Geri Krotow - Navy Rules

“Why don’t we drop this, Max, and you and Sam go for a walk out on the paths?” She meant the myriad dirt walkways that snaked through the often-lush island vegetation. The water of Skagit Bay lapped against the rocky beaches and Mount Baker stood off to the east, its aquamarine glacier visible on clear days.

She hoped that if Max and Sam went for a walk, the high emotion between her and Max would diffuse. Maybe she’d find the courage to do the right thing and tell him the truth, even if it was more than two years too late.

But Max wasn’t finished with their conversation. His unhappiness was evident in his clenched fists, tight jaw and shallow breathing. She studied him and wondered how they were ever going to get past this tension.

Seconds later, he visibly relaxed his body by rolling his shoulders. He bowed his head, and she wondered if he was saying a prayer.

Max, a praying man?

She’d never met a pilot who wasn’t a believer, but Max had never demonstrated a predisposition toward any particular religious faith.

He lifted his head, and his gaze rested on her, without the rancor she’d seen moments earlier.

“I’m sorry for acting out on you, Winnie. My control over my temper is still a work in progress, or so I’m told.” His lips twitched and she thought he might smile, but it was obviously too much effort. He’d aged over the past two years; she saw it now in the resigned expression that made the lines on his face deeper than she recalled.

Max looked sad, she realized.

“It’s fine, Max. Now let’s get you out there with Sam.”

“I move a bit slower than I used to. He’s not going to pull me over, is he?”

She offered him her best smile. “Not if I can help it.”

* * *

SHE WATCHED MAX LEAD Sam onto the path across the road from his driveway. They made an interesting pair, she had to admit. A tall warrior who moved with the gait of a man twenty years older than he was, flanked by seventy pounds of exuberant dog.

Sam could be trusted to stay close to Max and match his stride. It’d taken months of repetitive training, but she’d finally communicated to him the need not to pull, to allow whoever had his leash to be the alpha “dog.”

Tears pricked at her lids and she turned her face up to the sky. She couldn’t keep watching Max and Sam together or Max would come back to a puddle of tears.

The beauty of Sam’s ability to relate to injured vets never ceased to move her. She often felt tears of pride and joy well up as the dog worked with a client, bringing out healing and survivor instincts that even the most highly trained therapists had been unable to reach.

But this wasn’t just another client. It was Max, and Max would forever be a part of her life. Not to mention Maeve’s.

You have to tell him. Now.

CHAPTER FOUR

“HE NEVER ASKED how old Maeve is?”

Robyn’s auburn curls sprang into her eyes and she brushed them away with an exasperated movement. Winnie sat with her sister on the sectional couch that occupied most of the family room in Robyn and Doug’s traditional home in Anacortes.

“No.” Winnie dug into her white container of Thai noodles and avoided eye contact with Robyn. Sam was curled up at her feet and she rubbed his belly with her toes.

Robyn was the only other person on earth who knew who Maeve’s father was because Winnie trusted her, and Robyn hadn’t let her down, which was a spectacular accomplishment considering the inquisitive nature of their family.

But Max’s return to Winnie’s life had put a knot in her stomach. Robyn had remained hands-off and kept her opinions to herself when Winnie had the baby and while Max wasn’t in the picture. Now Robyn’s impatience was reflected in her questions.

“I still don’t get why you went over there knowing it was him if you weren’t going to tell him about Maeve.” Robyn fixed her with a stern look. “Which, by the way, you should’ve done two years ago.”

Winnie stopped stroking Sam with her foot and swallowed a forkful of noodles whole.

“I know your opinion, Robyn. I don’t need to hear it again. Don’t you think I do a good enough job of beating myself up?”

When Robyn’s mouth opened, Winnie held up her hand.

“I did go over there to tell him. And I really meant to. But then he started talking about things that upset him. He almost lost his temper and I sent him for a walk with Sam.”

Sam’s ears pricked up at the mention of his name.

She put down the container of noodles and leaned against the back of the red suede couch, pulling her knees up to her chest.

“I thought it would be easier to tell Max in his house, without Maeve there. I also want to be able to help him with Sam. I owe him.”

“If you owe him anything, it’s the truth. You’re holding back the most valuable, important information of his life.” Robyn’s criticism chafed at Winnie’s patience.

“He doesn’t know that yet, Robyn. He was the best CACO at the worst of times. I’ll always be grateful to him for what he did for Krista and me.” In the aftermath of Tom’s death, Max had taken on the duty of Command Assistant Casualty Officer. His duty had been to see her through every aspect of her new, unwanted status as a military widow. From the funeral arrangements to walking her across the chapel parking lot after the service to making sure she and Krista received all the survivor benefits due to them—Max did it all.

He’d also been Tom’s best friend and had grieved for Tom more than anyone besides Winnie, Krista and his family.

“He got me through so much, Robyn. When I was acting crazy, trying to keep my mind off the pain. And when I found out he’s the one who needs the canine therapy, I felt I had to return the favor.” She paused. “No, that’s not completely true, either. Ever since I found out he was back in Whidbey, I knew I had to tell him.”

Winnie sent her sister a weak smile. Robyn’s expression remained stern.

“I’ve completely blown this,” she went on. “I would have, should have, told him I was pregnant, but he was on his way to war and I thought it’d be awful to contact him when I hadn’t replied to his calls after the Air Show. His deployment was extended, and six months turned into nine. Then he got injured and was on the East Coast for rehab. I couldn’t tell him when he was going through so much, could I?”

“Of course you could have.” Robyn could be so unyielding.

“I planned to go out there a few months ago, remember?” She’d decided to fly to D.C., find Max in the rehab center where he was spending his initial recovery period and tell him.

“Yes, I remember. But then you found out he was on his way back to Whidbey—it was in the paper. I’ve been here the whole time, Winnie. I haven’t missed any of this.” Robyn rolled her eyes. “You’re taking the risk that he’ll figure out about Maeve before you tell him. Then he’ll absolutely never trust you again.”

Winnie ignored the white-hot fear that pierced her gut, telling herself that Robyn had been the college drama major, after all.

“Don’t be so melodramatic. I’m risking nothing. Okay, so Max might put two and two together. But will he want a future with us at all? With his daughter? Doubtful. As good a man as Max is, he’s been a loner all these years. He’s not going to change now.”

“Are you really believing what you’re saying, sis? We’re talking about Max, the guy who would’ve given his left arm to keep you and Krista safe after the accident. Finding out you’re a parent changes everyone, and Max especially would want to be part of his daughter’s life. Plus, it’ll take about a minute for Tom’s family to come charging back in, looking for custody if they think that what you’re doing isn’t in Krista’s best interests.”