His boots left the railing and landed with a solid thud on the wooden porch. Her voice sounded too happy for the news to be bad, but he couldn't shake the flicker of uncertainty that shot through him. "What's up? Is everyone okay?" If there had been an emergency with his niece, nephew, or brother-in-law, she would have called in a panic, not with this barely suppressed joy in her voice, but he needed to hear the words.
"Don't worry, everyone here is fine. I just wanted to let you know that you're going to be an uncle again."
It took a second for the words to sink in, but then a grin spread across his face. "You're pregnant?"
"I know it's a surprise." She laughed, the sound bright and infectious. "With one in kindergarten and the other in preschool, we thought our baby-making days might be over. But we have an oops baby on the way, and we’re really excited."
"That's great news, sweetheart," he said, genuine happiness warming his voice. "I know Dan must be thrilled." His sister had married a good man with not only a stable job but also a steady personality. Dan was an accountant who ran his own business, and Stephanie worked part-time as one of his receptionists. While Casper couldn't imagine a more boring job, he also couldn't imagine a better man for his sister. Dan was a loving and devoted husband, as well as a wonderful father.
"He's over the moon, as you can imagine. I also have other news, but I'll let Mom tell you since she's right here."
The phone rustled as it changed hands, then his mother's familiar voice came on the line. "Aldo?"
Family was the only people who called him by his given name.Aldo Caspani.Since he was given the call sign of Casper in the Army when he was only eighteen, he’d rarely heard his first name used. He smiled at the calm, warm tone she always used. "Hey, Mom, what's going on?"
"I finally decided to retire," she said, and he could hear the mixture of excitement and nervousness in her tone.
"It's about time!" Relief flooded through him. His mother had worked as a school cafeteria worker during breakfast and lunch, then went to a local diner, where she was on her feet as a server throughout dinner service. He'd tried to convince her to quit for years, offering to help her financially so she could enjoy an early retirement. Stephanie and Dan had even offered to pay her for the occasional babysitting she did, but his mother had been stubbornly independent."I will not take money from mychildren to spend time with my grandchildren! And I will not have my son send me his hard-earned money!"had been her standard response.
"Well, I agree that the time is right," she continued. "But I wanted to let you know that I'm selling my house and moving closer to Stephanie. I found a sweet little condo that's only about a ten-minute drive from them. I don't have to worry about yard work or repairs, and I'll be able to see the grandchildren more often."
Relief speared through him. "Mom, that's great. You deserve your retirement. You deserve a nice place where you don't have to worry about painting shutters or mowing the grass. And being so close to Stephanie and her family will keep you from feeling lonely."
"The new place has a second bedroom, so there's always room for you when you come to visit."
He winced, knowing what was coming next, and she didn't keep him waiting.
"Of course, if you would settle down and have children of your own, then I could come visit your family!"
"Don't know that's going to happen, Mom."
"You never know," she said gently. "Sometimes things hit us when we least expect them."
He didn't deny her words because that was certainly what had happened with the other Keepers who'd found not only wonderful women but also soulmates who fit perfectly with being married to a Keeper. But Casper also knew that he would never be considered a catch.
His rough looks with a close-cropped haircut, leaving only a longer strip of hair down the middle, ear piercings, tattoos, and being more comfortable wearing combat boots, worn jeans, and T-shirts, he wasn't exactly the poster boy of what most women were looking for.Unless they were just looking for a walk on thewild side.He indulged occasionally, but for the most part, those encounters left him unsatisfied.
And considering that he preferred comfortable silence over continual chatter, he wasn't exactly ideal dinner date material.
"Sure, Mom," he offered noncommittally. Hearing her soft sigh, he knew he hadn't fooled her. Wanting to steer the conversation away from his nonexistent love life, he added, "I'm really glad for the changes in your life. Do you need me to help you move?"
"As much as I would love to see you, I'll decline. Dan has already lined up a moving company and a real estate agent to sell the house. When you come to visit, I don't want it to be because you have to work. I want us to sit and enjoy each other's company."
Casper grinned. His mom knew him well. "Sounds good, Mom. Tell everyone I said hi, and we'll talk soon."
"I love you," she said, her voice soft with maternal affection.
"Love you, too," he replied before they disconnected.
His beer bottle was empty, and he stood slowly, leaning his hands against the weathered porch railing. The Montana air was crisp and fresh, carrying the scent of pine and the promise of the oncoming winter. In the darkened sky, he could see the light tower glowing in the distance, its beam cutting through the darkness. It was no longer used as a beacon for planes flying over the mountains at night, but the light still drew his eye every time he looked toward it. It felt like a beacon to him personally, drawing him to this place, this company, this new life.
Breathing deeply, he turned and headed back inside the bunkhouse. The familiar creak of the floorboards and the quiet sounds of his teammates settling in for the night surrounded him. Once in his bed, staring up at the ceiling in the darkness, he thought about what his mother had said.Love comes when you least expect it.
Maybe that was true for other people, but Casper didn't expect it to happen to him. He told himself it didn't matter, that he'd been alone for many years and that was fine. He was content with his work, his teammates, and this life he'd built.
But late at night, lying in the darkness, he had to admit it would be nice to find someone to share the peaceful silence with.
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