Love Is a Battlefield

by Annalisa Daughety

  “Anytime.” He looked like he wanted to say more.

  Please don’t ask me about my date. She grabbed her cart and forced her lips into a smile. “See you at work tomorrow.”

  “Actually, tomorrow is my day off,” he informed her.

  “Oh. So you have ‘real’ weekends off?” she wondered briefly if he had some kind of inside connection at the park. Since the park was open seven days a week, not many employees had Saturday and Sunday off.

  “Sure do. How about you?”

  “I’m off Sundays and Mondays.”

  “I see. Well, hey. That means tomorrow is like your Friday.” He looked at her intently.

  “Yes.” she nodded, suddenly aware of her bare face and ponytail. “I need to go. Sam’s in the car.”

  “Have a good evening.”

  She could feel his eyes on her as she pushed the cart in the opposite direction. Don’t look back. Just keep going.

  She bypassed the posters of Generals Grant and Lee and headed for the checkout. The Four star was the only grocery store she knew of where you could buy authentic Civil War souvenirs along with your bread and milk.

  Kristy handed her debit card to the cashier. She should’ve just stayed in bed today. Called in sick of life. First, the dog ran away. Then she got stood up. If anyone had ever needed a do-over, it was her.

  Oh well, she’d just have to find her inner Scarlett.

  Tomorrow is another day.

  CHAPTER 13

  Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. Just the opposite of Kristy’s mood. But she was trying not to think about the disasters of yesterday. No point in dwelling on what couldn’t be changed. So Robert stood her up. Fine. He probably wasn’t her type anyway. And so what if she’d made a complete fool of herself in front of Ace? Twice. She hardly knew him. And she certainly didn’t like him. So why did it bug her so much? she suddenly remembered that it was his day off and was immediately in better humor.

  She threw on her Smokey bear hat, kissed Sam good-bye, and headed out the door. The walk to the visitor center was much more comfortable than the barefoot run she’d taken the previous day. And Saturdays were always busy at the park, with lots of families and tour groups. No time to think about her problems. Plus, she needed to resume training since both Matthew and Mason would be working today. She hoped to have them take turns tagging along on some of her ranger programs so they could learn how to conduct them.

  Since tomorrow was her day off, she only had to get through the day before she would be rewarded with a break. Kristy hadn’t mentioned it to Ace last night, but she’d had to fight long and hard to get Sundays off. She couldn’t imagine giving up going to Sunday morning services. Now that she was a seasonal, she was a little afraid her days off would change. But so far Hank hadn’t mentioned it.

  Before she checked the daily schedule, she started a pot of coffee. The drawback of being the only female ranger was that she had to do anything that might be considered “domestic.” she watched it brew and savored the smell. Her general rule was “Don’t talk to me until you’ve seen me have at least one cup—loaded with sugar and cream.” she knew the caffeine, not to mention the sugar and cream, probably wasn’t the healthiest breakfast, but it was the only way she could get her mornings off to a good start.

  Her day was loaded with programs, and despite her gloominess, she was thrilled. Lots of programs meant she would spend most of her time outside, talking to visitors. She’d take that any day over being stuck on front-desk duty—having to stand at the desk all day long, taking entrance fees and pointing out the restrooms. No fun. And lots of time to dwell on what was going wrong in her life.

  “Good morning.” Owen grabbed a Styrofoam cup and waited for the coffee to finish brewing. Upon meeting him, some people thought Owen was quite a force to reckon with. But much like Hank, underneath his gruff exterior, he was a big teddy bear.

  “Morning. Thanks for scheduling me outside most of the day.” Owen made the daily schedules, and it was always best to stay on his good side.

  “No problem.” He poured his coffee right to the top of the cup.

  Kristy had to fight to keep from flinching as she watched the hot coffee slosh around. He always poured his coffee a little too full, and the old blue carpet that ran between his office and the coffee station featured a trail of little coffee stains.

  “You gonna have the twins attend your programs today?” He took a sip of coffee.

