Wounded Heroes Boxed Set

by Judith Arnold

  "She went out wheeling. There’s a park down the street with a blacktop jogging path." Ruth gave him a weak smile. "She’s trying to keep in shape for the marathon, I guess."

  Joe said, "Hmm. Mind if I wait for her?"

  Unenthusiastically, Ruth showed him back to the kitchen, asked if he wanted coffee, then fixed it without saying much.

  Finally Joe asked, "What’s wrong, Ruth?"

  She shook her head, but the moisture welling in her eyes belied her gesture.

  "Sit down with me," he said gently.

  She did. "It’s Jeremy."

  "Not going so well with the good doctor? Want me to go punch his lights out?"

  "Actually, it’s going too well. He asked me to marry him."

  "Yikes. So soon?"

  "Too soon."

  "You don’t sound happy about the proposal."

  "I’m not. How can I leave Dana, Joe? She hasn’t been on her own in twelve years. Since she got hurt."

  "Are you in love with Jeremy?"

  "Yes, of course I am. But I don’t like him pressuring me. Or giving me ultimatums." At Joe’s raised brows, she told him about Jeremy’s dictum that if she didn’t marry him, he wouldn’t see her. "He hasn’t called in two days."

  "I’m sorry, Ruth. Maybe he’ll calm down and see things more clearly. As for Dana, she can hire the help she needs. She’s a lot better off now than she was twelve years ago. And you can do what you’re doing now—come over mornings to help her with her routine."

  "Not necessarily. Jeremy is retired; he’ll want to travel and I have a job."

  "It does sound tricky. But surely Dana wouldn’t want to keep you from having a life separate from her."

  "No, of course not."

  Joe thought for a moment. "Did you both plan this"—he indicated the house with a sweep of his arm—"as a permanent living arrangement?"

  "I don’t know what we thought. Maybe I hoped that Dana would meet someone and she’d be the one moving on. I’d move out then. Certainly not the other way around."

  Purposely, Joe didn’t respond.

  Ruth said, "Has she Joe? Met someone she can move on with?"

  He didn’t like the way the conversation had turned. His palms began to sweat. "I, um, care about her a lot, Ruth, but I’m not anywhere near where Jeremy is with you, if that’s what you’re asking."

  "Maybe I am."

  Leaning over, he grasped Ruth’s hand. "I told you I’d never hurt her intentionally, but particularly with our baggage, we both wanted to take this relationship slow." He thought of some of the things he said last night. "We have a lot to deal with. Work out. Contrary to you and Jeremy, who’ve dived headlong into a commitment, we haven’t."

  "I know all that. I’m ranting. I’m just upset."

  They heard the garage door to the kitchen open and soon Dana wheeled in. She came toward him, her face flushed from exercise, her hair windblown, her eyes sparkling. It made him feel even guiltier for Thursday night because, if he remembered correctly, with an alcohol-fuzzed brain, he’d flirted with Susan and a couple other women at the bar. Hell, he’d even gone outside with one of them for a cigarette and Joe never smoked!

  "Hi," she said, the sparkle in her eyes dimming when she saw him. "When did you get here?"

  "Not long ago."

  Ruth gave her a small smile. "I was telling him about how Jeremy’s turned into a dictator."

  "Really?"

  "Well, yes. You and Joe are responsible for getting us together, aren’t you?"

  Dana took in a deep breath. "Since you brought that up, and I have you both here, let me tell you what I’ve done to make your decision easier, Ruth."

  She got water first and then rolled up to the spot they’d left empty for her chair. "I made arrangements yesterday to meet with the guy who owns the space next door to the dance studio about buying it. And I talked to Judith Bright, too. Joe, she’s a former dance-school owner. If I buy the larger space to expand, she’s willing to oversee the renovations. And stay on as an instructor, if we want her. Then, I went online and got information on home-health-care aides. There’s tons of them available…" She frowned at Ruth. Joe tracked her gaze. Instead of sadness in her eyes, there was anger. Real anger. "What’s wrong?"

  "You did all this without telling me? Asking for my opinion?"

