The Promise of Rainbows

by Ava Miles

  When they finally left to go to the game room, Jake hung back to walk more slowly with Monty. Darren and Randy were jogging down the steps to the lower level, already jawing each other about who had the better pool cue. Some things never changed.

  Monty put his arm around Jake’s shoulder. “How are the nightmares?”

  “I haven’t had one for over a month now, thank God,” he answered, thinking back to how much his life had changed since that last dark night. “What about yours?”

  Month gave a lopsided smile. “You know. They come and go. Sometimes I dream I still have my leg. That I’m dancing a two-step with May to one of your songs. Those ones are the worst.”

  Jake nudged him. “But you’re happy, right? Getting married seems to have…I don’t know…balanced you out more.”

  “May’s a good influence, and she makes me happy. But I can’t depend on her or anything else for that. I have to stand on my own two feet. Bad joke.”

  It was, but it was one he made often—Jake figured the levity helped him deal with his loss.

  “You’re standing and then some,” he said, gripping his shoulder. “I’m only glad May’s there to support you when you need it.”

  “Me too,” Monty said, walking down the steps carefully. “I’m still going to one session a week. What about you?”

  “I’m seeing Reverend Louisa more than that,” Jake said as they entered the game room. “I wanted to give my recovery more attention now that I’m moving forward with Susannah. And it’s easier since I’m not on tour right now.”

  Randy had already racked the balls, and seconds later, he sent multi-colored pool balls spinning willy-nilly across the green felt table.

  “Solids,” Randy called out as the red ball dropped into a corner pocket. He positioned his stick to shoot again. “Damn, I’m good.”

  “And annoying as always,” Darren fired back, balancing his pool stick across his massive shoulders like an Aikido master.

  “I guess we’re watching you two yahoos play,” Jake said, settling on the sofa with Monty.

  From this vantage point, Jake had a good view of the decorations he and Susannah had chosen together—paintings of the Tennessee countryside and a display of his favorite classic country albums. This room had turned out well. Heck, all of the rooms were turning out well. The way she’d set up these rooms was further evidence that she saw him and what he needed almost better than he did himself. Susannah had even managed to find him an interior water feature for the den upstairs, and he couldn’t wait for it to arrive.

  “We look good playing, don’t we?” Randy said, flexing a bicep, making Jake wish he had a pillow to toss at the man, but this was a game room. Pillow-free, he’d told Susannah.

  “You look like y’all don’t know which end to sit on,” Monty called out, rubbing the line where his real leg ended and the prosthetic began. Jake studied his face. Monty’s mouth was tense, something he hadn’t noticed before.

  “Is your leg bothering you from the traveling? I can grab a footstool from upstairs.” He hadn’t thought to add one to the room. Maybe he and Susannah could look for one.

  “The pressure on the plane always makes the area around the prosthetic swell. It’ll be fine in a few hours.”

  Jake might have his own issues, but one thing he did have was a completely healthy body. He took a moment to be grateful for it. “I’ll get that stool.”

  When he returned, Monty elevated his foot and leaned back with a sigh.

  “When are we meeting Susannah?” Monty asked.

  “Tonight,” he answered. “She’s coming for supper.”

  “After everything you’ve told me about her, she sounds too good to be true.”

  Jake didn’t know about that. But as he watched his friends play pool and listened to their familiar interplay, he realized he’d never been able to enjoy being with them this much because he felt more present and happier now than he had in the past. And Susannah was playing a big role in making him feel that way.

  Chapter 24

  Susannah found herself oddly nervous when she arrived at Redemption Ridge to meet Jake’s Army buddies. She’d purposely dressed casual in jeans, boots, and a blue cotton shirt. His friends would be her best window to what Jake had been like in the Army, and she wanted them to like her.

  The door swung open before she could even knock, and Jake grabbed her to him and gave her a hard, urgent kiss. She put her hands on his chest and all but melted before he set her away from him.

