Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2)

by Patty Campbell

  “I have to call my mother.” Marla took out her phone while they walked to the front of the club and waited for the valets to bring their cars. She sighed and snapped her cell closed. “Mom is not up to keeping Dec all night, so we’re going to head over there and pick him up. Amber and Santos have already settled into their family-room campout. Dad said he’d bring them home after breakfast.”

  Cluny waved. “Ask Brad to get them to my house by noon. We’re going to the beach tomorrow.”

  Graciella cocked her head and drew in her eyebrows. “We are?”

  “Yep. Sound like a plan to you?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Sunday morning, Cluny’s kitchen

  Graciella scrambled eggs at the big island stovetop. She glanced up when Cluny entered the kitchen. “I put the paper on the table for you, amor.” She raised an eyebrow. “Shirts are required at the table.”

  He grinned and turned on his heel. “Be right back.”

  Men—why did they like to run around half naked all the time?

  Cluny returned, pulling an old T-shirt over his head. “That better?” He stepped behind her to pour himself a mug of coffee then leaned in and kissed her neck. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning. Sit. These will be done in a few seconds.”

  Cluny unfolded the big Sunday edition and separated the sections while sipping his coffee. Graciella brought his plate of eggs and toast then took the chair adjacent to him. “I’ll pack a lunch for the beach so we’ll be ready to leave when Santos and Amber get here.”

  He hummed a response while sprinkling a generous amount of pepper on the eggs. He stared at the page and his fork stopped halfway to his mouth. “Holy crap!”

  “What is it?”

  He put down his fork and held up the front page. “Isn’t this Jamal?”

  Graciella jumped to her feet and leaned over his shoulder. “Yes, it looks like him. What does it say?”

  Cluny read, “The FBI, after a lengthy investigation, has taken several Los Angeles residents into custody as part of a greater operation to crack a suspected terrorist cell. The alleged leader of the group, a UC Irvine assistant professor of Middle Eastern studies, whose name has been withheld, is reported to have cooperated with the Department of Homeland Security in exchange for having charges against him reduced. A few of the suspects arrested are foreigners studying at the university on student visas, but most are American citizens. The total number arrested early this morning is nine. The charges are serious enough that bail has been denied. According to our confidential sources, two Chechen men fled the country before they could be apprehended. The investigation is ongoing.”

  Graciella slumped into her chair and dropped her forehead on a shaking hand. Her heart pounded so hard in her throat she could barely breathe.

  Cluny put the paper down and moved behind her chair. He put his strong hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently. “You OK, baby?” He kissed the top of her head. “This is good news, right?”

  Unable to form words, she nodded then reached up and stroked his bristled cheek when his lips brushed her ear. Greatly relieved to see Jamal in handcuffs, the other side of this news story was…she now had no excuse to stay in Cluny’s house. It was time for her and Santos to return home. She only had a few days to get the studio ready before she reopened for business. Not wanting to put a damper on their planned day at the beach, she decided not to mention it just yet. “Yes, I’m fine. This just took me by surprise.”

  He returned to his chair and swallowed some coffee, a look of relief mixed with confusion on his face. He seemed to be waiting for her to talk, to tell him what else was on her mind, but instead of saying anything further, she picked up her fork and began to eat her breakfast.

  Before they finished, the back door banged open and Santos and Amber ran in. “When are we leaving?” she asked.

  Cluny grinned at their eager faces. “And good morning to you too.” He folded the paper and tucked it next to his plate. “Have you had breakfast?”

  Queen followed the kids inside and, nose in the air, she sniffed the cooking smells. She nosed around the floor for any fallen morsel. Cluny rose and retrieved her big, stainless bowl. He took the bag of kibble from the cupboard and filled her dish to the top.

  “Cluny asked you a question, Santos.” Graciella brushed the hair out of his eyes. “You need a haircut.”

  He took a step back out of her reach, his cheeks pinking at her touch. She reminded herself of her pledge to quit treating him like a baby, but it was hard to break the old habit.

