The Lonely Hearts 06 The Grunt 2 Read online

  Sitting on the side of the bed, he planted his feet on the floor and curled up his lips. The room was nice enough, but he was spoiled and wanted to be back at home where he woke up to the smell of coffee and Diane cooking breakfast. He missed the view from his bed of the vast Atlantic Ocean in the distance and sailboats peacefully passing back on greenish blue water under puffy clouds. Even being away for a day was…burdensome.

  As he stood to make his way to the bathroom, he heard a key jam into the lock and the knob twist to the door. In came Diane with Bella in her arms. She looked like she had been up for at least an hour, all bright-eyed and full of life. But that was always Diane. She was always up at the crack of dawn and the last one to fall asleep; still she always looked like a million bucks.

  “Morning sleepy head,” Diane said throwing her over-night bag on the end of the bed like it weighed 1,000 pounds. She gave him a look as if he was supposed to immediately take it off her hand as soon as she entered the door.

  He ignored, but completely comprehended the look. “Morning,” he said, yawning. “Where is Cameron?”

  “Still asleep next door. I didn’t want to wake him until the last minute. It took forever for him to fall asleep last night. He’s dying to see his Daddy. Bless his soul.”

  “Dying is probably not the best word, right now” he quipped. His eyes were deadlocked on Bella’s. She was eyeballing him as she always did. “You’re going to spoil her holding her all the time. A child shouldn’t be coddled every moment that she is awake. It makes her dependent upon human touch…makes her vulnerable.”

  Diane put Bella on the bed beside the bag in a matter-of-fact way and raised a brow at him. “There. You happy now, Colonel?” She rolled her eyes. “I mean it’s not like I’ve raised two of my own, absent mostly of their father’s presence.”

  “Mostly absent still means some of the time,” he reminded his wife with a wink.

  Bella looked up at her grandfather and giggled, showing gums and dimples. She instantly reminded him of Courtney when she was little – always grinning. He grinned back at her and then reached down and picked her up.

  He sighed. “But then, Bella is special…smarter than most children her age and being reared properly so a little affection won’t hurt.”

  Diane knew that was coming. Jeffery could never deny a beautiful baby, and in truth, she loved that about him. Turning from both of them, she walked over to the mirror above the desk and started to take out her rollers. “We’re going to meet Courtney and Brett over at the hospital this morning.”

  Bouncing Bella in his arms, Jeffery shook his head at Bella. “She’s already over there?”

  Diane grinned as she pulled the pins out of her hair and looked at her husband through the reflection in the mirror. “He called her last night on her cell phone and asked her to come over. I told her to go. I mean, it was so romantic. You’d have to be there to appreciate it.”

  Jeffery huffed. Romantic, my ass. It’s unsafe to be out at all hours, he thought to himself. Anything could happen, even on a base.

  Diane continued despite his grimace, “I tried to call her on her cell phone this morning, but it’s dead. So, I figured we can grab breakfast and meet them afterwards.”

  Jeffery kissed Bella on her cheek. “It’s a good thing you’re moving fast. Your mother is probably already pregnant again.”

  “JEFFERY!” Diane admonished while holding back a laugh.

  “What?” Jeffery said with a devious frown; he knew exactly what, but he didn’t care. It was the truth. “You know I’m right,” he pushed. “Those two screw like rabbits, Diane. We could never get them to dinner on time once they were married. And it was so damned obvious what they had been up to.” The idea of his precious little girl being deflowered by a Devil Dog still made him nauseous if he were honest. However, the idea that she was married to a man who was loyal to her made swallowing crow a little more bearable.

  Bella cooed innocently while pawing at his chin and warmed Jeffery’s heart, making him forget his thoughts. She hit his cheek with her small hand and giggled.

  Looking down at her, he gave her an Eskimo kiss. “But you’d never do that, would you, my little princess,” Jeffery said, smiling at Bella. God, he loved this little girl so. It was absolutely bizarre what a connection the two of them had made in such a short period of time.

