For Love

by Jeannette Winters

  She shrugged, then nodded. “I’ll do as you ask, but I don’t understand.”

  You would if you were in my shoes. “I know. And I’m sorry. Let’s just get through tomorrow, then we can head to my parents and leave all this bullshit behind us.”

  “You still want me to go with you?” Melissa asked.

  “Melissa honey, I told you, we needed to clear the air about this. As far as I’m concerned, the subject is closed. Unless you changed your mind about coming with me,” Chris said, hoping she hadn’t.

  She smiled and said, “Just tell me your parents don’t live on a farm.”

  Chris laughed. “Not even a pet fish in the house.” He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Of course, I can’t promise we won’t have a roof to fix,” Chris teased.

  It was refreshing to hear Melissa laugh again. This burden had been lifted off her. He, on the other hand, had some choice words for Mac Muller. Melissa wouldn’t be privy to that conversation. That was between him and Mac.

  You didn’t want a son, and now your son doesn’t want you.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chris had planned on heading right to New Jersey, but his parents would have to wait another day. There were things he needed to think about, and he was sure Melissa could use a day at home too. Of course as soon as they parted ways, Chris wanted to call her. The only thing that prevented him was David sitting across from him.

  “Stone is heading back to Boston. His wife, Zoey, said she has some exciting news. Want to bet she’s pregnant again?” David asked.

  “The Henderson clan is expanding almost as fast as the Turchettas.”

  “Melissa’s not pregnant, Chris. If she was, I sure as hell never would’ve allowed her to go to Runashia. I’m still questioning my judgment on that now.”

  “David, she did a damn good job.” Chris found himself defending her, even though he knew she didn’t belong in the field. If she asked, he’d tell her, but he had the feeling she wasn’t going to be leaping at the chance to go anytime soon.

  “Are you talking as a soldier or a guy who . . . likes my sister?” David inquired.

  Chris stared at David. “Is there a policy you haven’t told me about?”

  David shook his head. “Trying to figure out what your plans are.”

  Melissa was a grown-ass woman, and could do and be with whoever she wanted. But over the past few years, Chris had witnessed firsthand just how protective her brothers were. There were times they’d gone overboard, at least in his opinion. But it eased his mind knowing she had so many people who wanted the same thing as he did. For her to be happy and safe. “Do you have a problem with me . . . dating her?”

  “Dating sounds like you’re not serious.” David glared at Chris.

  “What else would you call it? I haven’t even taken her to a movie or out on a real date.”

  David said, “You took her away for a week. I think you skipped past the traditional dating stage.”

  Chris intentionally had reported back to David about everything that wasn’t happening between them. It’s not like we had sex on a beach. Although that thought has crossed my mind a few times.

  “Why don’t you let Melissa and me worry about what we are or are not doing?” There were parts of his relationship he wasn’t willing to share. If David couldn’t accept that, it was his fucking problem. I respect you buddy, but don’t need your permission.

  David snarled, “I don’t approve of you playing with my sister’s heart.”

  Good. We’re on the same page. “I’m not planning to hurt her.”

  “Planning and doing is two different things. Give me one reason why I should trust you?” David asked.

  Chris could come up with a list why David shouldn’t want him with Melissa. That didn’t change the fact he wanted her. But the question was, for what? David was right. Melissa wasn’t the casual affair type. If she was, he wouldn’t have the feelings he had for her. Yet, I can’t bring myself to walk away.

  “I care a lot about her.”

  “That’s a good start.”

  David was giving him a talk he’d expect a father to give about his daughter. He had no idea what else he could say to convince David. David knew his reputation with women, but he didn’t consider himself more of a player than Josh. But that fact wouldn’t be in his favor. So he decided to keep the focus on what was important to all the Turchettas.

  “I can give you another one. We are a team. I trust you to have my back, as I do yours. That includes your family.”

  David looked at him long and hard before saying, “If she can put up with your ass, then I guess you have my blessing.”

  Chris laughed. “Yeah, she’d be drawing the short straw. I’m no prize.”

  “I don’t know. You’re not my type, but you’re not a complete asshole,” David joked.

  “I’ll have to work harder on that,” Chris said sarcastically.

  David became quiet then said, “Let’s talk about your father.”

  “Let’s not.”

  “I wasn’t asking,” David said.

  “My personal life is—”

  “Now involving my sister. We already knew Mac Muller was your father.”

  “I know, and you also know I haven’t seen him since I was six or something like that.” Chris couldn’t remember the last time and he’d like to keep it that way.

  “But he’s looking for you. What are you going to do about that?” David asked.

  “Ignore him like he’s done to me most of my life.” Why should he give his father the time of day? Whatever he wanted to say would never make up for all the years that had gone by.

  “He used to be a patient of Melissa’s. One of her first.”

  “She told me,” Chris replied.

  “Did she tell you she almost quit working as a physical therapist because of Mac?” Chris shook his head and David continued, “She’d never met someone so messed up. Physically your father had lost a lot, mentally he’d lost everything.”

  “David, I’d rather not talk about him.”

