Katie
Nervous anticipation filled me. I was thrilled Levi was going with me, but the closer we drove to Elk Rapids, the quieter Levi became. At first, I chattered to fill the silence, something so unlike me, but eventually, I ran out of random information. My heart beat loud enough to fill the silence.
As we drove north on US 31, my pulse raced with trepidation. What had I done? I hadn’t prepared my family for my friend being Levi Walker any more than I’d prepared Levi for them. I hadn’t even mentioned AJ. Levi’s fingers tensed on the steering wheel, as he flipped the turn signal and we curved left onto the main street of downtown. The single street was highlighted by the neon sign of Town Tavern, one street lamp and two blocks of quaint storefronts. My heart was in my throat and my stomach churned as we rode those two blocks before turning left again. Levi drove on autopilot and each time I attempted to offer a direction, he grunted, driving blindly, because he knew the way to my childhood home despite the years of separation.
We pulled onto the gravel drive, pebbles crunching under the tires, the sound ringing loudly like the final slam of a gate. My breaths were short as I stared at my house. A covered, wrap-around porch. A garage converted to my mother’s writing place. A garden asleep under a thin layer of snow. Each light softly beaming from every window, ready to welcome me. Welcome us home.
“Ready?” I whispered, still staring at the vacant front porch. Levi opened his door without responding. He opened the back door and began unbuckling a sleeping AJ. He kissed his son’s forehead as he gently removed him from his car seat. I exited my side of the car and crossed over to Levi. I wanted to hold his hand, assure him that things would be all right, I was here for him. I’d slay his dragons, and fight his fights, but his mind seemed miles across the village, and I could only imagine what haunted him.
We stepped up to the porch, and the door opened before I knocked.
“Katie,” Emily breathed before enveloping me in a deep hug. Her arms felt so good around me, assuring me as she always had that she loved me as if I was her blood child. “And who are these handsome men?” she questioned as I stepped aside, still breathing in the summer scent of her chestnut hair and blue eyes. Emily stepped back allowing us to enter.
“This is Levi Walker, and his son, AJ.” The moment I mentioned his name, the air swooshed out of the room. Nothing moved, not even the momentary breeze of cold air entering with us.
“Levi?” Emily squinted, staring at the man who hardly looked like the boy she’d known.
“Emily.” Her name was hardly complete before he was enveloped, baby and all, in one of those grasping hugs, assuring him he was equally welcome in our home, blood relation or not. Levi’s eyes opened wide over Emily’s shoulder and I smiled with the knowledge that my family would take him into the fold.
I turned to see my dad leaning against the doorjamb between the living room and the kitchen. My father was a decent looking man as far as dad’s go. I was told he was considered hot, and as much as that made me squirm, I couldn’t deny my dad was aging well. His once longer, dirty blond hair was now chin length. Deep, denim blue eyes that matched mine smiled at me, but the telltale mark of his clenching jaw told me he questioned the visitor I’d brought home.
“Daddy,” I whispered, stepping forward and his arms instantly opened. For some reason, I wanted to cry the second he wrapped around me. Pulling me into his chest, I breathed in the manly scent that was only my dad and relaxed in the comfort of his warm flannel. He kissed the top of my head, holding me a moment longer than necessary before letting go.
“Dad, do you remember Levi Walker?” In typical Jess Carter fashion, he stepped forward, politely extending a hand.
“Good to see you again. Katie didn’t tell us who she was bringing home, so forgive the surprise.” For a moment, I held my breath. Had I misread my father’s reception? Would he not allow Levi to stay? “Who’s this?” My dad asked of AJ, and any questions about Levi were forgotten. My dad was a baby man, and he reached out for the sleeping AJ. Without asking permission, he took AJ and tucked him into his chest, rubbing a hand over his snowsuit covered back.
“This is my son, sir,” Levi offered. “His name is AJ.”
“Well, AJ Walker, welcome to the Carter’s,” my dad murmured to the dark hair of the sleeping baby and kissed him without a thought. Levi’s eyes met mine again, wide and astonished at the current reception. I don’t think I’d taken a breath.
“Where is everyone?” I asked, wondering where my younger sister and brother were on a Tuesday night.
“Daisy is cheering at a basketball game. John is probably causing trouble somewhere,” Emily snorted, and although she dismissed it in jest, there was a hint of concern for her son.
“Basketball?” Levi’s brow rose. He used to play for the very team Daisy now cheered for, and ironically, the same man who coached Levi was the current head Varsity coach.
“The game should be over soon,” Dad said. “We thought we could meet up with everyone at Town Tavern.”
Levi looked down at his feet like an errant child. His foot slipped side to side. This reunion was about to be a full immersion into the Carter clan.
“As we’re tight on space here, we thought you might be more comfortable at Tricia’s.” Emily was asking more than telling me that she’d already arranged for Levi and I to sleep at Tricia’s home. My aunt had more room in her three-bedroom house, and as I hadn’t been home since I left for college, my room with Daisy had been overrun. We didn’t have a guest room, and I hadn’t considered where AJ and Levi would sleep.
