Holiday at Magnolia Bay (Southern Born Christmas Book 1) (14 page)

Drew missed the camaraderie of his SEAL teammates the most. In an effort to reconnect with those who’d endured the day-to-day rigors of war, he volunteered his time working with returning vets, helping them with their job searches, swapping strategies about coping with the residual PTSD, and just being a friendly ear. Through those volunteer hours, Drew had finally found his passion: establishing a joint foundation with the Navy and the Lanham Group to provide jobs and other social services for returning veterans. His father and brother had been gung-ho on the idea. Now all Drew had to do was persuade the Navy to match funds; in particular, Admiral Stephen Huntley.

“The Admiral will see you now.” The young ensign led Drew back to the large office with a view of the Air Force Memorial.

In the months he’d been stationed in Washington, Drew had only encountered Jenna’s father a few times, mainly at briefings or ceremonial events. The Admiral was well respected both by Washington insiders and by the men and women carrying out his orders—including Drew. He understood the man’s desire to distance himself from his family, even if his daughter didn’t. But the part of him that wanted desperately for Jenna to be happy, to feel loved, wished the Admiral would think differently.

“Lieutenant Commander, come in.” The Admiral waved Drew to a sofa while he made himself comfortable in a leather wing chair. Jenna’s father was a big man, taller than Drew, with sandy hair and shrewd hazel eyes. Drew quickly scanned the office for any personal photos—perhaps Jenna took after her mother—but all the frames contained photos of the Admiral with various dignitaries. The hope Drew had been carrying around for months that perhaps Jenna was exaggerating her relationship with her father began to fade.

“I’ve been reading through your proposal,” the Admiral said as Drew took his seat. “It’s certainly well thought out and has a lot of merit.”

The Admiral grilled Drew for nearly twenty minutes asking pointed questions about the program and the Navy’s long-term involvement. Drew was grateful for his brother Jack’s coaching in pitching a proposal because he was able to answer the Admiral’s questions while his mind wandered back to Magnolia Bay and Jenna.
How could the man before him ignore the beautiful, brilliant woman his daughter had become? Why didn’t he want to spend every moment with Jenna? Because Drew surely did.

The realization was staggering and Drew was relieved when the ensign gave the sign that that the meeting was over. A day—or a night—hadn’t gone by these past several months when he hadn’t thought of Jenna, but he’d been doing exactly what her father had been doing: burying his feelings deeply in order to protect her.
From what?
Drew didn’t have the answer to that question anymore.

“It’ll take a few months to get the funding for this, but I will definitely back it all the way up the chain of command to the Secretary of the Navy and further, if need be.” The Admiral stood behind his desk and gestured to Drew’s written proposal. “It’s a great plan, Lieutenant Commander, one you and your family should be proud of.”

Drew barely heard his words, instead his eyes honed in on a familiar red and green invitation peeking out from under a pile of paperwork on the Admiral’s desk. Aunt Evie had sent Drew the same invitation to the Turtle Center Christmas Flotilla and Fishing Tournament.

He gestured toward the invitation. “I see you’re going fishing this weekend.”

The Admiral blinked at Drew before answering. “Not if I can help it. My wife and my daughter had some crazy idea that the little Christmas flotilla needed an Admiral leading it, as if I have time for that nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. Not when it involves your daughter.”

Drew stood his ground as the Admiral’s eyes narrowed. “My daughter is none of your business.”

“Actually, she is. She’s a friend.”
More than a
friend
, Drew wisely kept to himself, seeing how he was already walking the plank on what had been a distinguished Navy career. “Jenna has worked tirelessly to build the Magnolia Bay Turtle Center into a respected player in the field. You should be proud of what her passion has created. I know I am.”

Judging from the way the Admiral was glaring at him, Drew figured his chances at getting the Navy to help fund his project for veterans were sinking quickly, but he didn’t care. He’d find a way to fund it. All he had to do was remain as passionate about his dream as Jenna was with her turtles. The bigger battle here was getting Jenna’s father to give his daughter the love and respect she deserved. The love and respect Drew planned to give her for the rest of his days.

