Chapter 15

15

Bridger North balanced on the ladder, his attention split between the tangle of lights in his hands and Tai's chatter below. The scent of fresh pine filled the living room, and Bridger couldn't help but smile. This was what Christmas was all about—family, friends, and a sprinkling of chaos.

Big hands wrapped around the rails, Tai stared up at him from the bottom of the ladder. "Seriously, Bridge, did you have to pick the biggest tree on the lot?"

Bridger looped another strand of lights around a branch. "Go big or go home, right?"

"And the three other trees for headquarters? Did we really need one in the gym?"

A flush crept up Bridger's neck. Okay, so he may have, possibly, gone slightly overboard. "It's Christmas, brother. Live a little."

Tai held up a hand in surrender. "Hey, no judgment here. I love seeing you embrace the whole dad thing."

Bridger climbed down the ladder, ready to defend his newfound holiday spirit, but Tai's grin stopped him short.

"Speaking of…" Tai's fist shot out, connecting with Bridger's stomach. "I see the dad-bod's coming along nicely."

Bridger's eyes narrowed. Oh, it was on. He launched himself at Tai, and they wrestled like a couple of overgrown puppies. Laughter filled the room as they traded playful jabs.

Finally, Bridger extricated himself from the headlock Tai had him in. "No dad-bod for me. Not yet anyway."

Tai brushed pine needles from his shirt. "The way Jane cooks? Give it time, my friend. Give it time."

Bridger shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. Truth be told, he couldn't wait for more kids, more chaos, more everything. But first, they had to bring Jason home. Until then, he had to stay mission-ready, just like the rest of the team.

They worked in companionable silence for a bit, adjusting the tree and wrapping it in twinkling lights. His thoughts drifted to Fenn and Kate, and he shivered.

"Think they're frozen stiff yet?" Tai asked, as if reading his mind.

"Gotta be. We've only been back a few days, and I'm already craving sunlight. I can't imagine going back to that constant darkness."

Tai opened a box of ornaments, studying them as if they were Christmas cookies. "And the boredom. I bet Kate's ready to strangle Fenn by now."

Bridger frowned. "Why would she?—?"

"Oh, come on. You know how they are. Love. Hate. It's a fine line."

"What are you talking about?"

Tai rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Bridge? You haven't noticed the way they are around each other?"

He untangled a stubborn knot in the lights. "You mean the constant bickering?"

"Duh! That, and the way Fenn can't take his eyes off her."

That he had noticed. He just hadn't come to the same conclusion. "I always figured he was watching his back, you know, making sure she didn't sucker punch him or something."

Tai made a frustrated noise. "Didn't you ever pick on a girl you liked back in school?"

"When I was seven."

"Same principle applies."

Bridger wasn't convinced. He studied Tai's face, trying to gauge if his friend was yanking his chain. But Tai looked sincere, if a little exasperated.

"And then there's Kate," Tai continued. "The way she?—"

Bridger held up a hand. "Wait, you think she likes him back?"

"Hello!"

But Bridger was only half-listening. His mind raced, replaying interactions between Fenn and Kate, searching for clues he might have missed.

Nah. Tai was seeing things that weren't there. Wasn't he?

He was about to argue his point when the scent of warm vanilla and sugar wafted into the room. He turned to see Jane walking in, a plate of freshly baked cookies in her hands.

Before Tai could move, he snagged the biggest one, giving his wife a peck on the cheek. "Thanks, babe."

She eyed Tai's smile. "What's so funny?"

"Besides your man's total lack of relationship wisdom?" Tai took a cookie from the plate. "Not with you," he quickly clarified. "We're talking about Fenn and Kate."

Jane brightened. "Oh, you mean wondering when they're going to make it official?"

Bridger nearly choked on his cookie. He coughed, crumbs spraying everywhere. "You, too?"

Jane set the plate down. "Honey, it's completely obvious."

Bridger's mind reeled. Was he really that oblivious? He prided himself on his ability to read people, to pick up on the smallest details. But apparently, when it came to matters of the heart, he was as clueless as a blindfolded man in a dark room.

He devoured the rest of his cookie and licked the crumbs from his fingers, groaning silently. Tai was right. That dad-bod was right around the corner.

Tai and Jane were watching him with amusement. He sighed. "I can't believe I missed it."

Jane's laughter was gentle, understanding. "You've had a lot on your mind lately."

Her gaze drifted to the towering Christmas tree, and her expression softened. "Kellen is going to flip when he sees this."

Bridger followed her gaze, taking in the twinkling lights and the smell of fresh pine. His chest tightened as he saw the flicker of sadness cross her eyes.

"I don't think he's had a tree in years," she said quietly.

