Conflicted: Keegan's Chronicles (15 page)

“As if we would miss this day. You make me
proud.” His father’s voice was gruff, as if he were trying to hide
his emotions. Rourk thought the gray at his dad’s temples was a
little more prominent against the rest of his dark hair than it had
been before he left.

“Thanks, Dad.”

Richard stepped forward and extended his
hand which Rourk shook firmly. Thaddeus did the same. Rourk noticed
how much taller the kid had gotten in the weeks since he’d seen him
last. “It was nice of you guys to come. I’m sure you are busy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, of course we are here.
Wouldn’t miss it for the world. We’ll be there when you receive
your green beret as well.”

“That means a lot.” He found himself
unconsciously glancing around for Keegan.

Richard noticed and said gently, “I’m sorry
Rourk. She is not here. We did not even tell her we were coming.
Emerald thought it was best.”

“I understand. How is she?”

Richard and Thaddeus exchanged a glance
before the elder man said, “She is fine. Typical Keegan. We
recently returned from a trip so she’s settling back in at
school.”

“Rourk, is this your family?” Tommy came up
behind Rourk and put his arm around his shoulder, breaking the
gloomy moment.

“Yes, these are family friends Richard and
Thaddeus, and this is my father, Greg.” As Rourk introduced them,
Tommy leaned forward to shake their hands jovially. “Guys, this is
Tommy. He’s been my bunk mate the last nine weeks.”

“Rourk, your dad looks like an action
figure,” Tommy joked, causing them all to laugh. Greg’s brilliant
blue eyes sparkled merrily. Turning back to Rourk, Tommy pointed
his thumb over his shoulder. “I want you to meet my parents, if
that’s ok?”

“Of course, Tommy. I’ll be right back,”
Rourk told his father before striding off with his friend.

Richard nudged Greg with his elbow as the
two boys walked away, Tommy’s hand clasped to Rourk’s shoulder
companionably. “It’s unusual for Rourk to make friends. Let alone
with a human.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Thaddeus shifted on his feet. “I had a
vision when Tommy approached us. If he had not met Rourk, his life
would have ended shortly. Rourk changed his fate.”

“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing Rourk
finally made a friend.” Greg stared off at his son who was being
introduced to a harmless looking human family.

There was a cookout of sorts for the newly
graduated soldiers, but Rourk just wanted to leave. When he
returned from meeting Tommy’s family, he grabbed his bag and they
headed to the hotel. They were staying at a Crown Plaza so the room
was clean and smelled good. It felt like paradise compared to the
barracks.

“I’m going to get a shower before we go out
to eat,” he told his father. Greg just nodded, waving to him
absently as he entered his own room.

Rourk tossed his bag on the chair and walked
into the bathroom. He leaned his head against the wall of the
shower and let the hot water ease his muscles. If only it was that
easy to ease the pain in his chest. He closed his eyes and tried to
picture Keegan’s face and, of course, all he saw was darkness. At
least he could take some comfort in the fact that she wasn’t given
the option of coming. He would hate to know she turned down the
chance to see him.

It was hard to believe Christmas was right
around the corner. Everyone was excited to have the time off. Rourk
just saw it as a delay. He wanted it all to be over with.

As he rinsed off under the stream of water,
he realized he hadn’t gotten Keegan a gift for Christmas yet. Maybe
the other men wouldn’t mind stopping at a mall so he could send
something home with Richard.

He had already decided he wasn’t going to go
home.

Rourk was relieved to be out of the uniform
and in civilian clothes again. He grabbed his coat, winter cap and
headed to his father’s room, where he called Richard to meet them
in the lobby. The food at the military base left a lot to be
desired. Rourk wanted steak and potatoes, so they went to a local
steakhouse.

“So Rourk, are you coming back home during
your break?” Richard asked, looking at him over the glass.

“No, I’m going to stay here. I’ve been
thinking of hiking the Appalachian Trail. I’ll just start in
Georgia, and head north for the two weeks. Once it’s time to come
back I’ll grab a flight back from wherever I end up, which should
be near Virginia. I need some time to think. As you well know, it’s
easier to think in the woods.”

