He ducked his head in a nod similar to Decker’s, but her brother’s bothered her far less. He had an amazing wife, a child on the way and support from all of his siblings.
Decker only had the program, and now she was worried about it failing him.
Willow pushed her chair back and stood, smoothing her hands over her jeans. Maybe the quiet of the road and the warmth of Felicity’s little bookshop would steady her nerves. And maybe, just maybe, it would help her stop thinking about a certain dark-eyed SEAL who tied her in knots without saying a word.
* * * * *
The Black Heart boasted a handful of psychologists and doctors aiding all the vets on the road to recovery. Some liked the structure that Dr. Bella provided. But Decker preferred the chaos of Rhae’s therapy office.
For one, the door was always open. From halfway down the hall, he heard the low babble of what they all called the therapy baby—Navy Malone. The tiniest and cutest member of the family had been taking Decker’s mind off his troubles since the day he walked through the door.
When he entered the office, Rhae looked up with a welcoming smile. And Navy issued a happy squeal in greeting.
His lips quirked into a smile as he drifted toward the corner that was always scattered with soft building blocks, stuffed animals that rattled, baby dolls and a vast array of farm animals.
“How are you this afternoon, Decker?” Rhae didn’t move from the armchair she usually occupied as she waited for her next patient to come seeking a listening ear.
Or a baby to play with.
He settled cross-legged on the floor next to Navy. Her big gray eyes blinked up at him, a little pink around the rims. “She catch that cold that’s going around the lodge?”
Rhae nodded. “I think so. You caught her in a happy moment. Enjoy it while you can. I sure am.” She gave him a soft smile and picked up her notebook and pen.
He selected a doll from the basket of toys. Its dark hair was a wild mess, and he smoothed it with a hand before holding it up on its cloth cowgirl boots.
Excited by the play she remembered so well, Navy crawled over to him and reached for the horse.
They’d done this a few dozen times—Navy held the horse steady while he brought the doll over to pet it.
Navy never made him feel awkward about talking through his troubles. She simply saw him as a friend who played with her.
He moved the doll through several motions with the horse, pretending to brush it then take a ride, which had Navy belly-laughing and his heart warming. After that, the dark-haired doll talked to all the animals that Navy threw at him. Mr. Elephant got a special hug. Baby Rhino needed a bandage on his hurt horn. Finally, the doll fell over from total exhaustion and started loudly snoring.
Navy toppled sideways with laughter and lay on her back, kicking her feet.
From the direction of the chair came a low sound, a breath released as if Rhae had some startling realization.
She leaned forward, and he arched a brow at her.
“It’s Willow,” she said slowly.
“What?”
She nodded toward the doll sleeping on the floor. “You’re playing as Willow.”
Tension stretched across his shoulder blades. Shrugging didn’t ease it.
Rhae sat back. “I’ve been looking at this all wrong.” She shook her head. “I thought you were backsliding because of some deep, dark trauma.”
He froze. Hardly breathing.
“It’s about Willow. You don’t want to leave her. You don’t want to go home. You’rechoosingthis.”
His chest was on fire, and he dropped his stare to the doll, seeing the way Willow’s braid fell over her shoulder. The way her eyes swam with tears when she stapled his shoulder.
Rhae cocked her head as she continued to puzzle out the one thing he’d prayed nobody would ever discover.
“We’re all so busy with our lives, and Willow is right there with us, pitching in, yet no one sees Willow. But you spend a lot of time with her.”