  “I had to do that quick,” he told her with a grin. “The guys are here. I ran up when I heard your car.”

  She cast a look around his body, but didn’t see anyone else. “Where are they?”

  “Finishing up a game of pool,” Jake told her, taking her hand. “It’s been a non-stop contest for a couple hours now. Randy and Darren have been long-time pool rivals, and Monty is egging them on. I’ve told them to watch their language around you, but I can’t guarantee they won’t slip.”

  Her mouth twitched. She couldn’t help it. “I doubt I’ll faint, Jake. You don’t cuss much now. Did you when you were in the military?”

  “Like a sailor,” he said, laughing. “It didn’t jive with who I became when I left the service, but I still slip up around the guys some since it’s how we used to talk. I’ll do my best not to drop the f-bomb around you.”

  She couldn’t imagine Jake ever dropping the f-bomb. “That’s mighty kind of you,” she said in a teasing voice. “Let’s go meet your friends.”

  The moment she and Jake entered the game room, three men whirled around to give them their attention. The one who’d been sitting on the couch quickly got up. They were a motley crew for sure, and all of them were giants. Especially the one with the diamond earring.

  “Guys,” Jake said, putting his hand to her back. “This is Susannah. Honey, the tall one over there who still has a military crew cut—God help us—is Randy. He’s currently beating Darren, who mentioned showing you his salsa moves later, something I told him was never going to happen.”

  From the charming smile he shot her way, she expected he was used to showing women his…ahem…moves frequently.

  “Hey, Susannah,” Darren said, using his pool stick to make a fake lunge at Randy, who blocked it with scary efficiency. His quick response made Susannah wonder what kind of training they must have gone through in the military. Both of them set down their pool cues.

  “Do we at least get to hug her?” Darren asked Jake, an eyebrow winging up.

  Jake rolled his eyes. “You might ask her.”

  She eyed the massive hand Darren had thrust out to her. His body seemed to fit his size. Jake towered over her, but Darren was like a tall tree.

  “A hug might be nice if you promise not to crush me,” she said, stepping into his arms hesitantly.

  “I won’t crush you none,” Darren said, giving her a gentle back pat. “Jake would crush my balls. Woops. Forget I said that.”

  “Don’t mind him,” Randy said, pulling the man back by the arm. “Darren doesn’t know how to act around nice ladies like you.”

  “Ouch,” Darren said, placing his hand on his heart dramatically.

  “And you do?” she asked Randy, fighting a smile.

  “Yes, ma’am, I do,” he answered, giving her a playful wink. “But not like this one over here who’s crazy about you. Did Jake tell you about our nickname for him?”

  She heard a groan and looked over.

  “Don’t do it, man,” Jake said, narrowing his eyes. “Payback is hell.”

  “I’m shaking,” Randy said and then gave a good imitation of the motion, making all the men snicker. “We call him Dudley Do-Right.”

  Putting a hand over her mouth to cover her smile, Susannah took a moment to compose herself. Jake was watching her carefully for her reaction.

  “In a certain light, I can see the resemblance,” she teased, playing along.

  Darren hooted, and Randy shoved Jake hard in the chest, ma
king him fall back a few steps. The man still standing by the sofa took a few steps toward her. There was a slight hitch in his walk, which tracked with what Jake had told her. Monty wasn’t as muscular as the rest of the others, but he was tall. She imagined they must have looked like a pretty intimidating group when they were in the Army, and they’d undoubtedly turned a lot of heads in their uniforms.

  “I’m Monty,” he said, taking her hand, but not shaking it. “Don’t listen to any of these guys—except for Jake. He’s the only one who doesn’t tell tales or talk out of school.”

  “You don’t either now that you’re married, Monty,” Randy said with a pointed glance.

  “You’ll know why when you get married yourself, Randy. If any woman ever decides to take pity on your sorry ass.”

  “Oohhh,” Darren cried out, dancing back a few steps, grabbing Jake, who was laughing.

