by Skye Taylor
Her brows rose. “Nice work, Gunny.” She released the form from the clipboard and handed it to him. “I don’t know whether to congratulate you on the achievement or call you for pretending that didn’t cost.”
He hopped off the bench and pocketed the form before she could change her mind. “Your daughter said she liked to surf.”
“When did she tell you that?” Elena hugged the clipboard to her chest like a shield.
“I met her in the waiting room the other day.”
“Right.” She frowned.
“Was I not supposed to be talking to her for some reason?”
“No, I just. . . . Most of the Marines who come in here don’t bother to chat up random kids they run into in the waiting room.” She took a step back.
“Well, I don’t. Usually. But she was staring at me and she looked familiar, so I asked if we’d met before. And we got to talking about the difference between San Diego and here. I just thought I’d pass along the information that it’s supposed to be a good weekend for surfing.
“And Lejeune has a really great beach. A private one for Marines and guests only. You work here. You probably get to use it, too.”
“Hey, Elena!” A petite blonde woman Philip had seen before in the department approached. “When you’re finished here, Rob wants to see you.” She bobbed her head in Philip’s direction, and then angled off toward another Marine who had just arrived for his appointment.
“I’ll see you Monday afternoon,” Elena said as she backed toward the office where her boss waited. “Don’t push things. And don’t hesitate to call if it doesn’t go well before then.” She turned and hurried away.
Chapter 21
April 2015
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
“I CAN’T BELIEVE you’ve been here two months already and we’re just now meeting up,” Meg Cameron said as she chose a booth near the back of the cafeteria bustling with the lunch crowd and plopped down in the corner with her back to the wall, her eyes scanning the crowd. Her service dog scooted under the table and took up watch as well.
Philip had done almost the same thing the day they’d gone out for coffee. He’d chosen to cram his tall frame into a corner where he could keep a constant watch over the comings and goings in the small café. A soldier thing, for sure. Maybe neither of them would ever feel totally safe again, and it was a part of the price they’d paid when they chose to serve.
Although Elena had worked almost exclusively with military personnel, there was still a lot she didn’t know about the way war changed a man or a woman. She hadn’t realized Meg had a service dog, either. Or needed one. Until Meg showed up outside the café with the handsome shepherd at her side.
“I’m glad you’re back in Tide’s Way for good.” Elena tossed her purse on the opposite bench and slid in next to it. “Maybe we’ll get to see each other more instead of just chatting on the phone now and then. I’ll bet Ben’s relieved now that you’re out of the Marine Corps.”
“Relieved is putting it mildly. He’s—” Meg glanced away, then back. “He’s my rock, and I’m a lucky woman.” For a moment it looked like Meg was going to say something more, but then didn’t.
“I drove by your place on my way home from my niece’s party last weekend. I would’ve stopped in, but we were already late. Ben’s new building looks nice. I guess his project is close to being finished.” Elena lifted the top off her sub, then grabbed the shaker and added extra pepper. “Which do you think will come first? Your babies or the first round of warriors?”
Meg laughed. “The soldiers, I hope.” She smoothed her hand over the bulging bulk of her belly. “While I’m more than ready for these gals to arrive, I really want to be there to welcome the first group and be a part of their bonding with their dogs.”
Elena leaned back to glance down at Meg’s service dog. “You were lucky to find Kip.” The animal’s bushy tan eyebrows twitched when he heard his name, but he didn’t lift his head from Meg’s foot.
“More like he found me,” Meg admitted. “I was pretty skeptical about Ben’s plan to start training service dogs for veterans when I first got home, but this guy—” She reached under the table to touch the dog’s shoulder. “He began following me everywhere. Especially at night when I wandered around the house, unable to sleep and more than a little edgy.
“Kip used to be a police dog. Then he went into a tailspin after his handler got shot and killed. Ben was asked to foster him and see what he could do with him. Instead of keeping him out in the kennel, Ben let him come into the house at night. I guess he was as restless as I was.
“I was a hard nut to crack. Stubborn as usual.” Meg’s gaze skittered past Elena on another recon of the room, then fell to her lunch. “I thought I could get over everything that happened to me in Iraq all by myself. I wasn’t even letting Ben help me. I kept pushing him away and breaking his heart, but Kip—” Meg shrugged. “Kip wasn’t so easy to put off, and eventually, I began to realize his intervention was helping me. He didn’t need a lot of training, but Ben taught him a few things and now he’s my guardian angel. Right, Kip?”
The dog sat up and placed his muzzle on Meg’s knee.
“Why didn’t you call me? I’d have listened. Not that I know much about what you went through.”
“That was the elephant sitting between me and Ben. I was convinced he could never really understand because he hadn’t been there. Even the shrink was frustrated with me. She kept telling me Ben was the one person in the whole world who cared more about me than I did.”
