“Brandon?” she whispered.
She realized the whimpering was coming from him. Rubbing her eyes, she saw he was beside himself and staring at the screen. Reaching over, she yanked on the small chain that dangled from the lamp on the end table, casting a soft warm glow. She saw him wince as the light filled the room, and it only took a few seconds to see his shoulders relax.
“Hey soldier, are you okay?”
“I can’t handle the dark,” he mumbled painfully, looking away. Her heart ached as she realized he was embarrassed at admitting something like that.
“Everyone has something they can’t handle,” she said softly, tentatively reaching for his hand. She lay hers atop of his and felt his fingers jump under hers. “I can’t handle spiders. If you ever see one in the house, the neighbors will know it three streets over.”
“I feel so lost right now.”
“You are shaken right now and you need a friend.”
“It’s stupid for a grown man to be afraid of the dark.”
“Why? Is it stupid for a grown woman to be afraid of spiders?”
“Were you trapped with spiders for months at a time?” he said tersely, yanking his hand back from her. Tabitha wasn’t about to let him pull away. This was the first revealing thing he’d said to her and she needed to find a way to let him know she would support her friend.
“No, but I also know that if it happened to me like that I wouldn’t be nearly as well off as you seem to be right now. I would have died of fright yet here you are – alive and starting over.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Sure you can,” she said immediately, reaching back over and grabbing his hand, lacing her fingers with his. “And your friend will be here to help you every step of the way.”
“Why?”
“Because sometimes people need to feel safe so they can let their guard down and that is when the healing begins. We’ve always kinda just clicked and it’s been easy between us. There’s never been any pressure and when we talk, I feel like I can tell my best friend anything.”
“I do too.”
“Then just know that when you are ready - your best friend will be here waiting to talk to you. All of your friends want the best for you.”
Brandon got quiet but didn’t pull away. Instead, he looked up at the ceiling and swallowed several times as if he was trying to gain control of himself. He finally nodded and squeezed her hand gently.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, soldier.”
“Do you care if I sleep with the lights on?”
“Do you care if I snore?” she asked with a grin. Brandon actually gave a little snort of laughter that seemed to surprise both her and him. He looked at her sideways and smiled slightly.
“Only if you snore really loudly.”
Tabitha got up and Brandon followed suit. She led him to the guest room that she’d made up and smiled encouragingly. The room had several boxes stacked up, but the bed was along the wall and looked quite inviting. She was actually relieved that there was a lamp on the nightstand and she’d swipe the nightlight from the bathroom that she normally left on.
Brandon stood there nervously and she wished she could read his mind at that very moment. He was afraid of something.
“What are you thinking right now?” she breathed, patting him gently on the shoulder. “There’s no wrong answers either.”
“Do you care if I sleep with the door open?” he asked simply. “I can’t be closed off again in a room alone… especially in the dark.”
“No. I don’t mind at all.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Because you and I just work somehow. That’s why we became pen-pals, that’s we are friends, and that’s why you came up with that hare-brained scheme of getting married in three years…”
“I would never hold you to that now.”
“But maybe I would want you to,” she admitted truthfully. “Get some rest, Brandon, and take things one step at a time.”
“Tabby?” he hesitated as she walked out of the room. She took a few steps backwards in the hallway to where she could see him standing in the room alone. He looked so unsure of himself right now that it was breaking her heart.
“Whatcha need Brandon?”
“I just wanted to thank you again.”
“Always, my friend,” she replied gently with a smile. “If you need anything, just knock on my door.”
“You aren’t worried or scared to have me here?”
“Should I be?” she asked candidly.
“I would never hurt you,” he admitted quietly.
“I know you wouldn’t. That’s the only reason I trust you in my home.”
“I won’t ever make you regret helping me.”
“I never will. Now, get some rest.”
“Goodnight.”
“Sweet dreams, Brandon.”
Tabitha disappeared into her bedroom and shut the door, leaning heavily against it and closing her eyes. For safe measure, she guiltily set the lock on her door just in case she was wrong about how Brandon would react. She felt so bad for him. He had obviously been through some sort of trauma that had left a beautiful, vibrant soul terribly scarred. It would take time, patience, and friendship to pull him out of his shell once again.
Picking up her phone, she sent out a group text.
Brandon has eaten and is going to sleep.
He needs all our friendship at this time and shouldn’t be left alone. I have class tomorrow; could someone (just one person so we don’t crowd him) spend the day with him so I can relax?
Keep him occupied and don’t tell him I sent you.
Please?
The flurry of quick replies was admirable and made her realize what a wonderful group of people she was getting to know through Brandon and her growing work relationships with Lily Griffin and Leia Hody.
You got it. I’ll take the first watch - Wilkes
I got Monday - Griffin
Dibs on Tuesday! - Hody
HUMPDAAAAAAY! - Cooper
Should’ve known Cooper would say that – I’ve got Thursday – Ethan
You just wish you said it first, Ethan…
(insert eye roll here) – I’ll take Friday - Luka
Tabitha felt grateful tears spring to her eyes as she realized that all of his friends would be willing to step up and help Brandon – and her! Every one of those names served with Brandon overseas and they were a tightknit group.
