Page 1

JESSE

“Please keep an open mind,” Mom pleaded.

Jesse stared out the car window without taking in the scenery. This was the fourth guy Mom dated that she had introduced him to. The others hadn’t lasted, and he didn’t have high hopes for Isaac either. The men seemed nice enough, but no one could measure up to his dad. He knew it and so did Mom, but that didn’t stop her from trying to find someone. She waited a year after Dad died before she started dating. He thought it was too soon, but late at night he heard her sobbing and knew she hated being alone. That didn’t mean he had to like these guys, though.

“Isaac’s a firefighter,” Mom said.

He glanced at her, interested despite himself. Firefighters were bad asses. Not as cool as his dad being in the Air Force, but at least Isaac’s job was more interesting than Tom, the store manager or Brian, who worked the front desk at a dentist’s office. Mom briefly dated another teacher, Mr. Harding. He taught History, spoke in a monotone, and had awful coffee breath. They’d all been duds.

“Isaac can take you to the station and show you the firetrucks.”

His lip curled, but Mom didn’t see, since he’d turned back to the window. He wasn’t a kid. He wasn’t going to be bribed into liking this guy by a trip to the station… Though, it would be cool to sit in the driver’s seat of a firetruck or slide down a pole.

“How did his wife die?” he asked.

Mom hesitated long enough for him to glance at her.

“Mom?”

“She walked out.”

“Walked out?” he repeated, unsure what that meant.

“He woke up and she was gone. She packed a bag and left him with their two-year-old daughter. That was eleven years ago.”

He jerked forward, making his seatbelt lock. “Daughter?”

Mom gave him an innocent look. “What’s wrong, son?”

“You can’t date a guy who has a daughter!”

Mom’s lips twitched. “Why not?”

“Girls are annoying! They’re always giggling, talking, crying…” He glared as Mom snickered. “Find a guy with boys or no kids at all.”

“Sorry, honey, that’s not how this works.”

“A girl,” he said in disgust. So far, none of the men Mom dated had kids, so it hadn’t even occurred to him that he could have a step sibling.

“Her name’s Violet.”

“What kind of name is that?”

“Violet’s a lovely name. It’s a beautiful color, flower, and a candy I’m quite fond of.”

“Have you met her?”

“No, we’re going to meet her for the first time together,” Mom said as she turned into the park. “I’m sure she’s sweet. You two are just a year apart. You should have a lot in common.”

“She’s a girl,” he growled. “We won’t have anything in common.”

Mom pulled into a stall and killed the engine before she turned to him, her expression unusually grave. She reached out and cupped his chin. “It’s been hard since your dad died.”

Her eyes watered, but she smiled anyway, pushing through as she always did.

“That’s an understatement. Losing your father is the hardest thing that’s ever happened to us, and it’s been rough. Some days I wasn’t sure I could get out of bed, but you helped me pull through. You’re your father’s son, all right. Strong, brave, wise beyond your years. I’m not sure I would be intact without you, but…” She stroked his cheek. “I don’t want you to shoulder more adult responsibilities than you already have. You shouldn’t worry over things I need to take on. I want you to have a childhood and enjoy life, even though the world seems a little less bright without your dad in it.”

He swallowed hard as his eyes stung with tears.

“We need to let people in.” She tipped her head to the side. “I think Isaac’s a good man and if you give him a chance, I think you’ll see that for yourself. Isaac and I enjoy each other, and we want to see how you and Violet get along. If it doesn’t work…” She shrugged. “Then it isn’t meant to be. But Violet may surprise you. From the stories Isaac’s told me, his daughter isn’t like the girls you’re used to.”

He frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You’ll have to see for yourself.” Mom scanned the park and then lit up. “There they are.”

He followed her gaze and saw a tall, burly man kicking a soccer ball across the grass to a girl who looked tiny from this distance.

“Ready?” Mom asked.

“Sure,” he said with a shrug, and pushed open his door.

He put his hands in his pockets as they approached the pair. The girl darted forward with a speed that made him blink. He was impressed with her control of the ball, but Isaac was no slouch and blocked her attempt to score a goal. Isaac was nimble for such a large man. When he darted toward Violet’s abandoned goal, she let out a banshee scream before she launched herself at her father’s legs in an illegal tackle attempt. Isaac’s laughter rang out as his daughter fought like her life depended on it.

