Battlefield of the Heart

by E. A. West

  Cindy laid her hand on his jaw, the forming stubble rough against her palm. “I doubt I’ll have to go to anyone in the veterans’ group. I have a feeling you’d go to them yourself if I said anything to you.”

  He nodded and stepped back. “Probably. Those guys are helping me deal with the weird position of being somewhere between army and civilian. Technically, I’m a civilian, and I have been for a while, but it doesn’t feel that way a lot of the time.”

  She slipped her hand into his. “It’ll feel like it eventually.”

  When they rejoined the group, Matt gazed steadily at Danny. “I assume you’re treating my cousin right?”

  “I wouldn’t do anything less.”

  “I didn’t think so, but I had to check.”

  Cindy sat down beside Danny and leaned close, letting the concert cover her words. “Matt’s the one who helped me get away from that guy when I was fourteen.”

  Danny patted her knee with a smile. “I’m glad to know he’s looking out for you.”

  She covered his hand with hers, looking forward to building her relationship with him. It wouldn’t be easy dating someone with post-traumatic stress disorder, but Danny was a sweet, gentle man with a big heart… just the kind of guy she’d always wanted.

  Chapter Eleven

  Late Saturday morning, Cindy went in search of Danny. She wanted to pick up a movie she’d left at her parents’ house, which presented the perfect opportunity to introduce Danny to her parents. She’d told her mom about him, but her parents needed to see for themselves that he was a good guy. When she went down to Danny’s room, his roommate told her he’d taken his camera and was wandering around campus somewhere.

  As Cindy went back to her room, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and called Danny’s cell. He promised to meet her in the dorm lobby in fifteen minutes. She wrote out a quick note to let Leann know where she’d gone, then checked the light touch of makeup she’d applied earlier. A fresh swipe of tinted lip gloss, and she was ready to go.

  As soon as Danny walked in the door, he lifted his camera and snapped a picture of Cindy. She smiled and joined him in the center of the lobby.

  “What did you do that for?”

  “I always take a photo when I see something beautiful.” He gave her a quick kiss then put his arm around her shoulders as he guided her toward the door. “So, where do your parents live?”

  “In Hardacre Woods just outside Pendleton.” She glanced at him as they stepped outside. “Do you know where that is?”

  “Pendleton, yes. You’ll have to give me directions to Hardacre Woods.”

  During the half-hour drive, Danny talked about photography and described some of the photos he’d taken around campus. His enthusiasm was contagious, and she decided to ask her parents about a camera before leaving their house. Maybe Danny would give her a quick lesson that evening. He seemed so relaxed and content when talking about photography, and she wanted him to be that way as much as possible; those times made her more confident of her decision to date him.

  When they arrived at her parents’ two-story house made of dark red brick with white siding, Danny pulled into the drive behind her mom’s blue compact car and turned off the engine. “This is a nice house.”

  “Thanks.” Cindy took his hand as they headed up the walk. A pair of planters she’d never seen flanked the front door. A mix of flowers sprouted from the center of each planter, and ivy vines spilled over the edges. “I probably should have warned you that my parents are likely to give you the third degree. Matt isn’t the only one who’s protective of me when it comes to boyfriends.”

  “I hope I live up to your parents’ standards.”

  She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled. “You live up to mine.”

  He gently stroked her cheek, sending a happy shiver racing along her spine. She searched his eyes — did he know how much she wanted him to like her parents? Would they accept that she liked Danny once they learned about his problems?

  Shoving her worries aside, she opened the front door and led him inside.

  “Mom, Dad, I brought someone I’d like you to meet!”

  Her mother came from the direction of the kitchen, her expression curious. As she studied Danny, understanding touched her features and she smiled.

  “Hi, I’m Ellen Waymire, Cindy’s mom.”

  Danny pulled his hand from Cindy’s to shake Ellen’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Danny Flynn.”

  So far so good, but they were only halfway through the introductions. Cindy cast a quick glance into the living room. It looked the same as always with a pair of upholstered chairs and a matching sofa grouped in front of the fieldstone fireplace. A few magazines lay casually scattered on the coffee table, and a novel rested face down on the small table by the rocking chair in the corner. “Where’s Dad?”

  “He went to the store for me. He should be back any minute.” Ellen raised her eyebrows. “Are you two planning to stick around for lunch?”

  Cindy glanced at Danny, and he shrugged. Apparently, she would have to make the decision on her own. She returned her attention to her mother. “We can, if you don’t mind feeding us.”

  “Of course I don’t mind! Besides, your father will want to meet Danny.”

  Cindy rolled her eyes. Could her mother sound more overprotective with such an innocuous statement? “Would it help to know Matt’s already met Danny and talked to him a few times?”

  Ellen studied her with a cautious gaze. “Maybe.”

  Danny grinned, seeming at ease in the face of her suspicion. “He’s dating one of my close friends, and I’m sure Lacey’s told him all about me. Since Matt hasn’t tried to run me off, I assume that means he approves.”

  “Oh, I don’t mean to imply that we’ll run you off!” A pink tinge crept into Ellen’s cheeks. “We’re just protective of Cindy. We want to be sure she’s treated with respect.”

