Once a SEAL (8 page)

There was a refrigerator in front of the door to her house and furniture filling their yard. Digging into her pocket, she looked for her phone. It was in the house. Someone had probably called, but she had been in such a rush when she left that she had neglected to bring her cell phone with her.

Tears filled her eyes. How was she going to get the door open, with the refrigerator blocking it? Worse yet, what was she going to say to Dan?

Sitting down on the couch, which was actually pretty comfortable, she gave in to the day’s stresses, exhaustion from unpacking, and all the work she had to catch up on, and cried. She wept until there was nothing left inside of her, and then a thought occurred to her. She hadn’t closed the back door to the patio.

Getting up from her comfortable spot, she walked down the block to the gate that let her onto the path that went around the whole neighborhood and walked down to her house. Sure enough, the door was open. She took off her shoes, tossed them into the yard, and then hiked up her dress and climbed over the fence. She was relieved to be home. Grabbing her shoes, she went inside. There she found a six-pack of beer on the counter from her neighbor Stan and his wife, Julie. Had he climbed over the fence, too? The thought of his being in her house gave her uncomfortable chills, yet more than anything she wanted to crack one of them open and drown out the afternoon’s event.

“Nice.” They were still cold. She opened a drawer, found the bottle opener, popped the top, and drank a sip. It burned her throat a little—she wasn’t a beer drinker, just had an occasional glass of wine or champagne—but today she didn’t care. She took another sip and put it aside to go change into more comfortable clothes.

She knew Dan wouldn’t be able to answer his phone, but after such an awful afternoon, she just wanted to hear his voice. Even the way he asked to leave a message seemed deeply sexy, and she couldn’t wait for him to get home.

“Hey, babe. Just wanted to give you a heads-up, we have a furniture situation in our front yard. Can’t wait to see you tonight!”

She took a deep breath and tried not to let tears overwhelm her. She could get through this.
They
could get through this.

Her heart leaped as her phone rang. Maybe Dan had found a minute to call her back after all!

But it was Jimmy on the line—and he was crying.

“What’s wrong? Where are you?” she asked.

“I’m…in San Diego. At the h-h-hospital.”

“Jimmy, slow down. What hospital? Are you hurt? You were supposed to fly out a week ago.” Panic clawed through her. She was the adult, though, and always had to be. Making her voice calm and firm, she hoped he would hear her stability and slow down his breathing before he had an asthma attack. When he didn’t, she said, “Come on, Jimmy, draw your air in slowly. Do it with me. That’s right. Now let it out slowly. Good, just breathe with me.” Aria walked him through it for several minutes, getting her teenage brother calm, and then she asked the question that was on the tip of her tongue through the entire phone call. “Jimmy, where is Uncle David?”

Her brother took in a ragged breath. “He’s dead. Uncle David was killed in the crash.” The weeping began again as Aria put the cell phone on speaker and stared at it.

A police officer came on the line. The details came out slowly. Instead of going back to Vermont so Jimmy could catch the first week of school, her uncle and brother had driven up the coast to visit her uncle’s friends. Today they were on their way back to San Diego. On Interstate 5, just past the exit for the Marine base, they’d been in a crash.

Uncle David went through the windshield and was killed instantly. Her brother was completely unharmed but needed to be picked up from the hospital.

She told the officer she would be there in twenty minutes.

She sent Dan a quick text before she allowed herself to give in to the grief. Flashes of her parents’ death ripped her heart apart. But Jimmy needed her. “Get it together, Aria.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she pushed her sorrow to the recesses of her brain as she made her way to the hospital. She knew delaying the grief would cost her later on, take a greater toll, but she told herself she needed to do it…for Jimmy. He must have felt so adrift. What would it be like to raise a teenager? She didn’t know. She had been away from home for five years. Regardless, she’d make it work, because family was what mattered.

“All we have is each other.”

As she entered the hospital, the smell of the antiseptic assaulted her nose. She coughed and then cleared her throat. Stopping at the water fountain, she took a quick sip.

Police officers were waiting for her in the small ER lobby area. “I’m Aria McCullum.”

“I’m Officer Kendrik and this is Officer Rosa. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Where is my little brother?”

The taller one, Officer Kendrik, said, “We’ll take you to him shortly. Only a couple of things. First I need to see your ID.”

