Page 7 of Fire and Rain
“The report states that the flight crew wasn’t to blame for the crash or Justin’s and David’s deaths. The report also states that the Coast Guard needs to come up with protocols for dealing with potential meth labs on watercraft.”
Eden nodded, her expression unchanged. “What’s their plan for that—teaching flight crews how to read minds? Meth radar?”
“I have no idea.”
She met his gaze, some of the tension on her face easing. “Does this mean you’ll stop blaming yourself now?”
Her question took him by surprise. He had apologized to her for Justin’s death, but he had never shared his gnawing sense of guilt or dumped his pain in her lap. She had enough on her shoulders without dealing with his emotions, too. But apparently, she’d seen through him.
Confronted with her frank question, he was honest. “It was my job to get him safely back on board the helo so he could come home to you. I … failed. If I could trade places with him, Eden, I would. In a heartbeat.”
Her lips curved in another sad smile, tears glittering in her eyes. “There was nothing you could have done. I’m glad you, Wade, and James survived.”
Her kind words seemed to cut his soul, leaving his own grief and guilt raw.
Before he could think of what to say, she wiped her tears away. “I’d appreciate your help if you have time. It’s all so overwhelming.”
He swallowed. “I’d be glad to.”
She walked to the stove. “I’ll make coffee.”
* * *
Eden changed Maverick.“Uncle Sean is here. Do you want to go say hello?”
Maverick looked up at her through his father’s brown eyes. “Sawn.”
“Yes, Uncle Sean is here.” She lifted him off the changing table, set him on the floor, and handed him his favorite blankie. “He’s helping me with some work. Are you hungry?”
His little hand around her finger, she walked with Maverick to the dining room.
Sean looked up, smiled. “Hey, there, buddy. Did you get a good nap?”
Maverick gave Sean a shy smile, half hiding behind Eden’s leg.
“I’ll just get him a snack.” Eden settled Maverick in his highchair and went to get some graham crackers and a sippy cup of milk. “He says your name now, you know.”
“Is that true? Can you say my name? Who am I?”
When Maverick simply stared at Sean without speaking, Eden laughed. “He’s making me look like a liar.”
“That’s okay. He’s just waking up. I know the feeling, little dude.”
Eden set the graham crackers and milk on Maverick’s tray and pointed to Sean. “Who’s that? Can you tell me who that is?”
But Maverick had popped the cup into his mouth.
Sean pushed a notepad across the table toward her. “I think I’ve put it together here if you want to go over it.”
“Thanks.” Eden sat in the chair closest to Maverick, tucked her hair behind her ears, and looked down at the notepad.
Sean pointed with the pencil. “The five-hundred thousand from the life insurance and death gratuity—you wanted to put that into savings, right?”
“Ihatethat term—death gratuity.” Something in Eden snapped. “What does that mean, anyway? A gratuity is what you give a server who brings your meal quickly and gets your drink order right. Adeathtip? Come on! Where’s the dignity in that?”
Surprised by the force of her own rage, she stopped, drew a breath, and found Sean watching her through sympathetic blue eyes.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t directed at you.” Rage spent, she was now on the brink of tears. “I… I would rather have Justin back than any amount of money in the world.”