  Diane turned to Jeffery and leaned on the desk. Even in her night get-up, she was still sexy. Throwing a shoulder and kiss his way, she flirted. “Well, I’d like to think that you and I are still vigorous when it comes to our intimacy despite our ages, but my calculations could be off.”

  With a Denzel-like sway, Jeffery walked up behind Diane and kissed her on her neck. “You owe me for missing our appointment last night. I took that little blue pill and fell asleep. I’m surprised it didn’t fall off in the middle of the night.”

  Diane couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, I’ll make up for it, just as soon as we’re alone.”

  “You better,” he said, passing Bella back to Diane. Lovingly, he kissed his wife again – softly and slowly, to make sure that she felt his passion before breaking into a statement that would end their sexual tension until the evening was theirs. “I have to shit, shower and shave, my dear. Hold our little bundle for me.”

  ***

  When the Lawless’ arrived at Brett’s hospital room a little after eight, he and Courtney were still peacefully asleep. So grateful to finally be in each other’s company again, they had stayed up most of the night talking and staring into each other’s eyes, whispering sweet nothings and planning their future.

  Finally, able to sleep since he arrived back stateside, Brett rested in the bed while Courtney rested on the reclining chair right beside him with her feet propped up and her body curled into the fetal position under a thin sheet. It looked as though they had both pushed as far as they could toward each other, him nearly at the edge of the bed and her hanging off the side of the chair.

  “Look at them,” Diane said with a smile. “Back together again.”

  “Like magnets,” Jeffery said, quietly proud.

  “Grandma Lawless,” Cameron said, hugging tight to her side. His little fingers pinched the fabric of her St. John’s pants suit. “Is Daddy okay?” The little boy was scared at the sight of his father. With tears welling at the sides of his big brown eyes, he looked up at Diane for an explanation. “He doesn’t look okay.”

  “He’s just fine, baby,” Diane said, rubbing Cameron’s head. “Don’t you be afraid.”

  Brett heard his son’s little bell of a voice even in his deep sleep and stirred awake. He raised his head and looked across at his family. They were truly a sight to behold.

  “Hello, son,” Jeffery said, setting down the baby bag on the chair across the room. In his arms, he held Bella, all dressed up in a pink lace dress with little pink lace socks and a pink headband.

  “Hello, sir,” Brett said, pushing himself all the way up. “Is it Christmas? Sure looks like it.” The pain had begun to set in again in both his leg and arm, but he didn’t let on to anyone.

  Cameron inched up to his father with his Thomas the Train clutched in his hand. “Daddy.” His words trailed off.

  Despite his busted up face, Brett smiled brightly. “Come here, little man, let me see you,” he said, reaching for him. Without asking, he knew that Cameron was afraid.

  Cameron did as his father said. He walked all the way over to him and tried to smile.

  Courtney stirred slowly awake. “Baby, do you need anything?” she asked groggily, pulling the covers over her. Suddenly, she got a glimpse of Cameron beside her and sat up. Glancing over at her mother, she checked her watch. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry. I overslept.” She reached for her phone and saw it was dead.

  “Girl, you’re fine,” her mother said, sitting down in the chair that Jeffery pulled out for her at the foot of the bed. “I’ve got your charger.” Reaching into her purse, she pulled it out and threw it over to Courtney. />
  “Thanks, Ma,” Courtney said, catching it and immediately plugging it into the socket.

  “Daddy,” Cameron said, touching his father’s face with a frown. In a way, the little boy couldn’t believe that his father was actually here with him.

  “What’s up, little man?” Brett asked, wanting to know everything that was on his son’s mind.

  “Did you get beat up?” His small fingers trailed over his father’s stubbly beard.

  Brett missed his son’s little fingers. Even in the morning, they smelled like bubble gum and dirt. “You could say that,” Brett winked and rose up a little. “But you should see the other guy.” He nodded to the little tyke.

  Even Jeffery had to chuckle. At least those bastards hadn’t broken the man’s spirit over there. That was always a good sign.

  “Is he as bad off as you?” Cameron probed. His fingers lingered near Brett’s bandaged neck.

