Chapter 42
Father Figure
Levi
Waking up to the smell of bacon and toast is nothing I’m used to. A peaceful night with restful sleep is also something I am unfamiliar with. The moment I lay in this king-sized bed, I melted. It was like lying on a cloud of tranquility.
Walking downstairs, I hear old music playing, by the sound of it.
As I round the corner, I find David dancing with Anna, hand in hand, twirling her around, in his pajama pants and Hanes T-shirt.
Anna twirls into him, holding him tightly, releasing him as she spots me.
I love their love, and I just know that I’m going to love Maddie this way, unconditionally.
“Good morning, sweetie, come take a seat, let me fix you a plate.” Her smile is bright and cheerful, her white teeth sparkle, and her pinned-up hair falls slightly around her face.
Anna is like the sun; she brings joy to any moment, she is the warmth I’ve never felt, and the mother I never had.
David walks over and takes the seat next to mine.
“Morning, what would you like to drink? We have coffee.” He holds up his cup and smiles.
“We have orange juice, water, or milk.” His eyes shoot up and to the left as he ponders all the choices.
I decided on coffee. Quickly, he makes his way over, pouring me a cup, as Anna places my loaded plate down in front of me.
My eyes widen as I look at the amount she has given me. A small laugh sneaks out.
“Thank you so much, this is a lot of food.” I would be so fat if I lived here full-time. She pats my hands and smiles widely.
“For my growing boy.” She winks and turns back to the oven, removing freshly cooked bacon.
David turns to me and nods towards the back patio. “Want to eat outside this morning?” Grabbing my plate of heaping food and warm, overly sugared coffee, I follow him out.
The morning breeze feels incredible, the leaves have fallen, and the air is turning crisp.
We sit together on the long patio sofa and begin digging in.
Nervousness tingles through me. It’s not because of him, it’s because of how he makes me feel.
David looks at me and sees a son worthy of love, a man with a purpose.
His direction and guidance are unlike anything I have ever experienced.
He makes me feel like I can do anything, be anything, but above all, he makes me feel like a man worthy of loving a woman.
I miss my dad more than I can put into words.
He left, never knowing me, while I never knew him.
I often wonder what kind of man he would be.
Would he be like David? Or more like Grant?
They say war can change people, for better or worse; maybe he was somewhere in between.
“What’s on your mind?” David pulls me from my thoughts with his soft tone while shoveling a slice of bacon into his mouth. I smirk at the man, enjoying his breakfast in his flannel pajama pants.
Part of me wants to lie and say nothing, but I know he would recognize the truth, and after everything this man has done for my family, he deserves to know the truth.
“I was, uhh, thinking about my dad.” David nods for me to continue.
“My real dad. Grant is not my dad; he’s Scarlett’s, but not mine.
Honestly, though, ‘father or dad’ is not a term I would use.
As you now know…” He sets his now-empty plate down on the table in front of us.
“Tell me about him.” He leans back on the couch and smiles.
Wow, umm, no one has ever wanted to know about him. I swallow my last bite, turning my body towards his.
“I don’t know much. I never met him, and he never met me.
He died serving our country.” I rub my hands together.
Deciding what to add. “I wish things were different. Maybe he could have saved Scarlett and me in a way I couldn’t.
Maybe he could have saved our mother. In the end, perhaps no one truly saves anyone.
” Rubbing my hands together, I look up, finding David tentatively staring at me.
“I wish he could have met you. He would be proud of the man you have become. There is no telling if he could have saved you and Scarlett or your mother, but the fact that he died trying to protect his nation tells me he would have fought to do so. Son, no one can be saved entirely without wanting to save themselves. You can fight with them, but if they aren't fighting too, you’re fighting for nothing. Trust me when I say, he is proud of you, and the battles you have been facing.” I swallow down my emotions, hoping to keep them at bay.
“I’d like to hope he is proud. Sometimes my thoughts spiral, making me feel unloving and hurtful.
If my dad were here, maybe I never would have had Scarlett, and she is the only good thing, or was, in my life.
It feels wrong to think about a world with Leo, my dad.
Because a world with him is a world without Scarlett, and that breaks my heart just as much.
” David’s eyes are soft, and his hands are folded in his lap, leaning forward.
He places his hand on my shoulder, then locks eyes with me.
“Those thoughts do not make you who you are, Levi. Never have I seen you hurtful and unloving, nor do I believe you could be. You are the complete opposite of what those thoughts are telling you. They are just thoughts, and it is normal to think about the could-have-beens, but son, that is not what it is. What isn’t pretty?
