She pulls her brow together, and the glare deepens. “You volunteered for the school camp.”
A grin spreads across my face. “Yeah. I’m coming as a parent helper.”
Her mouth drops open. “Why?”
I pull my keys and phone out of my pocket and drop them on the desk. “Because they were looking for volunteers, and I volunteered.”
“But why now? You’ve never come on anything before.”
She’s right. I missed so much when I was deployed. I don’t regret the job that I did serving my country, but damn, it was hard to miss out on my girls growing up. It’s a choice every service member makes, and it’s not an easy one.
I tried to find a balance, but there was never enough time with my girls. There’s still never enough time, what with the veterans center I run. I’ve been out for four years, and I’ve spent that grieving and then setting up Jake’s Retreat. I’ve only just realized I’m still missing out. But now I have the chance to be more present. I just hope it’s not too late.
“I was deployed when you girls were young. I missed school camps, I missed school trips, and athletics days. I don’t want to miss this.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “And it has nothing to do with Brooke?”
I head to the coffee machine in the corner and start making myself a coffee. I can’t admit to my daughter that I’m attracted to her teacher. I can barely admit it to myself.
“You need a parent volunteer. I want to do it. I want to spend some time with my daughter. What’s the problem?”
She huffs, and I hear the wheels of my chair squeak. “You never have before.”
She mutters the last bit, but I can tell by her tone she’s not angry anymore, just resigned. Maybe she’s worried I’ll embarrass her, which I surely will. That’s a dad’s prerogative.
“You want a coffee?”
I turn to face her, and she’s leaning forward with her elbows on the desk. “Double shot. Lots of cream.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Nice try.”
I make her a single shot of coffee and grab the cream from my office fridge.
“You skipped school to get on my case for volunteering?”
I put the coffee down in front of her, and she turns the mug so the handle faces her.
“Relax, it’s study break. I’m not missing much.”
“Except an opportunity to study.”
She screws her face up, ignoring my comment.
“It’s three nights. What about Nora?”
“Nora will stay with Hudson and Willow. They’re happy to have her.”
“Of course they are,” Dana mutters.
There’s a trace of bitterness in her voice. It can’t be easy having a sister everyone considers perfect.
I put a hand on my daughter’s shoulder. “I want to do this for you, Dana. This is a subject you’re interested in. I want to be there for you.”
She scrunches up her face, but I can tell she’s pleased. “Just don’t get in the way.”
“How would I get in the way?” I give an overly innocent shrug of my shoulders.
She rolls her eyes. “Just let me do my thing. Don’t get all SEAL overprotective.”