It was a thing of beauty and wonder to realize that this is what their friendship meant to this group of friends. It also made her aware of how precious Brandon’s friendship was to her. She wanted to be part of that devotion to each other that they had and it was humbling to be included in some small part.
Thank you all
~ Tabitha
Brandon woke up the next morning and tried to get his bearings. For several minutes he sat on the edge of the bed, afraid he was going insane. He felt so disoriented and wondered if he was imagining things. Was he still in Afghanistan, trapped in that cell, or was this real?
Taking several moments, he lay there in the small twin bed, his eyes darting from location to location around the small bedroom. It was simple, with a single dresser, a lamp, and some stacked boxes in the corner near a closet. The long rectangular window had sunlight streaming through the yellowed mini-blinds that were hidden behind a puffed-up tiny curtain that was gathered along the top. He could smell the coffee and heard the sound of clicking on the wood flooring.
Getting up, he jerked his t-shirt back over his head and was a little embarrassed that he’d slept dressed in his pants. He knew if he had nightmares or began crying, he didn’t want to be any more embarrassed than he would have already been if Tabitha came to check on him. He peeked around the corner of his open doorway to see Tabby was getting something out of the microwave with one hand and sipping coffee with the other hand.
He grinned.
That w
as just like her. She did what she wanted and played by her own rules, regardless of what happened. Tabitha seemed to be so carefree, so relaxed, and so confident in just being. It was like she didn’t care what the world thought of her… and knowing that was kinda nice.
Almost appealing.
For someone who seemed cool as a cucumber most times, she looked a little fidgety. He was surprised at how rushed she seemed to be, gulping down the coffee quickly. Maybe she woke up late for work? he wondered. She turned in that moment to put the cup in the sink, hesitating.
“Mornin’… did I wake you?”
“No,” he admitted, stepping out of the bedroom doorway. “I can get my things…” he began and saw her roll her eyes.
“Good golly would you just stop?” she said with a heavy sigh. “It’s Friday, which means it’s recorder day again. I’ve got enough stress without trying to figure out a way to get you to relax a bit. You are welcome here – WELCOME HERE…” she repeated emphatically and waved him towards her.
“You want some coffee?”
“I’d love a cup.”
“Perfect.”
“Why are you being so kind to me?” Brandon asked, stunned by the way she’d helped him, opened her home to him, and now was standing there in the kitchen pouring him coffee like it was nothing. She didn’t even ask how he took his coffee. She dumped a spoonful of sugar and a dollop of heavy cream in the cup, handing it to him.
“Bribery,” she admitted candidly.
“Why?”
“Because you are going to do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I want you to relax today, watch TV, and not get mad when Wilkes comes over – and before you say a word – he is coming over as a favor to me. He’s going to install a faucet I’ve been meaning to replace for a while now and plumbing is a little intimidating to me. He volunteered; I took him up on it. Just be nice and let him in. Oh, and there is a frozen pizza in the fridge for lunch, okay?”
“You are leaving? Wilkes is coming here?” Brandon felt a moment of fear and shame knowing that she was leaving and he was about to come face-to-face with someone he’d considered a friend. He knew he looked sickly. He saw it when he noticed his reflection for the first time, doing a double-take.
“Yep. I’ve gotta head to work. Will you please text me later and just let me know how you are doing?”
“I don’t have a phone.”
Tabby hesitated and she saw the immovable expression on his face. Her eyes met his, almost unseeing, as if she was making plans mentally or calculating something before nodding sagely, suddenly satisfied.
“Have Wilkes text me and then we’ll get you a phone this evening.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I know,” she said in a chipper voice, giving him a mock salute, and not taking no for an answer. “But I am - and you’ll deal with it. I should be back around four this afternoon.”
Before he could say a word, Tabby breezed out the front door and locked it behind her without a care in the world. He heard the truck start up in the driveway and stood there barefoot in her kitchen, holding the pink coffee cup that had a gold unicorn horn on the side of it, in his hands. He looked down at the cup, back at the door, and smiled…
She was a whirlwind of positivity and just what he needed.
Tabby practically ran from the house, her heart pounding.
Normally, she liked to lounge around a bit, sip on a cup of coffee (or three!) before leaving for the school. Instead, this morning, she’d been taken aback by how adorable and handsome Tobin was when he woke up in the morning. His hair was flattened down on one side and his face, making him look sleepy. When he started to appear like he would balk at Colin Wilkes coming over, she had to think of something – and fast. She texted Colin and hoped he wouldn’t be upset at her sudden explanation.
Wilkes, I had to come up with an excuse for you coming over to save face so Brandon doesn’t feel like we are babysitting him. You are doing me a solid favor – okay? Please install my faucet for me – I’ll pay you for it. It was the only thing believable I could think of…
She was surprised to see him text back this early in the morning.
