“It’s not a date. We’re just going to the game together.”
“But you’re buying her a mum.”
“It doesn’t seem right for her not to have one.”
Marcy popped her head around the door frame, obviously about to say something. Mrs. Snyder frowned and shook her head, her lacquered silver and black puffy curls not moving a whisper. The girl ducked back inside the workroom.
“Excellent point. I think Jenna would prefer a single one. But we’ll put lots of ribbons and trinkets on it. And a teddy bear. We weren’t doing teddy bears when you two were in high school.” She pointed to some of the ribbons. “We’ll do one with her name and the year she graduated. She and my Becki Sue were in the same class, so that’s easy to remember.” She scribbled on the pad. “Another for you, with your graduation year. You were a year ahead of her, weren’t you? Same year as her brother Chance?” Nate nodded. “Another because she was homecoming queen. And one with your football number, which was?”
“Ten.” Texas high school football teams didn’t necessarily follow NFL rules when it came to assigning jersey numbers to the different positions.
“And anything else I think of.” She grinned at Nate. “Sometimes inspiration hits in the middle of putting one together. I’ll add some footballs and megaphone trinkets because she was a cheerleader. The school banned bells for the high school girls. Since they often wear them to school on Friday, the bells were too disruptive. But we could put some on Jenna’s if you want.”
Nate thought they would probably get annoying. “No, let’s skip them. And she’s only five-foot-three, so don’t make the ribbons too long. Can’t have her tripping on them.”
“Got it.” She made a note on the pad, then rested her hand on his upper back. “I’d like to add some little American flags. If you’re like my husband, you probably don’t want to talk about war, but I’m sure you’re proud to have served your country.”
“Yes, ma’am. A few small flags would be fine.”
“I’ll add some braided ribbon garlands too. We have some already made. That’ll give it a little more pizzazz.”
“Pizzazz.” Nate nodded, smiling at her. “I like that.”
“Okay. Let’s go ring this up. I don’t think we can have it done before noon tomorrow.”
“That will be fine.” He followed her to the cash register, noting the price list on the wall. Doing a quick mental calculation, he figured it was going to cost over one hundred dollars, maybe a lot over depending on how many doodads she added. But he didn’t care what it cost to have something special made for Jenna.
“That will be eighty-five dollars, including the tax.”
Skimming the price list again, he said, “You must be running a special.”
Back in the workroom, Marcy suddenly had a fit of coughing.
“Yes, we are.” Mrs. Snyder’s serene expression belied the gleam in her eyes.
Nate handed her four twenties and a five. He ought to insist she charge him the full price, but doing something nice for him was making her happy. “You’re sure that’s the right amount?”
“Positive. Oh, I forgot to ask if you want a garter to wear on your arm.” She pointed to some small mums with short ribbons hanging on the wall nearby. “They’re all the rage with the high school guys.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not still in high school. I’d feel a little weird wearing one of those.” As crowded as the stadium would be, he also thought the flower would be squished flat before halftime. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
“Fine with me. Enjoy the game, and tell Jenna hello for me.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will.” Nate glanced at his watch: 9:15. He had plenty of time to do the things he needed to before Jenna and Will picked him up. He didn’t think the parade would be a problem. But he was worried about the pep rally, specifically the bonfire. He’d prayed all the way to town that it wouldn’t cause another nightmare. Or worse, trigger a flashback. He hadn’t had any yet, but he knew people sometimes did. After he got hurt, he’d developed an overwhelming fear of fire, which was another reason he hadn’t reenlisted. He couldn’t risk possibly putting others in danger because he was a coward.
As Nate left the shop, the little bell on the door tinkled. Marcy came out front where she could see through the window and watched him walk to his pickup. “The newspaper said he rescued those guys even though he was wounded.”
“That’s right.” Mrs. Snyder joined her. She watched him quickly scan his surroundings and check the back of the dark blue truck before he climbed in. She blinked back a tear. “I found another article online that gave more detail. He was injured when a man blew himself up in the building they were searching.”