  “Too bad. There are things you need to know. Besides him being your father, you need to remember he’s a veteran like us. And fuck man, he’s a wounded one like you. You know what it felt like when the Army told you you couldn’t return to the Rangers.”

  “Like a fucking knife in my gut.” I wished that bullet had killed me because it felt like it took my life.

  “If you stop being angry long enough to think about him and show him the honor and respect you would any other veteran, you might just learn something about him you didn’t know.”

  He’d never allowed himself to think of Mac any way other than a father who’d left his son. Holding on to the pain was how he dealt with being left behind. You don’t leave a man behind in the battlefield, how can you leave a child back home?

  “I have no issue with him as a soldier. But I do as a man.”

  “They are one in the same, Chris. What broke the soldier only amplified the pain as a man. He’s still trying to figure his shit out even after all these years. You are one piece he’s still trying to heal from.”

  Chris laughed bitterly. “Him? What about me?”

  David shook his head, “You’re one of the lucky ones. Mac knew he was fucked up. He faced that he couldn’t care for himself, never mind you. With him, you’d have been homeless and lucky if you didn’t end up in jail. Mac did the only thing he could. He gave you a chance. One that he didn’t give himself. Why do you think he ended up drinking?”

  “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

  “Then you better really think long and hard if you want to be with Melissa. She is all heart. And what you’re saying right now, well that would be fucking hard for her to swallow. She’d given so much of herself to get Mac to want to live, never mind start to heal. If you care for her at all, you might want to consider that.”

  David got up from the table, tossed down a few bills to pay the check, and continued, “I know
you’re carrying a lot of shit in you Chris. Do you really want to bring that into her life? Because if you care about her like you say, you might want to rethink your stance toward Mac.”

  David walked away from the coffee shop, leaving Chris to ponder it all. Coffee wasn’t going to cut it when it came to anything regarding Mac. Hell, I’m not sure I can be drunk enough to want to see him.

  Chris downed the rest of his now cold coffee. Sitting there sure as hell wasn’t going to accomplish a damn thing. His head was telling him it didn’t matter what David’s little speech was. Yet his gut knew where he needed to be in order to help him through this issue. Getting in his car, he headed toward the one place that was a reality check. If this doesn’t help me see Mac differently, then nothing will.

  It wasn’t a long drive but a necessary one. He parked his car and headed inside the VA Hospital. There was a chance he’d bump into Melissa if she was meeting with a new patient, but he hoped she wasn’t there. She’d only distract him from what he needed to do right now.

  Chris had spent many hours in a place just like this after his hip was replaced several years ago. As he passed patients, he saw the same look in their eyes. There was a sense of being lost, scared of the future, and feeling . . . less than I was before. They had a long road ahead of them. Chris realized how lucky he was. Hell, even the Turchettas hiring him had been a lucky break. Many of these guys won’t get such a break, and integrating back into a normal life, when life is anything but normal, was going to be most difficult.

  Chris didn’t wander the halls but stopped and talked with many of the men. If he could offer an encouraging word he did, and when appropriate, he just listened. What he found was being back here and talking to veterans of all ages was a reminder of what they all have in common. We’ve all made sacrifices. Some much greater than my own.

  When he finally headed out of the hospital hours later, he understood what David was trying to tell him. Looking at Mac through the eyes of a veteran, the man had gone through hell. Mac hadn’t been in a hospital for weeks, he’d spent more than a year in this exact hospital. Even when Chris had been shot and had multiple surgeries, his parents had been there. Chris didn’t recall visiting Mac once, and he wasn’t sure his mother had either. Facing the loss of limbs and his military service all alone must’ve sucked. And if Mac had felt even a tenth of what Chris had back then, it was a wonder he’d pulled through at all.

  He’d made up his mind, he’d meet with Mac. If not because he was his father, then because of what he’d given for his country. Our country.

  * * *

  Melissa hadn’t planned on working today, yet it was as though they were spying on her house. As soon as she had sat down on the couch, her phone started ringing. Each time she’d hoped it was Chris, but it never had been. So she’d done what she always did, worked until she was exhausted.

  Back home she knew it was too late for any of her patients to reach out. And if they did, they would get her voicemail. For all intents and purposes, she was still on vacation. Collapsing again on the couch she thought, What I’d give to be back on the farm.

  Kicking off her shoes, she pulled her feet up and grabbed the small crocheted throw Deanna had made for her birthday last year. It was perfect for snuggling up. It’d just be nice to be snuggling up with someone else.

  Melissa could keep herself from thinking of Chris while working, but now was a different story. She was missing him. It really made no sense. They hadn’t known each other all that long, but they felt like . . . a pair of old shoes. They fit like no others. She laughed out loud, knowing Chris probably wouldn’t want to be referred to in that light. Old shoes. I’d love to see the look on his face.

  There was a knock on her door, pulling her away from her cozy spot. No one but family ever showed up and they all had keys because they’d used Melissa’s house as a safe house on several occasions. But Melissa couldn’t recall if she’d even locked the door when she returned home. So much for being safe.

  Too tired to get up she called out, “Come in, the door’s open.”

