Page 37 of SEAL's Sky
He obviously liked her answer, because his smile lit up her world and eased some of the pain in his eyes. “We can go as slow as you like. I promise.”
“Thank you. Really. Mom was right, you are a great guy.”
“You may not think so if you still want to hear about my family.”
“I don’t think you could tell me anything to change my mind. But I’ll leave it up to you to tell me or not.”
He searched her face for something, she wasn’t sure what. Then he took a deep breath. For a moment, she was afraid, not that she’d change how she felt about him, but for him, that telling her would hurt him too deeply.
“Rogersville is a tiny town. One of those places you see on TV and they don’t seem real. Everyone knew each other and all their secrets. You’d think that if they knew something bad was going on they’d stop it.”
“They didn’t?” She couldn’t even imagine that type of place.
“No, they didn’t. My father had a violent temper and when he was drunk, look out. I lost count of how often he’d come home from work, totally wrecked and use my mom as a punching bag.”
Jen couldn’t hold back her gasp. “People knew he was doing that to her and on one helped?”
“I’m afraid not. The type of small town you see on television doesn’t exist as far as I can tell. There is no rallying around and helping each other. I tried to help her. I’d get between them. But he’d just kick the shit out of me and lock me in my room. I never stopped trying though.”
“I’m so sorry.” Tears gathered in her eyes just thinking about the little boy he’d been and what he’d gone through. And still, he’d tried to protect his mother. It explained so much.
“Everything changed when I was twelve. When I got home from school there was a sheriff’s car with blue lights flashing in front of my house. Somehow I knew they were there for my father and I was relieved. Someone was finally going to do something to help us.”
In her heart, Jen knew this story wasn’t going to have a happy ending and instinctively she moved closer to Murph to offer him comfort.
“The deputy wouldn’t let me in the house. I struggled, I needed to get to my mom. But he didn’t let go. Then the front door opened, and they led my father out in handcuffs. He was covered in blood. The bastard actually had a smile on his face. Then they brought my mother out in a body bag. The deputy wouldn’t even let me see her.”
“So you never got to say goodbye?”
“No, they said it was too brutal for a child to see. I never saw my father again either. He got life in prison and I got shipped off to foster care. As soon as I turned eighteen I joined the Navy.”
Tears ran down Jen’s face for the little boy he’d been and the man he’d become. His story could have been different if he was less of a man, he could have ended up just like his father. But instead, he’d become a SEAL, a hero, and she’d been lucky enough to have him come into her life.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For sharing your story. I am sure you haven’t told many people.”
“You’re right. Only Jake knows about my parents. I guess that’s why I’ve always been afraid of relationships. That I’d turn into my father.”
“I don’t believe that for one minute.” Without thinking, Jen got on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck, and it surprised both of them. Her heart did a little flip when she realized Murph was holding his breath like she might freak out or something. “Breathe Murph, it’s okay.”
“Can I hug you too?”
“Yes, but don’t squeeze too hard my ribs still hurt like hell.”
“This is why I keep telling you how amazing you are, Sky. You left and my mom stayed. You’re so much braver than you think you are.”
She didn’t feel brave, but right now, she could help someone who helped her so many times in the last two weeks she’d lost count. Time slipped away as they sat on the couch, just holding each other. Something changed for her in that moment, like the part of her that was cracked and broken started to mend.
* * *
The next few days passed without incident. Murph and Sky were alone all day and then every evening a different one of his teammates would report for guard duty. Tex still hadn’t been able to find out who the woman was in the photo. When he showed Sky the picture, she didn’t remember ever meeting the woman. She also hadn’t been to that charity event.
Someone had to know something. The more time they spent together, the closer they were getting, but there was always that shadow hanging over her head, waiting for him to show up.
The second time she woke up screaming he picked her up and carried her into the master bedroom. He stayed fully dressed and stretched out next to her, letting her decide if she wanted to touch him. When her tears stopped she curled up against him, with her head on his chest. The next night she just came to bed with him.
