Page 14 of Wintering with George

What that meant was, she didn’t see how possessive and confident her brother was. When we were out together, Kurt steered me through crowds, rooms, and always pulled chairs out for me, opened doors, and held my hand. When we were with his friends, he put his hand behind my chair, included me in every conversation, made certain that topics that could exclude me were seamlessly changed, and always asked my opinion. Because of that, I liked his friends; they were funny and nice and really good sports about trying new things. My friends, the few I had, guys I lived and bled with, liked him because he was genuine and could hold his liquor. He didn’t judge them and could talk about sensitive subjects with finesse and tolerance. We were truly very different people, the bodyguard and the shrink, but we fit. What I had to do, he said often, was to start taking him for granted. As in, he would be there, always. But no one but the men I bled with could make that promise.

“George?” Thomasin prodded me, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“You have to look at more than what’s on the surface.”

“Oh, I know, but as you said, I’ve never seen you together. I only know what he tells me, and what he tells me is that you’re the one and he hopes you feel the same.”

“That’s what he said?”

“He said you still have your own apartment.”

“Yes, but we’re getting rid of it when we get home.”

Her eyes warmed. “Oh, that’s wonderful news.”

“Do you think you will look into some private security for you and your family?”

“I think that might be good for now to ensure the boys are safe—that they feel safe.”

I nodded.

“Okay, good. That’s what I thought too.”

“Hey, real quick, I want you to know that I would have explained that I was armed before I came into your house, had there been time.”

“What?”

I cleared my throat. “I would never bring a firearm into anyone’s house without them knowing beforehand.”

She nodded.

“I should have mentioned it at the airport, but I’m a little tired. And now, even though you know, I need you to understand that because I just came from being deployed, I am still armed with my service pistol. Also, once they clear my gun through ballistics, I’ll get that back as well.”

“So you’re saying you’ll have two guns in my house.”

“Yes,” I said flatly. “Now, I do have a lockbox for storage here with me, but I need to know that it’s all right with you⁠—”

“My God, George, I have nothing to say about that. Without your weapon, we would be—I mean, I don’t know where we’d be.”

I shook my head. “The outcome would have been the same. It’s just quicker and cleaner with the gun. If I had to subdue people with my knife, your couch and rug wouldn’t have been the only things you had to take out of your living room.”

And with that, she caught her breath and flung herself at me, which hurt a bit, but she meant it from the heart. When she started to sob, I made sure to hug her tight.

Alone in my room after she left, door open, Geri came in to check on me, did that thing dogs do where they put their heads on your leg and look up at you, wanting pats. I complied, stroking his head, watching as he lifted it off me and turned toward the door. I did as well and saw one of the boys walk by the door, once, then again, and finally I got up, walked out, and saw it was Dennis, the younger one. He jolted in surprise.

“You’re haunting my door, kid. What’s up?”

Geri was beside me, eyeing the boy, almost squinting, and I had to wonder if he was as tired as I was. Watching people was a full-time job.

Dennis looked nervous and crossed his arms tightly, hugging himself.

“It’s okay,” I told him. “You can ask me anything.” But he didn’t speak, just stood there, staring up at me. At the rate we were going, I wasn’t going to get anywhere with him. “Come in here,” I directed him, then walked back into my room and took a seat on the end of the bed just like I had with his mother.

It took a few moments, as he clearly was unsure, but then he took a breath and followed me in. He didn’t sit down, but now we were at a closer eye level, which, at least from how he was standing, seemed to be better for him.

“Were you scared?” I asked, hoping to break the ice. “Because I sure was.”

His mouth dropped open. “You weren’t scared. I saw you.”