Life sometimes isn’t, but you’re giving it all you’ve got, staying strong, pushing through, protecting your family, and you're doing that with complete love, even when you’re tired.
You are the most selfless man I know, son.
” He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze of reassurance, removing his eyes from their lock.
“Thank you, David. For everything you have done and continue to do for my sister and me. I know my dad would be proud of the man you are helping me become. I am proud to have you as a father figure.” Anna calls for me from the kitchen, and David smiles.
I stand up to head inside when David stops me.
“Levi, you are already a great man. I am sorry you lost your father, and the one you’ve got isn’t a good man.
If you ever need anything, I am here. As a father, a friend, or an accomplice.
” He smiles and nods towards the door. “Best not leave momma waiting, go on in, son.” He grabs his newspaper off the chair, getting lost behind the pages.
Anna is plating food on a cute tray. “Hey sweetie, I’m going to place this outside Spencer’s door. I just needed to know what Scarlett likes. Could you help me?” Placing my dishes in the sink, I turn and help her add everything, creating a heaping plate just as mine was.
“She is not picky at all, and she needs to eat as much as she can to heal up.” Anna grins while placing two cups of orange juice on the tray.
“Anna, could I ask about something?” She sets everything down and gives me her undivided attention.
“You’ve been like a mother to us, the kind of mother we only ever read about.
” I chuckle, “No pressure, but I was wondering if you would meet Maddie. I really like her, and your input is important to me. I also don’t want to overstep and ask you for anything that might make you uncomfortable.
You have already done so much for us.” Anna walks over, placing her hand on my cheek in the most motherly way.
“Levi, there is no overstepping, there is no pressure. I love you like my own son; you are part of this family. I pray you feel our love and our desire to be there for anything you need or want us to be. I would be overjoyed to meet this sweet girl. You just say when.” She releases her hand to grab the breakfast tray when David walks in.
“I need to drive over to Sheridan for some car parts. Want to come with?” He is looking directly at me. I nod my head in excitement. “Good deal, run up and get ready, we’ll leave in about twenty minutes.” Doing just that, I run upstairs.
Reaching the landing, I hear Spencer and Scarlett in the bathroom across the hall.
The door is open. As I pass, I glance in.
Scarlett is sitting on the toilet, and Spencer is attending to her facial wounds.
I stand and watch for a moment before Scarlett’s eyes find mine.
“Hey!” She smiles cheerfully, and it warms my heart to watch him love her just how she deserves.
“Hey. I’m going with David to the car part store in the town over. Don’t go home till I get back.” Spencer turns and nods his head.
“I got her brother, have fun.” I tap the door, saying goodbye before heading to my room to get ready.
Arriving at the shop, we head in to find all the car parts we need to complete an old car David gave me as a project.
It feels good to have an escape with a purpose.
Rebuilding his dad's old Chevy has been rewarding; it feels good to step back and look at how far I have come on the truck, watching it come back to life.
Crazy enough, I can relate to the beaten-down Chevy. I, too, was beaten down until now.
The Collins don’t know it, but they are our lifeline. How can you tell someone they are saving you without making them feel the weight of those words?
On the way home, David pulls into the food market in the mall. “Want to grab a quick lunch?” I smile widely because I know Maddie is working, and the thought of surprising her at work makes my heart race.
Walking in, I spot her instantly. She is sitting behind the counter, wearing her cute apron with her hair tied back. “Hey, good looking.” I wink at David, and I walk up. David turns to me and chuckles. “Maddie, this is David Collins, Spencer’s dad. David, this is my Maddie.” David extends his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, Maddie. I’ve heard a lot about you.
” She blushes and turns towards me, giving me a shy smile.
We order food, and Maddie stays very professional, meanwhile I undress her with my eyes, the entire time David and I eat, while praying she can see exactly what I am doing.
The way her cheeks flush tells me she has an idea.
Before we head out, we stop by to say goodbye.
I give her a big kiss on the cheek, and David steps up, “Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight, Maddie?
We're having spaghetti and meatballs; we would love to have you join.” I can feel my ass clenching.
Excuse me, do what now? Maddie looks at me, and all I can do is smile, because what is happening?
I just asked Anna four hours ago. I haven't even showered.
She agrees, giving David a kind smile, before we walk back to the truck, leaving me completely baffled.
Getting into the truck, David looks at me while he laughs, “Get in, son, we have to go get ready for family dinner.”