Live Free and Love (2 page)

Chapter 2

“Nothing is impossible for a healing heart.”

Kristina leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes. She was extremely tired. Her flight had left Philadelphia at four in the morning, and of course she had gotten little sleep last night.

What would she do when she saw him? Would he even talk to her?

She was unsure of how he would react after three years of not talking.

She’d tried to reach out to Danny a few times over the years, but for reasons she didn’t know, he’d never responded.

Checking her watch, she breathed deep. “Oh well,” she thought. “No use stressing about it.”

She knew the time would soon come when she would see exactly how he would react. She would land in Humble in less than two hours.

***

Danny starred at the bottle of Ketel One on his night stand. He wanted a drink, could taste the warm liquor on his tongue.

He craved its numbing silence. It was the only thing that helped keep the memories at bay, the only thing that kept a lid on his inner madness.

He reached for the bottle. Taking the top off, he tilted his head back.

The memories were always at their loudest before he took his first drink, fighting for control of his mind.

The first drops hit his tongue. His hands shook as he poured the liquor down his throat.

One sip turned into to two, and he kept swallowing until he heard silence, until he drowned out all the screams, the gunfire, smoke, and explosions. He drank until all he heard was peaceful silence.

***

The town was exactly how she remembered: small, quaint, and full of bad memories.

Kristina got to her hotel and checked in. She had sat in her room less than an hour before deciding to go see her parents.

Her old house looked the same from the outside. Everything looked perfect. Passers-by would never know the pain and dysfunction that went on inside.

“Get out the car, Kristina,” she said to herself.

Gathering her wits, she opened the door and headed to the house. She rang the doorbell and waited. Her mother answered not long after.

“Kristina? Honey, what are you doing here?”

Hugging her mother, she stepped into the house.

“How are you, Mom? How’s Dad?” Kristina said, looking around.

The house was in immaculate condition. Nothing was out of place. Kristina would even go so far as to say it was too clean. Her mother always kept it that way. She supposed it was because the rest of her life was so out of order.

“He’s great, he’ll be back in just a minute. He went to the store.”

Kristina knew what that meant: he needed more alcohol.

She looked at her mother. “Mommy, why do you put up with it, still, after all these years?”

Her mother blinked briefly.

“So how was your flight, honey? I wish I would have known you were coming, I would have prepared your old room.”

Kristina fought down the old frustration at her mother. She would never understand why she pretended her father wasn’t an alcoholic. That everything was perfect.

“I have a hotel room in town, Mom, it’s okay.” she said

“Kristina, you know that wasn’t necessary. This is your home, you’re always welcome.”

“Mom, you may be able to ignore the way dad drinks himself into a stupor, but I can’t,” she said, losing the battle with her frustrations.

“It’s nice to see you too, Kristina,” her father said from behind her.

Kristina closed her eyes and put her head down. She hadn’t heard him come into the house.

“When did you get here?” he said, moving around her to the kitchen sink.

He grabbed a glass and poured some whiskey into the cup.

“Dad, I’m…” she searched for something to say that would take the sting out of her words. She came up empty.

“I’m sorry.”

Her father didn’t speak, but gave her a short nod.

“Are you hungry, John?” Her mother said.

“I’m fine, Irene,” he said, taking a big gulp of his drink.

Kristina felt old demons start to surface. It was as if she had never left. They were still exactly the same.

Her father getting drunk every night, her mother trying to get food into him and failing. She couldn’t do it then, and she couldn’t now.

“I can’t do this,” Kristina said. “Dad, I love you, but if you don’t stop drinking so much and get some help, you’re gonna die, and nobody will be here with Mom.”

She looked at her mom.

“Mom, if you would stop pretending Dad is fine, stop turning a blind eye to all this, then maybe you could help him.

“I love you guys, and I don’t mean to cause trouble, but I can’t do this anymore. It’s why I left in the first place.”

“Are you done?” her father asked

When she stayed silent, her father continued.

“You can leave my home now.”

“John.” Her father put up his hand to stop his wife from speaking

“The day I let a child of mine come into my home and tell me what it is I should do will be the day pigs fly. Goodbye, Kristina. Lock the door behind you when you leave.”

With that her father grabbed his drink and went into the living room. He never once looked back.

****

Days went by, with no sight of Danny. Kristina had asked around, had even gone by his old home thinking he would be there.

Giving up her search for the day, she went back to her hotel room.

Once she was showered, she sat down at her laptop and began researching the little details of her story. She had been working for about an hour when her cellphone rang.

“Hello?”

“So you get a big assignment and now you can’t call?”

Kristina smiled at her friend’s tone.

“I’m sorry, Janine, been busy. How are things?”

“Well, if you must know, I’ve been totally bored since you left me floating in the wind. I’m willing to forgive you, if you tell me what you’ve been doing the last couple days,” Janine asked.

