Losing to Win (Clearwater) (3 page)

Chapter Four

Rebecca glanced around the
apartment again, checking to make sure everything was in order. It had been
nearly eight month since she saw her father, and even longer since she saw her
mother. Clearwater allowed Rebecca to keep her distance from the problems her
mother created, but she hated the distance it caused in her relationship with
her father.

The clock struck two and a
knock sounded against the thick wood door of her two-bedroom apartment. She
timidly stepped to the door, her heart beating frantically in her ears. Taking
a deep breath, she turned the handle.

Even nearing fifty, her father
was toned. His years in the Navy had instilled good values. To this day he
worked out at the gym three times a week, and every morning, rain or shine, he
went for a two mile run. Rebecca envied his dedication.

His hair had grown out a
little from the crew cut he normally sported. The only sign that showed his age
was the hit of grey showing around his temples. The deep brown tan, from hours
in the sun, reminded her proudly of the job he took after leaving the military.
Instead of deployments and training, he was now an architect, designing and
building homes for military men and women who were injured as a result of their
service.

He dropped his small, black
duffle bag. It hit her floor with a thump.

“Dad.” She smiled as he
extended his arms wide. He wrapped his arms around her, filling her lonesome
heart with love. Clearwater had become her home and she had made many friends,
but without any family around, she was lost and alone. Her father’s hug drained
away the loneliness and doubts.

“Becca, I’ve missed you.”

She wanted to remain in the
comfort of her father’s arms, but finally stepped aside to allow him inside her
apartment. “Come in. You’ve had a long journey. Do you want to rest for a bit
before we go for lunch?” Once the words were spoken she realized how stupid
they sounded. Her father had never taken a nap in all the years she’d known
him, no matter how long he had been awaken. He just couldn’t sleep in the
afternoon.

He shoved his bag with his
foot before stepping into her apartment, and shutting the door. “I’m fine. The
drive was good. I left Denver before rush hour traffic. I’m hungry. How about
we have lunch in Jackson Hole? I heard there’s a delicious Italian restaurant
there, and I know how much you love Italian.”

“Sure. Let me grab my purse.
If you want to put your bag in the guest room, it’s the first door on the
right.” She nodded toward the hall leading from the great room.

“Thanks,” he said.

Collecting her purse from the
kitchen, she slipped it over her shoulder and tucked her cell phone into the
pocket of her jeans. She wanted to ask why her father chose now to visit. Was
he terminally ill? Had her mother drank her liver to failure?

As her father returned from
the bedroom, she stuffed away her questions. He’d tell her in his own time.
Pressuring him wouldn’t make him spill whatever secret he was hiding any
sooner.

* * *

JC added the last student’s
information into the first self-defense class database that was set to start in
two weeks. He then pushed away from the desk. It had been a long day and he
still had two hours to go. Coffee, that’s what he needed. He considered going
to Express-Ohh’s, not just because their coffee was better than the crap
sitting in the pot in his office, but also to see Rebecca again. She weighed in
his thoughts since their first encounter.

“JC, got a minute?” Jordan
leaned against the doorframe. Jordan, a former Marine, was now retired and
settled into a quiet life with his wife Chloe, running Winterbloom Bed and
Breakfast.

“Sure, come on in. I was just
pouring myself a cup of coffee, would you like some?”

“No, thanks.” Jordan sank into
the chair in front of JC’s desk. “Cameron asked me to teach a self-defense and
weapons training class specifically for business owners in Clearwater. One
evening a week, an hour long each, over the course of three weeks. I’d prefer
Thursdays, but any day except Fridays works for me. Can you set this up?”

“Sure. With so many of the
business owners being female, it would be good for them to learn basic
self-defense. Clearwater is pretty safe, from what I hear, but being so close
to Jackson Hole you could have tourists passing through who cause trouble.” JC
glanced at the computer screen, checking the scheduled class rooms. “How about
Thursday evenings from seven to eight, starting the second week of September?
The course will be complete before tourist season.”

“Works for me. I’m flexible on
the number of attendees, but ten would give me more hand–on-hand training. If
there’s more interested, maybe we can split into two classes, one at seven and
the next at eight. Whatever works in the schedule, just send me a list of the
participants so I can tailor some of the training to their needs.” Jordan rose
from the chair and nodded toward JC’s coffee mug. “You need the good stuff from
Express-Ohh’s.”

JC laughed and walked Jordan
out. He went back to his office and took another drink of the muddy coffee. His
stomach rumbled in protest. He ignored it and sat at his desk. Instead of
making a run to town to catch a glimpse of Rebecca, he had more work to get
done. It was for the best. He didn’t need to be anywhere near her, even if he
craved to see her again.
Friendship only.
He vowed.

