“Leo hired a new employee named Cole, and I can imagine he’ll be receiving a lot of attention from the nurses at the hospital. He trains dogs. Do you like animals?”
Scarlett’s hand reached out, petting Ice affectionately. “This guy has stolen my heart.”
Hannah watched the interaction, seeing Ice lean into Scarlett’s leg. She never owned a pet. Her dad declared animals off-limits inside the house. He ran his home like he ran his unit. Everything must have a spot, and he didn’t accept excuses for messy rooms. When he deployed, her mom ensured the mood in the house relaxed, and they spent the evenings playing games, reading books, and even taking a painting class. When he returned home on leave, Hannah retreated to her silent room. When she announced her plans to join the army, her father appeared shocked. Then he started drilling her, making her get up for morning jogs, and join a gym. Her resentment of never feeling good enough grew. Her dad made it clear he wanted a son and he got her, Hannah… a girl with mousy brown hair and green eyes.
“Kassie mentioned your parents planned to visit after the holidays. I hope you decide to come out of your shy stage and talk to me by Christmas. We can go shopping in town, sit at the new bakery, and drink Bryanna’s hot chocolate. I’d like to have a friend to talk to. Kassie and the other women have made me feel at home, but they don’t know what it’s like to join the military and work with their husbands. Don’t get me wrong, the guys have treated me well. But they’re… you know, men. I swear, half the time they act like kids. For instance, the other day, Patch and Knight made a bet on who could run faster. They kept blocking each other on the track and, out of the blue, pummeled each other. Then Leo acts like a dad. He made them run the track twice as long for disturbing PT. Let’s not get into Taco and Shadow. They go around farting to see if they can outdo each other. It’s disgusting. Saint shakes his head and keeps asking what they ate. What difference does it make? They stink,” she exclaimed, laughing.
Hannah tried to envision Scarlett working with these men. They seemed larger than life in her mind’s eye. Scarlettdescribed each one of her new teammates to her and their personalities. She almost felt as if she knew them personally. After all the long, lonely months, it felt good to have something else to keep her mind busy besides the ticking of the clock and her memories of her time as a prisoner.
“Patch went home yesterday to care for Dr. Meyers. She caught bronchitis, and their furnace went out. Ty sent over some food for them. I hope she’s feeling better. Have you seen the kids in the window? Avie, Shadow’s wife, runs the day care. She has all kinds of activities planned for them this fall. I volunteered to help her with an art day. The kids will wear tape bracelets and put things they discover along the trails on them. I asked if we might bring them by your window to show you their new fashions. Keep watching tomorrow around 1400.”
Hannah’s heart sped up. She loved watching the kids. Once, Kassie came to visit, and Chase entered her room with a double stroller, another baby in his arms, and two little girls. The love she saw in his eyes as he watched his children and helped usher their mother to the door made her want more than the permanent jail cell her mind and body committed her to.
“Do you like pecan pie? I’ll bring you a piece. When you start talking, let me know if you like ice cream. Edie makes the best vanilla. Don’t tell Ty, but it might be better than his. However, I’m not complaining when he makes those lava cakes. They’re sinfully delicious. What about apple cider?”
When Hannah didn’t respond, Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “I’m not giving up. I know you’re in there somewhere. I may not see you, but I know you hear me. I know what it’s like to feel afraid and want to retreat from this world. Hannah, there’s a life waiting for you out there, and you only need to believe in yourself. I don’t know what happened to you, but you survived. There’s a reason why. Don’t you want to find out?”
Yes, no, maybe. She didn’t know. Joining the military after her sheltered life in a small town opened her eyes to the world. Hannah witnessed the devastation in a mother’s eyes as her son, who got swept off the street involuntarily, got strapped to a bomb and blown to bits. The men didn’t care about his youth or innocence. They only cared he fit their political agenda. She saw hunger and starvation in third-world countries. Then, she experienced pure terror and evil as her kidnappers beat and beheaded her friends, one by one. They laughed as they made them watch, knowing they might be next. The military trained her for those moments, but as a unit supply specialist, she considered her chances slim. Even arming her with all the facts and telling her how to survive, the Army forgot to educate her on how to erase the vivid memories from her mind.