Marcy shuddered, and Mrs. Snyder put an arm around her shoulders. “Though he was hurt in the blast, Nate got one man to safety and went back for the other one. That’s when his arm got burned, but that didn’t stop him. He carried the second soldier out of the burning building, but when he reached the middle of the street, his injured leg gave way. He shielded the man from gunfire with his own body for over twenty minutes. And he took out one of the al-Qaida that was firing at them, even though he was lying in the street.”
“It’s a miracle he survived,” Marcy whispered.
“Yes, it is.”
“That’s why you gave him the discount?”
“Partly. I’m thankful he made it home safe and sound. I’d do it for any of our men and women serving over there. It’s a small way of saying thanks.”
“So should we call Mr. Callahan and tell him he doesn’t have to buy one for his daughter? It’s next on the order sheet.”
“No, go ahead and make it. I’m sure Nate wants to surprise Jenna. And Dub can afford it.” She laughed as Nate drove away. “Knowing him, he’ll have Sue wear both of them.”
“Nate seemed a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. Like maybe buying the mum was a bigger deal than he wanted it to be. Do you think he’ll chicken out and not give it to her?”
“No. You didn’t see his eyes when he talked about her.” She squeezed Marcy’s shoulder, then released her and stepped away. “Romance is in the air, even if they don’t want to admit it.”
“I guess we can’t tell anybody about him getting her the mum, huh?”
“That’s right. We have to keep Nate’s secret like we’re keeping quiet about every other man and boy who has ordered one.” Mrs. Snyder’s eyes sparkled merrily as she reached for the phone. “But I can tell my Roger that Nate’s back and home to stay.”
By noon, the whole town was buzzing with the news.
5
As they pulled up to Main Street, Will pointed toward the redbrick Callahan Crossing National Bank with a grin. “Looks like folks found out that you’re home.”
Nate studied the electronic reader board in the bank parking lot. Underneath the date and current temperature of seventy-seven degrees was a general greeting to the returning alumni. Below that, in capital letters three times the size of the others, two lines declared: WELCOME HOME SGT. NATE LANGLEY.
The welcome and the acknowledgment touched him, making his throat tighten.
They turned left onto Main, and Jenna let out a little squeak. She leaned up from the backseat of the pickup, her hand wiggling beside his face as she pointed from one side of the street to the other. “Look at that! There are signs everywhere.”
“Erry-where,” Zach repeated from his car seat next to her. Nate stared in amazement as Will slowly drove down the street. Practically every store downtown had a sign welcoming him home. On the north side of the street, City Drug and Ben’s Auto Parts held similar greetings on the display boards that hung over the sidewalk. A large handwritten poster framed by a couple of old American flags in the window of Maisie’s Antiques and Emporium not only greeted him but declared that he was a hometown hero.
Across the street, Brower Realty and Pickering’s Insurance shared their feelings on the advertising space that stretched above the windows of
their adjoining offices. Next door, the guys at Hunter’s Sporting Goods had put up an even bigger sign than Maisie’s, one that about filled one window.
“Looks like Maisie and Bob have a little competition going on,” said Will.
“Friendly competition,” added Jenna. “Mom and Dad saw them together at the Steak House the other night lookin’ pretty cozy.”
“Chance said he’d heard they were dating.” Will turned into the empty lot between Hunter’s and the Movie Place. There was still space for a few more vehicles.
Nate smiled at the thought of Bob Hunter, a big bear of a man, dating tiny dynamo Maisie Sparks. They’d both be about sixty by now, and each had been alone for several years. He figured they’d be good for each other.
He glanced down the street, spotting his name on the big advertising board at the used car dealership, right above the week’s hot buy—a 2002 Chevy pickup “with all the bells and whistles.” Across the street from the car lot, a couple of guys at the hardware store were hanging another banner above the “Go Wolves!” sign that draped across the high false front of the old building. This one, too, was for him.
Nate was deeply moved by all the expressions of support and caring, but he was also embarrassed by all the fuss. “I hope they’ve done this for all the returning soldiers.”
