7

 

Between the hospital and an occasional evening out, Cole had made his presence known on a regular basis.

Christie wished they hadn’t formed such a foolish pact. Her feelings governed nearly every decision with him.

But since that kiss, he’d kept his emotions tightly in check.

So she had no clue where they stood…other than friends.

Mr. Hartway did his best to hang on, but he clung to life like an old fishfly clung to flesh, yet all the while fading away. His laughter had grown weaker in the last couple weeks.

And Cole spent a lot more time at the hospital.

“Girl, don’t ask me to use that thing again,” Mr. Hartway groused.

Christie shooed the aide from the room. “I’ll see he gets to the restroom, Carla. He doesn’t like the bedpan.”

“That’s why I let ‘em bring me back to the hospital whenever it hurts to…you know, pee. You ladies are a hoot.”

“You behave, or I’ll go get your grandson.”

Mr. Hartway’s eyes cleared for a moment. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, young lady?”

Christie felt her face blaze with the insinuation. “Whatever do you mean?”

“My dear, you and Cole are very transparent, I’m afraid. The way you look at him. The way he looks at you. I could go on.”

“No, that’s quite all right. Cole and I are simply friends. Nothing more.”

“I once had a friend like that. We talked about everything. Shared our most intimate successes and failures. Spoke on the phone ‘til way into the night. She even finished my sentences.”

“That’s like Cole and me. Friends like you and your friend. What happened to her?”

“I married her.”

 

****

 

Cole collapsed in a chair, stretched his long legs onto the ottoman, and tried to relax.

Stacks of letters piled high on the desk. Just being part of the book kept him in the limelight—more than he liked, but still, he had to do the right thing and respond to them.

Brice must have had a book signing somewhere near. Whenever that happened, the letters poured in for a few weeks after.

 

Dear Mr. Keller:

I’ve always wanted to meet a real war hero. Since my man left a month ago, I’ve thought of no one but you. I just know the two of us…

 

Errgh. That one into file thirteen. No reason to finish reading or respond.

 

Dear Keller:

You made us proud over there. Keep up the good work in the private sector as well.

Capt. Jeremiah Fischer

 

Not that he needed the kudos, but he preferred it to the phony and personal sentiments.

 

My Dearest Cole:

I would have called. But I didn’t know what I’d say to you. Justin and I broke up. I’m sure you expected that. We had nothing in common. I’m not sure why I ever left you for him. I must have been crazy. I was just…lonely. That’s all. And I wanted to be with someone.

Anyway, we ended up in Portland, and now I don’t have anywhere to stay. Justin put my things in two huge plastic garbage bags and threw them on the porch. I found them when I came in from work. He emptied our joint account and cut up my credit card. I’m not sure why, because I hardly ever used it.

Mama and Daddy said not to come crawling back to them for help, so they won’t answer the phone when I call. Not even Mama! Can you imagine?

I don’t have anyone else to contact. Please, Cole, can you help me get back home or on my feet or something? I just picture myself as a homeless beggar with two garbage bags to my name.

Justin has my phone, said it was his because he paid for it. So you can’t call. I’m staying at a girlfriend’s. But Cole, she parties and has friends in all the time. I don’t want to be part of that kind of lifestyle. It scares me. I really need you and I’m so sorry for what I did.

Luv you, luv you, Bennie

BTW, your book was wonderful!

He glanced up at the bookshelf where a dozen copies of The Human Shield needed dusting. His gaze fell to the letter once again.

She’d included her current address on a slip of paper separate from the letter.

He slowed his breathing and leaned against the chair back. Calm down. You only have half the story. But you can’t leave her there. Breakup or no breakup. You still care what happens to her. He steadied each breath, in and out. Stabilize the heart rate back to normal. Just like in Iraq. Control every step of the way. He cared what happened to her, but nothing more.

Yet, if her parents had turned their backs on her, what else could he do? She was a human being who needed his help.

 

****

 

Christie picked up the phone. “Yes?”

“Christie, it’s Cole. Listen, something’s come up out of town. I need to ask you a huge favor. Will you call if there’s any serious change in Gramps? I don’t want to leave him alone. Morgan said she’d come back for a couple days at the end of the week, but I need someone who’ll call me at a moment’s notice and give me the nurse’s eye view. Would you mind?”

“Morgan’s coming?”

“Dad’s going to drive her. There’s a surprise. I wasn’t sure he’d come down at all.”

“I’ll be happy to let you know of any change.”

“I appreciate it. I have a flight out in two hours so I need to go pack. Thanks a lot, Christie. I knew I could count on you.”

“No problem, that’s what friends are for.” She needed to stop this whole friend nonsense. She was falling in love with him. Whenever he was near, her pulse quickened and her lips turned dry as sand. She had friends, and they didn’t make her feel as if she had hot lava coursing through her stomach.

If Mr. Hartway judged rightly about them, Cole felt the same.

Had he been offered another bachelor’s paradise on one of the reality shows on TV? He’d already turned one down. All those women, ogling him. Of course, she’d never apply for one of those shows.

He had mentioned appearing on another morning news program, but wouldn’t Brice be invited, too?

If he wasn’t on a show, where was he going?