Love Unexpected (Navy Love Series Book 2) (27 page)

“Maybe you’re right.”

My guess is somehow, pushing Charlie away was, in some twisted way, her showing love. Perhaps she knew he didn’t need to be close to her; maybe she thought he’d spiral downhill with her.

“You’re focusing on the negative in all of this. Think of the positive aspects. You ended up with an amazing set of parents who love you beyond belief, and a younger brother who looks up to you. You’re a Petty Officer in the Navy now. You’ve made something great out of bad circumstances.” Before I’m able to stop myself, the little words I’ve been fighting against win out. “I love you, Charlie.”

Reed

Holy Shit. Tegan just confessed to being in love with me.

I’m speechless, I know I need to respond to her, tell her that I’m in love with her too, but the words just won’t come.

“Tegan, I—”

“Wait.” She places her hand to my lips. “Just don’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything, this isn’t the time or the place; this is about you and your birth mother.”

I should tell her that this is the perfect time; that I needed to hear those words, especially now.

She is right to an extent; I need to finish what I came to do regarding my biological mother. Then, I’ll come back to address what she’s just admitted.

I give her a single nod, then focus my attention back to my mother’s headstone. I don’t feel like words are needed.

To be honest, I’ve never understood how people can carry on conversations at the graves of loved ones. And even if I did, this isn’t one of those situations where I’d talk to the departed.

No, words aren’t needed. My mom knew, getting me here was all that was needed. I crouch down and wipe some debris from the cold stone.

When I found out she had died, I didn’t question whether or not to pay for her headstone. I knew Mom had kept tabs on her over the years, now I’ve been enlightened as to why.

I place my fingers to my lips and then place them over the letters of Carmen’s name. Maybe Tegan is right; I can only hope that this woman who gave me life did care about me. Growing up I tried like hell to hate her, but I couldn’t actually do it. I fought against every foster parent, every teacher, and every counselor who tried to show me love and support.

Until Jake and Marie.

Everything happens for a reason. Those two, they’re the reason I’m the man I am today. I may still be cracked in some spots, but they healed a lot of the wounds I had as a broken child.

The moment my hand leaves the cold headstone, I feel as if a weight has been lifted.

Mom was right—I needed to let go and forgive Carmen.

I pull a floral arrangement out of the bag I carried over and place it in a small vase next to her headstone.

“Bye, Carmen,” I whisper to the grave before standing and wrapping my arm around the waiting Tegan. “You ready?”

“Whenever you are.” Her nose is pink from the wind and whether she wants to admit it or not, I can tell she’s freezing.

We follow the path back to my mom’s car in silence. I’m sure Tegan is giving me the solace to process everything we’ve just gone through, and I’m mentally replaying her confession and how to approach the topic again.

It’s freezing. So after loading back into the car, I drive Tegan to a Michigan staple, Tim Horton’s. She’s as addicted to coffee as I am.

We sit at a small corner table, me with my black house coffee, her with some frilly drink and a piece of banana nut bread to split.

There has been an awkward silence between us since the cemetery. I can tell she wants to ask questions; I haven’t ever given her a lot of information about my birth mother. Her mind must be running wild with unasked questions and images of my childhood.

“So, go ahead and ask.”

“Ask what?”

“Whatever it is you want to know.” She goes to argue, but I stop her before she gets a word out. “I know you’re curious, Tegan.”

“I wanna know everything, but I don’t want to pry.”

I grab her hand. “If I thought you were snooping, I wouldn’t have taken you with me today. I wanted you there. Fuck, I
needed
you there with me.”

Taking a deep breath, I tell her everything.

“Carmen passed away four years ago, shortly after I enlisted. The last time I came home to Detroit, it was supposed to be for the funeral. I couldn’t do it. I flew home but couldn’t bring myself to attend. Mom went in my place. She always had a soft spot for Carmen for some reason. I think it was just because Carmen gave me to her in a sense. I paid for her headstone, I figured it was the least I could do, she did manage to clothe and feed me for the first ten years of my life.”

“That’s really admirable, Charlie.” She squeezes my hand. “You are a great man, I’m sure she would be proud of how you turned out and thankful that Marie and Jake took you in and raised you so well”.

“I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for them, and other people who make me a better person. People like you.”

She smiles nervously and pulls her hand from mine.

“So, uh, what’s next on the agenda? Please tell me we’re doing something indoors for a while. I’m freezing; I don’t know how I’m going to survive tonight!”

