Saving Easton

by Kaci Rose

  "Yeah. Not to mention, Barbie is the last thing Easton needs. I'm sorry, but he and Molly have bonded. She climbs into his lap and lies there the whole time. If Barbie sets off Molly, it will set off Easton, and then it will take the rest of the day to get him relaxed again. He's making so much progress, and I don't want him to regress."

  "Your brother had rules for you growing up to protect you. He didn't want guys using him to get to you, and he put the same rule in effect, so girls wouldn't use you to get to him. Things are different now. If there’s something there, then go slow. Don't let it cloud Easton's care."

  "Of course. I told Easton the other day I think he'd benefit from a service dog when he gets out of Oakside. Molly's been so good with him. After the pool party, I went to see him, and he did well with Atticus, too."

  "Was it him you were texting earlier?"

  "Yeah," I say and pull out my phone to see if I have anything from Easton, but I don't.

  "Easton doesn't want me to tell Lee he's there yet. Right now, I agree. I'm worried that when I'm ready to tell, he still won't be."

  "You can't worry about the future or all the maybes. All you can only worry about is right now. So many things can affect the future or change things. Worry about that bridge, when and if you get there." Dad says.

  "Easier said than done.”

  "Always is." He chuckles.

  "Now, let's talk about Barbie," I say.

  "I'm not a fan, but she makes your brother happy. The more you dig your heels in, the more he’ll stay with her out of principle. You have to let him see her flaws without egging her on."

  "Again, easier said than done. When she insults Molly, she might as well be insulting me. Molly is like my kid. What would you have done, if someone sat around insulting me or Lee when we were younger?"

  "I wouldn't have been as nice as you have been."

  "Exactly. I hope he pulls his head out of his ass soon, or we’ll have to do separate family dinners because I can't take much more of her."

  "Well, she won't be getting our ring set, that's for sure," he says.

  My grandparents, Dad’s mother and father, left their wedding rings to Leeland for when he gets married, and Mom's parents did the same for me. Mom and Dad made it clear they wouldn't give them to us just for anyone. It has to be the one.

  "Thank God! Because you know we'd never see them again," I say.

  We finish up our walk, and I say my goodbyes.

  Getting in the car and making sure Molly is ready, I check my phone again, and still nothing from Easton.

  Me: My dad isn't going to tell Leeland, because I made him promise. I just needed someone to talk to.

  I wait to see if he’ll reply, and I'm about to put the phone away when he does.

  Easton: How did the talk go?

  Me: Good. I guess he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I can tell you about it, and the shit show that is Leland’s girlfriend tomorrow when I visit.

  Easton: Deal.

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 12

  Easton

  When there’s a knock on the door, I think maybe Paisley got here early, but I don't expect it to be Paisley's dad.

  "Mr. Sutton," I say, suddenly on edge.

  He stays in the doorway, and I know I should ask him to come in and sit down, but I just can't.

  "I'm sorry for the surprise visit, but I had a talk with Paisley, and it's been weighing on my mind that other than Paisley, you don't have anyone to come visit you."

  He's right. My mom was a single mom, and growing up, I became closer to Leeland and his family, and spent a lot of time there, while my mom worked. But my mom passed away a few years ago. Honestly, I'm glad she wasn't around to worry about me, during my POW time. That alone would have killed her.

  "Thank you," I say, trying to think of what to say next.

  "Listen, I'm not telling Leeland anything. I'm on Paisley's side. That girl of his is... she’ll make someone a great trophy wife, but she isn't for him. I'm hoping it's a phase he needs to get out of his system. Between you and me, I can’t bite my tongue much longer, when she insults Paisley over and over in my house."

  "Umm, you can..." I take a deep breath, thinking of Paisley, and she calms me without even being here. "You can sit on the couch," I say a bit hesitantly.

  He nods and moves slowly to the couch. Maybe, Paisley is on to something with having a dog of my own, because this is easier when Molly is here.

