Page 3 of SEAL's Sky
The others grabbed seats until the table was almost full. Only their captain, Tony Knox, and Jake were missing.
“Is Jake coming?” he asked.
“Not sure, he said something about a call he had to make. But he said he’d try,” Rafe answered as he filled two mugs at a time and passed them around the table.
When everyone’s glass was full he raised his for a toast. “All in, all the time.” The rest of the guys repeated the words and took a drink.
It made Murph think about Pam once again. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in trouble. “Be right back,” he said as he got up from the table. Rafe nodded in acknowledgment. If it ended up they could do something to help Pam he’d fill them in, but until then there was nothing to tell.
As he tried to come up with a good reason for butting into her business, she came out of the kitchen with water for Halo.
“Hey, I can take that for you,” Murph said as he reached to take the bowl.
“You don’t have to.” When she met his eyes, they were red-rimmed and puffy.
That sealed it. “I know I don’t. Feel free to tell me to fuck off, but it looks like you got some upsetting information and it’s obvious you’ve been crying.”
“I’m fine, really.”
“If you’re sure, but if you need anything, let me know. Anything at all. You’ve been part of my life for a long time and seen us through some bad shit. I want to help if I can.”
‘Thank you, I appreciate it, really. But I’m fine.”
He didn’t believe her, but unless she talked to him about it, his hands were tied. “Okay, just remember the offer is always open.”
“Well, since you did offer to help, do you want to bring Halo his water and I’ll grab the pretzels?” Pam asked holding out Halo’s water.
“You got it.” The niggling worry in his head wouldn’t go away, maybe he would talk to the guys about it. Because until she came to them for help, he couldn’t think of anything else to do.
Chapter 2
“Hello?” The suspicion in Pam Turner’s voice came across loud and clear.
Jen wasn’t surprised. It was a new burner phone, the fourth one in the last two weeks.
“Hi Mom, it’s me, your wayward daughter and trouble maker extraordinaire,” she joked.
“I tried to call you last night, I was worried when I couldn’t get a hold of you.” The stress in her voice came across loud and clear. Guilt ate at Jen for that and so much more.
“I'm sorry, Mom. I lost it yesterday morning and didn’t have a chance to buy a new one until today. I’m fine, I promise,” Jen replied and swore to tell her everything once she got home. After she put distance between her and the nightmare she’d been living
“It's okay, sweetheart. But what’s really going on? I wasn’t born yesterday. No one loses phones as often as you have lately unless there’s a problem.”
“I’m okay,” Jen said, twirling her long blonde hair around her index finger. It was a nervous habit Kurt had tried to break. “We can talk about it when I get there. I was thinking of coming home for a visit.” Holding her breath, she hoped she wouldn’t ask more questions she couldn’t answer.
“You are? It’s been so long, I’d love it. When do you think you’ll come? I’ve missed seeing your beautiful face so much.”
“How about tomorrow? I would probably get in after dinner sometime. If that’s okay?” Jen had a lot to be sorry for when it came to her mom. For the past year, Kurt had controlled every aspect of her life. Her mom would be devastated if she knew. Or worse, would try to do something about it. “I’ll get the train to D.C. in the morning and the connecting one to Norfolk. If I’m lucky, I’ll get there in time for a late dinner.”
“Really? Tomorrow? I’d love it. Do you want me to pick you up at the station?”
“I’ll grab a taxi. You have enough to do with the bar. I’m thirty-two years old, I can find my way home.” Relief flooded her body, easing tension in her shoulders and neck. She didn't realize how tight she held the phone until her mom said she could go back home. Tears filled her eyes. She had a way out. How did it get this bad?
“Okay. But are you sure there’s nothing I need to know? My mom antennae are going off.”
Jen chuckled, it had been something she’d dealt with her entire life, and they’d never let her mother down. It would be impossible not to tell her the whole story when they were face-to-face.
“I promise, we’ll discuss it when I get home. Okay?”
