“Going to the restroom. Meet you back at the car.”
I leave the store and walk back over to the car and sit down. I set our drinks in the cubby and try resetting my radio stations but turn when I hear the store door open. Jesse comes out and heads my way. He approaches my side of the car, pulls me from the passenger’s side and for a moment I think he’s wants me to drive, but then he slides one of his hands along my face and his fingers go into my hair. His other hand goes to my hip and he lowers his head and kisses me. It starts out soft, but when his tongue touches my lips, I gasp. That gives him the opportunity to deepen our kiss. Before I know, it my hands are sliding up his back and I’m holding on as he brands me with his kiss.
We finally pull apart and I slowly open my eyes. He runs his fingers along my lips and his eyes follow their movement. Finally, he looks back in my eyes. “Nope. You do not suck at that, Allie. Not at all.” He smiles, and helps me back in the car before walking around to the driver’s side and getting in.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” I ask, feeling guilty.
“I sure hope so.” He smiles.
“Okay well that can’t happen again,” I tell him, shame filling me.
“Allie, do you not understand? I don’t fool around and cheat.”
“Are you saying…?”
“What do you think?” he replies. His eyes never leave the road as he reaches over and takes my hand.
“I think you’re crazy, Jesse. I haven’t known you but a few hours. And you haven’t asked. I can’t be your girl.”
“But you are my girl.” He dismisses me and turns the music back on.
“No I’m not,” I mumble looking out at the cactus and Live Oaks flying by.
Jesse must hear me because he gives my hand a warning squeeze.
I know he’s not serious so I just go with it for the rest of the ride.
For the next couple of hours, we sing softly to the songs while holding hands.
My thoughts of how crazy this all is are interrupted when I see the interstate signs for New Braunfels and start panicking.
“Calm down, baby,” Jesse commands me softly.
“I can’t, Jesse. Please. Not yet,” I plead.
He keeps driving past the exit for New Braunfels and takes the next exit and loops back around towards Gruene. He never releases of my hand as we travel through the small town until he pulls off onto a smaller farm road. At the end of the private drive, a beautiful multi-tan and brown, one-story brick home sits. He pulls along the side the house to a three-car garage. Well, two cars and a larger sized spot at the end. Usually those are for boats or campers so I wonder if he has one. He parks my car, turns off the engine and smiles at me.
“You okay?”
I glance over at him briefly, and nod before turning away; embarrassed at my behavior. I need to go face my family.
“Relax, Allie. You have time. Come with me. Let’s go take a look. My aunts, Savannah and Paige and my grandma and stepmom, Violet have been left in charge of my credit cards and decorations so there’s no telling what level of debt I’ll be in and how much chick stuff they piled in there. That’s my disclaimer before we walk in. I just hope they have the one thing I asked for. I begged my dad to make sure they got the right one so let’s go see.” He exits the car and walks over to my side and pulls me out.
“Jesse, it’s beautiful, but how in the world did you afford something like this on a military salary?” I snap my mouth shut. “Lord, I’m sorry. That was so rude.” I look down, ashamed.
“No, it’s okay. My grandpa is part of the reason. He passed away a couple of years ago and he left us all a little something. I had nothing to spend it on so I put it away. Also, about to put on Master Sergeant. Since I never married and was deploying all the time I stayed in the barracks and ate at the chow hall or at my grandma’s or my dad’s and Violet's. I never really spent my money on anything other than my car. Throw in hazard pay during deployments and all the bells and whistles, I’ve been tucking everything away for something, just didn’t know what for a long time. I work with my dad at his construction company when I’m home and despite our arguments, he still pays me. Had no plans to settle down, but when Jaycee and Abigail went through some shit I felt it was important come home. Like you, we both have something that brought us back. Fate? I don’t know.” He looks down at me and smiles. “I’ve been in the Army fourteen years and never asked anything from them. Finally, I asked. They came through for me. When I applied for the transfer here, back home, it was granted under a hardship. Now, I’ll be working at Lackland as a liaison between all branches developing programs for our Wounded Warriors.”