“They have,” Will assured him, nodding to his mother and father as they pulled in beside them. They planned to take Zach home later so that Jenna could stay for the bonfire. “It’s the town’s way of telling y’all how proud we are of you and how thankful we are that y’all came home safe and sound.”
Nate could agree with the safe part. But he wasn’t so sure about being sound. His body was fine, but sometimes he worried about his mind. Give it time, he thought. I’ll settle down in a few weeks. Get back to normal. Whatever normal was.
“It’s almost time for the parade to start,” said Jenna. “Shall we set up the lawn chairs?”
Laughing, Will glanced at Nate and opened the truck door. “What she’s really asking is if we’ll take care of the lawn chairs while she fusses with little britches.”
“Chair,” called Zach.
Nate glanced over the seat back as he climbed out of the truck. The kid was already squirming, wanting out. “Hang on, buddy. Give your mama time to unfasten you.”
Jenna grinned as she got out of the truck. “Waiting isn’t in his vocabulary.”
Nate shut his door and chuckled as she leaned back in to release the straps holding Zach in the car seat. “It probably won’t be for a long time.”
She looked pretty, but to him she’d be attractive no matter what she wore. Decked out in purple jeans and a matching Western shirt with gold embroidered flowers, she once again wore the school colors. Her white tennis shoes didn’t go with the outfit, but maybe she couldn’t find any purple or gold boots. He looked closer at her dangling earrings. Gold megaphones. Where in the world had she found those?
She always had believed in dressing for the occasion. And she’d had the money to do it. Probably even more so now. Given the bucks Jimmy Don made in football, he figured she received some nice alimony payments. He was surprisingly relieved to note that she had put on a normal, everyday straw cowboy hat, instead of something that likely came from Nei-man Marcus.
He’d done his part by wearing a purple T-shirt with Callahan Crossing Wolves printed on it along with a picture of the school mascot. Thankfully, the grocery store hadn’t sold out yet when he stopped by there that morning. The old one he’d found in his dresser was faded and a size too small. It tickled him that Zach had on a new one exactly like his.
He walked around to the bed of the truck and took the two lawn chairs Will handed him. By the time Jenna and Zach joined them and her parents, they had the chairs and a small cooler lined up along the back side of the sidewalk in front of the pickups.
Though the little boy now wore a straw cowboy hat, he had on sturdy leather shoes. Given the way the kid ran around, he’d probably trip all over the place in boots—if they made them that small.
When Jenna set Zach on the ground, he raced toward Dub. “Papa!”
Beaming, the tough rancher picked up his grandson and gave him a big hug. “Hi, Zach. Are you ready for the parade?”
He nodded, brushing Dub’s chin with the brim of his hat. “My see parade.”
Nate said hello to Sue and grinned at Dub. “So how long has it been since he’s seen you?”
Dub laughed and shifted Zach so he could look around. “Since they left the house.”
Zach wiggled, and Dub set him down on the ground. “You stay right here with us, understand?”
“Yeah.” Zach wandered over to Jenna. “Nana.”
“Okay.” Jenna opened the bag beside her chair and pulled out a banana. She peeled it partway down and broke off about an inch-long piece. “Don’t cram it all in at once.”
Zach nodded, reaching for the banana, and took a bite. After he chewed and swallowed, he looked over at Nate. “Nana?”
“I’m still full from lunch, but thanks for offering.” Nate winked at Zach and received a grin in return. He noted that Will and his mother left an empty seat beside Jenna. Sue told Dub to take the seat next to her and save the one on the end of the row for Chance. That made three members of the Callahan clan who were in favor of them getting together. When Dub didn’t glare at him as he sat down, Nate relaxed.
“He’s good at sharing for his age.” Nate watched Zach shove the rest of the banana piece into his mouth, then swipe his hand on the side of his jeans. Did all kids wipe their hands that way or only little boys? Or grown men, he thought ruefully, aware that he still sometimes did the same thing.