  "I'm sure you don't want to talk about it, but if you ever do, I'm here, Easton. We've always been here for you and always will be. You’ve been family, and that hasn't stopped."

  "Thank you."

  He starts talking about all the things I missed, updating me on neighbors and friends. The more he talks, the more it feels like old times, and the more I relax.

  "Well, I should be going. I know Paisley will be by soon." He leans down and grabs the pen and paper on the coffee table. "Here's my number. Call or text anytime. Just to talk, or if you need anything. I do mean anything, okay?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I think you've more than earned the right to call me Al."

  I nod.

  "I'll come back around this weekend, if that's okay?"

  I nod again. He smiles and heads out. Taking a deep breath, I take the paper with his number and add it to my phone. I debate texting Paisley, but decide not, too. Instead, I bring up Paisley’s account on social media and find that she posts about the dogs she trains.

  I find the photo I like most of her and Molly on the beach with Tybee Island lighthouse in the background. She looks so happy with the sun on her face, and the wind in her hair.

  I'm lost in the photo, and before I know it, Molly is right in front of me.

  "Hey there, girl," I say and put my phone away. "Want to go for a walk?" I ask her, and she does a little dance from side-to-side.

  I look up and find Paisley, leaning against my door frame with a smile on her face. She is so beautiful. I don't know how she gets more beautiful every time I see her, but she does. I need to push myself some more today. For her, I can do this.

  ***

  Paisley

  "Ready to go?" I ask him.

  He nods, and Molly follows him to the door. His eyes are on me the whole way. Almost like I'm the distraction that helps him push through. Though, maybe that's wishful thinking.

  I step out into the hallway, and he meets me there.

  "Tell me about your dinner last night," he says.

  I notice he likes me talking on our walks. I guess it's something for him to focus on.

  So, I tell him about the dinner, Barbie's comments, and Molly's reactions to her.

  "My mom doesn't want me bringing Molly over, but I refuse to not have her around the girlfriend. Molly can't stand her, and I trust Molly. I know Molly has my back, unlike Leeland." I grumble.

  "In school, someone would say something bad about you, and they'd get a black eye. I don't know why he's letting her insult you."

  "It's simple. He's getting laid, and as long as he keeps her happy, he keeps getting sex. He's missed the bros before hoes memo, though I don't qualify as a bro."

  Easton looks over and glares at me, like how dare I cuss like that.

  "Don't look at me like that. I'm an adult, and I've been around the block, Easton." I wink at him, and his lips twitch before he takes a deep breath.

  "Let's check out the courtyard," he says.

  My smile takes over my face. He's pushing himself again, even more outside his comfort zone, and I'm so damn proud of him. I turn to the courtyard closest to his room.

  "No, the other one." He says, nodding to the courtyard on the other side of the lobby.

  "Lead the way," I say, as Molly and I follow him.

  I look over my shoulder to see Lexi at the desk, smiling and winking at me.

  "At least I found out that my dad doesn't like her either. So, I know he won't let her stick around on a permanent basis. I did tell my dad t
hat I'm about at my limit with her. Too many family dinners with her, and I’ll come on a different night just to avoid her. My dad had this twinkle in his eye. I wouldn't be surprised if some work emergency comes up, where he can't be around for a dinner or maybe ten."

  We’ve reached the courtyard door, and Easton pauses, so I ask, "Want to go out? We don't have, too."

  The courtyard has no roof and is exposed to the elements and surrounded by the walls of the building, so it's not as scary as going outside with all the wide-open spaces.

  I watch Easton look the courtyard over and think about it. I won't push him. I want him to feel in control.

  "Not today, but maybe next time," he says.

  "Okay, ready to head back?"

  He nods, and we turn back right, as the kitchen guy comes from the hallway that leads to the dining room. He sneers at me, and I know he has to walk by us to get back downstairs.

  I try to get ahead of Molly, but I'm not fast enough. She growls and barks at him, and then lunges towards him, as he gets closer. This makes him drop the tray of dishes, causing them to shatter on the wood floor.