  “Mom, I’ve learned a lot since I was fourteen.” Cindy stepped forward and gave her mother a hug, whispering, “Danny’s a good guy. And we have a group of friends who wouldn’t let him mistreat me or any other woman, for that matter.”

  Ellen held her tight then released her and stepped back with a smile. “I’ll have to trust you on that one. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to work on lunch.”

  She headed for the back of the house, and Cindy turned to find Danny watching her mother. His expression was unreadable as he shifted his attention to Cindy.

  “You weren’t kidding about the third degree, were you?”

  “My parents are paranoid, but they’ll get over it quickly enough.” She grabbed his hand and led him toward the stairs. “Come on. That movie is up in my room. If we’re lucky, my cat will be up there so you can meet him, too.”

  He followed her up the stairs, keeping his hand in hers. When they reached the second floor hallway, he stepped up beside her and glanced at the few black-framed photos on the pale peach-colored wall. He stopped her in front of the photo across from her door. “You were a cute little kid.”

  Her cheeks warmed as she took in the blonde pigtails on the sides of her little-girl head. “That’s a bigger version of my yearbook picture.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Not quite seven. That was taken at the beginning of first grade.”

  Danny started to say something, but a meow at their feet interrupted. Cindy leaned down and scooped up the black-and-white cat.

  “This is Elmo. Elmo, say hi to Danny.”

  He smiled and reached out to stroke the cat’s head. “He’s soft.”

  “You want to hold him?” She held the ten-pound cat out to him.

  “As long as he doesn’t mind.” He accepted the cat and cradled the furry body against his chest. “Hey, Elmo. You’re a friendly little guy, aren’t you?”

  The cat shifted in his arms and looked completely content. Cindy smiled as she opened the door of her room. “I think you have a new friend.”

  “Yeah, one w
ho’s as sweet as his human.” Danny followed her into her room and glanced around. “This looks just like I imagined.”

  “It does?” She raised her eyebrows, hoping he’d explain.

  He nodded as he gently scratched Elmo’s chin. “It’s neat, which your dorm room tells me you like; it’s feminine, like you; and your shelves are filled with books and stuffed animals, which fits your personality perfectly.”

  She glanced at the cream-colored walls, pastel accents, and tidy shelves and had to admit he was right. Her room did say a lot about her. “Let me guess, your room at your parents’ house is filled with photography equipment and photos.”

  “Some, but I also have a bunch of books. There are a couple of boxes in the middle of the floor that I never unpacked after I came home.”

  He’d been home for a year and just left a couple of boxes undisturbed in the middle of his floor? Something about his expression made her believe it was more than a simple case of never getting around to dealing with them. “Why didn’t you unpack them?”

  He dropped his gaze to the cat dozing in his arms. “I couldn’t at first. Too many memories. And now…” He shrugged and looked up at her. “I’m not sure I even care what’s in them anymore.”

  Something she’d learned about PTSD popped into her mind. He was using avoidance to prevent even the possibility of having a traumatic memory triggered by something in those boxes. From what she’d read, avoidance would give him more problems in the long run than remembering would. She stepped close and put her hand on his arm. “Danny, those boxes hold pieces of your life. You should go through them and make sure you don’t want any of that stuff. Just leaving them in the middle of your floor can’t be a good thing.”

  “My mom agrees with you. My dad just wishes I’d face the past and deal with everything. If that means unpacking those boxes, he’s all for it.”

  She had an idea that might give him the courage to deal with whatever those boxes contained, but she didn’t know how he’d react to it. Yes, she cared a great deal about him, but they hadn’t been dating very long. She shoved down her doubts and suggested it anyway. “You know, I could help you unpack them if you think it would help to have me there.”

  A slight smile touched his lips, and he shook his head. “You’re sweet to offer, but I’m not ready to face what those boxes hold. Once I can put it all behind me and deal with life like every normal human being, then I’ll take care of the boxes.”

  He certainly was stubborn. “Unpacking the memories might help you put it all behind you.”

  “Don’t worry so much. I’ll deal with the boxes eventually. For the moment, they’re perfectly happy sitting in the middle of the floor.” He planted a light kiss on her cheek. “Now, what was that movie you wanted to pick up?”

  She let him drop the issue and walked over to her desk. Trying to discuss it any more would only irritate him. After digging through the bottom drawer to retrieve the DVD she wanted, she rejoined him and they headed into the hall. The front door closed, and Elmo leaped out of Danny’s arms to dart down the stairs.

  “Sounds like my dad’s home,” Cindy said as they followed the cat at a slower pace.

  “I wonder what your mom will tell him about me?”

  She paused to give him a hug. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure my dad will like you just fine.”

  “I hope so.” He held her a moment longer, then he released her and grinned. “I think meeting a general for the first time was less intimidating than meeting your dad.”

  She rolled her eyes and took his hand. “Oh, come on. My dad’s a nice guy.” Halfway down the stairs, she gave in to her curiosity. “Why did you meet a general?”

  He avoided looking at her. “There was a meeting about something we had to do.”

  “That was a nice vague answer.”

  Her favorite teasing twinkle sparked to life in his eyes. “I could be more specific, but then I’d have to kill you.”