  “I figured I’d have them switch off. That way one of them can be in here learning how to work the front desk.”

  He nodded. “Good plan.”

  “So any more news about the monument vandal?” she asked.

  “None. Arnie was pretty mad about getting hit a second time. Said he wanted whoever did it to be found.” Owen raked his fingers through his thinning gray hair and splashed a couple of drops of coffee in the process.

  “Not much chance of that. Surely they’re not stupid enough to do it a third time.” Kristy hoped the culprit was long gone. “Let’s hope you’re right about that.” He took another sip of coffee and ambled back to his office.

  Kristy put her hat and purse in the seasonal office, thankful for a few minutes alone before being surrounded by people all day. Despite her desire to forget about the embarrassment of last night, it was still hanging over her like a big black cloud. The coffee helped, but she couldn’t completely shake the feeling of discontent.

  ***

  A loud ringing in his ears brought Ace to consciousness. He squinted at the bedside clock. Through bleary eyes, he could barely make out 8:00. And after a night spent poring over thick books, he hadn’t gotten to bed until nearly dawn. How had he set the alarm wrong? He squeezed his eyes shut and slammed his hand on the snooze button. But the ringing continued. Even in his tired brain, he knew that left only one other option. Without opening his eyes, he scrabbled around on the bedside table with his fingers until they closed around the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Could I speak to Ace, please?” His brain teetered on the brink of recognizing the woman’s voice, but he couldn’t quite place it.

  He sat up and tried to will the grogginess from his voice. “Speaking.”

  “Um, this is Maggie Hamilton. Caroline’s mother.”

  The name had the effect of cold ice water splashed in his face. “Mrs. Hamilton. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, dear. I just wanted to let you know.... That is, I needed to tell you ... there are some things of Caroline’s I thought you might want.” The sadness in her voice as she said the name of her only daughter cut to his heart.

  “Oh, well, thanks.”

  “I know it took us a long time to go through her things. But after the accident, I just couldn’t...” she trailed off, as if to collect herself. “I couldn’t handle it then. It was easier to just put it all in storage.”

  Ace knew exactly what she meant. He’d done the same with his pain for a long time. Put it in storage. “I understand, Mrs. Hamilton.” if he closed his eyes, he could see Caroline, her shiny brown hair glinting in the sun. “I still miss her.”

  “I know. We all do.” Mrs. Hamilton was quiet for a moment. “But, honey, you know, Caroline is in a better place now. Every time I get sad, I think about what she used to say to me when I’d worry about her going somewhere by herself.”

  “God is with me, so I’m never alone,” Ace said, remembering, his eyes suddenly stinging. “She used to say the same thing to me when I’d worry about her taking a cab home alone at night.”

  Mrs. Hamilton gave a little laugh. “She had a faith that couldn’t be shaken. I think we could all learn a lot from the way she lived her life.”

  “Yes.” He certainly had. If her death had taught him anything, it was that he should live his life to the fullest. That there were no guarantees. And especially, that he should let people know how he felt about them.

  He gave his address to her and was about to hang up when she spoke. “Oh
, Ace?”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Did you put those beautiful yellow daisies on her grave a few weeks ago?” she asked.

  His face grew hot at the realization that his impulsive act had been noticed. “They were always her favorite. And since I was moving ... well, I wanted to do something special.”

  “They were perfect. She’d have loved them. Thanks.”

  After a quick good-bye, he hung up the phone and stared blankly at his bedroom wall. A flood of memories washed over him. The first day they met, as college freshmen. He’d wanted to impress her, but he’d never seen anyone with such dancing brown eyes. And there was the time she’d called him, crying, after her long-term boyfriend had cheated on her during her senior year. Her tears had changed to laughter when he’d offered to go beat the guy up for her. But at least she’d quit crying. And he remembered how hard he’d tried to be serious at the fancy dinner celebration they’d had after they both got “real” jobs. But she’d laughed that night and said she still felt like a kid inside. He’d admitted he did, too.

