Chapter 21

Emmett

I barely had a chance to talk to Autumn about anything during dinner because her father had called and made her join a video call that had gone on for at least two hours. When she was done, she’d put Pen to bed and headed to her room to soak in a hot bath. I knew her father had been impossible when we were kids, but I expected people to mellow out a little as they got older and life slowed down. That obviously wasn’t the case with her father, and I had a feeling he was trying to make her be the same way.

I retired to my guest house and watched a little TV before determining that there wasn’t anything worth staying up for. I had to be up early the next morning anyway. I had to take the car again to go to Camp LeJeune for my TAP class, which I had talked to her about for all of five minutes before her father had reared his ugly head.

I dozed off pretty quickly, but then I woke up around two a.m., tossing and turning. I was just about to close my eyes when a light flashed outside, and I saw that Autumn’s bedroom light had been turned on. I waited, thinking that she was probably just up with Pen needing a glass of water or something, but then the kitchen light downstairs came on and Autumn walked out into the early morning darkness and sat at the edge of the pool. She took off her slippers and then dipped her feet into the water.

I could have watched her there for hours, her beauty holding me captive as the moonlight reflected off her hair and face as she looked up into the sky.

I waited a moment more, giving her the solitude she’d been seeking, but I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity to be alone with her pass. I had missed our late night talks and couldn’t count the number of times we’d spent under the moon together, just talking and wishing and thinking about life and all its wonders.

I left the lights off as I made my way out.

She kicked her feet slowly in the water, making a peaceful sound. The water had to still be a bit cold, but the night air was warmer than usual for the spring, so I imagined it felt nice.

She looked up at me as I approached. “Sorry if I woke you. I couldn’t sleep.”

“I was awake, too.” I pulled off my socks and sat beside her, dunking my feet next to hers. The water was warmer than I imagined it would be, and it had been too long since I’d been around a swimming pool, much less put my feet in one. “Angry with your father?”

She looked up and nodded slowly. “As usual. I told him I couldn’t make that meeting tonight, and he dragged me into it anyway without any regard for my feelings.” I could tell she’d been put on the spot, and I couldn’t blame her for being upset about it.

“I’m sorry, Autumn. I don’t guess he’ll ever change. Did you tell him I was here? Do you think that’s what he’s acting up about?”

“No, he didn’t seem to mind and regarded you as a built-in babysitter.” She shook her head, keeping it down as if she didn’t want to look me in the eye so I couldn’t see her frown.

I reached over and took her hand. “I don’t mind keeping an eye on Penelope if you have to do some late-night work, Autumn. It’s not a problem. You’re helping me out so much.”

“You shouldn’t have to, though. That’s my point. My father doesn’t understand or care that I’m not like him. I can’t just throw my family away for a company that isn’t in such a dire situation that it warrants all my damned time in the first place. Or his for that matter. You know, I was always under the belief that the company wasn’t stable, but that place is locked in so tight, I don’t think an iceberg could sink it.” She gave a frustrated laugh but then shook her head. “I let him ruin my night. I’m not letting him take this morning from me, too. How was your trip to the base?”

I was comfortable changing directions, but I had a little something more than talking in mind. Still, I’d take what I could get. “It was good. As I was telling you before your dad called, I’ll have to take the car for the next few days if you’re okay with that, or I can call a ride. Either way.”

“Of course, you can take it. It’s no bother, really. Paisley’s mom owes me a few favors, so I’ll work it out in the morning, and if all else fails, I’ll drive home one of the company trucks.”

“I’d hate for you to have to do that.” I couldn’t see her in some smelly commercial truck.

“It’s no biggie. They are there for our guests, but we’re not expecting anyone. I’ve had to use them before when I had our car in the shop, and Pen thinks they’re neat.” She shrugged it off like it was no problem, and I guessed I should just roll with it and let her do me a favor. I had a whole list of things to repay her for, and I’d just add that one to the list. She kicked the water to make it splash which brought my head back down from the clouds. “So, what do they have you doing down at the base?”

“It’s a transitional class. It’s required for discharged veterans for part of their out-processing. I’ll have to go for the next three days, and after that, I’m completely done with the military and will be considered a disabled veteran, which isn’t really sitting well with me.”