“You’re out of line, Lieutenant Commander,” the Admiral said. Drew heard the ensign shuffling nervously behind him.

He visualized the water beneath his toes as he stood at the end of the plank, but something about it felt very freeing. “I used to be that way with the people I loved, too.” The Admiral bristled, but Drew soldiered on. “Keeping them at arm’s length so that I didn’t feel tethered when I risked it all on a mission. I thought it was the greatest gift I could give them until a dead SEAL’s family taught me how wrong I was.” Drew glanced out the window behind the Admiral and stared at the spikes of the Air Force Memorial juxtaposed against the crisp blue December sky. Now when he saw Atkins’ face, he also saw the faces of his wife and son, smiling peacefully. “I left a man behind in the desert earlier this year, and I had nightmares about seeing the family he left behind again. I didn’t want to witness their pain.” Drew shook his head. “But they surprised me. They were grateful for every moment they were able to spend with him. His wife told me that in our business, that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Drew looked back at the tight-jawed Admiral and slid the invitation across the desk. “I’m grateful for every second I’ve been able to spend with your daughter,” he said quietly. “And I hope she’ll consent to spend more with me. Forgive me, sir, if I think you’re a fool for not feeling the same way.”

He turned on his heel and walked past a slack-jawed ensign leaving his project—and his career—to the mercy of a likely angry Admiral. And he didn’t care. He had a Flotilla to get to.

*

Jenna felt a
little ridiculous dressed in a Santa hat as she strolled along Bayshore Boulevard toward the Magnolia Bay pier. Miss Evie had insisted on the hat. She and everyone else aboard the large party boat she’d hired for the Flotilla would be dressed ‘festively’ or they wouldn’t sail with her.

Jenna smiled as the pictured Jorje, Miss Evie’s gardener, wearing a Santa outfit that looked like it had been stolen off the back of Jimmy Buffet. Not that Jorje or anyone else wouldn’t do anything for Miss Evie. The older woman had been her rock these past few months. Jenna’s heart had healed as best it could. She buried herself in the preparations for the turtle hatchery while Miss Evie held her hand throughout. Even working with Perry and Imogene hadn’t been as bad as Jenna expected as the three of them worked tirelessly together to make the project a reality. She had a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

But, late at night as she listened to the surf roll outside her bedroom window, she’d allow her mind to wander to thoughts of Drew. Despite her best efforts to keep things casual when they’d been together, she’d somehow let him walk away with a piece of her heart. And try as she might to ignore it, it still hurt. She hadn’t heard a word from him in three months. Nor had she expected to. That would have broken their no-strings-attached arrangement.

The time apart had given her a chance to rethink some things, though—like what might have been. Jack’s theory about his brother still bothered her. Had she been rash to think she and Drew were incapable of a relationship just because he was a Navy SEAL like her emotionally constipated father? Jack said that Drew distanced himself from those he loved to keep them safe. Did he love Jenna and just refuse to acknowledge the emotion? He’d certainly shown he was capable of loving her through his gift. Not to mention the tender way he’d loved her body their last night together.

Jenna had gotten involved with Drew in the first place because she was tired of being the nice girl who ended up as a doormat. Their relationship had been her way of breaking the cycle and finally taking charge of her life and her relationships with men. Finally going after what she wanted. And she now knew what she wanted most of all: Drew.

Would it be such a risk to find out if he felt the same way? Aunt Evie had been mum about where Drew was stationed, but surely her father could find out. Drew would forever hold a piece of her heart. She was determined now to get it – and him—back.” As soon as the Flotilla was over, she’d begin tracking down Drew. Jenna swallowed the boulder of hope—and a little bit of fear—that had lodged in her throat as she trudged remotely on, ignoring everything around her while her emotions peaked and soared.

