Streamline (58 page)

“Fortunately, swimmers are very flexible.” Leo’s mouth moved south, planting wet kisses on Audrey’s chest and abdomen. She shivered as his hungry lips joined the misty water flowing down her body, creating a stimulation she felt all the way down to her toes.

Happy sighs punctuated the gurgling sound of warm water swirling around their feet as she contorted her body, and he responded in turn. She surrendered to him, reveling in wet skin and soft strokes.

In the absence of a pool, this was the closest she could get to swimming with Leo.

Jason heard the chain on the other side of the door slide open before he fell backward as the door gave way. He glanced up to see Marcus peering down at him, looking confused.

“Well,
you’re
not my morning paper,” Marcus said.

Jason snorted as he righted himself.

“How long have you been here?” Marcus asked.

Jason slumped. “Dunno, couple of hours?”

“Why didn’t you knock, you numbskull?” He continued staring at his feet. “’Cause I didn’t know if I wanted you to stop me.”

Marcus inhaled and wrestled the bag from his grasp, tearing it open to reveal a large bottle of vodka with its seal still intact. “Get in here,” Marcus ordered, leaving Jason sitting on the doorstep.

He heard the glug-glug-glug of the vodka disappearing down the sink as he slouched into the apartment. Jason hung his head, expecting a verbal lashing.

“You did good by making it here, Jase. That must’ve been an awful two hours, but you did the right thing. You’ve come so far with your sobriety…what made you buy this stuff?” Jason dug into his pocket and removed the ring before tossing it over.

Marcus caught it and squinted at the diamond. “Is this
Cameron’s?”
He gave a hopeless nod. “She gave it back to me. It’s over. She hates me now.” He dropped to his knees with a thud and folded his hands over the back of his head, the story spilling out of him again.

Marcus kneeled next to Jason and listened. “So your mother’s alone now,” he said.

Emptiness consumed Jason. “We’re all alone.”

Leo and Audrey stood outside the Naval Air Station Pensacola Military Prison in the cool November breeze. She shivered as she eyed his short-sleeved polo. “Aren’t you freezing?”

“It’s, like, sixty degrees!” He grinned. “You’re a wimp.”

“Hmph.”

“Are you sure I should be here?” Leo asked for about the tenth time.

“Yes! You’re the reason we’re having this amazing day.” He watched her eyes crinkle with anticipation and circled behind to wrap his arms around her. He couldn’t be happier for Audrey and her parents, and he attempted to ignore the nagging twinge of sadness for his own family. Nuzzling his face into her hair, he planted a soft kiss on her neck.

Leo tensed as he saw Captain Payson approach. He fought the urge to salute and instead fidgeted until the captain shook his hand.

“Hello, Leo. It’s good to see you out of the hospital bed.”

“Hello, sir.”

“Audrey.” He smiled warmly and shook her hand as well. “So, you’re waiting for your dad’s release?”

“Yes, Captain. Thank you for making it happen so quickly.” He looked pained. “Please don’t thank me for anything, Audrey.

We screwed up big time.”

Audrey looked down, and Leo draped his arm around her shoulders.

“Is my dad in there, sir?” he asked.

A head shake. “James is stil in a holding cel at the police station. It’ll be a while before the paperwork’s transferred over here for the court martial.”

Leo nodded.

The captain studied him for a moment. “I spoke to Captain Tracker today.”

Leo leaned forward at the commandant’s name.

“Your psychologist briefed him about everything that went down last night. Though he’s not pleased about the gun in your possession, he’s willing to entertain the idea of you returning to the Academy, provided the Honor Committee reinstates you.” Leo’s eyebrows shot up. “I — I never expected that, sir.”

“It sounds like you had a rollercoaster ride at the Academy, Leo.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I feel partly responsible because I requested you be assigned to Lt.

Keaton’s company,” he said. “Captain Tracker saw a lot of potential in you, and I think you should consider returning to Annapolis.” Leo felt Audrey tense next to him. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t separate myself from Audrey again,” he said. “I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.”

A brilliant smile lit up her face.

At that moment an MP walked out of the brig to hold the door open for an emerging couple. Mr. and Mrs. Rose strolled out with their arms wrapped around each other, both squinting in the sunlight.

“Daddy!” Audrey squealed, breaking away from Leo and sprinting to her father. She almost bowled him over as she leaped into his arms.

“Audrey girl,” her father said tearfully. “I’ve missed you so much.” Leo dipped his head, trying to compose himself.

The three Roses continued their hugs and excited chatter for a few moments before looking up and seeming to realize there were others waiting for them. Mr. Rose approached his former boss and stood before him for a moment. Finally he shook his hand.

“I’d like you to stop by my office when you have the time, Denny,” the captain said. “We have much to discuss. I hope to see you back in uniform one day soon.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for being here, Captain.”

“Words are meaningless at this point, but I want you to know how sorry I am for all you and your family have been through,” Payson said. “You’ve been very brave.”

“We still have each other.” Mr. Rose swallowed. “The Walshes aren’t so fortunate.”

“Very true. How’re they taking the news?”

“I’m not sure,” Mrs. Rose said. She glanced at Leo. “Do you know, Leo?”

