Semper Fi by Keira Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

only spanked her twice and never used my belt. But she’s trying my patience and I don’t want to spoil her. My father wouldn’t hesitate when I was misbehaving. Didn’t yours ever punish you?”
    “Oh, he punished me. But his weapon of choice was a highly effective combination of concise verbal denunciation followed by a prolonged shunning that would make the Amish weep. But my nannies were damn skilled with the belt, let me tell you.” Cal glanced at Adam, who was occupied with licking gravy from his fingers. “Darn skilled, I should say.”
    Jim smiled. “Good thing you didn’t pick up the rest of the bad language we heard in the Corps.” His smile faded and he pushed his plate away.
    “Go talk to her.”
    “I have to get Adam cleaned up after he finishes his dinner.”
    “I’ve got it covered. Adam and I are old friends by now. Right, pal?” Cal ruffled Adam’s hair, garnering a grin.
    “If you’re sure?”
    “I insist.” Cal took Adam’s spoon and scooped up a bite of potatoes.
    They were both laughing as Jim went upstairs, and he felt a bloom of warmth in his chest.
    The door to Sophie’s dark room stood ajar. Inside, she was curled toward the wall on her bed, the blankets pulled up tightly. Jim could tell from the way she was breathing that she was awake. He sat on the side of the bed and caressed her dark curls. “I know things haven’t been easy for you.”
    She sniffled.
    “A lot of things have changed, sweetheart. It’s hard for everyone.”
    Sophie turned over. “I want Mommy to come back.”
    Her tear-stained face and sorrowful expression was like a stab in the gut. Jim swallowed thickly. “I know, baby. But she’s in heaven now. And there’s nothing we can do to change that. Your grandmother died when I was only a boy. I know it’s hard. We just have to do the best we can without her.”
    “I’m trying.”
    “I know you are. But you’re being very rude to Uncle Cal. He came here to help us, and I want you to treat him nicely. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
    She pouted. “I don’t like him.”
    “Why not?” The last person Jim knew who had disliked Cal this much was cranky old DI Tyrell. “Hasn’t he been nice to you since he arrived? Didn’t he bring you a pretty dolly?”
    “I don’t want it.” She huffed, eyes skittering over to the corner of the room where the doll laid face down as if being punished.
    “Uncle Cal just wants to be your friend. And I know for a fact that he’s a darn good friend to have. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. So try and be nice. At the very least, you’re going to be polite.”
    Sophie’s brow furrowed as she tensed. “Why wouldn’t you be here?”
    Images swam behind his eyes, and for a moment Jim could taste the blood in his mouth and smell the burning flesh. He swallowed hard. “It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that we’re all here together, and we need to get along. Will you promise to be a good girl?”
    Nodding, her eyes filled again. “I’m sorry, Daddy. Please don’t be mad at me.” She sat up and threw her little arms around him.
    “I’m not mad anymore. I know you miss Mommy a lot. I miss her too.”
    Sophie’s reply was muffled. “Do you?”
    Jim’s heart skipped a beat. “Of course I do. Why would you ask that?”
    “Because.”
    “Because why? Come on, look at me. It’s okay. I want you to tell me.”
    “Because you and Mommy never seemed to like each other very much.”
    Jim focused on speaking evenly. “Why would you think that? We didn’t argue.”
    “But you hardly ever smiled at each other. Not the way you smile at me, or Adam. Or him. ”
    “Sophie, your mother and I loved each other very much.” It was the truth. He had loved her, even if he hadn’t loved her enough. “Now go to sleep.”
    “You’ll always love me, won’t you? Even if I’m bad?”
    His chest constricted and Jim held her close, rocking her gently. “Always.”

 

     
1942
     
    “Hit the