No worries – I’ll make him watch the kiddos for me or help me.
Thank you – and let me know how he’s doing later.
10-4
Tabby let out a huge sigh of relief, hoping that today went well for both of them. She already knew it was going to be a day of auditory torture for her… but worrying about Brandon all afternoon would take her stress levels to a new high. She wanted to see him smile easily like he used to, or for his eyes to light up like before.
It would just take time and she would have to be patient, she thought sagely, surprised by how well she was taking all of this in stride. Her world had been turned upside down in a matter of moments. Her friend needed her and she’d answered the call easily the moment he’d broken down when they were alone in the office. This wasn’t some act or ploy, he was lost… and it broke her heart.
She could handle a little strangeness in her world. It wasn’t every day that she claimed to be married – or that she had a man sleeping in the guest room of her home - much less the guy of her dreams…
Brandon sat there at the tiny kitchen table, sipping on his coffee and listening to everything around him. His eyes darted over every little knick-knack on her shelves, the stack of bills on the counter, the dishes in the sink, and realized that if he was going to stay the evening – he could try and be an active participant in her household.
He topped off his coffee once again, sighing with relief as adding the plain coffee to the sweetened one made it a little more palatable for him. He was used to drinking his coffee black back in Afghanistan – and his Tabby certainly had a sweet tooth.
Putting the plug in the sink, he turned on the water to fill it… only to realize that the faucet was indeed leaking heavily at the base. Wilkes didn’t need to replace the faucet. He could certainly do it and it would give him something to do during the day while he waited for her to return.
Padding over towards the doorway, he suspected it led to a garage, a closet, or a laundry room – and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was indeed a large laundry room with a pegboard on the back wall displaying all sorts of tools.
Taking a few wrenches off the hooks, a roll of plumber’s tape, and a bucket out of the large plastic sink, he set off to work. He had the new faucet on within an hour and was busily washing the dishes by hand when there was a knock at the door. Drying his hands, he peered out the peephole and took several deep breaths.
Colin was a friend and he was safe, Brandon thought to himself for several moments, jumping slightly in his skin when there was another knock. He opened the door slowly to see his old friend standing there, holding a baby carrier and carrying a toddler in his other arm.
“Hey man! You look good!” Colin cried out with a wide smile, walking inside, setting the carrier down and moving to hug him. Brandon stepped back nervously and felt a flush of embarrassment when Colin suddenly stopped.
“How about a fist bump then?”
“You want some coffee,” Brandon asked, not answering and not bumping the other man’s knuckles. He felt bad as Colin’s smile fell. The taller man put the little girl he’d been holding in his arms down and whispered to her; she smiled and nodded.
“Do you mind if I put on cartoons for Aurora?”
“Not at all.”
“She loves singing to these little shows and it’s so cute to watch then get all excited about playing a game with a character or dancing to the music.”
“She’s yours?”
“Not biologically – but yes. I adopted her and consider her mine.”
“Wow. Two kids, huh? I never took you for the daddy-kind-of-guy,” Brandon admitted, remembering how they used to all kid around on base.
This lighthearted man wasn’t the same guy that had been devastated after caus
ing Ethan Minter to lose his leg. That event tore Colin up mentally and emotionally – it actually did a number on all of them! – but if he could pull himself out of it, maybe there was hope for him yet?
“I’ve always wanted a big family,” Colin admitted, accepting the cup from Brandon before sitting down on the couch beside Aurora.
Brandon watched silently as the little girls’ eyes were glued to the television as she squirmed, dancing, to the show before her. Colin unbuckled the carrier and pulled out a tiny chubby baby that was curled up sweetly, cradling the child against his chest.
“This is Aurora and this little fellow is Emmett.”
“One of each huh?”
“Both spectacular.”
They grew quiet, the music playing in the background. Aurora laughed happily, clapping her hands as she unconsciously scooted farther along the couch, bumping into Brandon’s leg. He felt a little surprised at how easy and careless the little girl was.
What was it like to be so relaxed, so carefree?
“Is she bothering you?”
“No.”
“How are you doing man?”
“I’m fine.”
“I meant what I said, you do look good,” Colin said gently, nodding, “A little on the scrawny side, but then again, I could always take you in arm wrestling. Remember how we used to see who would win to get out of watch on base?”
“I did lose quite a bit,” Brandon admitted.
“It’s cause Hody’s a freak of nature,” Colin teased, “Jamie, Parker, and Cooper were just too darn sneaky. I think they cheated.”
“Ethan used to crack jokes and when I’d laugh, I lost.”
“You always laughed and smiled.”
“That guy is gone.”
“I don’t think so,” Colin said candidly. “That guy is there, he’s just protecting himself. You are practically family, right, Aurora? This is Uncle Tobin. Can you say that sweetie?”
Remember Honor Page 7