  She heard the knob turn and the door swing open. Melissa kept meaning to oil the squeaky door hinges but somehow never got around to it.

  “Melissa, what are you doing leaving the door unlocked like that?” Vanessa asked.

  “I know. If we told your brothers, you’d never hear the end of it,” Ellie added.

  Although she was thrilled to see the ladies again, she had no idea what brought them both out now. “Shouldn’t you both be home cooking supper for them?”

  Ellie said, “Please don’t talk about food. My morning sickness is worse being back home.”

  “Yes, Melissa, I know. She told me,” Vanessa said. “Mostly because I was out with her and I tossed my cookies, which caused a chain reaction. I don’t think either of us will be allowed back in that breakfast joint.”

  Melissa was relieved she no longer had to hold the secret. “So does this mean the others know?” Please say yes.

  “We were thinking of getting together tomorrow with the entire family and doing an announcement at that time. What do you think?”

  Melissa normally would leap for joy and shout out yes, but Chris had mentioned leaving for New Jersey tomorrow. Even though she hadn’t heard from him since they’d parted ways early this morning, she couldn’t alter the plan without speaking to him first.

  “I think it’s a great idea but I have . . . plans tomorrow.”

  Both ladies turned and gave each other a playful look. “Oh really. I wonder who that could be with, Vanessa.”

  “I’m not sure, Ellie. Do you think it’s that handsome man she ran off with for a week?” Vanessa teased.

  “Okay ladies. This isn’t about me right now. It’s about your baby announcements, if you have forgotten.”

  “She’ll be here,” Chris said from the doorway.

  Melissa hadn’t even heard the door open, then again she hadn’t heard it close before either.

  “What are you doing here?” Melissa asked.

  “I thought we could talk about tomorrow. And now I’m glad I stopped in,” Chris said.

  “Don’t change your plans on our account,” Vanessa said. “We’ve waited this long, we can wait a bit longer.”

  Ellie laughed and said, “Unless you’re planning on making it an extended stay, because I’m already starting to show, or so I’ve been told.”

  Melissa chuckled. “I didn’t mean it as an insult. You’re just so tiny that how can you not see a baby bump?”

  “Oh, that’s much better,” Ellie laughed. Then she turned to Chris. “We really don’t mind putting it off. You guys obviously had plans.”

  “Nothing we can’t put off,” Chris said.

  “Won’t your parents be disappointed?” Melissa asked.

  Vanessa’s eyes widened. “You’re going to meet his parents? That’s it. We are out of here. And we are not making the announcement tomorrow. There is no way we are allowing you two to change those plans.”

  They were making so much more out of it than what it was. Chris was going and just asked her to go . . . and meet his parents. What was wrong with her? Of course that is a big thing. It wasn’t like when he asked her to go to Sirveo’s. Then again, that was huge too. She intentionally wouldn’t allow herself to overthink what any of this meant. Maybe she needed to put some thought into it.

  “My parents will understand. Besides, I have something I need to take care of myself tomorrow. What do you think Melissa? Do you mind putting off the trip an extra day?” Chris asked.

  She smiled, knowing that he was doing this for her. It was just another reason why he fit so well. “Only if you promise to be here for the announcement party.”

  Chris said, “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  Vanessa grabbed Ellie’s hand and said, “Why don’t we leave these two alone and go have some tea and crackers somewhere.”

  Ellie added, “Let’s make it someplace we don’t frequent. I don’t want to get ba
nned from every place in town or I’ll have to do all the cooking forever.”

  Melissa got up and gave them both a hug. “I’ll handle everything about the party. We’ll have it here. You two just watch for the invites.”

  “Are you sure? You might want to spend your evening doing . . . something else,” Ellie said, giving Melissa a wink.

  Melissa blushed and said, “It’ll be a sunset party, with plenty of crackers. Now go before you embarrass me any more.”

  They left giggling, and she knew that wasn’t the end of it either. At least they have something to think about other than their nausea now.

  Once alone, Chris came over and said, “I hope you don’t mind me changing the plans.”

  “No. I’m glad you did. But I’d have gone with you anyway. I’m looking forward to meeting the people who helped make you the man you are today.”

  “Oh don’t blame them for that. They’re actually good people.”

  She gave him a playful slap on his arm and said, “And so are you.”

  Melissa noticed Chris had something on his mind, and she wanted to give him time to tell her . . . if he so chose to. Chris was good at holding things in. So was she. Mostly because once she started, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to shut her mouth again. Like telling him how much I missed him.

  “I’m working on it. Which is really why I stopped by without calling. I figured if I did, I might talk myself out of it.”

  “It sounds . . . important.”

  “I’m not sure how to categorize it. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” Chris said.

  “About us?” Melissa couldn’t believe she said that. It was bold and opened a topic she’d been afraid of broaching herself.

  Chris shrugged. “In a roundabout way, yes. It’s about Mac.”

  “Oh.” She still felt horrible about bringing up something obviously very painful for him. He’d said he didn’t want to talk about it, and she’d respected his wishes. If that changed, she’d be more than happy to listen. “Do you want to sit down?”

  “Normally yes, but I’m not sure I can talk about him and sit.”