Jackie followed her instructions, and the image of relaxation she built in her mind changed. It now included Jess and Ben, they were only five or six years old. As she sat in her window seat, she watched them play a board game together. Her heart filled with love and peace. Her tight muscles began to release, and she went limp against the supple leather underneath her.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the chair next to her was empty. The sound of a file cabinet drawer being opened drew her attention, she turned her head to see Dr. Nash seated behind her desk. Swiftly sitting up, she wiped her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
Dr. Nash stood and approached her. “Don’t worry about it, it just proved that the relaxation techniques worked, and you’re not the first patient to fall asleep on me.”
“What do we do from here?” Jackie asked before taking a sip of water to wet her dry mouth.
“There are a couple of other techniques, but we’ll leave that until next time. Until then, practice what we’ve covered today.”
Jackie stood and shook her hand. “I will, and again, I’m sorry.”
Got to Table of Contents
Chapter Thirteen
The early morning sun had risen, and a cool breeze filtered through the open window. Up before dawn, showered and dressed, Jackie sat in the silence of her kitchen, sipping slowly on a strong black coffee. She was ready to start her new life, yet, at the same time, she was nervous. She looked at her watch. Time to go, Holmes.
Wanting to make a good impression, she arrived early, turned the car engine off, and sunk back into her seat. Remember the relaxation therapy. She slowed her breathing, and concentrated on inhaling and exhaling. Going to the special place she’d built in her mind, her body relaxed, making her feel more in control.
A knock on the window startled her out of her meditative state. She opened her eyes to see Mary staring at her. “Sorry, I was trying to centre myself before going inside.” She opened the door, and climbed out of the car.
Mary blinked slowly as she gave a quizzical expression. “Surely you’re not nervous.”
Jackie nodded and averted her eyes. “A little, but I know as soon as I get started, I’ll be fine.”
In the office, Jackie waited for her CO to join her. Her stomach was in knots as she stared at the row of new photographs that hung on the wall. Then she stepped closer when her eyes focused on a picture of her and the battalion. She remembered when the picture was taken:
“Come on, Kinsey, stop shoving me!” Sergeant Davis shouted as he pushed him back.
Rolling her eyes Jackie smiled at the two strapping men standing behind her. “Seriously, I never had this much trouble getting the twins through their school photos when they were toddlers.”
Both men grinned, and Kinsey offered a cheeky wink.
“Pack it in, and stand tall and proud,” she ordered them.
“Yes, Ma’am,” they shouted in unison and snapped to attention.
Once they were in position, Jackie turned back to the photographer and held a thumb up to him. “I’d take it while they’re behaving. If they have to wait any longer they’ll start to misbehave again!”
“Ah, memories,” the CO’s voice came from behind her, breaking her attention.
Jackie nodded, her vision blurred with unshed tears. The picture was the last one taken before her accident. “Yes, Sir,” she sniffed. “I’m sorry to get emotional, I think it just hit home. I’m really going to miss them.”
He nodded his understanding, and in a small show of weakness offered her a stiff one-armed hug. “Even though you’re not going to be in any active service pictures, you’ll still be in the battalion one we take every year.”
Jackie half smiled at his lack of understanding. It wasn’t not taking pictures that she’d miss, it was being part of a team. However, she wouldn’t miss the bloodshed, death, and the late night cries from the wounded. Inhaling, she glanced once more at the bright faces smiling back at her and nodded.
“Let me take you to your office. You’ll be fine once you can immerse yourself in work.” He led her down a separate hallway, lined with more pictures.
Keeping her gaze straight ahead, Jackie followed him. He stopped in front of a brown wooden door, pushed it open, and motioned her to enter. Jackie stepped into the room, a solitary tear slipped down her cheek at what greeted her. There was a banner hanging behind her desk, welcoming her back, and a large bouquet of white roses on her desk. “Oh wow,” she said, quickly wiping the escaped tear from her cheek.
Her CO laughed. “I see the boys from your battalion heard you were coming back.”
Jackie closed her eyes as she leaned down to smell the gorgeous blooms. Umm, a hint of raspberry. She opened her eyes and scanned the room like a hawk searching for its prey, as she was puzzled there were no other desks occupying the space. “I pictured myself working in an office pool.”
Spreading his arms wide, he moved slightly to one side. “No, this is all yours.”
“Wow, I never expected my own office,” she replied, as she walked over to the large picture window and stared out across the tarmac to the other buildings. Turning to look at her desk, she found a stack of folders waiting for her.
Seeing where her gaze was fixed, the CO walked over and picked up the first file. “You will be in charge of new recruits.” He went to a stack of boxes and tapped the lids. “After you’ve done the pile on your desk, can you start working on these? Your role’s also going to be as an advocate for the family support team.”
Placing her briefcase on the desk, she nodded. “I’ll get right to it.”
“Excellent. I’ll get out of your hair and leave you to get settled in.” He turned to leave. “Oh…” he spun back around. “Normally, the office personnel have lunch between twelve and one. I hope that works well for you.” After receiving a nod, he strode out of the room.
