Page 6 of Shelter for Shay (Broken Heroes Mended Souls #2)

“The graduating class before me took all the cafeteria chairs and put them in the pool as their senior prank. They had to drain it because the chairs were metal and they rusted. It was a real shitshow,” she said.

“Anyway, that reminded people of some kid who broke into the school just to swim laps and drink beer.”

“Beer was not part of that equation.”

“Not the story that’s told these days.”

“I’m not sure I want to know how that one grew,” he said.

“I’m curious. What made you leave Lake George?” She’d asked the question before, but she wanted a deeper answer. She wanted to know more about the man who’d touched her mother’s soul more than any other student. “Was it just because you wanted to be in the Navy?”

Moose looked down at his coffee for a long moment. “Sometimes a place holds too many versions of who you used to be and you need find a new version.”

“And coming back?”

He looked up. “Sometimes it’s the only way to remember who saved you.”

Shay felt her throat tighten. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected. But it hadn’t been this. Not this quiet gravity. Not the way he made her feel like he saw everything without needing to say much at all.

“Let me go see if she’s awake,” she said softly.

He nodded once.

And she walked out of the kitchen wondering why a total stranger suddenly felt like the only person in the world she wanted to talk to.

Moose – Lake George, New York

Moose couldn’t believe he was standing in Margaret’s home.

Or that he’d come back to Lake George. Everything felt surreal.

When he’d gotten off the Northway, he’d nearly turned the rental around and driven back to Albany.

It was almost too much. The memories flooded his brain and conflicted his heart.

He palmed the mug of coffee and stared into the dark liquid. When he’d left all those years ago, he had no idea what his future held. All he knew was that if he failed at the Navy, he didn’t believe he had any chances left, and he’d be letting down the only person who’d ever believed in him.

He pulled out his cell and tapped the screen, calling Thor.

Their friendship had started in boot camp. Instant chemistry. Instant male bonding, and that was strange for Moose. He’d never had real friends growing up. He’d been a true loner. But Thor broke down his defenses with a handshake on day one.

What made it even odder was that Thor understood Moose, even though Thor’s life had been the complete opposite. Thor had been raised by loving parents. He’d grown up in a world where kindness and support had been a given.

Thor had made boot camp seem easy. Like if Moose could handle that, he’d be able to take on the world. And together, the two men had done exactly that.

“Hey, man,” Thor said. “You make it to Lake George okay?”

“Yeah. I’m at Margaret’s house. I haven’t seen her yet. Her daughter’s checking to see if she’s up and ready for a visitor.”

“In need of a pep talk?”

“Something like that,” he said. “I feel good about being here for Margaret and her daughter. It’s the rest of it that has me off-kilter.”

“You have one purpose for going there. You don’t have to do anything else. You can say your goodbyes and leave.”

“I know, but now that I’m here, there’s a part of me that wants to drive by my old house. To go to the bar. To get a glimpse of my mom. Or even to let her see me.”

“And what would be the point of that?”

“To let her know she didn’t break me. To rub it in her face,” Moose admitted. “Or maybe it’s closure.”

“If it’s the latter, go for it. If it’s the rest of it, don’t bother. All it will do is remind you of the past, and you’re better than that.”

The sound of his chickens squawking in the background filled the air. He laughed. “You’re already back in Virginia?”

“Yeah. You left The Refuge, so we all booked flights home,” Thor said. “I missed my little girl.”

“What are you doing at my place?”

“I thought Sarah might need a break from these hens.” Thor laughed.

“And I was right. I got here and they were chasing her, jumping and pecking at her housecoat. And that one she named Beyoncé, good Lord. I’ve never heard a chicken quite like that one.

And Sarah, she sings with it. But the poor woman, she was struggling when I got here. ”

“Don’t poor woman Sarah. I catch her feeding those chickens when I’m home. She finds excuses to come over,” Moose said. “I bet the real reason you’re there is because Cassandra wanted to feed the chicks and chase Cluck Norris.”

“Busted.” Thor burst out laughing. “Speaking of that child of mine, I better go before she squeezes the life out of the one you call Mrs. Doubtfire.”

“Yeah, that one is a real spitfire,” Moose said. “Thanks for always being there.”

