Chapter Three #2
“I’d love that,” Addie said. “I miss my friends at the base. Don’t get me wrong.
Moving in with my parents when Landon got deployed was the right decision, but most of my friends in town are married, and a bunch of them have kids.
They’ve been sweet, but when they go out it’s as couples, and I feel like a fifth wheel. ”
Carly nodded, feeling a kinship with Addie.
One she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.
“I know what you mean. It was the same way when my mom died. I didn’t belong anymore either.
My friends didn’t understand what it was like not having a mom to turn to.
They felt bad if they complained about theirs, and I was jealous because they still had one. ”
Tears welled up in Addie’s green eyes. “Now I really regret us not staying in touch during college. It’s not that I didn’t think of you or that we weren’t friends, I just got so caught up in all the activities, my classes and in Landon—”
Carly waved a hand through the air. “No worries. I understand.”
“Not that I’m complaining, because I’m enjoying the chance to reconnect, but I was surprised to see you here,” Addie continued. “Owen never told Landon what happened between you two before we left for A&M, but from the way he moped around the first semester, we figured breaking up wasn’t his idea.”
The unspoken question hung in the air like thick morning fog, drilling a hole in the floodgate holding back Carly’s memories.
Reality had set in for her the summer before their high school senior year.
Owen talked about attending A&M and tried to convince her to go there with him.
While she dreamed of the possibility, she knew it couldn’t be.
With Ryder only four years old, she couldn’t leave him with their father.
For his sake, to provide stability, she needed to live at home and commute.
When Owen finally accepted she wouldn’t be heading for College Station, too, he insisted they could Skype and text to keep in touch, visit each other, and spend their breaks together.
But Carly knew what would happen instead.
He’d discover being tied to a hometown girlfriend meant missing out on college fun and he’d grow to resent her.
Either that or he’d meet a smart, pretty Texas A&M coed like the ones she’d seen on TV when the camera panned the student section at Kyle Field.
Ones with perfect cheekbones and long flowing blond hair, who pulled off wearing a maroon tube dress with the word “Aggies” written across her bountiful bosom.
Unable to bear that instead of making plans, she savored every moment with Owen until the week before he was to leave for College Station.
Preferring a quick ending she controlled rather than the inevitable lingering, painful relationship death, she’d said she wanted to “live the college experience to the fullest” without being tied down and wanted to break up.
And Owen believed her lie.
Addie touched Carly’s arm, tugging her away from her memories. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer. You know me, and how my filter goes on the fritz when I get stressed. Forget I asked. It’s none of my business. Plus, it’s ancient history.”
Carly shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal. I knew Owen and I would be busy and didn’t think we should be tied down. That’s all it was.”
What a pile of horse manure. You loved him, and swore he loved you too. Since then, you’ve compared every man you meet to Owen, and none measure up. Not even Max.
“I’m just glad he came back here for his physical and speech therapy. I’m worried about him. Since Landon died, he’s sounded set on returning to active duty. When I brought up the idea that he may not be able to, he refused to consider the possibility.”
With a town full of veterans, kids growing up in Service overheard military conversations wherever they went, and whether they wanted to or not, they learned what serving their country entailed.
Acronyms such as MOS, APFT, and OSC became part of everyday vocabulary.
They learned what it meant to meet military retention standards, and Carly was no different.
For his missions, Owen required a keen intellect and sharp-decision-making skills.
Because of that, if Owen possessed short-term memory or balance issues, he would be deemed unfit for most military jobs.
“Considering all he ever talked about, even in grade school, was being a soldier, him accepting that he might have to quit the only career he’s wanted and facing the reality of his situation will be part of his therapy process.”
“Then you’ve got your work cut out for you because he sounds like he’s counting on you to work miracles.”
Owen wouldn’t be the first vet Horses for Heroes worked with to struggle with the issue. “We’ll do all we can for him, but I’ll warn his team to watch out for unrealistic expectations.”
Addie’s brows furrowed. “You’re not working with Owen? That’s not the impression I got from him.”