  "Um, yes. To free you up to make a decision that’s best for you."

  "It sounds to me you made the decision to grow the business and hire new help yourself, just like Jeremy made his autocratic decision about marriage."

  "No, Ruth, I didn’t mean that."

  Ruth stood and started toward her bedroom.

  "Ruth, don’t—"

  "Leave me alone right now, Dana. I mean it."

  "Shit. Shit. Shit." She turned flaming eyes on Joe. "Why does everybody want to be left alone these days?"

  "I guess I deserve that."

  "Yes, you do." She slapped her hand on the table. "I felt Thursday night like I do now, left out and…dismissed."

  "Oh, sweetheart, never that. It’s just how I am."

  She studied him for a minute, then reached out and touched his hand. "I’m so sorry about Yancy."

  The pain pitted in his stomach and he just nodded.

  "Are you better today?"

  "Some. I was hung over on Friday. Yesterday I finally felt human. And guilty. I’m sorry I was such a bear to you when you came over."

  "I won’t say it’s okay. But you had a big blow."

  "About to get bigger. I’m torn up about Yance, his funeral’s tomorrow and I’m dreading it."

  "I could come with you. Be by your side for support."

  "No. I don’t want—" He cut himself off and averted his gaze.

  "Look at me, Joe!" When he did there was fire in her eyes. "You don’t want me there?"

  "It’s just that all the guys will be there. We’ll sit together and…" He trailed off, not sure what he meant by his statement.

  "You don’t want them to meet me?"

  "No, it isn’t that, Dana."

  "Isn’t it? Some pieces are starting to fit together now."

  "What the hell are you talking about?"

  "You told me that night you’d missed a lot of games with the Sundowners. Why didn’t you ever take me to one?"

  "Most of the sports venues we play aren’t easily accessible. You can’t very well wheel onto a sandy court by the beach, Dana."

  "I understand that. I could have watched the basketball game, though. The police academy is accessible."

  "Dana, where the hell is all this going?"

  "Are you embarrassed to be seen with me, in front of your friends and colleagues?"

  Jesus, this was all coming out wrong. "I asked you to do the marathon. And they’ll all be there."

  "Sure, you want them to see me when I can compete well. Not under normal circumstances." Her eyes narrowed on him. "And you never introduced me to anybody but Shelly at the hospital party for the kids."

  Mention of the party brought thoughts of Yancy and a deep flare of anger sparked inside him. "Damn it, you’re making this up as you go along." His scowl came fiercely. "I invited you to my brother’s wedding. I don’t call that hiding you!"

  She was on a roll then and listening to none of it. "What about the bar you went to Thursday night? Wasn’t that accessible either?"

  He felt his face flush and cursed his reaction. And struck out. "I didn’t know I had to take you everywhere I went."

  "This was different. I came to your house to console you."

  "I wanted to be alone."

  "No, you wanted to be with your buddies instead of me. Just like Yancy’s funeral tomorrow."

  "I can’t believe you’re getting on me about this when I’m trying to deal with his death. You could cut me some slack."

  She wheeled over to the garage-entrance door and opened it.

  He stood. "What are you doing?"

  She raised her chin. "Giving you all the slack you want."
/>   ***

  DANA SPENT MOST of the afternoon doing chores—laundry, cooking, digging out some warmer clothes for the fall. Ruth remained in her room. Thinking back on what had transpired with her friend made her heart hurt. They never fought like this. Was Dana at fault? Had she actually taken over and cut Ruth out of the decision making? Had she rushed to expand the studio because of her need for independence, her need to cling to her success at the dance school because things were rocky with Joe? In any case, she’d apologize to Ruth.

  Joey was another matter, she thought as she got out the ingredients for meatballs and spaghetti sauce. Working at the stove, she wondered how things had spiraled out of control. She’d promised herself she would give him some leeway because he was hurting over Yancy. But then he wouldn’t let her come to the funeral, and her fears that he was embarrassed by her disability had surfaced. She’d never met anybody in his sports group. She’d never met any cops except Shelly, with whom he’d hashed out whether he should see her. And she hadn’t been asked to go watch him play any sport. He’d skipped playing instead. She might have hurled the accusations in the heat of anger, but could she just ignore her suspicions now that they were out in the open?