Although he was never far from Elena’s thoughts anyway, Meg’s confession conjured up thoughts of Philip again. Did he have nightmares and prowl his room at night? Was that part of the reason for his frustrated outbursts at therapy? He didn’t act like a man with PTSD, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still struggling to adapt to his new reality—the physical injury as well as the possible loss of his career.
Meg chewed thoughtfully for several moments, then swallowed and set her sandwich back on her plate. “The shrink was right, of course. Ben didn’t have to be there to understand I was hurting. Maybe he put Kip up to following me in the first place. Anyway, I’m a convert now. That’s part of why I volunteer here at Lejeune and bring Kip with me to visit other Marines recovering from emotional wounds. I have been there, and they trust me.”
Meg gave the dog’s neck a scratch. “But let’s talk about you. How’s it working out being Philip’s therapist? You two were a pretty hot number a long time ago. Doesn’t that make things a little awkward now?”
Elena almost choked on the bite of sandwich she’d just taken. Her heart raced uncomfortably.
“We weren’t a number. Not really. We just spent his leave hanging out together after his grandmother died.”
Meg’s dark brows rose almost the same way her dog’s had a moment before. “I heard he sent you flowers.”
“It was my birthday.” Elena sagged back into her seat, praying Meg wouldn’t notice the flush creeping up her neck.
“You’re probably going to tell me to mind my own business, but . . .” Meg pursed her lips for a moment. “I overheard Philip talking with Ben a couple of days ago. They were talking about you. I didn’t catch most of the conversation, but it didn’t sound like they were talking about Philip’s therapy. It sounded like—well, like—Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two? Back then or now?”
“Back then, he promised to write, but he didn’t. Not after the first couple of weeks.” The misery of his abandonment filled her, as fresh and aching as it had when it happened. She blinked back unexpected tears. “I wanted what we had to be more, but—”
“But now you’re here. And he’s here. And you’re both unattached.”
“Philip is my patient,” Elena argued even while her heart burned at the thought
of Philip discussing her with his brother.
“So?” Meg grinned. “He’s a captive audience several times a week. And . . . he’s vulnerable. At least as vulnerable as he’s ever likely to be. Best time to strike.”
“I can’t date him. It wouldn’t be right. There’s a code of ethics. And I’m new here. I can’t afford to mess around and ruin my reputation.”
Meg chuckled. “Rules are meant to be broken. Or at least bent a little.”
Tears stung Elena’s eyes. “He broke my heart before. Isn’t once enough?”
“I knew it.” Meg reached across the table to place her hands on Elena’s. “There really was something between you. Maybe still is. If it makes a difference, Philip hasn’t been seriously involved with anyone else since that crazy summer. My guess? He liked you a lot more than he let on, and still does. Why he stopped writing, I don’t know, unless it had something to do with the business of striking back at those bastards who flew planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Maybe he felt he had to put his love life on hold. I just don’t know. But what’s stopping the two of you from getting back together now?”
“He’s my patient.”
“Yeah, I know. You’ve already said that. But love doesn’t play by man-made rules. If he’s spilling his heart to Ben and you get all teary-eyed talking about him, seems to me you two should be talking to each other. Not worrying about what you had or didn’t have back then or about some arbitrary rule that says you can’t fall in love with a patient.”
Elena dashed the incipient tears away and got back to being practical. “What about when he gets his medical clearance and gets deployed again? If I do my job the way I’m supposed to, Philip gets to stay in the Marine Corps. Not just at a desk here or at Quantico, but on a ship. That’s what he wants, you know. To join a forward response team stationed aboard a ship somewhere halfway around the world. The only way he doesn’t get to go is if I fail.
“It’s a lose-lose situation for me. If I succeed, he’ll be gone. If I fail, he’s not the Marine he wants to be anymore, and it would be my fault.”
Meg sat back, momentarily silenced. Then she went on in a softer voice. “If it’s meant to be, love will survive. Not just survive, but grow stronger. Ben and I managed. I’m not saying it was always easy, and it was probably harder on him than me, but we survived. Ben says he wouldn’t change anything, and he loves me more than ever. And my life would be meaningless without him.”
“It’s been a long time, Meg. A lot’s changed. For both of us.”
“I say, if Philip gets around to asking you out, to hell with the rules. Go. Take a chance. Life is all about chances. What have you got to lose?”
Chapter 22
August 31-September 7, 2001
From: Philip Cameron < [email protected]>
To: Elena Castillo
30 August 2001
Can’t believe how much I miss you already. Your tears made it really hard to leave. I hope you know I didn’t want to go. I’m looking forward to Christmas. Can’t say more because they just called my flight. Take care.