“Oh, my,” Mom murmured, clearly taken aback by what they were witnessing.

Isaac grabbed his daughter who had both arms wrapped around his right leg to prevent him from kicking and tucked her under his arm as he scored. Violet’s angry bellow made several people who had been watching their antics chuckle.

“You cheated !” Violet shouted.

“So did you.”

“I’m allowed because you’re ten times bigger than me!”

Isaac was about to reply when he spotted them. He strode over, casually toting his daughter under one arm like she weighed no more than a toddler.

“Lynne,” Isaac acknowledged with a smile before he extended his hand. “And you must be Jesse.”

He nodded and shook Isaac’s massive leathery hand.

“Dad!”

Violet’s impatient tone made Isaac grin before he set his daughter on her feet. She flung back a mane of tangled black hair. Her eyes were a striking hazel that sparkled with enthusiasm. She had pale skin, rosy cheeks, and her lips were a deep red he would have suspected was lipstick if she wasn’t dressed like a boy in long khaki shorts and a striped, green shirt that was two sizes too big. The girls he knew wouldn’t be caught dead in such an outfit, but Violet didn’t seem to care about her appearance. He hadn’t decided what to make of her when she smiled at him. His lips curved in response, his bad mood and the reason they were here in the first place, forgotten.

Violet switched her attention to his mom. “You’re Lynne?”

“It’s great to finally meet you.”

Violet didn’t shake hands. Instead, she gave Mom an exuberant hug and exclaimed, “I’ve never met one of Dad’s girlfriends before!”

Jesse blanched at that label. He knew Mom dated, but he’d never thought about the men she dated as her boyfriend. He resisted the urge to stick out his tongue and looked at Isaac, who was staring up at the sky with an embarrassed expression that made Jesse feel better.

“Is that so?” Mom said, clearly pleased with this information. “He didn’t tell me that I’m the first woman he’s introduced you to.”

Isaac removed his hat to run his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t think there was any need to mention…”

“I’ve been trying to set him up with these women from church forever ,” Violet interjected. “But he’s so…”

“That’s enough.” Isaac clapped a hand over his daughter’s mouth and asked, “Are you two hungry? There’s a food truck nearby.”

“That sounds great.” Mom nudged Jesse to get his attention. “Son? Would you like something to eat?”

“Sure.”

He was disconcerted when Violet broke away from her father and grasped Mom’s hand as if they’d known each other for years instead of two minutes.

“Dad says you’re a teacher,” Violet said.

“Yes,” Mom murmured. “I alternate between kindergarten and second grade.”

“Why?”

“I don’t like to teach the same thing every year, so I bounce back and forth. Do you like school?”

“Yes, I love English and History the most.”

“What do you love about those subjects?”

Walking behind them, he could see their profiles. The raptness with which they stared at one another told him more was happening beneath their surface level conversation. Mom and Violet were engrossed in one another, while he and Isaac hadn’t exchanged a word. Violet was clearly of his mother’s ilk, a free spirit, while he was more like his father— disciplined, rigid, and preferred routines.

He glanced at Isaac, who strolled beside him. He was watching his mom and Violet’s exchange with great interest. He expected Isaac to butter him up like the others had, but Isaac didn’t ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up or who his favorite sports team was. Isaac didn’t attempt to make any small talk, which simultaneously annoyed and eased his nerves over this uncomfortable meet up.

They ordered tacos and settled on a picnic table. Violet was more interested in watching their parents than eating. She propped her chin on her hand and gazed at them with rapt attention. It was clear that as far as she was concerned, Isaac and his mother were meant for each other, but he wasn’t so sure. He should be assessing Isaac, but his eyes kept returning to Violet’s animated face. The way she looked at his mom with such longing made his stomach tighten.

“Jesse’s a great soccer player,” Mom shared.

Violet turned to him and sized him up. “You are?”

He shrugged, unsure why having her full attention made him feel funny. He talked to girls all the time. What made her different from all the rest?

“Let’s play,” Violet said, swinging her legs over the bench seat and leaping to her feet.

He glanced at Mom, who gave him an encouraging smile. By the time he started after her, Violet had crossed the field to retrieve the soccer ball and was making her way back to him. As she neared, he stopped and then braced when he realized she wasn’t going to slow down. He grunted as she collided into him. He got a whiff of her hair, which smelled like strawberries.

