Greeley's Spyce (19 page)

different message for Kacy. Her body was on his menu.

Trembling, Kacy got behind the wheel as Ernst buckled up Adam in

the back before sitting in the front passenger‘s eat. Driving them to a family

restaurant, she kept one eye on Adam who looked like he was dozing.

Ernst reached across the middle console and held her hand. He sent

her a gentle smile when she met his gaze.

Adam walked between them as they entered the restaurant. Kacy

watched as Ernst took over. He asked Adam which seat he preferred. Then

men were side by side in the booth and Ernst helped Adam decide what he

was going to have.

Kacy handed Ernst her keys after their meal so he could drive. As

they were on the road back to the orphanage, Adam had fallen asleep, jarred

only by coughing spells.

Back at St. Lucia‘s, Kacy woke up the little boy. ―Come on, Adam.

Time to get up.‖

Sluggish still, Adam climbed out of the car. ―I had a great time,

thanks.‖ His young voice was raspy from all his coughing.

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―Me, too, sweetie, me too.‖ Kacy said, trying hard to smile.

Adam looked at Ernst and went for a hug. His skinny arms slid

around Ernst‘s neck as the man bent down level to the child. ―Thanks, Ernst.‖

―You are so very welcome. I had a great time.‖ Ernst said, smiling as

he hugged Adam back.

Adam pulled away and walked to Kacy, holding out his arms. Kacy

dropped to her knees and pulled him in. ―I love you, Adam,‖ she whispered.

―Love you, too, Kacy.‖ He kissed her cheek. ―Thank you.‖

―See you soon,‖ Kacy said in a quiet voice. She pulled back when he

didn‘t respond. His eyes were sad, but he smiled when she looked at him.

―Yeah,‖ he responded faintly. ―I‘m kinda tired; I‘m gonna go lay

down.‖

―Okay, baby.‖ Kacy stole one more kiss and released him. Adam

moved towards the nun waiting for him, looking exhausted and frail.

Ernst stood by Kacy as they waved to Adam, his arm around her

shoulders. ―Let‘s go, sweetheart.‖ He put her solemn body in the passenger

side and slid behind the wheel and drove.

He took them to a park. Getting out, he held out his hand for her to

hold. ―Come take a walk with me.‖

For a while, they strolled in silence. Holding hands, he led them

down a path that followed a winding stream.

C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N

―Thanks for letting me come along today,‖ Ernst broke the silence.

―I know it meant a lot to Adam to have you with him today,‖ Kacy

responded. At the arch of one pale brow she added with an easy smile, ―And

to me.‖

―That is what I wanted to hear.‖ He brushed her lips with his. Just as

he pulled her in closer, a beeping noise filled the air. ―Damn,‖ Ernst swore as

he grabbed his beeper and looked at the number.

―What‘s wrong?‖ Kacy asked.

―I have to go. We have to leave.‖ His tone was urgent yet calm.

―Okay,‖ she said immediately. They swiftly moved back up the path

to her waiting car. She reached for the keys and slid behind the wheel,

turning over the powerful engine.

Ernst admired the way she took his news without flinching. His ad-

miration only grew as she drove her car on the open road. The trees flew by

in a flash as she pushed the envelope to get him back to his truck. ―Are you

going to miss me?‖ he asked over the roar of her engine.

Flashing him a smile that held a hint of sadness she nodded. ―I am.‖

―Good.‖ He touched her cheek with one hand. ―I‘m glad. I will miss

you as well,
schätzchen
.‖

Her smile turned shy and she blushed. Her eyes stayed on the road

as she took them into town. ―That‘s good to know.‖

Pulling into her drive, she parked on the side so he could get his

truck out. ―Here we are,‖ she said and she climbed out of the car.

Not moving into the now-open garage, Ernst gathered her into his

arms. ―Give me a kiss for luck.‖

Kacy smiled. ―Do you need it?‖ She arched an eyebrow. ―Like last

time.‖

He grinned softly, remembering when he‘d first asked the question

in Hawaii, but noting these were far more serious stakes. ―Oh, yeah,‖ he

vowed. ―I need it.‖

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Lifting her lips to his, she kissed him, pouring into that one kiss all of

her feelings for him. He felt her gratitude for what he had done for her and

her sorrow that he was leaving. And even the love she wasn‘t quite ready to

admit out loud.