  “We ate at Grampa’s house,” Amber piped up. “When are we leaving? I left all my beach things on the front porch.”

  Cluny chuckled. “Is it OK if we finish our breakfast first?”

  She sighed. “Yeah, I guess so. Come on, Santos; let’s get your towel and stuff. Which car are we going in, Uncle Cluny?”

  “The plumbing van, but I have to clear some equipment out of the back first. Take Queen for a walk so she can do her business. There’s a bunch of plastic bags in a box next to the washing machine.”

  Amber put her fists on her nonexistent hips. “Do know how big her poop is?”

  “Take two bags.” He winked and picked up his coffee mug. “We’ll pack lunch after we eat. The sun is barely up.”

  She stared at him like he was nuts. “Nuh uh. It’s after ten already.” She turned. “Come on, Santos. Uncle Cluny likes to tease me. We’ll get your things then take Queen out.”

  As they shuffled down the hall, Graciella and Cluny heard Santos say, “You don’t have to pick up the poop. I’ll do it.”

  Graciella bit her lip and exchanged an amused look with Cluny.

  “It’s love,” he whispered.

  She knew the feeling.

  At the Beach

  Cluny lay on his stomach, chin on his hands, watching the kids on their belly boards. He stole a quick glance at Graciella from the side of his shades. She’d been unusually quiet all day. She had something on her mind. “Want to take a walk, baby?”

  “OK.” He enjoyed the view when she stood and brushed sand off her bottom. She shaded her eyes and peered at the lifeguard tower. “He’s there. The kids will be fine. The surf’s very quiet today.” She picked up his T-shirt and handed it to him then pulled on her cover-up.

  He took her hand and they headed to the Point Dume rocks. After they’d walked a couple of hundred yards, he squeezed her fingers. “Are you still troubled about Jamal? You haven’t said much all afternoon.”

  “I’m sorry. No, I’m relieved he was arrested, but that means it’s time for us to go home, amor. I’m opening the studio a week from tomorrow.” She stared straight ahead. “There’s no good reason for us to stay.”

  “I can think of a very good reason.” He stopped walking and drew her into his arms. “I don’t want you to go.”

  She placed her hands flat on his chest. “Cluny, the arrangement was temporary. I can’t go on living with you. It isn’t right. I have business and family responsibilities.”

  He ran his hands up and down her back. “I don’t know how to sleep alone anymore, baby.” He knew this day would come, but he wasn’t ready for it. “I want you in my life.” Teeth clenched, he couldn’t manage a smile.

  “I am in your life, and you’re in mine. I’m not breaking up with you. It’s been two months since we met. That’s not enough time to know each other, querido.”

  He tried to put a happy expression on his face. “Can Santos stay?”

  She grinned and pushed back. “Oh, stop it. Why don’t we do this? We’ll spend the weekends together. I’m not planning any Saturday classes until after school starts in the fall. You can come over for dinner once in a while. We’ll go out as a family every so often. I’ll ask the Dempsey’s to have Santos spend the night with them some Saturdays and we’ll reciprocate with Amber and Declan. Can we try that until the end of summer?”

  He took her hand. They strolled closer to the point. “Do I have
a choice?”

  She matched his stride and put her arm around his waist. He felt she was on the verge of telling him something then changed her mind. He hugged her close, wary of pressuring her.

  The sun lowered near the ocean horizon. They watched silently when it went behind a cloud. The Pacific undulated, silvery and dark. “We better get back. I have an early call in the morning. I’ll be up and gone before you and Santos are awake.” Holding hands, they strolled slowly back to their umbrella.

  She raised his workingman’s hand to her cheek. “I’ll get up and make breakfast for you.”

  “No, it’ll be too early. I’ll grab a couple of Egg McMuffins on my way to Valencia. I’ll be out there most of the day. I’m bidding on a big job worth a hefty paycheck for me and my guys.”

  Might as well get used to the bachelor life again.

