by Kaci Rose
We all sit and talk, while they share stories of Tyler, and I listen to each one. Kim and Lexi share stories about the bond they have over losing their husbands.
At one point, Brett moves and sits beside me.
“It takes a strong guy to be here and listen to her talk about another guy she loves.” He says.
“Yeah, but knowing he brought her to me, and chose me to take care of her, is an honor I don’t think I can ever repay.”
“You can by loving her hard with everything you have, and always honor his memory.”
“Oh, Lexi you should tell them about Oakside,” Becky says.
So, Lexi launches into Oakside’s story, about her idea, and the progress we’ve made.
“We should be able to start taking patients in a few weeks. If everything goes right.” Lexi says.
“What can we do to help?” Kim says without missing a beat.
“Oh, well, we always need volunteers, and help with fundraising are the two big ones,” Lexi says.
“My niece is a grant writer out in California, and she’s pretty good, but she hates the west coast. She’s looking to move back this way, so I could have her contact you.”
“That would be perfect.”
“Okay, I’ll network with the girls up here. We can set up some fundraisers, I’m sure.”
Lexi leans over and hugs her. “More than that, I hope you’ll make the trip down soon, so I can show it off to you. I bought the house next door, and there’s an apartment with its own entrance, and you’re welcome to stay.”
“We’ll be there.” We spend another hour talking before we head out with the agreement to meet up for dinner that night. Dinner is much the same, laughing and talking of old memories and Oakside.
On the way home the next day, Lexi is driving, when I have an idea, and I look over at her, not sure how she will take it. While I’m debating about telling her, she interrupts my thoughts.
“Just tell me, Noah.” She says without taking her eyes off the road.
“How did you know?”
“You start to get antsy and study me, trying to decide my mood, before telling me stuff.”
Of course, Lexi can read me like an open book, and I shouldn’t expect anything less at this point.
“Okay, well, I had an idea, and I don’t know if you’ll like it.”
“Tell me.” She reaches over to take my hand.
“I want to dedicate Oakside to Tyler. Put up a photo and his story on a wall in the lobby.” I say, but stop as the car slows down, and Lexi pulls over to the side of the road.
Once the car is in park, Lexi bursts into tears, and I don’t know what to do. I pull her into my arms, and she buries her head on my chest. I look in to the back seat, and Becky already has tears falling but offers me a wobbly smile. Johnny smiles and nods his head, before pulling Becky into his side.
“Angel, what’s wrong. I can’t fix it if I won’t know what’s wrong.” I say in a bit of a panic.
“I love the idea, Noah.” She takes some deep breaths, trying to get her emotions back under control.
When she finally lifts her head and looks at me, her eyes are sparkling, even though they’re slightly puffy from crying.
“It’s perfect, and I love the idea. I love you, Noah. Thank you for all this, coming with me, not wanting to hide Tyler, and for just being you.” She leans in and kisses me.
Like she does with every kiss, her hand starts to touch the scars on the side of my face, and I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it anymore.
“Lexi baby, we aren’t alone,” I whisper against her lips.
This makes her pull back, and she glances in the back seat.
“Sorry.” She says, and her cheeks blush the sexiest shade of pink.
“When we get home, angel, when we get home.”
Chapter 36
Lexi
Oakside is officially up and running. We get our first five patients tomorrow, including Easton. And I can’t wait. I also can’t bring myself to leave Oakside and go home, and I think it’s driving Noah a bit crazy. He seems more on edge tonight than normal.
“Just think, Noah. This is the last night Oakside will sit empty. There will be patients and staff here around the clock as of tomorrow.” I say, standing in the lobby that feels like a huge living room.
We kept the fireplace but covered it in stones. The walls are white shiplap that really brightens up the whole space. One wall is covered in windows and overlooks a courtyard that is between the lobby and the hallway that has the library, dining room, and PT room.
There are couches and chairs along with bookcases and a TV, and I already know where their Christmas tree will go each year.
“Let’s go for a walk outside and enjoy the night,” Noah takes my hand.
The sun is just setting, and it casts a beautiful light over the property. We had a small garden added, but it has room to grow. We built it up with some stone walls and an iron gate to give it a hidden away, but peaceful sanctuary for patients.
On one side there’s a wood arbor that by this time next year will be covered in the most beautiful flowers. Under the arbor are two large swings the size of couches that can fit up to four people easily. They have comfortable pillows on them that make them inviting.
Then, on the other side of the garden is a manmade stream that you can walk along, and even has a waterfall along with a bench you can sit next, too. There are benches scattered throughout the garden, and I can see patients out here, enjoying the sun.
We walk down no particular path until we reach the center of the garden, and Noah stops and turns to me.
“Look at everything you did, Lexi, bringing this place to life, bringing me back to life.”
“Noah, you were a big help in both of those things as well.”
He smiles and takes both my hands in his.
