The SEAL's Secret Daughter Page 16

  “So does that mean I’m gonna get the job?” Gran clapped her hands together.

  “I think we can work out a suitable offer,” Nicole replied. “Do you mind if I speak with your agent about it?”

  Oh boy. Were they really going to keep up the cruise ship dancer pretense?

  “Be straight with me,” Monica told Nicole when Gran went to assist a resident who was falling asleep in his chair and losing his grip on his cream cheese-slathered bagel. “How did she do?”

  “She was quite the spitfire,” Nicole chuckled.

  “I’m so sorry. I can take her home right now—”

  “Monica, no.” The nurse waved her palm back and forth. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. I meant she was actually very energetic and helped liven things up around here. She even got a conga line going at one point. Then last night’s movie was Blue Hawaii, so she was practically a celebrity. The night nurse said she slept soundly until six this morning and then found her way to the kitchen and helped Reynaldo get the bacon and sausage going for breakfast.”

  “Oh no, you can’t let Gran near a stove without proper supervision.”

  “Monica.” Nicole folded her hands together in front of her chest. “I understand that you know your grandmother better than we do. But we want our residents to engage in the normal activities they’re used to doing at home. Everyone on our staff—from our electrician to our chef to our night janitors—is trained to supervise and engage with residents just like Mrs. Alvarez. We have locks and security measures in place where we need them, but we also have a wealth of compassion and understanding for what our residents are missing from their old lives.”

  Monica sighed. “I just don’t want her to get hurt. Or endanger others.”

  “I’m not going to promise that she won’t ever have mishaps. Her condition is going to get worse and she’s going to start having more bad days than good. We understand that she can’t help it and we certainly don’t expect perfect behavior from any of our residents. But we’re well equipped to deal with any situation that comes up.”

  It was more than Monica could say for herself.

  “Why don’t you bring down some of her things and let her stay for the entire week and see how she does before you make a decision?” Nicole suggested. “No promises or commitments.”

  No promises or commitments. Monica’s heart sank at the phrase that was now becoming all too familiar in her life.

  * * *

  On Sunday evening, Ethan went back and forth with whether he should call Monica. Mostly, he just wanted to hear her voice and know that she wasn’t mad at him for leaving so abruptly on Saturday night. But he also was curious to find out how her grandmother had done with the sleepover at Legacy Village.

  He paced along the boxes stacked against his bedroom wall until Tootie began attacking his foot every time he did an about-face, swatting at the shoelace on his hiking boot. In the past couple of weeks, her tiny kitten teeth had chewed through the laces of one of his favorite pairs of running shoes and both of his work boots. She’d also shredded through several toilet paper rolls; regularly used the ugly orange sofa as a scratching post; and tore up the school cafeteria menu he’d taped to the refrigerator, as well as the math worksheet Trina had “accidentally” forgotten on the kitchen table.

  They’d learned to close the bathroom door before leaving the house, as well as put all their shoes away in the closets. But the poor sofa was out of luck until Ethan had time to build a mini cat condo. Trina said that Tootie was punishing them for abandoning her during the day to go to school and work. But the thing was a cat. Wasn’t she supposed to want to be left alone?

  Alone. Tomorrow was his Monday night meeting and he still needed someone to watch Trina for him. Ethan’s mind sprang into action. That would be a perfect excuse to call Monica.

  Unfortunately, his daughter was reading a book in the living room and, with the thin walls of his apartment, he didn’t want her overhearing anything in the event Monica said she couldn’t watch her. Trina didn’t need any added rejection in her life.

  Ethan pulled his phone out of his pocket as the first pricks of Tootie’s claws began their assent up the leg of his jeans. He scooped her up and put her on his shoulder, which, other than Trina’s lap, was the kitten’s favorite place to be. Unfortunately, he got rewarded for his efforts with a puff of gas from under her tail.

  “Geez, cat, what did you eat?” He scrunched up his nose as he started a text to Monica. How did your gran do with her trial stay at the place?

