The General's Little Angel (Breaking Chains© Book 2)

by C. B. Hunt

  I shrunk in the chair. “It’s a term of endearment.”

  “Sure it is. We’ll talk about it when we get back. Les, could you please take us down to Naha? You’re welcome to stay with us or head back. We can grab a cab to get home if you don’t want to hang out.”

  “Parking is hell down there, Sir. I’ll head back if you don’t mind. You can call for me to pick you up.”

  “He just cussed,” I mumbled.

  “Enough of the lip,” Ray reprimanded me. I sunk deeper into the chair and he turned back to Les. “You can stop laughing at her right now. I swear you two behave like a brother and sister. If you want to develop that type of relationship, then work on being a good big brother and don’t antagonize the kid.”

  “She starts the fights. I only finish them.”

  “You’re three years older than she is and have seen more of the world. Teach and protect her instead of instigating problems. It’s been over four months, and I’m tired of refereeing your childish arguments. If the two of you don’t knock it off, I’ll restrict both of you to quarters, got it?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Les answered stiffly. I just glared at both of them.

  Ray grabbed his keys and wallet and gestured to the door. “Let’s get out of here before I change my mind. March.”

  Les didn’t see the smart smack that landed across my backside as I followed him outside. I turned my head to Ray and gaped at the single raised finger. I had been given my first warning. Les held the back door open for me to enter, and I held my breath as Ray approached, wondering what he was going to do.

  Normally Ray and I sat in the back seat of the Flag Officer’s vehicle when we were on official business so that I could take notes and review his agenda. The vehicle had a soundproof privacy divider between the front and the back seat which was rarely raised, and I was terrified that this might be one of those moments that he would put it to use. To my relief, he slid into the front seat next to Les.

  “How come you’re up there?” I asked, leaning forward.

  “Because I feel like it. Sit back and put on your seat belt.”

  “But it’s lonely back here.”

  Les looked at me in the rear-view mirror. “What’s with you? You sound like a little kid.”

  “She’s on pain meds for her hand. Bree, sit back.”

  “Oh, okay,” I pouted.

  “Did she really get into a fight?” Les asked as we started to drive down the narrow cement road.

  “How is your knowing the answer going to help her?”

  I smirked. Ray had such interesting means of telling people to mind their own business. However, Les’ response surprised me.

  “I could help teach her to defend herself better. You know I box and do martial arts. If she learned how to strike correctly, she wouldn’t bust anything.”

  “You would do that?” both Ray and I asked together.

  “Well, yeah. She’s a brat, but I don’t want to see her get hurt. She and I kinda have a Marine Corps/Navy thing between us. We will fight among ourselves, but if anyone outside steps in, God help them.”

  “Sgt. Palma, if I didn’t know better, I would think you cared about me.”

  “Like General PIA said, you’re like a kid sister, and it should be my responsibility to watch out for you. Besides, I won’t want to get grounded. It would mess with my social life.”

  “You don’t have a social life.”

  “Well, it would mess with it if I ever had time to get one.”

  “I’m not a pain in the ass,” Ray grumbled.

  “If you say so, Sir,” Les said, grinning as he headed down the long road to the southern capital city of Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

  Chapter 3

  “Keep close to me. It’s very easy to get lost in these crowds,” Ray warned after Les dropped us off near the open market. I didn’t have to be told twice. Naha was intimidating in so many ways. The city was a crockpot of architectural confusion housing modern buildings intertwined with a maze of fish stalls. Crowds of people shuffled through streets lined with cabs yet, despite the chaos, everyone was polite, and there was no honking, yelling, or fighting. Instinctively, I felt for Ray’s hand and clung to it as he led me under the awnings of the gigantic marketplace.

  Nothing was written in English, and the smells were rather overwhelming, especially those coming from the tables of fish that sat on layers of melting ice. He led me far away from the odors and to a quieter area that was clearly more artesian. We walked along the quiet strip for a while, looking at the beautiful silk kimonos, the netsuke carvings in bleached bone, glass-cased dolls, and ornate chopsticks.

