Chapter 123- The Cradle Will Fall
*Hi friends- couple of quick notes… First off, thank you to all that were able to join me on Sunday Night Serge to talk about 'So This Is Love'. I don't know if I can fully express through words how much of a joy it was for me to share the evening with y'all. As mentioned on the Zoom… No one in my "real life" knows I have been creating this story for the past 11 months, so it was fun to finally be able to share and talk freely about it with others. It was an experience I didn't realize I needed. Thank you again for being such a loving and supportive community for Nate, Charlie, and me. I hope you enjoyed our time together as much as I did. (Even with all my hand movements, crazy facial expressions, and random thoughts… Haha.)
Second- I apologize for not getting this chapter out sooner. When I leave y'all with a cliffhanger I usually try to keep the days between postings short, but with work travel picking back up for the year it was harder to do than I anticipated.
Plus, as you will see, I needed to spend a bit more time on this one to make sure it came across correctly. I have been vocal on my attempt to keep this story as realistic as possible. With real human emotions that I try so very hard to accurately portray. Life throws us some difficult moments and this chapter… well it has a few. Please… PLEASE stay with me to see this storyline/arc through. Trust me to tell the story as I have imagined it while keeping these characters true to themselves and where I want to take them.
That being said… this is one of those rollercoaster 'BetterThanWCTHS8WritersJK' chapters you either love or hate me for… so buckle up, it could get a little bumpy.
"So how did you say that you knew Nathan?" Charlotte asked.
"I didn't." He said dryly.
Charlotte worked to swallow. Her throat was tight and raw. Her mind raced. This man's presence made her feel faint, but she tried to quiet her thoughts in order to rationally process what was happening. She had recognized the dark look on the man's face and knew it didn't bode well. He was not here on just a visit to catch up with an old friend or comrade.
Allie was safe inside. As long as she stayed there with Remi, Charlotte believed everything would be okay. She had to buy them time though and hope that Nathan would soon be home.
"I'm Charlotte Grant. Nathan's wife." Her palms were sweating, but she had to take his attention off Allie. It was clear to see his demeanor had changed when he saw the girl.
"I heard he was married now. Women have been chasing after Nathan for as long as I can remember. Never thought he'd go through with it though. You must be - something - for him to decide to get hitched. How did you get your claws into him anyway? Because I'll be honest, I thought if he ever did get married, it was going to be to the other woman in town. The one with the little boy."
Charlotte winced and let the silence stretch between them.
"I guess you are beautiful." His gaze swept over her. "Quite striking actually with those haunting grey eyes that a man could get lost in."
Charlotte felt the bile rise into her throat and she struggled to hold herself together. Suddenly the wind picked up, and the stirring around them washed a calmness over her. She wasn't alone. Charlotte straightened, staring back at him with disdain, her chin tilted slightly. "Sir, I don't know about you, but how I was raised, when someone offers you their name, the polite thing to do is give yours in return." There was a steely edge to her statement.
"Well, ma'am," he mocked. "I just assumed… given we are now family; introductions wouldn't be necessary."
Family. The word was like a well-aimed arrow at her heart.
He gave her a cold smile. "Nathan didn't tell you, did he?"
Charlotte's eyes searched his. She saw it then and wondered how she missed it before. Next to Nathan's familiar blue gaze, there was only one other person's eyes she had come to know so intimately over the past two year. This man shared the same rich brown eyes as her daughter.
"Dylan?" She wasn't even sure if she spoke the name aloud. It was faint and distant. As if someone else said it and not her.
He grinned, laughing low as though at some great joke. "Well, I guess you have heard of me then."
Their attention diverted to the commotion coming down the path leading to the house. Peering past Dylan, Charlotte saw Nathan riding hard towards them. A joyous cry escaped her as he swung down off Newton.
"Charlotte!" He exclaimed as he threw his arms around her, pulling her close while she held him in return. "Oh, sweetheart." He whispered into her hair and Charlotte tried hard to contain her tears of thankfulness at his coming home. Nathan held her a moment longer and then pulled back to study his wife carefully. He brushed back the hair that curled around her face. She had braided it, but little waves insisted on coming loose. "Where's Allie?"
Charlotte worked to stifle her emotions and tried to speak. "Allie's fine. Her and Remi are in the house." Her voice cracked. "She… She doesn't know." Charlotte's gaze drifted over Nathan's shoulder to Dylan.
