Loved by a Soldier: A Military Romance Collection

by Alison Mello

  “Sorry for what, honey?” he asks. He softly caresses her cheek and wiping away her tears. “For scaring you.”

  His heart twists in his chest as he watches the woman he almost lost cry in front of him. She is worried about what he thinks, not what happened to herself. He leans over her and kisses the tip of her nose. “I’m okay because I know you will be. I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she replies and reaches up to touch his stubble. “You didn’t shave today.” A burst of laughter comes from Gates and Gloria, and Trinity realizes Gloria is there too. Gloria stands next to her and caresses her arm, letting her know that everything will be okay.

  “I have to admit this scared the dickens out of me, too, but I’m glad you are okay. When you get home I’ll take care of you like you’re my daughter.”

  Gates immediately speaks up, saying, “Ummm, please forgive me if I step on any toes here, but I have every intention of taking care of her at my place.”

  Grinning at him, Gloria replies, “Dear, I understand that you are madly in love with her and you are so sweet, but do you plan on helping her in and out of the bathtub, too?”

  He looks at her, then to Trinity with a sheepish look of confusion, unsure how to respond. They both laugh at him, causing Trinity to cringe from the pain in her head. Obviously, the pain medicine is wearing off.

  “I think it might be a good idea that I stay home for a little while sweetie, but thank you for wanting to take care of me. I would love it if you could spend as much time with me as you can, though.”

  “You can be sure that I will, and I will try not to be in the way too much.”

  “I’m sure you will be in the way plenty, but I’ll overlook it,” Gloria responds jokingly.

  The nurse comes in when she hears them talking and asks Trinity how she’s feeling.

  “I hurt a lot, but I don’t want any pain medicine that will make me groggy. I’m also very thirsty. Could I please have some water?”

  “I’ll be right back with that water and something for your pain,” the nurse tells her and walks out.

  “Do you have any idea how long you’ll have to stay?” Gates asks after the nurse leaves.

  “I’m not sure, but probably a day or so I would imagine.”

  “Well, in that case I guess it’s my turn to go and pack a few things and stay here with you. But seriously—we have to stop meeting this way,” Gates tells her, trying to throw in a little humor.

  Gloria looks at him sideways and Trinity finds it funny, but tries not to laugh so her head won’t hurt.

  “I have to say, this is my first—and I pray to Jesus the only—concussion that I will ever have,” Trinity tells them as she grimaces and tries to sit up. Gates and Gloria help, telling her to move slowly.

  The nurse arrives with her water and pain medicine. “Do you need anything else, honey?”

  “No, thank you.”

  When the nurse leaves, Gloria says “I’m going to leave the two of you alone, go home to make sure Sheeba is okay, and straighten up a little. If you need anything let me know, sweetie.” She kisses Trinity on her forehead. “I’ll be praying for you.”

  “Thank you, I really appreciate it. Give Sheeba some sugar for me.”

  Once Gloria leaves, Gates feels his emotions begin to surface. While Gloria was with them he was able to control them, but now he’s looking at the woman he intends to spend the rest of his life with lying in a hospital bed. It’s a view he never wishes to see again.

  “Are you okay?” Trinity asks him when she sees his expression change.

  He nods, takes a breath before responding, and closes his eyes. Re-opening them he says, “Within the past month we almost lost each other. Not long before that we first met. I can’t even begin to explain how God works, but I’m trying my best to. I love you, Trinity. I knew that before today, but seeing you hurt has made it more real for me. I don’t know if I’m making sense or not, but I hope I am. I know when Gloria called and told me you had been in an accident I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

  As her fingers lace within his, her lips tremble. She takes a ragged breath and tries to speak but isn’t able to for a moment. When she does it comes out in sporadic bursts. “I love you, too. I truly…believe that God made you…for me.”

  She stops for a moment and grips his hand tightly. With her other hand she wipes her tears; he sits and waits patiently. He knows she has more to say and isn’t going to interrupt.