“Sleeping at Tricia’s would be fine.” Again, I wanted to reach for Levi and assure him that this might be better. We couldn’t sleep together in my parents’ home and being close to Levi was what I needed. I had mixed emotions about whether bringing Levi home was a blessing or a mistake.
We didn’t bother unpacking any bags after spending time idly chatting, quickly catching up on who was where and doing what in the Carter family. The hour seemed nothing more than fifteen minutes, but too soon, we turned back for the car and drove two blocks to town for the bar. Levi held the door for me, and I chewed my lip. He hadn’t said anything on the short ride and tension filled the car so thick, I choked. Nothing prepared me for what happened on the other side of the door for Town Tavern.
“Surprise!”
A rousing chorus of cheers and claps preceded the “Welcome home” pats on Levi’s back and the attempts to hug a man holding a child. I slipped my hands around AJ and took him from Levi, only I didn’t realize until I tried to remove him from his father’s arms that Levi had AJ in a vise-grip hold. Cradled tightly to his father’s chest, Levi was using AJ either as a shield or a life-preserver, I couldn’t decide which. Relinquishing AJ to me, his arms responded with half-hugs and handshakes to all offered. It felt like a good chunk of the town was present and the small-town bar was packed to capacity to welcome back its hometown hero.
We found Tricia and Leon in the middle of the group. Tricia Carter, with her dark hair and the traditional Carter blue eyes, smiled slowly at me, nodding at the man beside me. Aunt Tricia looked like she was holding her breath, anticipating the return of a precious child. The moment her eyes locked on Levi, she stepped forward, arms open, and embraced him in a tight hug, rocking him back and forth. Leon began patting Levi firmly on his back before Tricia had released the embrace. Reaching in the moment they broke, Leon continued to smack Levi’s back as he tugged him into a fierce man hug. While my uncle was covered in tattoos and a few scars, the hard cut to his jaw and jet black eyes softened as he embraced Levi.
“So good to see you,” Leon muttered. Tears welled in my eyes at the unexpected, but welcome, response to Levi Walker coming home.
“What did you do?” Levi turned to me. The words struggled to be harsh, but the smile on his face choked out the reprimand.
“I did nothing,” I said, innocent and ignorant. I knew nothing of this impromptu party and was equally surprised. My parents had no idea who I was bringing home, so this couldn’t have been planned by them.
Tricia’s face beamed. “We were so excited when you called us.” And here lay the answer. An additional shock came to me as the awareness sunk in that Levi had made contact with my aunt and uncle. He hadn’t told me.
“We couldn’t possibly have you come home without a welcome home party. You snuck in for that funeral years ago and didn’t even stop to say hello,” Leon admonished teasingly, but a quick reminder of negative memories flashed over Levi’s face. The teasing taunt proved that it stung when he hadn’t visited them. They adored Levi Walker. They’d been the ones to throw him that fateful going-away party. On second thought, it was only appropriate they set him up with a welcome-home celebration as well.
Tricia reached out and rubbed up and down Levi’s solid arms.
“I can’t get over how much you’ve changed,” she said, eying him like a loving parent. “And to have found our Katie.” Finally, Aunt Tricia was ready to acknowledge me but stopped short the second she saw the baby in my arms. Eyes opening wide, her expression struggled.
“Who is that?” She nearly choked on the words, scanning the bundle in my arms.
“This is my son, AJ,” Levi said, reaching for his child and presenting him to my family as if AJ were part of it.
“You’re a father?” Leon’s dark eyes roamed over the growing baby in Levi’s arms. He blew out a breath and I couldn’t decide if Leon was ready to cry or trying to contain his concern. Either way, he reached forward and embraced Levi again, returning to slapping his back. I stepped around the man hug, hoping to finally greet my favorite aunt. Walking into her arms, I was instantly returned to twenty-two years ago, when this beautiful woman gave up a year of her life to play mommy to me when I was suddenly mommy-less. Holding tight, I pressed into her, breathing in her welcoming embrace.
“He’s so handsome,” she whispered, before pressing me back to look me up and down, “but you are beautiful.” I smiled at the compliment even though my face flushed. Looping an arm through mine, she directed me to the bar.
“Calvin, two margaritas.” At the request, the baldheaded owner looked over the worn wooden bar.
“Need some ID from that young lady next to you,” he smirked, winking at me. I reached for my pocket, ready to prove I was well over the legal age, when Tricia laughed.
“Calvin, you flirt, you know I’m plenty old enough,” Tricia playfully admonished.
“Oh, I thought he was speaking to me.” A deep chuckling voice came from behind me, and I spun to face my uncle Tom.
“Who’s this beautiful young thing with you tonight, Tricia?” Playful eyebrows danced over blue eyes that matched all the rest of the Carters. While my father’s brooded, Uncle Tom’s sparkled. Continually a flirt, there wasn’t a disloyal bone in his body to my aunt Karyn.