  She dropped the side of her head on his shoulder. “I’ll have dinner ready around six. Will you be home by them?”

  “I’ll make sure of it.”

  Queen languished on the blanket watching their approach. Her hair was damp and coated in sand. “It’s a good thing I have a stiff brush in the van. You’re a soggy mess, girl.”

  She thumped her tail as if he’d given her a great compliment.

  Graciella picked up two beach towels. “I’ll get Santos and Amber out of the water.”

  “Yep.” He pulled up the umbrella stake and carried it and the picnic cooler across the wide beach to the van. The kids were toweling off and pulling on shirts when he got back. “I’ll take the wet towels and belly boards. Amber, fold up the blanket and bring it. Santos, do you know where Queen’s vest is?”

  “I put it in Mama’s beach bag, Macfearsome. Shall I put it on her?”

  “No. I just wanted to make sure we don’t leave it behind. Help Mom with the rest of our things. Amber and I’ll meet you at the van.”

  He and his goddaughter trudged through the deep warm sand. She waved at the lifeguard when they passed the tower. “Are you mad, Uncle Cluny?”

  “No, sugar. Why would you say that?”

  “Your face is rilly serious. Did you and Mrs. Jefferson have a fight? Daddy gets that face when he and Mom argue.” She stopped at the back of the van and stared up at him.

  He dropped the towels and belly boards on the asphalt behind the van, bent low and put his hands on her cheeks, and kissed her forehead. “I’m not mad at Graciella and we did not have a fight, OK? Everything is good.” He found the brush. “Get some of that sand off Queen before she climbs in. I’ll go help with the rest of the gear.”

  Graciella and Santos had almost reached the parking lot. “Let me take that.” He lifted the heavy beach bag from her shoulder and put it over his own, then brushed sand off Santo’s wet butt. “Hold up, sailor. You need to go over to that faucet and wash the sand off your legs and feet. I’ll carry this.”

  Santos trotted to the shower pole and foot-washer faucet. Graciella laughed. “It’ll take a fire hose to get these kids clean.”

  “They can rinse the rest off with the hose when we get home.” The word home rang hollow in his ears. Once she and her son were gone, it would be nothing but a big empty house again.

  Back in Spring Grove, they emptied the van and Cluny swept the sand out before placing his equipment inside. “You kids go out back and hose as much sand off as you can before you go in the house.”

  “I left some clean towels on top of the dryer.” Graciella led them and the dog through the back gate. She waved to Cluny as they disappeared around the corner of the house. The plan was for all of them to take showers and change then have a light meal before they took Amber home.

  By the time he entered the house through the back door, Graciella had finished unpacking and was putting the finishing touches on a big tuna salad. “Would you like some iced tea, amor? I put a fresh pitcher in the refrigerator before we left this morning.”

  “Yes, thanks.” He took two tall glasses from the cupboard. “Shall I pour one for you?”

  “No.” She removed the pitcher and handed it to him then put the salad bowl inside. “I’ll shower first.” She put her arms around his neck then kissed him. “Thank you for last night.”

  Her words gratified him, predictably setting him on fire. He pulled her hard against his body and kissed her slowly. “You’re welcome, baby, but I should be the one thanking you.”

  Santos called from the hall. “I’m done with Macfearsome’s shower, Mama. You can go in now.”

  “Thank you, sweetie.” She pulled away from his arms. “I won’t take long. You can get in there when I’m done.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You want to go first?”

  “That’s not what I had in mind. You need help getting out of what few clothes you’re wearing. I’m the man to do it.” For the rest of his life, he hoped. He took her by the shoulders and marched her down the hall. As they passed the guest bathroom, he rapped and called, “Amber, don’t use all the hot water.”

  The shower went off. “I’m done, Uncle Cluny.”

  He closed and locked his bedroom door, took Graciella’s hand and led her to his bathroom.

  She whispered, “Do you think we should?”

  He whispered back, “Yes, I think we should.”

  “But, the kids.”