“What do you think?” she whispered breathlessly, even though there was no one around.

“About what?”

She gave him an impatient look and jerked her chin in the direction of their parents. Was it his imagination, or had they moved closer to one another?

“Your mom’s so nice.”

Violet sounded awed.

“So ladylike and pretty.” Violet cocked her head to the side as she watched them. “Dad’s so happy. I’ve never seen him like this.”

When he didn’t comment, she looked up. Again, he felt that odd stirring in his stomach. Had he eaten something bad from the taco truck? No, it was the way she was looking at him. Something about her made him nervous, which didn’t make sense. Girls flocked to him. They passed him notes in class, asked him to be their boyfriend, and did a lot of annoying things to get his attention. That didn’t make him uneasy, but the way Violet looked at him, dead on, without the coy, flirtatious shyness he’d come to expect made him sweat. She treated him like they’d grown up together, instead of being introduced half an hour ago.

“How are your eyes green?” he muttered. “They were brown a minute ago.”

“They do that,” she said dismissively and dropped the ball at their feet as she said, “What do you think about my dad?”

“I don’t know anything about him,” he said truthfully.

“He’s a good guy.” She pursed her lips before she admitted, “Though he can be strict.”

“My dad was in the military. I doubt your dad is as strict as mine was.”

“Oh.” Her expression softened before she reached out and rubbed his arm. “I heard your dad died. That must have been hard.”

It was the worst that ever happened to him, but Violet’s presence made the pain ebb for the first time since it happened. “I’m okay.”

She nodded, taking him at his word, and stepped away. He let out the breath he’d been holding and watched her impressive dribble. When she tried to kick the ball past him, he instinctively stopped it and saw her eyes narrow.

“That was a practice shot,” she said quietly.

“Sorry,” he said, and stepped back to give her a clear shot. “You want to try again?”

“No. Let’s get straight to it.”

That had an ominous ring to it. He got a preview of how she played and believed she wouldn’t use the same tactics on him that she had on her father. He was wrong. She had some skill, but she was a casual player, unlike him. He scored three times and was about to shoot his fourth goal when she kicked him in the shin.

As he dropped to his knee, Violet made her first goal and let out a triumphant shout. Across the field, Mom was on her feet with a hand over her mouth. He wasn’t sure, but he thought Isaac was grinning. He gritted his teeth as he got to his feet. He couldn’t fight dirty like her, but he was stronger and quicker. If he was unable to best a girl a year younger than him, then he didn’t deserve a spot on the team this year.

He skillfully avoided Violet’s fouls and scored goal after goal. He was having the time of his life, while she became steadily more aggravated. When she lost her temper and swore at him, he was so shocked, he stopped in his tracks. Violet seized the opportunity to take the ball, but she didn’t get more than two paces before he stole it back. Violet lost her temper and tried to punch him. He bobbed and weaved, slipping every one of her wild swings.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” he said with a laugh and held his hands up in surrender.

“You’re such a jerk face!” she shouted.

“It’s not my fault you suck,” he said, and instantly regretted his taunt when she lunged at him.

They tussled, rolling on the grass before he landed on his back with her on top of him. She planted her tiny fists on either side of his head as she loomed over him.

“You take that back!” she roared in his face.

Her face, filled with wrath, was just inches from his. Her wild hair blocked out the rest of the world. Clumps of it brushed across his forehead and cheek. It was soft and smelled awesome. He should be trying to gain control of the situation before she slapped him, but he was too enthralled to defend himself. She was the wildest, most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Something inside of him stirred, roused by the girl warrior straddling him.

His life had been filled with so much death and loss. He had no other family aside from his mother. He thought it was them against the world, but he had a sudden image of Violet at his side. She was so vivid and filled with fire and fight. Life with her would be an adventure. The tight ball of dread in his stomach that had been there since he lost both grandfathers at the age of six suddenly disappeared.

Violet was shouting, but he couldn’t hear anything over the sound of his heartbeat. When she was suddenly lifted off him, he reached out to pull her back before he came to his senses and realized Isaac had a hold of her.

“Damn it, Violet! That’s too far,” Isaac snapped before he strode away with her once again tucked under one arm.

Mom knelt beside him. “Are you all right?”

A little lightheaded, he stayed put and folded his hands on his stomach as he looked up at her. “Yeah.”

