Home Front, page 18
They’d all want to know about Blessing. Maybe they’d want to send a card or flowers, or even just a get well text. He didn’t know what kind of surgery she was having or what kind of situation he’d be walking into, but he knew one thing, she’d love hearing from them.
The replies came back fast and furious. They wanted details, but he didn’t have many to give. So he promised them an update when he knew more.
Kyle got to the hospital only to be stonewalled by the attendant at the front desk. She told him, “No visitors allowed on the surgical floor. Immediate family only.”
“But I’m, uh, her son. I’m active duty in the military. I couldn’t get here until now.” It was a lie but sometimes a lie was necessary for the greater good.
The desk attendant looked flustered. Good. She’d be more likely to let him through. “Oh. Of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. Thank you for your service.”
He accepted that platitude with a nod before asking, “How is she?”
She glanced at the computer screen and then at her watch. “It looks like your mother’s surgery is scheduled to start at the top of the hour. She’ll be in pre-op now. You can see her after. She’s scheduled to be in overnight. As immediate family you’ll be allowed to stay with her even after regular visitor’s hours end.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t dare ask what kind of surgery since he would know that if he were really her son. Instead, he asked, “Is there someplace I can wait?”
“Yes. Let me get you a visitor pass.” She got him the required pass and sent him upstairs to wait.
Two hours later the surgeon came to tell him she was in recovery.
Three hours later, Blessing was out of recovery and moved into a room.
Blessing’s eyes lit when she saw him in the doorway of her room. “Kyle Jones.”
Her voice was a little softer. A bit rougher, probably from the anesthesia. But no less welcoming than when she manned the volunteer desk at the USO.
“You remember me.” He moved closer to the bedside, smiling down at her.
“Of course, I remember you. Jon Rudnick and I were just talking about you. He flew through here not too long ago. How have you been?”
“Better than you, no offense. What are you doing here? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She dismissed his concern with the wave of one hand. The hand without the IV inserted, which was visual proof she wasn’t all that fine. “It’s just a little pacemaker.”
Kyle shook his head. “I don’t believe it. You have the best heart of anyone I know. I can’t accept there can be anything wrong with it.”
She smiled. “You’re sweet. So, how have you been? What have you been doing? Tell me everything.”
Since she looked genuinely interested, he did tell her. He sat and recounted everything that had happened in the past months since he’d seen her last. Luna. His visit with his family. His ankle. The job he took in New York with GAPS, which wasn’t a secret since the news of Dan’s kidnapping had been all over the Miami papers.
And of course, how he and Luna were finally going to be together for real. He even found the song from Luna’s latest album, the one that she had written about him, and played it on his phone for her.
Kyle didn’t know how long they’d talked before there was a short knock on the door. “Um, sir?”
He was by no means a sir when it came to military protocol, but being the only man in the room, he turned.
A young nurse, or maybe she was a volunteer, stood in the doorway. “Are you Kyle Jones?”
“Yes.”
“There are some men downstairs. They’re insisting they come up to see Mrs. Collier. The guard told them it’s family only. They asked to speak with you.”
He frowned then glanced back at Blessing. “I don’t know what this is about, but I’ll take care of it and then I’ll be right back, okay?”
Blessing smiled. “I know you will. And Kyle?”
He turned back.
She glanced past him to make sure the volunteer had left and said, “Tell them to say they’re all my nephews. Then they’ll let them in.”
He frowned. “Do you know who’s downstairs?”
“Just a feeling I have.” She smiled.
Feeling only a little bit guilty that he’d lied and said he was Blessing’s son, he moved past the nurses station and to the elevator. By the time he reached the ground floor, his phone was vibrating its way out of his pocket. He pulled it out and noticed all the texts loading.
Multiple messages from all four of the guys.
Apparently, he didn’t have signal upstairs in Blessing’s room and didn’t notice.
He was skimming the messages saying they were there and couldn’t get upstairs as he turned the corner from the elevators.
He glanced up and there they all were, looking like they’d fought a battle with the security guard manning the desk and had lost.
The four men he hadn’t seen in what felt like a very long time turned to face him as one.
“Sebastian. Cam. Jax. John.” He went to each man in turn, shaking hands and accepting slaps on the back.
Cam’s gaze dropped down to his feet. “You’re walking better.”
“I am. And I’m back on the team.” Kyle nodded, but this wasn’t about him. Today was about Blessing and the fact these men had traveled from all over to be here for her. He shook his head. “I can’t believe you guys are here. All of you.”
