Operation: Endurance (When the Mission Ends) (21 page)

Penelope nodded.

“He never came in, but he must have heard us. Rachel—” Panic jolted through her system, but she couldn’t do anything about it as a coughing fit took over.

Rachel handed her a glass of water, and Penelope helped her sit up, running a soothing hand up her back.

As the coughing subsided, Penelope gestured between the two of them suspiciously. “Okay, give, what did Chris hear? Or at least, what do you suspect he heard? He looked a little shell-shocked when we saw him.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing really, but Colton herded him off and I think he’s probably going to see if he can get Chris to talk. It might help if we knew what was going on though.”

Julie closed her eyes. What a mess this was all becoming. One little secret was becoming this huge thing about to crush her. She needed to get back in control of her life. She was still reeling from—well everything, actually. But the one thing she did know was that if she had this discussion with anyone, it needed to be Chris. What happened between them had always been a private thing. It wasn’t fair to him to change that now, especially not with his brother’s girlfriend, even if that person was one of her best friends.

Julie opened her eyes. “I’m sorry, Pen, but I can’t talk about it. Not yet, maybe not ever, but definitely not now.”

Penelope frowned, but gave a short nod. “We may have made a mistake, huh?”

“What do you mean?”

“When the townhouse came open next door to you, we all pushed Chris into renting it, thinking you both could use a friend to help you work through everything. But something’s happened and now you both seem even more wounded than ever. I’m sorry, Julie. We never meant for you to hurt more.” The tears welled in Penelope’s eyes.

Guilt assailed Julie. “Aw, come on, Pen, don’t do that. Geez, you and your hormones. Poor Colton.”

Penelope gave a watery laugh.

Julie ignored Rachel’s pressed lips. “Chris and I are fine. You all didn’t do anything. We’re lucky to have friends who care so much about us. It’s okay. I promise. We’re both going to be fine.”

And they were. She would make sure of it, but for now, she needed to get rid of her sister because Julie had a list to make and didn’t need Rachel giving her a hard time about it. It was time for her to make her OCD work for her, not against her. Aaron had shown her everything happened for a reason, and she wasn’t going to waste her opportunity here.

She touched Rachel’s arm. “I’m getting tired. Would you all mind letting me take a little nap? Besides,” she glanced back at Penelope who was still sniffling, “I think Penelope probably should go find Colton before the waterworks really begin.” She squeezed Penelope’s hand. “Thanks for coming by. Now go home and take care of that little one in your tummy. No more worries about me. The doctor said I should be out of here tomorrow, if I’m a good girl. I plan to make that happen, which means sleep now.”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Julie, but went along and pushed Penelope out of the room. Julie figured she had a few minutes before Rachel came back to check on her. She would use those minutes wisely. Glancing at the door, she reached under her pillow and removed her stash of paper and a pen.

She began her list.

1. Get well.

2. Find the therapist’s business card.

3. Talk to Chris.

After Chris left the hospital, he decided. When Julie got out of the hospital, they’d talk like the adults they were. It was past time for them to discuss what happened before and after he deployed, especially in light of her feverish ramblings on the way to the hospital.

She’d said that she loved him and he ached for her on more levels than just physically. He knew he wasn’t in any position to even begin to think about a relationship with a girl, but that didn’t change the zing of anticipation that made his heart race when he thought about Julie still caring for him. He wanted her so much and it had been so long since he’d had any hope. Was that wrong? At this point though, hope was a really scary thing, especially considering his physical condition, but he refused to give up on it.

And he wouldn’t be any good to Julie or any other relationship until he got his head on straight. Chris pulled out the card that Mick had given him.
PTSD SUPPORT.
It was time. He checked the meeting schedule. There was one tonight and he was going be there. It was time to take back control of his life. He owed it to himself. Any hopes for future happiness depended on being able to accept and move on from what happened. He had a life to live and a future at stake. He wasn’t going to give up on it. On them.

* * *

As Chris unlocked the door to his house, he mused over the meeting. It had been good to be around other veterans and others who were suffering from similar issues as him. He still wasn’t comfortable with the whole “touchy-feely share your feelings with the group” thing, but could see how this could help. He certainly wasn’t alone in the fact that he was haunted by events in his past.

He hadn’t realized how much he missed the camaraderie of being around military guys. Colton, Jake, and Mick were also former military, but their connection was through their
friendship that had existed before, not the military, so his connections at the meeting had a different feel to them, one he had missed.

He’d also talked to a couple of guys who were interested in what Mad Rob was doing, especially with their jump school. He’d have to talk to Jake and see what they could do with the local former military guys who already had the training. This could be good for all of them.

Pulling out a sheet of paper, he began taking notes when his doorbell rang.

Opening his door, he was surprised to find Rachel, Julie’s sister, standing there. Immediately he panicked. “Rachel? Did something happen with Julie?”

She shook her head. “No, but there is an issue I need to talk with you about. Can I come in?”

“Oh, sure.” He stepped back and held the door open for her. “Come on in.” He followed her into the house. She glanced around his place.

Rachel was physically very different from Julie and if he hadn’t known they were sisters, he certainly wouldn’t have guessed it by looking at them. Where Julie was tiny and petite, Rachel was taller with a curvy womanly figure. Where Julie had gotten the breasts in the family, Rachel had received the hips. She had curly auburn hair that she was constantly taming into a tight pony tail or bun. The only thing they had in common were their hazel eyes.

Rachel tended to be way too serious all the time. If Chris had to guess, a lot of that was because of her career as a psychologist. No joking around there. Julie always talked about Rachel being the perfect child in their family, but Chris had a feeling that Rachel didn’t feel the same way. She seemed just as hard on herself as Julie. She just channeled it differently.

