Steadfast Soldier by Cheryl Wyatt

Author:Cheryl Wyatt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Wow. Fast.” Mary eyed the TV screen at Chance’s house a few weeks after that first fishing trip. She watched intently as a line of parachutes streamed from a military craft hovering over blue water sloshed into a bowl shape by blade-blown wind.

Mary and Chloe had joined Chance and Brock on four fishing trips in the past four weeks now, and Mary had asked to see what PJs do. Chance obliged by inviting her and Chloe over to watch video footage of Petrowski’s team trainings used in PJ recruiting videos.

Not that he was trying to impress Chloe or anything.

He peeked over his shoulder at her profile.

Her mouth hung open. Adoration and respect shone in her eyes as footage played of his team performing over-ocean jump exercises and deep-water rescue training for astronauts while NASA officials looked on.

She looked totally impressed. Totally immersed. Totally enthralled.

He tried to smother a grin.

Brock smirked. An I’m-happy-for-you-but-jealous-it’s-not-happening-for-me look passed between the two men.

Chance laughed and rose to check on his dad, asleep since before they arrived. When he cracked open the door, rustling sounded. He tried to close the door quietly, hoping he hadn’t disturbed his father’s sleep.

“Who’s there?”

Chance stepped back inside the pitch-black room. “It’s me, Dad. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I’ve been awake. Who’s out there?”

“I have some friends over. Brock and Chloe are here with her mom, Mary. We just got back from fishing.”

“If Chloe’s here, where’s the mutt?”

Chance smiled. Even in the dark, his dad’s eyes sparkled when he spoke of Midnight. “He’s out there too. Sleeping at present. We wore him out fishing today. We went longer than the last two Saturdays because the fish were really biting. Wish you could have joined us.”

A grunt. The bed creaked. “Reach me my clothes there.”

“You’re getting up?”

“Yeah. No use lying around.”

Yet that’s all Dad had done since the stroke.

Thankfulness washed over him because his dad was starting to feel well enough physically and emotionally to socialize. After helping his father dress, Chance pushed his wheelchair close.

Ivan growled. “Must you treat me like I can’t do for myself? Hand me that cane, would ya?”

Chance grinned, loving that his dad’s determination had returned in full force. At least for today.

Maybe he’d come fishing with them next weekend.

Chance flipped on the lamp. Light flooded the room. “How about use your walker first? Then graduate to cane?”

“Fine. Hold me back, why don’t ya.”

Chance chuckled. This was the dad he remembered.

“You say there’s a lady out there?” Ivan scratched his chin and ran a hand down his trousers in smoothing motions.

Chance straightened Ivan’s collar. “Yes, Chloe’s mom.”

“Isn’t she a widow?” Ivan leaned on his walker and brushed a hand along the ring of white hair surrounding the shiny bald spot.

Chance’s smile faded. “Yes, I b-believe she is.”

What was up with that? He hadn’t stuttered in days.

Mary, Chloe and Brock turned and stood when Ivan clomped into the room on his walker.

When his gaze met Mary’s, a twinkle came to his eyes that made Chance uneasy. Same twinkle Chance recalled seeing once or twice when Ivan stared at Chance’s mother.

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