Philip
———
From: Elena Castillo
To: Philip Cameron
August 30, 2001
I’m sorry I made it so hard for you. I meant to be strong, but when the time came, I just didn’t want to let you go.
Shopping for college today. I got all my books ordered. Leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles. I wish it was still a month ago and we could live it all over again. Miss you, miss you, miss you. Be safe. I’m praying for you.
———
From: Philip Cameron < [email protected]>
To: Elena Castillo
31 August 2001
I’m in Germany. Not enough layover time to find a bed so I’ll be sleeping on a bench. Not nearly as exciting as sleeping with you. But at least I’ve got my memories to keep me warm until December.
I met up with two guys from my unit who are headed back from leave so from here on in, I’m not traveling alone, which is good. Not sure when the next chance to get to a computer will be, but I’ll be thinking of you every minute.
———
From: Elena Castillo
To: Philip Cameron
August 31, 2001
You’re flying one way and I’m flying the other. By now, we must be on opposite sides of the world. I wonder if it’s farther straight through the center of the earth, or around? It was so cloudy today, I couldn’t see anything until we landed in Dallas. The weather kind of mirrors my mood. I should be excited to be going back to school, but this summer with you changed everything. Now I just can’t wait for the semester to be over. Maybe I should transfer to a school closer to home. I’m glad you found some friends to travel with, but I wish it was me traveling with you.
I miss you. Wish you were here to give me one of your mind-blowing kisses. Or something even better.
Elena
———
From: Philip Cameron
To: Elena Castillo
1 September 2001
This summer with you changed everything for me, too. Before now, the Marines was my whole world. Now I have you and Christmas in Tide’s Way to look forward to. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I wasn’t a Marine, but I don’t have to keep volunteering for overseas assignments. If I pulled the right strings, I might even be able to get sent to Pendleton for a couple of years.
Got to get off the computer, there’s a long line of guys waiting behind me. Consider yourself mind-blowingly kissed. The other stuff will have to wait.
Philip
———
From: Elena Castillo
To: Philip Cameron
September 2, 2001
Are you there yet? I am. I bunked with my old roommate my first night here. She’s staying in the dorm, but I moved to an off-campus apartment with a few other friends yesterday. Thankfully, the place comes furnished, but I won’t be eating at the dining commons any more. Guess I’ll have to learn how to cook something besides ramen noodles. I should have asked you for that sweet potato dumpling recipe you love so I could practice up.
My new roommates are two girls I have most of my classes with since they are in the same course of study. And the other two rooms are four guys. It will be good to have a man to grab if I have to go out at night and need an escort. Marci is dating one of them and he’s really nice. I know Eli from last year, and he’s a good friend. Don’t really know the other two guys. I hope they aren’t slobs. Anyway, it will be a lot more fun being off campus.
Classes start on Tuesday. I’m excited that we’ll actually be starting the pre-PT stuff. I got your kiss. And here’s a few for you. XXXXXXXXXXX
Elena
———
From: Philip Cameron
To: Elena Castillo
3 September 2001
So, you’re living with four guys? Should I be worried?
Mom could give you the Sweet Potato Dumpling recipe, but I’m good with just about anything.
———
From: Elena Castillo
To: Philip Cameron
September 3, 2001
Considering our last week together, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll be spending all my nights wishing it was Christmas already.
———
From: Philip Cameron
To: Elena Castillo
/> 4 September 2001
I’m back on my ship. I forgot how hard it is trying to sleep with a dozen other guys snoring and farting and jerking off in the dark. Wish I was with you instead. We’ll be in Australia soon where all the guys who’ve been aboard this boat for the last few months will get shore leave. Not sure if I’ll get leave since I just got back from thirty days off. Hope so. I’m looking forward to checking out Darwin and seeing that beach with the kangaroos. Catch you later. XOXOXO
———
From: Elena Castillo
To: Philip Cameron
September 5, 2001
I wish you were with me, too. I hope you get to go ashore. Australia seems so far away and exotic. I’d like to go there someday. And a lot of the other places you told me about.
The apartment is a huge improvement over living in the dorm. A lot more freedom and space. The furniture is incredibly shabby, but the guys who found this apartment don’t care so much about that. They were more interested in getting a bigger TV installed. Anyway, Marci and I got new slipcovers for the couches so they look a lot nicer and I’ve learned which end not to sit on. At least my bed is comfortable. Except it’s kinda lonely with just me in it. Wish you were here.
I got a new student job. If you could actually call it a job. I get to sit at this little desk and check people into and out of the workout room. And I can do my homework in between. What a cushy assignment, huh? Eli works here as well, so I won’t have to worry about getting back to the apartment after dark.
Okay, gotta get back to work. Hugs and kisses,
Elena
———