  Cindy laughed and spotted her father at the base of the stairs. He stared at them with wide eyes, and she realized he must have heard the end of Danny’s comment. “Hi, Daddy.”

  “Hi, sweetheart.” He focused on Danny. “Why are you threatening to kill my daughter?”

  “It was just a joke, sir. I’d never intentionally do anything to harm her.” Danny glanced at Cindy, his discomfort showing in his eyes, and a wave of sympathy washed through her. Apparently, he’d been serious when he said meeting her father was intimidating.

  A quick prayer for him winged heavenward, and she gave his hand a squeeze as they went down the last few steps. “Dad, this is the guy I’ve been seeing, Danny Flynn.”

  “I’m Peter Waymire.” He gave Danny a firm handshake. “I figured you weren’t serious about killing Cindy. You have to admit it’s an odd thing to hear, though.”

  “I guess it would be.”

  Cindy glanced at Danny then returned her gaze to her father. Lord, please guide me. Maybe an explanation would remove some of the tension between them. “He was trying to avoid telling me why he met a general. Apparently, he’s not allowed to talk about it. Either that or he just doesn’t want to.”

  “It’s a little of both,” Danny said with a shrug. “The army can be touchy about some topics.”

  Peter raised his eyebrows. “You’re in the army?”

  “I was. I got discharged about a year ago.”

  “How long were you in?”

  “Six and a half years.”

  “Six and a half years?” Puzzlement creased Peter’s brow. “I thought enlistment was three or four years at a time.”

  “There were some extenuating circumstances that got me discharged early.” Danny shot Cindy an uncomfortable glance. “If it hadn’t been for that, I’d still be in. Probably until I got my twenty in and could retire.”

  Peter remained silent so long Cindy began to worry about what he’d say next. “Danny, I get the feeling you don’t like talking about what led to your early discharge. But for my own peace of mind, since you’re dating my daughter, will you tell me if it was an honorable or dishonorable discharge?”

  “Oh, I was honorably discharged. I just…” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “They gave me a medical discharge because of severe post-traumatic stress disorder. I couldn’t handle combat any longer, and they decided it would be best for my mental health to remove me from the army completely rather than giving me a job stateside.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, son.” Peter put a hand on Danny’s shoulder, giving a sympathetic squeeze, and Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like her dad would approve of him after all.

  Danny lifted the other shoulder in a shrug. “It’s life. I served my country, did my duty, and now I’m in college.”

  Her father lowered his hand. “What are you studying?”

  “I haven’t decided on a major yet, but I’m thinking about English.”

  Cindy slid an arm around his waist. “He’s an excellent proofreader. He helped me get an A on my last sociology paper.”

  “You would have gotten an A without me,” Danny said, draping his arm across her shoulders. “That paper was awesome.”

  Peter smiled and Ellen joined them to announce lunch. Danny held Cindy back as her parents headed for the kitchen.

  “You know, your dad has something in common with generals.” His eyes twinkled. “Once I’ve met them and talked to them a little, they aren’t nearly as intimidating.”

  She laughed and hooked her arm through his as they headed for the back of the house. “I told you my dad’s a nice guy.”

  ****

  Danny’s cell phone rang soon after they finished lunch and moved to the living room. He spoke briefly with the caller, then he turned to Cindy and lowered the phone. “Do you want to go to my parents’ house for dinner? My father is determined to grill burgers, and Mom doesn’t see a point to grilling for just two people.”

  She smiled and nodded, excited at the prospect of meeting his par
ents. “Sounds good to me.”

  He lifted his phone again and quickly ended the conversation. As he returned his phone to the holster at his waist, Peter spoke. “Do your parents live near here, Danny?”

  “They’re about twenty minutes or so from here, over in Maple Creek.” Elmo the cat jumped in Danny’s lap, and he stroked the animal as he continued. “They were relieved when I chose to go to a school so close to home. According to my dad, they want me close by so they can make up for all the time they didn’t see me while I was in the army.”

  Peter chuckled. “That makes sense to me. From what little you’ve said, you didn’t spend much time at home during your enlistment.”

  Danny looked down at the cat settling down for a nap. “No, I was stationed in other parts of the country, and I was overseas quite a bit.”

  Cindy could tell he didn’t want to talk about it, so she abruptly changed the subject. “Hey, Dad, will you buy me a camera?”

  Peter lifted an eyebrow. “I thought you had a camera.”

  “I do, but it has automatic focus. I need one with manual focus if Danny’s going to teach me about photography.”

  Ellen turned to Danny, looking impressed. “I didn’t know you were a photographer.”

  “I’m strictly an amateur,” he said, finally lifting his gaze from the cat he still stroked. “But I did offer to teach Cindy what I know.”

  “So, can I have a camera?” Cindy gave her parents a look she hoped would get them to agree.

  “Yes, you may have a camera, but you don’t need to buy one.” Peter stood and moved to the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”

  She watched him go upstairs then turned to her mother. “What is he talking about?”

  “I have an idea, but I’ll let him explain when he gets back.”

  Cindy rolled her eyes as she looked at Danny. “Are your parents this exasperating?”