A Soldier Finds His Way (15 page)

The op force members, who had lain inside the warehouse moments ago pretending to have been killed, were now milling about. Their uniforms were splotched with yellow paint, evidence of being shot with simunition, non-lethal training ammunition. They mingled with Edward’s team, shooting the breeze, telling exaggerated tales of recent missions.

Across the courtyard Greco talked to two simulation controllers.

“I wish they’d hurry up.” Dexter jutted his chin in Greco’s direction. “It’s going to get dark soon, and I don’t want to have to do this all over again, especially in changing light conditions.”

Jackson grunted. “I’m starving. Did you hear my gut just now?” His face contorted with twinges of hunger.

Edward backhanded Dexter’s arm. “Here he comes.”

Greco made a brisk return to the team. The men jumped to their feet. Greco addressed the opposition team first. “Thanks for playing the bad guys today.” A roguish grin spread across his face. “You fought like little girls, and we killed
you, big time.”

Raucous laughter spread through the ranks, including the opposition. Insults were part of the camaraderie, and no one took offense. After a few handshakes, the op force climbed into their vehicles and left.

Greco turned to the team. “You guys did a good job. How about we stow our gear, get cleaned up and go to that new pizza joint? The one with the pool tables. It’s on me.”

* * * *

Edward slid into the passenger seat of Dexter’s car. “Got a phone I can borrow?”

Dexter tossed his cellphone over, and Edward dialed from memory.

Hank answered on the second ring.

“Hey. Where are you?” Edward asked.

“Bragg. Been here a couple of days. You?”

“Same. We got back from Nicaragua last week and we’ve been doing training exercises since. We’re heading out for pizza in a little while, on Greco’s nickel. Why don’t you come?” He relayed directions and said good-bye.

* * * *

The team trickled into the parking lot behind the restaurant, and all were present by dark.

Edward pushed open the door and entered with Greco on his heels.

A hostess greeted them with a springy step and perky smile. “How many?”

“Ten,” Greco said.

“Eleven. Hank’s coming.”

Hank’s Jeep passed the restaurant window. “There he is now.”

Hank came in and made his rounds, greeting his old buddies with backslapping and handshakes.

Peanut waited until the hoopla died down and stepped to Hank with his hand out. “I’m Jim Habersham. These bums call me Peanut, or Hank’s unworthy replacement.” He smiled.

Hank shook his hand and laughed. “They’re bums all right. Every last one of them.”

They followed the hostess to a row of tables near the rear wall.

Greco summoned a waitress with the wave of his hand. “Pizza. Fully loaded. Keep them coming until these guys can’t eat any more.”

She took their drink orders and hurried into the kitchen.

Several of the men migrated over to the pool tables, grabbing sticks off the wall, racking and breaking the balls with a loud clatter. While country music played in the background, a mixture of conversation and laughter filled the room, along with the intermittent sounds of billiard balls colliding.

Good. All the bozos were occupied, and he could talk privately to Hank without interruption. He gave Hank a once-over. “I see you decided to shave, get a haircut, and wear your glass eye. What’s up with that? Is there a girl involved with this metamorphosis?”

“Just trying to look a little less Neanderthal while I’m working for Uncle Sam.”

Hank dug in his jacket pocket and slid Edward’s cell phone over to him. “Here. All charged up. We got your truck. Took us the better part of a day just to get it out from under the snow and rocks.”

Edward groaned. “Rocks? How much damage are we talking about?”

“Let me put it to you this way. You don’t have to worry about that crack in your windshield spreading across the driver’s side any more.”

Edward couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. “Who helped you get the truck?”

“Mike and Kyle. That’s Zoe’s dad and Audra’s brother. Plus, Kyle has a friend with a tow truck. Between the four of us, we took care of it. The plows had pushed the snow off the main road onto the side road where you were parked. Lucky for us, the tow truck had a plow on it, or we’d still be digging by hand.”

“You didn’t answer my question. How bad is my truck and how much is it going to cost me to fix it?”

“It won’t cost you anything. Your insurance company is paying for part of the repairs, and Audra’s father is paying for what the insurance doesn’t pick up. It was smart of you to carry comprehensive insurance.”