He grabbed his notepad and
jotted down the names of some local businesses that might be interested in the
new class. He’d create a flyer and head into town tomorrow to get people to
sign up.

* * *

The Italian restaurant
overlooked one of the ski hills, but without snow the scenery didn’t have the
same attraction it boasted in the winter. Rebecca arched her back against the
booth, trying to ease the tension that had settled there. An awkward silence
settled between Rebecca and her father, which was very unusual for her normally
talkative father.

“Dad, what’s going on? This
isn’t like you.” She leaned forward, placing her folded hands on the table.

“I was hoping to tell you
after lunch, but I can see it’s unavoidable.” He placed his hand over hers.
“Your mother and I are getting a divorce.”

The surprise of his blunt
comment stole her words. “What?”

“I know this is a shock, but
our marriage just doesn’t work any longer. It’s time to accept that.”

Doesn’t work any longer? Where
had he been all these years? Her parents’ marriage hadn’t been good since she
was a child. “I’m astonished that it’s taken you this long to realize it.” She
shook her head, swallowing all the nasty words she wanted to say about her
mother, and about their suffering marriage. “You said you could never leave
her, that she needed you. What changed?”

“Becca, I’ve always loved your
mother, that hasn’t changed. But your mother…she’s found someone new. She filed
for divorce last week.” Sadness thickened his voice.

“I’m sorry.” She held his
hand, giving it a little squeeze. “Nothing I say will lessen what you’re going
through, but you deserve better.”

“Oh Rebecca, if you could have
known the woman I fell in love with.” Her father glanced at their entwined
hands before continuing. “Your mother was so full of life. My career stole that
from her, and stole the mother you should have had. For that I’m truly sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault. She
made the choice. She didn’t have to stay in a marriage she wasn’t happy in. She
chose the bottle over us.” Rebecca wanted to say something else to remove the
pain from her father’s eyes, but nothing she said would bring him any comfort.
He had stayed with her mother because he loved her, even if she was a mess.
Whereas, Rebecca could barely stand to be in the same room with her mother for
five minutes without wanting to scream. “What now?”

“I’ll get an apartment in
Denver, it’s central to the airport, and with my job that’s important. Plus
it’s close to you. I’m hoping you’ll allow me to visit from time to time.”

“I never wanted to separate
from you. I just couldn’t live like that. Mom was driving me insane. I needed
to get out of there, to make a life of my own. Moving to Clearwater has been
the best decision for me, made me stand on my own feet.”

He nodded, his thumb trailing
over her knuckles. “I’m proud of you. You’re twenty, supporting yourself, and
nearly finished your degree. You’ve become your own woman.”

“Thank you.” All her life she
strived to please her father. Her throat tightened and tears slid down her
cheeks. “I hope you’ll visit often.”

Chapter Five

JC had been looking forward to
Saturday and the town picnic since meeting Rebecca, but now that the day was
upon him, here he sat working. Nothing needed his attention that couldn’t wait
until Monday, but he was using work to stall going to the picnic. Part of him
craved to see Rebecca again, while the other half thought she deserved better
than him. She was young and had her whole life ahead of her. While he might be
young in years, he grew up too fast. Being the man responsible for his family’s
home and a stand-in father for his siblings, his childhood and rebellion years
were cut short.

Before his injury, he longed
for a steady relationship—for a woman to settle down with. His fear of ending
up like his mother, with children he couldn’t afford, prevented him from taking
that step. JC’s family dream was unreachable. He already had a family to provide
for…and now he wasn’t a complete man, capable enough to be a husband or a
father.

“JC.”

He glanced up from the
paperwork to find Tessa standing in the doorway.

“Aren’t you coming to the
picnic?”

“I should stay here. There’s a
lot of paperwork that needs to be dealt with and phone calls to return.” He
pointed to the paper scattered on the desk.

“Come on, that stuff can
wait.”

“Not only is my wife
beautiful, but she’s always right.” Cameron stepped beside his wife, with Rosie
nestled against his chest. Tessa slid her arm around his waist. “Phone calls,
seriously? You won’t get any response because everyone will be at the picnic.
So come with us. It will be good for you to meet some of the residents. Many of
them you’ve spoken to, and now you can put a face to the name.”

Nodding, JC slid the papers
back into the folder and rose from the desk. He followed Cameron and Tessa to
their truck, reminding himself his interest in Rebecca was as a friend, nothing
more. Who was he trying to kid? Just the thought of her sent his nerves on
edge.

A refreshing breeze brushed
his shoulders, cooling his heated thoughts of Rebecca. Waiting for Cameron to
strap Rosie into the car seat, JC glanced back at the shop. In two weeks the
place had transformed. The boys had finished adding landscaping around the
building. The mature trees around the area brought shade and also gave an
appearance they had been there for years instead of only a few weeks.