I don’t understand why she’s pushing me away. Typically, Tegan loves the romantic moments. Now that I’m ready to confess I’m in love with her, she’s avoiding any closeness or intimacy.

I’ll let her have her distance for now. I know that I’m in love with her, but before I admit my feelings, I want to be sure that hers are real and not the result of the high emotional situation we were in.

“Well, let’s go check into the hotel—” I check my watch “—and then I can take you to see Greektown, they have restaurants, little shops, and a casino we can warm up in.”

As much as I’d rather stay in the hotel and make her admit her feelings again, she needs to see some of the sights Detroit has to offer. Deep down, I know she didn’t say those words without meaning them, now I just have to get her to admit them again.

Reed

After a few hours of sightseeing, we arrive back at our hotel room to get ready for tonight. While Tegan jumps in the shower, I call my mom.

“Hey, sweetie,” my mom answers after the first ring.

“Hey, Ma.”

“So how did it go?”

“Good. I just needed to call and say thank you.”

“Thank you for what?” she asks, surprised.

“For loving and taking care of me. You and Dad have always been my saving grace.”

“Sweetie, we did it because we wanted what’s best for you.” I hear her shuffling around. No doubt going to find a tissue; I can hear the slight tremble in her voice as she continues. “Carmen doesn’t know what she missed out on with you. You’re a wonderful man, and I’m so glad to be your mom.”

“I don’t know about that, Ma.”

“Hush, you are. And you and Tegan are lucky to have found each other. How was it having her there?”

“I don’t think I could have done it without her, Ma,” After a moment, I confess, “She said she loves me at the graveside.”

“Well of course she loves you. Reed, anyone can see that. Have you admitted to yourself that you’re in love with her?”

“Yeah, I have. I was going to say it back to her, but she stopped me and quickly changed the subject. She’s been acting odd ever since to where I don’t know how to say it now. I don’t want to just blurt it out, you know?”

“Well that makes sense, she probably feels rejected, so she’s avoiding talking about it. Give it some time, the perfect moment will come and you’ll know when it’s right to say it.”

We make arrangements to meet up tomorrow for lunch before Tegan and I head back to Virginia tomorrow evening. As much I’d like to stay longer, I know we need to get back; I have work next week, and I’m sure she’s itching to get back to her new niece and nephew. Marshall has sent her a ton of pictures the past few days of him with them.

The competition between those two is hilarious. It was bad when they fought for just Sawyer’s attention, who now has both of them wrapped around her finger, but now with the twins, their rivalry is unreal. I’m surprised the two of them can even remain friendly to one another.

Tegan has already mentioned she’s babysitting next week and has volunteered me to help her.

And I’m willing to bet two of our closest friends need us back home. From the few text messages I’ve gotten from J.C., he and Jo both are having a hard time working through his upcoming deployment.

Shortly after my mom and I end our conversation, Tegan emerges from the bathroom wrapped in a towel with her wet, messy, blonde hair hanging down.

Out of respect for my mother, and against my wishes, we haven’t had sex since being in Michigan. Seeing her in a towel, in this hotel room where we’re alone and have the privacy she desires, it’s hard to fight the temptation to go to her and pull her into the bed.

Fuck going out for New Year’s Eve, I can make plenty of fireworks right here.

Tegan, however, has other plans. She’s skittish as she quickly and discreetly dresses for this evening. I don’t understand what’s gotten into her, but I plan to figure it out.

I offered to take Tegan out to Sinbad’s, this fancy, well-known restaurant near downtown, but she claimed that something cheap and fast was her preference. So we caught a cab to Greektown and hit up Five Guys and then walked the few blocks to Campus Martius.

Campus Martius is packed when we arrive. This place has everything tonight; it’s in the middle of the big Motown Winter fest. Local vendors and restaurants set up large tents; there is ice skating and warming stations where people make s’mores.

It’s a huge ordeal. There is a huge Christmas tree that is still lit up and it has an overall festive holiday vibe to it. The place is always packed, people come from all around for this.

The first thing we do is ice skating. Tegan mentioned wanting to try it out on the flight here the other day, so it only makes sense to do it tonight.

It doesn’t take her long to find her groove skating. Honestly, it’s the same as rollerblading for most people.

I’m not a huge fan of ice skating, but I’m easily persuaded to get out there with her.