  “Oh yeah,” Brett said, pitching false bravado for the young boy. Normally, he would have never gloated about a kill, but he needed his son to feel better about what had happened to him. And to do that, he’d say anything right now, including a lie.

  “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I’m better now that I see your face, son,” he assured Cameron. “Everything is going to be much better now.”

  “Can you come home with us then?” Cameron asked, looking at Courtney for an answer.

  “When he’s better,” she promised. A beep of her phone turning on startled her. Evidently, she had missed more than a few texts and calls, some of which had come from Mrs. Riley, Cameron’s biological grandmother, wanting to know why she hadn’t been at the mall yesterday to exchange Cameron for the weekend. She looked at her husband and decided not to bring it up. Brett had very strong feelings toward the Riley’s and she didn’t want to spoil his reunion by discussing such a touchy subject or by calling her back in his presence. When time permitted, she’d reach out and schedule for some time in the future. She put the phone on vibrate and set to “Do Not Disturb.”. After all, she had everyone she wanted to talk to right here in this room.

  “I’ll be home before you know it. It’s not as bad as it looks,” Brett jested as a pain hit him. He pursed his lips together and breathed through the pain. “They are just going to patch me up and then I’ll be coming home. You and I will be out in the backyard, playing catch again in a month.”

  “I’m getting good, Daddy,” Cameron said with a bright smile. “Mommy goes out and plays with me every day…except when it rains, and then we practice in the den.”

  “You’re lucky to have such a good mother,” Brett said, looking over at Courtney.

  She’d never know how much he appreciated her and all that she’d done for them – how she’d swooped into their lives and saved them from having to be alone. Now, she had taken on the job of motherhood again as not only a mother to his son but also to his new little daughter.

  Brett tried to focus, but his eyes kept wondering over to the little bundle of joy in the Colonel’s arms. She peered at him quietly, watching his every move and clinging to her grandfather. He felt a sudden envy of the old man for being able to hold her so close and for building a bond that was obvious to anyone around, including him.

  “Is that who I think it is?” Brett asked, looking over at Courtney. He couldn’t explain it but nervous butterflies erupted in his stomach to meet the two-month old.

  Would she like him? Would she cry? His mind rambled.

  By now, Courtney was sitting up in her chair, watching on quietly as her son acclimated to the man he had loved his entire life and watching his daughter for the first time be introduced to him. “That’s your little Bella,” she said, putting her hand over Brett’s.

  Jeffery approached slowly. “This is your father, Bella,” he said in a soothing voice to the little girl. “Go say hi to your Daddy.”

  Brett reached out for her, although his arm was in pain. He had had many dreams over the last few months about seeing her and holding her for himself, and now that it was finally possible despite the many obstacles that had been thrown before him, there was no way that he was going to miss this opportunity.

  “Can you get her?” Jeffery asked, concerned about Brett’s injury.

  “I’ll make due,” Brett said, his eyes welling with tears again.

  “Bella is my little sister, Daddy.” Cameron said, stepping out the way so that Jeffery could pass. “She likes me,” he said shyly. “Sometimes, she lets me hold her.”

  “Let’s hope she likes me too,” Brett said, taking a deep breath.

  From one set of arms to the other, Bella was passed. She hesitated to leave her grandfather’s embrace, clinging tightly to his shirt, but finally, she let go and went to Brett.

  “Sorry that you had to see me like this on our first meeting,” Brett said, wiping his face as he held her, “but I’ve been waiting a long time to see your face.”

  Bella looked into her father’s eyes for a moment as if she was processing his words and then smiled, revealing huge dimples and gums.

  “I think she likes you,” Courtney said, standing up and kissing Brett’s head. Tears fell from her cheeks onto the top of his head.

  Brett was speechless. Bella was absolutely the most breathtaking little girl he had ever laid eyes on. Just as he had always wanted, she had her mother’s features, hazel brown eyes, beautiful pink lips, soft skin. Still, she looked a lot like him, especially her wide-set mouth and the shape of her eyes.

  He rubbed her face. “I don’t deserve something so special,” he said, kissing Bella’s cheeks.

  Courtney raised a brow. “Oh, I know.” She smiled at him. “She’s a big responsibility, much bigger than the Corps.”