“No, ma’am. Jason was going to tell Cameron, but I haven’t heard anything.”

“Well, I’ll stop interrupting this family celebration,” Captain Payson said. “I’ll see you soon, Denny.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Mr. Rose then turned to Leo, and his heart thudded. Audrey reached for his hand and squeezed it.

“Your father’s done horrible things, Leo. He’s hurt many people.” He paused for a moment. “But
you
, well, you’ve set me free. Captain Payson called me brave, but I think
you’re
the brave one here.” Leo looked into his eyes, which sparkled with joy.

“I guess you redeemed yourself for knocking up my daughter.” Mr. Rose’s mouth set in a stern line. “And unless there’s something I don’t know about,” he added, glancing at Audrey. “You’ve done a good job keeping your grimy paws off her since then.” Flames licked at Leo’s cheeks as he remembered their recent shower. “And we didn’t even need the chastity belt, sir.”

“Come on.” Mr. Rose shook his head and gestured to Audrey’s car. “Let’s see if I remember how to drive. We’ve got a stop to make before we head home.”

Cameron was all cried out.

Her eyelids drooped with fatigue, and she gazed down at the crumpled tissues littering her father’s grave. With heaviness in her chest, she relived again her horrible day.

Her mother had exploded when Cam told her of her husband’s affair, but shock froze her when she learned Jason’s father was the murderer. She’d only had a few minutes to process the news before calls from the media began rolling in, seeking a reaction to James Scott’s arrest and Denny Rose’s release. Cameron had fled, overwhelmed by the intrusion.

She’d driven in an aimless loop for an hour, crying, before finding herself at her father’s grave. She hadn’t been to Shady Palms Cemetery since she’d learned of his affair. She’d been furious with her father, but now she needed his guidance.

Except for a cool breeze wafting through the trees, it was quiet.

“Why?” she pleaded. “Why’d you cheat on us? Weren’t we good enough for you?”

She traced his name in the stone. “Will I ever look at Jason without thinking of what happened to you?” She choked back a sob. “Is it possible to love him and hate his father at the same time?” Despite her anger, she knew death was too great a price to pay for infidelity. Her only comfort was that in the end, her father had been trying to do the right thing — trying to help a woman who’d been hurt by another man. His fatal mistake was underestimating that man.

“You didn’t deserve to die, Dad.” The breeze lifted her words, floating them away in sorrowful wisps across neighboring graves.

Denny pulled the car to a stop along the winding road. “I’ll be back in just a few minutes,” he said, surveying the ring of faces in the car.

“You want me to go with you?” Mrs. Rose asked.

“That’s okay, honey. This is something I need to do alone.” He brushed his hand along her cheek before leaning in to kiss her. He smiled at Leo and Audrey in the backseat. “I can’t
believe
I’m free!” He hopped out of the car and hiked up over the crest of a small hill.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw Cameron sitting near her father’s headstone. Her lips were moving, but he couldn’t hear a word.

She looked utterly broken.

He hesitated. Should he leave? Maybe she needed help?

Cameron looked up, startled. “Mr. Rose?” He noticed her swollen eyes as she stood. “I’m sorry, Cameron.

Do you want me to leave? I don’t mean to intrude.”

“No, sir. It’s okay if you don’t mind my ridiculous crying. Um, what’re you doing here?”

Denny slid his hands into his pockets. He nodded at Bill’s grave-stone. “I, uh, I never got a chance to say goodbye to my friend.” Cameron burst into tears again and propel ed herself into his arms. He wrapped her in a paternal hug, patting her back as she sobbed.

“Do you miss him too?” she choked out.

“I do. I miss him every day.” As they stepped out of their hug, Denny added, “Nobody could spin tales about catching huge fish like he could.”

Denny returned Cameron’s faint smile. “Wait a second — I hear congratulations are in order. You’re engaged! Why isn’t Jason with you?” he asked.

She cried harder.

“Oh, um, sorry, I didn’t mean — ” he stammered.

“It’s okay.” She pulled out another tissue. “I don’t know what to do! Jason’s father did this!” She gestured to the ground. “And it just hurts when I look at Jase now. All I see is his dad.” Denny shook his head. James’s confession tied all three families intimately together now, and he wished one family’s joy didn’t have to mean the others’ sadness.

“Cameron, what’d you tell me four years ago about why the abortion was so difficult?”

She sniffed. “That I loved Jase, and I didn’t want to hurt our baby because it was part of him.”

“Exactly. Do you still love Jason?”

She looked down. “Even more. He’s such a good man, Mr. Rose.

He’s worked hard to become a better man, and I love him so much.” Denny nodded. “You know, our situations are kind of similar.

Leo is James’s son, and he’s dating Audrey. But I didn’t think twice about accepting him into our family. Because Leo’s an incredible young man. I don’t know Jason like I know Leo, but I trust your judgment about his character.”

Cameron blinked up at him.

Denny sighed. “Did you ever think James’s sons became good people not
despite
of James, but
because
of him? They know firsthand how important it is to treat others with kindness. They had to fight like crazy to survive. They had to seek love elsewhere — in Mary, and in you and Audrey. Your love’s strong, Cameron. Maybe you could give Jason a chance?”