“I don’t get it. Why is Audra’s father paying anything toward my truck repair? And, how did my insurance company find out—”

“I called the insurance company and told them I was you.”

Edward laughed and shook his head. “I’m sure there’s something not quite legal about this, but okay.”

“Audra’s father saw this as a way to show his gratitude to you for what you did.”

“So, how is—” Edward tapped his fingers on the table.

“Audra? It’s okay to say her name, you know. She’s fine. She was complaining about the cast on her arm when I left. You know, sticking pencils and such down in it to scratch the itch.”

The waitress came with their beverages, and they each took a big drink.

Hank reached for Edward’s phone. “Why don’t we call her right now and say hello?”

“No.” Edward snatched the phone. “Maybe some other time.”

Hank shook his head. “What a knucklehead. That girl has already called me twice this week to ask if I’d seen you. What do you want me to do? Start making excuses like I do when Mom calls and asks about you? Well, I’m not doing it. Talk to Audra, or I’ll call and tell her you don’t want anything to do with her.”

Edward sighed. “No, that’s not what I want. I’ll call when I’m ready.” He picked up the phone, powered it on and thumbed through his voicemail. All of the messages came from Greco and Hank during his first days in the cabin. He deleted them and put the phone back on the table.

Froth dripped down the side of Hank’s mug as he lifted it for a drink. “I still think you should—”

Edward pushed back from the table, screeching the chair legs against the concrete floor. “Butt out, would you? I said I’d call her when I’m ready.” He got up and headed toward the restroom.

When Edward returned a few minutes later, Hank nodded toward the phone lying on the table. “You got a call while you were gone.”

Edward checked the caller ID. The number was unfamiliar, although the area code originated from Upstate New York. He pressed the play button and listened. The female voice on the recording caused him to swallow hard.

“Hello, Edward.”

Edward retreated to a quiet corner of the dining area and pressed the phone to his ear. He faced the wall, closed his eyes, and savored the sound of her voice.

“This is Audra.”

He nodded.
I know.

“I was hoping to talk to you, but…”

Quiet filled the airwaves.

No! Keep talking. Please, keep talking.

“You were right. My arm was broken and now I have the world’s itchiest cast on my arm. At least it’s pink, my favorite color.” She giggled. “I wish you could have stayed with us for a while. I hated to see you leave. It was hard to say—”

Was that a sniffle? Was she crying?

“It was hard to say good-bye to you.”

Hard? It was painful for me, too.

“I bought a new cellphone. Here’s my number, in case your phone didn’t capture it.” She relayed the information. “There are so many things I want to say to you. I pray for you every day and ask God to keep you safe wherever you are. I would love to hear from you. I guess that’s all for now. Edward, please call me. Bye.”

He stared at the phone for a few seconds then played the message again.

Audra tossed the phone onto the dresser and dabbed her tears with a tissue. She closed her eyes and let her imagination sweep her away. Once again she was in Edward’s powerful arms, standing at the cabin window with him rubbing her back and speaking words of comfort and assurance. His warm breath blew across her ear and his cheek brushed against hers, creating an intense desire for what? A kiss? Or maybe just to be held a little longer? “Edward.” His name rolled off her tongue in a whisper.

She sucked in a sudden deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, a puffy-faced, red-nosed woman stared back at her in the mirror. Dark circles under her eyes told of sleepless nights. Nights spent staring out the window, looking toward the moonlit field where the Black Hawk had landed not many days before. The Black Hawk. The last time she saw him, touched him, or heard his voice.

* * * *

The following morning, Audra pushed herself to a sitting position with a groan. With feet dangling off the side of the bed, she leaned her head from side to side and rubbed her neck. Each time she moved her arm, the cast scratched her stomach through the thin nightgown. When she pushed the cast away from her body, the nightgown followed, stuck on tiny burrs. A sharp yank of the fabric made a ripping noise. Sighing, she looked down. Good, no holes.

She went to the window and opened the blinds. The sun teased the sky with predawn light, and painted the horizon with streaks of blues, pinks, and shades of gray. The pretty morning made her smile.