  “What’s that?” I pointed to a gorgeous piece of needlework on the wall.

  “It’s called Bunka. I’ve heard it described as oil painting with silk.”

  “Is it hard to do?”

  Within minutes, Ray had the shop’s owner teaching me the craft! It was so easy and fun, even with a bum hand, plus it would be a nice distraction when I got bored. We bought a kit and then went to the next set of shops. I noticed that he deliberately veered away from the larger stores and stuck with the ‘Mamasan and Papasan’ booths.

  “Ray? Why are you going to these little places? The bigger stores have more variety and are cheaper.”

  “Who needs the money more, darling? A family or a conglomerate? Also, ask yourself whose merchandise would likely be made with more care.” Before I answered, he squeezed my hand and took me into another little alcove and pointed to the shelves. “All these dolls are handmade by that old woman in the corner. She’s blind and trusts that whoever takes one of her dolls will pay her honestly.”

  “That’s foolish.”

  “Is it? Pick out one that tugs at your heart.”

  “I’m not into dolls.”

  “Just do it.”

  With a sigh, I obeyed. A pretty little cloth doll caught my eye. She was dressed in a purple kimono, and her black horsetail hair was neatly braided and decorated with tiny silk flowers. The work was exquisite!

  “She made this by hand?” I held it up.

  “Yes. Even blind, her fingers can see. Is there a price tag on it?”

  I looked. “No. Nothing.”

  “That means she wants to barter.” He went over to the old woman and greeted her in Japanese. I knew he spoke the language, but the ease that he conversed with the people always amazed me. I stood behind to watch him and saw tears running down the woman’s face as he pressed money into her hand.

  “What did you say, and why is she crying?”

  “I gave her double what she asked for because my daughter saw her heart stitched into the beauty of her doll.”

  I was floored. I turned the little item around in my hand, suddenly feeling very selfish. “I don’t deserve this doll.”

  “No, you don’t.” My mouth fell open. Did he say that? I couldn’t decide whether I was stupefied more by his statement of not deserving the doll or him calling me his daughter.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked. “I’m starving. Let’s grab something to eat and then we’ll make one more stop.”

  Meals with Ray off-base were typically an adventure because the man enjoyed testing the boundaries of a westerner’s palate. Les had already warned me about traveling out of the country with him and that he would choose the most disgusting items on the menu just to get a reaction. Today was no different. I stared at the bowl of brown, indescribable slop in front of me.

  “I’m not eating this.”

  “You know the rules. Taste first, refused later. If you still don’t like it, then I will get you something else.”

  “Yeah, something else that makes me want to puke.”

  “Breanna Lynne, are you going to force me to repeat myself?”

  Without realizing it, I suddenly regressed into the mode of a little girl. He had found one of my ‘buttons’ without either of us knowing it. “No, Sir,” I whispered, shrinking in the booth.

  “Then eat.”

  I hate
d to admit it, but the slop was very tasty. It was a noodle soup with seaweed and smoked eel and was surprisingly hearty with a touch of sweetness. It also taught me that I needed to work harder to give him more of my trust. After lunch, he had me wait as he flagged down a taxi cab and then gestured for me to join him. My eyes widened—the driver had to be in his eighties!

  “Ray, is this safe?” I whispered in his ear.

  “I do everything for a reason. Relax. We have a bit of a drive,” he reassured me, putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me against his chest. In no time, I was fast asleep.

  ***

  “Wake up, baby girl. We’re here.”

  “Huh? Where’s here?” I asked groggily. The ocean wind struck my face as the cab’s doors opened and the driver helped me out. He offered me a respectful bow and then gestured to the large stone memorial that overlooked the ocean. Ray translated for him.

