“Visiting. I’m returning to Denver in the morning.” Robert turned to Rebecca and nodded. “I’ll leave you two for a bit. I need to make a couple of phone calls.”
“Okay, Dad.” She watched her father leave the park before glancing back at JC. “I didn’t know he was coming into town until yesterday.” She shook her head. “I’m really glad you came.”
“I’m glad I came too.” He smiled, suddenly feeling like a schoolboy again. “I don’t want to interrupt your visit with your dad, but I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes. Could you take a short walk with me?”
She glanced over her shoulder at her father, who was in the parking lot talking on his cell phone. “Okay.”
JC walked away from the noisy picnic area, hoping to gain a little privacy for what he wanted to tell Rebecca. She stepped in beside him. Once they neared the far edge of the lake, he nodded toward the bench. “Let’s sit.”
She sat on the bench, staring at him intently. “You seem tense, is everything all right, JC?”
“Sitting over there with Cameron, Jordan, and their wives, I realized something.” He paused and inhaled a deep breath. What he was about to tell her might change how everyone in Clearwater saw him. He’d no longer be the new guy in town. He could become the new handicapped guy in town. How he hated that label. Even without his leg, he was still the same man he was before. It took coming to Clearwater to help JC understand that there wasn’t anything he could do before his injury that he couldn’t still do.
“What is it?” A hint of concern filled her voice.
“I gave up living life to the fullest after I was discharged from the Marines, but that’s about to change. I told you I was injured on my last mission. The truth is, I lost my leg in an IED explosion. I don’t know if I’d have made it through without Cameron. I owe my life to him. He’s the reason I moved here. I’m telling you this because I want to be honest with you and it’s only right that you know up front. If you’re okay with my disability, I’d like to take you out sometime.” He let the words fly off his tongue, desperate to get them said.
A glimpse of sadness shadowed her hazel eyes. “I appreciate you telling me this, but I’m wondering if I should be offended that you thought I’d have an issue with your injury.”
“Rebecca, that’s not what I meant.” He ran his hand down the length of his jeans. “Damn it. This isn’t coming out how I wanted it to.”
She laid her hand over his. “JC, you’re still alive, that’s what should matter. You lost your leg, but you’re alive and healthy. Many of our military members are denied a second chance at life. When my father retired from the Navy, he took a job as an architect, designing homes for injured military members once they’ve been discharged. I’ve met some of the people he has helped. They’ve suffered loss from this war, but they are alive and that’s what counts. Their families are grateful to have them. I’ve also seen the families of those who never made it home. In honor of the soldiers who will never make it home, you need to live the life you were meant to. You’ve been given a second chance. Don’t let it pass you by.” She didn’t bother to wipe away the tears that slid down her cheeks.
“When I first woke up in the hospital and realized what happened, I prayed for death. My mother is a single mother of nine children, and I’ve always been the man of the family. I helped her make ends meet, with the younger children, and whatever else she needed done. It was the reason I joined the Marines. Without my career I didn’t know how I was going to continue taking care of them.” He sighed. “My mother was beside my bed and cried, not for the loss of my leg, but because I made it home. My heart broke at the sight of my mother crying.” If he would have died it would have been worse for her and his whole family.
“It sounds as though you’re close to your mother and your siblings. If not for yourself, you need to be strong for them.” She frowned. “Why are you here, instead of being with your family?”
That was the one question he didn’t want to answer. Why he ran as quickly as his legs would carry him from North Carolina. “I’m close to my family, they mean everything to me, but I had to leave.”
“Why?”
She wasn’t going to let the subject drop, leaving him with two options, be rude and ask her to drop the inquisition or to tell her the truth. If he expected her to go out on a date with him then rudeness was out of the question. “Everyone back home knew what happened. I didn’t want their pity. When I went anywhere, I saw the sympathy in people’s faces. I got tired of their sadness and their questions. If I was ever to move on with my life, it had to be somewhere else. Home only reminds me of what I lost. The whole town is Marines. Military is a way of life there.”
“For some people it’s the only way they know how to deal with tragedy. I’m sorry you had to leave your home because of it. What about your family? Will they remain there?”
He noticed sadness in her eyes, but thankfully no pity. Rebecca treated him like a person and not a former shell of who he once was. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about options. Mom and the kids need to get out of where they’re living. The apartment is too small, and Mom needs more help. Lee and Laya, the next oldest, can only do so much. Laya is like a second mother to the younger siblings and Lee has stepped into my shoes since I left. He has a chance to make something of himself, to go to college on a full football scholarship if he can keep his grades up. He only has a year left.” JC glanced over the lake. “I want them to come here. Clearwater would be good for my family, but I’m not sure I can convince my mother. I’ve been putting together a plan, to convince her.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m sure your mother misses you. If anyone can find a way to bring them here, I know you can. Finding a place big enough might be a challenge, but I can help.”
“Thank you. I have money put aside to do this and it doesn’t have to be a huge place. They live in a small four bedroom apartment now. I hope I can find something better.” The loneliness of not having his family close by stung. “I just want them here. They deserve better than what they have now.”