“See you when you get back.” The line went silent. Moose stuffed his cell in his back pocket and pushed the thoughts of his mother right out of his mind. She had no place in Margaret Whitaker’s home.

“She’s awake and would like to see you.” Shay stood in the hallway leading to the kitchen. “Would you like to bring your things to your room?”

“I can stay in a hotel. I don’t want to be any trouble.”

“You’re not. Besides, my mom is so happy you’re staying with us. She’s looking forward to spending as much time as possible with you.” She lowered her gaze and fiddled with her thumbnail. “The doctors are telling me she only has days now… two weeks at best.”

A tightness filled his chest. He eased off the stool and inched closer to Shay, curling his fingers around her forearms. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure this is hard on you, especially since you’re the one taking care of her. What can I do to help?”

She lifted her chin, catching his gaze. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “You’re doing it. Visiting with my mom means the world to her.”

He swiped the tear away with his thumb. “Whatever you need, I’m here. I can do things around the house. I can go shopping. I can sit with your mom so you can have a break… I want to help.”

“Like I said, that’s exactly what you’re doing.” She smiled weakly. “Let’s get you upstairs before my mom tries to get out of bed.”

He followed Shay toward the base of the stairs, where he snagged his rucksack.

The house was older, but it had been renovated in the last five or ten years, or at least that’s what he believed based on the newness of the appliances and the updated kitchen. All the furniture appeared to be either new or well-kept.

“I put you in the downstairs room.” Shay pushed open a door near the living room, around the corner from the stairs. “You can use the powder room down here, but you will have to come upstairs to shower.”

“Not a problem.” He tossed the bag inside the room, giving it a quick glance.

It was neat and tidy with a double bed in the center.

He shouldn’t complain, but damn, the floral motif with the pom-poms hanging from the side of the dresser was a far cry from his bedroom.

Not to mention the pink walls. He winced.

“Yeah, my mom hasn’t changed my bedroom since I left for college.” Shay laughed. “I’m staying upstairs so I can be closer to my mom.”

“That makes sense.” Moose nodded.

“My mom’s bedroom is the first one on the right,” Shay said. “I’ll be in the kitchen making dinner if you need me.”

Moose hadn’t expected Shay to leave him standing there with his breath caught in his chest, but that’s exactly what she did. He took the steps slowly… methodically. He stood outside the door for a full minute before raising his hand to knock.

He’d spent his entire adult life living on adrenaline.

Had he not found his chickens, he would have been one of those thrill-seekers who teetered on death’s door.

When he’d joined the military, he had no idea how badly he craved discipline and direction.

He’d barely gotten a taste of it sitting in Margaret’s office, but it was enough to know he wanted something more. Something real.

Days after he finished boot camp, he’d known he’d spend his life in the Navy and he’d wanted desperately to become a SEAL.

However, not once during his career had he ever been afraid. He knew he could die. That was part of what he’d signed up for and while he didn’t welcome it, he honored it. Duty, honor, country. It was all part of the gig and one he valued and respected.

But in this moment, he was truly terrified… of walking into goodbye.

“Come in,” a frail voice echoed.

Moose pressed his palm flat against the frame, lowered his head, and let out a slow breath. Then he pushed the door open.

Margaret was small in the bed, dwarfed by the pillows and machines, her silver hair splayed out like a halo. But her eyes—when they opened—were sharp and warm and unmistakably hers.

“Matthew,” she whispered.

It hit him like a punch to the ribs.

He stepped into the room slowly, the floorboards creaking beneath his boots. He stopped just short of her bedside, feeling suddenly like that broken sixteen-year-old again. The one who’d sat across from her in a folding chair in her office, arms crossed, full of bitterness and shame.

She smiled, and it softened everything.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come. I know you’d been injured.”

“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” he said hoarsely. “Besides, I had to. I owe you so much.”

“You always were stubborn. Always tried to take the focus off yourself. You don’t owe me a thing.”

He pulled the chair closer and sat down, eyes never leaving hers. She’d always had a way of calming his racing pulse with a simple glance. A kind word. Or just her quiet presence.

“That last letter,” she said. “Shay read it to me. You made me cry, you know.”

Moose gave a crooked smile. “I wasn’t trying to, but everything I said was the truth.”

“I believe that, even though you used to be such a good liar. Then again, you needed to be.”