Dan had returned to Chicago, and had supposedly flown out to Washington D.C. early that morning. He’d promised to call her sometime tonight.
When she finally pulled off from the exit ramp that led into Crystal Rock, it was just approaching two o’clock. The last thing she wanted to do was sit around all day waiting for Dan to call.
She felt a sudden urge to drive out to Dragonfly Pointe. Continuing through town, she sped past the street that led to the Callahan house. Following the access road, and continuing on around the bay of Crystal Rock, Kelly was soon pulling her car into an empty space in the Dragonfly Pointe Beach parking lot.
Stepping out from the car, she was instantly soothed, breathing in the fresh crisp air. Instinctively, she found herself following the path that she and Luke had traveled nearly one year earlier. Stopping and staring out across the calm, clear water of Crystal Rock Lake, she felt…better.
After about fifteen minutes, Kelly decided to take a walk around the point. She was curious about the cabin overlooking the bay, that she and Luke had loved. Was anyone living there now?
Kelly started, coming upon on the ‘for sale’ sign mounted high above the beach. The cabin was for sale? She couldn’t figure out why, but, for some reason, the thought of Jake Loughlin selling off this property suddenly made her panic.
But just then, coincidentally, Jake pulled his truck into the driveway.
Kelly began walking toward the garage as Jake stepped out from his truck.
Jake smiled the moment he noticed her. “Kelly? Congratulations on your graduation. How in the heck are ya?”
“Sad, Jake,” she answered evenly.
Jake immediately frowned. “What’s up?”
“It’s Luke.” She hesitated. “He’s not good.” As she turned away, Kelly’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “And he doesn’t want to see me.” Kelly noticed that, for some reason, Jake took the news like he’d been punched in the gut. “Thanks for helping us figure out what was going on, by the way.”
Jake sighed heavily. “Kelly. There’re some other things you really need to know about Luke–information, I think, that you have the right to know.”
She stared at Jake with a puzzled frown.
“I assume you’re planning on sticking with Luke? You aren’t the kind of girl who’d give up on him now–are you?”
She nodded no decisively.
“Alright–let’s go inside and talk.”
****
Fifteen minutes later, Kelly sat with Jake at the kitchen table drinking iced tea. Normally, she would’ve been curious to take another look around the house–apparently, Jake had had the house staged and furnished before putting it on the market. But Jake was looking decidedly grim at the moment.
Finally, he grimaced. “I’m not exactly sure where to begin. But I will say this–don’t get serious with someone, unless you’re ready to bare your soul to them. Keeping secrets is definitely the wrong way to go, if you want your relationship to survive.”
Kelly stared hard at Jake. He was beginning to really worry her. What he had to say must be pretty awful, looking at the big picture, with everything else that’d been happening with Luke.
“In normal circumstances, Kelly, I wouldn’t feel like I had the right to tell you this. But I think Luke’s past is what’s contributing to his decision to distance himself—from not only you, but your entire family. He’s been hospitalized nearly six months, you know, and now he’s using his disabilities as an excuse. Apparently, he hasn’t allowed anyone to contact you or your family. It was probably difficult for him to accept your feelings for him in the first place, because of all his insecurities.”
Kelly understood immediately. Luke had always been so hard to read. “I…you’re probably right, I guess, when I look back and think about it. Okay–go ahead and tell me–I promise, whatever it is, I can handle it.”
He looked slightly uncomfortable as he fiddled with his glass of iced tea. “I guess I’ll start by telling you about me–since mine and Luke’s circumstances were pretty similar. I…ya, had an abusive father, you know. When he wasn’t beating up my mom, he was beating up on me.”
“No, Jake, I didn’t know,” she answered softy.
“But having to tell Danielle about it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. So hard, in fact, I didn’t tell her until long after we were married.” He hesitated. “It caused some…issues between us, even though we’re fine now. I should’ve trusted her with the truth sooner–just like she should’ve have trusted me with her secrets, too.”
Kelly nodded her agreement, becoming thoughtful. “Yeah. Luke has never really told me much about his past–even though I, pretty much, know what happened.”
Jake’s eyes met hers. “But, I’m guessing, maybe you don’t know everything?” Sighing heavily, he continued. “At about six-years old, I began running interference with my stepdad. My mom was tough, but tiny.” Jake stood up from the table, and approaching the sliding glass doors that led outside to the deck, he suddenly slid open the door with unnecessary force. Sticking his head outside the door, Jake sucked in a deep breath of fresh air.
All the while, Kelly’s thoughts were becoming filled with dread. Why hadn’t this possibility ever occurred to her? Had her grandfather known, then, when he’d been raising Luke, that Luke had been molested? Probably, she decided.
“That was the first time it happened, Kelly, and it never really stopped,” Jake said quietly. “And as far as Luke’s concerned–he’s my cousin–at least by marriage. I’m sorry to say, that I considered his brother Josh as a lost cause. But I knew from the first time I met Luke as a teenager, that the same thing that’d happened to me had happened to him–there was just something about his behavior that reminded me so much of myself at his age. My father was his stepfather’s brother. The funny thing is, I never knew my dad had a brother, or I would’ve tried to come to Luke’s rescue sooner.”
