Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
“Are you sure about this?” Darwin asked as he and Katrina walked up to the front door of her parents’ house.
The home was located beside the vineyard, a few minutes’ drive from the resort, set behind an ornate wrought-iron gate with the Weber Vineyard logo. It was easy to see from the architecture that the house had been the inspiration for the resort, and he wondered if the inside was as fancy.
“Am I sure?” Katrina said as they reached the front door. Tonight, she was wearing a bright blue wrap dress that caressed her slender curves. “No. But reconnecting with my mom made me think I might be able to do the same with my dad. And Rhett, too, at some point. I just hope this isn’t a mistake.”
Darwin turned and wrapped his arms around her.
Man, she was really nervous about this. Maybe having dinner with her parents was a bad idea.
He bent his head to give her a soft kiss.
“Whatever happens in there, I’ve got your six.
” When Katrina stared at him in confusion, he added, “It means I’ve got your back.
Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I’ll be there. ”
She smiled and kissed him. “Thank you for that.”
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the door again, sizing it up like it was about to snap at her.
“What has you the most concerned about dinner?” he asked, not wanting to push her to go inside before she was ready. “Are you afraid you and your father will end up getting into a fight? Or are you worried he and I are going to rub each other the wrong way?”
“Maybe a little of both,” she admitted, glancing sideways at him. “I’m also more than a little nervous at the idea of snooping on my dad while we’re there.”
Katrina had told him about the conversations she’d had with Khloe and Lakelyn, as well as Francesca. He’d been kinda surprised Katrina was willing to snoop on her own father, and that Khloe was willing to help.
Darwin wondered if he should tell Katrina that Kyla was doing background checks on her father and brother, but chickened out–again. It was one thing for her to decide her family might be up to something. It was completely different for him to be the one poking around without her knowledge.
“Well, let’s not worry about the snooping part of the evening yet,” he said. “Let’s get through the dinner first and then see how things go, okay?”
She nodded, giving him a grateful smile. “Sounds good to me.”
Katrina reached for the door handle, but then hesitated, fingers moving toward the doorbell, like she should ring it instead of walking into her childhood home. Maybe she didn’t feel like it was her home anymore.
The issue was decided for her when the door opened, Khloe standing there with a big smile on her face.
“I thought I heard you two out there,” Khloe said, motioning them in with a laugh. “What were you talking about for so long?”
“We were discussing if we should have brought a hostess gift,” Katrina said, giving her sister a smile as she took Darwin’s hand and led him inside. “I haven’t been here in a while, so I wasn’t sure.”
“Don’t be silly.” Khloe pulled Katrina in for a warm hug. “I know I speak for Mom and Dad when I say this will always be your home. Come on. They’re in the living room with Asher.”
Khloe led them through the huge foyer with its open atrium and twin curving staircases leading to the second floor. The place was like something out of some ritzy home magazine, and it was difficult not to stare in awe.
The living room was just as fancy, but Darwin was too busy noticing the dip in temperature when they walked into the space to appreciate the expensive decor.
While Katrina’s mother might have wanted them to come to dinner, her father definitely didn’t seem to be there voluntarily.
Jameson barely said hello to Katrina before giving Darwin a disapproving look.
Grace was much more welcoming than she’d been the other night, giving both of them a hug.
“Let’s all go into the dining room, shall we?” Grace suggested.
Katrina took Darwin’s hand, leading him in that direction.
The dining room was of the formal variety instead of the open concept he preferred.
The table in the center was big enough to easily sit a dozen people, if not more, and one look at the place settings made up of multiple plates and a seemingly inordinate amount of utensils, made him think he was going to make a fool of himself tonight.
Given the glint in Jameson’s eyes, it seemed the older man was looking forward to it.
Remembering his manners, Darwin pulled out Katrina’s chair for her even as Jameson and Asher did the same for their significant others. A smiling gray-haired housekeeper immediately appeared from what must be the kitchen, a tray in her hand.
“Good evening, everyone,” she said as she made her way around the table, placing plates in front of each of them. “Tonight’s appetizer is seared scallops on butternut squash puree. Enjoy!”