She ran her thumb over his knuckles. “I’m off tomorrow, why don’t you come by my place and we’ll put together a plan to convince your family to move here.”
“Only if you promise you’ll let me take you out to dinner afterward?” He hoped she’d say yes because he was growing short on alone time with her. It wouldn’t be long before her father returned, or Cameron and Jordan wondered where he had taken off.
“Okay. How about one o’clock?”
“Give me your address, and I’ll be there. It looks like your father is done with his calls.” He nodded toward Robert approaching.
“I rent the apartment above Express-Ohh’s, park around back and you’ll see the door.” She smiled and turned to her father. “Hey, Dad.”
Robert stood behind them. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Of course not. I should be going. Cameron and Tessa will be wondering where I disappeared. Enjoy your visit, Robert.” JC rose from the bench, careful to not raise his leg too high so his pant leg didn’t show his prosthesis. Cameron, Jordan, and their wives knew, and now Rebecca, but he didn’t want everyone in town to know. He couldn’t face a repeat of pity on people’s faces here too.
“I will, and I hope to see you again when I visit.” Robert stuck out his hand, smiling, and nodding as if giving JC permission to date his daughter.
JC returned the handshake and smiled. He then grazed his fingers along Rebecca’s arm. “Thank you for listening and understanding.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” She grinned.
For the first time since JC woke up in the hospital bed, he truly felt alive. Life was no longer passing him by.
Chapter Six
Rebecca stretched her legs on the sofa, a bowl of ice cream in her hand. She was still adjusting to the information that her parents were divorcing. “Dad, I know Clearwater doesn’t have an airport like Denver, but have you thought about s
taying here? Between jobs?”
He sat catty-corner across from her in the black recliner. He laughed. “You don’t want me around cramping your style with a new gentleman friend.”
She shoved a spoon full of chocolate ice cream into her mouth. “Seriously? You were gone a lot when I was growing up, but now we can make up for lost time. There’s no reason for us to be miles apart. Would you at least give it some thought?”
“You didn’t deny my gentleman friend comment.” His eyebrow rose. “I’m not your only family. You still have your mother. Maybe with this new guy she’s dating, she’ll get her life turned around.”
Years ago, Rebecca gave up hope that her mother would pull her life together and give up the bottle, so she chose to ignore her father’s comment about her mother. However, his comment on JC couldn’t be avoided. Her father wouldn’t give up until he knew what was going on between her and JC. She’d always be daddy’s little girl, no matter how old she was. “I just met JC. He’s a super nice guy and we’re going to dinner tomorrow night. I don’t know if it will turn into a relationship.”
“Why not? You’re an attractive, smart girl.”
“Thanks, Dad. JC’s got his own issues he needs to work out.”
He sat his glass of sweet tea on the coffee table. “Issues?”
Without going into many details, she explained what JC had told her at the lake. “His family means a lot to him. I don’t know if he’ll stay in Clearwater if his mother and family refuse to move here too.”
“So make it so they can’t refuse?”
“What do you mean?” She placed her bowl of ice cream on the end table and tucked her legs under her.
“Let’s build them a house, give them a true home they can’t say no to. JC served his country, it’s time his country gave back to him.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, and then glanced at her. “The project in Denver is done in three weeks and I don’t have anything lined up after that. Do you have Cameron’s number?”
“You know Cameron?” She slid her phone from the pocket of her sweats and tossed it to him. “It’s under Tessa.”
“Yes, we met several years ago. If anyone can help, it’s him. Let me call him before it’s too late. Maybe I can get the ball rolling, and you can tell JC the plan tomorrow.” He rose from the chair and headed down the hallway to the spare room.
* * *
With her father on his way back to Denver, and his promise to consider settling down in Clearwater part time, Rebecca was hopeful. If JC gave the go-ahead to build his family a home here, she’d be seeing a lot of her father in the near future.
Glancing over the quick plans her father was able to draw up over breakfast, a sliver of nervousness passed through her. If only her dad could have stayed to go over things with JC. Housing plans and land space was not her thing. She was a business major and knew next to nothing about building houses.
A knock on the door made heart flutter. With a quick glance at the clock, seeing he was a few minutes early, her nervousness quickly changed to excitement as she went to open the door. She hoped he would be as excited about the building plan as she was. When he spoke of his family the longing was clear in his eyes. He could never truly be happy without them nearby.
Opening the door, her breath caught in her throat. The faded blue jeans and grey T-shirt he wore did little to hide his toned body. She took a step back. Why would he think a woman wouldn’t be interested in him because of his injury? He was one fine specimen of pure hunk. Regaining her breath, she invited him in. “Come in.”
“There’s this girl that works at Express-Ohh’s that got me hooked on their coffee.” He laughed and handed her one of the to-go coffee cups in his hand. “Jennifer fixed your regular.”
“Thank you.” She brought the cup to her lips and sipped. She loved French vanilla cappuccino. “This girl at the coffee shop, is she pretty? Should I be concerned she’ll steal away your attention?” she teased.
“She’s beautiful and had the focus of my attention since I walked into the shop.” She shut the door behind him and waved a hand toward the dining room. “I grabbed today’s edition of the Clearwater News, to check the rental ads.”