  "Molly, no! Sit!" I yell, and though she obeys, she still continues to growl at the guy. Lexi and Noah arrive to see what’s happening.

  "Get him out of here." I all but growl, and then I turn to Easton, who has his back pressed against the wall, and a glazed look on his face. He’s staring past me, but I know he isn't here. His whole body is trembling.

  I take a hesitant step towards him, trying to get into his line of sight.

  "Easton, it's me, Paisley. You’re okay. I'm right here. Can you look at me?" I ask in a gentle voice.

  He blinks, and the shaking starts to subside, but he’s still somewhere else. His nurse, Kaitlyn, his doctor, and the therapist are all now here.

  "I think it's your voice." Dr. Tate, his therapist, says.

  I nod and keep talking. "Easton, you’re safe. You’re at Oakside right here with me and Molly."

  With the kitchen guy gone, Molly is now back at my side, looking up at me.

  I nod to Molly, as she’s the only one who can touch him, and might pull him out of this.

  "Gentle, Molly," I say, as she walks up and rubs against his leg.

  "Easton, Molly wants to go back and sit in your room. She wants her Easton time. Can you come back to me?"

  This time he turns his head in my direction, but his eyes are still fixed and glassy.

  "Paisley?" He says, his voice dry and gravelly.

  "Yes, Easton. It's me, and I'm right here. You’re safe."

  He blinks a few times, and his eyes focus, and then he starts petting Molly.

  "There you are," I whisper.

  His eyes stay on me and mine on him for a few moments.

  "Let's get back to your room."

  The lobby has been cleared out. I'm sure thanks to Lexi and Noah, who are standing in front of the desk.

  "I'm sorry. Molly has only acted like this with two people, and that guy is one of them," I tell Lexi and Noah.

  "She's protecting you. Both of you," Noah says.

  "Take care of Easton, and we can talk later," Lexi says.

  When we get back to his room, he collapses into his chair, and Molly climbs into his lap.

  "What can I get you? Water, food, shot of whiskey?" I ask.

  "Only you. Just talk, please."

  I sit down in my chair and tell him about my conversation with my dad last night, and how things are going with Atticus and Jake. After several minutes, he seems much more relaxed.

  "You did really well today all things considered." I pause. "Can I ask you a question?"

  "You can ask me anything, Paisley. I don't think there’s anything I won't tell you."

  "Where did you go just then?" I ask, hoping maybe understanding will allow me to help him in the future.

  "When I was imprisoned, they would take turns coming in and beating on me, yelling, screaming, talking, or whatever the torture for the day was. I never knew what tactic they would use next. I had no idea what information they thought I had, but I didn't have it. So, after a few weeks, I learned when they came in to just zone out. Stare right ahead and block it all out. I'd go back to the summers when we were at the beach, fishing, and swimming."

  "Is that why you wear long pants and long sleeves? To hide the scars?"

  "Yeah." He rolls up one of his sleeves. First, my eyes are drawn to the beautiful ink there, but then, I see the scars that slice through his skin and the burn marks.

  "Do you have any more ink?" I ask him.

  He stares at me, and I know that’s not what he was expecting me to say, but he shakes his head.

  "Yeah, a lot more," he says.

  "Maybe, when you’re ready, you’ll show me. I always thought you'd look hot as hell with some tattoos."

  This time I get a real smile from him, just a small one, but it's a victory nonetheless.

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 13

  Paisley

  Today, I'm having lunch with Lexi at her house. They live in a beautiful colonial house that’s next door to Oakside, and the best part is I can bring Molly. Lexi even said she’d cook up a hamburger for her, so I know she will be happy.

  I pull up to her house and look off towards Oakside. You can't see it from here, because there are a bunch of trees that separate the properties, but I know Easton is close.

  Me: Right now, I'm having lunch with Lexi next door. Can I stop by later?

