The air hung thick with the promise of rain, and the crimson sky left no doubt of its intentions.
A slow jog brought him to the main road where he picked up his pace until he fell into a comfortable groove. There was nothing like pounding the pavement to give a man time to think, and introducing a female into his life had given him a lot to think about.
How could he describe her, besides the obvious outward beauty? Pollyanna on steroids, perpetuator of live-over days? There were so many interesting facets to this jewel of a girl.
Forty minutes later, he jogged back to the driveway and slowed to a walk. Beads of sweat rolled down his face and his wet shirt stuck to his body like a second skin. He eyed Audra’s window. Juliet wasn’t on the balcony. Too bad. She would add a little sunshine to this overcast day.
Joe was standing at the front of the house looking his way as if he was waiting for him.
“’Morning, Joe.”
Joe mumbled a good morning, or something like that, his face less than cordial.
“I’m glad I ran into you this morning,” Edward said, still breathing a little hard. “I wanted to thank you for fixing my truck. You—”
“Y’welcome.”
Joe’s curt reply matched the dismissive backhand sweep that shut down any more talk of the truck. He couldn’t possibly have a reason for being ticked off at Edward. They hadn’t even seen one another since the day before yesterday.
“Walk with me, Lieutenant.”
Familiar words. Every time Greco used them they were precursors to a good chewing out. This couldn’t be good. Two days ago he was ‘Edward,’ the guy who couldn’t be thanked enough, this morning he was reduced to ‘Lieutenant.’
He followed Joe toward the brook. Whatever the man had to say, it was obvious he wanted to say in private. He’d glanced back at the house twice as if to make sure they weren’t being watched.
The peaceful cooing of a mourning dove did nothing to alleviate the tense lines on Joe’s face. As they reached the water’s edge, he wasted no time lighting into Edward. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and my daughter, but it’s got to stop.”
Going on? What did he think was going on? The line in the sand had been clear. No way Edward would have crossed it. “Sir, Audra and I did nothing behind your back that we wouldn’t have done in front of you. I respect her and I—”
“You,” Joe’s index finger came close to poking him in the face, “are a distraction. Audra is smitten with a bit of hero worship, nothing more. It pains me to see how easily she throws propriety out the window when she’s with you. She’s going to be married in a few months and she—”
“Whoa. She’s getting married?”
“Yes, Audra will marry her high school sweetheart in the fall. I’ve reserved the chapel for the last weekend in September.” His air of condescension was unmistakable, chest puffed out, shoulders back.
Had Joe enjoyed throwing that verbal sucker punch to the gut? Edward’s nostrils flared. He planted his hands on his hips. “She never said anything about getting married and I didn’t see an engagement ring on her finger.”
Another disdainful sweep of the hand. “Audra has no need of something as frivolous as a ring to cement her promise of marriage. When Brad comes home—”
“Brad? Bradley Warren in Chicago?”
Joe’s brows came together. “Yes, he’s away on business, but how do you know this?”
“I saw a letter from him in the foyer.” Not only had he seen it, he’d touched it. Wiping the offending hand on his shorts didn’t remove the fact that Brad existed or that he’d written a letter to Audra. Neither did it wipe away the sudden, intense dislike for a man he’d never met.
How could this be happening? She gave no hint, no shred of evidence that she was committed to someone else. The way she kissed him, touched him, and spoke to him. She’d led him to believe he had a chance with her. His head dropped to his chest. Each breath became a chore, a fight to quell the dizzy, queasy effects of being blindsided.
A dove called out again. Where are you?
In the distance, an answer came. I’m here, come to me.
He shook his head. Even the birds had someone.
“Edward.” Joe’s tone was soft, almost fatherly.
Unbelievable. A moment ago he was Lieutenant Interloper, the corrupter of good morals, a rogue wedding crasher. The man crushed his heart and left the bloody remains in his chest. Now he had the audacity to put on a sympathetic voice and revert to calling him by his given name? With a huff, he shrugged off the hand Joe laid on his arm.