After discovering all the awful things that were happening to Luke now, she’d assumed nothing she heard regarding his history would shock her. Obviously, she’d been wrong. Kelly was pulling all the events of the past together in her mind–Luke’s behavior, the way he’d defended his stepbrother, Josh–who’d probably been assaulted by Luke’s stepfather, too–it was all beginning to make sense.
Jake hesitated, staring intently at Kelly. “Well–are you strong enough to handle this? That’s why Luke’s probably never thought he was good enough for you, sweetie–he’s putting on a front to protect himself, from the hurt he’d be feeling, if you rejected him the way he was now.”
“Nothing’s gonna ever make me stop loving Luke,” she answered fiercely. “That’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it’s always gonna be.”
Jake nodded approvingly. “In that case, we’ve got a lot to discuss. Whether Luke wants my help or not, he’s gonna get it. I have a great idea about a career path for him to follow, since he’ll be honorably discharged from the Air Force.”
Kelly lifted her chin stubbornly. “And I’ve got a great idea, too. Jake. I’ve got a nice, tidy sum tucked away into a savings account, from my modeling days. How much do you want for this house?”
Jake blinked.
****
Five hours later, Kelly was pacing the floor at home, waiting for Dan to call. She’d sat with Jake another couple of hours ironing out the details of Luke’s future, before settling on a price for the house. And then Jake had stunned her with another suggestion–this time regarding Kelly’s career.
Just then, the phone rang, interrupting her train of thoughts. Her eyes instantly locked onto her brother’s name on the caller I.D., and she quickly switched on the phone. “Dan. Did you see him–how is he?”
“He’s…well–alright, I guess, Kel. He’s not too pretty–but then again, I guess that he wasn’t very pretty before, either.”
Kelly knew she should be laughing to ease Dan’s mind, but she just couldn’t seem to do it.
“And damn it—he’s moody and bad-tempered–he isn’t doing anything he’d supposed to be doing when it comes to rehab. But the doctor told me that Luke’s complaining and whining is good, in some ways. At least he’s not moping around about his leg and acting depressed anymore.”
“What did he say about me, Dan? When will I be able to see him?”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry, Kel–I even tried to guilt him into it.”
She sighed. “Oh.” The word came out slow and tortured, as her heart sank.
“And now there’s another problem–he’s due to be released from the V.A. hospital next week. But he doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“Well, as to that, Dan, I think that I’ve already got that taken care of.”
“He can’t stay at our house, with Mom and Dad–it’d be impossible for him to get up and down all the steps. Plus, I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t really want to be around anyone, anyway.”
As Dan continued to think out loud, Kelly attempted interrupting him again. “Dan! I bought a house. Luke will be able to just stay there.”
“And he can’t stay with Grandpa, Luke would be too much for him, I think.” There was finally a brief silence, as Kelly’s words must’ve apparently sunk in. “I…what’d you just say–that you bought a house?”
“Yeah. You know that beautiful two-story cabin, that Jake Loughlin built, overlooking the bay?”
“That green one–as in eco-friendly?”
“That’s the one.”
“How in the hell could you afford to buy a house? Especially that one?”
“Let’s just say that I made a little bit of money with my modeling,” she answered, matter-of-factly.
“Apparently a lot more than I thought. Sometime, you’re gonna have to explain to me how you managed to be awarded a scholarship with money in the bank,” Dan said, dryly.
“Technically, it wasn’t in the bank–it was tied up in investments that I couldn’t touch,” she said.
“I said sometime–just not right now. Your financial talk goes straight over my head, Sis.”
This time Kelly did begin to laugh–before she began to cry.
Dan spoke softly, “Aww, come on, Kel–I promise, everything will be alright.”
“At least I’ve got some good news, Dan,” she said, once she’d finally managed to settle down. Her voice was still quivering as she continued, “Jake Loughlin’s offered me a full-time job, as an accountant for the Dragonfly Pointe Inn.”
“If that’s what you really want–then I’m happy for you. Plus, you’ll be able to be near Luke.”
“Well, there’s a lot more to it than that. Did you know that Jake purchased the Crystal Rock Airport, after their only major airline pulled out, several years ago?”
“Seems to me I might’ve heard Dad talking about it once.”
“Jake keeps a skeleton crew on standby. There’s a single runway clear, and a hangar open for his private plane. But he asked me to take a look at the numbers. He’s thinking about reopening the airport to the public, because it might prove useful for encouraging year round business at the inn.”
“That’s great. I know how much you love a challenge.”
“Hold on, just a second–there’s more. Guess who Jake has decided he’d like to run the operations–as soon as he’s ready and able, that is?”
“No–not Luke. Really? I’d think a job like that would be tailor-made for him! Providing we can eventually get him on track with recovery, that is. And after seeing him moping around in the hospital, I’m pretty determined about getting that done. Great work, Sis. You done good today.”
Finalizing plans for Luke’s return to Crystal Rock, Kelly and Dan continued to talk for a few more minutes. Jake Loughlin would fly Luke home in his private plane. After searching for a local physician who was capable of taking him on, Kelly would have to interview and hire a physical therapist. And whether Luke liked it or not, Kelly would find ways to inundate herself into his life.