“A bunch of nothing, actually,” Kristina said. “I went to see my parents. That was… let’s just say things at home are pretty much the same.”

“You’re gonna have to tell me that story one day. So, how’s Danny?” She asked.

“I presume wherever he is, he’s fine,” Kristina said, her impatience showing in her voice.

“You haven’t found him yet?”

Not yet. I’ve been to his old house, but he doesn’t live there anymore. I’ve asked around, but nothing. It’s like he’s a ghost; nobody’s seen him.”

She saved the document she was working on and closed the lid to her laptop

“So what are you gonna do?” Janine asked.

“I was thinking about contacting him through the old messenger we used before. I don’t know, it may be a long shot, but I’ve got to find him.

“Yeah, I understand. I hope you find him soon. You only have so long for the story. You know who you’re doing the other two stories on?”

“I have a few people in mind.” Kristina laid her head against the sofa she sat on. “I could kill Trevor. If he hadn’t opened his mouth, I wouldn’t be here chasing a ghost.”

“I could get him if you want,” Janine said, perking up

“Janine, you take too much pleasure in wanting to hurt that man,” Kristina said, laughing.

“I just can’t stand him, never could,” Janine said.

“Anyway, what are your plans for the Fourth? I have a date, finally,” Janine said, laughing. “All I know is, it’s been too long and my bedsheets are so cold.”

Kristina laughed. “You better be careful and watch yourself.”

“He better watch himself, ‘cause mama’s on the prowl.”

“You’re sick.”

“But you love me anyway,” Janine said. “What are you doing, besides working?”

The have a little carnival here every year, small town thing. I’ll probably swing through there.”

“Hey, you never know, you might see Danny there.”

“I might. There will be a lot of people there.”

“Hope for the best, woman. I swear my cheerfulness will rub off on you one day. Anyway, I’ve got to go, have to shop for my outfit for this weekend. Something that says I’m available, but not in a slutty way. Later, chick.”

Kristina barked out her laughter before her friend hung up the phone. She walked back over to her laptop. Signing into her messenger, she found Danny’s contact.

Here goes nothing
, she thought, starting to type her message.

Danny,

I know we haven’t spoken in a long time—years, actually. I still care about you, and would love to talk to you.

I'm actually in Humble for a few weeks. We should get together for lunch or something. Our friendship used to be the most important thing to both of us.

If you’re willing, I would like to attempt to get that back.

Kristina closed out her message with her phone number and the name of the hotel she was staying at.

She didn’t know if he would even get her message, but all she could do was hope for the best.

If she was honest with herself, she prayed he answered, and not for the purposes of her story.

She missed him.

Chapter 3

"Love understands all circumstances."

Kristina walked down the boardwalk. It was crowded with families and people gathered to celebrate Independence Day.

Someone had decorated the street with red white and blue ribbons and streamers. The street look festive, and the town had showed up in full force.

Kristina watched as a little boy and girl ran by her with bright sparklers clutched in their palms, their laughter followed them as they ran across the street. She couldn’t help but smile as she remembered coming to this event every year when she was a child.

She remembered eating cotton candy and watching the fireworks at the park. She also remembered being with Danny. They would be excited days before the fourth, each one talking over the other, wondering what new wonders would be there this year.

When the day finally came they stuck close to each other, whispering secrets to each other or chasing the ducks in the park waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Danny. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t miss him. She regretted letting time and distance separate their relationship.

Danny was her best friend. He was the only reason she had made it through her childhood, but circumstances neither of them could control had come between them.

Kristina looked around her once more. Everyone had smiles on their faces, enjoying the hot summer day. She walked to a cotton candy stand and stood in line.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

When she heard his voice, something melted in her. She didn’t expect that reaction, but welcomed it all the same.

Turning, she laid eyes on Danny for the first time in years. He had changed. He had a maturity about him that wasn’t there the last time she’d seen him.

His hair was cut low to his head, which made his square jawline stand out more. Muscles showed through his tight white tee-shirt and, glancing down, she appreciated the way his jeans hugged his muscular thighs.

Nice,
she thought.

“Thank you,” he said, laughter in his voice.

She snapped her head up and looked into his piercing blue eyes.

“Did I say that out loud?” she asked him.

“Yes.” Looking behind her he pointed to the concession stand. “I think you’re up.”

“Oh,” she said, rushing to the window and buying her treat.

“Oh my God, he’s gorgeous,” she thought, making sure she kept thoughts to herself this time.

Kristina went to stand beside him. “You look good, Marine. How have you been?”

“I’ve been… okay. It’s different being back home,” he said looking around.

“I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. You’re very hard to find,” she said, trying to control her heartbeat; at this rate it was going to pump right out of her chest.

Why was she so nervous? It was just Danny.

Coming back to the conversation, she saw he was waiting for her to answer a question.

“Excuse me?”

“I said I got your message. I was wondering if you wanted to get that lunch you were talking about?” he said.