As soon as the rider had come into his view from the road, Nathan knew instantly who it was. He turned slightly out of his wife's arms to face him now. "Dylan. Get off our property. You're not welcome here."
"After all this time, that's how you greet your brother-in-law?"
"You're supposed to be in jail." Nathan's eyes darkened ominously.
"Granted early release."
"Aggravated assault on a Mountie is a minimum of a five-year prison sentence." Bill spoke up as he swung down from his horse, having arrived moments earlier.
"With territory jails at their capacity, judges are reviewing old cases and releasing prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted or sentenced to make room for those who are the true criminals."
"There was nothing wrong with your conviction." Nathan said through gritted teeth.
"Appears to be some question on when we met that night if you were actually out on official Mountie business or just coming to meet up with a brother to discuss family matters."
"You are not my brother."
"Easy, Nathan. I'm not looking for any trouble."
"Then why are you even here?"
"I've come back for Allie. Just like I did a few years ago, but you wouldn't let me see her. You wouldn't let me see my daughter. How could you deny her a chance to know her father?"
"I'm her father. Not you! And if there is any question, I have the formal adoption papers to prove it."
"You see. There is the problem." Dylan pointed his finger. "There seems to be some questions on the legality of the adoption."
"That's not possible. I did all the necessary paperwork and proceedings myself," Bill's face filled with angry color.
"Why are you doing this?" Nathan's voice broke. He was afraid of his own rising emotions, the hot surging blood that coursed through his veins. He was shaking with the power of his anger. His own temper was just beneath the surface.
Dylan's mouth curved wryly. "Why do I need a reason to be with my daughter? You really thought your offer of money in the past would keep me away from Allie. That you could pay me not to see her anymore? That you could buy me out of her life?"
"Nathan, what is he talking about?" Charlotte whispered.
"That's not how it was, and you know it!" A muscle jerked in Nathan's cheek. "Stop with the lies."
"My lies?" Dylan stared at him. "I bet you never even told Allie… or your wife… that I came back for the girl a few years ago. Did you?!"
Nathan clenched his jaw and took a step towards Dylan. Charlotte's grip on his arm tightened before he went any further. He twisted slightly towards her; their eyes caught as she tilted her chin in the direction of the house. Before even looking, Nathan knew what Charlotte was trying to silently tell him.
Allie.
Charlotte moved away from Nathan and towards their daughter, motioning for Allie to join her at the base of the steps. Remi whined restless from the other side of the door where she had been left behind. It was clear to see from Allie's face she had heard much of the conversation.
"Dad, is any of this true?"
"It is sweetie." Dylan answered to the title of father before Nathan even had a chance. "Your dad came back for you three years ago, and your Uncle Nathan had me arrested instead. Thrown in jail to rot on some trumped-up charges instead of being able to see you grow up like I've always wanted to."
Dylan didn't even see it coming. He didn't even know what happened. One moment he was on the back of his horse. The next he was lying flat on the ground with Nathan standing over him. Fists clenched and face livid. Nathan caught him by the front of his shirt, yanking his upper body up and shaking him like a rag doll. His right arm cocked and ready to land the first blow to the side of Dylan's head.
In a blur there was movement beside Nathan. Charlotte hooked her arm through her husband's. "Nathan! Stop!" She pleaded.
"Go on, hit me!" Dylan challenged. "You know you want to."
Again, Charlotte tugged on Nathan's arm. Trying to get through to him. "Nathan, you can't do this."
"Like hell I can't." He brushed her off causing Charlotte to trip over her feet and almost fall before catching her balance.
Dylan sneered. "Do you always knock your wife around like that?"
The comment blurred Nathan's rationale. His grip dug into Dylan's shirt collar as he slammed the man's back hard into the ground. Jarring them both. "Don't say another word! Do you hear me? Not. Another. Word!"
Suddenly, Nathan was yanked back. Bill had wrapped his arms around his torso and used his own body weight and momentum to pull Nathan off Dylan. They stumbled slightly until Nathan spread his feet to steady them. He balled his fists and stood ready to come at Dylan again.
"Stay down." Bill bellowed as Dylan started to rise to his feet. "I'm not through with you yet."
"I've done nothing wrong. You have nothing to charge me with."
"Want to bet? How about trespassing for one. I'm sure I can find other charges to go with."
"You can't do that."
"I'm a territory judge. Believe me. I can do that."
"He attacked me! Unprovoked. You saw."