She brushed back his sweaty hair. “You held your own against her for a time.”

He heard the amusement in her tone. Under other circumstances, he would have been irritated, but he was too busy sifting through the odd feelings and ideas Violet had evoked.

“You did the right thing, taking the high road and not retaliating when she kicked you in the shin.”

“It’s not a big deal,” he said and sat up.

Isaac had taken Violet far enough away that they couldn’t hear what was being said. He cupped her chin as he spoke to her. His face was stern and very unhappy. Violet’s bravado was gone, as if it had never been. As her father lectured her, she deflated and began to blink rapidly. He got to his feet, dusting grass off his clothes, and started toward them.

“Jesse,” Mom said in warning, but that didn’t stop him.

Isaac broke off as he approached and faced him, while Violet stayed as she was with her head bowed.

“I apologize for Violet’s behavior. She has a hard time controlling her temper. We’re working on it.”

“She didn’t hurt me.”

“She tackled you.”

“I play football.”

Isaac’s severe expression eased slightly, but he said, “Thank you for letting her off the hook, but she owes you an apology.”

Before he could say that wasn’t necessary, Violet pivoted to face him. The sight of her eyes filled with tears made his heart stutter. He’d seen many girls cry, but none of them made him want to drop to his knees and beg her not to.

“I’m sorry,” Violet said, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“You didn’t,” he said and reached for her without knowing what he wanted to do. Desperately uncomfortable and aware that Isaac and his mom were watching, he tugged on his shirt before he turned his hat backwards. “I’m sorry I said you sucked. You’re better than some of the guys on my team.”

Violet’s mouth kicked up on one side, even as a tear slid down her cheek. “Thanks.” Her eyes flicked to Lynne. “When I play, I lose my head.”

“She’s competitive,” Isaac said apologetically as he put an arm around Violet’s slumped shoulders. “Since she’s usually going up against grown men, we let her take any advantage she can get. I didn’t know she wouldn’t hold back when she’s playing with kids her age.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” Jesse said.

Isaac didn’t smile, but the flash of approval in his eyes made him straighten a little, even though he didn’t know how he felt about him just yet. He hadn’t embarrassed Violet, as his father used to when teaching him a lesson. That told him a lot about the man. Though they hadn’t had a one-on-one conversation, he found himself leaning toward Mom’s opinion that Isaac was a good guy.

“I’m really sorry,” Violet said, breath hitching suspiciously.

Jesse stiffened as more tears poured down her face. “It’s fine,” he said and would have stepped forward, but Mom moved first.

“It’s okay, honey. Everything’s fine,” Mom soothed as she gave Violet a hug.

“I wanted everything to be perfect and I…” Violet hiccupped. “I ruined…”

“You didn’t ruin a thing,” Mom admonished. “Being passionate is a gift, we just need to know how to channel it and accept defeat gracefully.” When Violet began to sob, Mom patted her back. “There’s no reason to be upset. You didn’t give Jesse a bloody nose or a black eye, which he’s gotten from playing sports.”

Violet raised her face from his mother’s chest and looked at him with puffy eyes. “You’re not mad?”

He shook his head.

Violet looked up at Lynne. “You aren’t going to break up with my dad?”

“No, I’m not going to break up with your father,” Mom said with a broad smile. “In fact, after meeting you, I think I like him even more than I already did.”

Violet’s eyes widened. Jesse was disconcerted to see that she’d somehow cried the green out of her eyes, and they were now brown again.

“Do you love him?” Violet asked.

“Violet!” Isaac said sharply and reached for his daughter, but Mom’s response made Isaac freeze.

“I do.”

Jesse’s heart slammed against his ribcage. Mom hadn’t told him she loved Isaac and from the look on his face, this was his first time hearing it as well. Violet looked like Christmas had come early. All of them were in various states of shock, while his mother calmly stroked Violet’s hair.

“Love is a strange thing. It creeps up on you when you least expect it,” Mom murmured.

“Are y’all getting married?”

“Violet.”

Isaac’s voice had lost all power. It was more of a croak.

“I don’t know if your dad’s in the same place as I am,” Lynne said before she put her arm around Violet’s shoulders. “I think you and I have given Jesse and your dad enough shocks for the day.”

And with that, Mom and Violet strolled away, leaving him with Isaac. He waited until they were out of earshot before he spoke.