“I straightened him out on that when we talked a while ago. As executive director I don’t do therapy with clients.”
Addie tilted her head and pinned Carly with an inquisitive stare. “Could you make an exception and work with a client? Are you still certified?”
Carly froze. Uh, oh. Warning sirens blasted in her head, and she saw the collision coming, but short of lying to her friend, which she doubted she could pull off, she’d been boxed into a corner.
“Does your silence mean you could work with Owen, but there’s a reason you don’t want to? Maybe like there’s still a spark?”
Ding, ding. Give the lady her pick of prizes for ringing the bell with her first shot.
“Yes, I’m still certified, but with writing grant proposals, dealing with the budget and staff issues, preparing for and attending the board meetings, working on strategic planning, and speaking to organizations and schools, I don’t have time to work with a client.”
She left out the fact that lack of time wasn’t her biggest concerns with taking on Owen’s case. Her reaction to him earlier when the flash of desire bolted through her was. She admitted it. She was sex deprived. Being around Owen would be as smart as opening a Weight Watchers next door to a bakery.
“Your job sounds like loads of fun,” Addie said, her voice filled with sarcasm.
So much some days it’s hard to get out of bed.
Important work yes, but not her forte, especially public speaking and fundraising.
No matter what visualization or coping strategy she used, she spent the hour before any engagement poised over the porcelain god.
Then when she spoke, she sounded stiff and dry, like a Dragnet interrogation of just the facts, ma’am.
What she enjoyed and gave her a sense of accomplishment and purpose was working with clients, seeing their progress, and helping change their lives for the better.
“Owen’s taking Landon’s death hard.” Addie bit her lip as tears filled her eyes again. “You have to help him.”
“We will.”
Addie shook her head. “No, not the agency, you. Owen hasn’t said so, but he thinks he failed me by not bringing Landon back to me. I think his wanting to return to active duty is all mixed up with that, and who knows what all else.”
“I don’t know—”
“He’s counting on the Medical Evaluation Board putting off the decision about his discharge. He’s sure if he has more time he can prove he’ll get better, but what if things don’t turn out like he’s hoping? He’s determined to show progress before his hearing. He’s so afraid of failing Landon again.”
The band around Carly’s chest eased. “Hopefully, he’ll get the outcome he wants. Then he won’t have to worry about being discharged for twelve to eighteen months when he has his first follow-up evaluation.”
“You know how he is. He’s a driven, type A personality like Landon was. If Owen doesn’t see improvement right away, he could get discouraged—” Addie’s voice broke.
But she didn’t need to finish. If Owen didn’t see progress and became discouraged, he could give up. And both Carly and Addie, like everyone else in town, knew what could happen to veterans who gave up, and none of it was good.
“If you work with him, you’ll see things other people won’t because you know him,” Addie said.
“No, I knew him years ago.”
“Whatever.” Addie waved her hand dismissing Carly’s comment. “I still say you’d notice things someone else could miss.”
Addie stopped and chewed on her lower lip. Carly recognized the question in her pleading gaze.
“Please don’t ask me to be Owen’s speech and language pathologist. I’ll monitor his sessions.
I’ll review his file daily and get reports from his team.
” Carly paused and clasped her trembling hands together in front of her.
I’ll give you my first born should I ever have one.
“I’ll do whatever else I can. Just don’t ask me to work with Owen.
Our full-time speech language pathologist is very good. ”
“I don’t care. I don’t trust her the way I do you.
” Addie clutched Carly’s hand in her icy one.
“I can’t lose Owen too. He and Landon were more like brothers than best friends.
Losing him would be like losing another part of Landon.
” The desperate plea wavering in her voice, threaded with a touch of panic, reached inside Carly.
“Please?” How could she say no to Addie when her friend had been through so much?
But how could she agree to take on a new case when she had no intention of sticking around for more than three months?
She sighed in utter and complete defeat. Only someone with a Grinch-sized heart could say no to Addie’s request. “I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I’ll find time to take on Owen’s case.”
But this wouldn’t change her plans or alter her timeline. Owen would be just another client.
*