“The way I feel about you is like nothing I’ve ever felt. Sometimes it’s scary, sometimes it’s breathtaking, and other times it leaves me amazed. I love you, and I know now I didn’t know what love was until I met you. Your dream for Oakside is infectious. I saw it sprouting that first day, and it took hold of me, too. I can’t wait to see what you do with this place, and I can’t wait to be by your side, as you do.” Then, he drops down on one knee.
I gasp. This is the last thing I expected tonight. I was so wrapped up in everything happening tomorrow. Is this why Noah has been on edge all night?
“Lexi, I know we have both been here before. But I could tell you nothing has ever felt more right like if I passed this up, I’d be making the worst mistake of my life. I will love you with every breath that I have. Will you marry me, angel?”
There’s no doubt in my mind when I answer him. I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point, I knew I’d spend the rest of my life by his side. When I looked into my future with him and with Oakside, I saw us together.
“Oh, Noah. I love you too, and yes, I will marry you,” I throw my arms around his neck.
He slides the most beautiful emerald cut ring on my finger, before standing and pulling me into a scorching kiss. Then, with a huge smile on his face, he pulls me along to the waterfall. On the bench are a few blankets and pillows.
“Now for the record, so it doesn’t come up, no, that’s not the ring I gave Whitney. When I called my mom to tell her I was going to propose, she tore me up one side and down another about not using the same ring. I never got Whitney’s ring back.”
I just laugh, “I can see your mom doing that.”
“So, this is the last night, before Oakside is never empty again. I want to make love to you here by the waterfall. What do you say, angel?” He says, looking at his feet a bit shy.
“Oh, Noah, it’s perfect,” I say.
He grabs the blanket and lay it down on the ground and add the pillows and place a second blanket down by our feet, as we both sit down and stare at the waterfall before he pulls me in for a kiss.
Then, he lays me back on the blanket and rol
ls over on top of me. Bracing himself on his elbows, he runs his hands through my hair, framing my face.
“I can’t wait to see you wearing my ring and nothing else,” he kisses my nose.
“I can’t wait to see you wearing nothing,” I say, and he smiles.
In no time flat, we remove our clothes and toss them on the bench. I lay back down on the blanket, and he takes a moment to let his eyes roam over me, and I do the same to him. This amazing, strong man is mine.
He takes his time kissing every inch of exposed skin that he can from my neck to my chest to my stomach and back up.
“Noah,” I whisper.
“Taking it slow tonight, angel.” He whispers back.
* * *
I still can’t stop staring at my engagement ring, since Noah put it there last night. Thinking of last night makes me blush. Noah did take it slow. He teased me for hours both of us hovering on the edge. It was the best night of my life.
Even now, as we stand at the Oakside front door and watch the transportation van drive up bringing our first five patients, I twist the ring to watch the light catch it. I know Noah is excited to have Easton here, and Brooke is all smiles, too. She’s as excited about today as we are.
Until we take on more patients, we have a limited staff. But everyone we hired is just as excited for today as we are; they are passionate about helping our servicemen and women.
When the van parks, we all head over to help the guys out.
“Hailey, I didn’t expect to see you here!” Brooke says, hugging her friend.
“I volunteered for the transport duty for this place. Figured I’d take any way to see my bestie now that she’s left me alone at the hospital,” Hailey then hands Brooke the folder for the patients.
“Nothing has changed, since I talked to you. We did have to give Easton a sedative, so we brought a wheelchair for him.” Hailey turns to us.
“You guys know Easton, but these guys are Jared, Asher, Oliver, and James.”
It’s a flurry of activity, getting them settled in their rooms, and the nurses as well as Noah and me, catch up on their files. We decided to be as hands on as possible. We want to know the patients and bring in specialists if needed to help them.
Someone like Easton who needs specialized treatment. I talked to Paisley, and she’ll be visiting in a few weeks after she finishes training the dog she’s working with. We’re hoping some time with Molly might help Easton.
We spent all this time worrying about what we can bring in to help them that we didn’t plan on what we need to keep out.
Chapter 37
Noah
Today, I wake up, and Lexi is already out of bed. Judging by the smell of coffee, I think she’s downstairs in the kitchen. How she’s up so early after the long night at the fundraiser last night, I don’t know.
That makes the third fundraiser in two weeks, and as much as I know we need the money for Oakside, I need a break from being on display all night.
I hate waking up without her in my arms, but I get dressed, before heading downstairs, because I know Lexi will want to head over to Oakside, as soon as we are done eating.
I find Lexi at the countertop bar on her tablet drinking coffee. I walk up behind her and kiss her on the top of the head.
“Morning, angel,” I say and get my coffee.
“Look, Noah, the fundraiser last night was covered by a news outlet in Atlanta.”
“Great,” I say, not even looking at what she shows me.
“Noah, this is really good exposure for Oakside.”
“Lexi, I need a break. I can’t keep doing these fundraisers like this. It’s too much.” I tell her straight to the point.
“But it’s only been three of them.” She looks up at me.
“Lexi, it’s draining. Standing up there and reliving the worst thing to ever happen to me over and over. Then, I’m on display the rest of the night. It’s hard enough dealing with the scars without feeling like a zoo animal. Then, there’s people asking questions they have no business asking me all night long.” I set my coffee down without even drinking it.