  “You mean the world to me, Gates,” she’s able to blurt out. “I wish I wasn’t in here right now; I would love to just lie down with you and cuddle.”

  “We will as soon as you get home, I promise.” He mentally kicks himself again for not thinking about bringing her ring. Obviously, it isn’t meant to happen right now, but he will ask her soon. Maybe after she gets a little better he will do it in a romantic way that she will never forget. He will need to rack his brains to think of something great for her.

  Chapter 19

  Trinity

  After being in the hospital for two days, the doctor informs Trinity that she can go home. She can’t be more thrilled by the news. After the last two days in an uncomfortable hospital bed and very little sleep, she’s more than ready to leave. Her head still hurts; apparently a concussion isn’t something that goes away easily.

  She also finds out that getting in and out of Gates’ Jeep isn’t an easy task with a cast on her leg, but they manage. With some effort on both their parts, she slowly slides onto the back seat. Once he has Trinity home, getting her out of the Jeep and into the house is much more difficult.

  Sheeba wants her undivided attention and won’t be satisfied until she gets some loving from Trinity. Having to hold her close so she won’t hurt her leg, Trinity realizes that she missed the spoiled dog as much as Sheeba missed her.

  “Oh, my big baby! I missed you, too!” Trinity rubs her and lets the dog lick her face for a minute with the sounds only a happy dog can make. She has to admit it feels great to not only be home, but to be shown so much love from her fur baby. “Okay…okay girl, that’s enough. I know you missed me, but I can’t take any more of you licking me.”

  “Do you want or need anything?” Gloria asks her.

  Trinity sees Gloria standing by the doorway of the kitchen with her hands on her hips and her face full of love and compassion. She can’t help but imagine her as anything more than a motherly woman and a dear friend. She loves her. “No, I’m okay, but thank you. I don’t want you to think you have to baby me, Gloria, but I will appreciate any help you insist on giving me.”

  “You are welcome, and of course I am going to help. That’s what friends do. I’m sure you would do the same for me.”

  Trinity nods her head in agreement.

  “I know one thing I look forward to,” she says as she tries to get comfortable on the couch.

  “What’s that?” Gates asks her.

  “I can’t wait to get to church! I want to go tomorrow night to the Wednesday night Bible study. I need to hear more of God’s Word. I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for Him.”

  Gloria and Gates both agree they need the same, so they all make plans to eat a hearty meal tomorrow evening then go to church.

  In the meantime, Trinity gets spoiled more than the dog. Even though she tries to act as if she doesn’t want or need the special attention, her resistance comes across feebly. They all know she relishes in it.

  ***

  “You okay, do you need some help?” Gates asks Trinity as she attempts to slither her way out of the jeep. Trinity is stubborn and determined to do it alone.

  “Nope, I got it. Thanks anyway, honey. I have to get used to this since I will be doing it for the next six weeks at least.”

  Together they slowly make their way to the front door of the church. Gates is by her side, holding both Bibles in one hand and her elbow in the other while she uses crutches to help her walk. When they finally make it indoors and out of the fri
gid cold, she is bombarded by friends with questions and offers of help.

  They make their way to the front so Trinity can stretch her leg out. She is glad to finally sit down when she gets to the pew.

  “I’ll be glad to get used to these things. My armpits are already sore,” she complains.

  “Hopefully, you won’t have to use them as long as you think,” Gates responds, sitting down beside her.

  Once the congregation settles, the choir begins singing. To Trinity, it doesn’t matter what the song is; every note and word touches her heart. She tries to sing with them, but her emotions make it difficult. She loves being in church and hearing songs of praise; they make her feel at peace with everything that’s happened in her life.

  The Pastor opens his sermon with prayer before beginning his message. He includes thanks that Trinity made it home alive and asks for a rapid recovery. He talks about miracles; it doesn’t seem as if he looks at his Bible often, but speaks more from his heart.

