Love on Leave

by Leah McDonnell

  He’s silent for a second and as I open my mouth to speak, he continues… “I knew it was over. I had to let you go. I spent November trying to detox from all things Kate related. I’m sorry for lying to you at Thanksgiving. I was trying to save face. Hoping to at least salvage a friendship.”

  My brother’s faces pop in my mind. I’ll die before I admit to them they were right.

  “Kevin and I went out a couple of weekends later and I met Cherish. We’ve been dating ever since.”

  The mention of her name makes me shift in my seat. He slips on his jacket and slides out of the car. He walks around to my side and opens the door, the freezing air hitting like a brick wall.

  “Why are we here, Davis?” I finally ask, deflated.

  He doesn’t answer. Instead, reaches his hand out to pull me from the car. I shiver and rub my hands as the bitter cold air cuts through me.

  “I brought you here because it’s my turn to tell you how amazing you are.”

  “Huh?” My head tilts, scrambling his words together.

  “You’re smart, ambitious, and funny as hell. I melt every time you throw your head all the way back, to laugh that big infectious laugh of yours. Or when you lick your lower lip when you’re trying to concentrate on something. And if I’m being honest… I’m an ass man and you’ve got a fantastic one. I don’t give a shit what size your boobs are.”

  I appreciate the joke since both of us could use the emotional break. But his face grows serious again. “You were right earlier. Cherish is beautiful and sweet and uncomplicated. And I like hanging out with her. Being with her is easy.”

  Oh, God. Here we go! My head drops, preparing for the inevitable rejection.

  He grabs my chin, forcing my eyes to his as tears roll down my cheeks. “But she’s not you, Kate. No one is you.”

  Plumes of fog fill the air as my tears turn to sobs.

  “When I saw you tonight, standing there in your dress. My God, I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful. You took my breath away. It took every ounce of power not to run up and fling you in my arms.”

  “But you were so cold.”

  “I had to be. Max was staring right at us and I didn’t want to do anything that might screw up your night.

  “But you called her your girl.”

  He chuckles. “You didn’t like that, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t,” I admit. “I wanted to rip her pretty fucking face off!”

  “I know. I saw it in your eyes. And that’s when I knew you cared about me. And when I saw you sitting at the table alone, all I could think was how much I wished it was you I was dancing with. I knew I couldn’t let you go without a fight.”

  “You did?”

  “I couldn’t get to you fast enough though. You ran off. I went looking, but by the time I found you, you were already talking to Max. I overheard everything.”

  I gasp and fall into him. Giving in to the intense need to be close. His warm body enveloping me like a blanket as I cry uncontrollably in his arms.

  “As soon as you left, I explained everything to Cherish and took her home.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, ya big turd!?” I say, laughing and crying at the same time.

  “Oh, I was enjoying hearing all the things you love about me too much to stop you.”

  He glances at his watch again and pulls me from his embrace. “It’s time.”

  Confused, I ask, “Time for what?”

  “Time for you to find out why the hell we're in a Walmart parking lot in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold!”

  I wipe the tears from my cheeks. “It’s about time you explained yourself.”

  He reaches in the car and turns up the radio as another New Year’s countdown begins... Ten, Nine, Eight…

  “Alabama is in the central time zone. Their New Year’s Eve is happening now, and there is no way in hell I’m ringing the year with anyone else, but you.”

  My heart explodes as the announcer on the radio yells “Happy New Year!” Davis grabs both of my cheeks in his strong hands and kisses me with more love and passion than I’ve ever felt in my life.

  As “Auld Lang Syne” plays again in the background, I whisper, “I love you, John. Patrick. Davis.”

  His eyes widen as he searches my face. “I love you, too, Kate. More than words can say.”

  EPILOGUE

  Wedding Weekend – Current Year

  The line to check-in wraps around The Sun Crest lobby and out the revolving front doors. One by one, families, friends, and couples make their way to the front desk. All in pursuit of a fun-filled week, packed with adventure and good ole R&R. Rows of gold rolling carts line up as if they’re ready for battle. Each ding of the elevator is a reminder wedding “mini-reunion” weekend is officially here.

