Free SEAL's Code by Sharon Hamilton

San Francisco—any place Sarah had expressed an interest in attending college. She hoped she’d find another position before she started to show. There wasn’t any point in crying over what was done. And she definitely was going to have Danny’s baby. This sort of thing was happening more and more both on the res and everywhere else. It wasn’t the shame that it once had been, to have a baby without being married. She could always say she’d planned the baby but didn’t want the father and half her co-workers would believe her.
    But in her heart, she knew this was a love child. Danny’s love child. Her future she’d been waiting for so long for had come to her and altered everything.
    Luci angled a look out through the living room window after she heard the knock on the door. She’d just gotten dressed. She’d also indulged in the practice of sleeping in. She was enjoying her summer, and for the first time, declined to teach summer school. It gave her time to get used to her condition, and her new role as mother.
    James, the handsome friend of Yellowhorse, was at the door. Alone. She hadn’t seen him in several months, ever since that day when they’d brought her mother home.
    “Hi, Luci. Sorry for the intrusion, but can I come in for a minute?” He was glancing behind him in between words.
    Luci stepped back, allowing him to enter, taking in his broad shoulders and slim waist. She halfway hoped he was coming to see her for personal reasons, but her hopes were dashed when she noted how nervous he was, especially when he looked down at her belly. Lucy smiled and rubbed her tummy which was just beginning to bulge under a loose shirt.
    “You’re pregnant?”
    “Yes, about five months now.”
    “Congratulations. I mean, you’re happy about it, right?”
    Lucy found his nervousness over her condition charming. “Of course, silly. And no, I’m not married or even getting married. You don’t need a husband to have a baby.”
    “Does the father—”
    “That’s another conversation, and you’re not a part of that. Now. Tell me what was so important?”
    “You alone? I got something important to ask you,” he said in a whisper.
    “Yes. What’s on your mind?”
    A crease had formed in the middle of his forehead, extending from the brow of his nose upward nearly to his scalp. “Your Uncle Corwin has been approved for release. The appeal the District Attorney filed was denied. He’ll be here in less than two weeks.”
    Luci became squeamish. Corwin was the last person on earth she wanted to deal with in her present condition. She appreciated the information, but knew he had something else on his mind.
    “That’s not good enough to be headlines in the Navajo Times. Why the personal visit?” she asked.
    “Look, I learned something about his intentions for coming here.”
    “George know?”
    “Of course he knows. I think they’d made plans to meet up soon after he gets back here”
    Luci felt like she was going to be sick.
    “So we have two weeks?”
    “Yes ma’am. You need to take protective measures. Any way you can move off the reservation?”
    “I’ve thought about that. And I’m trying. Just thought I’d have a little more time, like move after the baby is born.” She saw the look of fear on James’ face. “So, what’s eating at you, James? We don’t really pine over my uncle’s troubles or his future. What prompted you to come over here so early on a Saturday morning?”
    James’ eyes softened. Could he be perhaps flirting with her?
    But then Luci remembered what poor taste she had in choosing partners and decided it was all her imagination. Her feet began to hurt, something she recognized would be a new health issue for her. She turned and sat down on her mother’s rocking chair, pointing to the couch. James dutifully sat across from her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, examining his fingernails. His mouth formed a thin line, partially scrunched up to the left as he