Chapter 16 #2
Still, with having her in my arms, the same need to protect her was even stronger than before.
She wasn’t hysterical or even at the point where I could tell she was crying.
For her, she needed to be strong because she felt she didn’t have anyone else but her happy dog.
I did nothing but keep my arms wrapped around her, allowing her the time she needed.
Maybe she’d felt as if I wasn’t capable or as if she was bothering me. When she pulled away, furiously wiping her eyes, there were so many things to say on the tip of my tongue, but where the hell could I begin?
“Are there any leads or suspects?”
Grace shook her head. “None. I don’t know if there’s a connection to another fire that occurred or not, but I have a feeling whoever is responsible lives here, a part of the community. Isn’t that terrible?”
“Not necessarily. Could be a firefighter.”
“Sounds like you know from experience.”
“Maybe I do. I was a firefighter after I came out of the service.”
“Like my dad.” She pressed her hand on my chest. I could tell she wanted me to say something, anything. “Anyway, I’m glad you like the picture. Now, Sailor will forever be immortalized.” She winked and moved away from me. I remained where I was.
“When I left for the military, I did so knowing my mother had her hands full with my sister, who was much younger. I was a selfish teenager, getting into trouble, which didn’t help anything either.
A part of me thinks my mom was relieved when I told her I wanted to join the Army.
” I laughed and rubbed my jaw, remembering the day I’d told her.
“She even said they would knock some common sense into me.”
“Your mom sounds pretty special. What about your dad?”
Whatever Landen had told her or anyone else for that matter couldn’t have been much or she’d at least know I didn’t have a dad.
“A few years after my sister Aimee was born, he skipped town, which was in his best interest since I’d told him if he didn’t, I would slit his throat in the middle of the night. ”
She didn’t seem shocked in the least. “He was abusive.”
“Yep.”
“So you saved your mother and your sister.”
No one had ever made what I’d done sound positive. “I was an eleven-year-old kid with an attitude. All five foot nothing of me.”
At least my admittance of how short I’d been at been at that point in my life caused her to smile. “You filled out.”
Seeing her face light up was special, more so than almost anything I could remember in a long time.
“Yeah, well, I’m no hero. But he left, never to be heard of again.
I made something of myself when I was in the Army, taking college classes and learning how to be a man.
In truth, I found my place and my people. Which meant I ignored my mom.”
She walked closer, holding out her hand. As soon as I grasped her fingers, the warmth and her firm hold was yet another reminder of how special she was. One of a kind.
“Sit,” she instructed before walking away, returning with another beer. Only when she settled in did I start talking again.
“I didn’t come home much on leave, always finding an excuse. While I sent her money, she still had to work two jobs. I was so mad at her employer until I realized that she was paying for medical bills.”
Grace kept her hand on my leg, stroking as if nothing but a reminder she was right there.
“Finally, my sister called. My fourteen-year-old sister had to call and tell me how sick our mother was. I went home. Mom had stage four cancer and didn’t have long to live.
I was devastated and so angry. God, I was angry.
When I asked my mother why she didn’t call me, she said she didn’t want to ruin my life.
My mother was dying and didn’t want to ruin my life. What the hell?”
“Because she loved you so much.”
I polished off the one beer, grateful she’d brought another.
“Yeah, well, that proved I was a shithead. Anyway, she lived about another month and it drained the savings, both mine and hers, but I’m glad I was able to help.
With Aimee being so young, I had a choice of tracking my deadbeat dad or being my sister’s caretaker.
I chose to leave the Army and don’t regret it. ”
Grace’s mouth twitched in appreciation, the single squeeze of my arm allowing me to breathe.
“Things were good. I started working as s contractor and also volunteered at the local fire department. Years passed and we made it work, although Aimee had the same blood in her, a little wild child.” At least I could laugh when remembering her.
“She reminded me a little of you, independent and feisty with a heart of gold.”
“If you’re trying to win points, you’re not doing too badly.” Grace sipped her wine, acting as if she was mesmerized by the story.
“She’d just turned eighteen and I was even thinking about taking the exam to become a fulltime firefighter.
We’d started talking about college. She was smart enough to get a couple scholarships.
I was so proud of her. Then everything changed in the blink of an eye.