"Unprovoked." Nathan scoffed and tried to come at Dylan again, but Bill stepped in between.
"All I did was confirm to my little girl that I'm her dad."
"She's not your little girl! And you sure as hell aren't her dad!"
"Nathan." Charlotte's faint voice finally broke through to him and he pivoted. Fury blazing in his eyes. There, only a few feet away, stood his wife. Her arms wrapped protectively around their daughter. Allie's face was buried into Charlotte's chest as uncontrollable sobs shook her.
Suddenly the fog began to clear for Nathan and something deep within him shifted. "Allie." He reached forward to touch the girl's back, but she twisted slightly, trying to hide herself further into Charlotte's arms. Cowering away from him.
Nathan's eyes shot up to his wife's. He could feel the fear radiating from her too and rightfully so. His rage frightened him. She looked afraid to even look at him. To even say a word. Her face was full of silent torment and her eyes bubbled with unshed tears. Charlotte had never seen him like this before and, to be honest, Nathan had never seen it in himself either. His actions had made her fearful. No doubt, her mind filled with flashbacks of her time with Beck and his temper.
Nathan's heart was pounding like a locomotive. He let out his breath and pushed his fingers back through his hair in frustration. God what had he done?
Bill worked quickly and handled the arrest. He would take Dylan back into town and process the charges of trespassing. Nathan knew though that they would only be able to legally hold him in the jail overnight before releasing him tomorrow unless they could find something else to bring against him. Nathan offered to ride back to town with Bill and help book Dylan.
"No," Bill answered. "I can handle it and then I'll start making some calls and see if we can't get to the bottom of what's really going on. We can discuss it all tomorrow. Tonight…" Bill looked over Nathan's shoulder at where Charlotte was still trying to calm down Allie. "I think you have more important things."
Nathan nodded in agreement as Bill squeezed his shoulder. The judge mounted Hero and then set off. Leading Dylan on his horse back towards town. Nathan watched until the pair disappeared into the tree line, before forcing himself to face his family.
The image in front of him might as well have stuck a knife in his guts and twisted it. Charlotte still held Allie close, speaking softly to their daughter as she caressed the girl's back in a steady and reassuring manner. He could tell his wife was trying to be strong, but he knew she too was struggling. Both of his girl's bodies quivered with an overflow of emotions. Fear. Heartbreak. Confusion.
"I'm… I'm a…" Nathan stuttered. He didn't know what he was going to do. His mind was racing with so many things. "I'm going to put Newton in the barn. And then…" His eyes connected with Charlotte's as she stared at him over Allie's head. Biting her lip to stop its trembling. "Then I think it may be best if I take a walk- get some air. When I get back- we can talk- if you are ready-"
He left the sentence unfinished and picked up Newton's reins to head to the barn.
Nathan didn't know how long he had been gone. The whole world had seemingly fallen around him.
Dylan Parks was back and believed he had a claim to Allie.
The Mountie in Nathan wanted to ride back into town and immediately begin calling around and making inquiries. He and Bill could start looking through the adoption paperwork, seeing if there was some loophole Dylan could take advantage of.
The man in him knew that wasn't where he was needed. Not tonight anyway. He needed to explain some things and clear the air with his daughter and wife.
Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the pressure that had found its way into his body over the past hours.
Hours. Nathan looked up to the sky. He hadn't even paid attention on his walk, after taking care of Newt, to notice that the sun had set long ago. The sky had now been replaced with stars that twinkled and danced over him. Why were they even out? He thought. Didn't nature know that tonight should be as lifeless as he felt, with a cold wind blowing like the chill and dread that gripped his heart.
When the house came back into view, he noticed only a few lights on downstairs. He had wished by now, with the walk and time in prayer, he would have worked out all his confusion and feelings. That he would know exactly what to say and do, but there was nothing. And the feeling of nothingness made him more scared than anything.
As Nathan neared the corner of the front porch a soft breeze through the nearby trees made him pause for a moment. He took in a deep, steadying breath.
What did Charlotte call these moments? Her music. Nathan felt some of his anxiety seep away as he took another minute to listen. It was only when he heard the slight creak of a floorboard, did he realize that he was not the only one outside looking for guidance.
Barely illuminated from the low light of the lamp spilling through the windows and the sliver of moon that hung overhead did he see Charlotte. She sat on the steps with her head in her hands. Nathan wasn't sure if she was crying or praying. Probably both. His heart sank as he watched, and the ease he sought became an even heavier burden.