  “They’ll be glued to the TV as soon as they hit the living room. The Dodgers and Angels are playing the Freeway Series. They talked about missing the start of the game on the way home from the beach, remember? No more protests. You’re mine, baby.”

  Tonight would have to last them for a while. She was going, no matter what. For now, maybe this separation was the right thing for her to do. Maybe after they lived separately for a while she’d be ready to consider a marriage proposal.

  He wasn’t convinced, but it was her call. Might as well face it, like going on a mission. Gear up, get your head straight, and just do it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Cluny’s Kitchen, Next Evening at Supper

  “I don’t want to go home.” Santos scowled at his plate. “I want to stay here.” He stared pointedly at Cluny.

  Silent, Cluny lifted a glass to his lips and drank some iced tea.

  Graciella touched Santos’s shoulder. “We talked about this. You haven’t visited your grandparents in weeks. They were so happy I was bringing you to spend the day with them tomorrow. You don’t want to disappoint them, do you?”

  He lowered his head and mumbled, “I guess not.” He put his elbows on the table and dropped his chin against his fists.

  She stopped herself a split second before berating him about elbows on the table. Now was not the time to discuss table manners. He and Cluny had grown close, complicating her own confusion about how to proceed with their relationship. She had to pay attention to Santos’s feelings. She’d brought him into the middle of this. The very last thing she wanted to do was drive a wedge between herself and her son because of her own uncertainties.

  “Look, you have baseball every Saturday for the rest of summer. Cluny will spend weekends with us, at our apartment or here. We’ll do things together. It won’t be so bad, you’ll see.” At the same time she reassured him, she tried to reassure herself that going home was the right thing to do.

  “It’s so boring at the dance studio and our apartment. At least when we’re here I can ride my bike to Amber’s house if I want. I can play with Queen. We can go to the beach.”

  Cluny dabbed his lips with the napkin. “We’ll still go to the beach. How about if I bring Amber with me sometimes when I come to dinner?” He put his hand on Santo’s shoulder. “Mom needs you to cooperate with her. You can do that, can’t you?”

  Santos took a moment to answer. A variety of emotions flickered on his young face. Finally, he sighed, resignation in his body language. “I guess.”

  “OK then,” Cluny answered, “how about some of that ice cream?”

  Graciella cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher when Cl
uny and Santos carried their dessert to the living room. He didn’t turn on the TV; instead she heard them talking quietly. She wanted so badly to eavesdrop on their conversation, but willed herself to let them have this private time. Her heart was heavy at the prospect of leaving. She loved both of them so much and questioned separating them, separating herself from Cluny.

  But it was time for them to go home. If she thought unemotionally, it was the right thing to do. She had a business to run. Admittedly, she could commute easily from Spring Grove to Chatsworth. It would only add half an hour in each direction to her workday. She could enroll Santos in the Boys and Girls club if he didn’t want to accompany her to the studio each day. She had to take him to work with her. It was out of the question to leave him alone either here or at her apartment. Marla would keep him for the day, anytime. He and Amber had a lot of fun together, always finding endless things to keep them occupied.

  Queen lay between the kitchen and the dining room, giving herself a clear view in either direction. Perhaps the dog couldn’t decide who needed her the most. Sometimes the way Queen gazed at her was unnerving, like she could see right through to her soul. If only she could talk. Graciella put down the dishtowel and knelt next to her. “What’s your advice, girl?”

  She raised her head at Cluny’s footsteps. He’d heard the question, but he only nodded and carried the dessert bowls to the sink and put them in the dishwasher. “You need help packing?”

  She got to her feet, shook the dishtowel, and hung it up. “No, I’ve got everything ready to go, except for what we take in the morning. You could help me carry the boxes out to my car though, if you don’t mind.” She brushed hair back from her face, shy for some reason. It unsettled her, considering their deep level of intimacy. Why was she speaking to him as if he were a polite stranger instead of the man who knew every inch of her body, the man who made her laugh, cry, and sigh with deep satisfying passion?