No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology

by Elizabeth Knox

  “I have a question for you,” Albert says to me as I’m standing at the sink doing dishes. One of my activities from the physical therapist is doing dishes. I mentioned to her that my boyfriend owned a bar and was looking for a cook a couple of hours a week and my parents want me to work for them in the bookstore. She has me standing to do dishes and cook dinner.

  “What would that be?”

  “Darren is scheduled to work today. I don’t have a replacement for him. Is it okay if he comes here?”

  “Yes. I miss him.”

  “Well, he misses you too.” I turn around to see Darren standing there. I walk over to him without my crutches and he wraps his arms around my waist kissing me. I’ve missed this man more than anything. There is a barking dog at my feet. We separate and laugh. “Is this Houdini?”

  “Yeah. Isn’t he cute?”

  “He definitely is. Hey, buddy. Thanks for taking good care of my girl. She talks all the time about you.” I can’t help but smile at the exchange between Darren and Houdini. “Physical therapy looks like it’s going well.” We walk over to the table. I still get sore standing but that’s going to probably always be there.

  “It is. I can get up and down the stairs by myself without the crutches. I can’t run quite yet but they’re fitting me for the prosthetic. I remembered what happened to me up until the medic found me.” I’m a bundle of nerves now that Darren is here. “There was something else I had to tell you.” I look around the room trying to remember what it was or at least playing the role. “I have missed you so much. I wanted you to come by so badly, but I needed to do this on my own.” He kisses me.

  “When are you able to go home?” Darren asks me.

  “Anytime I think. I know the commands for Houdini, but he seems to be doing everything before I know I need him.”

  “I can take you after my shift then?” I quickly nod as I fling myself into his lap. We kiss some more before Albert makes him go clean something. I finish the dishes and write in my journal. That night I left and was back home. I asked Darren if he wanted to stay the night with me and he thanked me for asking. He’s been dying to hold me in his arms all night.

  As we got ready for bed, I climbed in first as Darren was taking Houdini out one last time for me since I was exhausted from the day.

  “This dog cracks me up.” Darren comes in carrying him.

  “You know he can walk, right?”

  “I know that but he’s so cute.” Darren uses a baby voice. He puts Houdini down on the floor while he walks around taking off his shirt. Wow this man is hot. He slides in with me and pulls me into his arms. “I can’t believe one of my dreams is coming true right now.”

  “One of your dreams?”

  “Yes, holding you in my arms. The main dream is you changing your last name to Hughes someday.” He winks at me. Houdini finally finds his way up here and lays at my feet. I drift off to sleep feeling happy for the first time in almost two years. I plan to make the best of my life, no more hiding. If the world doesn’t like me with scars and all then that’s on them. My family loves me. Darren loves me. Houdini loves me. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m thankful that Darren came into my life when he did and introduced me to the K9s for Warriors because I don’t know if I would’ve pushed so hard to be independent, have a dog that helps me when I need him, or a boyfriend who only wants the best for me.

  Epilogue

  Mia

  A year later

  “Would you hurry up?” Darren yells and Houdini barks.

  “I’m coming. I don’t know what the rush is. The ceremony starts in an hour,” I remind him.

  “But the guest of honor needs to be there early.” I roll my eyes. The mayor of our town decided that since today is the three-year anniversary of me coming back to Pennsylvania, granted I was in a coma at the time, that it was time to celebrate me. Something like this would’ve sent me into a panic attack. The therapy is getting better to the point that I’m seeing her once a month. Houdini has been a godsend that I feel more confident with myself. Darren and I bought a house with a fenced in yard so Houdini can run and for when we have kids. We’ve been planning our wedding for three months now and with our mothers I want to elope.

  We arrive at the park where the ceremony is going to be and there’s about fifty people there. “I didn’t think there was going to be so many people here.”

  “They’re here to get a look at the hero.” Darren winks at me. He knows that I hate being called a hero.

  The ceremony starts right on time.

  “I want to thank everyone for being here. This is three years too late but better late than never. We watched Mia Edwards grow up from the tomboy in pigtails to the Army soldier we see today. When we got word of the accident that you were in, we all feared the worst. When you came back to us, we didn’t know how to handle it. You almost lost your life protecting our freedoms and that’s something I don’t think we could ever repay or say thank you enough for.” The crowd starts clapping. The mayor has me come stand next to him. He has a plaque that has my name on it. “Now join me in welcoming home Sgt. Mia Edwards.” The crowd cheers, claps, and there are some whistles. Houdini is right beside me the whole time. He moves out of the way.