She must have sensed him then as her fingers quickly brushed her cheeks and she worked to sit up a little straighter. To give the appearance of being strong. But that was all it was. A façade. One that Nathan could see straight through.
He knew he didn't look any better.
"Where's Allie?" He asked innocently, breaking the silence between them as he came nearer. "I was hoping we could all talk when I returned."
Charlotte just looked at him with a faint, enigmatic expression. "I finally got her to sleep about a half hour ago."
"But… I…"
"Nathan, it has to be almost ten o'clock. What did you expect?" She replied with some impatience.
Nathan was slow in answering. "I… I don't know. I didn't intend to be gone so long. I just lost track of time."
"That girl is so emotionally exhausted, Nathan. I couldn't get her to stop crying. I've never seen her like this. No matter what I said. No matter what I did. I couldn't comfort her. I felt so helpless…" Charlotte's voice cracked. "Finally, I ran her a warm bath with lavender soap and made her a cup of chamomile tea. We sat and talked a bit and prayed before bed and then I had her write down all her questions and feelings she had so that she could explain them to you when you got back. Get them all out of herself and onto paper. At least after that, she seemed a bit more at ease."
"I should go talk to her… explain things." He took the first few steps up the porch heading to the front door.
"No," she said firmly. When he looked down, Charlotte's gaze directed him to sit on the step beside her. "I just checked on her. She and Remi are both asleep in bed. That dog knows something is wrong. She hasn't let Allie out of her sight, since… At this point it's just better to let Allie be tonight. It will give her a chance to rest and for you and me to talk."
"I'm sorry, Charlotte," he apologized sincerely, his eyes seeking her face as he sat down. He rested his forearms on his knees as his shoulders slumped forward with the heaviness of it all.
Charlotte bowed her head too and clasped her hands tightly together. She didn't look at him. It was a long, heavy silence before she spoke very quietly. "Make me understand, Nathan." She said softly, but there was steel in her voice and a soft sadness, too. "Tell me why."
"Why?" He frowned slightly. "I think that should be obvious. I've told you about Dylan before."
"Some parts. But it would seem I don't know the whole story. Like why didn't you tell me you arrested Dylan a few years ago? Or why did Allie not know he came to Hope Valley before? Because those are the questions, she kept asking me tonight and all I could say was it is complicated and that you and Dylan had gone through a lot over the years. Things that we never even knew about. But I want to know, Nathan. Because you once told me that when you care about someone. You care about every part of them. The bad and the good. So, make me understand. Tell me how the man I married. This quiet, patient man I thought I knew everything about, suddenly was a complete stranger to me today."
He didn't know how to answer her. How to explain what came over him tonight. Mostly because he didn't even quite understand it himself. He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his brow, trying to release the pressure in his head.
Nathan drew in a long, tremulous breath. "Guilt… I think."
"Guilt?" She was a bit taken aback and stammered.
"For years I've wondered what would have happened if I had been honest with Colleen about my feelings towards Dylan from the very start. Maybe then they wouldn't have gotten married and maybe then… my sister would still be with us."
"You can't talk like that. You can't put that sort of burden on yourself."
"Why can't I?" He almost hissed. "That's what I've believed for years."
"For one, very important reason… Allie. And whether we want to admit it or not, Dylan was a part of bringing her into this world too."
"No! He gave up on her a long time ago." He stressed every one of the words.
"Have you ever explained this to Allie?"
Nathan shook his head. "How can you tell a little girl that her father ran out on her? No. I decided long ago, it was better for Dylan Parks to not even exist in our lives than for Allie to think his abandonment had anything to do with her. How can you say that to someone, let alone an innocent child, and not expect them to think it's their fault? I couldn't have her believing that."
"You're right. It wouldn't be easy, but Nathan… she's now at an age where this sort of thing is important for her to know and understand." Charlotte said in an even tone.
"How am I supposed to explain to Allie that all Dylan is capable of doing is breaking her heart?" He cried out in frustration. "I don't want her to get hurt the way her mom did."
"The difference is… Allie has you… and me, and the rest of this community to watch out for her," was Charlotte's matter-of-fact response. "We have to be completely honest though. No more half-truths and certainly no more avoiding the topic of Dylan. You have to tell her everything. It's better for her to hear it from you, her dad, than for Dylan's lies to permeate any deeper."