Looking Joe in the eye wasn’t easy. The wound he inflicted went deep. “What do you want me to do, Mr. Lorenzo? Are you asking me to leave?”
“Yes. I’m asking you to do what’s best for my daughter.” The man’s voice was weak, his tough façade, gone. His gaze fell to the ground. More than likely, he’d never thrown anyone out of his house before, and it appeared it was more than he could stomach.
* * * *
Showered and dressed, Edward crept around the bedroom gathering his things.
On the bed by the wall, Hank lay on his back in deep sleep. Cricket slept next to him with her head resting on his chest.
Should he wake Hank up to say good-bye? No. Hank would ask questions he didn’t feel like answering right now.
Bag in hand, he made his way downstairs and out the front door.
Joe was standing on the porch as he passed by. Neither said a word.
Edward sat in his truck and hammered the steering wheel with both fists. Why hadn’t she told him up front that she was engaged? That would have been a valuable piece of intel. A game changer, for sure.
Was she having second thoughts about getting married? Was that it? If so, why didn’t she just break it off? Why lure Edward to her house and then, in full view of her family, give every indication that she was interested in him? None of this fit Audra’s character.
Yesterday, her kisses weren’t those of a girl well practiced in the art. Not that that was a bad thing. No, she was smoking hot and kissing her was pure ecstasy.
There’s nothing like dancing with a pretty girl in the moonlight, my friend. The guy was right. It was awesome. But, Audra had danced as if she’d never been in the arms of a man in her life. What kind of man was Brad, some sort of puritan?
What were his options?
Confront her. Ask her face-to-face if she’s getting married.
“Why bother,” he murmured.
Joe already told him the chapel was booked for her wedding. Of all people, the father of the bride and owner of the chapel should know if his daughter’s getting married. Besides, did he really want to hear those words come out of her mouth?
He could stay at Hank’s place, continue to see Audra and run off this Brad guy for good. But was it worth pursuing a girl who would cheat on her fiancé?
Joe was still on the porch. The man’s delivery might have been crude, but he was Audra’s father, and it was his job to watch out for her. He’d asked Edward to do what was best for his daughter Words spoken out of love.
Edward left the truck and went to the porch. “Sir, with your permission, I’d like to say good-bye to Audra.”
Joe nodded.
Climbing the stairs with leaden legs proved difficult. He gave her door three light raps with his knuckle and waited.
The door opened and Audra’s sleepy face lit up at the sight of him. She tied her robe and smiled. “Good morning.”
He stepped back from the hand that reached to touch his chest. “Would you get dressed and meet me outside in a few minutes, please?”
“Is something wrong?” Worry lines creased her forehead.
Hank’s bedroom door opened.
Cricket pranced out and circled Edward, then Audra before bounding down the stairs.
Hank stood in the doorway, his eye patch centered on his forehead. “What’s going on?”
&nb
sp; Edward brushed off the question, took to the stairs and went outside to the porch to wait with Joe. It didn’t take long before Audra and Hank came through the door.
Each face told a different story. Hank, curiosity and concern. Audra, bracing for bad news. Joe? Now, there was a mystery. Joe’s focus remained on Audra. The man swallowed several times and took deep, painful looking breaths. What was that all about?
Audra stepped closer. “Edward, what is it?”
Why did she have to be so beautiful, so sweet, and so perfect? It would have been better if he’d never met her.
“I have to go.”
Her tears were instant. “But, why?”
Now would be a good time to vent his anger. After all, she deserved it. He could simply tell her that her father had asked him to hit the road and leave the two of them to hash it out after he left. Neither of those options would make him feel any better, though. And driving a wedge between her and her father would serve no other purpose than cruel retribution for the pain they’d dealt him.
He’d take the high road out of this, the more honorable way. He would lie.
“The unit has been called up and I have to leave right now.”
He turned to Joe and offered a handshake. “Mr. Lorenzo, thanks again for repairing my truck, and thank you for your hospitality.”
