth makes a little O of surprise and then gives them a little wave. “Hey, guys. Good morning. Do ya’ll want some coffee?”
“Wouldn’t say no to a cup,” Ford answers. He holds up a package I didn’t realize he was holding. “I think this is for you.”
Kenna squeals and retrieves it from his hands before she bounces to the kitchen to start pouring coffee.
“Black, please. You’re a goddess,” Cal says, sharing a smile with me. “We drove up here with the baby, and let me tell you. I thought I knew what lack of sleep was before.” He shudders. “Traveling is a nightmare. Now I get all those times you talked about Penny.”
Hearing her name doesn’t hurt as viciously as it used to, and suddenly, I remember that Ford and Cal had been like godfathers to her. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who missed her. Lost her. They cared about her, too. I’d just been so mired in grief that I hadn’t realized it until now.
Kenna must notice that I’m choked up because she says, “Try having three at a time. I didn’t think I’d ever sleep again when my sisters were born.”
“You have kids?” Ford asks with a sidelong glance at me that I ignore.
“Three sisters,” Kenna replies and shudders. “If you stay here for a while, you might see them rise like the walking dead.”
“We’d like to,” Cal says, cutting a glance at me. “Our girls are back at the lodge, letting us catch up for a bit. We’d like to stay for a while if that’s okay.”
You know, I thought having this many people around would make me feel suffocated. But the thought of having Kenna and her family, plus Ford’s and Cal’s. . . feels like home again.
“Why don’t you invite them over later for lunch or something? Have a couple beers. Smoke something. I’ve got a mean setup out back.”
“Hell fuckingyes,” Ford says with a comical level of relief. Man, do I remember those sleepless nights.
I chuckle. “It’s a plan then.”
“And you can catch us up on how the hell you crashed another helicopter,” Ford interjects.
Kenna looks up from where she’s pouring coffee into mugs. “Anotherone?” she sputters.
“Seriously, dude, you have a big fucking mouth,” Cal says, shaking his head and accepting a mug.
“It was only one time,” I say to Kenna. “During training. And it wasn’t my fault.”
“Sure,” Ford mutters, and I shoot him a killing look.
“You know I should be shocked to learn ours wasn’t the first one you crashed. You must have nine lives, pookie,” she says, bringing me my cup.
“Pookie?” Ford and Cal say simultaneously.
“Don’t ask,” I warn them.
Kenna is still laughing as she starts setting up her phone. Ford, Cal, and I catch up, moving to the living room where they sprawl on the couches, and Kenna takes a seat on my lap in one of the big chairs. I play idly with her hair until she sits sharply up.
Wincing, I say, “What is it?”
Her voice is breathless when she answers, “I have a voicemail. It’s Kady.”
She fumbles with the screen to play it out loud. “Kenna, honey, I’m sorry for worrying you. I’ve seen the news, and I can’t believe you fucking crashed a helicopter. I’m glad you’re okay, and I hope you’re safe now. I promise I’ll make it up to you. I just wanted to let you know I’m with Jamie, and we’re okay. I think. Staying low. If you’re with Dean like the news says, I know you’ll be safe. I—” She cuts off, and then there’s the sound of a male voice. “Jamie says to tell the others he has proof that he was right and that we’ll meet up as soon as it’s safe.”
Kenna’s body relaxes against me. “She’s safe. Thank God.” There’s a pause, and then, “I’m going to kill her.”