“Would you like company Rourk? I am due for
some time off,” his father said.

This startled Rourk. His father never wanted
to spend time with him anymore. He’d rather be alone, but he
couldn’t turn down his father. “I would like your company,
Father.”

“We’ll have to make a trip to an outdoors
store. I didn’t bring the correct gear.”

“I wanted to stop and get Keegan a present
anyway.”

“I wish we could join you but I don’t think
my mom would be too happy if we missed Christmas.” Thaddeus
laughed.

After they ate, they went to a mall and
Rourk found a camera shop. He knew Keegan had a Nikon, but that was
all he knew. He asked what lens was the best, and the clerk showed
him three different ones. He got them all. He had nothing else to
spend his money on.

The mall didn’t have a decent outdoor store
so they headed to the nearest REI. His dad bought the gear that was
required to go hiking in cold weather. Rourk was starting to look
forward to spending time with his father. It had been a long time
since they had done anything together. As a young boy they always
went on long hiking trips together.

The next morning Richard and Thaddeus left
for home. They took the easy way and used magic. Rourk had given
them Keegan’s presents to put under the tree, signing the box
Rourk
and
leaving it at that. He didn’t know what to say to her.

Rourk was impatient to go. After they had
seen their companions off, he turned to his father. “Want to head
out, Dad?”

“Sure, might as well get an early start.
Let’s go grab some breakfast, and then we will get our gear and
go.” His father smiled warmly at Rourk.

Rourk took out his GPS and found the nearest
opening to the trail as they were walking down to the hotel buffet.
“We shouldn’t have to worry about seeing too many people at this
time of the year.”

“I’m sure there were will be a few hard-core
hikers out.”

Sure enough, they did pass a few guys along
the way.

At one point as they were trudging up a hill
through ankle deep snow, Rourk said, “I’m glad you decided to come
with me, Dad.”

Greg nodded, his hiking stick striking the
ground as the crunching of their footsteps filled the silence. “Me
too. It’s been too long. I know I have been distant since your
mother passed away. After the battle in Ireland, I did some deep
thinking. I have missed out on so much since your mother died. I
need to get back into the real world. I know I will be with her
again when it is my time.”

Rourk looked over at his father, surprised
that he was being so open. “I’m glad to hear that, Dad.”

They continued hiking in silence.

After a while Rourk broke the silence once
more. “Have you seen Keegan?”

“No, son, I’m sorry but I have not. I don’t
really get out other than going to work.”

“Do you think I should give her mom’s ring
for her birthday like all chosen do?”

Greg seemed lost in his thoughts for several
minutes as he tried to form an answer. Rourk waited patiently,
watching his breath fog in the cold air until his dad finally
answered. “I’m not sure that is a good idea. Maybe you should talk
to her first and see what her thoughts are on the whole matter. It
might be too much for her to handle, and you don’t want to push her
away.”

“That’s what I was thinking. I just wish
this had never happened.” Rourk kicked the ground with his
boot.

“Don’t give up. Hopefully, it sorts itself
out.”

“I hope so. Although, it’s not looking too
good at the moment.”

His father put his arm around his shoulder.
“I wish there was something I could do.”

They hiked the full two weeks together. The
weather was freezing, but neither seemed to notice. They mostly
hiked in silence, but when they did talk it was never idle chit
chat. Their words always had meaning.

When it was time to say goodbye, Rourk was
sad to see his father go, but he was happy to have spent so much
time with him. He really hoped that his father had meant it when he
said he was going to try to enjoy life more.

Her grandmother must have been over, because
Keegan woke up to the smell of gingerbread.

Jumping out of bed, she was filled with
excitement that it was Christmas.
Who doesn’t love presents?
She thought with
a smile.

She found it hard to believe time had passed
so quickly. Keegan looked down and grinned, wiggling her toes in
her footed polar bear pajamas. Ever since she was a little girl,
her mother had given them Christmas pj’s to wear to bed every year
on Christmas Eve.

