SHOTS WHIZZED PAST Nick’s head, and the ground rumbled. He ducked into a shop and scanned the darkened interior for hidden insurgents. This op was not going as planned.
“We moved too early.”
Nick blew a bubble with his chewing gum. His eyes roamed the streets and rooftops. Micah was right. They had moved too early. Their intel had been wrong. When he got back to camp, that little weasel of an informant would pay.
“Stop the smacking, Hawk. I can’t hear over your chewing.”
Hawk ignored Micah and radioed in for their other team members’ positions. A primary al Qaeda leader was meeting two blocks away, and they couldn’t reach him. The insurgents guarding the alleys and streets were thicker than flies on the cows that wandered free in the dusty country. Afghanistan was fly-infested and war-torn, and still the people protected the men who terrorized them.
“On my go, Bulldog, we run to that building.” He pointed across the street. “Josh and Daniel are waiting in the trees to the right. We’ll skirt around those buildings on the corner of the street and find a new position to take this dude out. Got to get some use out of these long guns today.” He blew another bubble. The flavor had faded hours ago, but it kept him focused. He popped another piece into his mouth, adding to the wad.
The road quieted. They were in the eye of the storm. Nick had no choice. It was now or never. “Go.” He flew across the street, Micah to his right. Crouching low, he scanned the perimeter, his steps short and quick. Gunfire began again in earnest, kicking up dust near his feet. He bit back a curse.
A yell sounded from the meager tree line, and he turned. His heart stopped and dropped to the dust. A boy no older than twelve held a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, loaded and aimed. The high whiz signified release, and Nick’s eyes widened.
They were in the direct line of fire, and it was too late. He couldn’t shoot a kid. He swore, grabbed Micah, and threw him on the ground seconds before the grenade whizzed over their heads. He was up and running again, tugging Micah with him as they stumbled over loose rocks. The explosion threw them into the building. Heat seared his face. His ears rang like a gong.
No. God, no. The tree line was in flames, and two bodies lay scorched on the desert floor. Smoke stung his nose, and his eyes watered, intermixed with tears of grief and rage.
“Oh, God. Josh! Dan!” Micah yelled, and Nick held him back. Running into the fire would only cost two more lives. They were gone.
If only he’d killed the kid. His fists clenched, and sweat poured down his face. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. An angry cry spilled from his lips, overflowing like the ocean in a hurricane.
“Kaylan!”
He bolted out of bed, his hand searching frantically for his gun before he realized he was at home. He shivered as the sweat on his bare chest began to cool in the chilly night air.
The light flickered on, and Micah stood, rubbing his eyes and squinting. His chocolate- brown hair lay upturned from his pillow.
“You yelled. Nightmare?”
Nick nodded. He grasped at his hair and then threw his hands in frustration, pacing the small room in the house he and Micah shared. Throwing open the window, he braced himself against the frame. He could still smell the acrid smoke, hear the cries of celebration from the lips of a boy ecstatic over his first kill.
“I should have killed him.”
“The boy?”
Micah knew him well. It was the mark of a best friend and brother in arms. They’d had this discussion many times. Always it was the same.
“Maybe if I’d shot, then Josh and Dan would still be alive.”
“If you had, we might be dead. The whiz of that grenade sounded before we hit the dirt. It was already in the pocket.” He clapped Nick hard on the shoulder. “Let it go.”
Micah walked to Nick’s closet and slid the door open. Nick’s University of Southern California sweatshirt and sweatpants flew through the air and landed with a soft thud against his chest. His running shoes landed in front of his feet, and Micah slipped from the room to change.
Running away never solved anything, but running to forget was Nick’s specialty. He slipped the clothes on and tied his shoes. The flash of the explosion blinded his vision again. Something wasn’t right. Something else had pushed him out of that bed, digging into his instincts to protect.
It wasn’t until the crunch of sand and the chilly breeze whispered in his ears that he remembered the name he’d yelled in his darkest moment, the name that weighed heavily on his mind. Kaylan.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He wished he could call her, wished it wasn’t almost dawn. Micah’s breathing was steady and even beside him, his feet beating in perfect rhythm.
Their neighborhood was quiet, full of SEALs who would wake in a couple hours once again for training evolutions to serve their country and protect its citizens. He had scheduled a Skype date with Kaylan for that evening. Could he wait that long?
Sunrise hovered on the eastern horizon, and Nick remembered the green-eyed beauty an ocean away. He couldn’t shake her from his mind or heart.
As the first hints of sunrise cracked the navy sky, Nick lifted Kaylan up to the only One who could protect her in the coming hours and days. Then he prayed for peace, the peace to forget and forgive, and the courage to keep going when quitting seemed an easier option, especially on nights like these.
