He stood at that sink as his sandwich went cold and for once didn’t block the memories as they filled his head.
The day he left here to go to medical school, the day he graduated—it all came back. And then he was there in Iraq, standing in what had once been a school. The bomb had ripped through the place, killing and maiming, and he’d done what he could for days until he could do no more. His mind had gone blank as he worked, and then Ethan had come and taken him back to base. When he woke after two days of sleeping, his head was filled with what he had witnessed. After the first consult, he’d refused help; no shrink was getting into his head, and he’d come home to heal. But he hadn’t. Instead, he’d placed a temporary bandage over his pain and locked it all away and just existed.
Branna was right, he had been surly and punished those closest to him, and the people he cared about had accepted his behavior because, unlike him, they believed in him and that one day he would once again be a doctor.
Picking up the phone, he rang Ethan.
“I need that appointment now, today or tomorrow.” He listened to Ethan tell him that he’d make a call and get back to him. Minutes later, his cell rang and it was the Texan telling him to be ready as he was flying over to pick him up.
After that, Jake called his father and told him to keep an eye on Branna. Then he called Annabelle to ask her to stay with Branna at night.
When she’d questioned him, he informed her, “None of your business, Annabelle, just stay with her till I get back.” Disconnecting the call as she asked another question, Jake then called Buster.
“I’m going to be out of town with Ethan, Buster. Watch over Branna for me.”
His friend didn’t ask questions, just said he would, and Jake knew she’d be safe until he returned to straighten out the mess he’d just made with her.
He was ready when he heard the thunder of Ethan’s helicopter approach. Picking up his cell phone, he sent a text to Branna, telling her he was going to be out of town for a few days and that he would see her as soon as he got back. He finished with the word “sorry,” because in all honesty, he didn’t know what else to say. Picking up his duffle, he walked out the back door to the paddock Ethan was landing in. Ducking under the blades, he opened the door and climbed in. After strapping himself in, he put on his headphones and they were in the air again.
Branna stood at the window and watched Ethan’s helicopter rise in the air and disappear. She’d gotten Jake’s text, but didn’t reply, because she had no idea what to say. Her eyes were raw from crying and acid had formed in her stomach at the thought of the words they’d said to each other. Where was he going and why had he left? She missed him already, and that annoyed her, because it meant she cared…which she already knew, but now she really cared because the pain was bad.
“And that, you idiot, is why you don’t form attachments to people,” Branna muttered as she finished dressing.
Heading downstairs, she grabbed her keys and handbag and left the house. Her father had kept her out of Howling, and Jake was right about one thing, he wasn’t keeping her away any longer. She needed supplies, and if she saw him, she’d nod her head and walk away. Declan O’Donnell wasn’t the kind of man to make a fuss any more than she would. He wouldn’t force a confrontation between them, so she was safe there.
She thought about the argument she and Jake had. They’d struck at each other in their most vulnerable places, the places that, because of their growing closeness, were bound to eventually be exposed. They’d both been hiding with no wish to come out, and because of this, they had hurt each other. Maybe they were best apart? Her heart ached at the thought of not seeing him again or feeling his body close to hers.
“Damn, I love him.” The realization had her pulling off the road while she recovered from the shock. How the hell had that happened?
Shaking her head, she restarted the car and slowly drove into town. She could hide her feelings; he need never know—or maybe she would tell him?What? Are you crazy, O’Donnell?
Love made you vulnerable; she knew that, so why the hell would she contemplate exposing herself to that again?
Because he’d made her feel again, made her remember what it was like to be part of someone and not just a cold, emotionless shell that went through the routine of day-to-day life, convincing herself she was happy.
Branna found a parking spot on the main street and, for once, the quaint beauty of the town didn’t make her smile. Climbing out of the car, she walked slowly down the street, nodding and acknowledging people as thoughts tumbled around inside her head. Could she put herself back together if Jake was no longer in her life? How would she cope if another person she loved turned away from her?
When was he coming back?
Pushing open the door to the drugstore, she went inside.
“Hey, Branna, we got some more of that lotion you like in for you.”
“Oh, hi, Mr. Pike, and thanks, I’m just about out.” After picking up a few things, she paid for them and the lotion before leaving.
The thing was, Branna was starting to feel like she belonged here. The big cities she lived in were not good for a person who kept to herself, but like her hometown in Ireland, Howling embraced people.
“I’m finished with my cookies, Branna.”
“I’ll get to it, Jilly,” Branna said, as she made her way into the grocery store. “Or you could try and bake some for yourself.”
“I can’t cook.”
This was what happened in small towns, you got involved or you didn’t, which sounded simple, but if you didn’t, you were a hermit who everyone talked about.
“Why can’t you cook?” Picking up some bread, Branna put it in her basket before looking at the girl. Today, her hair was spiked blood red.
“Mom’s just not big on baking.”