  The little bubble popped up on his screen, indicating that she was responding and Ethan shuddered. Although, the sensation probably came from Tootie’s whiskers as she used her nose to explore the area behind his ear.

  Gran did really well. In fact she wanted to stay longer, surprisingly. Nicole said she could extend the trial to a week so I drove home and packed some of Gran’s things and her blood pressure meds, then went back to have dinner with her and sign some papers. I just got home and I’m drained.

  Did you get any sleep? he began to type then quickly deleted the words. It would’ve been a good opening to bring up what they’d done last night, however, he didn’t want to scare her off too quickly. Are you working tomorrow?

  Yes. Both jobs. Then I was thinking that Trina and I could go down and visit Gran while you’re at your meeting.

  Thank God she’d brought it up so he didn’t have to sound like a jerk for wanting to add more responsibility to her already full plate. Are you sure you don’t mind having Trina tomorrow? I know things have changed with your gran and I don’t want to inconvenience you.

  Trina’s not an inconvenience. And Gran will want to see her. The response bubble popped up again and then disappeared, as though she too had just deleted something.

  Were you going to add that YOU wanted to see ME, as well?

  Actually, I was going to add that I didn’t want you to miss your meeting.

  “She thinks I lack self-control,” he explained to Tootie, who’d curled herself into a ball on his shoulder.

  And maybe he did, because he couldn’t stop himself from typing, Well, I’m looking forward to seeing you. Maybe after my meeting we can pick up where we left off?

  Bubbles appeared then disappeared at least three times and Ethan chuckled at how flustered she must be if she kept deleting her responses. Finally she replied, Not in front of your daughter.

  His mouth lifted at the corners. She hadn’t completely shot him down. She was merely forcing him to make some adjustments to his launch coordinates.

  * * *

  Luckily, Ethan didn’t try anything in front of his daughter when he’d dropped her off earlier Monday evening. Probably because Monica planned ahead and already had her purse and keys in her hand when they’d pulled up to her house.

  Tootie was a hit with the residents at Legacy Village—especially with Hector/Gary, who’d tried to sneak the kitten into the hidden compartment of his walker and take her back to his room with the rest of the items he’d pocketed along the way.

  Her grandmother had been happy to see her and Trina at first, but then Gran had switched into her cruise director mode during bingo, ditching them to stand in front of the room and calling out the numbers. When they’d left, Gran had acted as though she didn’t even know them and said, “Have a safe flight home.”

  Monica was exhausted and slightly depressed when she and Trina got into the car to return to Sugar Falls. On the return trip, they talked about her upcoming book report for school and Tootie’s new diet and maybe trying to stay over at Kayla Patrelli’s house again. But Monica knew something else was still on the girl’s mind as they drove home, because she didn’t even bother with her headphones.

  The one subject Trina hadn’t brought up so far tonight was her father. As much as Monica didn’t want to discuss the man either, she had a feeling that Ethan was t
he looming elephant in the room—or the car, so to speak. If she didn’t steer the conversation in that direction, how would she know if Trina was truly doing okay?

  “So, how do you like living in Sugar Falls?” Monica asked, chickening out at the last moment.

  “I like it.” Her reply was simple and followed by silence. So apparently, that subject was a dead end.

  “How about your apartment? Are you and Tootie pretty comfortable living there?”

  “It’s okay. It kinda smells like pastrami all the time because we live on top of a deli. My dad said the caseworker is going to come Wednesday afternoon and check us out. I kinda...” Trina’s voice trailed off.

  “You kinda what?” Monica pushed.

  “I kinda wish it had more decorations in it, like your house does. I don’t want the caseworker to think it’s too plain, like it could belong to anyone.”

  “You mean you want it to look lived-in?”

  The girl kept her head down as she stroked Tootie’s gray fur. “Yeah. I want her to think it’s a good place for me to stay.”