“With food.” Jenna held out another piece of fruit to her son, but he was distracted by some older boys chasing each other around the nearby cars. “And he’s getting better with toys.” She tipped her head, studying Nate’s face. “So how did you know that? I don’t remember you having much to do with little kids.”
Nate kept his eye on Zach as he edged past him to watch the other boys. “I made friends with some Iraqi children in the neighborhoods we usually patrolled and at an orphanage. They taught me how to play soccer, and I made them laugh.”
“You told jokes in Arabic?”
“No, but they laughed at my Arabic, though I wasn’t intentionally trying to be funny. Mainly they were amused because I was so uncoordinated trying to hit the ball off my knee and head. I did fine with my feet, but it took awhile to get the rest of it down.”
“Maybe longer than you really needed?” She gave Zach the rest of the banana when he wandered back to her.
“A little bit. The kids at the orphanage had it pretty rough, so it gave me a good feeling to make them laugh. I helped where I could. Repaired a few things, scrounged some things for them. Several of us went there as often as we could.”
Chance joined them, having walked down from his office three blocks north of Main Street. He took the seat beside Dub, then leaned forward to say hello to the rest of the family and Nate. Zach ran over and gave him a slightly messy hug.
Nate pointed to a couple of the “welcome home” signs. “Looks like you started something.”
“Wasn’t me. I’m not sure who spotted you, but around mid-morning, they started going up all over town before I finished the one at my office. You’ll have to come by and see my work of art,” he added with a grin.
“It’s a surprise, but they’re nice. It feels real good to know people care.”
A couple of blocks away, the high school band struck up a John Philip Sousa march. Zach’s eyes grew wide, and he darted across the sidewalk. Nate and Jenna leaped out of their chairs to catch him, but he stopped at the curb and leaned over to look down the street. “Moo-sic.”
“You’re a good boy for stopping where you did,” said Jenna. “But you need to stay back here with us. We’ll see everything as it goes by.”
Frowning, Zack shook his head. “See parade.”
&
nbsp; Nate knelt down beside him. “Come back to our chairs, and I’ll put you on my shoulders. Then you can see better. Okay?”
Zach thought about it for a few seconds, then nodded. He spun around and raced to the chairs. Nate followed, tossing his hat on the chair seat, and swung the little boy up on his shoulders. Holding him securely, he stepped around behind Will. “Can you see the band?”
Zach’s whole body wiggled in excitement. “Band. Moo-sic.” His heels alternately tapped against Nate’s chest, keeping time to the music.
“Zach, are you marching?” Nate grinned down at Jenna when she looked up at them. Her expression softened with tenderness, and his heart did a Texas two-step. Then sadness flickered across her face, and he frowned, mouthing, “What?” She shook her head and quickly turned back to watch the approaching parade.
Less than half a block away, the band began the school fight song—an original piece written by a student some twenty years earlier—and everybody on both sides of the street stood up and cheered. “Go Wolves,” hollered Will, waving both fists in the air. Chance clapped and yelled, “Stomp the Tigers.” Nate joined in with a loud whistle, and Zach added a “yea” of his own.
Suddenly, Nate was overwhelmed at being home—not merely on U.S. soil but being in Texas, where football was king, and in Callahan Crossing, where practically everyone turned out to support the school. He glanced around and across the street. Probably more than half of the men raising a ruckus—from twentysomethings up to a couple of old-timers leaning on canes—had played football for CC High. And if they hadn’t, they’d likely been involved in some other sport or school activity, as had the women.
This love of family and community was more than a tradition. It was the heart of the town. This same spirit was found in thousands of communities all across Texas, and in some form or another in towns and cities all across the United States. This freedom—to live, work, play, worship, and celebrate life—was what he had fought for, what he’d risked dying for. What others had died for.
He had longed to be home with the people he loved, in the place he cherished, living the life he dreamed about. Then why did he feel out of place? Why couldn’t he relax and truly enjoy it instead of automatically scanning the crowd, looking for danger?
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