GINA WILKINS - The Soldier's Legacy

Erin was already being drawn to the bookshelves while Caleb studied the video games. Bella, overwhelmed, clung to Jade’s hand, though she looked longingly at the blocks table. Considering this room and the pool in the backyard, Jade figured the kids were never going to want to leave this house for the more modest home she had purchased in a less-expensive neighborhood a few miles away. It was a nice place, but not like this one. No private pool. No extravagant entertainment room.

Still, she thought they’d be quite happy in their new house, once it was fire-damage free and habitable again, of course. The kids had examined and approved every inch of it before the purchase papers were signed. They’d miss their previous home and friends in Columbia, but Jade thought she’d prepared them well for their adventure here.

She’d been considering this move for more than a year, since her physician cousin had first approached her about taking a nursing job in a medical clinic in Shorty’s Landing. With all the children in school, Jade could put her nursing training to full use, having worked only part-time for Bella’s first six years. And frankly, it would be nice to start fresh in a new town with new acquaintances. As kind as everyone in her hometown had been to them after her husband’s death, there were times when it had become difficult for all of them to be always seen as the tragically bereaved survivors of a larger-than-life military hero.

“Mr. Farrell really never comes up here?” Caleb shook his head in disbelief. “If I had a room like this, I’d stay in it all the time.”

“This floor is set up for his guests. He has a big TV, a reading nook, and a home office in his private suite downstairs,” Mary Pat explained. “When he’s home, he’s usually there.”

“Although I have been known to sneak up here late at night to work on my pool-shooting skills,” a man drawled from the doorway. “I figure if I keep practicing, I’ll beat Mary Pat someday. Don’t ever bet against her, by the way. She’s a hustler.”

“Not a hustler,” Mary Pat said with a grin as everyone turned to watch Trevor Farrell enter the room. “Just better than you’ll ever be, practice or no.”

Trevor laughed, the sound deep and rumbly. Jade swallowed. He was even better looking than she’d remembered—tall and slim, with light brown hair, very blue eyes and a smile that could have come straight from a toothpaste ad. His posture was straight and he looked poised, a man accustomed to being in charge. His expression was warm as he approached her. “It’s nice to see you again, Jade.”

She tucked a strand of blond hair behind one ear. “Trevor, it was so generous of you to take us in while our house is being repaired. We appreciate it very much.”

“As you can see, there’s plenty of room. You aren’t putting me out at all. I’m only sorry the accident at your new house delayed your move-in. That must have been disappointing for you all.”

“Oh, I think everything’s working out just fine,” Erin proclaimed, running a hand admiringly along the back of a leather theater chair. “I’m Erin, by the way.”

“Yes, I recall meeting you at your grandmother’s sixtieth birthday party—what? Three years ago? You’ve grown quite a bit since then.”

Erin nodded. “I was just seven then. I’m ten now.”

“I remember you.” Caleb looked around from the video game selection as he spoke, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “Is it okay if I play Dougie the Donkey on your system later? I’ll be really careful.”

“Of course you can play the game, Caleb, if your mom approves. Maybe you could even show me a trick or two. I’ve never gotten past the Gator Boss fight on level nine.”

“Seriously? I took him out in like three tries.”

Trevor chuckled. “So far my skills at both pool and video games have been questioned. What about you, Little Bit?” he asked casually of Bella, who was peeking out at him from behind her mother. “Do you have a special talent you could embarrass me with?”

Jade half-expected her shy youngest to mumble an answer and hide again, which was Bella’s usual response when spoken to by strangers. Instead, after a moment’s thought, the child replied, “I can do cartwheels. Three in a row.”

Trevor threw up his hands. “Well, there you go. I can’t do one cartwheel without falling right on my...er...face.”

Bella giggled, then crowded behind Jade again as if she’d surprised even herself.

“In case you forgot, her name is Bella,” Erin said in a long-suffering tone. “She’s kind of a scaredy-cat.”

“Am not,” Bella muttered, her voice muffled by Jade’s shirt.

“I wouldn’t call anyone who can do three cartwheels in a row a scaredy-cat,” Trevor said solemnly, giving Jade a wink that made her catch her breath. She blinked a couple of times, as surprised by her own automatic response to this charismatic man as by Bella’s. They’d always been surrounded by crowds in their earlier meetings. Maybe that had somewhat diluted the effect of his substantial charm.

“Anyway,” Trevor said. “I have a dull business dinner tonight and I need to change first. I just wanted to welcome you and tell you that if there’s anything you need while you’re our guests here, please let us know.”

Erin opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again quickly when Jade frowned at her. Heaven only knew what her outspoken middle child had been on the verge of requesting.

Mary Pat moved toward the door. “I’m going down to start dinner for the rest of us. I’ll let you know when it’s ready, Jade.”

“Oh, you don’t have to cook for us,” Jade felt compelled to protest. “I can...”

“Are you kidding? I’m always delighted to have an excuse to cook for a group. And I’m planning to eat with y’all, so I’m looking forward to that, too.” Mary Pat punched Trevor’s arm lightly as she passed him. “This one’s hardly ever home at mealtime.”

“You know I’d rather have your cooking than anyone else’s,” Trevor shot back, patting her cheek. “Just have to work most evenings.”

“And by work, he means schmoozing with guests at the resort or having dinner with travel writers or vendors,” Mary Pat explained in an aside as she left the room. “Most of which he could cut back on significantly without affecting his business in the least. The man is a workaholic, but nothing his mama or I say can make him change his ways.”

Smiling, Trevor spoke to Jade. “Mary Pat is one of a kind. I tell her all the time I’m not sure if it’s a benefit to the world or a shame there are no more like her.”

Amused by the relationship between Mary Pat and Trevor, Jade returned his smile. “Looks to me as if you’re lucky to have her.”

Casting an exaggeratedly wary look toward the doorway, Trevor placed a finger to his lips as he stage-whispered, “Don’t tell her I said this, but you’re right.”

Dropping his hand, he took a step backward toward the hall. “Again, if there’s anything you need, just let us know. There are bottled waters and assorted soft drinks in the bar fridge along with some yogurts and other snacks, and of course the fruit in the bowl. Help yourself...uh...with your mom’s permission, of course, kids. And, Jade, there’s a coffeemaker and an assortment of coffees and teas.”

“Wait up a second, Trevor.” Releasing Bella’s hand, Jade moved to follow him. “You kids stay in here and play with the blocks or something for a few minutes while I speak with Mr. Farrell.”

The girls were already headed toward the blocks table when Jade stepped out of the room and into the hallway with Trevor.

He paused at the top of the stairs. “Is there something I can do for you, Jade?”