The first roll of thunder came halfway through dinner. Micah paused, her chicken and dumplings halfway to her mouth. “Was that…”

“It’s fine,” Connor told her gently. Eating together as a family was important to him, Beau had quickly found out. He’d spent every free minute over the last week trying to make a dent in the work. Despite not having that much time together, they’d made good progress.

Beau ended up joining them for dinner more often than not on nights he didn’t have games. He liked eating with the family. The kids were smart, funny, and loud. Discussion around the table ranged from who was cooler, Iron Man or Captain America, (to no one’s surprise, Connor was Team Cap all the way), to how to deal with bullies at school.

It sure beat cruising up and down Victory Boulevard looking for a place he hadn’t eaten at a hundred times before. His ass was starting to wear an indentation in his favorite booth at Rocket.

Beau looked forward to the thunderstorms that moved into town almost every afternoon. He loved the way the thunder rumbled and rolled. This one was the biggest they’d had in a long time.

Lightning flashed silently outside the kitchen window.

Beau counted automatically. One Mississippi, two Mississippi. He’d reached seven Mississippi before the thunder clap swelled, peaked, and faded away it passed by.

“Seven Mississippi,” Benji said.

“That’s what I got, too.” He lifted his hand for a high five, but Benji didn’t respond.

The little boy chewed on a thumbnail as he looked at Micah. “How far is it, Micah?”

“Seven?” she asked. Benji nodded. She looked up at the ceiling, then back down. “About a mile and half away. That’s like almost to the park.”

“That’s so close!” Benji said.

“Don’t worry, little man,” Beau said, mock-punching the kid on the arm. “Just a little rain. Makes the flowers grow.”

Benji didn’t react. There was another flash, and Beau saw Benji’s lips moving as he counted silently until the thunder rolled by them. Still seven seconds.

Sean’s eyes flicked to the window. Dark clouds filled the once-blue sky, turning the early evening to an eerie quasi-night gray. It looked much later than six p.m.

Connor’s phone buzzed, and he glanced over at it.

“No phones at the table,” Fiona reminded him. They loved catching Connor breaking his own rules.

“You’re right,” he said, reading the text as he moved to put the phone away.

Hunter: When’s the soonest you can get away?

Connor: Everything okay?

“Connor!” Fiona glared at him.

Connor shook his head, brushing her off. “Good buddy of mine from the Marines. I’ve been trying to get together with him for a while.”

Another text came in, and Connor’s eyebrows rose up to his hairline, and he choked on his cornbread.

“What is it?” Beau asked.

Connor slugged down some sweet tea to try and clear his throat. Still coughing, he handed the phone to Beau.

Beau read the short text and snorted a laugh.

Hunter: I was just hoping for some advice. I met someone. A guy.

“Dang.” He handed the phone back. “You gonna go?”

“You’re leaving?” Micah asked quickly.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Connor assured her.

“Do you have a game Monday night?” Connor asked.

“No. I don’t think so.”

“Do you mind watching the kids for like an hour or so? I can meet Hunter after work.”

“Sure. Not a problem.”

“We don’t need a babysitter for two hours,” Sean protested.

“I know you don’t,” Connor agreed. “But until I know for sure the Walrus is off my case, I’m going to play it safe.”

“Does that mean we don’t have to listen to Beau, if he’s not really the babysitter?” Fiona asked with a grin.

“You have to listen to him,” Connor said, typing a return text. No way! That’s awesome, dude. We could meet Monday evening for a beer?

Lightning flashed again, closer this time. Beau counted to five before hearing the thunder.

“It’s getting closer,” Benji said.

Sean reached out and put an arm around his little brother. “It’s okay. Just a little storm.” The worried look on his face didn’t match the confidence of his tone.

Beau ladled some more chicken and dumplings—courtesy of the casserole brigade—onto his plate. They might be busy-bodies but they sure could cook.

A series of soft taps on the roof and windows signaled the start of the rain. The wind picked up, rattling the branches of the trees outside, and the rain intensified, drumming loudly against the glass.

The younger kids exchanged a few glances. Even Connor gazed worriedly out the window.

With a deafening thunder clap, lightning flashed so close to the house, Beau could see the forked edges of it like a child’s drawing.

Fiona shrieked, dropping her spoon into the bowl with a clatter.

“That was so cool!” Beau shouted. “You guys see that?”

The lights flickered, and Benji jumped up.

“It’s okay,” Connor said instantly. “It’s a thunderstorm. Just a storm.”

“It’s a big one,” Benji said in a shaky voice.

“Yeah, buddy, it’s a big one.” Sean pulled Benji onto his lap. For all his complaints about sharing a room with the younger boy cramping his style, Beau had noticed Sean was gentle with his little brother.

They’d given up trying to eat, instead exchanging nervous glances across the table as the storm grew in intensity. Benji and Micah were both near tears, and even Sean looked a little pale, his mouth tight.

The wind howled outside and the shutters slammed against the walls.