Nathan's eyes found hers, they were wet like his, but full of light and love. He spilled out his heart then and everything he knew of Dylan Parks as a man, husband, brother-in-law, and father.
When he was through, they sat in silence. Both trying to process what this all meant for their family. Finally, Charlotte asked. "Do you think there is any truth to what Dylan said? About the adoption and its legality?"
"I honestly don't know." He looked down at his hands clenched together and watched the muscles twitch. "I remember when I started the process Bill warned me that the proceedings, court filings, public notices in newspapers could really stir things up. He reminded me that Dylan had tracked us down from an article in a newspaper and I told him that was the reason why I wanted to get it done while he was in jail. Because of that, I was anxious to get everything finalized. I had put off her adoption for far too long and when Bill told me that between the document requests and extra paperwork that it would take longer to get things drawn up, I asked him to do whatever he could to push it along. I've been wondering for hours if maybe my pressure to rush made him miss something. Something important and now… now I don't know."
"I think out of everything Allie overheard tonight; this is what has her most upset. She's afraid, Nathan, just as we are. Afraid that Dylan may have some claim to her and because of that she… she'll be taken away from us." Charlotte could feel the tears burning in the corners of her eyes.
"I failed her. Just like I did Colleen. I needed to make sure this adoption was ironclad so that Dylan could never hurt her again and now..." Nathan's voice rattled as he choked out the thoughts he had wondered all night. "Oh, God. What if I can't keep my promise to her, Charlotte? I promised never to leave her and if…"
"You are not failing her!" She shook her head. "And you will never leave her. No matter what happens. And like you are always telling me, 'Don't let the what-ifs of life take away from the what-is'. Allie is safe, cared for, and above all loved. Yes, she's hurt and confused right now like we all are, but I'm going to have faith that we can work through this. That we will get to the other side stronger from these trials. We both knew the hard days would come and what I keep going through in my head is the words from Nan's letter- When you are by my side, I know I can face any challenge life brings along. A love that will never dilute- even when the waters get deep, and dark."
Nathan traced his finger along the side of Charlotte's cheek, and he began to lean in to kiss her, but before he did, he noticed that his action had caused Charlotte's eyes to close and her breath to catch. Not in a good way. Nathan drew back as quickly as if she had slapped him away herself. Charlotte's face was white as death. Her pain bubbling to the surface as every muscle in her body seemed to tense.
"I'm sorry," she said hoarsely and looked away. Tears now clearly cascading down the side of her face. Nathan's heart clenched and body shook with the realization of what she was alluding to. Subconsciously he created space between them, shifting closer to the porch railing and away from her. His eyes were hot with tears, his heart pounding like a war drum. She looked like a bedraggled child. Shadows lay dark beneath her grey eyes that shimmered in the moonlight. He could almost see her shrinking. Waves of shame and trepidation washing over them.
"I thought they were gone forever." She whispered under her breath, more to herself than to him. "I haven't had one in so long and I just assumed they would never come back. Not now. Not with you."
Nathan's thoughts whirled in a confused state as they both sat in silent torment. He remembered back to the moment tonight when Charlotte had tried pleading with him to stop before Dylan would have a reason to charge him with assault or some other offense that could land them in a deeper mess. Nathan had brushed off her attempts and as a result Charlotte stumbled and almost fell from his careless action. 'Do you always knock your wife around like that?' - Dylan's well calculated comments had blinded him with rage and Nathan had acted out on it. No wonder it scared both Allie and Charlotte. It scared him too.
"Nathan, I need to be honest with you." She said, raising her head to look him straight in the eyes. "Now that we've talked, I understand what drove you to act the way you did tonight. But understanding, and even to a certain extent, appreciating your natural instincts to protect this family at any cost, I still can't shake… this feeling. The man I saw today…" She choked on the words. "He frightened me."
Nathan worked to swallow. To breathe.
Charlotte noticed she had hurt him with her confession and softened. He was so sincere and loved her so much. She loved him, too, and that's why she had to be honest with him, even though she withered at the thought of causing him any more pain. They had opened Pandora's box and there was now no way to close it again. The horrible, grotesque memories of her past rose from the dead. She couldn't bottle up what she was feeling. She couldn't disguise her fears from him. He knew her soul too deeply. Too completely.
"I know you are not Beck. You will never hurt me. Not on purpose." Her voice sounded so contrite. "But remember what I said on our first Christmas together? Given my past I couldn't guarantee that these ghosts wouldn't happen again. That they wouldn't cripple me in fear and take me right back to my darkness."