  Monica’s heart stretched and her throat tightened. Trina wanted to stay with her father. Ethan would be so happy to know this. “If you want, I can bring some stuff over tomorrow to help spruce the place up.”

  Trina’s face lifted, revealing a bright smile. “Maybe some stuff from your house? I don’t want to get anything brand-new because then it will look obvious, like we’re trying too hard. And pictures. We’ll need some pictures in frames.”

  The kid was smart, Monica had to give it to her. “I definitely have some old frames. But we’ll have our work cut out for us if we need to decorate and get some photos made up in less than forty-eight hours.”

  “I’ve been taking a few on my phone, but maybe we should get a shot of all of us together.”

  “All of who together?” Monica asked, her knuckles stiffening as she gripped the steering wheel.

  “You, me, Dad and Gran.”

  Oh no. The poor child was under the impression that they were some sort of family unit, or at least she was hoping to portray them as such. A nugget of shame lodged in Monica’s belly and she knew the thing would only get bigger if she didn’t level with Trina.

  “I don’t know if...” Monica started, but didn’t know how to finish without insulting the girl or making her feel rejected.

  “I don’t mean like a family photo or anything. But just something showing that me and Dad have what they call ‘a support system.’” Trina was smart and she’d done her research.

  Monica slowly exhaled. “If it’s okay with your dad, then it’s okay with me.”

  “Are you kidding? My dad will do anything if you tell him to. I know he asks your advice for stuff all the time. And he’s always staring at you with those googly eyes.”

  “Your dad does not have googly eyes,” Monica replied, already regretting the curiosity lacing her voice. Really, Ethan’s eyes always were sort of empty and hard to read, even when he’d been flirting with her at the café. At least they used to be. Before Trina had arrived. Now they were mostly full of confusion and concern and occasionally lust.

  “I know you guys kissed.” Trina was now staring directly at her. Monica kept her eyes on the road, but the girl’s scrutiny continued to drill into her.

  Shifting in her seat, she asked, “How do you know he kissed me on Saturday night?”

  “I was talking about when I saw you in the library, remember? Why? Did you kiss again after your date?”

  Monica’s brain spun as excuses pinged through her mind. She wanted to deny everything, but Trina was too old and too smart not to see through it. Pulling up to the first stoplight in town, Monica decided she’d have to change tactics. “Honey, I want you to know that you are your father’s main priority. No matter what happens between him and me, we will always think about you first. Both of us only want to do what’s best for you.”

  “So then you are dating?” Trina’s lids lowered the same way they did when she was calculating math problems with her tutor in the library, but she didn’t so much as blink. “Like officially?”

  “No, not officially. We’re just friends,” Monica said as she turned onto her street. Ethan’s truck was already waiting at the curb in front of her house. “I think.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Hi, Dad,” Trina said when she opened the door. The kitten, startled awake by the dome light, suddenly jumped out and made a beeline for the bushes. “Tootie! Come back!”

  Just when Monica didn’t think her nerves could handle any more stimulation tonight, Ethan took off after the animal.

  “I’ll get her,” Ethan said, getting flat on his belly under the thick hedge of junipers along the property line. He made several mewing sounds before pleading with the kitten, “Come here, Tootie, that’s a good girl. You want a little piece of cheese? Daddy will get you a little piece of cheese if you come out...”

  “What in the heck are you doing?” Mr. Simon muttered from the other side of the hedge, making Tootie scamper deeper into the dense branches.

  “I’m trying to get my daughter’s kitten out of the bushes.” Ethan stood up and brushed the dirt off his chest and flat abdomen before looking over the five-foot-tall hedge at her neighbor. “Why are you wearing night vision goggles?”

  “I heard some kids were gonna be out toilet papering tonight and I plan to catch them in the act.” Mr. Simon was dressed in all black and his camouflage face paint only made the grooves of his wrinkles stand out. “But if they see you all out here having a party, they’ll likely get scared and take off.”