Reluctantly, he drew away from her mouth. ―I have to go, swee-

theart.‖ He kissed her one more time. ―Don‘t forget me.‖

―I won‘t,‖ she said in a soft voice. ―Stay safe.‖ Kacy was blinking

back tears.

One strong finger caressed her full bottom lip as his eyes stroked the

rest of her. ―I will do my best. Goodbye,
liebling
.‖ He dropped his hand and

walked to his truck, got in, and drove it out of her garage. As he pulled away

from her house, he saluted her briefly with two fingers.



Kacy stayed busy while he was gone. She worked hard and kept her-

self occupied as much as she could. Every Sunday she spent with Adam. It

had been six weeks since Ernst had kissed her and driven off, and she missed

him so much more than she cared to admit. She went to her meetings and

stayed strong, not wavering in her decision to try a relationship with Ernst.

Monday night she sat eating a quiet dinner when the phone rang.

The two words that reached her ears made her heart drop to her feet. ―It‘s

Adam.‖

Kacy kept repeating those two words over in her head. She drove as

if Lucifer himself were after her. Pushing her car to its limit, she tore to St.

Matthew‘s Hospital. Squealing into a visitor‘s spot, she headed for the doors

at a run, barely remembering to lock her car.

At the admittance desk she waited impatiently for the woman to ac-

knowledge her. ―Can I help you?‖ the question finally came.

―I‘m here to see Adam from St. Lucia‘s.‖ Kacy paused for a deep

breath. ―He was just brought in.‖

The deadpan eyes softened just a tiny bit. ―Are you Kacy?‖

―Yes,‖ Kacy said as dread filled her heart.

―Exam three. It will be on your right.‖ The nurse responded, pointing

in the direction Kacy needed to take.

―Thank you,‖ she replied as her legs took her to where Adam lay.

Knocking briefly before entering, Kacy stepped into the room. Moni-

tors beeped loudly, cutting through the otherwise silent domicile.

―He‘s been asking for you.‖ The whisper came from Sister Angela

who had risen from her seat beside Adam the moment Kacy entered.

With a kiss for the nun, Kacy moved to the bed where Adam rested.

His skin was pasty in appearance and covered with sweat. Breathing was

shallow and raspy. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him.

―Adam?‖ Kacy said as she wiped a cloth over his face.

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Aliyah Burke

Those soulful brow eyes were weary as they opened at her voice.

―Kacy?‖ he coughed out.

―Right here, Adam, I‘m right here.‖ Kacy sat in the chair beside the

hospital bed that seemed too big for the body it cradled.

―I‘m scared,‖ Adam said, reaching for her hand.

―Of what? I‘m here. Sister Angela is here; the lights are on,‖ Kacy

spoke softly.

―I was scared you weren‘t coming.‖

―Have I never not come back?‖ Kacy asked her usual question, trying

to pretend she wasn‘t frightened as well.

―No,‖ he grated out. ―You always come back.‖

―And I always will,‖ she vowed as her hand moved softly over his

clammy face. ―And I always will.‖



Ernst wanted to see Kacy so bad. They had been gone for six weeks.

One task would end, then and another would line up.

In a black tee shirt and olive green BDUs, he drove to her house. She

hadn‘t answered her house phone or her cell.
Maybe
, he thought,
she had

decided to have a relationship with someone who was around more
. Pulling into the

drive, he hopped out, anxious to look at the face of the woman he loved and

had thought about totally for the last six weeks.

Jogging up the front steps, he rang her doorbell. Nothing. A frown

crossed his handsome face as he knocked. ―Kacy?‖

―She‘s not there,‖ a voice said.

Those pale eyes swung toward the sound and found her neighbor

Mrs. Wilder standing at the edge of her property. ―Do you know where she is

or when she‘ll be back?‖

Sadness crossed her weathered face. ―Don‘t know when, but I know

where. She‘s at St. Matthew‘s Hospital.‖ Ernst‘s heart plummeted. ―That

orphan boy is in there.‖

―Adam?‖ he asked.
Oh, dear God!
―Thank you so much,‖ Ernst said as

he bolted for his truck.



Kacy stood listening to the doctor as Sister Angela sat with Adam.

Her eyes were full of unshed tears. ―Thank you, Doctor,‖ she said, shaking

his hand.