“Don’t forget, tomorrow at 1400, the kids will show off their nature bracelets. I hope you like the candle, Hannah. I can switch it out in a couple of weeks for something Christmasy. Thanksgiving’s right around the corner. You can come to my house, and we can sip one of Ty’s mocktails and stuff ourselves like turkeys. I have to go, but think about it,” Scarlett entreated.
Imagining Thanksgiving, she pictured laughing with Scarlett while her husband ran the show. From what Scarlett told her, Ty owned a restaurant in town and everyone raved about his food. For the first time, Hannah craved macaroni and cheese, her favorite comfort food. Her tongue watered as she recalled the creamy texture and the gooey cheese and pasta.
The fall scent filled the room and Hannah glanced over at the warmer. She felt like the wick inside the candle. She clearly saw it, yet its body remained captured in the jar of wax. The heat from the light bulb slowly melted it away, but the wick yearned for the flame. Startled by her revelation, Hannah realized she wanted to break free. If only her body felt the same way.
CHAPTER 7
Cole walkedalong the hospital trails, letting Brody sniff to his heart’s content. Leo assured him Kassie didn’t mind him bringing his dog into the hospital and he made an appointment to meet with her. Sparky showed him the sign-up lists for volunteering and the veterans support groups.
“Listen up, Brody. You have to work now. We’re meeting with the woman in charge of this mountain, and I don’t want to give her any reason to kick us off. We need to sign up for some volunteering and sit in on one of the groups,” he informed the animal. “I hope you’re happy. Patch got in trouble for your little stunt and got a month of latrine duty. I can’t even look the guy in the eyes.”
Brody focused on everything but his master’s face.
“Then I sit down at breakfast and all I can think about is which plate you licked clean. I watched them eat and tried to guess which teammate would hate me when they discovered what you did, and I let them eat off your slobbery dish,” Cole continued. “Way to have my back there, man.”
Brody paid him no attention as he gazed toward the entrance of the hospital and whined. Sparky walked down the stairs with Ice and wiped her cheek.
Concerned for his new team member, Cole signaled for Brody to follow. Ducking down, Brody grabbed a fallen pinecone from the ground and caught up to his master.
“What’s wrong, Sparky?” he asked. “Can I do anything?”
She gave a small smile and shook her head. “I’m worried about my friend, Hannah. I can’t seem to reach her, and I hate the silence. My blindness has increased my other senses. Sometimes I feel like she’s on the verge of saying something, but she stops. I don’t know. Maybe it’s me hoping. I hate seeing her alone.”
“Doesn’t she have family?” he asked.
Scarlett shrugged. “I’ve never seen anyone visit her besides Kassie and Dr. Meyers. They don’t tell us what’s wrong with patients. But she hasn’t said a word since I arrived. I feel like she’s there, listening to me.”
“I’m sorry. At least she made a friend out of you. I think it’s admirable you visit her. Most people might’ve given up when she didn’t talk.”
“Since you’re new here, I’ll give you a quick rundown on me. I made it through my tour. On the way to our flight, insurgents attacked our Humvee and a metal bar hit me. When I woke up, I found myself blind. Two members of my team didn’t give up on me. When I didn’t respond, they called in the reinforcements by way of one of my friends, Rainey. I ended up here. It’s the best thing ever to happen to me. I met my husband here. Then, I got hired to work with the team. It gave me a purpose. It makes me wonder about Hannah’s friends. Why don’t they visit? Then, I think Hannah might need a purpose.”
“I have to go. I have a meeting with Kassie Winters about volunteering at the hospital. She wants to meet me,” Cole said, rising and signaling to Brody to follow. “Maybe we can put our heads together and come up with something for your friend.”
“Thanks, Cole,” Sparky said as she rose. “Tell Kassie I said hello.”
Cole bounded up the stairs and held the door for his partner. He checked in at the desk and waited for Kassie to finish a meeting. Brody moved to his left and slightly behind his chair. Distracted by the teens interacting with the veterans, Cole didn’t see Kassie enter.
She waved her hand in front of his face and smiled. “Hi Cole. I’m Kassie. One day on the job with Leo, and you already have a dazed expression on your face. It must be a new record,” she teased.
