Read Online Heart of a Marine (The Wounded Warrior Series Book 1) by Patty Campbell - Free Book Online Page A

mess.”
    Bradley Danaher pointed to a chair next to his recliner. “Take a load off.” He took a seat and set Skip in his lap, held up a glass of Irish whiskey and raised his eyebrows.
    “No, thanks. Where is Mom? Where’s Char? I want to get it over with.”
    “They were smiling and yapping when they went out shopping this afternoon, then they called and said they were adding dinner and a movie. Your mother seemed reconciled to my ultimatum. I think it took her all of five minutes to get over it.”
    “You gave her an ultimatum?” Dadley never gave ultimatums.“Wow! I almost got an ulcer on the way over here.” Marla stuck her legs straight out in front of her, slid down in the chair, and dropped her head back. “I’ll have a wee dram after all, Dad. Those two are making me old before my time.”
    Bradley chuckled and poured Jameson’s into a heavy crystal glass and handed it to her. “You were born grown up, my darling girl. You’re an old soul.” He tipped his glass at her. “Slainte!”
    Marla smiled at her dad and took a sip. “Good health to you too, Dadley.”
    They sat in companionable silence. Marla gazed around the room. Sil, a gifted decorator, made their home elegant and inviting. A fragrance of lemon lingered in the air, and a wave of nostalgia for her childhood engulfed Marla’s chest. What childhood? Like Dadley said, she was born grown up. She must have popped out of the womb wearing a suit, carrying a briefcase, and with a schedule for managing her parents and siblings. Somebody had to do it.
    “Dad? How long have you known John Dempsey?”
    “About forty-five years. Since we were in high school. I thought you knew that.”
    Marla nodded. “I did. I guess my question is…why were you and Johnny friends in the first place? You’re really not very much alike.”
    Bradley chuckled and set down his now-empty glass. “Our differences attracted us to each other I suppose, but we started out as rivals for your mother’s affections. Both of us panted after her as only two sixteen-year-olds could.”
    Marla stared at her father. “What! You and John both wanted to date Mom?” John Dempsey chasing her mother? That was the last thing she expected to hear.
    He poured himself another tot of whiskey and held up the bottle. She shook her head, so he put the stopper back in, took a sip, and continued. “Date is the polite way to say what we wanted.”
    Heat crept from her chest, to her neck, and her scalp blazed. “I never knew that. I can’t imagine Sil going out with Uncle John.”
    “They did more than ‘go out.’” Her dad waggled his eyebrows. “They were a hot item for almost two years. You couldn’t separate them with a crowbar.” He toasted the past and took a sip of the whiskey.
    “Dad! I can’t believe this. How could you and John have remained friends?” Anger against her mother burned her stomach. The idea of Silvia choosing Johnny Dempsey over her perfect, wonderful father back then—beyond belief.
    “We remained friends because I loved both of them. It’s hard to explain.”
    She held out her empty glass. “Give me a refill and try. I feel like I entered the Twilight Zone.”
    “Here’s the thing.” Bradley sighed and poured a finger of the Irish into her glass. “I knew Johnny had a wandering eye, and I held out hope Silvia would get fed up with him and give me a second look. It’s as simple as that.”
    Marla puckered her lips and thought about that. “Are you sure you’re remembering correctly?”
    “You think I’m ready for the funny farm?” His voice was tinged with annoyance. “Of course I remember. Need I remind you that you don’t always know everything?”
    Contrition descended. “Sorry, Dad. It’s just…wow…Mom and Johnny. Who woulda thunk it? Not me. I can’t get my mind around it. Wow.” Sipping the whiskey, Marla eyed her father. His face wore a wistful smile. He looked old. When did her dad get old?
    “That’s OK. And quit looking at