Page 25 of SEAL's Angel
“I guess I shouldn’t say anything else, or you might change your mind.” His smile erased the worry on his face.
“Good plan. So, are you hungry? Jake is making his famous French toast.”
“Yeah, kinda.”
“Do you want me to call Uncle Rafe to carry you downstairs? Or do you think you can make it if you hold on to me?”
“I can do it.” Chase swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. “It’s okay if you want to date Jake.”
“Umm, what?”
“I’m sorry I gave you a hard time when you talked to him. But I didn’t want him to be Dad.” He met her gaze, and again, it surprised her how much he looked like his father as he quirked his head to the side with a slight tilt to his lips.
“Aww, Chase. No one will ever replace Daddy. It would be impossible. But that doesn’t mean we can’t like other people.”
Even though she’d suspected that was the issue, it still hurt to hear Chase say the words out loud. No one would ever replace Bob as their father, even if she had another relationship with Jake or anyone. But knowing that still didn’t stop the occasional pangs of guilt, especially when she was expecting to hear from Jake. But Bob wouldn’t have wanted her to give up on life.
“I guess. But when Jake and Uncle Rafe saved me last night, I knew I wasn’t being fair to him.”
Was this really her eleven-year-old son talking this way? “Don’t worry about it. The last two years have been hard for all of us. I miss Daddy so much. But he wouldn’t want us to be sad all the time.”
“No, he wouldn’t.”
“Good. So how about I help you to the bathroom, and then, we’ll go downstairs and try that French toast?”
“I can make it. I’ll call if I need help.”
“Okay. I love you, Chase.”
“I love you too, Mom.” He smiled. Then he hopped to the bathroom on one foot while Dawn shook her head.
She was still sitting on Chase’s bed when Rafe came in. She hadn’t heard him come up the stairs and wondered how much he’d overheard.
“Everything okay?” Rafe’s forehead wrinkled with concern.
“Yup. Fine. I grounded him for a week. But I think getting lost and having all that time to think about what he did was all the punishment he needed.”
“You’re probably right. It would have scared me shitless at his age.”
“I call BS. Nothing ever scares you.” Dawn smirked.
“You’re wrong. I just hide it well. If you’re not scared, you’re stupid, and it can get you killed on a mission.”
“Bob used to say the same thing.” Dawn sighed. She’d known Bob’s job was dangerous. He’d never hidden that from her, and neither had Rafe.
“I heard a little of what you two were talking about. I guess I owe you and Jake an apology.”
“For what?”
“I gave him a lot of shit for keeping your relationship a secret, and for him dating you at all. But it was unfair. You won’t find a better man.”
“Wow. Hold on a minute.” Dawn shook her head and raised her eyebrows at her brother. “First, we’re just friends. There is no relationship other than that. I didn’t want him to tell you because I knew you’d overreact. And I was right, because that’s exactly what you did when you found out we were talking.”
“Sis, if you think he just wants to be friends, you haven’t seen the way he looks at you. And last night? There was no way in hell he would have stayed in Norfolk when you needed help. Before I got off the phone with you, he’d made all the travel arrangements.”
Dawn didn’t know what to say. Sure, she’d known he’d wanted to visit and take her out, but they’d only kissed that one time until last night. She’d explained from the beginning how she felt about dating anyone in the service, and he’d promised he understood.
It had been easy to convince herself that she just wanted to be friends until the night before when he’d held her close and practically kissed her socks off. Being around him took her breath away, and she felt guilty for the attraction. But she’d just finished telling Chase that his father wouldn’t want them to be sad and to stop living. Maybe she needed to listen to herself more often. She was thinking about it when Chase came hopping out of the bathroom.