That sounded as delicious as it looked, Darwin thought as he reached for what he hoped was the right fork.
“Darwin,” Grace said, picking up her own fork, “Katrina told me that you enjoy your job. I’ve heard of Navy SEALs, of course, but I must admit, I have no idea what you actually do for a living.”
He finished the piece of scallop he was eating––which was not only perfectly seared but buttery and sweet, too––and looked at Katrina’s mother to see her regarding him with genuine curiosity.
So, he told them about the day in the life of a SEAL, talking about the grueling physical exercise, the weapons and tactics training, the classified briefings, and deployments to places most people would never be able to find on a map without the help of an internet search browser.
“The thing I like best about being a SEAL is that you’re part of Team,” he added. “We’re closer than most families, and there isn’t any kind of danger we wouldn’t face, or anything we wouldn’t do, for each other.”
“And do you face danger that frequently?” Jameson asked, leaning back in his chair, his expression almost challenging. “Or is it merely something you constantly train for, but never experience?”
Beside Darwin, Katrina stiffened, and he reached under the table to put a reassuring hand on her knee.
Since he couldn’t discuss––or even confirm––the existence of any of the missions he’d been on, Darwin wasn’t sure how to answer. Not that he thought Jameson would change his opinion, regardless of how he replied. Katrina’s father would never think much of him.
“With the world the way it is, I’ve had multiple opportunities to use the skills the Navy has taught me,” he finally said, leveling his gaze at the man. “And most of those opportunities have involved varying levels of danger, yes.”
That must not have been the answer Jameson was expecting because he didn’t say anything. Instead, he sat there, his expression unreadable.
“You said you also get to travel a lot, right?” Asher said, interrupting the silence before it became too unbearable. “You already mentioned Bali. Where else have you been?”
Darwin could have fist bumped Asher for the save, and as they ate their salads, everyone but Jameson discussed various exotic locales, including Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
Grace had all of them laughing about her attempts at surfing at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia, even Jameson.
“So, Darwin, what do you plan to do for a career once you leave the service?” Jameson asked after they’d finished their salad course. “I don’t imagine being a SEAL is something you can do long term. Or are you the kind of man who doesn’t think about his financial future?”
“Dad, that’s enough!” Katrina snapped, eyes flashing.
Darwin wasn’t sure if she was about to start flinging harsh words or silverware. Either way, he wasn’t going to let her destroy whatever was left of her relationship with her father, just to defend him.
He reached out to take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I appreciate you defending me, but you don’t need to. Your father is entitled to his opinion and nothing you’re going to say is likely to change it.”
She clenched her jaw. “Probably not. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit here and listen to him insult you because he doesn’t approve of the work you do. If I was interested in dating someone with money, I’d be going out with Upton.”
Eyes narrowing, Jameson opened his mouth, clearly ready to take this conversation to the next level, only for Grace to interrupt him.
She stood and dropped her linen napkin on the table. “Jameson, let’s go check to see what’s holding up dinner.”
With that, Grace turned and walked out of the dining room. Jameson pushed back his chair and followed, a furious expression on his face.
Darwin could almost feel Katrina shaking with anger beside him. He knew he should say something, but wasn’t sure what. The harsh truth was that Jameson had been onto something when he’d asked about his future plans. Darwin honestly had no idea what he wanted to do after he retired from the Navy.
“This was a mistake,” Katrina said. “We should go.”
On the other side of the table, Khloe looked close to tears. “Don’t go. Mom will talk to Dad.”
Beside him, Katrina hesitated, unsure.
Darwin took her hand. “We can go, if that’s what you really want, but we can’t avoid your father forever. We’ll still see him at the wedding.”
She caught her lip between her teeth. “But the things he said to you...”
Darwin gave her a small smile. “I made it through Hell Week. I’m pretty sure I can make it through dinner with your father.”
She let out an adorable sound that was between a laugh and a snort.
“Besides, if we leave, we won’t be able to snoop,” he added.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”