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She raises a disbelieving eyebrow. “How aren’t jobs being affected? I can’t keep this one surely, not if we’re um…”
I smirk. “What word are you searching for there, sugarplum? And yes you can. I already discussed it with your manager and mine and they’re both fine. I don’t set the work schedule for your department and Kyle agreed that if there’s anything he feels uncomfortable bringing to me, he’s free to go around me and take it up with Hillman.”
“Colonel Hillman knows about us?”
“He does. And since he didn’t yell, I’d say he approves. He’s gone all kinds of mushy after falling in love.”
Leanne’s round eyes say she doesn’t quite believe me, but she’s intrigued all the same.
9
Dom
Life was simpler in the army, I admit to myself. Three sets of suspicious eyes pin me to my chair at the dining table. In the old days, the glares came from men happy to kill me with their bare hands or their teeth if necessary. And it didn’t bother me at all. These three females don’t have to draw a single drop of blood to have me at their mercy. And I swear all three of them know it, too.
I clear my throat. “Cass, I hate to tell you this, but you’re nobody’s princess but mine.”
“Then why are my eyes brown? I’m not dumb, you know,” she challenges me with a frown. And now I can see how this has wormed its way into her worldview.
“You’re right that I’m not your biological father, but I am your dad and nobody is changing that.”
Leanne almost unconsciously reaches out a hand to Cass in sympathy. Cass sort of slide rolls out of her chair and into Leanne’s embrace, watching me with tears in her eyes.
I heave a sigh and unfold the piece of paper in front of me. Passing it across the table for Leanne to hold up, I say softly, “Do you see what it says under father?”
Cass nods hesitantly, still looking on the brink of a breakdown. “My name there means your mom picked me to be your dad. She wasn’t guessing, pumpkin. Your mom and I never, we never even kissed. We were friends when we were both a little older than you when she lived in the same neighborhood.”
I sigh again. This is the tricky bit. “I don’t know who your biological dad is, Cass. But based on how and when your mom died, I doubt he’s a nice person. It could be very dangerous for you to find him or for him to find you. That’s why I didn’t tell you. Or anyone. Only Grandma knew some of it until today. Do you think you can keep the secret?”
Cass’s eyes have gone wide and so have Leanne’s. Some kids would just nod and go about their day, but not mine. “So, was it a lie when you said you love me? Just to make things look normal?”
I shake my head. “Absolutely not. The very first time I saw you when I got back from deployment, I knew. You were about six months old and you sort of stared at me like you are right now,” I add dryly, “and then you smiled just for me. And despite being an occasional annoying pain in my ass, I love you to pieces.”
Cass considers this, her head tilted to one side. “Who took care of me before that?”
I incline my head to the left. “Grandma.”
My mom offers quietly, “He’s telling the truth, Cass. Someone left you on the porch and rang the doorbell. All your paperwork and medical records were tucked in the baby bag. I’ve always thought it was your mom, but I called the police anyway, since your dad wasn’t home. By the time they located her, she was dead. I’m positive she wanted to make sure you were safe and your dad was the safest place she could think of.”
“Any chance I can get a hug here?” I don’t have to wait long. Cass rushes around the table and into my arms, burying her face in my neck. Leanne blinks rapidly with a small smile while I squeeze Cass tight.
“I should go,” she offers hesitantly, immediately earning my glare. “This is a family moment…”
“Not a chance. You are family. Didn’t I just say this was an important secret? Family only. Since you know the secret, that must mean you’re family. Tell her, Cass.”
Cass lifts her head to smirk in Leanne’s direction. “And her eyes are brown, so people would believe she was my mom. If you ever get around to marrying her.”
Leanne looks shocked, and I hear my own mom choke back a laugh. Then my mom makes the most generous offer. “Cass, maybe you and I can help with that. Do you want to spend the weekend with me so they can spend some time alone together? I could pick you up from school on Friday.”
I raise an inquiring eyebrow at my daughter. She purses her lips while she weighs the pros and cons of that much time with her grandma, lover of princess movies and tea parties.
“So girl time wasn’t about training me to be a princess?” she asks hesitantly.
My mom looks genuinely shocked. “No, dear. I don’t know the first thing about being a princess, but I’m pretty sure it’s not anything like those movies. Those are just make believe, but we can watch nothing but animal cartoons if you want.”
Concessions granted, Cass nods her head firmly. “Okay, I’m in.”
Now it’s Leanne that looks nervous. I grin and don’t offer her any outs. “Good, that’s settled. I’ll skip the study group this week and…”
