Healing A Hero (The Camerons of Tide’s Way #4)

by Skye Taylor

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “Nothing’s easy. Nothing worthwhile anyway.” I wish I was better at this. I’ve got no idea what I should be saying to this guy. “Do you go to church?”

  Mark shook his head. “Used to.”

  “Why’d you stop?”

  “When this happened—” He slapped the stump of his right leg. “I prayed harder than I ever prayed in my life. I begged God. Pleaded with him. Promised him anything if only he didn’t take my legs.”

  “God didn’t take your legs, Mark. A bunch of murderous fanatics did. And if you finish the job they started, then they win. You can’t let the bastards win.”

  Mark’s eyes were still awash with tears, but they didn’t spill over.

  Where is the rest of this man’s family? He looked like a little boy who could use a mother’s hug more than just about anything else right now. But asking might bring up even more losses that were better left for another time.

  Presumably, Mark had grown up around here, if his grandfather had left him this old house. Except for Sharon, Mark had never talked about his family. Maybe the Marine Corps were all the family he had.

  “Come on, let’s go get a beer and talk about what comes next for the both of us. You haven’t given up drinking, too, I hope.”

  “Hell, no.” Mark pulled himself to his feet using the rickety railing for support.

  Philip grimaced. If the guy was going to live in this dump, even part-time, something needed to be done to get it squared away.

  Mark lurched his way up the short flight of stairs, and called to his dog. “Don’t tear the place apart while I’m gone,” he told Max as he let him into the house.

  Philip wanted to help Mark back down the steps, but stood where he could stop a fall if Mark lost his balance instead. “Your truck or my car?” he asked when Mark had managed the descent.

  Mark grimaced. “Your car. That truck hasn’t moved since Gramps died.”

  Of course, he can’t drive yet. What was I thinking? I wonder how he got here.

  “Hop in, then. I’ll just be a minute.”

  As Mark began hobbling toward the Buick, Philip ground his teeth. When am I going to figure out what not to say!

  He bent to pick up the revolver entrusted to his care. What could he possibly say to the disillusioned Marine? Getting his mind off everything he’d lost was going to be a lot harder than getting him off the porch.

  Then Philip remembered Elena. It was not only too late to return to his desk, he’d missed his physical therapy appointment, and it looked like he wouldn’t be free for dinner either. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and brought up her number.

  The call went to voice mail.

  “Hi. Elena. Sorry about the appointment. I took your advice about Mark. I’m not going to make it for supper. Text me if you still want me to come over when I get free. How late is too late?”

  Chapter 32

  April 2015

  Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

  “IS THAT WHAT I think it is?” Philip asked as Elena pulled a casserole dish from the oven the following evening.

  “Depends on what you think it is,” she replied, grinning at him. He probably didn’t remember telling her his mother’s sweet potato dumplings was his favorite dessert. She’d deliberately chosen to make them to sweeten Philip’s mood while she found the courage to confess her sins of omission and the truth about Julie.

  He tilted his head and sniffed appreciatively. “Smells like sweet potato dumplings. Please tell me it is.”

  She set the dish on the table and turned to snag the plates and dessert forks off the counter. When she would have returned to her seat, Philip snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap.

  “Another reason to love you. If I didn’t already.” He claimed her mouth in a very suggestive kiss.

  “If you like them hot, you better let me serve them,” she said rather breathlessly when he lifted his head again.

  “Cold is good too.” He slid his hands under her T-shirt and caressed her breasts.

  She raked her fingers into his bristly hair and tipped her head back so he could nuzzle her neck. His mouth moved down to the open vee of her shirt, and he exhaled a long breath of warm air. She gasped with pleasure as the heat enveloped her. Her body tingled and her mind scrambled. But then she pushed his face away and slid off his lap. She couldn’t let him sidetrack her. She had to tell him. Tonight. Before the lovemaking started.

  “You’re turning my brains to mush.”

  He dipped his fingers into her waistband and tugged her close again. “Is that a bad thing?”

  Elena pushed his hand away and moved to the other side of the table.

  “There’s plenty of time for that later,” she said as she dropped into her chair and straightened her blouse. “How did it go with Corporal Dickey last night?”

  When Philip had shown up sometime after two o’clock in the morning, she’d been asleep, and by the time she’d shaken off her drowsy response to his aroused and naked body sliding into the bed next to hers, Corporal Dickey had been the last thing on her mind. Their lovemaking had been swift and satisfying, and they’d fallen asleep almost immediately afterward. He’d been gone when she awoke.

  If she let him distract her now, she’d never find the courage to tell him about Julie. But still she hesitated, looking for something else to discuss first. Besides, she really was concerned about what had been so urgent that Philip would cancel their date, and leave her praying that things were going to be okay for the young man.

  She scooped several dumplings onto Philip’s plate, added a spoonful of ice cream, and handed it to him. Then she served herself and sat down.

  “He must have been pretty upset. You were gone for hours.”

  “It’s Dickey’s story. Not mine.” Philip took a bite of the first dumpling and sighed with pleasure.