She wandered, oblivious to her surroundings, past the palm trees lining the walkway to the pier, each one adorned with Christmas lights wrapped around their trunks twinkling merrily in the early evening light. Crowds of people wandering Magnolia Bay’s downtown sipped on hot buttered rum and ate roasted pecans, but Jenna was alone with her doubts and her thoughts. A trio of musicians played to the delight of young children who were dancing along to a Calypso version of
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
It was a sight she normally would have taken great pleasure in, but not tonight.

“Jenna!” Jenna turned as Macy ran up and slid her arm through hers. “I’m so glad I caught up with you. I feel like I haven’t seen you for days and we live in the same house.”

“After tonight, I plan on becoming one big couch potato for the rest of the holiday season.”

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join you,” Macy said with a sigh as she stopped to hand a business card to a passerby. “Not only am I shooting all the candid shots for all the Christmas events in Magnolia Bay, I have three families who want sittings tomorrow. Christmas is twenty days away and they decide they want pictures for their cards now.”

“Yeah, but just think of all the shoes you’ll be able to buy at the after-Christmas sales,” Jenna teased.

“That’s assuming I survive. And you are not ditching me tomorrow for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and the dance. With Miranda Hamilton and Logan Mauldin in charge of that event, anything can happen. Those two are like gasoline and Hell fire. You don’t want to miss it if they combust all of a sudden.”

Jenna trudged up the steps past the Bottoms Up bar and continued on toward the boat Miss Evie had hired. Flying a flag the older woman had made for the Turtle Center and decked out with brightly colored lights shaped like seahorses, it would lead the parade of other heavily decorated boats through the harbor. She didn’t want to think about the dance the following night. Instead, she wanted to get on with her plan to find Drew while she still had the nerve. Of course, that might have been a lot easier if her father hadn’t ditched her again.

Despite the fact she told herself not to get her hopes up, she’d invited the Admiral to lead the Flotilla—and perhaps get a glimpse into her world here in Magnolia Bay. Enlightened by Jack’s explanation as to why Drew was aloof with his own family, Jenna wanted to give her dad the benefit of the doubt. She’d even enlisted her mother into the effort. Only to be rejected again.

Macy hugged Jenna’s shoulders. “I’m sorry your dad stood you up,” she said as if she could read Jenna’s thoughts. “But we’re going to have a great holiday anyway. You’ll see. This is your home now and friends can be the best kind of family.”

Jenna blinked back the tears as she quickly returned Macy’s hug. She always thought being in Magnolia Bay would make her happy, but now, she wasn’t so sure. Macy and her friends were wonderful, but she had a strong suspicion that Drew held the key to her true happiness. Not wanting to disappoint her friend—or Miss Evie—on the big night, she pasted a smile on her face before both woman turned to the gangplank leading up to the boat. The sight awaiting her on the boat stole her breath.

“Holy snot,” Macy said from behind her.

Jenna’s heart leapt as she recognized the man in uniform immediately. His achingly familiar form, tonight decked out in pristine Navy dress uniform, headed down the gangplank to meet her. He stopped halfway, a wary smile on his handsome face.

“Hello, Jenna.”

“Daddy!” Jenna launched herself into her father’s arms, breathing in the recognizable scent of him: menthol and peppermint. The Admiral wrapped his arms around her giving her waist a tight squeeze as she cried all over his epaulets. “You came. You really came,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry it took me so long.” Her father’s voice sounded choked up next to her ear. “But I’m here now, sweetheart.”

Jenna pulled back to study his face. His damp eyes made her own swim with tears. “I’m glad.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Mom is a miracle worker for talking you into this.”

“As much as she’d like to,” her father said, “she can’t take all the credit.” He guided her up the gangplank to where a crowd stood along the rail of the large boat. Her mother leaned in to kiss her as they passed by and Miss Evie winked at her. Her father steered her toward the opposite railing, obscured from the pier. Leaning up against the rack of life preservers, hands shoved in the pockets of his dress blues, was another familiar naval officer, this one wearing his hat jauntily on his head and looking like he owned every ship in the Flotilla. He gave Jenna that cocky smile that never failed to make her ovaries dance.