The SEAL’s Surprise Baby by Leslie North

6

Anderson woke before more than a hint of light was in the sky. He could see a patch of gray out a window that faced into the backyard, but he was too damned tired to move yet. It had been past midnight when they’d arrived at the safe house and unloaded the car. Nate had alternately cried and slept for the last two hours of the journey, making that time seem twice as long. Finally, they’d made their way into a suburb of Nashville and to the safe house Rogers’s company had located for them.

Fortunately, it came furnished, including a room set up for a baby. Anderson owed Rogers an enormous debt of gratitude, probably one too big to ever repay. After getting Nate in bed, Anderson and Violet had both collapsed on the couch and nearly fallen asleep leaning against each other. He’d insisted she take the only bedroom that was made up. He’d stayed on the couch, which was more comfortable than the floor he’d slept on the night before.

He’d just closed his eyes again, hoping to drift back to sleep, when the scrape of a shoe on concrete had everything in him going tense. Someone was outside the Cape Cod–style home. He’d done a circuit of the house in the dark the night before. His understanding of the property wasn’t perfect, but his hearing had never been faulty.

Another whisper of sound and then low voices came from outside the front door. He grabbed the gun he’d kept handy during the night and silently rose from the couch to approach the door. A window of beveled glass bordered it. Keeping clear of that, he moved to where another window gave him a view of the front steps. He twitched back the curtains and saw two dark figures bent over in the pale morning light.

What the hell kind of a safe house was this? Was it already compromised?

He watched for another minute, but he couldn’t see any weapons. Might as well confront this head-on.

He whipped open the front door and came face-to-face with two women who looked to be in their fifties. They stared at him, eyes wide, and he quickly assessed the threat. They wore fancy warm-up outfits and looked as though they were off to the tennis courts at the local country club. Not what he’d expected. He glanced behind them, fearing they were a front for something more nefarious, but he saw nothing to concern him.

“Oh… sorry,” he said when one of the women dropped her gaze to the gun he held. He quickly stashed it on a shelf out of sight. Then he realized they were staring at his bare chest. He’d slept in only athletic shorts. Anderson wasn’t tatted up like many of his fellow SEALs, but he had scars from injuries he’d sustained on missions. The women were staring at one that cut a jagged line down his torso. Not making the right kind of impression on the neighbors, he realized, if that’s who these women were.

“Um… hi,” the taller of the two women said, bringing her gaze up to his face. “I’m Evie Walker, and this is Kelly Sams. We thought you’d like some cinnamon buns.”

Anderson glanced down to see a tray of pastries sitting on the steps. That explained the crouched figures, he guessed.

“And coffee,” Kelly said, indicating the thermos. “We thought you probably didn’t have time to unpack yet, since you arrived so late. I can never get going in the morning without a strong cup of coffee.”

He stared at the women, trying to look unthreatening, but his senses were still on alert. These strangers seemed to know when he and Violet had arrived. Were they already being watched?

“I live just over there,” Kelly said, pointing behind them, “and we were up late bingeing The Crown and drinking a bottle of wine when we saw you pull in. Here, it’s in the note.” She nervously thrust a piece of paper at Anderson. He flipped it open and scanned the words, which ended with, “Welcome to the neighborhood. Enjoy breakfast.”

“Thanks,” he said, trying to decide if these two were for real. This was a bit Stepford Wives for him. He glanced down the street, where lights were coming on in other houses. A couple of people were hitting the streets for early-morning exercise. It seemed like a normal place. Not that he’d ever lived in suburbia, but it looked just how suburbs were portrayed in the movies.

“We thought that there was nothing like a warm breakfast to ease a move,” Evie said, retrieving the cinnamon rolls from the step. “Moving is so hard.”

“My mother’s recipe. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like it,” Kelly added as she peeked around him, trying to see farther into the house. “This place has sat empty for almost six months. The last people moved out overnight, and we never heard what happened to them. We hope you and your family will be more a part of the community.”