“This is just like Julie’s place, isn’t it?”

He startled, realizing she was talking about his floor plan. “Yeah, it’s just the mirror of
her’s. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine.” She sat down on the couch and watched him as he did the same. Suddenly, he felt very self-conscious.

Her gaze was very direct when she asked, “Did you have an affair with my sister?”

“What?” he sputtered. “Why would you ask that?”

“Hmm, asking me questions is an effective way to avoid the question, but I would like to have an answer.”

“Listen, I don’t know what Julie has told you—”

“Nothing, that’s why I’m here talking to you. I need to know if I can trust you and right now, I’m just not positive what I’m thinking is the best idea for her.”

There was no doubt this woman was a therapist. He had no idea what she was after, but he wasn’t going to betray Julie’s secrets. “Listen, I don’t know what you want to know. I care about your sister a lot and would never do anything to purposefully hurt her. She means a lot to me. I’ve definitely made mistakes in my relationship with her, but that’s between her and me.”

She stared at him for a moment as if trying to delve into his soul. Then she gave a sharp nod. “Okay, I’m convinced. I’m pretty sure I know what happened between the two of you regardless. You’re both so damn stubborn. But you know, I think that’s going to eventually work in your favor. She’s worth the effort and from what I’ve seen of you this week, so are you. But that’s something you need to discover together. To that end, I’m going home tomorrow. The doctor says Julie will be checked out in the morning. I’m counting on you to take care of her. If she ends up back in the hospital again, I will come back down here and kick your ass. Be at the hospital at 9:00 AM tomorrow.”

She rose and started toward the door, but now she turned back to him. “Oh, and a word of advice, if you can keep her from making her lists, she may actually be forced to talk to you. That would be good for both of you. Don’t let her make lists.”

And with that, she walked out leaving Chris sitting in his grandfather’s chair, stunned. What had just happened here? He was pretty sure he’d just been set up. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? He had no idea.

When Chris arrived at the hospital the next morning, Rachel was still in Julie’s room. Julie was dressed in her own clothing rather than a hospital gown and it just emphasized how much more weight she’d lost when she didn’t have any to spare to begin with. She still had dark circles under her eyes, but her skin was back to a healthier glow he’d worried he’d never see again.

Rachel gave him a beaming smile. “You made it. Good.”

He hadn’t been given much choice and from the confused look on Julie’s face, she wasn’t expecting him.

Her brow furrowed when she turned to Rachel. “What’s going on? Why are you acting like you expected him?”

“He’s going to take you home and make sure you get well.” Rachel said.

Julie’s mouth dropped open. “Chris? Chris is going to help me out? I thought you were staying.”

Rachel’s eyes filled with a remorse that Chris just couldn’t believe after their little chat the night before. “I’ve had an emergency with one of my patients. I’m sorry, hon, but I have to head back immediately.” With that she gave Julie a quick hug, a whispered, “get well,” and scrambled out of the room, leaving Chris to face a sputtering Julie.

She turned dismayed eyes on him. He wrapped an arm around her fragile shoulder. “Oh come on. It won’t be that bad. Once upon a time, you even liked me. I’m sure you’ll survive this too. Has the doctor given you clearance to go home?” He grabbed the papers out of her hand while she continued to stare at him. He looked them over. “Oh, good. This looks like everything I need to know. I’ll just go grab a nurse and your wheelchair and we can go home.”

* * *

What the hell had just happened here? As Chris went to go find a wheelchair, Julie scrambled to find her cell phone in her purse. She dialed her sister’s number.

There wasn’t even a greeting on the other end when Rachel answered. “Julie, go home with him. Let him take care of you. He wants the job. Let him do it. I’ll call you in a few days. Feel better, hon.” Then there was a click as Rachel hung up on her.

Julie just stood there staring at her cell phone with her mouth hanging open. How was this supposed to work? Rachel had said she was staying to help take care of her. The pneumonia had wiped her energy reserves out, but she couldn’t ask Chris to care for her for the next several days. Damn, Rachel had promised her clean hair. How was that supposed to happen with Chris? He couldn’t wash her hair, although a shiver of desire swept up her spine as she considered it— her naked, him with his hands on her hair, on her back, on her sides. She sat abruptly back down on the bed as her knees went weak. Oh no, this was such a bad idea.

Her mind reeled as Chris came back in with a blinding smile and a nurse pushing the wheelchair. Did he honestly think this would work? “Chris, I don’t think this—”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the waiting wheelchair. “It will be fine. Trust me. I’m going to take care of you. I know I was supposed to do that before, but I promise I won’t let you down this time.” His voice cracked at the end.

Julie swung her head around to look at him, trying to figure out what was going through his head, but he just gave her a gentle smile that belied the emotion she’d just heard in his voice. The warmth in his eyes helped to allay her fears.

After they settled into his truck, she could already feel her energy flagging.

Chris turned to her. “It’s almost lunch time. Do you want to drive through somewhere for food on the way home?”

She still didn’t have much of an appetite, but knew it was important to keep eating so she could get her strength back up. “Okay, that sounds good, but I don’t want anything real heavy.”

He thought for a moment. “How about we go get sandwiches from Marty’s?”

Her mouth immediately started watering. So much for not having an appetite. “Oh, yum. I’d kill for one of his California Clubs.”

Chris chuckled low and tendrils of desire swept through her girly parts. She never would have guessed that she had the energy to even think those kinds of thoughts right now. Chris had always been able to get her stirred up.