The SEAL's Stolen Child

* * *

EVE WOKE NOT sure where she was. Then she spotted Garrett lightly snoring in a recliner. A huge cat sprawled across his lap, purring so loud Eve heard him from across the room. Fat Albert was still alive? They’d found the Maine coon tail as a kitten under the football-stadium bleachers. She’d wanted to keep him, but her dad refused. Garrett’s parents had recently lost their dachshund and were happy to take in the stray.

The whole Solomon house might’ve been small enough to fit in the ground floor of her home’s east wing, but the decor’s warmth made the space infinitely more inviting. The rooms were painted in soothing pale blues and yellows with most of the artwork either homemade needlework or paintings. Tables and shelves contained haphazard piles of books, and plants thrived on every windowsill.

Though Eve had missed her father’s funeral reception, oddly enough, she wasn’t sorry. Even if there hadn’t been that scene with the reporter, she didn’t feel emotionally strong enough to handle countless one-on-ones with family friends. As much as she valued their condolences, her father’s deathbed revelations left her in an odd place. While she was mourning, she was also angered and saddened by her father’s deception. Toss in the possible illegal-immigrant scandal and it was too much.

Rising silently, she folded the quilt she’d been covered with, then went in search of Garrett’s mom.

“Sleeping beauty!” Dina called from across the backyard. Neat weed piles told how she’d spent her afternoon. “Come look at these elephant ears. Last time you were here, I’d just planted them from bulbs.”

Eve fought fresh tears. Her pregnancy and subsequent disappearance couldn’t have hurt only Garrett. Understandably, Dina would also have been justified in being upset. How kind she was to not show it.

“They’re lovely.” Eve fingered the enormous leaves, breathing deeply of fresh-turned soil.

“Garrett still out?”

“Yes.” The memory of him with his cat made Eve smile. “I can’t believe you all still have Fat Albert—and he’s bigger than ever.”

“Us Solomons—” Dina tugged extra hard at a dandelion “—keep what’s ours.”

“If that was a dig about—”

“Stop right there. I may dig in my garden, but conversationally, I keep things on the up-and-up. If I have something to tell you, you’ll know. All I meant was that whether it be a stray or the grandchild I’ve long dreamed of having—once you and Garrett bring him home—I’m going to hold on to my grandson for all I’m worth.”

“Assuming we find him…” Garrett crossed the lawn. “You need to follow your own advice, Mom, and take this one step at a time.”

Eve asked, “When do we stop talking about finding him and actually start our search?”

* * *

“SURE YOU’RE UP FOR THIS?” Garrett asked the next morning in Eve’s entry hall as she gathered her purse and a light jacket. As usual, she looked dressed for a corporate board meeting in a cream-colored suit with her hair once again up. He was glad. It made her less approachable and therefore less appealing—at least that was the line he fed himself. She was still a beauty.

“I’m excited.” She managed a forced smile. “But truthfully, also a little scared. I haven’t been to that place since we lost our son.”

“You’ll be okay.” Had they still been a couple, he’d have pulled her into a hug, or maybe just held her hand. Some small sign to show her he cared. The thing was, they weren’t in any way connected other than by their shared past, which left him in an awkward spot.

“Here you yummy snacks.” Juanita handed him a bulging paper bag. “Sandwich and cookies.”

“Thanks.” He accepted her gift and had no problem giving her an impromptu hug. Today’s wig was straight, long and blond. Drawing back he winked. “You’re looking good. It’s a long drive to Savannah, and this will come in handy. Ready?” he asked Eve.

An hour later, silence had moved past awkward to just plain annoying.

On a bare stretch of interstate, he angled to face her. “Look, it’s been a while since we’ve really talked. How about filling me in on what you’ve done for nearly the past decade.”

She’d been staring out his Mustang’s window, but now glanced his way. “College at Brown.”

“Nice.” He passed a slow pickup.

“Daddy—Dad—went there.”

“Sorry about that dig. I get calling Hal Daddy is a Southern thing.”

She’d retreated to focusing on the passing scenery. “I joined a sorority, but looking back on it, I’d have been better off on my own. I spent too much time wondering if all those girls somehow knew my dirty secret. Which in retrospect, I can thank my father for. Had he let me have our baby at home, sure, gossipy tongues would’ve wagged, but once the shock wore off, everyone would’ve accepted our child. It incenses me how many years I lost due to feeling like a second-class citizen. Like just because I’d gotten knocked-up in high school, I wasn’t good enough to keep company with so-called ‘nice girls.’”

“Don’t hold back,” Garrett teased.

“Sorry,” she said with a shy smile, “but it actually felt good getting that out.”

“Don’t apologize to me. You’re preaching to the choir on believing you should never have left Coral Ridge, and there sure as hell isn’t a statute of limitations on hurt feelings or anger.”

“True…” When she met his gaze, his stomach acted funny. Lord, but she was a fine-looking woman. Somehow she managed to pull off regal, cute and smoking hot all at the same time.

Attempting to get his mind off how awesome he used to feel kissing her, he said, “I remember Mom telling me you’d been married. Guess it was quite the social event in Coral Ridge.”

Eve groaned. “Another mistake. Met Matthew my junior year. We shared some fun times. He was president of Dad’s old fraternity and during a parent weekend, Matt earned Hal’s seal of approval and that was that. We married right after graduation—of course Dad had the whole thing planned. Aside from picking my dress, pretty much everything else was set.” Eve paused, looking slightly ashamed. “Is there anything in my life I haven’t let my father do?”

Garrett fought the urge to clasp her hand. “I’m assuming your divorce was at least your idea?”

She laughed. “Daddy still has Matt on his Christmas-card list.”

Dodging a fast-food bag that’d blown into his lane, Garrett mused, “At least you won’t have to worry about that anymore.”

“You’re so not funny. Anyway, my degree is in marketing, so I’m part of that division in all Daddy’s companies. I’ve already taken off a week. Makes me dizzy thinking how much there is to catch up on.”

“With your dad out of the picture, are you now in charge?”

Her eyes teared. “I take it sensitivity training isn’t a highlight of SEAL business?”

“What? I asked a valid question. Last thing I meant was to hurt you.”

Reclining her seat, she curled onto her side, effectively hiding her face.

“I’m no expert, but isn’t it customary for you to now ask about me?”

Using her jacket as a blanket, she did have one question. “Got anything I might use for a pillow?”

* * *

BEFORE GARRETT PICKED her up that morning, Eve had done an internet search for a church she remembered being near the home for unwed mothers she’d stayed at. Now that Garrett had found it, the task fell on her to find the three-story historic residence.

“I remember it being redbrick.” She’d rolled down the tinted window for a better look. “It sat on two lots and there was a vegetable garden we all took turns tending. And a giant live oak. Unless the tree was harmed in a storm, it has to still be there.”

He slowed for a stop sign. “Nothing on this street fits that description. Mark it off on your map and we’ll go block by block till you see a place that looks familiar.”

Six blocks later, they’d found what they were looking for—only the garden had been replaced by a parking lot and an ornate sign hung from a wrought-iron gate, announcing that the place was a B and B called The Live Oak Inn.

“Now what?” she asked Garrett. “What are we supposed to do when our first—and only—lead doesn’t pan out?”