Page 30 of SEAL's Angel
“Yeah. The older kids use it on the playground at recess.”
Dawn looked from Chase to Rafe and shook her head. “His little friend called him a pussy. Can you believe that? He’s freaking eleven.”
“That’s what got you so mad?” Rake asked.
Chase balled his fists, and his forehead wrinkled. “Yeah. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m like that. He said since I only live with girls, I can’t do boy things anymore.”
“Where would he have gotten that?” Dawn asked. “I doubt John would say anything like that. But I’m going to call Anne later. I can’t believe she’d let Joey use that word.”
“If it’s playground talk, she probably doesn’t know. Just like you didn’t know Chase knew it,” Rafe said.
Jake watched the family interaction and decided it would be better if he kept his mouth shut. So far, Rafe was saying all the right things.
“I guess you’re right,” Dawn admitted. “I’m sorry, Chase. But I don’t know what to do to fix this.”
“I have an idea.” The words were out of Jake’s mouth before he could stop them.Motherfucker.So much for keeping his mouth shut and staying out of it. But the need to soothe Dawn’s fears and worries and to make her kids smile was the most important thing to him at that moment. “What if we all take a camping trip before your uncle and I have to go back to Virginia?”
“Really? Mom, can we?” Chase’s cheeks flushed with excitement, and he practically bounced on the sofa.
“What about his foot? And there’s school…” Dawn looked at Chase and then met Jake’s gaze. Her expression was unreadable, but when she reached for Chase’s hand, the corners of her lips tipped up in a slight smile.
“I wanna go camping, too,” Cindy said as she jumped up and down in the doorway.
Rafe laughed and punched Jake in the arm. “Way to go, bro. Now you did it.”
Yeah, he probably did. What did he know about school schedules?
“I forgot about his foot. Maybe we should wait until our next visit.” He had balls. Dawn would probably throw him out on his ass for causing trouble. There probably would be no next visit.
But Dawn surprised them all. “You know what, why not? Uncle Rafe came all this way, and the weather isn’t too cold yet. I say let’s go.”
“Yay.” Cindy shrieked, then ran over and jumped onto the couch next to Chase and gave him a big hug.
Jake mouthed the words, “I’m sorry,” but Dawn shook her head and smiled, and her face lit up. Maybe he hadn’t stepped in a big ole pile of shit after all.
“I have to make some calls, and we also have to go to the store to get crutches for Chase,” Dawn said thoughtfully.
Chase pushed himself up off the couch and stood, trying to get his balance.
“Chase, can you make it upstairs by yourself, or do you want help?” Dawn held onto him while he steadied himself.
“I can help him, Mommy,” Cindy said.
“How about I help?” Rafe asked. “You and Jake can figure out what we need, and then we’ll go shopping for supplies while you make your phone calls. Sound good?”
Dawn nodded. “Sure, that sounds great. I’m not used to having all this help.”
Rafe shook his head, and Jake knew exactly what he was thinking. That if she wasn’t so stubborn and had moved closer, she’d have plenty of help.
After Rafe and the kids headed upstairs, Jake followed Dawn into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry about suggesting the camping trip.” Jake stood in the doorway as she rinsed out the coffee pot and made a new pot. A woman after his own heart. He drank coffee all day when he wasn’t on a mission, and he usually paid the price with a horrible headache the first few days after they left.
“There is nothing to be sorry about. Camping is an excellent suggestion, and easier to pull off with you and Rafe here. And when Chase goes back to school, I’d like to see the other kids call him a pussy after camping with Navy SEALs.”
“Good point.” Jake chuckled. “But I don’t want to make things harder for you.”
“You’re not. I should have said this yesterday, but I’m glad you’re here.” Dawn’s cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink and turned to fuss with the coffee pot.