“Actually, I have an idea about that. Please, sit down.” Butterflies danced in her stomach as she strolled toward the dining room table. Setting her coffee cup down on the table, she waited for him to sit across from her. She then took a deep breath and told him about the new plan. “I was talking to my dad about your family’s situation and he mentioned another option.”
“What option?”
She pushed her cup aside, leaning forward to wrap her hands around his. “Let’s build a home for your family.”
He sat straight, but didn’t pull his hands away. “I have some money saved, but not enough. I don’t know if I could get a loan to buy land and build, especially since I just started working for Cameron.”
“I wish my father was here to explain this to you because I knew I wouldn’t do it right.” She bit her lip, taking a moment to consider her words so he’d understand. “I meant building with my father. You’re an injured vet, trying to put your life back together.” She smiled. “Dad did some research last night. There’s a strip of land just outside of town, big enough for building.” She reluctantly let go of his hand and grabbed a green folder. Pulling out the sketches her father worked on that morning, she handed them to JC. “It’s a rough design of what he could build and you can change anything you want. The idea of a duplex allows you a place of your own and your family next door. Normally with a duplex you have equal sides, but with eight children still living at home, Dad changed the design a little. Your mother’s house would have six bedrooms, as well as a nice size playroom while the kids are younger and can be turned into a family room as they grow up, while your house would have four bedrooms.” She gave him some time to review the floor plan.
“It’s a great idea, but I wouldn’t qualify for your father’s organization. It’s for injured vets and their families—spouse and children, not mother and siblings.” He slid the paper across the table as if he couldn’t stand to think about something so far out of reach.
“It’s not through the organization. We’re going to do it. Dad called Cameron last night and got things moving. Cameron, Jordan, and some of the other residents are going to do the work. Dad will oversee the operation, and the materials are being provided by Kelly’s Hardware.” She pulled her laptop closer, opened the top, and turned it toward JC. “Here’s the land information. It’s a foreclosure and a good price. Before he left, Dad and I drove by the area this morning to make sure it would fit your needs.” She sat back, giving him time to adjust the information.
“I don’t know, I can’t allow people to do this for me. I don’t deserve it.”
“But you do. You served your country for three years before your medical discharge. The Clearwater residents want to give back. These are times when small towns like Clearwater pull together to help someone that’s done so much for them. You can set roots here, and your family can finally have a real home. Your mother can stop working two jobs and actually watch her children grow.” She closed the computer screen. “Why don’t we go look at the property and you can think about it? If you’re interested in putting an offer in we’ll meet with the realtor, Allison. Then you can make a decision with the rest of the paperwork. What do you say?” She rose from the table, holding out her hand. “Come on, looking won’t hurt.”
He stood and raised his hand to cup her cheek. He lowered his head to hover his lips just above hers. His breath was warm against her skin. “Thank you,” he whispered, and then without hesitation he pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was sweet and timid, and completely caught her off guard. With her slight hesitation, he started to move away, but she placed her hand on the back of his head, drawing him in for a deeper kiss. Adrenaline flooded her veins, as she opened her lips, allowing him entry to her mouth. His tongue slipped between her lips, and she
explored the spicy taste of coffee, devouring it until it slid away. He placed one final kiss on her lips before stepping aside, leaving her longing for his touch.
* * *
Returning to her apartment after their tour of the land, JC sat on the sofa with the plans for the house spread on the coffee table. The town’s help with construction as well as the supplies, had him thinking he could swing the costs as well as have enough savings to cover any bills that would occur, at least until his mother found a job.
Rebecca plopped down next to him. “Allison is drawing up the paperwork for your offer, and she’ll meet us downstairs in an hour. Do you want to call your mother before you sign the paperwork?”
He leaned back, turning to her. “While you were on the phone, I made a call to Cameron. I need to do this in person. The classes haven’t started yet, so I’m going to take a few days off and fly back to North Carolina.” He met her gaze and took her hand in his. “What are your plans for the next few days? Do you have to work? If not, I’d like you to come with me.”
She shuddered, blinking uncontrollably. Maybe she didn’t hear him? Or was she trying to find the words to let him down easy. “Why?”
“This was your idea, and I want you with me when I tell my family. What do you say?” His thumb glided over her knuckles. She shuddered again. “What better time to meet my family?” He teased.
She laughed. “I can think of at least a dozen better times.”
“I’ve met your father and I’ll be seeing him a lot in the coming months. It’s only fair that you meet my family. How long did your father say the project would take?”
“Eight to ten weeks, for the design in your hand. Minor changes wouldn’t change the date, but bigger adjustments could extend another two to four weeks. You’d have to talk to my dad if you want to change anything. He’d be able to give you a better length of timing.”
“I’ll leave any changes up to my mom.” JC glanced back to the plans on the table. He still couldn’t get over the fact this might happen. He didn’t deserve it, but he couldn’t turn the offer down. He’d have to find a way to repay the residents of Clearwater for their kindness. “So are you coming with me? It will probably take the two of us to convince her and the family to move.”
Losing to Win (Clearwater) Page 4