Jackie opened the case and began to set her things out. She smiled when she saw a picture of her and the twins. The little monkeys must have snuck that in here last night. She set it next to her computer in plain view, then sat in her chair, where she grabbed the first file, only to place it back on the pile when her prosthetic clunked against something under the desk. Bending to look under, she saw a large brown cardboard box. What do we have here? She reached down to fish it out; setting it between her legs, she peeled off the plain yellow post-it note attached to the top:
Major, These arrived after you were shipped home. Sorry they didn’t find their way to you sooner. Mary.
She ripped open the top flap and instantly sifted through the contents, and immediately her heart swelled, while her eyes glazed over and pearl shaped tears formed as they released from the corners, she picked up a photograph of Davis—the shot of him stood alongside his wife and children. She placed it back in the box and picked up a card, wishing her a speedy recovery, and words of encouragement to keep her focused. It would have been nice to have had these in rehab… Anger and disappointment rose in her chest.
She jerked up as she heard a booming command from outside, her anger instantly dissipated. I never thought I’d hear that sound again, thank God, my office looks out over the parade ground. Striding to the large picture window, she watched Sergeant Major Summers, whose strong baritone voice reverberated around the buildings, lead the battalion through heavy drill manoeuvres.
Sighing wistfully, she fingered the card in her hand and gazed back into the box. They never forgot me. Pride filled her, as a solitary tear slipped from her right eye and ran down her cheek, this time there was no disappointment, it was something she hadn’t let herself feel in the last few months…a slight shiver of happiness.
•••
Flowers in hand, Jackie happily strode down the familiar hallway. She held her head high as she stopped at the door long enough to see her reflection in the window pane. Her breath caught in her throat as her image stared back at her. She was nervous and didn’t understand why. It’s just flowers,
it’s not like I’m asking her to sleep with me. Pausing, she contemplated the thought, and inwardly laughed. That wouldn’t be a bad thing though. “Knock, knock,” she sang out, as she tapped on the door.
“Come in,” Carrie’s soft voice called from within.
Jackie poked her head around the door, to find Carrie sat at her desk, immersed in paperwork. “We can order take out if you’re too busy to go out to lunch.”
“Hey,” Carrie said, without looking up from her desk. “Give me a minute.”
Not saying a word, Jackie smiled and stepped into the office while she waited for Carrie to finish whatever it was she was doing.
“Well, hello, Major Holmes,” Carrie purred in a low, sexy voice, as she stood up and gave Jackie the once over, arching her eyebrow in the process. “In uniform too, I see.”
Laughing, Jackie flapped her hands at her sides. “It’s just standard office attire, but if I’d have known you liked it so much, I would’ve worn them before now.” Her voice caught in her throat when she realised she was again flirting.
Carrie stood and stepped close to Jackie. “It’s not every day I get to go to lunch with such a handsome woman in uniform.” She circled her and admired her presentation, then stopped. “Jesus! You cut all your hair off, too.” She ran her fingers through Jackie’s short locks. “I like it.”
Jackie shivered, a pleasurable tremor ran through her as Carrie’s nails scratched gently against her scalp. Aware of the wetness increasing between her legs, she held the flowers out in front to put space between her and Carrie.
“Here, these are for you. I thought they might cheer you up a little.”
Carrie took the flowers and raised the arrangement to her nose to inhale their scent. “Wow…flowers and lunch…what a way to woo a girl, Major,” she said, with a teasing wink. Turning on her heels, she searched the room for a vase, to no avail. In the cupboard, the only thing she could find was a hospital issue water container. “This will have to do,” her voice carried as she arranged the flowers, then she picked up her bag from behind her desk.
“Trust me, if I was trying to woo you, I wouldn’t be taking you to the local greasy spoon for lunch.”
Carrie chuckled and slid her arm into Jackie’s, and guided her toward the door.
Ten minutes and two blocks later, Jackie held the door of the local café open for Carrie, and took the liberty to steal a look at the way Carrie’s jeans fit snug against her heart shaped backside.
Between bites, Carrie asked, “How’s your first day going?”
“Good, great even. Oh, before I forget, I want to invite you, Toni, and the boys, to a party at my house on Saturday.” She had to fight the urge to omit Toni from the invitation.
“That sounds like fun, count us in,” Carrie replied as she settled her napkin in her lap. “If Toni doesn’t like it, tough shit.” Her voice changed from light and soft, to hard and strained. “I’ll text you later, to let you know if she’s coming. Judging from the mood she was in this morning, she’ll probably have an issue with it.”
Jackie laid her hand on Carrie’s clenched fist, which she’d tried to hide on her lap beneath the privacy of the table. “You know you can always count on me. If you need me, all you have to do is call.” She ran her thumb over Carrie’s, their eyes locked, blue on brown. “I hate the way Toni treats you and the boys.”
Carrie’s pale pink lips shimmered as a radiant smile transformed her features. She squeezed Jackie’s hand, and then intertwined their fingers. “Thanks, I really appreciate it. I’d be lost without you.”
Jackie looked down and clasped her hands together on her lap. I’d be lost without you too.
