Excerpt of The Soldier's Unexpected Family by Tanya Agler

Hollydale surprised people that way.

“I’ll support anyone who’s here to help.” She twisted the small disc of St. Michael on her gold necklace. “When the nails came off this wooden frame today, I came this close to landing on my rear end in front of Danny. Now that you’re here, I won’t have that problem anymore.”

The man’s demeanor didn’t change, his back still straight as an ironing board. “I didn’t realize you considered this situation a problem. Good to know.”

“The truck chassis is over here, and you can see the state of the platform.” Natalie wiggled her fingers, and he followed alongside her. “Your arrival changes everything. Between you and me, however, I was on the verge of having to call in every favor folks have ever owed me, and for what? I dug a hole that’s simply too deep. The nails are literally coming out at the seams. I didn’t sign up for anything like this, but what’s done is done.”

“That’s rather harsh.” His low voice was deep and sleek.

“Not at all. I signed up under a whole different set of expectations.” She halted a couple of feet from the truck and attached trailer. ”Oh well, before I know it, this chapter will be done and I’ll hand everything off. Life will then be all rainbows again. You have to look for the silver lining, you know.”

The man walked around the truck and chassis, and Natalie kept her gaze focused on him. The man’s piercing gray gaze seemed to be measuring up the situation, the wheels in his head turning, she imagined. He picked up a plank from the platform and examined it from all angles. “Just like that? No second thoughts, no regrets?”

About a parade float? She could use garland or premade decorations. However, creating puffy tissue paper flowers with Danny would give them something to do together. No way would she stay up nights second-guessing her decision to dream big. “When this is finished, I’ll be able to live with myself just fine.” Better than fine if Danny’s laughter is back. “I’ll have my summer ahead of me, free and unencumbered of the commitment. Late mornings, friends, good times ahead.”

“You have some serious issues.” He turned to her. Concern in his features mirrored something she’d recently seen, but she couldn’t put her finger on what.”

She’d seen those gray eyes somewhere before, but where?

He pointed to the nails sticking out of the end of the board. “Do you want my opinion about what went wrong?”

“Even silver linings need the right glue. You don’t use finishing nails to hold support beams together.” She picked up a board and tapped the nail. “When I drove the truck out of the shed for better lighting and more work space this morning, I must have jarred the frame enough for the boards to fall apart.”

“Looks that way. Glad no one was hurt.” As he spoke, he rolled down his shirtsleeves, unusual in this warm weather. Something running along his left forearm caught her eye, but he folded his arms before she could see whether the mark was part of a tattoo or something else.

“Don’t I know it? When something harmful comes along, you have to move forward. I’m just the facilitator, so to speak, but I’ll be counting on you in the future. I’m sure your energy and experience will yield dividends in the upcoming years.” She tried to smile, but the man stared at her, his brow furrowing deeper with each passing second. Once again, a rush of familiarity flooded her, but she couldn’t pinpoint why it seemed like she should know him.

“I had every impression you’d put up more of a fight.”

“Why would I argue with you? You’ll make life so much easier around here. By the way, I didn’t catch your name. Mister...?”

Out of the blue, Danny rushed toward her, Diane on his heels. Whatever was wrong with Danny must be serious. “Excuse me a minute.” Her cowboy boots smacked the pavement as she hurried toward the pair. “Mom! What’s happening? Danny, are you okay? Did you fall down?”

Danny rushed past her, and she twirled around. The stranger stood a couple of feet away, awe and wonder lightening his hard face. Crouching down, he opened his arms wide for the sopping-wet missile heading his way. Danny flew into his chest, and the man absorbed the impact without falling down. Instead, he cradled Danny’s head and held him tight.

Out of breath and wringing the wet towel, Diane reached Natalie and touched her arm. “He started running before I could find out anything.”

No wonder the man’s gray eyes looked so familiar. Natalie saw the same shape and seriousness in Danny’s brown ones every morning across her breakfast table when Danny slurped down his favorite cereal and drank his orange juice. Danny’s uncle, Major Aidan Murphy, had arrived in Hollydale six months ahead of schedule.