“Yes, of course.” She took her new military ID out of her wallet and presented it to them.

“We’re very sorry for your loss. The doctor should be done checking your brother out by now. Let’s go find him.”

He handed her a business card as they walked toward a double-locked door that said Doctors and Registered Patients Only. “Someone will be in touch…you know, for the arrangements you would like to have made for your uncle.”

Oh, God!
Aria’s stomach churned. Simultaneously, she put one hand on her stomach and the other on her head. She wanted to throw up or pass out. Her body was fighting both responses.

“Mrs. McCullum, you look pale. Why don’t you sit down?” The police officer sat next to her. To his partner, he said, “Go get the brother. It’s time for them to go home.” He picked up a magazine and fanned her with it. “Do you want us to call someone for you?”

“No, I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.” Aria counted slowly in her head, using a yoga technique to get control of her breathing. When she heard the door open, she looked up and saw her brother.

She rushed toward him and pulled him into her arms. Holding him as he cried, she patted his back the way she had when he was younger. She couldn’t imagine what he was thinking or how afraid he must be.

“Aria,” he sobbed.

“It’ll be okay.” She willed her own sense of calm into him, trying to ease him. But everything had changed. Nothing she could do would ever take back the horror of her brother experiencing the accident and witnessing his uncle’s death. All she could do was make the present work. She would, too. Jimmy was her only blood kin on this planet, and she’d move mountains to protect him.

Closing her eyes to block out her own emotion, she said, “I’m here. I will always be here for you. I promise.”

That evening Dan jumped the backyard fence, jogged across the small green expanse, and entered the house. The only light came from the bathroom. As he headed toward it, he saw Aria’s curvy figure in the doorway, standing guard as she watched her brother sleep.

He wrapped his arms around his wife, and together they watched Jimmy sleep—his gangly arms and legs completely tangled in the sheets on the air mattress. A protective, paternal instinct swept through him.

Aria turned toward him, her eyes swimming with tears. He pulled her to his chest, his hand brushing back her curls, and held her. There was so much they needed to say, but right now he knew physical comfort was the best thing he could give her. After a moment, he took her hand and led her to the patio. Once there, he brought her into his arms again. She seemed so tiny and fragile.

“Dan…” She tried to wiggle away, but he wouldn’t let go.

“I’m here for you, hon. Whatever you need, we’re one unit.” He heard her choke as he spoke that last word.

She hid her head against his chest. “I know what he feels…some of it. When I lost my parents, I was so alone and had to be strong for everyone. I don’t want him to have to go through the same stuff.”

He nodded. “I know. But you can’t protect him from his own emotions. The best thing you can do is…to be there for him. Talk to him.”

“Maybe if I had…”

“No, don’t go down that road. There’s nothing you could have done to prevent this.” He held her as she wept. “Let it out. I’m here. I’ll help, too.”

She wiped her face on her sleeve and her eyes lifted to his. The wealth of pain reflected in her gaze nearly broke his heart. She swallowed hard and he listened to her cough. Finally, she spoke. “Let me just say this. Someone else I loved…died, and I wasn’t there to stop it.” Her eyes searched his, begging for a response…some kind of balm to ease the pain. There was nothing that could ease that kind of pain. But he could try to cut the burden in half…bring part of the work onto himself when he was home. Maybe some of the wisdom his grandfather taught him would help Jimmy.

Moving his hands to her shoulders, he held her and said in a firm tone, “Listen to me, you didn’t do this, Aria.”

Her lips trembled. “But my parents—” Tears rolled down her face, dripping off her cheeks and disappearing into the darkness.

“Aria, your parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you had been in the car with them, you would be dead now, too.” He drew her toward him and kissed the top of her head. “You are the kindest, sweetest, strongest, and most caring woman on the planet. You gave up a lot to care for your brother and uncle. I know I don’t know everything you did, but I can imagine some of it.” He placed a kiss on her lips. “I am here to help you with your brother and with everything. We’re teammates. I am a part of this and want to be here.”

His wife shook. He could feel the emotion bubbling up inside of her, and then it burst out in loud, wracking sobs. He held tightly to her, being her safety line in the storm of her emotions. “That’s it. Let it out.”
Maybe
this
time
my
message
sunk
in. She can’t continue to make herself responsible.

