Judy Christenberry - A Soldier's Return

“Lord have mercy, you walk out of here without seeing them and my wife would divorce me, and those three young ladies would never speak to me again!”

“Your wife would divorce you?” Jim asked, a little surprised by Greenfield’s response.

“Vanessa didn’t tell you I married her mother?”

“No. In fact, she hasn’t told me much of anything. Her letters have been filled with questions about me.”

“Well, then, there’s a lot we have to talk about.” He reached for the phone. “But first I’ll call the house and let them know you’re here. Our housekeeper will want to make a welcome-home dinner. Then we can go over there, or I can answer any questions you have first.”

Jim watched the man talk with someone named Betty.

“Yes, I’ll tell her. I’m sure she’ll accept. Tell Viv when she wakes up. And call Vanessa and Rebecca.”

After he hung up the phone, the man looked at Jim. “My wife is still napping. Our son still gets us up several times a night.”

Jim didn’t want to ask any awkward questions, but he thought Greenfield was a bit old to have a baby son.

Will sighed. “I should’ve guessed they didn’t tell you about our baby, either.” He sat back in his chair and nodded at the photo on his desk. An attractive blonde held a blue-blanketed newborn.

“Vivian adopted Vanessa during her first marriage. She was married at eighteen. She’s just turned forty-four.” He shrugged a shoulder and grinned. “We didn’t plan on another family, but we’re thrilled about our son. He’s five months old.”

“Congratulations,” Jim said, relieved to have things clarified.

“Do you have other questions before we go to the house?”

Jim drew a deep breath. He had so many questions, it’d take a lifetime to ask them. But before he could ask any, the phone rang again.

“Excuse me,” Will said. After a minute, he covered the phone receiver and explained to Jim, “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to take this call.” He raised his voice and called out, “Carrie?”

The young woman appeared at the door. “Yes, Will?”

“Could you answer any questions Jim might have while I finish this call?”

“Of course. Come with me, Jim—I mean Captain Barlow.”

“‘Jim’ will be fine,” he said, rising and moving into the outer office again. “There’s no need to entertain me. I’ll go back to my hotel and call Will tomorrow.”

“No!” she replied, grabbing his arm. “You can’t leave!” Carrie felt his muscles tense under her hold, and she looked at him, noting an accompanying hardening of his features.

“Unless I’m under house arrest, I don’t see any reason why I can’t…Carrie, is it?”

She withdrew her hand from his arm. “I—I didn’t mean I could stop you, Jim. I meant it would be a disappointment to your family if you left today without seeing any of them.”

“I doubt that, Carrie. They haven’t seen me since the twins were two. And Vanessa was three months old when she was adopted. She definitely doesn’t remember me.”

The only sibling he’d had contact with was Wally because they’d both gone in the foster-care system. Wally had followed him into the marines—and had been killed at twenty-eight.

He’d told his sisters, and Will, about his brother’s death. He hadn’t forgiven himself for Wally’s end. After all, Wally had joined the marines only because Jim had.

He cleared his throat. “I’m sure waiting until tomorrow won’t make any difference.”

“Jim, I’m a friend of Vanessa’s. I know how much she’s been longing to see you. Please, just wait a few minutes. I’m sure Will won’t be long.”

With a sigh, Jim sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Will said he married Vanessa’s mother.”

“Yes, last spring, and they have a son, Danny.”

“So the baby is Vanessa’s brother?”

“Technically he’s her half brother.” She smiled. “It’s quite a story, you know. Last year Vanessa only had her adoptive mother, Vivian. Now she has a stepfather, two sisters, a half brother and you, her real brother.”

“Sounds like she’s got more family than she needs.”

Carrie looked him straight in the eye, her expression serious. “I don’t think one ever has enough family.” Then she lowered her head and began reading a piece of paper she’d snatched from the printer.

There was something in her face, some tone in her voice that made him think she might not have family, that she might be all alone. Like he’d been for so long. “Do you have family?” he asked.

Her head snapped up but she didn’t look at him. “That doesn’t matter.” Then switching gears, she asked, “Did Vanessa tell you that your other sisters are married?”

“Yes, Rebecca and Rachel mentioned that in their letters.” He couldn’t help wondering about Carrie’s marital status. She was a beauty, with big blue eyes to go along with her golden hair, which she wore in a casual style that suited her soft features.

“Rebecca is expecting her second—a baby girl—any day now.”

Carrie’s statement broke into his thoughts. “I didn’t know that,” he said, forcing his attention back on what she was saying.

“Joey, her son, is five and adorable.”

“So he’ll have a sister like Vanessa.”

“Not exactly,” Carrie said.

“Not exactly? Either Rebecca’s husband is Joey’s father, as well, or he’s not.” Jim stared at her, waiting for a response.

“He is. But when she was pregnant with Joey, she and Jeff lost contact and Rebecca never looked for him. When they accidentally found each other, he was already engaged to another woman. But he found a way to marry Rebecca.”

“Good for him. But I think I’m going to need a chart to keep up with all of them.”

Carrie laughed. It was a beautiful sound, he realized instantly. “There’s only Rachel left. She’s married to J.D. He’s a rancher and he’s terrific. A great guy.”

“Are you attracted to him?” Jim asked, frowning. He didn’t want anyone giving his sisters problems. And he could see how any man might be interested in the blonde.

The young woman stared at him, her mouth open. The expression should have made her unattractive, but it didn’t. He guessed he had a weak spot for blue-eyed blondes.

“No! Absolutely not!”

“Then why did you say he was terrific?”

“Because he is. Especially the way he treats Rachel.”

“Okay,” Jim said slowly, watching her carefully. “Do they live in Dallas?”

“No, his ranch is in west Texas, five or six hours west of Dallas.”

“Have you been there?” That would tell him how involved she was with his sister’s husband.

“No,” she said, frowning.

Before she could say anything else, Will came out of his office, putting on his jacket as he walked.

“We’re going home, Carrie,” he said. “Betty’s putting on a big spread and she’s expecting you to be there.”

“I shouldn’t intrude, Will. It’s a night for family,” Carrie said.

“You’re family, honey, and don’t you forget it,” the man said as he stooped down to kiss her cheek. “Now, are you coming with us or do you have things you need to do? Dinner is at six.”

“I’d better finish up a few things, but I’ll be along for dinner.” Carrie turned her eyes on him. “And…welcome home, Jim.”

“Thank you.” He could hear the sincerity in her voice. Still, there was something disturbing about the young woman. Perhaps because he’d actually found himself responding to her…?

CARRIE FORCED HERSELF to wait another hour at the office before she put away her work and went to her car. By now, she figured, Vanessa had had a chance to meet her brother. Maybe even Rebecca had gotten there, too, though Rachel probably wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow.