Kim’s ex-husband had been an enlisted man on base who had taken advantage of a grieving, lonely teenage girl rebelling against her father.
Zachary Barnes had dragged Kim into a life of partying and hard drugs. After she became pregnant, he had married her reluctantly and had been dishonorably discharged a year later for selling drugs to others on base.
In the three short years of their marriage, he had walked out on her several times and been arrested several more before he was ultimately killed in jail by another inmate while awaiting trial on drug charges.
Still, one amazing thing had come out of his sister’s short-lived relationship and he was looking at her.
“You were little when he died. You probably don’t remember much about him.” He could only hope.
“Not much. Mom hardly ever mentions him.” She paused. “Do you remember much about him? “
He absolutely didn’t want to talk about Zachary Barnes. “I was at military school for much of their marriage and she was living in the Las Vegas area so I didn’t have much chance to spend time with him.”
“I don’t really misshim, you know, though I do miss having a dad,” she admitted. “But Grandpa is really good about doing all the dad kind of stuff with me now that we live closer to him and Diane. He even let me practice driving his car. We only went around an empty parking lot a few times but it was still cool.”
Funny. He couldn’t remember his father taking him to practice driving when he was a kid, even as he was preparing to take his own driver’s test. One of his friends’ fathers had done it.
“It’s good that you have him close by,” he said, hoping his voice didn’t sound as stiff as he felt.
“And Diane is really great, too. It’s kind of fun to have a grandma.”
“Right. Well, remember that if you need to talk, I’m here. I might not be as good as your mom or Diane but I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks.”
“Did you say you have homework?”
“Only a quick math worksheet. It won’t take me long. I have all weekend, anyway. I can do it Sunday afternoon.”
Right. He had forgotten it was Friday.
Audrey yawned suddenly. “I should probably head to bed. I need to work tomorrow at Evergreen and Ivy to help with Lydia since Holly has that wedding in the afternoon.”
She looked around the house, which had at least started to heat up thanks to the fireplace and the furnace.
“Do you think we could put up some Christmas decorations? Mom and I were going to do it last weekend after Thanksgiving but obviously we didn’t get the chance.”
He knew less about decorating a house for Christmas than he did about teenagers. He had never seen the point in bothering much about the holidays while living in base housing.
Still, he had promised to be here for his niece during the holidays. If that meant decking the freaking halls, he would do his best.
“Sure thing. Why don’t we plan on doing that this weekend? Maybe we could take care of it Sunday afternoon.”
“That would be great, Uncle Ryan.” To his surprise, she hugged him. “I’m really glad you’re here,” she said.
“So am I,” he said, suddenly grateful he had been able to arrange his life to free up time for his niece.
She needed him, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
Chapter Five
“THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME OUT THIS MORNING FOR A FEWhours with Lydia. My mom and sister both had other obligations this morning or they would have taken her. My sister’s going to pick her up this afternoon, though.”
“Not a problem,” Audrey assured Holly. “We love hanging out together, don’t we, Lyd?”
“I love Auddy,” her daughter said, smiling brightly at the older girl.
“We’re going to do some crafts then I told her maybe we could watch a Christmas movie,” the older girl said.