John snorted. “Of course, we’re here. It’s Blessing.”
Jax nodded. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
Sebastian shook his head. “Woo-woo shit and all. She’s special.”
“How is she doing?” Cam asked.
“She came out of surgery with flying colors according to her surgeon. She had a pacemaker put in. I got here while she was in the operating room. I waited for her to get moved out of recovery and put in a room and I’ve been sitting with her since.” He leaned in closer, and keeping his voice low said, “But no one else has come to visit.”
John’s brow furrowed. “That’s insane. The woman makes friends with everyone she meets. And she meets a lot of people.”
“I know,” Kyle agreed. “I’m pretty sure she kept the surgery secret from everyone. I had to pry it out of the volunteer at the USO who was taking over her shift. Otherwise, I never would have known.”
Cam smiled. “That sounds like her. Not wanting to worry anyone. Meanwhile, she’s always going out of her way to help everybody else.”
John said, “I have to admit. She helped me.”
Jax nodded. “She was right about everything she said.”
Sebastian blew out a breath. “Still don’t know how she does it.”
“How’d you get upstairs to see her?” John asked. “They told us family only.”
Time for the big lie. “Uh, yeah. About that.” Kyle’s gaze swept the four men. “Let me handle this. Just follow my lead.”
He moved closer to the guard and said, “Is there a problem? My mom’s been expecting her nephews. She’s been so excited, waiting on them. But they say you told them they can’t come up.”
“Her nephews?” The guard looked at the varied group of men.
“Yup.” Kyle nodded.
Sebastian stepped forward. “My Aunt Blessing is one of five siblings. One of those big old Georgia families. You know how it is. There were always hordes of cousins for me to play with growing up.”
Still looking a bit skeptical, the guard hesitated for a moment before saying, “All right. Y’all sign in. I’ll get you passes.”
When the guard stood and turned to grab the passes from the table behind him, Jax lifted a brow. “Way to sell it, you two.”
“They train you to lie like that in the SEALs?” John asked softly.
“Pretty much.” Kyle smiled.
“And what I didn’t learn in the teams, Louisiana politics taught me,” Sebastian added.
Kyle’s phone vibrated. He glanced down and saw Luna’s name and photo on the display.
“Shit. I gotta take this.” He moved off to the side and answered the call. “Hey, baby.”
“Hi. I’m finally here. I’m in my new apartment. It’s adorable. I’ve got a view.” She sounded so excited it made him smile.
“You had a view before. And a huge house in Miami.”
“A huge house that I never really wanted. Dan convinced me I needed to live where all the rich stars lived, as he put it. I love this little place. It feels more like… me.”
“I’m glad. Although I can’t believe after you being on tour for five months, now that you’re back you’re on the West Coast and now I’m on the East Coast.”
“I know. But that won’t be for long. Then we’ll both be in the same state from now on.”
That would be very nice. Although they’d both be across the country from their families, at least they’d be together.
Speaking of family, Kyle asked, “How’s Dan doing?”
“Better. He’s staying with his mom. She’s having chemo and with him trying to get over the trauma, I think the best thing for them is to be together right now.”
There was a lot going on in his woman’s life. And here he was sitting bedside with a woman he’d only met once. Guilt had him wishing there were two of him so he could be everywhere for everyone at the same time.
“I’m so sorry I’m not going to be there to help you get settled into your new place. I was going to drive right up after I landed but—"
“Don’t be silly,” she said, cutting off his excuse. “I completely understand. You had to be with your friend. I miss you though.”
“I miss you too.”
“When will you be back? Do you know?” she asked.
“I’ll probably try to get on a flight to San Diego tomorrow. Early if possible. I was going to look into a late flight tonight but something came up.”
Four things came up, actually. He glanced over at the guys, currently sticking their visitor tags on their chests.
It was odd. As much as he didn’t really know them, he felt like he did.
Maybe that was the Blessing effect. It was as if she’d put together the exact right five guys. All struggling with something.
And now that they’d all overcome that something, it was time to celebrate. Share the good tidings with each other. Maybe over a drink once Blessing had gone to sleep for the night.
They needed to spend some quality time together, someplace other than an airport. Or a hospital.
“Text me when you know your flight number and when you’re landing. Okay?” Luna said, in an insistent tone that made him suspicious.
“Why is that?” he asked, bringing his complete attention back to her.
“No reason. Just so I know.”