“There’s nothing dishonorable about that, Emmett.”

“I know. It’s just not the way I thought I’d end my career as a gunnery sergeant. I wanted to go out on my own terms.” I knew my discharge had been honorable, and despite the medals I’d receive, I just felt like I’d been taken out instead of bowing out.

“Well, I’m proud of you. You worked hard, and you’re a good man, Emmett.” Her hand slipped up my arm, and then she leaned over and pressed her lips to my cheek. I turned and captured her mouth. The kiss was soft and languid, and when she broke away, she laid her head on my shoulder.

“Is that all that’s been on your mind?” I had a feeling the problems with Jason were getting to her, too, and perhaps since he and I were friends at one time, she wasn’t going to want to talk to me about it.

“I guess I’m worried about Pen, too. She’s so young, and I can already see a lot of me in her, other than the looks thing, but the way she misses her dad. I’m scared that she’s going to be like me and grow to resent him for it. He doesn’t know it, but he’s ruining their relationship.”

“I wish it was better for her, but you know my stance. I’d beat some sense into him if you’d let me.”

“I just want them to have a better relationship than me and my father. I know how it can affect her as she gets older. Right now, it’s painful, but it’s going to make her angry later. And if she ever really starts to understand what made me so unhappy about her father, well, then she’ll really have something to loathe him for.”

“I hate that it was bad for you.” I wished so much that I could make the past disappear and replace that memory with a prettier picture. She deserved a good life, and I wanted to make sure that she had it from there on out if she’d let me.

“He wasn’t around much then, either. I should have known he’d be this way. He wasn’t home but for a few days a week when he was cheating on me, and the days he was, it was only for a few hours. He’d make up one excuse after the other, and I’d just grin and bear it, pretending everything was okay so my father and mother didn’t think I was a failure at my marriage.”

“You weren’t a failure, Autumn. He was. He’s still the failure, and he’s fucking out of his mind. Why anyone would cheat on a wonderful woman like you is beyond me. He’s always wanted to be the best and have the best, but he had it, and he let it go. He’ll never be happy because that’s his mentality and it always has been.”

Even when we were kids, he’d never been satisfied, and he’d always been a bully about getting his way. His parents had spoiled him rotten by the time we were sixteen and started driving, and they’d always given him everything, including a new car. I figured he thought he could have it that easy his whole life, and he had probably enjoyed the wealth that Autumn had provided him. I was shocked that he’d given it up, and even more that he hadn’t found a way to take most of it.

“Thanks for talking to me about him. I know it probably puts you in an awkward place, but it’s nice to know you know him, and you can understand what I’m talking about. It’s the same thing about my father, you know? You were there. It makes it so much easier. I used to think Jason was just nodding his head like he understood while thinking of some other woman’s breasts, but you listen. I appreciate it more than you know.”

“Anytime. I only wish I’d been around all these years to be a shoulder.” I wouldn’t have sat idly by while Jason treated her that way, I’d have stepped in and shown her what a real man is like and how a real man treats a lady.

I pulled her close, and she rested her head on my shoulder. Then, she turned to face me again, bringing her lips to mine.

After a quiet moment, she lifted her gaze. “We could go inside,” she suggested. “There’s still a few more hours to this night, and I’m not sleepy at all.”

I took her hint, got to my feet, and offered her my hand to pull her up. She reached down and gathered her slippers, and I grabbed my socks before we walked barefooted to the house. She shut the door behind us as I took her other hand and then led her into the bedroom. She had already begun to take off her robe, and then she dropped it to the floor in a puddle at her feet which she stepped over as she made her way to the bed.

I took her wrist and brought her closer to hold her face in my hands. I caressed her cheeks with my thumbs. “I missed you last night. I think I’m already spoiled about having you in bed with me. Maybe even addicted.”

“Then maybe I should go. I don’t want you developing any bad habits.” She pulled away, but I held her tightly and she giggled.

“You could never be a bad habit, Autumn. You’re the cure.” I brought my mouth down as I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist, her short gown bunching up at her hips as I placed her on the bed.