“That’s amazing, Jesse.” I smile but frown when I think about his sisters. ”What happened to Jaycee and Abigail?”
“We almost lost both of them but I’ll tell you about it another time.” He leads me up a side path by some beautiful landscaping, reaches down, lifts up a rock and underneath is key with a blue ribbon tied to it. A little note is tied to it. “Welcome home.” He takes my hand and pulls me across the path to the walk leading to the front door.
I can’t help but think he just said almost fourteen years a moment ago and I freeze right before he opens the door. “Jesse, how old are you?”
He absently answers while looking around. “Thirty-two. “You?” He opens the mailbox and pulls out a few letters.
“Almost twenty-five.”
“Does that bother you?” Being so much younger than me?” He smirks.
Something about the way he says this challenges me, but also irritates me.
“No. You being so old doesn't bother me.” I put my hand on my hip.
Jesse chuckles as he turns back for the door. After he unlocks the glass, wood-framed door, we walk down a long beautiful foyer. Both of us stop when we reach the end, taking it all in.
“Shit, I’m going to be paying this off forever,” he moans, shaking his head.
“Wow, Jesse. It’s beautiful,” I exclaim.
It really is. I look around and take in the rustic decor. I softly laugh because I can tell they tried to make it look a man’s place but it’s definitely has a feminine feel. It has huge tan leather couches with cherry wood tables but with frilly lace pillows tossed about. The walls are covered in rustic style designs from a heart made from barbed wire to inspirational quotes on refurbished pieces of wood reading, Love. Always Dream.
“Jesus,” Jesse whispers and I giggle softly again.
In the corner stands a beautiful Christmas tree complete with white lights and red and gold decorations. It goes perfect with his home. I realize the last time I had a Christmas tree was before Cody died. He pulls me down the hall and I peek in the bathroom and it's cool, all man. The back wall looks like the outside of an old wood shingled home and worn brass fixtures are actually piped through the wall. A small, simple freestanding wood basin stands underneath. Sconces hang on either side of a big mirror with a worn wood frame.
“Okay. See?” I gesture around and see it even has a black toilet. “No foo-foo in here. All man,” I declare and nod.
“I’m willing to bet my car, Dad, Chase or Bradley did this. Wait, not Bradley. It’d have a purple toilet. No way did the women or Bradley do this. Connor probably had to put him on lockdown though.” He’s explaining to himself more than me as we walk back to the kitchen. It's a large space with an island and a small vegetable sink in it. It’s beautiful with tan and black veined countertops and tall dark maple cabinets. The kitchen’s backsplash is a mixture of the same colors as the cabinets and counter giving it an even more warm and inviting feeling. I could see me cooking for Jesse and myself in here.
Holy cow! Bradley isn’t the only one who needs to be put on lockdown.
I shake away my thoughts and peek over at him and yup, he’s watching me. I quickly look away but not before I see him smirk.
That smirk. My heart flutters.
“Come here. This is why I bought the house.” He gestures for
me to follow him out the side door by the kitchen. When we walk out I gasp. It a small lagoon style pool with a waterfall. Underneath the falls is a grotto with built-in seats. "You should see it at night. It lights up into a deep blue. The realtor brought me at night and I’m sure it was so he could sway me with this. I thought about it all night and then thought why the hell not. Although it’s warm out for December, I’ll still need to run the heaters before we can use it.”
We? He must mean his family.
“Come on.” He gently takes my hand and pulls me back in the house. “Okay, we’re about to get real. Are you ready?” He leans down and looks in my eyes with so much genuine worry and sympathy, it scares me. “Last night, the things you shared about your dad? Baby, you were wrong about the reasons he was gone. I have some things to show you, but also to tell you.” His tone heeds warning and he cups my cheek trying to lessen my fear.
“Jesse, do you know my dad?” My heart skips a beat when he nods. I take a deep breath before I go on. “Do you know Patrick?” Again he nods, and tears roll down my cheeks. I'm already falling apart in anticipation of his answer to the following question. “Jesse, did you know Cody?” My voice is hoarse through my emotion. He slowly nods. I take a step back but he closes back in.
