She wondered if her plan to move back to California could be what had been triggering the frequent nightmares, as if she was stirring up the ghosts she had tried so hard to leave behind. She hated having to relive those brutal days when her world came apart.
Seven years ago, her father, a Colonel in the U.S. Army, had been killed when his helicopter went down during a mission in Iraq. Two years later, her older brother, Matt, a Marine who’d never truly made it home from his last deployment, took his own life after fighting a losing battle with PTSD. Losing them both had hollowed her out, but it was her brother’s death that finally shattered the last pieces of the life she’d tried to hold together in California.
A year after her brother’s death, she decided that she couldn’t live in a place where everywhere she turned she was filled with memories of her dad or brother. So, she did what she thought was best for her, packed her car, and drove until the ache quieted.
Arriving in Virginia Beach had puzzled her, considering it was a town filled with military, which was what she was trying to escape.
But she was glad fate had steered her in that direction, because it was where she discovered a charity foundation that served as a haven for veterans, service members, and their families.
Many times, Charley considered seeking counseling for herself to deal with the burden and grief. But instead, she found herself wanting to help others. Sure, it was a stark reminder ofher dad and brother, and she still carried the weight of their losses, but helping others deal with their issues was her way of helping heal herself.
It became the first place that felt steady beneath her feet again. Even now, in the mornings, when the nightmares clawed their way back.
The best part was the people she had met and how those friendships turned into an extended family for her.
She glanced at the clock on her nightstand—six forty-seven in the morning. Charley ran her hands over her face as she took a deep breath and exhaled. She might as well get up, as she thought about everything she had to do today.
She only had a few days left in Virginia Beach. After a few years of making a life there, she was leaving for California, back to the place where her life had started, and where it had all unraveled.
Shoving the thoughts aside, she forced herself to sit up and swing her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet met the cool hardwood floor. She stood and stretched before walking to the bathroom.
She stood at the vanity, gripping the edge of it as she met her own reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and the shadows smudged beneath them were evidence of another restless night.
“Get it together,” she muttered to herself. She turned on the faucet and splashed some cold water on her face, hoping it would help wash away the lingering ghosts of the past.
After drying off her face, she finished up her morning routine. Her plan for the day was to finish packing her apartment and then attend her farewell party later that evening.
Alex Hardesty-Chambers, Charley’s boss and the founder of the foundation, had insisted on throwing her a party, despite Charley’s protests.
She had tried to explain to Alex that, even though she was leaving Virginia Beach, it wasn’t like she was cutting all contact with her. She would still be working for the foundation, but in San Diego at the new site that was opening.
However, Alex wasn’t having it, telling Charley that she couldn’t just leave without a proper send-off.
Charley appreciated the sentiment. But she wasn’t a fan of having attention thrown her way. A part of her just wanted to slip out quietly and avoid the emotional good-byes.
The people she worked with at the foundation had no idea how much they had helped Charley deal with her own grief.
She owed it to her friends and colleagues, especially Alex. After all, Alex had trusted her in a way few people ever had. Even now, it still felt surreal that she’d been chosen to lead the new West Coast expansion as the Executive Director. Sometimes Charley wondered what Alex saw in her that she couldn’t always see in herself, but Alex had never wavered. She believed Charley was the right person to build on the Foundation’s success.
Charley closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it chase away the last traces of her nightmare. There was no time to drown in memories, especially not today. The party loomed, along with a dozen tasks she still had to finish before she left in a few days.
She straightened her shoulders, forcing her pulse to steady. This foundation had given her purpose when she’d had none, and now it was her turn to make sure its newest chapter started right. With one last steadying breath, Charley pushed away from the counter, ready to step back into the day and whatever it demanded of her.
CHAPTER TWO
Later that evening, Charley glanced around the large party room. She was still in awe at how many people had shown up for her going-away party. But then again, everyone who knew Alex knew that once the energetic woman got something in her head, there was no stopping her.
The party was being held at Bayside. The quaint little bar and restaurant was a staple amongst the SEAL community. It was a place where military personnel, specifically SEALs, could relax and unwind without worrying about being hounded by SEAL groupies or people just looking to spot a SEAL.
The room buzzed with energy as voices, laughter, and music blended into a symphony of well-wishes and goodbyes. The room was packed with tables overflowing with appetizers and desserts. A large banner hung over the main buffet table reading:We’ll Miss You, Charley!The cheerful font did little to quiet the whirlwind of emotions churning inside her.
Charley shifted on her feet as she clutched a half-empty glass of sparkling water. She plastered a smile on her face as another well-wisher hugged her and handed her a card.
“We are surely going to miss seeing your lovely smile around the office,” Mrs. Delaney said. Mrs. Delaney was a sweet but slightly overbearing woman who worked on the Foundation’s administration team. “San Diego won’t know what hit them.”
Charley managed another smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Delaney.”
Before the woman could drag her into a conversation, Charley spotted the small blur with pigtails and sassy attitude barreling straight for her.