“This is your niece, Katie!” Tricia shrieked, swatting her older brother playfully, knowing he had to have recognized me.
“Katie? No way, she has pigtails and buckteeth. Freckles on her face and a goofy grin like she holds a secret.” Tom’s brows wiggled again, and I flushed further at his recollection of me as a child. I was grateful that Levi hadn’t heard that less-than-flattering description, but relief was only momentary. Heat at my side proved he’d made his way through his welcome party to find me. I blushed deeper.
“Sounds adorable,” Levi offered, tugging at the end of my current ponytail, and stepping closer to me. If my uncle Tom’s eyebrows could have risen any higher, they’d be hair on his shaved head.
“And who is this?” His teasing tone didn’t match the full body scan over Levi.
“Levi Walker, sir.” Levi stuck out his hand to shake, but Tom stared at the offered hand.
“The war hero?” Tom looked from left to right as if checking to make sure he was in the right place.
“I don’t know about her…” Levi couldn’t finish as Tom pulled Levi into a hard hug, and more back pounding. Despite his age, Tom lifted Levi off the ground a few inches before putting him back down.
“Thank you for serving our country,” Tom chuckled, righting a truly stunned Levi. Then he turned to me. “Now, explain your intentions with my niece.”
“Oh my God,” I gasped while Tricia broke into laughter at her brother’s side. I didn’t think it possible for Levi to blush, but his face darkened.
“I…uhm…” For some reason, the stutter in his answer bothered me. What were his intentions with me? We were friends, I’d decided. Somewhere along the way, we were definitely friends. I shuddered at the thought of benefits, though, as that was certainly an added bonus to the relationship. Were we in a relationship? The questions fired in my brain, and I decided to wash them away with a quick drink of my margarita. I turned away from Tom who had Levi engaged in other conversation, and decided not to let my thoughts get carried away from me. I was home. Levi was home. I was happy.
* * *
Time passed quickly as I greeted neighbors and nosey gossips, all asking me about Levi.
Is he your boyfriend?
Is he married?
Who’s that child belong to, if not you?
I sighed in distress and took a much-needed break for the restroom. Exiting, I found my father leaning against the ancient panel boards.
“Daddy,” I startled, finding his arms crossed, his shoulder resting against the wall. His deep eyes peered at me, waiting for explanation.
“Levi’s in my history class. Isn’t it funny we both attend NEU?” I laughed, hoping to sound jovial, but melting under the stare of my father.
“Hilarious,” he muttered. His jaw popped, as he processed what he’d say next. “How well do you know Levi?” I shivered to think my father wanted intimate details, but I realized the conversation would be just as awkward for him. I assumed he meant Levi’s history.
“I know enough about his past, his military experience and who he wants to be now.” I paused. “Dad, he’s a good man. He’s not like the rest of them, whatever they might have been.” I didn’t fully know the history of the other Walkers, only the little bit Levi told me and the pieces I’d pulled from memory. Every detail was so opposite the Levi I knew, I just couldn’t see a hint of Walker history in him. Except the drinking, and even that Levi explained. He’d abused the privilege too often, but he hardly touched the stuff since AJ’s birth. The exceptions being the day that marked the death of his friends and the night he told me what happened to them. I trusted that Levi knew how to temper any issue with alcohol and I had no reason to suspect otherwise.
“He’s a single father,” he warned, but my eyes narrowed on him.
“So were you.” I tried to soften the blow, but it had been true when he met Emily.
“Then you understand I have a double dilemma. I’ll understand any hesitancy he has to get close to you, to protect his child from falling too deep for a substitute mother.”
“Daddy!” I snapped, because that wasn’t exactly what happened with me. I loved Emily, and I struggled with my six-year-old mind to understand what was happening between my father and her. All I remembered was a serious man who finally smiled when she was present.
“But seeing as that child is too young to know the difference, I have to worry in the reverse this time. I have to wonder if my child is becoming too attached to his.”
“Dad,” I groaned, hardly believing his accusation, but sensing the concern in his words.
“Don’t love his child and not him.”
My heart skipped a beat. Was my father giving me permission to love Levi Walker? Or was he warning me not to?
“It’s not like that,” I blurted, but the darkening of my father’s eyes showed his disapproval. He’d rather I admit I loved Levi when I’d never said the words to him, then pretend it wasn’t love on my end.
“I see the way he’s watching you. Never taking his eyes off you for a second. Following your every move around the room to make certain you’re still here. I know what he’s doing, Katie. I know what he’s feeling. It’s hard for me to swallow it’s for my daughter, but I have to be happy. That boy is the definition of smitten.”
I burst into laughter, falling forward over my knees. I couldn’t believe my dad said that. It was so…Emily sounding.
“I don’t know about that,” I giggled, swiping at a false tear by my eye.
“If that’s what you say,” he muttered, and his lip tweaked at the corner. He was famous for this saying with Uncle Gavin, his best friend, and father to my childhood best friend, Gee.
“That’s what I say,” I whispered, smiling in return to assure my father I could take care of me. Now, if only my heart would get the memo.