  “God spoke to me last night as I sat home and struggled with a topic to preach on today,” he begins. “It’s amazing how once in a while the message is hard for me to find, because I want to bring you His Word to the best of my ability, but I also have to stop and remember that I’m using my will and not His. I have to tell myself that I need to get out of His way and let Him do the talking. So, today He wants me to tell you about miracles. It’s almost ironic that this evening we have one sitting in the front row. Welcome home, Trinity.”

  The Pastor’s words touch her heart and she smiles back at him as he continues with his message. “Sometimes, in our chaotic society we are so driven by success, by everyday life, by the stress that we put on ourselves and even happy times, that our hearts, our souls and eyes are blind to the miracles that go on all around us. It’s unfortunate, and sad, that there is plenty of evil out there we all see or hear about in the news. Because of the nature of news media, negativity is what we hear about the most. We don’t hear about the good things that happen nearly enough, but there is a lot of that, too.”

  “The Bible mentions miracles happening every day. Jesus performed great miracles from healing the blind, the sick, feeding thousands of people that surrounded Him with two loaves of bread and five fish. He even raised the dead, but many didn’t believe He was the Son of God. Today, other miracles happen right in front of our eyes. Yes, technology has provided many miracles, but let’s not forget where the technology came from. Where the knowledge came from and the ability to do these things came from. They all came from God. How about the birth of a child? Isn’t that a miracle? What about the overdose of an addict or a suicide attempt and that poor soul survives, gets the help they need, and betters their life? Those are miracles too.”

  “But I want to get deeper into what God wants me to tell you tonight. He wants me to talk about your souls. I hope and pray that every one of you are truly right with God. Not just thinking you are, but knowing that you are. One of the biggest miracles in our world today is humbling yourself and turning your life over to Jesus Christ and living a Christian life. The temptations out there are tremendous. We all hear about and some of us may know from experience the power of the love of money, lust, adultery, anger, gambling, addiction, and so on. But to be able to turn from any or all of those things and live for Jesus Christ is a true miracle. It isn’t always an easy decision for someone to give up their own will and follow Christ. We must remember the gifts He has for us abound and are waiting for us all…”

  Everyone in the room sits and watches the Pastor walk back and forth in front of and around the pulpit as he talks. They wear expressions that range from belief to guilt, shame to fear. By the time the pastor finishes with the message and the invitation music begins, at least ten people walk up and kneel down, taking a step toward repentance or heavenly eternity. Tears are shed and hugs are given when the song ends.

  The church is full of the Holy Spirit and Trinity and Gates both can feel it within them. She only wishes she could jump around and dance. She’s so full of happiness for everyone who accepted Jesus into their lives and that she is there to see them do it. On the way home it’s all she can talk about.

  ***

  Once they are inside and sitting on the sofa Gloria asks if they are hungry. They both say they can eat something so she fixes a snack for them before Gates has to leave.

  “I wish you could stay, honey,” Trinity pouts.

  Grinning, Gates replies, “You always look so darn cute when you do that.”

  “Thank you,” she replies with a smile and kiss.

  “I would love to stay, but I doubt it would look good. I should get home anyhow. I have something I need to plan.”

  “Yeah, what’s that?”

  “I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.”

  She rolls her eyes and says, “Oh, no, here you go again with the secrets. You never told me what the other one was. I thought we aren’t supposed to keep secrets from each other. Come on…tell me. Please!”

  Laughing at her, “I can’t and trust me, both of them are part of the same thing. You’ll love what they are. I promise you will know very soon.”

  “I certainly hope so!” she huffs.

  After their snack, Gloria tells them good night. Gates takes Sheeba out for a few minutes then gives Trinity a kiss she’ll not forget anytime soon.

  “I love you, baby,” she tells him as she stands on one leg, leaning into his arms.

  “I love you too, even if you are a cripple right now.”

  “Hey!” she exclaims and slaps his arm.