But the question was, Kelly thought, when she finally switched off her phone–how would Luke feel about running the local airport? It was such a huge step down from Air Force command–and piloting–now that he wouldn’t be able to fly. Maybe Jake hadn’t thought about this nearly well enough, considering Luke’s current state of mind?
But she was putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. First, Luke would have to get well–but not just physically.
Kelly frowned. What was it called again–PTSD? She’d have to search for a support group for Luke. And maybe, if she could find a good doctor, he might be able to suggest a reputable psychiatrist or psychologist? Whatever it’d take, she’d make sure Luke would get the help that he needed.
Kelly took in a deep breath. One day at a time–she told herself–that’s all that she could do for now–just take it one day at a time.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
It’d been nearly a week since Dan Callahan had appeared at the hospital in D.C. and given Luke his marching orders. Luke felt like he hadn’t had nearly enough time to process what’d happened to him–but the tremendous pain associated with his injuries was finally subsiding. And even though Luke had been irritated at the time, inwardly he’d been relieved that Dan had cared enough about him to find him, and return him home to Crystal Rock.
There was a man with a wheelchair waiting for Luke, when he was escorted from the plane at the Crystal Rock Airport. Luke was in a foul mood–but he just couldn’t figure out why. He’d searched the hangar and runway, half-expecting Kelly might’ve been there waiting for him, too.
But she wasn’t. What’d he expected? Luke had made it clear, from the time he’d awoken in the hospital in Germany, and had seen just how severe his injuries were, that he didn’t want anyone to see him like this.
Least of all Kelly.
Right now, Jake and Dan had their arms around him, assisting him as he struggled to make his way down the steps from the plane. Luke’s brow was covered with sweat, as he attempted to put some weight on his right leg. “Why not just bring that chair on board?” he muttered. “I know there’s a ramp.”
Without bothering to introduce himself, the man near the wheelchair spoke. “Because I told them not to. I needed to get an idea about how much strength you’ve got.” He began to assist Jake and Dan, and took over for them both, until Luke was able to drop down awkwardly into the chair.
“Luke–this is Steve Ryder. He’ll be your physical therapist–and he’s also gonna take care of you for a while,” Jake said.
Luke glared at the man who was standing before him. With light-brown hair, and dark-brown eyes, he had to be at least thirty. Although the guy was tall, thin, and wiry, he obviously had hidden strength, judging by the way he’d been able to hoist Luke into the chair. “I don’t need a physical therapist,” Luke muttered. “I can take care of myself.”
Dan snorted, shaking his head in irritation. “What kind of an idiot are you Luke? How in the hell do expect to get around–when you don’t even have enough strength to stand up or sit down by yourself?”
Luke stuck out his chin stubbornly. “I’ll manage.”
Steve wheeled the chair onto the sidewalk that led to the parking lot. “Alright, then—you can start right now.”
Looking down at his hand as it gripped the wheel of the chair, Luke whined, “Hey–Jake told me this’d be motorized!” Glancing over at Jake, Luke noticed that he was hiding his face. Luke started. Was Jake smiling?
Dan hesitated, staring down at him with obvious concern.
But Steve was giving Dan a mulish stare, before he turned and scowled at Jake. He motioned them both toward the parking lot.
When Luke stared hard at Dan as a last resort, Dan shrugged, promptly turning away.
“C’mon, man.” Luke moaned. “I need a little help here.”
Ignoring Luke’s pleas for assistance, Jake and Dan walked side by side, along the path, until they reached the v
an in the parking lot.
“I told Jake no—you don’t need a motorized wheelchair. Get used to it,” Steve growled, before turning away. Without looking back, he strolled along the sidewalk, heading toward the van where Jake and Dan stood waiting.
Fifteen minutes later, Luke was caked with sweat and exhausted, as he was hoisted, along with the chair, on a lift into the van.
“Don’t get too used to this, either,” Steve warned Luke, as he studied the lift. “Eventually, we want you using crutches and sitting in the passenger seat.”
For several minutes more, they were all silent as Steve drove through town in the van. Finally, Steve asked Dan where he wanted to be dropped.
When Steve pulled up in front of the Callahan residence, Dan turned to Luke with a mocking grin. “I’ll stop by and see how you’re settling in after a couple of days. Don’t forget, I’m in charge of you now, Lieutenant–I’ve even got the papers to prove it.”
“Just shut up, Dan,” Luke growled. He was still humiliated–the hospital hadn’t allowed his release without a legal representative.
And where in the hell were Steve and Jake taking him? No one would tell him anything. But he had to admit that he was definitely curious, as Steve steered the van around the access road that led out toward Dragonfly Pointe. And curiosity was a good thing, he supposed, considering his state of mind over these past few months.
And it was nice to be home. He felt a sense of peace settling over him, for the first time in months, since all of this had happened.
Driving past the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, Steve continued along Beach Road. Despite his exhaustion, Luke sat up in his seat when Steve took a left and pulled into the driveway, across from the entrance to the beach.
Recognizing their obvious destination, Luke was stunned when he turned and stared at Jake.
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