“Is it another hurricane?” Benji asked, a few tears falling.

Connor patted his shoulder. “No, buddy, it isn’t. They don’t just happen like that. We’d know way ahead of time.”

“Scared it’s going to take you away to Oz?” Beau joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Connor glared over at him. A clap of thunder shook the house as bright lightning arced across the sky. Everyone at the table jumped, even Connor. Beau imagined he wasn’t a huge fan of things that went boom.

“I should go secure those shutters,” Connor said. “Maybe put some boards up.”

“No, don’t go outside!” Micah shouted.

Benji grabbed at his arm. “Please don’t leave us.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want you to blow away like Dorothy,” Beau said. He nudged at Connor. “You don’t even have a Toto to fly away with you.”

“Not helping,” Connor bit out through clenched teeth. “Remember what I hired you for?”

Hired? Did Connor think—ooh. He really was a fucking moron. Fuck. I’m sorry he mouthed at Connor.

“Okay, okay.” How could he actually help? “Why don’t you stay with the kids? Go make a fire in the fireplace or something. I’ll batten down the hatches, make sure everything’s good outside. Okay?”

“I’ll go with him,” Sean offered quickly.

Connor looked from Beau to Sean and back again. “Good. Thank you. Yeah, okay. Good. Come back when you’re done,” he told Beau.

Connor stood up and took Benji from Sean. “Come on, gang. Let’s go hang out in the living room. A fire is a good idea. I think we still have marshmallows.”

“Can you get Mac and Cheese?” Benji asked. “They’re probably scared, too. They didn’t like riding on the helicopter one bit. We had to put them in a shoe box!”

“I’ll get them,” Fiona offered. “And some pillows and blankets. We can make a fort. Sound fun?”

Benji nodded.

Beau turned to Sean. “I don’t suppose you have a raincoat I could borrow?”

* * *

In the end, the raincoat Sean found for him made not one bit of difference. He was soaked to the bone in no time.

Beau took the front of the house while Sean took the back. Rain whipped across his face and made the hammer slippery in his hand. Wet tarps flapped against him as he tried to secure the windows. The wind sent leaves and branches flying. A garbage can rolled and bounced down the street.

Some of the windows had wooden shutters which seemed like enough protection, but Beau nailed a board across them anyway for extra security. He knew it was more about giving the kids a sense of control than a necessity. At least the almost constant lightning gave him some light to work with.

By the time he was done, the storm was winding down. It had moved through fast, and now only the heavy rain and the sound of receding thunder remained. He walked around to where Sean was still working. “You done yet?” he called.

“Almost,” the boy said, reaching up to nail a tarp back to the window frame. “Last one.” Sean was almost as tall as Connor already, and just as wide. He was going to be a big guy when he finished growing.

“I’m gonna go inside,” Beau yelled over the rain pounding on the roof.

He hung the useless coat on the back of a chair, kicked off his shoes, and walked carefully across the kitchen floor in his wet socks.

He needed to apologize to Connor again. He’d hoped that his jokes would help break the tension, but it was clear they’d only added to it.

The lights were off in the living room. The glow of a laptop screen illuminated Connor sitting on the couch. “Hey,” Beau called softly from the doorway. “Kids in bed?” he asked when Connor looked up.

“Yeah. Micah and Benji are sharing a bed. Don’t tell social services.” Light flickered across his face from the computer screen. “Everything taken care of?”

“Yeah,” Beau said. “But I’m soaked. You said to come back, so I didn’t change yet. No point if I’m just gonna get wet again.”

Connor shut the laptop and stood up. “Where’s Sean?”

“Finishing up.” Beau flinched at the cold water running down his back.

Connor walked over to him, laptop tucked under his arm. “I’ve got some sweats you can borrow. Come to my room.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Beau said with a grin. The shiver that shook him ruined the flirty effect he was going for.

“Don’t go getting your hopes up,” Connor warned.

They walked up a set of stairs from the kitchen Beau hadn’t noticed before to a door at the end of the hall Beau had been wondering about. Behind it was a second set of stairs leading to the attic.

“This house is full of surprises,” Beau said, dripping dirty water down the hallway.

Beau had yet to see where Connor slept. The week had been an exercise in frustration as their conflicting schedules often had them working alone, and the seemingly constant presence of the kids acted like the world’s finest cockblock.

Beau couldn’t help himself; he reached out to grab Connor’s ass. Connor stopped, hands holding onto the banister on both sides, and let Beau crowd up behind him. “You’re wet,” he complained as Beau pressed against him and kissed the back of his neck. “And cold.”

“Is that why you’re shivering?” Beau nipped at the curve of Connor’s neck, sliding his hands up Connor’s side.

“What else would it be?” He tilted his head to give Beau better access. “Come on,” he said, climbing the next step. “Let’s get you out of those clothes before you catch your death.”

“Excellent plan,” Beau said, hoping Sean would stay downstairs for a while. He followed Connor into the attic.