  "Dana?" She looked over her shoulder and found Ruth in the kitchen. Her friend looked rested. She’d showered and changed into a sweat suit. "I’m sorry for what I said."

  "Okay."

  "Want some help?"

  "Sure, you can watch the meatballs in the electric frying pan."

  Ruth crossed to the counter next to the stove and began turning the meat over.

  "Feel better?"

  "Yes, I slept some. Bathed." She drew in a heavy breath. "I’m behaving out of character. And it’s all because of Jeremy. I’m so mad at him. But I shouldn’t take it out on you."

  "I understand. And maybe you’re right. I’m sorry if I circumvented you on the expansion."

  "You know I originally thought that was a good idea. And we’ve known for a while we need more help. So you were right to do it."

  Dana snorted. "Now why can’t the men in our lives be as reasonable as we are with each other?"

  Giving her a half smile, Ruth transferred the meat to the saucepan. Then she asked, "What happened with Joe?"

  Dana recounted how he’d cut her out Thursday night and what she’d been thinking about regarding his colleagues and friends. "I’m really confused."

  "Do you think what you did today—the space, the new hire—had anything to do with his actions?"

  "Yep, I do. I’ve thrown myself into this relationship much more and much faster than I’m comfortable with. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. What if he is embarrassed to be seen with me?"

  "Then shame on him. But I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion."

  "I’m trying not to. But evidence is stacking up." She gave Ruth the rundown on what she’d come up with.

  "I don’t know, honey. He said he wasn’t ready to make a long-lasting commitment with you, but I can see for myself how good you two are together."

  Dana stilled. "He…told you he wasn’t serious about me?"

  "No, he said he cared deeply about you, but you were both taking it slow, had agreed to do that. Didn’t you?"

  "Um, yeah, sure, we did." But what was between them had gotten more serious than casual. At least for her. She’d let him see her legs. And she’d crawled across a bathroom floor so she could be there for him when he got home. Oh, dear God, what had she done?

  "Let’s not talk about Joe now. Let’s think out this thing with Jeremy."

  "If you’re sure. I hope I didn’t make matters worse."

  "No, you didn’t. Talking about him more won’t help."

  In truth, discussing her and Joe made things worse. Because no matter how much she and Joe had said about taking things slowly, she’d thought they were much farther down the road than he apparently did. Fuck, she’d fallen in love with him!

  ***

  DANA SPENT MONDAY worrying about how Joe was dealing with Yancy’s funeral. Still stinging from the harsh words they’d both uttered Sunday morning, she threw herself into plans for expansion. After their conversation and Ruth’s little bombshell— he said he wasn’t ready to make a long-lasting commitment with you—Dana signed the agreement to buy the space next door and officially hired Judith Bright. By the time Tuesday came along, she was really depressed. Maybe seeing Joe when he dropped off Kara would help. But she didn’t think so. A kernel of hope wouldn’t be extinguished in her heart, though, and she chided herself for it.

  Fifteen minutes before class, Kara came to the door of the office, not with Joe but with Leona once again. "Miss Dana, do you have a minute before class?"

  "Sure, come in. You too, Leona."

  Both entered and Kara and her mom took seats.

  "Is something wrong?"

  "When you let me into the dance school, you said I couldn’t miss any classes unless it was an extraordinary event or I was sick. Birthdays don’t count. Stuff like that."

  "Yes, it’s a harsh rule but a necessary one." Mothers had complained about it, but Dana had stood firm.

  "I can’t come Thursday night." The girl’s voice trembled. "Please don’t kick me out for it."

  "Settle down, Kara. Tell me why."

  "It’s the anniversary of my grandpa’s death. We always have a Mass and dinner after to remember him. The whole family. I can’t miss it, not even for you."

  So that’s why Leona accompanied Kara. And this occurrence was certainly more important than birthdays and parties. "I wouldn’t ask you to miss it." She faced Joe’s ex. "It’s a nice tradition to have for your father."