On Monday the manager’s flat
would be completed. The furniture he had chosen from Country Home Fixing’s
would be delivered and he could finally move it. Cameron and Tessa were great,
giving him space, but he wanted his own place, where he could relax and not
have to worry about being in the way.

Cameron pulled the truck to a
stop not far from where everyone had already gathered. The sun glistened off
the lake, gleaming like a diamond in the rough. People gathered on blankets and
around picnic tables, while children ran to and fro. A few were even playing in
the lake water with their watchful parents nearby.

JC felt like an outsider,
watching everyone having a good time with their families.

“This is your home now too.”
Tessa met his gaze as she slipped the car seat out careful not to disturb the
sleeping Rosie from her car seat. “We are one big family here. You’ll enjoy the
picnic if you let yourself.”

It was crazy to run now. He
couldn’t sit in the hot truck and wait for them. He was here and would make the
best of it. Opening the door, he stepped out and his gaze immediately found
Rebecca. She was wearing a pair of jean shorts, a pale pink tank top, and her
long, brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. An older man sat across her.

A twinge of jealousy passed
through him, but he had no reason to be jealous. There was nothing between him
and Rebecca, even if he wanted to heat up the night with her next to him.

“Hey, Cameron, JC, over here.”
Jordan waved from a picnic table with Chloe and Jennifer.

JC followed Cameron’s lead
toward the table. He knew Jordan and Chloe, and he had met Jennifer once when
she dropped something off at the house for Tessa. Being surrounded by new
people always put JC on edge, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on
edge, but he quickly grew comfortable with the people of Clearwater.

“Want a beer?” Jordan asked JC
as he handed one to Cameron.

“Sure.” He lowered onto the
corner of the bench, obtaining a clear view of most of the crowd, and Rebecca.
Taking the bottle from Jordan, he twisted the cap off, and took a long swig.

“Let me hold my sugarplum.”
Chloe bent, unhooking Rosie from her car seat. “I’ve missed her.”

“Now that Jordan’s finished
your log home and Holly’s running most of the day-to-day operations for
Winterbloom, you need to visit more,” Tessa said, taking a seat next to Chloe.
“Cam’s always busy, and I only get goo’s and gah’s with Rosie. I need some adult
interaction.”

“I’ve cut back now that JC’s
here.” Cameron added defensively.

“Before you newlyweds bicker
too much, Tessa, why don’t you ask my workaholic wife how she’s doing with
giving up the reins to Winterbloom.” Jordan held his hands up in surrender as
Chloe whipped around to face him.

“Chloe?” Tessa raised an
eyebrow.

“Winterbloom has been my life
since I was a child, running it with Gram until she passed. It’s my heart and
soul, and hard to give it up.”

“But there’s life outside of
the Bed and Breakfast.” Jordan slid his hand down Chloe’s arm.

“He’s right,” JC added. The
minute the words escaped his lips he wished he could take them back. Everyone
turned to him. He gave them a halfhearted smile. “I didn’t expect to make it
after…I left the Marines, but now that I’m here, I do my best to live every day
to the fullest. Chloe, you just need to find a balance. All you need is a
competent manager for Winterbloom. Let that person handle the daily operations
while you sit back and enjoy your family. My mother has worked two jobs most of
her life, never having the time to spend with her children. Now they are
growing fast, and she regrets the lost time. Don’t miss out because of work.”

“Wow.” Tessa broke the silence
that followed JC’s comments. “So young and knowledgeable. Cam needs to take
your advice. Thankfully with you running the shop he finally gets to spend more
time with Rosie and me.” She smiled at her husband.

“I am, and JC is learning the
ropes quickly, but it’s a new business, which I still need to keep my hands in.
Once the classes start I’ll have even more time to spend with you.” Cameron
leaned to kiss his wife.

JC sat there for a moment
realizing he had told everyone at the table that they needed to live their
life, yet he wasn’t following his own words. “If you’ll excuse me, there’s
someone I’d like to say hello to.” He rose from the table and headed toward
Rebecca before the courage escaped him.

Her gaze found his as he
neared, and his heart skipped a beat when she smiled. Her grin was like a
lighthouse in the middle of the darkest night, guiding him like a beacon.
Speeding up his pace, his lips curl upward, returning her smile with one of his
own.

“JC, I’m glad you could make
it.” She waved a hand to her father. “This is my father, Robert James. Dad,
this is JC.”

JC accepted the man’s extended
hand, giving it a firm shake. “Juan Carlos Marquez, sir, but please call me
JC.”

“None of that sir stuff.
Robert is fine. What branch are you in, son?” Robert tapped the bench, offering
JC a seat.

JC sat across from Rebecca. He
was surprised that her father knew he was in the military. “I was a Marine, but
an injury cut my career short. How did you know?”

