“Mostly, we enjoyed our time together in the studio. He’d paint while I’d work at my wheel. Our biggest conflict was who got to pick the music. He liked classical, I liked country western.
“We’d just signed up with an adoption agency and were hoping to have children.
“The first year he was gone is a blur. The hardest part was not being able to see him and say goodbye.
“I couldn’t even go into the studio. Jaxon and Maura helped a lot. I do remember coming home a couple times and the house door was unlocked. Nothing seemed out of place. I assumed I just forgot. After a few months the mental fog lifted but I was still just surviving day to day.
“Some men stopped by about six months after he... passed and asked if I was willing to sell. I told them no and that was it. I never saw them again.”
“Anything unusual about his behavior just before he died?”
“No. He was into a lot of property maintenance. I told you he replaced the yard lights, put the new bolt and lock on the studio door, cleared the brush that was getting too close to the studio and house. He actually cut it back so that we have the twelve feet of clearing around both structures. He planned on putting in a security system like you did. But he... he didn’t get a chance to.”
“You said he was concerned with trespassers. Do you know exactly where?”
“I’ve got a pretty good idea. I could show you.”
He pulls his truck into the lot at the veterans’ center and parks in front of the door.
“Maybe tomorrow. Today, after you’re done with your volunteer shift, I’d like to take you to dinner. Start thinking about where you want to go. Stay put, I’ll come around to walk you in.”
His truck is at least a foot higher than what I’m used to. The feel of his large hands wrapped around my waist as he lifts me down sends a spike of want through my system. Images from the night before flood over me, an ache of need grows low in my body. I want him again. I want him as many times as I can before he leaves. I want happy memories to replace all the losses. I want just a little bit of joy. Even if it doesn’t last.
Caleb insists on carrying all the bags and follows me inside. The director rushes out and gives me a hug. “Grace, I’m so glad you’re here. Volunteers have been scarce lately and—” She notices Caleb for the first time. “Oh, and you brought someone else. You are an angel.
“Follow me, we’ll go to the activity room. Joe is in there just staring out the window again.” She glances at Caleb, giving him a once over. “What branch, young man?”
“Army Ranger, ma’am.”
“Yes! The spades table is in play.” Her excitement is contagious and I smile.
She’s four steps ahead of us before Caleb can respond. Storming into the room, she claps her hands. “Gentlemen, we have a fourth. He’s a rookie. I want you to be gentle since he’s new.”
She glances across the room. “Joe, will you please come help Grace. It looks like she brought an art supply store.”
CHAPTER 11
Caleb
“Where’d you find this one, June?” one of the older men at the table asks as he gives me the once over. He has a patch over one eye, a cane hanging off the back of his chair, and a couple fingers missing from one hand.
“Gracie brought him, Clive. Now you boys play nice and maybe he’ll come back.”
Holding out my hand, we shake. “Caleb Rourke.
“Your unit, boy?” he asks
“Staff Sergeant, Seventy-fifth, sir.”
He smiles. “Take the seat across from me, son. We’ll show these Navy boys how to play.”
The Navy boys introduce themselves. Mitch is a little older than me with a prosthetic leg and a watchful presence. Paul is just quiet.
I keep an eye on Grace as she talks to the young man helping her. He has burn scars on his neck that cover his chin and half his left cheek. The fact he’s wearing a long sleeve turtle-neck shirt tells me the burn covers more of that side.
“Don’t fret. The boy is good, just struggling. His family don’t got the guts to deal with his injuries. He’s spending too much time in his head,” Clive offers.
I nod at Clive as he deals the first hand. Clive and I win the first three rounds and lose the fourth while we all exchange our service experiences.