  Leona’s pretty face showed puzzlement. "Oh, it’s not for my father, it’s for Joe Moretti Sr."

  Startled, Dana was speechless. Once again she had no idea what was going on in Joe’s head—or life, apparently.

  "I was hoping to see you there," Leona added.

  Leona was going? And he hadn’t invited Dana? Well, if there was ever confirmation of her fear of being cut out, this was it. Joe hadn’t included her in another significant event in his life. Damn it, he hadn’t even told her about the service, but his ex-wife was attending.

  Dana steeled her heart against the backwash of emotion this news brought forth. "Um, no, I won’t be there."

  "Kara," Leona said, "Go on into class. I want to talk to Dana." After the girl left, Leona pulled something out of a bag and set it on Dana’s desk. It was a huge box of Godiva chocolates. "This is for you and Ruth. To thank you for helping me out last week."

  Dana accepted the gift. She needed badly to be alone and process this new rejection. "Thanks. And make sure Kara knows that she’s still in good standing here."

  "I’m so glad. She talks about the lessons all the time. Says how much she’s improving. And Kae can’t say enough about Ruth."

  "That’s all very good."

  Leona stood, but didn’t move away. "Look, maybe this is out of line, but I can tell you’re upset about Dad’s Mass."

  Dad.

  "No, it’s okay."

  "Dana, Joe’s a complicated guy. I know he can be a pain in the ass when he gets stubborn about things. All his family thinks he’s the simple one, but it’s not true. He’s always been deep, sensitive and sometimes hard to understand."

  Cut me some slack , he’d asked her. "I’ve found that out myself."

  "I just thought you’d like to know that. And that I think you’re good together. You’re good for him, and the girls."

  "Thank you for saying that, Leona."

  "I hope it works out for you two," she added as she headed for the door. "Truly."

  Dana just nodded.

  Leona had voiced a nice sentiment. And she was glad the woman was civil to her. But it was going to take a lot more than good wishes to get Dana and Joe back on level ground again. She wondered if that was even possible.

  Chapter 16

  * * *

  "JOE MORETTI WAS a special man." Father Lo
ng smiled at his own words. "I know I say this every year, but it bears repeating."

  Joe sat in St. Mark’s Church for the five o’clock Mass, scheduled late to make it more convenient for people to attend. All his family was there as well as some of his dad’s old cop buddies. As he listened to the priest, who’d known his father back in the day and was now retired, his heart clenched in his chest. On either side of him, his girls held his hands.

  "We often wonder why a human being like Joe was struck with such a deadly disease in the prime of his life. Joe himself wondered, too. One of his favorite phrases was, ‘Your life is never a hundred percent. There are positives and negatives for everything.’ I used to say that he got more of his share of the negatives than most. Then he’d tell me how he got Ellison for his wife—" the priest smiled at Joe’s mom "—Spence for his adopted son—" a nod to Spence "—and the light of his life, his own flesh and blood, Joey Jr., who he knew was going to grow up to contribute to society and make his mark in the world." The priest focused on Joey. "I’m sure he’d be very proud of you, son."

  Don’t bet on it, Joe thought. His eyes were brimming and his throat clogged, but he nodded to the priest in acknowledgment. The way he’d behaved in the last week would shame his dad.

  Be kind, Joey, that’s the best advice I can give you. Even if it’s at your own expense. Well, Joe knew he hadn’t been a kind man to someone who he cared deeply about. What a shit he was!

  As the priest ended his talk and prepared for communion, Joe tried to steel himself against the onslaught of emotion. He was still reeling from Yancy’s death and the horrific wake and funeral service late Monday afternoon. He hadn’t even gone out with the guys after, preferring instead to go to the track and run himself ragged. That hadn’t worked, though, because memories of Dana had surfaced from their time there. How she’d challenged him to go faster. How she’d fallen and picked herself up right away.

  Finally the service ended, and he drove the girls to his mother’s house. The church women had set out a nice buffet, which was ready when they got home. Joe snagged a beer and headed out to the deck. The night was mild and crickets chirped from the bushes.