The Soldier's Surprise Family by Jolene Navarro

quiere.”
    â€œDid you just say he wants God?”
    â€œNo. It’s a saying that means to trust in God’s will. My grandmother and mother say it all the time. It’s drilled into my brain. Si Dios quiere. It’s how I try to live my life. The worse things get, the more I lean on that trust.”
    â€œI don’t trust easily.” He was looking straight ahead. The muscle in his jaw popped. “My son probably doesn’t trust men at all. Will you go with me? I’m sure they have issues, too, and men would be on the top of the list. You, being the nanny, might help them feel safer.”
    â€œI would love to.”
    He nodded and patted her hand. “Okay. Don’t worry about the roof.” He waved to the apartment. “I’ll take care of it after I get off work.”
    â€œ You don’t worry about this.” She made a bigger wave. “You worry about rescuing the good people of the county and I’ll take care of my property. You are about to discover the power of the Ortega army. Be very happy we are on your side.” She gave him her best wicked laugh. “My father and brothers will have all this cleaned up and fixed before you can drive your patrol car around the county three times.”
    He looked at her one more time. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    â€œYes, I’m stronger than I look. I promise.” She’d learned the hard way how strong she could be. Now she hoped she was strong enough to make the right choices for her heart. She wasn’t sure how much more it could take.
    Si Dios quiere. I’m trusting You, God.

Chapter Three
    A njelica looked at her hands clasped tightly around the handle of the bag she had packed for the two little ones they were about to take home. Garrett pulled his truck into the empty parking lot of a nondescript brick building. It didn’t even have windows on the front, just one glass door.
    During the forty-five-minute trip to town, she told her heart not to get too engaged. These were his children. His family, not hers. She was just the nanny. But still, the pictures of those innocent faces embedded themselves in her head. She had a feeling that in the end, her heart would be broken again. She was never the kind of person who could keep an emotional distance. With her, it was always all in or not. How did someone teach their heart portion control?
    Garrett cut the engine. He leaned over the steering wheel and looked at the sky. “I can’t believe how fast this has happened.”
    â€œYou made it easy for her to move the kids from an emergency shelter to a home. I’m sure she wishes all her cases were this easy.” She checked her watch again. “We’re early.”
    With a glance to the backseat, he opened the top button of his starched blue shirt. His black cowboy hat and jeans looked sharp. “Well, I guess it’s time to fill those car seats.” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for all you’ve done so far.”
    â€œHow could I not help?” Waiting for him to move out of the truck, she sat in silence. Her attention went to her watch again.
    Thirty minutes early. If he needed to sit out in the parking lot, she could do that, but she really wanted to see the kids.
    â€œOkay.” With one hand on the door, he turned to her. “Are you ready?”
    She bit back a laugh and just nodded. He was a mess. She imagined a first-time dad might react the same way with the birth of his child. But for him, skipping those first few years probably made it harder.
    The heat off the black asphalt threatened to melt her makeup. Garrett held the glass door open for her as he pulled on his collar. “It’s unusually warm for March.”
    Nodding, she entered a sterile and empty lobby. Green vinyl chairs lined a paneled wall. Above them were posters depicting women and children, along with warning signs of abuse or neglect. A narrow corridor led to