Anderson had no idea how to respond to that. Evie and Kelly were either great liars or unaware that the place was a safe house where all the residents were likely to be transient. And Anderson had no plans to join in community events, whatever those might be. He’d grown up in a mobile home. There’d been other trailers within ten feet, but it had never been a neighborhood. Even the city had viewed it as an eyesore, and shortly after Anderson left for basic training, some kind of rezoning had gone through that allowed them to move everyone out and build a condo complex on the site. He hadn’t been the least bit sorry to see the place erased, but the reality was that—with that as his only background—he lacked the skills needed to react to neighborly overtures.

He should say something, but words failed him. He was opening his mouth to force out a thank you when he felt a warm hand on his back. Violet was up. He glanced at her, feeling overwhelming gratitude for her being there to greet the neighbors. She was smiling at the women as if she was delighted to meet them. With Nate curled into her side, his thumb stuck in his mouth, she looked the image of a carefree young mother.

“You should have come got me, honey. I didn’t know we had company. Good morning,” she said to Kelly and Evie as if she found strangers on her doorstep every day. “How sweet of you to bring us a treat. These smell delicious. And coffee, too. So thoughtful of you. I’m Violet, and this is my husband Anderson.”

When they’d arrived late the night before, they’d found an envelope containing new identities and credit cards waiting for them on the dining room table. Rogers’s firm had wisely kept their first names and altered the surnames, making it less likely that either of them would misspeak.

“And who is this little guy?” Kelly asked as Violet handed Nate to Anderson.

Anderson was happy that he was getting better at holding the boy. He’d lost the awkward sensation he’d had the first few times and was able to cuddle Nate to his chest in a way that he hoped looked natural.

“Aww…” Evie sighed, her eyes fixed on Nate and Anderson. “He’s so precious.”

“This is our son, Nate,” Violet said. Her arm went around Anderson’s waist, supporting the pretense that they were a happy couple.

“How old is he? Oh, he’s just adorable,” Kelly gushed, reaching out to tickle the baby’s feet.

“Five months,” Violet answered with a smile.

When Evie tried to stroke Nate’s cheek, Anderson instinctively took a half step back. The women probably meant no harm, but they were still unknown. And he protected what was his.

How had Nate suddenly been put in that category? Anderson pulled his attention back to the conversation. He couldn’t afford to get distracted.

“He’s getting to that age where he’s nervous around strangers,” Violet was explaining, “and we don’t want to upset him today. Yesterday was…” She left the sentence unfinished, allowing the women to fill in the details.

“Oh, yes, moving is so hard on everyone, especially babies,” Kelly said immediately. “We understand. Welcome to the neighborhood.”

“Thank you.” Violet smiled at them. “I’m sure in a few days, when we’re settled in, Nate’ll be ready for company.” She took the coffee and cinnamon rolls from them and said goodbye.

“Unexpected,” Anderson commented as soon as he’d closed the door.

“Yes,” Violet agreed. “It’s not even seven in the morning. What kind of neighborhood is this?”

“I don’t know, but you bought us at least a few days’ peace. Good thinking, using Nate as an excuse.”

Violet flashed him a smile that made him remember why he’d been so attracted to her in Moscow. “One of the perks of parenthood. A baby can always be used to get out of sticky situations.”

“Let’s hope that continues to be true,” he said, following her through the house to the kitchen, still feeling unsettled about the visit. He wasn’t used to people being friendly and welcoming. Maybe they were harmless, but it worried him. “I’m going to take a look at the house’s defenses.” They’d entered by using a pass code Rogers had texted to him, but that didn’t seem like enough of a barrier.

“Does something have you worried?” Violet asked, taking Nate from him when the baby reached out for her.

“Nothing in particular, just being cautious.”

“Can’t fault you there,” she said with another smile that made his heart almost stop. “But let’s eat first. These do smell delicious.” She pointed to the cinnamon rolls she’d placed on the counter. Keeping Nate perfectly balanced, she located plates and coffee mugs in the cabinets. “Everything we need.”

It seemed as if that were true, but he didn’t want to get too comfortable. That led to complacency, which would be dangerous for all of them. After breakfast, he’d complete a thorough risk analysis of the house, yard, and neighborhood. He could bet that Rogers’s firm had already done so, but he’d never been one to rely on someone else’s work.

If he found any gaps in the security, he’d make sure they were plugged right away.