  “So, you’re not going to tell me anything? Like why he called you in the first place?”

  “He needed someone to talk to, and I’d given him my number. These are great. As good as Mom’s, but don’t tell her I said that.”

  “It’s her recipe,” Elena confessed. “Meg gave it to me.”

  “She did?” Philip lifted one eyebrow, as he shoveled in another mouthful.

  “She was happy to when I told her why I needed it. But back to Dickey. His therapist is worried. Should he be?” The young amputee was Rob’s patient, and Rob had asked her to keep him in the loop if she heard anything that might be important.

  “I’m not a doctor or his therapist or anything even close, but there’s a level of confidentiality even so. Mark shared some pretty heavy stuff with me because he trusted me.”

  “But if there’s something that might help his therapist understand better, wouldn’t that be good for Mark?”

  Philip put his fork down and pushed his plate away. “That was great, but if I eat any more I’m going to burst.” He rubbed his stomach, then ran a hand over his short, freshly cut hair. “How about you tell Rob that if there’s anything he really needs to know, I’ll come see him. In the meantime, I’ve talked to Mark about his rehab, and I think I gave him a few things to think about and a reason to get serious and work harder.”

  Philip got up from the table and carried his dishes to the sink.

  “You didn’t reek of alcohol when you crawled into bed and got it on without any foreplay, and I don’t think you are a drinking and driving kind of guy anyway, so I’m guessing the night was so emotionally draining you didn’t have any energy left for talking.”

  “Making love to you wipes me out.” He made a face at her.

  “You were already snoring when you rolled off,” she snickered. “That’s not normal.”

  One fine blond brow rose as
he glanced at her over his shoulder. “We haven’t been together long enough for there to be a normal yet.”

  “Ya, well . . .”

  Elena pulled a plastic container from the cabinet and spooned the remaining dumplings into it. Tonight wasn’t likely to be normal either.

  She snapped the lid into place and put the container in the refrigerator. When she turned back, Philip was standing right in front of her.

  “You’re awful quiet all of a sudden. Is something bothering you?”

  She shook her head. But that was a lie. She knew it and so did Philip.

  “You’re upset because I won’t replay everything that’s gone wrong in Corporal Dickey’s life for you?”

  Again she shook her head. Not a lie.

  Philip placed his hands on her shoulders and peered down into her face. “Then what is it? Are you worried about what we’re going to tell Julie tomorrow?”

  More like she was worried about what he was going to say tonight. “Partly, but—”

  Philip’s cell went off. He’d set it on the counter by the door, and he had to let go of her shoulders to answer it. He kissed her briefly and reached for the phone.

  “Hey, Ben.” Philip greeted his brother with a smile on his face. The smile faded quickly. “How?” he barked. “Is he going to be okay?”

  Elena listened to the one-sided conversation with growing dread.

  “Are Mom and Dad there yet?” Philip looked at his watch. “It’ll take me about two hours. I should be there by nine at the latest. Call me if anything changes.” He waited, then, “Of course, I’m praying.” Then he clicked the phone off and looked up.

  “My brother’s been shot. I’ve gotta go.” He reached for the jacket he’d left hanging by the door and shoved his arm into it.

  Elena’s heart lurched. Philip’s brother Will was a state trooper. “How?”

  “All I know is he was at a convenience store when it got robbed. He was off duty, but, knowing Will, he got involved anyway. He’s in surgery, and they think he’s going to be okay, but he lost a lot of blood. I’ve got to go.”

  “Of course you do. You want me to go with you?”

  Philip hesitated, looking torn. Then he shook his head. “I don’t know when I’ll be back, and you have to meet Julie’s plane tomorrow down in Wilmington.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Raleigh. I’ve got no idea why he was up that way, but that’s where it happened.”

  He pulled Elena to him and hugged her hard. She pulled his mouth down to hers and kissed him just as hard. “I’ll be praying for him too. Drive carefully, okay? And call me.”

  Philip reached for the door. “I’m sorry about last night, and I’m sorry I won’t be making it up to you tonight.”

  His eyes reflected his worry. He was torn, needing to be with his family and wanting to be with her.

  “It’s okay.” She tiptoed to kiss him, then turned him toward the door and gave him a little push.

  He vaulted down the stairs and around to the driver’s side of his mother’s stylish blue Buick. He blew her a kiss before folding himself into the seat. A moment later, he pulled away from the curb.

  Chapter 33

  April 2015

  Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

  ELENA CHECKED THE arrivals board as she strode into the terminal at the Wilmington International Airport. Julie’s plane had not yet landed. She relaxed and detoured to the newly remodeled arrivals lounge for a cup of coffee.

  A jumble of emotions churned in her stomach.

  It felt more like a month rather than just six days since she’d put Julie on the plane headed west. A lot had happened in those six days, but even in the midst of reconnecting with Philip, she’d missed her daughter. Instead of sharing girl talk over the dinner table, she’d been caught up in the heady excitement of physical desire that sparked at every touch, however fleeting or innocent.