  “You know you can call the police to handle that sort of thing,” Ethan offered.

  “Already did. But Officer Gregson says they don’t have the resources to conduct an all-night stakeout, so here I am.”

  A rustling sounded in the branches and Ethan dropped back down to the ground. “Come on, Tootie,” he pleaded again. But the cat didn’t seem to care.

  “I thought you were supposed to be a Navy SEAL.” Mr. Simon shifted his night vision goggles to rest on top of his receding hairline. “What kind of Navy SEAL can’t get a little cat out of some bushes?”

  “Monica.” Ethan twisted his neck to glance up at her. Even from that angle and in the dim glow of the streetlight, she could tell that he was having a tough time keeping his grin in check. “Could you please get me a slice of cheese so I can bribe the cat out without having to resort to my elite spec ops skills to navigate through this maze of juniper branches? Preferably before Mr. Simon asks to see my DD214 forms as proof of my service.”

  “Aye, aye, Lieutenant.” Monica gave a mock salute before heading inside to the kitchen. When she returned, Trina was on her knees beside her dad making clicking sounds and calling for her kitten.

  The girl turned to Monica. “Mr. Simon was just telling us that he read a book about a cat burglar who literally stole people’s cats.”

  “Yep. The Feline Felon. You know, they never did catch him.” Monica’s retired neighbor really needed to find a new hobby. Considering the size of this overgrown hedge separating their yards, maybe Monica should refer him to the gardening section the next time he came to the library.

  “Hurry, Dad,” Trina said, using her phone’s flashlight app as Ethan took the wrapped slice Monica had just handed him.

  Monica glared at Mr. Simon before kneeling on the ground to get a better look. “Nobody’s going to steal Tootie.”

  Ethan didn’t even need to hold the cheese out. The kitten was already sashaying out of the branches at the sound of the cellophane wrapper.

  Trina scooped Tootie up quickly and chastised her while simultaneously nuzzling the gray fur on the animal’s neck.

  “We better get this little escape artist home.” Ethan handed his daughter the yellow cheese before standing up. After he’d brushed himself off again
a second time, he scratched the cat behind her ears as Trina fed her. The trembling sensation in Monica’s lower regions was no doubt coming from her ovaries.

  Walking toward his truck, Ethan asked Monica, “How was Gran?”

  “She was okay. Didn’t know who we were after the first thirty minutes, but she seemed really happy to be at that place. Don’t you think, Trina?” Monica apparently now needed the confirmation of an eleven-year-old girl to justify that it was okay to put her grandmother in a home.

  “She sure was smiling and laughing a whole lot,” Trina replied, as she climbed into the front seat with Tootie cradled under one arm. “Hey, Dad, Monica said she’s going to bring some stuff over to our house tomorrow so we can decorate for the home visit.”

  If Ethan didn’t want Monica’s involvement in his personal family business, now would’ve been the perfect time for him to speak up. Instead, he just smiled and dropped a kiss to Monica’s temple. “Cool. We’ll see you tomorrow, then. I’ll make dinner for us.”

  Monica’s face burned all the way to the roots of her hair.

  “Can I tell the caseworker you guys are dating?” Trina asked her dad through the open window before looking at Monica. “I mean, you said you wanted to do the best thing for me and I think the best thing would be for the caseworker to know that my dad has a girlfriend and that she’s part of our support system.”

  “What caseworker?” The question came from behind the bushes. “Like an investigator? What are they investigating?”

  “Good luck with your stakeout, Mr. Simon.” Ethan waved at the neighbor. “Let me know if you ever need to borrow my night vision goggles. They’re modified with four tubes for a field of view of 97 degrees. They’re also military grade and come complete with a government restriction.”

  A thumbs-up popped above the hedge and Monica squeezed her eyes shut behind her glasses to keep from rolling them.

  When she opened her lids, Ethan was less than a foot away and her legs gave a wobble as she waited for him to kiss her, right there in front of his daughter. Again.