“Baby, not in the way you think, though. I knew them because everyone knew them. Everyone knew the Holloway brothers and their dad. Your dad.” He pulls me close. “Allie, those times you said your brothers left and then not long after your dad would leave, leaving you and your mom alone?” He stops us in front of a room, peeks in and takes a relieved breath before pulling me in behind him. Despite my emotion, I laugh when I see it’s a theater room. A set of plush leather recliners sit in the middle of the room, and on the wall is huge screen. The windows have been blacked out. There’s soft lighting from some recessed lighting along the ceiling.
“Okay. This is awesome.” I say around my sniffles.
“My dad and uncles. Be right back. Getting my laptop.” he explains before leaving me alone.
I stand looking around thinking how awesome Steel Magnolias would look on the big screen. My thoughts are broken when Jesse comes back in holding his laptop. He sits down on one of the chairs.
“Come here.” He nods to the chair next to his.
I take a seat as he’s typing on the computer. He pulls something up and then takes a deep breath.
“Okay, I’ve decided I’m just going to show you one video that only a few of us have but there’s more that I can pull up on Facebook. I can even tag you in those and then you can save them if you like.” He leans down and begins connecting cables.
“I don’t have Facebook,” I explain as I watch him. I’ve never been into the whole social media thing.
“I wondered,” he mutters. “Otherwise, I figured you must have seen these. This video is downloaded in my files but not uploaded on any social media. I can email you a copy if you want. Everyone just thought it was badass, so it got passed around. It’s just a couple of minutes long. I’ll give you privacy, but if at any time you need me to stop, call me. I’ll come back and turn it off.”
Stop? What am I about to see?
“Watch this first one by yourself while I get us something to drink. Then I’ll explain some things.”
Jesse steps back over to the laptop; hits a button then turns down the lights as he leaves the room. An uneasy feeling washes over me as I settle in the chair as the video starts.
A camp of soldiers come on the screen. I’m not sure exactly where they are but it’s the desert. The cameraman zooms in on a small building and then yells at someone inside while laughing.
“Yo, baby boy. Sergeant Major’s pilot just radioed in and said they’re five out. Says he’s bringing a package for you. Getting this shit on video, baby boy.”
“Fuck you, man. Ain't too old to say I’m going to be fucking happy to see him.” I hear a familiar voice response.
When the man behind the voice steps out of the building, the tears start falling. It’s Cody.
“Where’s he coming in?”
He puts on his helmet, picks up his gun and flips the camera man off. He keeps laughing as walks off.
There’s a break in the video and when it comes back on, I hear a helicopter but it’s out of view. When it finally comes on the screen, it lands, kicking up sand. The person with the camera turns and I see about dozen soldiers standing around; Cody front and center.
“Dude did he highjack a freaking Black Hawk? He’s the man.” The cameraman exclaims in awe and turns the camera back to the helicopter.
I don’t see Cody but I hear him chuckle and then explain.
“Naw, man. He’s been designated to tour the different FOBs.”
As the blades whine to a stop, the door opens and out steps my dad. He pulls his hat on and makes his way to Cody. He looks around smiling and calls out an ‘at ease’ before pulling Cody into a hug. Everyone calls out, “HOOAH!”
My dad holds Cody for at least a lifetime before he lets him go.
“Brought something for you, son.” My dad looks back at the helicopter and the cameraman follows my dad’s eyes. I gasp when out climbs Patrick. Cody walks up and the two of the embrace and then the video ends.
“Nooo,” I beg and plead to the screen, dropping down on my hands and knees and crawling over to the laptop. “Come back. Please come back.”
“Baby, hang on. Allie, there’s more, baby. Shush.” Jesse rushes to me. He holds me until I calm.
“More?” I beg.