  “And when she’s a teenager, much more trouble,” Jeffery quipped.

  Brett chuckled. “Oh, I think I’m up for the task.”

  “That’s why I said,” Jeffery rubbing Diane’s shoulders said. “But nothing ever prepares you for Daddy’s little girl.”

  Courtney looked over at her father and felt a swelling of pride inside of her. “Yeah, but you did a good job, Daddy.”

  Diane’s eyes started to get teary. “My goodness,” she said, wiping her face. “All we’re missing is David.”

  ***

  An hour and a half drive from Wilmington, NC to the sleepy Army town, Fayetteville, NC was not enough time for Leo Tabor to get his story right. He had practiced it repeatedly as he listened to talk radio, but he still wasn’t sure if he sounded sincere and convincing enough to win over his needed allies. However, considering recent events, there was no more time to waste. He had to act faster than the original timeline he set out for himself.

  In truth, he hated coming back to this place, because it brought back so many nauseating memories, but hopefully there was a pot of gold waiting on the other side.

  Glancing over at the passenger seat toward the yellow file folder protecting the only evidence that he had of his confession, he pulled onto the tranquil cove of the Reverend and Mrs. Riley.

  The suburban neighborhood of Willow Landing was a conclave of middle income white Southern Baptists with conservative ideals and controversial views of everyone who didn’t fit into their boorish views, so he had chosen his dress carefully.

  As he turned off the engine, he took a deep breath, checked his teeth in the rearview mirror, popped a mint into his mouth and slipped on his shades to cover his dilated eyes.

  Stepping out of his rented Ford Escape, he straightened his navy blue polo shirt and smoothed his hands down his crisp khaki pants. With the file in his hand, he strode up the front walkway of concrete platform steps amid a perfectly edged, well-sodded lawn to the porch and rang the doorbell.

  A white haired woman in her 60’s opened the door and peered up at him suspiciously through the storm door. “Yes?” she said, a hand on the doorknob.

  “Good morning, ma’am,” Leo said in his kindest southern gentleman’s voice. “My name is Leo
Tabor. Are you Amy Black’s mother?”

  There was hesitation in the woman. No one had referred to her daughter as Amy Black in quite some time. Her eyes narrowed on the folder in the stranger’s hand. Could he be from the airlines? “I am Sharon Riley, Amy’s mother,” she confirmed, pulling at the lapel of her pink cardigan. “How can I help you?”

  That was a fluid question. It depended. Leo raised a brow and smacked his lips, as though what he was about to say wouldn’t be handled well. “I don’t know how to quite say this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m the biological father of Cameron Black.” His dark brown eyes didn’t blink even though the shades covered his eyes. Swallowing hard, he waited for an explosive response.

  Sharon, however, didn’t seem as surprised as he expected. Unlocking the storm door, she pushed it open to get a better look at the man as he removed his sunglasses. He had the same chocolate curls as her grandson and the exact same eyes and narrow boney nose.

  “And you are here to do what, may I ask?” she said, as her husband, hearing the conversation approached from the study with his Bible gripped in his hand.

  Leo looked over her shoulder at Rev. Riley and then back at the small woman. “Well, I want my son, ma’am.”

  Sharon couldn’t hold back her smile. Opening the door, she dipped her head to greet him. “Come on in, Mr. Tabor. It sounds like we have a lot to discuss.”

  Chapter 7

  “Sometime they'll give a war and nobody will come.”

  ~Carl Sandburg

  Kevin Daugherty only had a handful of families of the deceased passengers from Flight 3245 that had not devoted time and money to suing Southern Atlantic Airlines (SAA) under a class action lawsuit set to go to the State Supreme Court in a month. In addition, he had to begin immediately catering to them to ensure that they didn’t become the elephant in the courtroom.

  The debacle happened two years ago when one of SAA’s planes crashed and every single passenger aboard was killed. SAA’s situation had only been made more difficult when the FAA concluded after a lengthy investigation that the crash was due to faulty wiring on the plane, making the case one of negligence, thus the company was liable for considerable payouts.