Aimee started staying out late, avoiding talking to me.
Always on her phone. When pushed, she grew angry. ”
“She was seeing someone.”
“Yep. And given I was working two jobs, I didn’t pay close enough attention. Suddenly she was in love.”
“And because she was an adult, she threw you a bit of shade, not wanting to hear a single piece of advice.”
The second beer was going down way too easily. With a heavy sigh, I leaned forward, shifting the bottle back and forth. “Let me guess. You were that way.”
“I was. Mike Jenson. I was going to marry him. A high school crush and nothing more. A prom date that turned out to be a big mistake.” She pouted her lips.
“He dumped me for another girl who was… Let’s just say easier to deal with.
A real jerk just like the guy I dated in college, Grant Summers.
That’s a name for you.” Her winks were pronounced. I knew the meaning.
“What? Guys are jerks?” The single word ‘jerks’ was a complete growl coming from deep within my throat.
“Oh, don’t worry. My prom date was… not nice, but my daddy taught me how to take care of myself. Sadly, the marriage wouldn’t have lasted.”
“Other than you keeping him on his toes, why not?”
“He was one of those rich guys, a councilman’s son and thought he was all that and a bag of chips.” She laughed, but I was already feeling possessive of her.
My palms were sweating, I was so angry. About her past. That was telling as hell.
“I was just all excited about the big-time jock asking the book nerd to the prom. I have no idea what happened to him and I don’t care. At least I dumped Grant for being the same way.”
“Book nerd, huh?”
“Yep.”
“I would have killed him for dumping a beautiful woman like you.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I was furious they had.
“Oh, my dad was angry. So I do understand how you felt. Did your sister eventually listen or have the same horrible experience I did?” The beautiful woman who’d still been laughing when asking the question suddenly fell silent. “No. What happened?”
I looked down, still shifting the bottle back and forth in my hands before taking another long, half-bottle pull just to try to calm my nerves. After wiping my mouth, I couldn’t seem to look her in the eye.
Grace didn’t push me. She merely rubbed her fingers along my spine, trying in her subtle yet perfect way of telling me I could trust her. That I could let go of the guilt and anger.
“The guy was an asshole, just like I’d suspected. I mean a real asshole. One night, I was waiting up for her when she tried to sneak in and um, well…” Jesus. This was harder than when I’d told the police the whole story several times.
“He hit her.”
“Yeah, he’d hit her. A few times.”
“And you went nuts.”
“I tried, but she wouldn’t tell me who it was. She did all the usual things, telling me he wasn’t going to do it again.”
Her sigh was as heavy as mine had been. “But you invaded her privacy being her big brother. Right?”
“Yeah. She had a diary and you better believe I read it. Smart girl. She had it coded so I didn’t find out anything useful, but she knew I was watching her like a hawk.
Anyway, things calmed down. Yet we couldn’t stop arguing.
I told her to stop seeing him. She told me to stick it.
I finally found out she was dating a state senator’s son. ”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes. I confronted him and he laughed. But I also went to his father and told the man in no uncertain terms if he laid a finger on her, I’d have his son arrested.
A day later, she came home and threw a fit because I’d ruined her life.
And you know what? I was fine with that.
I witnessed what my father had done to my mother, including holding her down and trying to break her legs. ”
“Oh, my God. You’re kidding me.”
“I wish I were. That wasn’t going to happen to my sister.
She could fucking hate me for the rest of her life, but she wasn’t going to be treated that way.
I made a promise to my mother I’d take care of her and damn it, that’s what I planned on.
” An angry rush of adrenaline had gotten the better of me.
I jerked up, heading to the back door and staring out into the darkness.
“Did she ever talk to you again?”
“Barely. A week went by. Maybe two. She had a job and had started talking about college again, so I started to relax. She used that against me. I was on a call with the fire department. Of course in the firehouse, we overheard all kinds of emergencies and…” Exhaling, the same ache I hadn’t felt in years hit me hard.
“There was a report of a car accident. When the dispatcher mentioned the make and model, something just told me it was her car.”
“Oh, my God.”
“I flew to the scene but by then, the passenger had been taken to the hospital. By the time I got there, she was in surgery.”
“What happened?”