  And then she’d died.

  But like her mother said, she wasn’t alone. And unless Ace was badly mistaken, wherever she was, she was probably laughing. To his amazement, the memories didn’t make him sad anymore. And if Caroline could see that, he knew it made her happy.

  CHAPTER 14

  Kristy finished explaining the nine steps involved in loading and firing a Civil War musket and was about to demonstrate how to shoot the weapon when she noticed the newest member of her tour group.

  Robert Aaron grinned at her from the back row and sheepishly waved his hand in greeting.

  Great. He obviously had a major problem with the concept of time. He was only, what? Twenty hours late?

  He’d stood her up with no explanation, and now he showed up at work. Right in the middle of a ranger program, with her dressed as a Civil War soldier. In head-to-toe wool, no less. A floppy hat and black boots, both about two sizes too big, completed her look. There was no way to look attractive dressed all in wool, weighted down with lots of equipment, wearing a large hat, and firing a musket. It wasn’t feminine. Frankly, it was kind of stinky. And it was definitely not the situation she wanted Robert to see her in. Why confirm his second thoughts?

  “Ready.” she pulled back the hammer. “Aim.” she lifted the gun to her shoulder.

  Too bad she didn’t get to pick an audience member as a target.

  “Fire.” she pulled the trigger, and as the shot went off, smoke blew back in her face. She coughed and tried to regain some composure. She had to finish this little talk even if Robert was in the audience.

  “This is how the average soldier would’ve fired a gun during the Civil War,” Kristy explained. “Are there any questions?” Please don’t let there be questions.

  “Yeah, I have a question.” A big guy leered at her and punched his buddy in the arm. “Would the average soldier have worn red nail polish?” The rest of the audience, including Robert, tittered with laughter. At least Mason, taking notes from the front row, had the decency to shoot Kristy a sympathetic look.

  Oops. I knew there was something I forgot to do last night. Her still-polished nails were yet another humiliation to put at Robert’s feet.

  “No, sir. Red nail polish wasn’t standard procedure,” she said with as much of a smile as she could muster, wishing it would be appropriate to comment on his mullet and tank top combo. But she had to be nice. Never mind those manners her mother had instilled. In this case, it was her job. Sometimes it stunk to be paid by taxpayers.

  “If there are no other questions, this concludes the demonstration. Please have a great day and enjoy your park.” Kristy leaned her rifle against the tree and put the bayonet back in the holster on her belt. So glamorous. Robert must be kicking himself for not showing up last night.

  He watched as she posed for photos with some of the visitors. These photo ops were as close as she would ever get to being a rock star, and normally she enjoyed them, but not today.

  Finally, she was free.

  What should someone wearing wool and carrying a firearm say to the guy who had stood her up? A few choice phrases came to her mind. But as a Christian, she’d better not say any of them.

  “Hi, Robert.” Jerk. She took off the floppy brown hat and fanned herself with it.

  “Hey.” He smiled and motioned toward the musket. “That was some demonstration.” Even through her anger, she had to admit he was pretty cute in his green polo and khaki shorts. She’d always been a sucker for the preppy look.

  “Thanks.” Where’s the apology? Come on, be a man and give me a lame excuse.

  “Is that uniform hot?”

  No, Sherlock. What makes you think an all-wool uniform in the summertime is hot?

  “It’s a little warm.” Kristy gripped her musket tightly. All the small talk was making her crazy. “Why, exactly, are you here?”

  Robert’s eyebrows shot up and his eyes grew wide. “I just thought I’d come see where you work.” He brushed his fingers through his thick brown hair. “Ever since you told me you were a ranger, I’ve been meaning to come out.”

  Was he for real? Where was the apology? Kristy didn’t want to be the one to bring it up, but he wasn’t leaving her much of a choice. “So where were you last night?” she tried to sound casual, but even she could hear the words drip with irritation.

  Unfortunately, Robert didn’t seem to know what she was talking about. Is he an actor on the side?