  They laugh, kiss again then she watches through the door window as he drives away. She longs for the day when they can share the same bed, but it can’t happen unless a miracle happens. Sort of like what the Pastor talked about earlier.

  ***

  Over the next few weeks Trinity gets more used to the crutches. The hardest part is not tripping over her dog. Since she isn’t able to drive at the moment, she spends a large portion of her time reading, looking online for jobs, girl time with Gloria and Katherine, and trying to get Gates to tell her what the secrets are. He doesn’t give in and her friends all try to change the subject when she brings it up. She is suspicious of them being in on it, and Gates seems to be enjoying her torture.

  It snows several more times and she badly wants to go outside and play in it, but she’s scared of slipping and hurting herself again. When she spends time with Gates, they enjoy reading from the Bible and watching movies. Sometimes she stays at his house, but if temptation is too strong she sleeps in the other room with Sheeba. It isn’t easy, but they both want to do the right thing.

  He talks to her about starting classes soon in Lynchburg. He decided to attend the university there and become a Pastor. When he breaks the news to her, she is thrilled.

  “Is that one of the surprises you have been holding out on?” she asks with pure excitement.

  “Uhhh, no, I’m sorry, but it’s a great one though isn’t it?”

  “It is, yes, and I am very happy about it, and proud of you. But seriously, you are driving me mad!”

  “Okay, I’m sorry, but I still can’t tell you. I will let you in on this much. What I am planning will happen this weekend.”

  “Really?” she exclaims. “That’s all you will give me? That’s like…two more days from now.”

  “I know, but I have to have it all worked out first. Trust me, okay.”

  “It best be worth the wait mister,” she warns and pokes him playfully in the chest.

  I hope it is too. “It will be,” he tells her.

  ***

  Those two days play havoc on Trinity. She can’t wait to find out what Gates has planned for her. She still doesn’t think it will be anything as extravagant as a proposal, so all sorts of ideas go through her mind. When Saturday finally rolls around, all he will tell her is to wear her prettiest dress and that he will pick her up at six o’clock. That’s it; part of her is irritated with him over it all. “I ca
n’t believe he’s torturing me this way,” she mumbles to herself as she finishes getting ready. Her nerves are on edge; she is excited and anxious to finally know what’s going on.

  He arrives to pick her up a few minutes before six o’clock, and like any other woman he’s ever been with, he is made to wait. As he sits on the couch, he talks to God again asking for the help he will need.

  “God, I truly believe this is what You want for her and me so I don’t know why I’m so nervous, but please help me do what I need to do. Please give me courage and guidance to ask Trinity to be my wife. I love her and need Your help on this since I know You put us together. In Your name I pray, amen.”

  Gates fidgets, and Sheeba watches him intently as if she knows exactly what he has planned for her human. Finally, Trinity comes out of her room and she is absolutely stunning.

  “Wow!” he exclaims profoundly as he admires the perfection before him. She’s wearing a knee length purple dress that hangs perfectly on her petite form. Her hair is shaped in a bob cut that encircles her face so it seems to glow as if under a stage light. Her eyes light up the room and his heart feels like it will burst from his chest.

  Smiling at him and appreciating the single but approving word, Trinity replies, “You look rather handsome yourself.” She hobbles over to him and plants her warm soft lips on his. “I give you my stamp of approval.”

  “You are incredibly gorgeous. I mean you always are, but…wow. Can I stand here and admire you for a while?” he asks, making her giggle with delight at his charm.

  “Any other time if you said that to me I might let you. However, you have had me hanging from a thread long enough with your secrets and I’m ready to know what you have up your sleeve, so no—we have to go. Of course, if you want you can admire me while we are out.”

  “Oh trust me, I will.”

  The smile on her face is beautiful, but the one in her heart is even more so and out shines it by a mile. Thirty minutes later, Gates parks the car in the lot of the church and she looks at him, confused.