Free Blood Lines by Mel Odom Page B

have been,” Maggie said.
    â€œI appreciate the vote of confidence.”
    â€œI also suspect that her new husband—”
    â€œJesse,” Will said.
    â€œâ€”doesn’t care for the situation either.”
    â€œProbably not.”
    â€œHe’s not a kid person,” Maggie said, “so having them around is . . .” She paused, searching for the right, technically inoffensive term.
    â€œInconvenient,” Will said.
    â€œHaving to share them with you is more than inconvenient to him,” Maggie said. “I’ve seen his type. He likes to be top dog. He wants it to all be about him.”
    Will looked at Maggie then. “You haven’t mentioned this before,” he said.
    â€œIt’s because I mind my own business.”
    Will cocked an eyebrow. “But here you are in my office.”
    Maggie smiled guilelessly. “Yes.”
    Will gestured to a seat across from his desk. Maggie slid into it and sat attentively.
    â€œSo now you don’t have any more questions?” Will asked.
    â€œYou know what you want to talk about more than I do,” Maggie replied. “A good counselor only leads a conversation when that isn’t the case.”
    Will hesitated for a moment and wondered if talking at all was a mistake. But he felt the need to. Today had been harder than he’d expected. Taking Steven and Wren back to be with their new “dad” for part of Father’s Day hadn’t been easy.
    â€œYou’re right about Jesse,” he said. “He does want it to be all about him.” Will shook his head. “I honestly don’t know what Barbara sees in him.”
    â€œHe’s always home. He’s always around. It’s all about him, and he wants to be there so it can be all about him.” Maggie shrugged. “It’s not rocket science. Barbara wanted a man who was home.”
    â€œAnd I wasn’t.”
    â€œNot enough for her, no. But the work you were doing with the Navy was important, Will. Never forget that. Military careers are hard on everybody. You went through the same things that she did, and you got to see your children a lot less.”
    That had been one of the things Will had sought to redress after taking the NCIS posting.
    â€œNot everybody can do what you and those other men do on a daily basis.”
    â€œShe blamed me.”
    â€œShe blamed your job. You just got caught up in the fallout. Jesse wants home to be all about him. So he’s there. By default, even though it’s not exactly for the right reasons, his desire meets Barbara’s needs.”
    â€œHe didn’t like it that Steven and Wren were with me most of today. And he didn’t like it when they called and asked him if they could stay the night and come back tomorrow.”
    â€œThat would have been a big concession.”
    Will nodded.
    â€œBut he wasn’t big enough to make it,” Maggie said.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy do you think he felt that way?”
    Will folded his hands together and leaned across the desk toward her. “I’m not the professional here.”
    Maggie shook her head. “That’s not how we do the work. I don’t just give you the answers. You have to look for them yourself. Besides, you know the answer to this one.”
    Will did because the answer was simple. “Jesse didn’t want them to be with me because it was a distinct reminder that it’s not all about him. Not where they’re concerned.”
    A pleased look flashed in Maggie’s hazel eyes. “Bingo. But it cuts deeper than that.”
    Will’s momentary triumph faded. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œYou were one of the youngest lieutenants ever promoted to commander,” Maggie said. “You can figure this one out.” She sipped her coffee.
    Will was silent for a full minute as he tried to wrap his brain around what Maggie was saying.
    â€œDo you