  “Jake, I said ‘ass.’” Monty turned back to look at him. “Is that a swear word?”

  “If you have to ask…” Jake said in an aggrieved tone, but he was smiling. “Ready to run yet, honey?”

  She shook her head. Sure, they were giants. But they were Jake’s giants. “I don’t intimidate easily. Besides, they’re your friends, and I hope that makes them mine.”

  There was an odd light in Jake’s eyes when their gazes met.

  “She’s an angel,” Monty said, finally dropping her hand. “Just like you said, Jake.”

  “She sure is,” Jake replied. “Why don’t you yahoos finish your game? Then we can go eat. What can I get you to drink, sugar? White wine? I was so excited to have you meet the guys, I forgot to ask upstairs.”

  “I’ll have a beer to show my solidarity with y’all,” she told him, earning her a kiss on the cheek from the man she loved.

  “I’ll run and get it,” he told her and hurried off.

  Everyone was looking at her, so she smiled at them, resisting the urge to fuss with her shirt. “Please go back to your game,” she told Darren and Randy, who grinned and picked up their pool sticks, brandishing them like Star Wars Jedis for a beat before resuming their contest.

  “You might want to stay out of their way,” Monty told her. “I was sitting on the couch if you’d like to join me.”

  She followed him to the couch and took a seat beside him. “I’m so glad y’all could come out on such short notice. It means the world to Jake to have you here.”

  “He’s a good guy,” Monty said, rubbing the skin above his prosthetic.

  Susannah debated whether to ask him if he needed anything. “Jake tells me you’ve been married almost a year now,” she said instead.

  “Yes, to another angel named May,” Monty said, the corners of his mouth tipping up. “I’m pretty lucky. After I left the Army, I wasn’t sure I’d find someone who wanted to end up with me. I mean I’m handsome and all, but the prosthetic is a mood killer.”

  He was being self-deprecating, but Susannah sensed raw pain underlying his words. “You are handsome,” she said, not knowing how else to respond.

  “Aren’t you smart for noticing?” Monty gave her a playful wink, and for a moment, he looked years younger. “Jake mentioned you decorated this behemoth of a house. It looks real good. Nothing like that last lady.”

  She blinked.

  “Jake texted us photos of that train wreck. The dead deer? I’m only from a small town in Alabama, but even I know that’s not classy. Sure as shi…hell ain’t classy enough for Jake now that he’s made it big. I couldn’t be happier for him. And now he has you. Seems like good fortune is finally starting to become his friend. For a while…we all wondered how life would turn out.”

  “Did you know what you wanted to do when you left the Army?”

  Monty gripped his pant leg, and her heart clenched in on itself. She wished, belatedly, that she could take back what she’d said.

  “When I got out of the hospital, I didn’t have a clue. All I knew was that I had a lot of rehab ahead of me. People kept telling me how lucky I was to have made it. I owe these guys my life—although I wasn’t too grateful at first.”

  Her breath seemed to have stopped in her chest. “Jake and the others…”

  “Dragged me back to the Humvee after I stepped on that landmine,” he said, his voice harsh. “If they had gotten me to a medic any later, I would have died.”

  Her throat thickened. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you.”

  “Bless your heart for saying so,” he told her, patting her knee. “Some people have no trouble telling me they know what I’m going through. I usually want to punch them in the face.”

  His sidelong glance was filled with wry humor, but once again, she could sense something simmering beneath it. “People can be stupid sometimes.”

  He gave a quiet laugh. “But I’m married now and have a decent job working as a mechanic. The only thing I was ever good at—besides being in the Army—was fixing things. When I was in high school, my baby brother and I rebuilt a ’56 Mustang we found in a junkyard some thirty miles out of our town. Man, that baby could run.”

  “Do you still have her?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Nah. I had to sell her to pay some of my medical bills. The VA didn’t cover everything, if you can believe it.”

  Even though Susannah had heard horror stories about veterans’ medical bills on the news and from her mama, it still shocked her. “I don’t understand how that could be allowed to happen.”