  “I didn’t realize I needed a speech. I’m horrible at public speaking.” I nervously chuckle but I feel Houdini bumping the back of my leg. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your kind words. When my base was attacked, I didn’t know if I’d make it back or not. I lived with a lot of guilt because some of my best friends didn’t make it home, but I did. I had a very wise person in my life ask me if I’m hiding from the world how am I honoring them and I couldn’t answer because I wasn’t honoring them. I decided that day that I would live a life that would honor them and make them proud. I stopped being afraid to live. I fell in love and will be getting married to the love of my life. I have my family by my side. I also found what I enjoy doing every day and that’s working with K9s for Warriors to help other veterans like me who need extra help once in a while.” I look down to Houdini. “Houdini might look like an adorable dog to you but to me he saved my life more times than I can count. He weathers every storm with me. I’ve been able to heal because of the love from a dog, Darren, and my family. This town is my home and I know that you love me too. Thank you for this wonderful day and I hope that I continue to make you proud.” I step away from the podium.

  I feel so much lighter. This is what letting go and living feels like.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you for taking the time to read my story that’s part of this kickass anthology. When I was writing my story, I did a lot of research about the charity that was chosen, and it amazed me what they do for our veterans. We often forget how hard it can be for a veteran returning after a war.

  Thank you to Elizabeth Knox and Knox Publishing for allowing me to write a story for No Man Left Behind. Also, thank you to the editors who gave of their time to edit my work to make sure it’s the best story that I could write.

  Thanks to my family for putting up with my writing cave days and for making sure that I’m eating and taking care of myself. I often forget to do that, so they are well appreciated.

  This is going to sound a little weird, but I don’t care. I often speak about my panic attacks and emotional support dog, Annie. I need to thank her for picking me and helping me through the dark times in my life. I know it’s silly to write this in my acknowledgments, but Annie has saved me more times than I can count.

  Thank you to the readers who have taken a chance on me and read this story. I hope to see you at a signing in 2021(Fingers crossed, right?)

  About the Author

  Movies, gaming, and books. Oh My!

  Jaime Russell grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, but she currently resides in a smaller town in Indiana. She lives in the country with her husband, and she is a caregiver to her parents and mother-in-law. Jaime suffers from some autoimmune diseases, so on her good days, she is active and
most likely shopping. But on her bad days, she spends time curled up with her fuzzy blanket, escaping reality with her puppies Annie, Duke, and Duchess.

  Jaime is a stepmom to four adults plus a couple of kids that she unofficially adopted. She is a grandmother to two wild boys with a personality all of their own and a sassy granddaughter that has stolen her heart. She is an aunt to two crazy nephews and four nieces, as well as being the oldest child in a family of five which include their spouses. Life has never been dull for Jaime, and family means everything to her.

  She enjoys watching movies, shooting guns, and spending time with family and friends. She is an avid gamer when her internet permits, as she enjoys talking and goofing off with her online family.

  Jaime Russell never liked reading growing up. Now she never goes anywhere without either a paperback or her Kindle because there is always a new book boyfriend that needs to be found and fought over.

  Facebook page: facebook.com/jaimerussellauthor

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  Books by Jaime Russell

  LOVE ME SERIES

  Love Me Like You Do

  Love Me Like You Mean It

  Heart of the Matter

  As Long As You Love Me

  Love Me Tender

  Boss B*tch Series

  Stripped

  Cowboy Heaven and Texas Beauties Series

  Just One Night

  Cross My Heart

  Brothers of Olympus MC Series

  Outlaw Justice

  Gamble

  Novellas/Non-Series Books

  Signed, SEALed, Delivered

  Love in Bloom

  Emmett (A Rogue Enforcers Novella)

  Forever Safe Series

  Summer Message (Forever Safe Summer Series II)

  Kneading Love (Forever Safe Christmas)

  S’more Love (Forever Safe Fall Series)

  Fancy’s Christmas Wish (Forever Safe Christmas Series II)