She stretched, went to the bathroom, and
then headed downstairs. Halfway down, she realized she forgot her
camera so she ran back up to grab it. Once downstairs, she skidded
across the wooden floor laughing.

Her father always went out to the woods, and
picked the biggest, fattest tree he could find. He outdid himself
this year—it was almost touching the ceiling. They had spent a full
day decorating it. Even though they lived out in the middle of the
woods, and no one could to see them, he also went crazy with lights
for the outside of the house. Her father always went over the top
for Christmas.

Thaddeus was lounging on the couch in his
hooded sweatshirt and new pj pants. He had been given black flannel
pants covered in reindeer with strings of lights around their
antlers. “Waiting on you as usual, Keegan.”

“Well, I’m here now. Let’s open some
presents. I see Warrick already got started.” He was playing with a
box and had the wrapping paper covering his head. He was a little
clown. She snapped a picture.

“Hey Nanny, I can’t wait till you see the
present I got you.”

Her grandmother walked over and kissed the
top of her head. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”

“Ok, dig in everyone.” Her father tossed a
present to Keegan.

She got the usual: tons of clothes and gift
cards. Her father got her a cool tripod she could use in the woods.
It would attach to almost anything.

One section under the Christmas tree was
dedicated to their household, and there was one box left. There
were still piles of presents for the rest of the extended
family.

“Whose is this?” Keegan asked as she picked
up the present and shook it. The room was oddly quiet. She looked
at the card.

It said
To Keegan, From Rourk
.

Keegan sat down on the floor and crossed her
legs, staring at the box in front of her. She felt bad she didn’t
get him anything.

Slowly, she opened the box and started
squealing at the three lenses. “I’ve wanted a new lens
forever.”

“That was really sweet of him,” her mother
said from across the room.

“I know, I feel bad I didn’t get him
anything,” Keegan answered as she attached one of the new lenses to
her camera.

“Well, maybe you can send him some photos
you took. I know when I was in training, I loved getting mail.” Her
father smiled at the memory.

“That’s a great idea. Let me get a picture
of all of you near the tree.”

A couple of hours later Donald showed up for
dinner. He had become a regular at their house. He gave her mother
a new teapot, which she loved, and gave her father a book for his
library. Thaddeus got a gift card with Xbox points.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know you were going to
be here,” Donald told Keegan’s grandmother. He was obviously
embarrassed.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m old and have
everything I want. Just come over here and give me a hug.”

After hugging Mary, he pulled a small box
out of his coat. “I got this for you Keegan. I wish I could have
gotten you more. However, there is only so much snow shoveling to
be done in Tennessee to make extra money,” he said, making
everybody laugh.

Keegan smiled and slowly unwrapped the
present. It was a pair of silver dolphin earrings with a small blue
stones for eyes. “I love them! Thank you.” She put them in right
away with a big grin.

“I know how you love dolphins. I’m glad you
liked them. I wasn’t quite sure what to get you.”

“Can you take a picture of me with them on?”
Keegan handed Donald her camera.

“Nice, I see you got a new lens for
Christmas.” He snapped a picture.

“Yes, I actually got three.”

“I know you will have fun with that. Santa
was good to you this year.”

Keegan looked down, biting her lip. “Rourk
sent them.”

“Oh.” Everyone was quiet.

Warrick squealed out to break the
awkwardness.

“That was nice of him,” Donald said as he
handed the camera back to Keegan.

She could tell he was uncomfortable.

“Keegan why don’t you take Donald into the
den while we finish cooking in here?” Her mother practically pushed
them out of the kitchen.

Keegan put her arm around his waist as they
walked into the den. “You don’t have anything to worry about with
Rourk.”

“Are you sure Keegan? He is your chosen
after all.”

“My bond to him has not returned, and I
don’t think there is any possibility it will. He is a stranger to
me. It’s you I care about.”

Donald paused just inside the door of the
living room, turning to face her. His eyes searched her face as he
brushed her hair back with one hand. He took a deep breath. “I love
you, Keegan. I know I haven’t said it before, but it’s true. I’ve
loved you for as long as I can remember. I’m terrified I am going
to lose you to him.”