His breath was unsteady, hanging onto every word she was telling him. She looked at him with bleak eyes.
"But what I promised you then and reiterate now. I no longer am facing that fear alone. I can't let my concerns and worries stay bottled inside me and fester. It won't help either of us. I need to be truthful with you on what I'm experiencing. I'm not trying to say this to hurt you, to make you feel guilty, or to burden you with more." Her voice broke. She regained control and went on more quietly. "Believe me, if I had any power over what I'm experiencing I'd exorcize these demons as quickly as they came on, but it doesn't seem to work that way. My hope is that by talking about them we are taking a step in the right direction. Maybe the two of us can fight off the darkness that is trying to swallow me whole?"
Nathan didn't answer. Not yet trusting his voice. What struck him the hardest was the guilt etched deeply into her grieving face. She didn't want to burden him with more. She hated that she was feeling this way, just as much as he did. Maybe more so. His mind also floated to words from Nan's letter. 'Being with someone who is committed to going through the ups and downs of life together is truly priceless. When two people embrace their imperfections and commit to growing into better versions of themselves, it will naturally enhance the happiness they share in the relationship'.
"I wasn't prepared for this." She kept on in that quiet, agonized voice. Noting the sheen of moisture in Nathan's eyes, she physically ached inside for him. "I'm sorry, Nathan. I do love you- you know that. But I think it may take some time for me to feel comfortable again with…" She choked out the words and looked at Nathan to be sure he was understanding what she was trying to say. He nodded that he did. "I don't want you to think I'm running from your affections and love. Or that I'm trying to push it away. Instead, I'm using it as a lifeline." She gave a weak smile trying to lighten the heavy mood by using his own words that on multiple occasions he had confided in her. "I'm reaching out to you with complete honesty, taking hold of your unwavering love and not letting go. I just think we need to take some time and slowly work through these feelings and worries together. Whether we like it or not, things changed for us today. We can't just sweep it under the rug and act like it never happened. We can't hide from it."
"Charlotte," he said hoarsely. For the first time in a long while being the one to speak between them "We'll make it through this. We will. I promise."
He wanted to touch her. To hold her close and reassure them both. It wasn't just the sudden lack of physical intimacy between them, it was the way that their touch had a way of connecting them on a different level. Even in the balmy summer evening his body felt chilled. Devoid of her warmth and tenderness. It came so naturally between them now, that he had forgotten what it felt like not to have it a part of their relationship. He hungered for her comfort and the gentleness of them as lovers. But he would not betray her trust in him. He meant what he had said. They would make it through this.
They had to.
She gave a shuddering sigh and studied him for a moment. Seeming to read his thoughts. "I promise too." Charlotte slowly reached across the expanse that separated them and for the first time that night, touched him, taking his hand into hers. His whole arm stiffened at first. Afraid she would pull away again, but she didn't let go. She turned his hand over in hers and smoothed her fingers down over his roughened palm so that her small, yet strong, hand covered his.
Nathan almost crumpled with emotion at the act. He wasn't prepared for the tenderness of the moment. Her taking the first step to healing them both. They let their tears flow as they sat in the stillness. Nathan rhythmically stroked his thumb across her knuckles as he wove their fingers together. Words no longer necessary to express what they were thinking or feeling. The connection between them was still present. Battered and bruised maybe, but there and with that realization they both seemed a little more at peace as they relaxed and listened to the soothing sounds of the night. A calm settled over them, and they knew everything would be all right.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Charlotte gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Pulling his attention to her, she offered him a small, disarming smile that seemed to instantly drop his defenses and lighten his heart.
"You must be starving," she said. "Why don't we go inside, and I'll warm you up something for dinner?"
"I'm not really hungry," he answered honestly. "I don't have much of an appetite tonight."
"I understand," she paused for a moment. "But after everything you've been through today, I need to know you're taken care of. You still need to eat something. I can't have you passing out and hitting your head."
He gave a bleak, humorless laugh.
Charlotte leaned towards him then, tentatively running her hand through his disheveled hair. Letting the silky locks comb between her fingers as she trailed her touch to cup the side of his cheek. Stroking her thumb across his stubble, she looked deep into his eyes. "Because you know what, Sarge?" She teased and felt his muscles relax with her use of the endearment. "Your face isn't half bad."