Mac snorted.
Juni went back to the puppy.
“Juni?” Jodie said. “How about you and I hang out with Pretzel while Aunt Maren and the rest of the grownups go talk about boring stuff.” She stuck her tongue out. “Bleh.”
Juni giggled. “Okay.”
“Pretzel?” Kyle asked.
“Pretzel,” Jodie affirmed. “That’s this little guy here.”
“Negative. His name…is…” Kyle trailed off as three sets of eyes—Jodie’s, Maren’s, and Gina’s—dared him to say one more word. “…Pretzel. Of course.”
Maren’s smile lit the entire yard and damn near stopped Colin’s heart.
Stand down, soldier.
It didn’t take.
The briefing wasin ten minutes.
Colin caught a glimpse of Charlie and Shane through the cubicle area on the way in—Shane at his desk with his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor, and Charlie standing with her back to the room staring out the window.
“Shane and Charlie,” Colin started.
“Leave them for now,” Lachlan said, with the finality of a closing door.
Colin left it. But he filed it away as one more piece of the puzzle. Mac looked at the two of them like he wanted to send flowers.
Their IT specialist, Flint, was there, laptop open, a half-empty coffee mug at his elbow. He gave Colin and Mac a nod. Mac dropped into the chair beside him.
“How’s Harper?” Mac asked.
Flint immediately warmed at the mention of his wife. “Great. She’s already planning the summer for when our son gets out of kindergarten.”
“That’s Harper,” Mac said, grinning.
Kyle sat beside Arden, who looked like she’d been crying, but she gave Maren a warm smile.
“Where’s Juni?” she asked.
“She’s with Jodie and one of the puppies.”
“Pretzel, I’ve been informed,” Kyle said with a grin.
“And I see Camo’s decided to stay with her.” Arden sounded almost wistful.
“Affirmative,” Kyle said softly. She nodded.
Lachlan took a seat at the head of the table while Gina and Fleur remained standing. Colin wasn’t surprised—Gina almost never sat for a meeting.
Colin pulled out a chair for Maren, then took the last seat, which was beside her.
“Thank you,” she told him softly. “I want to thank all of you.” She looked at each face one by one. “I would have called my brothers for help, but they’re on a mission. Marine Raiders. I’m the only one in the family who didn’t go off on a life of adventure.” Maren laughed bitterly. “I used to think it was just our brothers. Boy, did Mira have me fooled.”
Colin’s heart went out to her. He knew that feeling down to his soul, and it hurt.
Don’t let it show.