Aria wept until her tears ran dry, and still he held fast to her. Hiccups replaced the sobs, and her rapid breathing slowed to a more even pace. As her body seemed to lose its strength, she sagged against him. Before she completely gave in to the exhaustion, he picked her up in his arms.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” he replied as he carried her through the darkened house and tucked her into the bed next to Jimmy. He grabbed a towel from the bathroom and draped it over the window, then closed the door quietly behind him.

Stepping back out on the patio, he sent a text to his buds. Hopping over the fence railing, he walked down the pathway, to the road, and around to the front of his house. He stared at the furniture littering the lawn. “You’ve been a busy lady, Aria. Now, let’s see if I can be the one to bring you some ease and comfort.”

***

By the light of the streetlamps, JC and Hammer helped Dan survey the yard.

Taking a deep breath, Dan let it out slowly. “What a mess.”

“We can make quick work of it,” said Hammer, scratching his neck.

Dan didn’t want to think about the day’s events. It was much easier to tackle the project at hand. “Minimal talking once we’re inside the house. Aria and Jimmy are finally asleep.”

JC nodded. “Roger that.”

Hammer slapped Dan on the back and moved toward the refrigerator. Dan and JC had to double-time it to catch up to him. At the front door, Hammer said, “I’ll tip. Dan, you open the door, and JC, you catch the other end of the refrigerator and help me move it inside.” The choreography was timed perfectly, and the refrigerator was soon in place, connected properly, humming along, and beginning to cool down. Of course, they put several six-packs of beer inside before they went to the front lawn for the next load.

“Who has a knife?” asked Dan as he wrestled with a large box that had fifteen plastic straps crisscrossing it. A Ka-Bar was placed in his hand, and Dan smiled as he recognized the feel of it. “Aw, JC, you’re lending me Sally.” Sliding the blade over the straps, in one movement he severed all of the restraints and even slit the box for good measure. Tossing the blade at JC’s foot, the man caught it by the handle before it even touched the soil.

“Come to me, my precious.” JC slipped the knife into the sheath attached to his belt and went back to wrestling with the couch. “Dan, I’m not confident about our ability to fit this baby through the front door.”

“Is there another option?” Hammer did a quick measurement using his arms. “Unless you’d like me to get the ax out of my emergency tool locker and cut it down into three smaller pieces, this pup either has to go back or…”

Dan nodded. “Yeah, I was worried about that when I saw the size of it.” Ripping open another of the boxes, he smiled. “Great choice, Aria.” He pulled out the barstools and examined them. He liked them. “Let’s bring these inside. We’ll put them against the island in the kitchen. I think the back door, through the patio, will be our best option for the couch.”

They brought them in and agreed that it was time for a boat drill. Going back outside, they picked up the couch, hefted it over their heads, and trotted down the street as if it were one of the water-filled boats from their BUD/S training. Humping it along the path until they got to Dan and Aria’s place, they hefted it over the fence and through the patio into the open back door. As they placed it in the only spot available, it was clear the size completely overwhelmed the room.

JC waited until they were outside before he whispered, “Trying to compensate for something with that
huge
couch? You could’ve just gotten some tight shorts, you know.”

“At least I have some size,” retorted Dan.

“Too bad I have to put both of you to shame,” added Hammer as he headed back in with the side table. “Where you want this?”

“Against the far wall, facing the bay,” instructed Dan.

JC picked up one side of the recliner. “Are you going to stand there or help me?”

“Aw, can’t I just admire your muscles?” Dan grinned.

“Only if you must,” said JC as they lifted the chair and brought it into the house.

“Keep going. There’s no room in the house. Take it to the patio,” said Dan in a hushed voice. They took it out back and faced it toward the water. It would be protected somewhat by the patio overhang. Too bad they couldn’t fit it in the house. This chair would have been perfect for relaxing in front of the television.

Lastly they tackled the outdoor furniture. Dragging the lot of it to the back of the house, they locked the front door and used some of Hammer’s tools to screw the damn pieces together. It was midnight by the time they finished.

“Thanks,” Dan said as they slapped hands and parted ways. They hopped the fence and raced each other to their cars. “Maniacs.”

Looking out into the night, he wondered what was in store for him and his new wife. He knew Aria was being bombarded with a lot of newness, but now that they had a fourteen-year-old boy to watch over, it was doubled. He didn’t doubt the experience was going to be a handful. Heading back inside, he locked the patio door, picked up his keys and a piece of paper he’d taken note of on the counter, and went out the front.