Adam was watching her as she sat back down on the stool by his

head. ―Do you want anything?‖ He just shook his head and reached for her

hand.

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A few moments passed and the only noise was the child‘s harsh

breathing and the beeps and pings of the machines hooked up to Adam.

―Kacy?‖

―Yes, Adam?‖ Kacy put her intense eyes on him. She loved this child

so much it hurt.

―I‘m glad you are my friend.‖

―Me, too, little man. Me too.‖ She ran a loving hand down his face.

―So glad.‖

His body tensed and Kacy knew he was trying not to cough. ―I

wish…I wish you could have been my mother.‖

―So do I.‖ A fresh wave of tears filled her eyes. This time, they flowed

down her smooth cheeks. She knew he only talked about a mother when he

was in lots of pain.

The lifelessness in his eyes gave way to a spark of emotion. ―Ernst,‖

Adam said as another bout of coughing attacked him.

Kacy jerked her eyes to the door. There he stood. Larger than life.

Black shirt, green pants, and black shiny boots on his feet. Six feet, two inches

of Germany‘s finest—Ernst Zimmermann.

His ghostlike eyes filled with tenderness as he ran them over her

body. Stepping fully into the room he said, ―Sister,‖ nodding at the nun. Then

he approached the bed. ―Hey, Sport,‖ Ernst addressed Adam as his hand

caressed the back of Kacy‘s neck. Looking into Kacy‘s copper eyes, he put his

index finger under her chin and brushed their lips together.

Adam reached for one of Ernst‘s hands and the Navy SEAL walked

around to the other side of the bed so the boy didn‘t have to strain himself.

―Thanks for coming to see me Ernst,‖ Adam forced out between coughs.

―I just got back and wanted to see my favorite kid. Hey, we still have

some camping to do. I brought you something.‖ Ernst dug into a pocket on

his leg and pulled out a wrapped gift. ―Here you go.‖

Adam smiled his adorable smile and took it. Tired hands tore away

the black paper. His large eyes grew wide as he stared upon his gift. It was a

small astrology book, Adam loved the stars. ―Wow,‖ he breathed. ―Will you

take me out to see the stars, Ernst?‖ His eyes were big and full of hope.

―Absolutely, Sport.‖ Ernst met Kacy‘s eyes. She knew he knew Adam

didn‘t look good.

―Did you see, Kacy?‖ Adam coughed. ―Did you see what he gave

me?‖

She wiped away her tears. ―I sure did, Adam.‖

His coughing became horrific for a few moments. Kacy sat him up

and rubbed his back while he endured it.

―I‘m tired, Kacy,‖ the small voice said as he sipped on some water

she held for him.

Kacy gathered his hand in one of hers and kissed the back of it. ―I

know, baby. I know.‖

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Aliyah Burke

―Kacy?‖ he whispered as one hand held his gift and the other held

her hand.

―What, Adam?‖ The tears falling were ignored.

―Promise,‖ his voice was growing weaker. ―Promise me.‖

―Anything you want,‖ Kacy said.

―I want my picture,‖ he said.

Before Kacy could ask what picture, Sister Angela handed her the

one of Adam, herself, and Ernst that was taken the day they‘d gone riding

together. ―He has kept it with him since that day,‖ the nun whispered before

leaving them alone.

―That was one of the best days ever,‖ he coughed out. His eyes were

full of exhaustion as they moved from Kacy to Ernst.

―Mine too,‖ Kacy and Ernst responded at the same time.

―I felt like I had a family. A mom and a dad.‖ Letting go of the gift,

he took a hold of Ernst‘s hand and placed it on top of Kacy‘s. Then he held

his gift again. ―Promise me, Kacy,‖ he begged as his small fingers tightened

on hers.

―Anything,‖ she pledged.

―Don‘t forget me. I‘m scared you will forget me.‖

―I will
never
forget you. You are a part of me forever, Adam. Forev-

er,‖ Kacy swore.

―I wanted to be an electric like you. But I‘m so tired,‖ he forced out.

―Then rest, sweetheart. Rest.‖ Kacy bit her lower lip as she watched

his eyes land on her face.

―I love you, Kacy. Don‘t leave me. I‘m scared.‖

―I‘m right here, Adam. I‘m not going anywhere. I promise.‖

―Don‘t let them put me in the dark.‖ His voice was barely over a