“Noah…”
“No, Lexi, how would you like to have to tell the story of the day two uniformed officers showed up on your doorstep to tell you Tyler was dead? How you had to bury Tyler? Would you like to have to tell that story over and over and over, and then answer questions to complete strangers all night?”
“I wouldn’t,” she whispers.
“Exactly. I’m heading in. See you there.” I escape to Oakside.
Oakside has become my sanctuary. Here I’m surrounded by people who get it, and no one looks twice at my scars. The walk from our house next door down the path to Oakside is enough to clear my heart and get me in a better mood.
The guys here have enough to deal with, and they don’t need me in a crappy mood from things going on in my life. I want to give them my all, so the walk gets me in the headspace to do just that.
Like I do every day, my first stop is to see Easton. He’s talking to me a little more, but not anyone else. I knock on his door, and he doesn’t even need to turn from the window.
“Noah,” he says.
“Hey, how are you doing today?” I ask him like I do every morning.
“Same as yesterday. What’s wrong?” One thing I learned about Easton is he might be quiet, but he picks up on everything.
“Lexi and I had an argument before I came over. It’s hard doing these fundraisers and telling my story all the time.” I’m honest with him.
“I can imagine. Maybe, it’s time to share someone else’s story. Wasn’t her bother injured in the same blast?”
Of course, a simple solution. Johnny keeps saying he wants to help out and do more. He can fill in for the next fundraiser or two, and it would give me enough of a break, before the big one on the schedule in Knoxville.
I smile, “Yeah, he was. Thank you.”
“Noah?”
“Yeah?”
“Give Lexi a bit more time to cool down.”
I laugh, “You’re right, and I will. I’ll be back around later.”
Easton nods, and that’s the end of our visit. I make my rounds and check on the other guys here. Most are happy to be here, but some not so much. I check in with the staff to make sure they have what they need, before going to find Lexi. Normally, she’s working at the desk in the lobby, available in case anyone needs her.
As I walk into the lobby, I almost run into Lexi, but she looks even madder than she did, when I left the house. I want to smooth things over, but I guess Easton is right this isn’t the time. But this seems to be more than just our fight this morning.
“What’s wrong?” I place a hand on her shoulder.
She doesn’t shrug my hand away, so that’s something, but she doesn’t speak. She just points to Whitney at the other end of the lobby.
“I’ll tell her to leave.”
“Noah, talk to her. You need closure, and she obviously has something to say. You guys have a history.”
She won’t meet my eyes, and I detect a quiver in her voice.
I don’t want Lexi to ever feel like the door on Whitney isn’t closed, and even though I have no desire to ever talk to her again, I will for Lexi.
“Okay, but only because you told me, too.” I try to tilt her head up to look at me, but she won’t budge.
“I have things to do,” she says, walking away.
I watch her go and want nothing more than to chase after her and fix this now because I hate having her upset at me. But I have to get rid of Whitney first. She always did have a knack for bad timing.
“Noah!” She says loudly, as soon as she sees me and tries to hug me, which I dodge. There are a few people scattered around the lobby, so I know this isn’t the place to do this.
“Hey, let’s go to the courtyard and talk.”
The courtyard will get her away from the patients but isn’t really private either.
“Lead the way.” Whitney
smiles that fake for the public smile.
I take her to the lobby door that opens to the courtyard, walking over to a bench, and sit on the edge. She then sits down as close as she can get. My whole body goes stiff. I don’t like her close. Heck, I don’t like anyone, but Lexi this close.
Her perfume makes my stomach roll, and I’m ready for this to be over all ready.
“What are you doing here, Whitney?”
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Noah. Things… Things didn’t end well, and that’s on me. The stress of it all it was too much.”
“You don’t think I was under stress?” I grit out. “I was lying in a hospital bed fighting for my life.”
“I know you were, Noah. I know that now, but look what you’ve done.” She looks around the courtyard, making me hate that she’s here in this space.
“I wanted to come and apologize. I handled things horribly.” She makes it actually sound sincere.
“You did, but it all worked out,” I say, keeping my voice flat and free of emotion.
She looks down at her hands in her lap, and when she looks back up at me, her eyes are teary, but I have an inkling they’re fake and forced.
“We could be great together, Noah. This place is an amazing concept, and with the right push, it could be huge. Think about it. With my influence and you on my arm, it would really elevate Oakside into something great. Give us another chance, Noah.” She says, resting her hand on my arm.
Whitney is an influencer on social media; she’s a ladder climber, ambitious, too. When I was in the hospital, the more I thought about it, the more I think she was with me to have a military connection. A soldier on her arm for photos to make her look good. Also saying she’s a military girlfriend or fiancé to get publicity or anything else free she could get out of it.
It’s why she was so obsessed about the photos and so sure I’d ruined them. Now, she wants to waltz back in here, as if nothing happened.
She misreads my silence and keeps talking.
“You know I love you. I always have. I want to support you in this.” She pouts with what I’m sure she thinks is sexy.