Silence greeted her when she stepped into the hallway. At this early hour, she was the only one up and about. She crept down the carpeted stairs without making a sound. In the kitchen, she put on a pot of coffee with one-armed expertise, then sat on a stool at the counter and waited.

Back upstairs in her room a few minutes later, she set her cup on the windowsill and pulled her Bible out of the nightstand drawer. She rolled the leather desk chair close to the window and read by the light from the dresser lamp. “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Her desire right now was some rest so she could think clearly.

The brightening light of the morning drew her attention to God’s handiwork in the sky. Without closing her eyes or bowing her head, she prayed: “You allowed the accident that brought Edward into my life. Now, I have a yearning for him that I can’t seem to control. Did You plant these feelings inside me, or do I have a bad case of infatuation with a larger-than-life soldier? Is it Your will, Lord, or mine?”

Tears tried to come, but she blinked them back and pressed on with her prayer.

“Lord, I can’t even think straight anymore. Please help me. Amen.”

With her Bible on her lap, she leaned back in the chair. Sleep overtook her.

Audra awoke to find sunlight flooding the room. Her bedside clock displayed nine-thirty. She picked up her coffee cup but it was cold. Understandable, since several hours had passed since she poured it.

With a welcome surge of energy, she dressed and began thumbing through the hangers in her closet. A pink knit top caught her eye, and she pulled it out and held it over a black skirt. “Perfect.” She took the set and hung them together on the middle of the bar.

A knock on the door diverted her attention. She called out a cheerful, “come in,” and her mother entered, carrying a steaming cup of coffee.

“I come bearing gifts.” Mom handed her the cup.

Audra blew across the coffee before taking a careful sip, and then set the cup on the dresser. “I’m getting ready for work on Monday. I called the principal yesterday. At first, she was reluctant to let me come back with my broken arm. But, when I suggested that I could have a student write the assignments on the board for me, she thought it was a rather clever idea. ‘Put ’em to work,’ she said.”

Mom stroked her face. “It’s good to see you laughing again,
bella mia
. I’ve been worried about you.” She turned and started out the door.

“Mamma.”

Mom looked back.

“Mamma,
ti amo
.” Audra blew her mother a kiss and earned a smile in return.

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

Bella mia
, my beautiful one.
Oh, how she loved when her mother spoke to her in Italian.

* * * *

Before going into her classroom on Monday morning, Audra stood in the hallway and peeked at the students through the small window in the door. The kids would have lots of questions once they saw the cast on her arm. None of them would be shy about asking whatever popped into their mind, either. She squared her shoulders, and entered.

“What happened to your arm, Miss Lorenzo?”

“I never saw a pink cast before.”

“Did someone attack you?”

Audra set her purse on the desk. “No, David, no one attacked me.”

Mia, a girl toward the back of the room raised her hand. “Were you in a car wreck?”

“As a matter of fact, I—”

Darryl shot up an index finger. “My uncle was killed in a car wreck once.”

“Yeah, well my uncle was killed in a car wreck
.
Twice.”
Raymond, the class clown, stood and took a bow. Laughter broke out.

Audra patted the air with her hand. “All right, kids. That’s enough. Quiet down.”

A hush fell over the classroom. “That’s better. Now, to answer Mia’s question, yes, I was in a car wreck. I broke one of the bones between my wrist and elbow, and that’s why I’m wearing a cast. Now that we got that out of the way.” Audra held up a whiteboard marker. “I need a volunteer to write on the board for me.”

Hands shot up all over the room.

* * * *

Kyle’s ringtone jingled from the cellphone on the dresser.

Audra set her hairbrush on the bathroom vanity and rushed to answer it. “Hi, big brother. What’s up?”

“Do you remember my buddy, Steve, the one who helped us get Edward’s truck out from under the mountain of snow?”

“I never met him, but I know who you’re talking about. Why?”

“I talked to him a few minutes ago and told him you and I spent the last few weekends shopping for a car to replace yours. Turns out, his sister wants to upgrade to an SUV and is looking to sell her car. A Toyota. Same model as the one you had, only newer. He says it’s in pristine condition. Wanna go look at it?”