Opening the car door, he slid inside and started the ignition. He had to be on base in four hours. There was still plenty of time to stock the refrigerator. He’d find a 24/7 grocery. It was the least he could do to help.

***

Morning came too quickly. The alarm on his watch beeped and Dan saw he’d been able to catch about two hours of sleep. “I’ve functioned on less.”

Rolling off the couch, he decided it was pretty comfortable.

He traced a path into the kitchen in the dark. Pulling open the refrigerator, he withdrew three eggs, cracked them into a cup, added some Tabasco sauce, and downed it. Next he filled up his glass with milk, drank it down in several gulps, and took an apple from the crisper.

He scrawled a quick note to Aria, grabbed his keys, and ate the apple on the way to his Mustang. He resisted the urge to open the bedroom door and check on his sleeping wife and her brother. He’d talk to the XO and see if he could get a few days off. There were several weeks of time coming to him. Thoughts of taking Aria on a whirlwind vacation would have to wait…possibly years.

***

Dan flashed his ID at the ocean entrance and drove around the buildings until he reached the far side of Team THREE’s Quarterdeck. He parked the car and then pulled off his sweatshirt. After tucking his car keys into his pocket, he placed his ID into a holder and secured it to his arm.

He didn’t want to take the time to change into his PT clothes. He often ran in whatever he was wearing. This was going to be one of those times, because right now he just wanted to feel the wind in his face.

Heading toward the path, his feet picked up the pace. The rhythmic slap of his feet lulled him. Images flashed through his brain: Aria with her haunted eyes; Jimmy, who looked so small tucked in their bed; and himself, long ago.

He
wasn’t an ordinary kid. The son of the district attorney, he was the kid who had been required to take karate since he was three years old and experience home-invasion drills since he was five. How could someone strike so much fear into a child, making him constantly afraid?

Nothing
comforted
him
in
the
dark. He’d go three or four nights without sleeping, and then exhaustion would take its toll and he would lock himself in his bathroom, where he would sleep for three or four hours, tucked into a corner under the window. He’d been taught to always have an escape route. He dreamed of someone breaking in and his having to yank open the window, do a high-wire act on the big branch outside, and climb down the tree. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t a fan of heights or that the window weighed almost as much as he did. That was the plan.

Just
thinking
about
it
made
sweat
burst
out
in
thick
drops
on
his
brow. Quickly, he whisked it away with his fingers.

When
his
sister
was
born, he started sleeping on the floor of her room. Armed with a heavy toy train engine—that was his weapon to fend off the bad guys—he guarded her.

Those
bad
men… Like a warped cartoon reel, the faces scampered through his mind, the ones plastered on the nightly news, often vowing horrific revenge on his father and his family. Undefined violence, those unknown possibilities, sent dreadful images dancing before his eyes.

On
that
fated
day, the one that changed everything, Dan was walking home from school. His mother had been late picking him up. Sometimes, if she had been at lunch with her friends, she was too “sick” on pickling juice to meet him.

Home
was
only
a
quarter
of
a
mile
away, and he decided to hoof it that day instead of waiting for the nanny. Next year he’d be entering the sixth grade, and it made him feel older, wiser.

Rounding
the
corner, he saw the door to his home wide open. He dropped his books on the lawn and sprinted inside the house.

He
found
a
man
in
their
kitchen, looming over his mother and sister. Their faces were tearstained, and a red mark was outlined on his mother’s cheek. The intruder lifted his hand to hit Caty.

“Stop!” yelled Dan.

The
intruder
spun
on
him. “Well, well, well…you must be the son. I’m sure Daddy wouldn’t want to see you hurt.” The man grabbed his arm and twisted it.

Pain spread through his shoulder, but Dan just gritted his teeth. “What do you want?”

“I want to make sure your father knows that there are consequences when you mess with my friends.” He picked up a knife from the kitchen counter.

Time
seemed
to
slow
and
a
sense
of
quiet
calm
surged
through
Dan’s mind. Just as he’d learned in class, he twisted out of his captor’s grasp, then took him out at the knees with a well-placed kick. A sharp jab while the man was down snapped his head back. It bounced off their floor and he was out cold.