  Shelby swipes her ID badge into the time clock. “Well, look who’s all bright-eyed for her afternoon shift,” I say. “I figured you’d be dragging ass after I kept you up after midnight.”

  “Totally worth it! There was no way in hell I was going to sleep until I knew how New Year’s went,” she swoons. “If the laughter and tears didn’t give it away, I genuinely loved hearing it all. Even when I wanted to throw things, I felt like I was right there on the adventures with you. Thank you for sharing it.”

  “You’re welcome!” I chuckle. “Told ya it was a long, complicated story. But it’s a part of my past that made me who I am today.”

  “I know we ran out of time last night, but I’m dying to know what happened next. After you and Davis finally got it all out in the open.”

  “Um, Ms. Vines,” Brad’s voice blares through my two-way. “The guests in room 2240 are in the lobby requesting to speak with a manager. Evidently, the view from the twenty-second floor isn’t panoramic enough.

  “Gotta love peak season for the rich and bougie,” Shelby snickers.

  I blow out a heavy sigh. “Tell them I’ll be right there, please.”

  Shelby throws up her hands. “Wait! Before you go. Please tell me what happened. I’m vested now! I have to know. Did Davis go back to his old ways? Did Max come back and beg you to reconsider? Were you not able to let the stoner go?” She grabs my shoulders. “Tell me! I. Must. Know!”

  Her over-dramatic pleads cause me to chuckle. “I most certainly did not go back to Wayne. And as for Max… We lost touch after he got out of the Army. Last I heard he married an old flame.”

  “And Davis?”

  I pick at a hangnail and shrug. “We had two amazing years together. He showed… we showed each other, what true love was for the very first time.”

  “Then what happened?”

  I sigh. Wishing I could will away the truth. “Germany happened.”

  Her eyes narrow. “Huh?”

  I shake away my last memory of John. The one of him standing in my apartment door with tears in his eyes. Army transfer orders clutched in his hand. “It’s another long, complicated story.” I glance at my watch. “And we are officially out of time.”

  I grab the doorknob. “But!” she shouts.

  “Another day, Shelby. I promise. I just need to get through seeing him this weekend first.”

  I make my way out of the office workroom and into the grand, nautical-themed, vestibule. I pull my cell phone out of my back pocket; the little blue “F” icon begging to be tapped. I type… John Patrick Davis in the search bar like I’ve done hundreds of times over the years and stare at the same profile picture he’s had posted for months. His arms draped around his two boys, the sun setting behind them as they stand on the very same beach I met him at almost twenty-five years ago.

  I don’t regret a single moment of how my life has been. Even though Charlie and I didn’t last, we’ve raised two beautiful daughters, I have my dream job, and I even managed to shed those pesky twenty pounds. But as the countdown clock to this looming weekend finally lands on zero, panic shifts to hope as my past and the years of harboring the shoulda, woulda, coulda’s, finally come full circle.
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br />   Status update: One hour ago. “Just landed in Atlanta. Next stop Del Ray Island! Can’t wait to see all my Army brothers!”

  To be continued…

  Acknowledgments

  To my husband, Kyle. Even though you didn’t quite understand why I needed to write this story, thank you for supporting me throughout the journey. Thank you for always being “my person.”

  To my son, Sam. We are so proud of you! Keep following your dreams and you’ll conquer the world.

  To my son and daily comic relief, Jake. The one who keeps me on my toes. The one who would ask daily, “Are you still not done with that book?” The one I’m proud to tell… “Mom finally did it!”

  To my parents, Larry & Sandra. Thank you for a lifetime of unwavering love and support. Your example made me a better wife, mother, daughter, & friend. I am truly blessed to be the one who gets to call you Mom & Dad.

  To my best friend, Autumn & my sister in law, Julie. Thank you both for your endless support throughout this journey. For putting up with the constant questions, opinions, feedback, venting, and sometimes tears. You were both a constant rock.

  To my alpha reader, Renee. This story wouldn’t have seen the light of day if you hadn’t seen its potential. Your initial love for the story helped solidify why I was doing this. Thank you for seeing through the mess and encouraging me to keep on digging.

  To my many beta readers & book-loving friends. Thank you for your time and honest feedback. Even when it was hard to hear, I listened to every word and have a better story because of it.