•••
As the afternoon sky turned to a miserable grey, Carrie relaxed into her desk chair, and leaned back, resting her head against the cool black leather. Closing her eyes, her mind filled with images of Jackie, and a happy sigh of contentment escaped her. She loved the way Jackie’s touch and presence soothed her. Her mind flashed back to the time she’d held her in her arms, her body growing warm—her cheeks hot. She knew the signs, there was no denying she had it bad for her, but there was no way she was ready to admit it.
Her gaze fell on the orange, green, and white, flowers Jackie had brought her. No matter how hard she tried to cover her emotions, Jackie always knew when she needed cheering up. A snapshot of Jackie in her uniform filled her mind, causing her to shiver, and she slowly licked her lips, as she slid a hand over her sensitive breast. Just thinking of Jackie caused her body to come alive, something she thought had died a long time ago. I’ve got to stop this. She’s straight and we’re just friends—nothing more. I shouldn’t be thinking about her this way!
•••
With her finger on the replay button, Jackie listened to the message on the answering machine. “Hi, Jackie, it’s me,” Carrie’s voice filled the room. “As promised, I’ve called to let you know about the party. We’ll all be there. Speak to you soon.”
The third time she listened, she rolled her eyes. Carrie had said that they were all going to be there. That meant only one thing…Toni was coming. Jackie’s thoughts darkened as she remembered the way she’d behaved at the restaurant. “She better not show her ass in my house!”
Each time her mind wandered to the way Toni had treated Carrie, her pulse quickened. She’d seen men and women die, fought on the battle field, and never felt as helpless as this. There was nothing she could do, except to be a listening ear when Carrie needed her.
Combing her hand through her hair, her mind wondered about all of the time they’d spent together, and then to Carrie’s constant reference to what they were to one another. ‘Friends.’ The word struck her heart, as much as she adored her, and loved spending time as friends with Carrie, she wanted more. She wanted Carrie.
Got to Table of Contents
Chapter Fourteen
“You have to put on a show,” Jackie mumbled as she eyed her reflection in the hall mirror one last time. Looking down at her legs, she was contented with how she looked. If she didn’t know any better, even she wouldn’t know she had a prosthetic leg. With the extra time spent in the gym, she was cut, and when she moved, her muscles flexed. Turning on her heel, she eyed the way the light stonewash jeans and black shirt emphasized her curves. Look out Toni, I’m set to impress your woman, and take her as my own!
The sound of the doorbell startled her, and she placed a hand over her heart to calm its sudden need to beat erratically. She pulled the door open, and let it swing wide. “Kinsey, it’s good to see you again.” Even given her own height of six-foot, she still had to look up at him.
“Hello, Ma’am,” he replied. “Thank you for inviting us, this is my wife Clare. Clare, this is Major Jackie Holmes.”
Jackie shook the young brunette’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, welcome to the party. You’re the first to arrive, so it’s a little quiet at the moment.”
“Aww, man,” Kinsey moaned. “I hate being first.”
Chuckling softly, Jackie escorted them through the house, and introduced them to her family. When they reached the kitchen, she directed them towards the buckets of beer and wine. “Well, it looks like you weren’t too far ahead of my next guests.” She motioned with her head for them to look back at the door, where a small group of people were meandering down the driveway. “Excuse me, I need to go and greet some of the others. Help yourselves to anything you want.”
Her other guests arrived and mingled with one another, while she stood at the door for several more minutes. The only one who hadn’t arrived was Carrie. Feeling like one of her moody teenaged children, she found it hard not to show she had a sulk coming on. She turned away from the door and strode through the house to the kitchen, grabbed a beer from one of the buckets, and peered around the empty room. “Where is everyone?” she asked her mother, who was seated alone at the kitchen table.
Molly smirked. “Outside. They seemed to follow your dad like a flock of sheep, when he carr
ied the meat out to the grill.”
“They’re a bunch of burley squaddies, of course they’re going to follow the food.”
A sound she hadn’t heard for months drew her attention. “Raugh!” The deafening roar reverberated around the garden as she left the comfortable AC temperature inside the house and marched out to join her troop. Donning her sunglasses, she fanned her face while she made her way around the garden, lighting the citronella candles the twins had strategically placed all over the area, to keep the mosquitos from gathering.
Three beers and an hour later, she stuffed her hand into her pocket to avoid looking at her watch. Oh well, looks like she’s not coming. She excused herself from her friends to retrieve another beer. On her way to the bucket, she was met by Jess leading Carrie, Toni, Richard, and Charlie, through the house.
She had dressed in a pair of tight fitting black jeans—moulded to her curves, a white top, that showed a perfect cleft between her breasts, and two inch black heels—her toes peeking, with red polish on her toenails. The way her lips lifted as she broke into a smile, gave the image of sunshine on a rainy day. She walked slowly towards Jackie.
Jackie gulped when she realized she was staring, and quickly looked away, hoping Toni hadn’t noticed. She glanced back, and it was then she locked into a gaze with Carrie for a few seconds. She swallowed hard.
Carrie strode straight to Jackie and wrapped her arms around her. “Thanks for the invite.”
Hero Page 13