Joe’s clammy hand trembled in his.
Hank pulled him in for a brotherly hug.
And now, Audra. Already teary-eyed, she was locked and loaded for a bone-shaking cry.
But this time she’d have to find someone else’s shirt to drench. “Audra—”
Rumbling thunder vibrated the porch. Large, intermittent drops of rain gave warning of the deluge to come.
Cricket leapt on the porch and took cover behind Hank.
Edward left them and strode with purpose toward the truck.
“Edward, wait!” Audra’s voice trailed after him.
Heavy spatters came faster and faster. He reached for the door handle. The heavens broke loose with a cold, punishing downpour.
Audra grabbed his arm and raised her voice over the din of the storm. “Won’t you at least say good-bye and kiss me before you go?”
Lightening struck near the brook. Deafening thunder exploded. His instinct to protect overrode his anger. He pulled her into his embrace. Rain cascaded over them and pooled at their feet before weaving a path downhill. If only it could carry away the tears and pain. He held her close before pushing her back at arm’s length. One last look.
His hands fell to his side. He stepped away. “Good-bye, Audra.”
Chapter 25
Thunderous rain smothered, but couldn’t kill the sound of the roaring engine as Edward’s truck sped away. Soaked to the bone, Audra wrapped her arms around herself and wept. How could he leave like this?
Last night she was a princess who danced under magical moonlight. This morning she was a Cinderella whose prince woke up with second thoughts. There would be no fitting of the glass slipper or ‘happily ever after.’ Edward’s hard, wintry-cold eyes had shut her out; his good-bye speared her heart with its sharp, final tone. She couldn’t imagine anything she could have done to merit such rejection.
Rubbery legs brought her back to the shelter of the porch where Hank and her father waited.
Hank stared at the road where Edward’s truck had disappeared. Brows scrunched, jaws tight, without a doubt, he was as perplexed as she.
With both hands, she wiped rain and tears from her face and looked at her father. “Edward seemed angry. Did he say anything to you—”
“I didn’t even see him until he said good-bye to us a few minutes ago.” His jaw quivered. “I’m sorry, la mia preziosa.” My precious one.
Kettledrums of thunder crescendoed and chased them indoors.
Audra entered the living room, guided by her father’s gentle hand on the small of her back.
A moment later, Hank came into the room carrying a towel from the hall bathroom. Standing in front of her, he reached around and draped it over her shoulders like a shawl, then gave her upper arms a pat and stepped back. “I’m going upstairs to make a few calls.”
Arms crisscrossed, she grasped the edges of the towel and pulled it taut around her. “Thank you for the towel, and,” a sob hiccupped from deep within, “for being here.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned and walked away.
Hank would call Edward, of that she was certain. But would Edward talk to him? Who else was he planning to call?
Her father’s voice diverted her thoughts.
“I’m sorry, Dad. You were saying?”
“I said, you’ll feel better once you change into some dry clothes.” His small, forced smile contradicted the distress that twisted his brows and caused wavy lines about the eyes.
“I’ll go change.”
At the top of the stairs she took a few steps, stopped, and leaned against the wall while she pulled off her wet sneakers.
Hank’s garbled words drifted out into the hallway.
Shoes clutched to her chest, she tiptoed forward and inclined her ear toward his door.
“…Uh-huh, uh-huh… But, why would he lie and tell us the unit was called up? I don’t get it.”
She covered her mouth to stifle a gasp.
“…no, he… Don’t yell at me, Greco. I’m not the one who… No, if he were going to my house he’d have made a left instead of a right onto the road. My guess is he’s going back to Bragg. If he doesn’t show up in a day or two, call me. I don’t…”
Closer, she had to get closer. She pressed her ear to the door. Click. Not fully engaged, the latch gave way, and the door cracked open an inch. She scurried to her room, shut the door, and stared at it. Seconds later, a knock.
She let Hank in and left the door amply ajar for decency’s sake.