“Do you love her?” Jesse asked bluntly.

Isaac closed his eyes, tipped his head back, and stared up at the cloudless sky. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said, “From the moment I laid eyes on her.” He took a deep breath before he looked back at Jesse. “The only other woman I loved like this walked away.”

“Mom won’t walk. She’s a military wife. She’ll stick with you till death.”

Isaac nodded, but he looked troubled rather than thrilled. They both knew their lives had been set on a different course. He matched Isaac’s pace as they followed in Mom and Violet’s wake.

“You did well with Violet. I think she scares most boys,” Isaac said.

“I don’t scare easy.”

“I can see that.” A pause and then, “I’m not trying to replace your dad or rush things with your mom. We can take this as slow as you need. You let me know if it’s too much.”

Though Isaac could be saying this to win brownie points, he suspected the man was as honest as his daughter. If he wasn’t comfortable with the speed of everything, Isaac would give him time. Since his father died, it seemed that days inched along. There was nothing to look forward to. Nothing piqued his interest like before. Now, everything was moving at the speed of light. He’d come here to meet a guy his mom was dating, and within the hour, he was ninety-nine percent certain this guy would soon be his stepfather.

When they joined Violet and his mother in the parking lot, Mom gave him a searching look and touched his shoulder before she went to Isaac. When she lifted her face for a kiss, Jesse turned away and found Violet in front of him, her gaze fixed over his shoulder. He knew the moment they kissed, not because he heard anything, but because Violet jumped up and down and silently clapped.

He wasn’t prepared for her to fling her arms around him. She hugged him the way Mom had when she got the news that Dad died. It was tight enough to hurt, but coming from her, he found he didn’t mind.

“We have to keep them together,” Violet said fervently.

When he didn’t respond, she looked up. The tears were gone, and her warrior spirit was back, making her eyes shine.

“You want us to be together, don’t you? A real family?” Violet asked, hands twisting in his shirt.

When he didn’t answer, Violet’s expression fell. When Isaac called her name, she stepped back. The loss of her body against his made that ball of dread come back. As she started toward her father, he couldn’t help himself.

“Violet!”

She looked back.

“I do want that,” he said.

She gave him a megawatt smile that made his chest flood with warmth. She ran to her dad, who tucked her against his side. Isaac climbed into a white pickup truck and held up his hand in farewell as they drove away.

“I’m sorry,” Mom said as he dropped onto the passenger seat. “I wasn’t planning to say that. It just came out. You must be overwhelmed. I know it’s too soon, but?—”

“It’s okay.”

“It is?”

“Yeah.” He reclined his seat a little and tossed his arm over his eyes, which were burning. He wasn’t sure why. “I get it.”

Mom clutched his arm. “You do?”

“Isaac’s exactly what you said he was, and Violet…”

“She’s never had a mother,” Mom said quickly. “She’s been raised mostly by her father’s friends and families from church, since Isaac has long work hours. She just needs some guidance?—”

“She’s perfect just the way she is.”

“Aww, that’s sweet of you to say.” Mom lightly punched his arm. “Especially when you said girls are annoying, and you didn’t think you’d have anything in common.”

“You’re right. She isn’t like the girls I know, though she did cry at the end.” He grimaced. “I hope she doesn’t do that often.”

Mom laughed as she started the engine and rolled down the windows. “Tears aren’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, there are no words to express how you feel. The only thing you can do is cry.”

He heard her sniffling and extended his free hand while the other arm stayed draped over his eyes. Mom grasped his hand and squeezed.

“I never thought I would feel like this again,” Mom whispered.

He knew exactly how she felt because he felt the same. For the first time since Dad died, he was looking forward to something, and that something was seeing Violet again. Something about the way she’d looked at them, as if they were the answer to prayer, and they possessed something she desperately wanted, made him want to be everything for her that she would ever need.

With his father in the military, being an only child, and constantly on the move, loneliness was something he was very familiar with, and it was stamped all over Violet as well. The way she talked to him like they were on a team made his mouth curve. That hug she’d given him, he wished it had lasted longer. He wasn’t sure what it was about her that had captivated him, but he wasn’t going to examine it too closely. He was grateful for the break from the monotony, for something unexpected and intriguing to turn his life right-side up and bring color back to his world. He’d been trudging through life, but today he’d been offered an opportunity to rejoin the living, and he was going to take it.