3
LEO
When Jillie’s finally peacefully asleep and no longer hiccupping from the crying, I’m able to leave the room. When I enter the kitchen, Ruthie’s on the phone and sitting at the island. She pauses her conversation.
“Please, help yourself to anything you’d like. We should talk as soon as I finish this call,” she tells me.
I nod. Yeah, we should. Maybe she can help me figure how to help Jillie because I have no idea.
I grab an electrolyte drink from the refrigerator and take a long drink. Then I snag an apple from a basket of fruit. I’m on my second when Ruthie sets the phone down and finishes making notes.
She rubs her temples and takes a deep breath. Without looking up, she says, “I wasn’t expecting this. Ezra’s gone on so many deployments I never even gave it a thought that he might die.”
I don’t know what to say so I just listen.
She looks up now, her eyes red-rimmed, her cheeks lined with drying tears. “He’s a Colonel, did you know that?”
I nod.
“He doesn’t have to go out with his men, but he does. He’s one of those guys who may have the title, but still believes he’s like everyone else. It’s why they all love him. He never acts like a Colonel unless he has to,” she tells me with a small smile and a lone tear.
“I don’t know what to do,” I admit.
“None of us do. How can we reassure her? He’s already gone. All we can do now is be here for her. She will get through this. She won’t think it’s possible for a while, but she will.” She takes a drink of her coffee that’s likely cold.
I take the cup. “Refill?”
“Please. Just pour a lot of creamer in.”
I nod and smirk. “My mom takes it like that too.”
“So, Leo. Tell me how this happened.”
“I met her a while back. The Friday before school party at the beach. All we did after that was argue and try to hate one another.”
“You’re Jack.”
I look at her in surprise. “She told you about me?”
“Some. Other things I heard in passing when the girls were talking.”
“I see. I needed to get past some things before I could try with her. She deserves better than someone who can’t give her everything,” I confess.
“She does. And you think you’re ready now?”
“Honestly?” I shrug. “I don’t know, but I do know I want to try. I want to try with her.”
“Then that’s what you’ll do.”
I nod and take a long drink of water. “I need to text everyone.”
“She’ll appreciate that. She’ll need them when she wakes up.”
“Speaking of. I better get to it so I can be there when she does. Wake up, that is.”
“Thank you for being there for her… I was going to call you Jack, but I know that’s not right,” she says with a small laugh.
“Leo. Leo Beckett.”