  “Bureaucracy,” Monty said, looking up. “Lover boy is coming back. It’s good to see him so happy. I don’t know that we’ve ever seen him quite like this.”

  Jake sauntered forward with an enormous grin on his face—the one she was used to seeing.

  “Like what?” Jake asked, handing her a beer.

  “Sappy,” Monty said, lifting his bottle. “Happy. Look, I rhyme like a rapper.”

  Jake raised his brow and reached for his beer. “To being happy and to the women who help remind us to smile,” he said, extending the bottle.

  “To being happy and the rest,” Monty repeated and clicked his beer bottle with Jake’s before turning to do the same with her wine glass.

  The men shared a look, and Susannah’s breath caught. It was like watching two retired warriors making a pledge. She felt honored to witness it, knowing it was yet another bond these men were forging, on top of many more.

  Chapter 25

  For the next couple weeks, Jake felt like he was walking on a cloud even though he kept an eye out for rain. With each passing day, Susannah was buoying him with hope. Being with her and expressing his feelings for her hadn’t triggered another episode and neither had the visit from his friends. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe he was completely cured, but he felt more balanced.

  She was a stabilizing force, there was no doubt. And their love…well, it could move mountains. That he believed.

  It was time to move another mountain, and today he planned to discuss his idea with Louisa. He was a permanent member of her church now, and while he hadn’t completely made his peace with God, he wasn’t as angry as he’d been.

  During fellowship every Sunday, Louisa had been introducing him to other people living through hardships. One family in particular, the Hendersons, seemed to have everything—good jobs for the parents and three beautiful kids. But their five-year-old son had recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since the boy was a big fan of Jake’s, Louisa had asked if he’d be willing to meet him. He’d ultimately spent over twenty minutes talking to Frankie. While it had tugged mightily at his heart, it had helped remind him that he wasn’t the only person who’d struggled. This little boy was fighting for his life, and he’d done nothing to deserve that. Jake still didn’t understand why bad things happened, but meeting Frankie had helped Louisa drive home a particular point. God hadn’t been punishing Frankie or him or Booker or anyone else.

  For the moment at least, he’d stopped asking The Big Why. And he felt more peaceful for it.r />
  Like always, Louisa gave him a warm hug when he arrived for his session. “Each time I see you, you look even happier than before.”

  He was like one of the songs he was writing. With every new lyric added to his life, he became more complete. Love was making him complete. He was too much of an artist to dismiss the notion as corny.

  “You were right. Love changes everything.”

  “I’m glad,” she said, gesturing to the couch for him to sit. “How did your homework go?”

  He unfolded the piece of paper after removing it from his denim jacket. “Good. You wanted me to think about the top three things I want most in my life. Let me read them in reverse order.”

  He gave her a smile since these items had been pretty easy for him. She responded with a wink.

  “Number three. I really believe in the music I’m writing right now. I think it’s going to resonate with a lot of people about hard times, redemption, and changing their lives.” Rather like he was doing. “I want to win the CMA for Best Album of the Year next year.” Before his music had been real and soulful, but it hadn’t been filled with a lot of hope.

  But now, between Susannah, Louisa, and these sessions, he was seeing the world differently. For a long, long time, he’d been asking the wrong questions. Rather than ask why bad things happened in the world, he would ask how more good things could happen from them. That revelation had unlocked something deep inside him. He wanted to help make more positive things happen both in his life and in the lives of others.

  “That sounds like a wonderful goal. From all I’ve heard of your music, I think it’s only a matter of time until that happens. What’s next?”

  “I want to help more people. Once we finish today, I’d appreciate you giving me Frankie’s phone number. I’d like to send him to Disney World or somewhere of his choice before he…while he’s able.” His brain tumor was inoperable and too far gone for chemotherapy.

  She gave him a beaming smile. “I expect that would mean the world to him and his family. I have a few other people who need some help if you’re interested.”