Bridger's jaw clenched. The thought of all the Christmases Kellen had missed, all the years he'd spent believing a lie, was like a punch to the gut. If Jane's ex wasn't already dead, he'd track the man down and show him exactly what he thought of a man who could deceive a child like that.

But that wouldn't change the past. He couldn't fix what had happened, but he could make sure Kellen never wanted for anything again. Not love, not affection, and certainly not a ridiculously oversized Christmas tree—or three—and a mountain of presents.

He reached for Jane's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "He's got a lifetime of Christmases ahead of him. We'll make sure of it."

Jane leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder. "I know. It's just…"

"I know, darlin'. But we've got to trust that the Lord will take care of healing the past. Our job is to love him through the present and into the future."

Tai, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, cleared his throat. "And speaking of the future, when are you two going to start working on giving Kellen some sibs?"

Jane stiffened against him. They'd been talking about it since before the wedding, but Jane wasn't used to the casual camaraderie—and the definite lack of privacy—between he and his team members. He shot Tai a look that promised retribution, but his friend just grinned, unrepentant.

"What? I'm just saying, you're not getting any younger, and I want to be Uncle Tai to a whole brood of little Norths."

Jane's laughter broke the tension. "One step at a time, mister. Let's get through this Christmas first."

But as Bridger looked down at his wife, he saw the glimmer of longing in her eyes. And he knew, without a doubt, that he wanted nothing more than to fill their home with laughter and love and as many children as the Lord saw fit to bless them with.

Starting, he hoped, sooner rather than later.

He rubbed his chin and winked at Jane. "Not sure what you're talking about, bro. We're just waiting on the Lord to take care of things. Now you and Tenaya…that's a whole ‘nother issue. When are we gonna see a ring on that woman's finger?"

A panicked look crossed Tai's face, but it faded faster than a passing shadow. "Soon as I'm sure it's what she wants."

Jane's brow furrowed. "How will you know that, exactly?"

"She'll uh… I think I'll…" Tai swallowed hard. "No idea," he muttered. "I'm open to outside opinions."

Jane set down the plate and crossed her arms, fixing Bridger's friend with a glare his sweet wife usually reserved for rude customers in her hardware store. "Ask her now. Immediately. There are no guarantees. But if you wait too long, there is a guarantee a woman like Tenaya will drift away. You hear me?"

His big friend nodded miserably. "Yes, ma'am. I read you loud and clear." He cleared his throat. "We're gonna have to put in more time on the P-51 if we're gonna have it ready for Jason by Christmas."

Mouth full, Bridger nodded. "I figure we have another six or eight hours to go. The skin's shining up great, though, isn't it?"

Jane's brother had inherited the vintage plane from their stepfather. The aircraft had been well-loved, but also well-used during its lifetime. Jason stored it in his own, personal vintage hangar east of town, but he'd gone after the Consortium before he had a chance to dig into the project. At this point, Bridger and the team had the thing almost fully restored.

He couldn't wait to see Jason's face when he saw it.

The trio was munching on Jane's cookies, the warm, gooey chocolate melting on their tongues, when Bridger's secure cell buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his eyebrows shooting up. "It's Jason."

Jane's eyes widened, and Tai leaned forward, his cookie forgotten. Bridger hit the speaker button, and Jason's voice filled the room.

"Hey, Bridge. Just wanted to check in on you, Jane, and Kellen. It's almost Christmas."

Tai frowned. "Yo, Reilly. What am I, chopped liver?"

"Just yesterday's news, Kaholo." The quip came swiftly. "Like always."

Jane whacked Tai on the arm. Shoved him out of the way. Her smile was brighter than the lights on the tree. "Jason! It's so good to hear your voice."

"You too, Jane. Tell me that SEAL's still treating you right."

Bridger scoffed, but his heart swelled at the genuine affection in her brother's voice.

They chatted for a bit, catching up on team news and Kellen's latest adventures.

Tai was just relating their recent Arctic adventure, and the fact that Kate and Fenn were stranded for another week or so, when a timer dinged in the kitchen.

"Talk amongst yourselves," Jane ordered. "I have cookies to rescue."

Once Bridger was certain Jane was out of earshot, he got to the point. "So, Jace, looks like we missed you in Endurance, bro."

Jason looked startled. "Endurance, in the Northwest Territory?" His voice was tight, strained.

"Obviously." What was wrong with the man?

"I wasn't there. Haven't been. Ever. What made you think I was?"

Bridger's stomach lurched and the edges of his ears tingled. He and Tai shared a meaningful look.

Trouble .

Jason immediately confirmed it. "Get Kate and Fenn out of there. Now."