“We’ll be there,” she promised. After Aunt Cecily lost her sight two years ago, she’d moved in with Aunt Louise and Grandma, and Aunt Louise kept their household running like an aircraft carrier, but no way could they add small kids to the mix. And Isaiah meant it about not splitting up the kids. They needed each other. He didn’t know what he would have done growing up if not for Aunt Cecily and Cal, who had both moved in after Isaiah’s mother died.
Cal. A fresh wave of grief hit him, both for Cal, the older brother he’d never had, the teenager he’d idolized as a kid, and for the flawed adult Cal had turned into. He’d tried to say all the right words at the service, a short few paragraphs that didn’t do any justice to all his complicated feels. His father had spoken more at length, eulogizing Cal as “the son of my heart” and acting like he’d been around for their raising, instead of the truth—which was that he’d been off on research jaunts so often that the household had fallen to Aunt Cecily. But whatever. His father was a good public speaker, deep, preacher-style voice, a world-renowned lecturer. He’d had no problem seizing the moment.
Mark hadn’t spoken, which Isaiah had expected, instead letting Danielle’s best friend do a weepy eulogy. God only knew what was going on inside Mark. He was the picture of stoicism in his dress uniform, accepting condolences with a stony face. A fair amount of people had come from the base—people Isaiah knew like Dylan, who was married to a lieutenant, but also friends of Mark’s, each one more impressive than the next in their dress blues.
“Take care of him,” Dylan said, jerking his head in the direction of Mark, who was talking to Dylan’s husband and a few other SEALs Isaiah recognized vaguely. “Daphne’s not the only one about to collapse.”
Isaiah snorted. “He won’t let me, but I’ll try.”
Last night after a dinner of mystery casserole and cake, they’d spoken some about the arrangements for today, but Mark had resisted all of Isaiah’s attempts to make things easier for him. He’d only grudgingly agreed to let Isaiah drive to the church since the car seats were already in his car.
“Good man.” Dylan clapped him on the shoulder, then went to fetch his husband.
His turn to round up a reluctant SEAL, Isaiah scooped up the still-sleeping Liam and made his way to the group as well. He already knew that telling Mark that he needed to rest wouldn’t work, even if the dark circles under his eyes and grim lines bracketing his mouth said he hadn’t slept much last night. So instead Isaiah made it out like he needed a favor.
“You want to help me get the kids to the car? If we load them up now, we might be able to get a bit more nap out of Liam and Zoe.” And get one for you, he wanted to add, but didn’t. Mark was clearly still fighting jet lag, but he wasn’t ever going to admit to it.
“Okay.” Mark made a few goodbyes then followed Isaiah to the couch, where Zoe was still snoozing.
“Can you get her?” Isaiah asked.
“You want me to pick her up?” Mark sounded like Isaiah had asked him to perform open heart surgery right there.
“Here. You take him. I’ll get her.” Isaiah thrust Liam at Mark, not giving him much chance to say no. It was the first time he’d seen Mark hold one of the kids, and while Mark looked distinctly ill at ease, eyes darting around, he also looked endearingly cute, big hands carefully cradling the baby. Not that Isaiah was gonna get a complex about him again, but he’d need a fever or something to not stop and appreciate a big giant SEAL in dress uniform holding a sleeping baby.
He took a moment to save the image in his brain, then carefully lifted up Zoe, who cuddled into his chest. “Okay, Daphne, you ready?” he asked as she walked over.
“Yeah. I wanna ride too,” she pouted.
Mark might be the one with muscles for days, but Isaiah’s own back had gotten good at the double-kid carry in a hurry. He wasn’t going to need the gym with these guys around. He hefted Daphne with his other arm and headed for the car. Daphne fell asleep in her booster seat before he even turned onto C Avenue.
“Quiet.” Mark sucked in a deep breath. The tension in his shoulders and face said he could use a nap himself. “But I bet they wake up the second we hit the driveway.”
“So let’s drive.” Isaiah made an executive decision and headed for the bridge. “I’ve got an almost full tank of gas, we don’t have to be anywhere until tomorrow’s lawyer meeting, and neither of us are eager to go back home.”