  “This is Banzai Cliffs. Many people died here, giving their lives to the hereafter to save themselves from suffering in the hands of those whose hearts were filled with hate and dust.” The old man touched the rock and looked down over the cliffs. “Women held their babies and children and threw themselves over these edges. There was so much pain. So much pain.”

  I stared down at the beautiful sight below me. The Americans called the place Suicide Cliffs where, in 1945, thousands of Japanese civilians and soldiers committed suicide and jumped to their deaths to avoid capture by the United States. The ocean lapped the cliffs, and the sound of the wind seemed so peaceful. It was beyond my ability to comprehend that such a beautiful place had seen so much death.

  These people were said to not have a choice, and that they were ordered to commit shudan jiketsu because their fates were inevitable, and it was better to die with honor than to suffer in the hands of the enemy and be shamed. What of the mothers who refused to murder their children? Did the soldiers ‘help’ by throwing the babies over the edge themselves? It made me think of my life, the comments made by my father to provoke me to pull the trigger, and how close I had come to doing as he wished. My throat tightened, and it became hard to breathe.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told Ray as I ran back to our cab where I grabbed the doll and returned to the memorial. “Would you please tell him that I wish there was something I could have done to have prevented this, but that I promise I will do all I can in the future to help anyone who is suffering if it’s in my power. Also, tell him that I am leaving this doll in memory of all the little girls who never had the chance to be free to play.”

  As he delivered my message, I put the doll on the memorial and stood back. I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing culturally or not. I simply followed my heart. A tap on the shoulder drew my attention to an old Japanese woman. She handed me a flower, kissed my hand, and gave me a toothless smile. I looked at Ray and saw the pride in his eyes. That moment was so clear for me and marked another beginning. It was the point when I first felt what it was like to earn parental pride.

  ***

  “Your daughter is a good girl,” I heard the cab driver say in broken English as he started on the long drive home. My head was on Ray’s thigh, and I had my eyes closed as he stroked my hair.

  “She’s a very good girl. She made me very proud today.”

  I smiled and snuggled in closer. “I did?”

  “You did. So much that I might even consider changing my mind about the little talk I promised you for when we got home.”

  I swallowed hard. I had forgotten about that. “I’ll work on my swearing. I promise.”

  “I’m going to have a discussion with Les about his language as well. We are flag officers and should represent ourselves as gentlemen.”

  “I’m not either,” I said with a giggle.

  “You know what I mean.” He poked my side. “How’s your hand?”

  “It hurts and needs kisses.”

  “That I can give. Are you crying?” His voice was gentle. I buried my face in his thigh and nodded. “I’ll give you some more medicine when we get home. Can you hang in for an hour?”

  I couldn’t explain that it wasn’t my hand that made me cry, but the affection he was giving me. No one had ever treated me so tenderly or with genuine care. I didn’t know how to handle it except with tears. I was perplexed and anxious, yet so badly wanted to crawl into his lap and curl into a tiny ball. Although part of me knew he would both understand and embrace that need, it conflicted with the part that feared rejection and ridicule, so I hesitated to express my desires.

  “I’ll do my best. Don’t forget that you have dinner with your golfing buddies tonight,” I mumbled.

  “I’m going to cancel. My girl needs me, and I’m going to stay home and take care of her.”

  “You can’t do that. Not for me.”

  “Are you arguing with me, young lady?”

  “Yes, Sir, I am.” I twisted my head to look up at him. “You have obligations and need to follow through with them.”

  “You seem to forget who the daddy is here,” he said, touching my nose. “If I want to stay home, I will. If the boys don’t like it, tough.”

  “Are you pulling rank?”

  “I am. Do you have a problem with it?”

  “Not this time. It’s nice not being alone for once. It might be the medication, but I’m feeling generous enough to invite Les over for popcorn and a movie as long as it’s not a war flick.”

  “I don’t think he’d go for a Disney cartoon.”

  “Do you have any?” I perked up. I was a total Disney whore!

