Snowbound with the Soldier

After handing over the glass, Jason peered over his shoulder to make eye contact with Kara, but she was gone. Their talk would have to wait a little longer.

“I...I was worried.” Joe paused to catch his breath. “Thought maybe I’d never lay eyes on you again.”

“I’m here.” He placed a reassuring hand on his father’s bony shoulder. Jason schooled his features, hoping to keep his pity and shock under wraps. “Whatever you need, all you have to do is ask.”

“You’d do that...now...after everything?” He coughed again.

“Yes.”

The one syllable said enough. Jason didn’t want to rehash the bad times, knowing they’d wasted too much time looking over their shoulders instead of appreciating the here and now. Besides, the letter had already told him everything he’d ever need to know. Too bad it’d taken him all these years to read it.

“Hey, Dad, remember those days when we’d head out with our fishing poles in hand to catch dinner?”

The corners of his father’s thin lips lifted. “You remember back then?”

“I remember, Dad.”

“We never did catch much.”

“But it was fun trying.”

“That it was.” This time it was his father who reached out to him, squeezing his forearm with cool hands. “I was worried you’d forget those times.” Another coughing fit overtook him and Jason offered him more water. When his breathing calmed, Joe continued, “I’m sorry it all went so wrong. I couldn’t handle your mother’s death, and I let you down.”

Knowing this was no longer about him, but about giving his father everlasting peace, Jason added, “But before that you were the best dad. I wouldn’t have made it to quarterback in high school if it hadn’t been for you teaching me to play ball at an early age.”

A twinkle came to his father’s sunken eyes just before his eyelids began to droop. Obviously, the emotional reunion and the coughing had zapped his energy.

“It’s okay, Dad. You rest now.”

“Son, tell Kara I still want my Christmas present.”

“I will.” Jason hoped she knew what his father was talking about, because he certainly didn’t. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you.”

“Promise?” Joe murmured. His eyes were completely closed now.

“I promise. You don’t have to worry anymore. I’ll be here when you need me.”

And he knew without a doubt that he wasn’t going anywhere—no matter what fate threw at him. He would be here for the loved ones in his life. Now he just had to convince Kara to trust in him.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

FRIDAY EVENING KARA’S heart hammered harder and faster the closer she got to Jason’s log home. She could hardly believe he’d once again called and summoned her to drop everything, grab Samantha and come running.

This time he’d requested the vendor quotes. Of course, she couldn’t blame him. She was supposed to have dropped the report on his desk on her way out the door, but a printer snafu and a phone call from her impatient daughter had left her thoughts scattered. Kara had walked right out the door with the printed report in hand.

But she also had some important information for him. After checking around with other restaurants, she knew what she didn’t like about Bigger Wholesales—they undercut their competition with inferior produce, and a lot of money was lost due to waste.

As she made a left-hand turn onto Jason’s road, she wondered if tonight might be a good time to let him know that she’d done a phone interview with the company in Ohio. Her background check had come back clean and now the only thing standing between her and an office manager position with benefits was for her to accept. She should be excited, or at least relieved, but she couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for leaving her family, home or—most of all—Jason. It’d taken years to be reunited and now, in a blink, they were over.

A groan from behind had Kara glancing in the rearview mirror at her daughter, who was squirming in her seat belt. “Sweetie, what are you doing?”

“I dropped Bubbles.” Guttural grunts sounded. “Got him.”

“Maybe you should leave him in the car so you don’t lose him while we’re at Jason’s. We won’t be long.”

“Bubbles stays with me.”

Not in the mood for an argument, Kara let the subject drop. Jason’s driveway loomed in the distance. A nervous energy made her stomach quiver at the thought of seeing him outside the office, where they didn’t have to maintain a professional facade.