What had gotten into him last night? After years of keeping up his guard, he’d been swept up in the moment. For those blissful few minutes, he’d been eighteen again, dancing with his girl without a care in the world.
It wasn’t his intention to be cruel, but he’d had to construct his defenses and quick. Serena hadn’t turned quick enough to hide the tears he’d inflicted. For all she’d done to him, he didn’t believe in playing tit for tat, and he regretted his words last night.
If he’d learned anything from the incident, it was to stay away from her. Far, far, away.
The coffee pot gurgled, and Lucas poured a cup, added a dash of sugar. He carried the mug outside and sat on Beau’s patio. The neighbor’s children next door were awake and playing already. An inflatable ball flew over the fence, and a muffled argument ensued about who would climb over to retrieve it.
Lucas chuckled. He strolled to the yard and picked up the ball, walked to the property’s border. “Is this what you wanted?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you,” a red-headed boy with freckles said.
“We’re sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.” A girl with blonde pigtails scrunched her nose. “Well, it might, but not on purpose.”
“If it does, don’t hurt yourself trying to climb the fence.” He pointed to the gate. “My brother keeps that unlocked, and you can come in through there.”
The boy and girl nodded, took their ball, and resumed playing. From all appearances, they were good kids, enjoying an early Sunday morning playtime.
Sunday. Church. Mom would expect him to attend.
Church—and God—hadn’t been a priority to him. He believed, had accepted Christ as a child, but deployments and training provided an easy excuse not to find a church home. Foxhole prayers were the extent of his communication with God. He knew he had to change, but bad habits were hard to break.
The door slid open, and Beau walked through holding a cup of coffee for himself. “You’re up early.”
“I usually am.”
Beau lowered his body into a chair. “Did you get the message about Lacey? She had the baby at two this morning.”
“Go figure, the one time I didn’t check my phone.” The news brought him joy, though, and he smiled. “Did she send a picture?”
“A bunch of them.” Beau pulled his phone out and showed Lucas. “She looks just like Lacey.”
“She does.” Lucas slid through rest of the pictures. “Two nieces in a month.”
“Crazy, isn’t it?”
“We have to get a teddy bear to take to the hospital. And flowers for Lacey.” Even if he wasn’t destined to have children, he’d live vicariously through his family.
“Are you going to church? We can stop after.”
He took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders. “I guess.”
Beau smirked. “Lightning won’t strike you down if you go.”
“So you say.”
The doorbell rang, followed by an urgent knock.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Beau arched a brow.
“No.”
“Sunday morning visitors don’t usually come with good news.” Leaving his mug on the patio table, Beau left to answer the door.
Lucas finished off his coffee and breathed in the crisp air. When the door slid open, he turned to see Rex with a stark expression. His brain jumped to conclusions, but he put them at bay. “Where’s Monica?”
Rex’s eyes softened at the mention of his wife. “Inside with Emily.”
“You all are out and about early.”