The letter arrived at the clinic shortly after lunch, and Kaylan slipped to the back room to open it. Yanick’s baby was being monitored and was receiving the proper nutrients. Kaylan prayed the Lord would raise him to be a mighty defender of his people, an instigator of change.
Her fingers tugged at the envelope, and her eyes soaked in the sight of Nick’s familiar scrawl. Something spilled from the envelope and fell with a metallic clink on the floor. A lily dangled from a silver chain, its center on display and petals peeled open. She slipped it around her neck and clung to it as she read Nick’s words.
Hey, Beautiful,
I know I’m cheating because you already have a box of letters, but consider this a very delayed Christmas present. It would honor me if you would wear it. The lily symbolizes everything beautiful and pure. It embodies you.
We’re training hard for another op, though where and when it will take place, I don’t know. I focus my body and pray my mind follows suit, but all too often I think of you. I received your latest letter, and it was the highlight of my week. I think it highlighted Micah’s week too. I’m still hearing about it. I’ll have to be first to check the mail from now on.
Your words humbled me. Why I never allowed you to share in my career before is a mystery, my mistake. But, you have shown me you understand my calling and will not ask me to change course. I couldn’t have hoped for more. I hope you are finding all you dreamed of in Haiti. Saving the world yet?
Every sunrise now, I think of you. As much as I hate the separation, I’m thankful we have this time to grow individually while growing together.
How are the kids there? How many soccer games have you played? Kissing babies and saving lives yet? Know I am praying and that I couldn’t be more proud.
Thinking of you at sunrise,
Nick
P.S. Don’t forget, you owe me a kiss.
Kaylan traced the chiseled lines of the petals and ached to be with Nick. She checked the calendar on the wall. January 12: Skype date tonight at nine. With renewed energy after a mostly sleepless night, she skipped back to work, counting the hours until her overseas date. She hoped the Internet cooperated.
Kaylan plunked down on her bed. No rest for the bone-tired. The bed, like much in Haiti, was more practical than comfortable, but tonight it would feel like a feather pillow. She kicked her shoes off and snuggled her pillow, her eyes drifting closed. Maybe just thirty minutes of sleep before dinner . . .
Dinner! Kaylan bolted upright as Sarah Beth took a flying leap and landed on her twin bed on the other side of the room.
“This thing feels like a wonderful, cozy rock.”
“The moms are coming over tonight. Sarah Beth, get up. We have to cook. I totally forgot.”
“Can’t think straight. Thirty minutes.”
Kaylan glanced at her watch. It was 4:30. The women would be there at six. Maybe they could fry some of the plantains Rhonda picked up earlier. Her mind drifted, and her fingers played with Nick’s necklace.
“Did lover boy send that?”
“It came in the mail today.”
“Just in time. Don’t you have a hot date tonight?” She giggled when Kaylan threw one of her pillows. “Well, what are you going to wear?”
“That lacy green shirt and my pajama bottoms.”
“Cheater.” Sarah Beth lobbed the pillow back and Kaylan snatched it, feeling more energized. “I forgot to tell you, but I got an email today from Northington Elementary. Mrs. Thurgood is leaving, and I unofficially have her spot to teach second grade next fall.” Sarah Beth squealed. “I am beyond excited.”
“Congrats, Bubbles. That’s awesome. Know how you’re going to decorate your classroom yet?”
“Of course. I was thinking of doing a Finding Nemo theme. Talk about the ocean and friendship lessons from the movie. Decorate the walls with waves made from blue crepe paper and tape fish nametags on the desks. I can talk about the seven seas and beaches and different countries like Australia. I can have a buried treasure box for goodies.”
Kaylan laughed. “Those second graders are going to have the best teacher in Tuscaloosa.”
“Thanks, Kayles.” Sarah Beth sounded wistful. “I hope so. The kids here are definitely breaking me in.” The room grew still, and Kaylan loved the ability to say as much in the stillness as in conversation. Only the closest of friends shared this trait.
Sarah Beth broke the silence. “I guess I’ll have to leave Haiti in July in order to get ready for the school year. Do you think you’ll go back then for your internship?”
“I think so. The internship seems unimportant here, but I have so much left to learn. I desperately need more training.” Kaylan pushed off the bed and stretched. She checked the time again. 4:51. “I need to start supper. You coming?” She sat down on the floor and slipped on her shoes.
“Ugh. Give me five more minutes.”
“Deal.” Kaylan gazed up at her bed, wishing she could crawl beneath the covers. She would be less than awake for her Skype date later, but at least she would get to see Nick, even if she wasn’t completely coherent.
Suddenly Kaylan’s bed pitched as the floor and walls buckled and rolled. Kaylan screamed and dove under the bed, her head clipping the stiff wood. “Sarah Beth, duck!”
Crashes shook the room. Her head struck the wall beneath her bed as she was tossed like a rag doll. Something warm dripped into her eyes before everything went black.