Regan Black - A Soldier's Honour

“More than once,” Matt confessed. “You think I was hatched in this uniform?” Caleb snickered. “That’s how I know.” Bethany and Patricia had similar standards about child-rearing. No wonder he loved her still.

Whoa. Love? That had to be some transference effect of being around Caleb. Regardless, he’d pick it apart later. Right now, they needed to keep moving. He was sure someone was watching them, although he couldn’t spot the tail.

If Caleb reached DC without any trouble, only to get hurt on Matt’s watch, on his first day of parenting, he’d never forgive himself. Nor would he ever be forgiven. He ducked into the next storefront, pleased to discover it was a deli. “Hungry?”

They moved to the counter and ordered a couple of sandwiches and soft drinks. It was early for the lunch rush, so they had their pick of the few tables. Matt guided Caleb to a two-top near the back wall and took the seat that gave him a view of the door and sidewalk out front.

While they waited for their food, Matt sent a text message to his office, offering to bring back lunch for everyone. It would give them a place away from prying eyes to regroup and make a plan.

“You look mad,” Caleb said.

“I’ve been told that. It’s my thinking face,” Matt explained. He wouldn’t lump fear or worry onto his son’s shoulders. “Your timing is crazy,” he said, trying to smile. “We really were going to tell you tonight. Your mom was convinced the acting out would start tomorrow.”

Caleb dragged the drink straw up and down through the hole in the lid, making an annoying noise. Matt didn’t react. His little brothers, twins, were five years younger. He could teach master classes on how to ignore annoying moments and get even later.

“How is your soccer season?” he asked.

The noise stopped suddenly. “Now you want to be a dad?”

He’d wanted that from the beginning. “I’d like to get to know you.” He would not blame Bethany for the estrangement. “You came to me.” He sat back, spreading his hands. “Now’s your chance. Just you and me. I’m an open book.”

Caleb’s eyes narrowed as he judged the offer. “Did you not want me?”

“Of course I wanted you,” Matt said.

He leaned forward, his voice low. “Then where have you been?”

And now he understood why Bethany hadn’t wanted to face this conversation alone. Man up, Riley. Hard questions now equaled a single drop in the ocean compared to what she’d been handling for Caleb’s entire life. “There hasn’t been a day since your mom got pregnant that I haven’t wanted you.” The resulting eye roll didn’t surprise him, but it prompted a change in tactic. “How did you find out about me?”

“I told you. The snaps.”

“Right. And how do you think the sender got the information?”

Caleb’s eyebrows dipped into a perplexed frown. “Never thought about it.”

“The personnel records for the Military were hacked recently. About the time you started getting messages on that app. The reason there was information for someone to send to you is because I’ve been sending your mother a percentage of my pay as financial support every month since before you were born.” He decided not to mention the threatening letter Bethany received last night, but it would be more for investigators to piece together.

Caleb’s gaze narrowed as he studied Matt. “So what’s wrong with you that Mom didn’t think you should stick around?”

Matt supposed that was the easy way to put it, and he wished it didn’t feel like the truth. “We met at West Point. We were in the same cadet class there and became friends.” Matt couldn’t suppress a smile at the fonder memories. “We were young and we cared about each other a great deal,” he continued. “Your mom made some really tough choices when she found out she was pregnant. She did what she thought was best for her and ultimately for you.” She’d cut him out and left him reeling. “I honored her choices, but insisted on helping in the only way she would let me.”

The sandwiches were delivered and Matt asked the server about a to-go order for the office.

“Mom never said anything about going to West Point.” Caleb frowned again as he squeezed ketchup into a puddle beside his french fries.

“She was there for three semesters,” Matt said. “She transferred to another school when we got pregnant.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone I was your baby or anything?”

Bethany had insisted it would be an honor violation that would get them both expelled, ruining his career and jeopardizing her transfer and scholarship. He’d been willing to risk the potential demotion or discipline. Hell, he’d been willing to transfer with her to a new school. She’d refused, claiming his place was to follow in his father’s footsteps. She’d turned down every option Matt offered on the basis of personal responsibility: her body, her rules.

If she wanted Caleb to know all of that, she’d have to share it. He didn’t feel it was his place to do so.

“I wanted to,” Matt said at last. “And I did my best to convince her to let me be part of your family from the start.”

Caleb studied him again, apparently finding the explanation sincere. “Mom can be pretty stubborn.”

“Her picture is part of the dictionary definition,” Matt agreed, making Caleb laugh.

The unexpected burst of such a happy sound reminded Matt of Bethany. Jealousy flared and flashed through him that she’d had a lifetime with Caleb and kept him out of the loop. Thankfully the bitter-tasting emotion drained out of him almost as quickly as it had appeared.

This wasn’t all on her. He could have pressed for his paternal rights and visitation and probably should have. Had they both taken advantage of the easier, ready excuses of his career and her independence? However this had come about, now they had a chance to make a better choice and create a fresh start for their future as a family.

“Why do you keep staring at the window?”

He didn’t miss a trick. Matt approved of his observation skills. He thought about shooting straight with him and anticipated Bethany’s reaction to that. Their son was only fourteen. He tempered his answer to fall somewhere in the middle. “You finding me now seems tied to the security breach, hack or whatever the official term will be. I don’t trust that kind of coincidence. Something feels off.”

Caleb twisted around to check for himself, and then turned back and tucked into the food again. “You think I was followed?”

Or sent . He kept that theory to himself. It seemed a little far-fetched, even in his head. “It’s crossed my mind.”

Assuming this situation was a deliberate setup and put into motion by someone who’d used the compromised information, it pissed him off. Of the three of them, only Matt hadn’t been threatened. It infuriated him that some jerk would target the innocent civilians tied to his profile rather than come after him directly.

“Cool. It’s like James Bond or something.”

Matt should have known. “This isn’t a movie, Caleb. If someone used you or manipulated this situation, that stops now.”

“So you’re sorry I found you.”

“No, I didn’t say that.” His appetite gone, Matt wrapped the remains of his sandwich for later. He couldn’t expect Caleb to instantly accept and believe that Matt loved him and had always wanted to be part of his life. “All this time, I’ve only had pictures and a few annual updates. I’ve wanted to meet you for some time. You can verify that with your mom tonight over Greek chicken.”

“I will.”

“Good.” His phone chirped with a text message that the order for the office was ready. “If you’re not done, we’ll get a to-go box and you can eat with the rest of the general’s staff at the Pentagon.”