  “It wouldn’t be difficult to get hold of one. It would be rather rude of him to leave after accepting our invitation, wouldn’t it?”

  “I see the devil in your eyes.” I started to giggle. “It would be nice payback for him picking on me this morning. He hates me, you know.”

  “He doesn’t hate you. He just sees you like a bratty kid sister. You aren’t exactly nice to him, either.”

  “He doesn’t rate anything more than me saying please and thank you.”

  “We will talk about how nice little girls behave later.” We pulled into the driveway and exited the cab. After Ray had paid the driver, he announced that he would find some videos while I made a pleasant phone call and invited Les over for dinner and a movie.

  “Why do I have to call him? And why dinner? Are you trying to torture me?” I stomped my foot. “I really can’t handle being forced to eat chocolate covered jellyfish or some other disgusting thing tonight on top of having to be nice to Les.”

  “I will remind you that it was initially your idea. I also like the idea of trying to torture both of you. I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry about the food—I’ll get pizza.”

  “Normal pizza? Like with American toppings?”

  He sighed. “You know how to take away my fun. Very well, I promise I won’t bring anything weird home. Just don’t tell Les. I like watching him squirm.”

  “I told you that you were sadistic. You can’t deny it.”

  “I can deny anything I want to. I’ll be back in a little while.”

  Muttering obscenities to myself, I dialed Les’ barracks and waited for the Marine on duty to pick up the line. I knew the ‘magic words’ that would ensure immediate action. “General Goodwin needs to speak to Sgt. Palma immediately. Is he available?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Please hold.”

  “Yes, Sir? Are you alright? Do you need me to get you?” Les answered.

  “Chill, dude, it’s just me. Ray wants you to come over for dinner and a movie if you don’t have anything going on. He’s in the mood to torture us.”

  “Shit, Bree. Do I have to?”

  I knew his hesitation was primarily due to concern over what Ray was going to put on the table. “He was rather insistent. The fact that he made me call you should give you an idea of his mood.”

  “Damn it. I thought Saturdays were his golf buddy dinner nights.”

  “He canceled because he didn’t t
hink I was capable of staying home alone with my hand.”

  “You’re not a child.”

  “Tell him that. Listen, I know you and I don’t get along that well, but he seems to feel the need for us to try. Let’s give him that much, okay?”

  “Tell him I have a date.”

  “I’m not going to lie to him for you. I’ll just let him know that you refused his invitation.” The phrase was deliberately chosen with devious intent.

  “You better not. I’ll be there. You owe me big time for this and better not forget it.”

  “Me? I had nothing to do with this. Do you think I volunteered to call you? It’s not my fault he’s pushing to make us one big happy fucking family,” I hissed. I had been trying to be nice, but his attitude was pissing me off.

  “I thought he said no swearing.”

  “He’s obviously not here, so stop being an asshole. I’m doing my damnedest to be pleasant, and you are doing everything you can to rile me up. Cut it out.”

  “You need to work on your temper.”

  “Well, you need to work on your people skills. Practice being a bastard with someone else, Les. I’m not going to get in trouble because you have your head jammed up your ass. Be here at seven!” I shouted, slamming the receiver down as I hung up on him.

  The sound of a clearing throat made me turn around slowly. Ray was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, and looking at me. “Care to explain?”

  “I tried being nice!” I broke into tears. “I asked, I explained, I even tried to tell him that you wanted us to get along, and he wanted me to lie to you rather than come over. He provokes me and pushes every button he can to make me mad.”

  “I will have a talk with him. In the meantime, go stand in the corner.” He pointed to the dark corner at the far side of the room.

  “But I didn’t do anything wrong!”

  “I heard you swearing. You can either stand in the corner or eat soap. Your choice.”

  The staring contest didn’t last long. I stomped my foot and went to the corner, mumbling under my breath with every step. I felt him come up from behind me and felt both his hands on my shoulders.