  “Last night?” He continued to look puzzled. “What was last night?”

  Uh-oh. The conversation wasn’t going quite like she thought it would.

  “You know. Dinner at the new seafood restaurant. Six thirty.” no way was he seriously acting as if he forgot.

  “Was there some kind of singles’ thing there? I must not have gotten the invitation.” He seemed sincere.

  What’s going on here? “no. Not a singles’ thing.” Kristy could feel her face getting red. “You called me and asked me out to dinner. And you never showed up.” There. She’d made her accusation.

  “What?” Robert looked like someone had punched him in the stomach.

  A few more minutes and I might.

  “Kristy, I’m sorry, but I didn’t call you.”

  She gripped the musket tighter to keep from dropping it. What? Was he seriously trying to act like she was crazy and had made the whole thing up? What did she say now? What if he was suffering from short-term memory loss?

  “Um. Yes. You did. You called me Monday night.” Kristy remembered it well, because it had been Memorial Day. And the same night Mark had called.

  “Monday night I wasn’t in town. I was at a conference for work.” Robert eyed her suspiciously.

  “Well, somebody called me from your number and asked me out. Your name came up on my caller ID.” so there.

  “Wait a minute.” Robert’s eyes got wider. “My brother, Zach, was at my house that night. I think he and a couple of his buddies were over there watching movies. He’d been out to Shiloh during the day, but Mom let them hang out at my house that night while she got groceries.”

  It all began to click in Kristy’s head. Zach must’ve set her up. Was this his idea of a funny prank? And after she’d been nice and offered him water if he was ever riding his bike near her house.

  “So you think Zach called me and pretended to be you?” Heat surged into Kristy’s face. She’d accepted a fake date. And even worse, Robert knew that if he had asked, she would’ve said yes. Which meant he mistakenly thought she was interested in him.

  “Come to think of it, there was a phone book out when I got back.” Robert was clearly horrified. “I hope he didn’t call and ask anyone else out.”

  Kristy hoped not, too. Because that would mean someone else felt as horrible as she did. And she wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Except maybe Zach.

  CHAPTER 15

  Kristy fumbled with her front door as hot tears spilled onto her
cheeks. After the embarrassing encounter with Robert, she’d barely been able to keep it together. For some reason, the whole thing with Robert was causing her to relive the demise of her relationship with Mark. Finally, she’d left work early with a headache. The twins were getting pretty good at working the front desk, so she didn’t think she’d be missed too much.

  Sam greeted her with a bark, and she opened the back door to let him in the fence. She didn’t want any witnesses to what she was about to do. Even canine ones. She was perfectly aware that when she was tempted to act on this crazy impulse, she was supposed to call Vickie or Ainsley. She’d given them her word. But she just couldn’t help herself.

  Kristy opened the closet door and reached into the very back. Her hand made contact with the object she wasn’t supposed to look at. The object that everyone who cared about her had offered to set on fire, or at least store at their home.

  She carefully hung the pristine white wedding gown on the outside of her closet and unzipped the plastic covering. Her wedding gown. Sleeveless white satin, with just a bit of beading on the bodice. She’d found it about six months ago at a store in Nashville and knew it was the elusive “one” as soon as she’d put it on. Her mother and Vickie both started crying when she stepped out of the dressing room. Kristy had never felt as beautiful as she had while wearing the dress.

  Kristy and Mark had known they were getting married almost from their first date. They had the wedding figured out long before there was even a proposal. Music, location, wedding party—planning their day was so easy. If only they’d have paid as much attention to their relationship as they did to their wedding plans.

  She pulled her gaze from the gown and opened the bottom dresser drawer. An old Nike box sat inside. She pulled it out and emptied the contents of the box onto her bed, fumbling through old valentines and birthday cards until she found the note she was looking for. Kristy wasn’t sure what had possessed Mark to write it on a plain yellow legal pad, the same pad he used to make his packing lists for business trips. Not that it mattered what it was written on. She’d have known that handwriting anywhere.