“Found this outside my door.” He dangled a wet sneaker by its shoelace.
Folded in her arms against her bosom was its mate. She took the shoe from Hank and tossed the pair aside.
“How much did you hear while you were eavesdropping?”
“Enough to know that Edward made up a story to get away from me.” Her breaths came in short gasps; her stomach convulsed and pushed out a moan that sounded like an animal in a trap. “My heart was his for the taking, but he didn’t want it. He didn’t want me.”
Huge hands gripped her shoulders. “Shh. Audra, look at me.”
Sympathy and concern stared back when she met his one-eyed gaze. The black eye patch that covered the evidence of his personal tragedy added to the aura of Hank’s understanding of pain. “I have no idea why Eddie left the way he did, but I’m sure it wasn’t because he didn’t want you. That’s simply not possible.” Hank leaned in with a smile, as if to emphasize the truth of what he’d just said, then let go of her. “I know he hurt you, but I’m asking you to give my brother the benefit of the doubt. Don’t write him off. Not yet, at least.”
“I’m not sure he deserves a second chance.” She dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
“Maybe he doesn’t. But something doesn’t feel right about this whole thing. I’ll be the first to admit that Eddie can be a jerk, but this is over the top, even for him.” His chest rose with a long, deep breath. Shaking his head, he exhaled in a slow, steady stream. He stroked his chin as if he still had his beard. “If you don’t mind my asking, how did everything go yesterday?”
At the window, she pushed the curtain aside with a finger. Raindrops tapped the glass and joined to form watery snakes that slithered down the pane. Devilish serpents. Even the weather was against her.
Yesterday, the sun caressed her and the moon smiled down upon her. The wind had puffed its cheeks and pushed her deeper into the arms of the man she wanted more than anything. “Yesterday was the best day of my life.”
* * * *
Breakfast couldn’t be over soon enough. If Hank hadn’t told her he was leaving after the meal, she�
��d have stayed in her room where she didn’t have to hide her whirlwind of colliding emotions.
How much more could she take of her mother’s piteous glances, or Zoe’s whining about Edward not saying good-bye? And her father. How long was he going to rave about how great it was to meet Edward, and how unfortunate it was that he had to leave so unexpectedly? The more he prattled on, the more difficult it became to give Edward the promised benefit of the doubt. After all, the man on the receiving end of these accolades was also a liar and a heartbreaking cad. Wasn’t he?
The twins were another story. “Edward is cuter than this one, or that one, or not as cute as so-and-so.” Why couldn’t they be quiet and eat?
Sitting across the table between Mike and Zoe, Vanessa wore her sisterly we’ll-talk-later face.
Hank’s bags waited in the foyer. He cast a glance in their direction. It was time. Rising from the chair next to her, he said, “Guess I better shove off.”
She followed him to the front door.
Hank bent and circled his arms around her. Nearly a foot taller and sturdy as a Clydesdale, his size might have been intimidating if not for his gentle nature and his kindness toward her. “Everything will turn out all right. I know it doesn’t seem like that now, but you’ll see.” Hank spoke with confidence as if he believed every word he said.
“Thanks. I hope you’re right.”
The family drifted into the foyer with Zoe pressing her way to the front of the pack.
Audra faded back and went upstairs leaving the cacophony of voices behind. If she could stay busy, maybe her thoughts would stop swirling around Edward.
With linens retrieved from the hall closet, she went to the room Hank and Edward had shared. She stripped and changed the bedclothes on the queen-sized bed. The presence of dog hair told her this was where Hank slept with his faithful sidekick.
On the trundle, the pillow lay hollowed where Edward’s head had rested. She sat and dragged it onto her lap. “Did he think of me as he drifted off to sleep? Did he dream of me? Oh, how I wish you could tell me.” She shucked off the pillowcase and tossed it in the pile of linens on the floor, then rose, stripped the sheets and made the bed afresh.
A Soldier Finds His Way Page 19