  I figure I better ask, because I wasn't supposed to be by today, and I don't want to surprise him too often.

  Easton: Of course, you can. I'd love to see you.

  Me: Okay, I’ll have Molly with me, too.

  Easton: I still want to see you, even if you don't have Molly with you.

  I smile at that. He wants to see me, and not just Molly.

  Molly and I head up, and before I knock, Lexi greets me with a huge hug and a rub down for Molly.

  "Come in, come in!" She ushers us inside.

  This is the first time I've been to Lexi's house, and I have to say it's gorgeous. It's all light and bright, but it has a very cozy feel.

  "Come back this way," Lexi says, leading me down a small hallway past the stairs to the kitchen at the back of the house.

  It's a dream kitchen for sure. White cabinets, the most beautiful gray granite countertops, farmhouse sink, and fancy appliances.

  "Whatever you’re cooking smells good, but we could have had sandwiches. You didn't need to do anything fancy.”

  "What you’re smelling is Molly's burger, mostly. I made us spaghetti and meat sauce because Noah has been asking for it for days. So, we can have it for lunch then Noah and I can have it for dinner."

  "Twice in one day?"

  She shrugs, "Don't tell Noah." Then she winks, and I giggle.

  Lexi puts Molly's burger on a plate and sets it on the floor for her, before finishing up with our food.

  We sit down and start eating, and Lexi only lets me get a few bites in, before she reveals the reason she invited me to lunch, though I already know it.

  "Let's talk about Easton," she says.

  "Okay.”

  "You know, he only leaves the room, when you’re with him, right?"

  "Yeah, I figured.”

  "He left the room yesterday for his therapy appointment without you."

  He left the room without me? Not only that, he walked a much further distance than we have been walking.

  "How did he do?"

  "He did better than anyone expected, but he did cut the appointment short by twenty minutes. Not bad for an hour appointment."

  Not bad at all. Then, Allie pops into my mind. Allie is a service dog I've been training, but she doesn't have an owner yet. She was a rescue, and they were going to put her down. I was just going to rehome her, but she took to the training so well.

  "Do you think maybe he would do better with his own dog? I have one that isn't lined up with an owner. I could bring her in
to see how they do. Can she stay here with him for a few days to see if it helps?"

  "Do you think she's a good fit?" Lexi asks.

  "I think so. She's a chocolate lab, so she's Molly's size. She loves playing, swimming, and sleeping. She's passed all her tests, and I just keep training with her. It's just a matter of seeing if her and Easton mesh well."

  "Well, I have to clear it with his doctors, and I don't know how long the insurance approval is.”

  "Lexi, I'm not worried about it. Yeah, it would help if insurance covered it, but if it helps Easton, it's all worth it. I just got a new contract last week. A soldier wants his MP dog trained to help him. It should be an easy one, so I'm good."

  "Okay, but I still have to get his doctor's approval," Lexi says.

  "Can you do that today? I can go home after lunch and get Allie. I had planned to see Easton, anyway."

  "I can do that. Now, you need to tell me more about you and Easton." She says with a twinkle in her eye.

  "Well, he was my brother's best friend growing up and off limits, but I had a big crush on him. He joined the military after school, and he and my brother lost touch. I hadn't heard anything about him, until now other than when his mother died." I give her the basics.

  "But there’s more between you two. I mean, the man is pushing his boundaries for you."

  "Well, he admitted to having a crush on me too growing up. But he doesn't want my brother to know he's here yet, and I know that will be a problem. I told my dad though, and he said to just go slow."

  "I agree with your dad."

  "So, what’s going on with that kitchen guy? I was so focused on Easton that I didn't see what happened."

  "After the first incident, we moved him to work in the dining room. With Easton not leaving his room, we thought it wouldn't be an issue. But then after this last time, we’ve confined him to the kitchen downstairs. But the way Molly was acting, and the way he acted, I don't know, my gut is screaming. So, Noah is looking into him some more, but we’re trying to do it quietly, so not to spook him."