“Yes.” Jesse pulls me back to the chair and I sit back down. The next video comes on and it has more soldiers only they look to be in a recreational room now. Some are sitting around and a few are holding guitars. My dad is just in his t-shirt and ABU pants, sitting back with a soda in his hand and talking with everyone. I watch him as his eyes are constantly following Cody and Patrick around the room.
“Alright, Holloway and Cooper, let’s show Command Sergeant Major what we’ve been practicing since last time he was here,” the cameraman says.
“You got it, McGowan.” Cody grabs his guitar.
“Hold this,” McGowan instructs another soldier. He makes his way to one of two microphones on a makeshift stage. McGowan is very handsome African-American and looks to be about the same age as Cody. I smile when he looks directly into the camera and smiles. He has dimples like Cody and his smile is infectious. His personality has me keeping my eyes on him, following his energy. Cody joins him along with another guy. He has black hair and blue eyes and a shyness about him. Both he and Cody pull their guitar straps over their shoulders and wait for McGowan.
“Ready, Cooper?” McGowan asks and when he gets the okay, he signals someone out of view of the camera. Background beats start as Cody and the Cooper start playing their guitars.
Cooper steps up to his microphone and starts singing Written In The Stars while playing his guitar. Cooper is singing Eric Turner’s part and then McGowan steps up, pulls his microphone from the stand and begins rapping Tinie Tempah’s part and he’s amazing. He’s flying around the stage like he was born for it. Cody stands in the background playing his guitar, smiling and watching him. Cody only sings when McGowan’s walks up and shares his microphone with him. I watch them and at times it’s just the three of them on stage or in the room. I can see they’re close. Everyone in the room is up and dancing along to the beat. When the song is over everyone in the room gives hooah’s, whoops and hollers. My dad is grinning and cheering right along with them. The cameraman focuses in on McGowan. “Epic, McGowan!”
“That’s right. And when I get out of this hell hole, I’m going to be a freaking star. Take my wife and kids and move out to Cali. Going to buy a house on the beach. Spend my days soaking up the sun and watching my kids play in the sand.” Cody and Cooper walk up behind him and Cody slaps him on the back. “No doubt about that, man. You've got an amazing future ahead of you, McGowan. Soon as we’re home, we can all start living our dreams.” Cody sm
iles and the video ends.
“What’s happening, Jesse?” I’m so confused. “Why was my dad there? I thought—” I start to ask, but Jesse stops me.
“I know what you thought. He didn’t leave you and your mom alone. He left you in your mom’s care and love while he went to care and love for your brothers. Your mom and dad divided up, not wanting to leave any of you alone. But, baby, don’t think for one minute he didn’t want to be with you and your mom. Have all of you together. It just had to be like this.”
A sob breaks from my chest and another but I try to hold it in. I take a few deep breaths and then look back into his eyes conveying for him to continue.
Jesse searches my face. “I’m not sure if you can handle more right now.”
“No please, just one more,” I beg while wiping away my tears. “Then we can stop.”
He gives a reluctant nod, and clicks a button on the laptop. My dad and Patrick come on the screen. Jesse pulls me from my chair and settles me in his lap, holding me tight. He cradles me and I lay against his chest as I watch my dad and Patrick start strumming.
Patrick looks over my dad grinning. “Don’t know, Pop, this is a pretty hip song, not Winger. You think you can pull it off?” Patrick tries to hold back from laughing at his own joke.
My dad cringes and glares at Patrick with a disgusted look. “Winger? Son, that’s not funny.” But then my dad laughs too.
The room settles as Patrick plays while my dad sings, 7 Years’ by Lukas Graham. God, I forgot. He sounds like an angel. The room goes quiet. All the soldiers sit down or lean against the walls and watch. When the song ends there is no applause. No whoops or hooray. The only sounds are a few of the soldiers clearing their throats. I keep my eyes on my dad. His head is down, but when he raises it, I see his eyes are glassy. He looks right at Cody before turning and looking at Patrick. Then the video ends with still no one saying a word. I turn on Jesse’s lap and look up at him. He brushes the hair from my face.
His Forgotten Love (A McGinty's Of San Antonio Series Novel Book 4) Page 5