She might be a great actress, but he still could tell when she was lying. It didn’t sound like she was asking for no reason.
“Luna, what are you planning?”
She let out of huff. “I was planning to surprise you at the airport, but since you’re such a suspicious man, I guess I have to tell you. I’m picking you up whenever you get in. Okay?”
He smiled. “I’d love that. Can you get away from the set?”
“Yup. I don’t start rehearsals for another week. I thought I’d drive down so we can spend the week together. I reserved a suite at Hotel Coronado.”
He smiled. “It sounds perfect.”
In fact, she was perfect. And his life right now—since he was back on the team and Luna was living and working in California just a few hours away—yeah, life was pretty much perfect too.
He glanced over at saw the guys, standing and waiting for him. “I should go. I’ll text you as soon as I know my flight.”
“Don’t forget.”
“Never. And Luna.”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” Except for that one time it had almost slipped out, this was the first time he’d said it, although not the first time he’d felt it. He was being cautious. Taking his time. He was done waiting.
She paused just a second before saying, “I love you too.”
His chest swelling, he drew in a breath to calm his racing heart. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait.”
He disconnected and headed for the group.
Cam cocked up a brow. “You sure look happy.”
Jax laughed. “He’s right. You’re like… glowing.”
“I’m thinking it’s a woman who’s responsible for that grin.” Sebastian wore an equally wide grin himself.
Kyle laughed and tried to end this discussion as simply as possible so they could get upstairs to Blessing. “My woman is picking me up from the airport whenever I get home.”
The right woman this time, unlike last time. And unlike with Gretchen, he had no doubt Luna would actually be there.
“Let’s go share your joy with Aunt Blessing now that we got our visitor passes.” John tapped his on his chest.
Sebastian glanced back at the desk. “Yeah. Let’s get the hell upstairs before that guard figures out he’s been bamboozled.”
“Agreed.” Cam nodded.
They moved down the hall and to the elevator. Inside, Kyle pushed the button for Blessing’s floor.
“You think she’ll be surprised to see us?” Jax asked.
John snorted. “No. I bet the woman already saw us coming.”
“Woo-woo bullshit,” Sebastian mumbled.
Kyle laughed, enjoying hanging out with these guys again, under much better circumstances than last time.
He couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a better day. And the rest of his life was looking pretty damn good too.
The Long Road Home
Coming in 2022 to The Long Road Home Series
Searching for Home - Kris Michaels
Home Port - Maryann Jordan
Home Base – Abbie Zanders
Home Fires – Cat Johnson
Defending Home – Caitlyn O’Leary
Available Now
My Heart’s Home - Kris Michaels
Home to Stay - Maryann Jordan
Finding Home - Abbie Zanders
Home Again - Caitlyn O’Leary
Home Front - Cat Johnson
Want to read more about Jon Rudnick, Chris Cassidy, Rick Mann and GAPS? Check out the HOT
SEALS!
Want to read more stories set in and around Kyle’s upstate small town?
Don’t miss Smalltown Secrets!
KISSING BOOKS (Harper/Stone)
Sparks fly when displaced city girl Harper encounters, Stone, a hot small-town farmer with
a grudge.
RED HOT
Will Red & Cash finally get out of the friend zone?
HONEY BUNS
Opposites attract between small town baker Bethany and the man trying to ruin her town
and her business, big city billionaire Brendan.
ZERO FORKS
Sparks fly between the youngest Morgan brother, the always optimistic Boone, and his boss,
the older workaholic, down-on-love woman who hired him as her male nanny.
UNDERCOVER SANTA
Local girl Elizabeth gets a second chance at love when her teenage crush, city-boy
Christopher, returns to Mudville decades later. But why is he pretending to be
someone else?
MISTER NAUGHTY
Is Stone ready to step up and tie the knot? More, will Harper say yes once she knows
he’s actually Mr. Naughty, her hated anonymous writing nemesis?
DOG DAYS
Mudville’s own wounded warrior Michael Timmerman returns home and wants nothing to do with
do-gooder Stephanie who’s determined to save both him and the shelter dog in
her care.
BAD DECISIONS
Deputy Carson finds love, but is she the criminal he should be arresting instead of
kissing?
About the Author
Cat Johnson is a top ten New York Times bestseller and a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance that usually features hot alpha heroes (who sometimes wear combat or cowboy boots) and the sassy heroines brave enough to love them.
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Model Image Credit: 6:12 Photography by Eric McKinney
Cat Johnson, Home Front