“It’s the way you carry
yourself. A fellow service member recognizes another. I was in the Navy for over
twenty years. What brings you to Clearwater? Or are you originally from here?”
Robert’s brows furrowed over his eyes, almost as if sizing up JC. To determine
if he was good enough for Rebecca?

“Cameron White was my
commanding officer. He needed help with his shop, Clearwater Combat and Guns,
so here I am. Do you live here or are you in town visiting?” One thing JC
didn’t miss about dating was impressing the parents, not that he dated often
before his injury.

“Visiting. I’m returning to
Denver in the morning.” Robert turned to Rebecca and nodded. “I’ll leave you
two for a bit. I need to make a couple of phone calls.”

“Okay, Dad.” She watched her
father leave the park before glancing back at JC. “I didn’t know he was coming
into town until yesterday.” She shook her head. “I’m really glad you came.”

“I’m glad I came too.” He
smiled, suddenly feeling like a schoolboy again. “I don’t want to interrupt
your visit with your dad, but I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes. Could
you take a short walk with me?”

She glanced over her shoulder
at her father, who was in the parking lot talking on his cell phone. “Okay.”

JC walked away from the noisy
picnic area, hoping to gain a little privacy for what he wanted to tell
Rebecca. She stepped in beside him. Once they neared the far edge of the lake,
he nodded toward the bench. “Let’s sit.”

She sat on the bench, staring
at him intently. “You seem tense, is everything all right, JC?”

“Sitting over there with
Cameron, Jordan, and their wives, I realized something.” He paused and inhaled
a deep breath. What he was about to tell her might change how everyone in
Clearwater saw him. He’d no longer be the new guy in town. He could become the
new handicapped guy in town. How he hated that label. Even without his leg, he
was still the same man he was before. It took coming to Clearwater to help JC
understand that there wasn’t anything he could do before his injury that he
couldn’t still do.

“What is it?” A hint of
concern filled her voice.

“I gave up living life to the
fullest after I was discharged from the Marines, but that’s about to change. I
told you I was injured on my last mission. The truth is, I lost my leg in an
IED explosion. I don’t know if I’d have made it through without Cameron. I owe
my life to him. He’s the reason I moved here. I’m telling you this because I
want to be honest with you and it’s only right that you know up front. If
you’re okay with my disability, I’d like to take you out sometime.” He let the
words fly off his tongue, desperate to get them said.

A glimpse of sadness shadowed
her hazel eyes. “I appreciate you telling me this, but I’m wondering if I
should be offended that you thought I’d have an issue with your injury.”

“Rebecca, that’s not what I
meant.” He ran his hand down the length of his jeans. “Damn it. This isn’t
coming out how I wanted it to.”

She laid her hand over his.
“JC, you’re still alive, that’s what should matter. You lost your leg, but
you’re alive and healthy. Many of our military members are denied a second
chance at life. When my father retired from the Navy, he took a job as an
architect, designing homes for injured military members once they’ve been
discharged. I’ve met some of the people he has helped. They’ve suffered loss
from this war, but they are alive and that’s what counts. Their families are
grateful to have them. I’ve also seen the families of those who never made it
home. In honor of the soldiers who will never make it home, you need to live
the life you were meant to. You’ve been given a second chance. Don’t let it
pass you by.” She didn’t bother to wipe away the tears that slid down her
cheeks.

“When I first woke up in the
hospital and realized what happened, I prayed for death. My mother is a single
mother of nine children, and I’ve always been the man of the family. I helped
her make ends meet, with the younger children, and whatever else she needed
done. It was the reason I joined the Marines. Without my career I didn’t know
how I was going to continue taking care of them.” He sighed. “My mother was
beside my bed and cried, not for the loss of my leg, but because I made it
home. My heart broke at the sight of my mother crying.” If he would have died
it would have been worse for her and his whole family.

“It sounds as though you’re
close to your mother and your siblings. If not for yourself, you need to be
strong for them.” She frowned. “Why are you here, instead of being with your
family?”

That was the one question he
didn’t want to answer. Why he ran as quickly as his legs would carry him from
North Carolina. “I’m close to my family, they mean everything to me, but I had
to leave.”

“Why?”

She wasn’t going to let the
subject drop, leaving him with two options, be rude and ask her to drop the
inquisition or to tell her the truth. If he expected her to go out on a date
with him then rudeness was out of the question. “Everyone back home knew what
happened. I didn’t want their pity. When I went anywhere, I saw the sympathy in
people’s faces. I got tired of their sadness and their questions. If I was ever
to move on with my life, it had to be somewhere else. Home only reminds me of
what I lost. The whole town is Marines. Military is a way of life there.”

“For some people it’s the only
way they know how to deal with tragedy. I’m sorry you had to leave your home
because of it. What about your family? Will they remain there?”