still wondering why you
have his last name instead of mine,” she groused as she fastened
the outfit.
“Because, you will be marrying me,” he said voice
full of confidence. “No point in having to change her name
then.”
“Says the one who had seconds’ worth of work in
creating you,” she said, kissing the other foot.
Nitsa giggled and smiled. She reached out to her
father and Vicki rolled her eyes. “See, I get you all clean and
pretty and you just want him.”
“I’m handsome; she has good taste in men.”
Vicki snorted as he took their daughter into his
strong arms. Once Nitsa had been born, there’d been a change to
Chase she’d not been expecting. He was a pile of mush. There were
times she’d come home from work to find them sound asleep, Nitsa
secure in his arms, or on his chest. No matter how much work he put
in at his job, he never missed spending time with his daughter.
“And don’t think,” he said smacking her on the ass
as she tidied up, “I didn’t hear that comment about seconds. I’m
sure I kept you busy for well over an hour.”
“I was in labor for thirty-two because your daughter was being stubborn about coming into the world.”
“She wanted a grand entrance.”
“I wanted her out.” She tossed her hair back and
faced the man she loved more than anything. Nitsa held so safe in
his arms did something to her. “Who was at the door?”
“A box.”
She drew her eyebrows together. “A box was at the
door?”
“Someone dropped it off.”
The cop in her was immediately suspicious. “Any
identifying marks?”
He nuzzled Nitsa’s dark hair. “Like a return
address, Deputy?”
“Smart ass.” She punched him in the shoulder as she
walked by him.
“I like yours, does that count?”
“Bleeding kid…” She braided her hair as she made her
way to the door to find the box that had been delivered.
“I heard that,” he shouted behind her. “And I’ll
have you know, I’m like a full grown teenager now.”
“Doesn’t even deserve a reply,” she muttered to
herself.
The box sat on the coffee table in the living room
and she stood over it, ice coating her heart. The handwriting
familiar enough to recreate the sour taste in her mouth all without
opening it.
“You just going to stare at it?”
Vicki glanced to her left where Chase stood. Nitsa
had a stuffed animal in her arms and the bear’s ear in her mouth as
her father held her.
“Was actually planning on throwing it out.”
“You could just open it and see what it is.” He
neared her and brushed his lips along her temple.
“Burning it is another option.”
“I hear grandkids make people reevaluate a lot of
things. Not saying you need to give them a chance, but it may not
hurt to at least see what they are trying to give you.” He moved
away, cooing to the girl he held.
She reached for her utility belt hanging over the
back of the sofa. “I’ll do it later, I have to get to work or I’ll
be late. You have everything you need?”
There wasn’t any answer so she spun on her heel to
find him dancing with Nitsa, the two of them in their own
world.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” he said, stopping to stare
at her.
“If you need anything—”
“Babe, I got this. We’ll be fine and I know Mrs.
Candace will be by at some point, she has been by every day.”
“Nitsa is what she has for a granddaughter right
now. At least until Sarah gives birth.” Vicki reached for her
slicker. The rain outside coming down in heavy sheets.
Chase laughed. “That’s going to be a while. She’s
pretty married to her career.”
“How’s she doing?” Vicki asked while doing one final
mental check to ensure she had everything she’d need.
“Good. Says she’ll be back soon to meet the baby and
bring gifts.”
“I did get a note from her stating she would be
bringing some Marine items so Nitsa didn’t grow up surrounded by
Army.”
Chase shook his finger at her. “Mind your
tongue.”
She held up
have his last name instead of mine,” she groused as she fastened
the outfit.
“Because, you will be marrying me,” he said voice
full of confidence. “No point in having to change her name
then.”
“Says the one who had seconds’ worth of work in
creating you,” she said, kissing the other foot.
Nitsa giggled and smiled. She reached out to her
father and Vicki rolled her eyes. “See, I get you all clean and
pretty and you just want him.”
“I’m handsome; she has good taste in men.”
Vicki snorted as he took their daughter into his
strong arms. Once Nitsa had been born, there’d been a change to
Chase she’d not been expecting. He was a pile of mush. There were
times she’d come home from work to find them sound asleep, Nitsa
secure in his arms, or on his chest. No matter how much work he put
in at his job, he never missed spending time with his daughter.
“And don’t think,” he said smacking her on the ass
as she tidied up, “I didn’t hear that comment about seconds. I’m
sure I kept you busy for well over an hour.”
“I was in labor for thirty-two because your daughter was being stubborn about coming into the world.”
“She wanted a grand entrance.”
“I wanted her out.” She tossed her hair back and
faced the man she loved more than anything. Nitsa held so safe in
his arms did something to her. “Who was at the door?”
“A box.”
She drew her eyebrows together. “A box was at the
door?”
“Someone dropped it off.”
The cop in her was immediately suspicious. “Any
identifying marks?”
He nuzzled Nitsa’s dark hair. “Like a return
address, Deputy?”
“Smart ass.” She punched him in the shoulder as she
walked by him.
“I like yours, does that count?”
“Bleeding kid…” She braided her hair as she made her
way to the door to find the box that had been delivered.
“I heard that,” he shouted behind her. “And I’ll
have you know, I’m like a full grown teenager now.”
“Doesn’t even deserve a reply,” she muttered to
herself.
The box sat on the coffee table in the living room
and she stood over it, ice coating her heart. The handwriting
familiar enough to recreate the sour taste in her mouth all without
opening it.
“You just going to stare at it?”
Vicki glanced to her left where Chase stood. Nitsa
had a stuffed animal in her arms and the bear’s ear in her mouth as
her father held her.
“Was actually planning on throwing it out.”
“You could just open it and see what it is.” He
neared her and brushed his lips along her temple.
“Burning it is another option.”
“I hear grandkids make people reevaluate a lot of
things. Not saying you need to give them a chance, but it may not
hurt to at least see what they are trying to give you.” He moved
away, cooing to the girl he held.
She reached for her utility belt hanging over the
back of the sofa. “I’ll do it later, I have to get to work or I’ll
be late. You have everything you need?”
There wasn’t any answer so she spun on her heel to
find him dancing with Nitsa, the two of them in their own
world.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” he said, stopping to stare
at her.
“If you need anything—”
“Babe, I got this. We’ll be fine and I know Mrs.
Candace will be by at some point, she has been by every day.”
“Nitsa is what she has for a granddaughter right
now. At least until Sarah gives birth.” Vicki reached for her
slicker. The rain outside coming down in heavy sheets.
Chase laughed. “That’s going to be a while. She’s
pretty married to her career.”
“How’s she doing?” Vicki asked while doing one final
mental check to ensure she had everything she’d need.
“Good. Says she’ll be back soon to meet the baby and
bring gifts.”
“I did get a note from her stating she would be
bringing some Marine items so Nitsa didn’t grow up surrounded by
Army.”
Chase shook his finger at her. “Mind your
tongue.”
She held up
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