  When she was with Philip, she’d felt nineteen again, falling head over heels in love with a man she was just learning to know all over again. But when they were apart, the responsible mother in her reasserted itself. That, and the growing guilt about lies that had gone on too long between her and Philip. And for that matter, between her and Julie.

  Only a few weeks ago, she’d told Julie she and Philip had only been friends, and now they were sleeping together as if the last fourteen years had never happened. In spite of the repercussions that would surely follow if anyone at the rehab center found out they were intimately involved, she’d given him a key, and, twice already, he’d let himself in late at night and crawled directly into her bed as if he belonged there.

  How was she going to explain that to her almost-thirteen-year-old daughter?

  She glanced at the arrivals board again and saw that Julie’s plane had just landed. She tossed the nearly empty coffee cup into the trash and headed for the corridor leading from the security area.

  Philip had called to report that his brother was going to be okay, but Philip had stayed in Raleigh overnight. He hadn’t said when he’d be back, but she assumed he’d show up for work tomorrow and she’d see him after he got out. Perhaps it was better this way.

  Today was for Julie. Elena twisted her hands together nervously. Julie would be full of her week and likely to chatter all the way back to their apartment.

  But eventually, Elena would have to explain about Philip.

  A stream of passengers rounded the corner, striding toward the lobby and heading off toward baggage claim. Elena peered past a line of people waiting for guests and family to arrive. When Julie finally appeared, her head was down and she was not in a hurry. Elena elbowed her way to the edge of the lobby.

  “It’s good to have you back.” Elena wrapped Julie in an enthusiastic embrace.

  Julie didn’t reciprocate.

  “I’m not so sure it’s good to be back,” Julie muttered, pulling herself free of Elena’s arms.

  “You haven’t missed me at all?” Elena tried to keep her voice light, but her heart felt like someone had dropped a heavy load of books on it. Just a couple of days ago, Julie had been bubbly and overflowing with happy chatter. What could have happened in two days’ time to change that?

  Julie didn’t meet Elena’s gaze. “Yeah. I missed you. Let’s go get my stuff.”

  They waited in silence while suitcases and duffels dropped onto the conveyor. Eventually, Julie’s bright green rolling suitcase slid into sight and she stepped forward to haul it off the luggage conveyor. A smaller bag, inexpensive and an awful shade of orange, appeared and Julie grabbed that one as well. She handed it to Elena and headed for the exit.

  “This is yours.”

  “I told you not to buy a bag just for my old stuff,” Elena said, hurrying to keep up as Julie headed for the parking lot.

  Julie spied the car and wordlessly angled off toward it. Elena rushed ahead, opened the trunk, and tossed the ugly bag inside. Julie wrestled the bigger suitcase in next to it. Then she headed for the passenger door. Still without speaking.

  “Want to tell me what’s wrong?” Elena asked as she slid into the driver’s seat. She did not put the keys in the ignition or start the car.

  “Can we talk about it later? Like when we get home?”

  The drive took just under an hour, and Julie spent the entire trip staring out her side window. Elena felt the tension building inside her along with an inexplicable dread. By the time she parked the car and got out to help Julie with her gear, her head throbbed.

  Surely Julie could have no idea what had gone on between Elena and Philip in her absence, so any objections to that could not be the cause of her current mood. But what was? She couldn’t have argued with Eli. They never argued. They always sided with each other against Elena. Maybe she was just grumpy because her school break was o
ver and she had to leave San Diego and all her old friends behind again.

  Elena unlocked the door and rolled the big green suitcase inside. Dreading what was coming, but knowing it couldn’t be avoided, she set her purse and the car keys on the table and turned to face her daughter.

  “Okay. What’s up?”

  Julie tossed her backpack on the couch, planted her fisted hands on her hips and glared at Elena. “What’s up is that you lied to me. You’ve been lying to me my entire life.” Julie’s eyes blazed with accusation. “Did you lie to Dad, too?”

  “I’ve never lied to Eli. Or you.” The blow couldn’t have stung more if Julie had slapped her.

  “Oh yeah, huh? And letting me think Eli was my father wasn’t a lie?”

  Elena dropped into a chair, her legs suddenly unable to hold her up. The truth was out. “I never actually lied. Eli is your dad. He’s been your dad since you were a baby. There’s more to being a father than biology.”

  “So? Did he know before or after I was born? Did you trick him into thinking he got you pregnant after you went slutting around with another man?” Julie hissed.

  Elena wrung her hands together in a desperate attempt to remain calm, but her heart was in shreds.

  “I never lied to Eli.” But she’d lied to Philip by omission. And Julie. “He chose to be your father. He chose to stick by me when—when—”

  “And you never let him adopt me either.” Tears filled Julie’s beautiful blue eyes and began running down her cheeks. “He’s the only father I’ve ever known, and you wouldn’t let him adopt me. So now I’ve got no father at all.”

  With that parting shot, she whirled and ran down the hall to her room.

  Elena shot to her feet and followed her, but Julie slammed the bedroom door in her face.