More Than a Soldier

by Irene Onorato

  Audra hugged a pillow to her chest, threw a glance at the door and lowered her voice. “What about Hank? I can’t think of a more decent guy on the planet. He’s a total package deal—a man’s man with a heart big enough to house the sun, moon and stars, and still have room for another galaxy. Whoever lands Hank will have landed one of the grandest fish in the pond. He’s definitely a keeper.”

  “That’s quite an endorsement.” Cindy let out a quiet laugh.

  “My high regard for Hank is no secret. He’s fiercely loyal to Edward. That alone makes him worthy of my accolades.” A brow arched high over Audra’s eye. “And, it’s quite obvious you’ve piqued Hank’s interest. Of course, Sergeant Dexter is also on the prowl. Watching them vie for your attention yesterday was like watching two lions stalking the same prey.”

  “Oh? I hadn’t noticed.” A white lie wouldn’t send her straight to hell, would it? The men’s interests could hardly be labeled covert. They’d practically handfed her when she sat sandwiched between them at the picnic table.

  Cindy rose and arched her back. “Besides, I’m not sure I’m ready to accept a new lion into my territory just yet.”

  “Because of the throwback?” Audra unfolded from her lotus position and got up. “Did he break your heart?”

  More like shattered, grinded, and shredded. “That’s putting it mildly.” A buzzing sound caught her attention. “Sounds like the guys got that compressor started. Let’s go see.”

  Chapter 7

  The red one-piece bathing suit Cindy bought at the beginning of the summer hadn’t seen its first drop of water. Not after the bombshell revelation of Eric and Belinda’s trysts that put a damper on every aspect of her life, shrouding everything she normally enjoyed with senseless shades of gray. Before yesterday, how long had it been since she’d enjoyed a day with friends, or had a good belly laugh? Three, four months? Seemed more like years.

  Cindy stood at the mirror and pivoted left and right before pinching the thin spandex fabric and letting it snap back against her stomach. “Not much between me and being naked, is there?”

  Cricket trotted to the bedroom door, touched her nose to the knob, and looked back.

  “Okay, I get it. You’re naked all the time and it doesn’t bother you a bit.” She put on her terry cover-up and left the room with Cricket padding ahead of her.

  Conversation and laugher drifted in from the patio. Outside the glass doors, Audra and Edward stood close, their fingers slipping in and out of one another’s in a clandestine game of handsies while Hank told an animated story that made them laugh.

  A threadbare T-shirt clung to Hank’s torso like an old faithful friend. It hugged his beefy shoulders, skimmed over his pecs, and left little to the imagination. Cindy breathed a quiet sigh. Even if she wasn’t in the market for a man, it didn’t hurt to look. She opened the door and let Cricket scamper ahead. “Hi, guys. Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

  Hank gave Cricket a few pats on the hindquarter. “Nah, we just got out here ourselves.”

  Marlene and Benjamin came outside fully clothed.

  “Aren’t you going to put on your bathing suits? Thought you two were going swimming with us?” Hank slung a towel around his neck and clamped the dangling ends with fisted hands.

  “Marley and I decided to relax in the shade here on the patio and catch up on a little reading.” Benjamin held up a book. “Three chapters to go, and I still haven’t a clue as to who murdered the neurosurgeon. Best whodunit I’ve ever laid my hands on.”

  “In that case,” Hank looked at Edward, “if Mom and Dad aren’t going in the water with us, why don’t we go swimming in the black hole?”

  “Black hole?” Audra’s voice wobbled. By the look on her face, Hank may as well have said, “Let’s go get eaten by a sea monster.”

  Cindy tapped Hank’s arm. “What black hole?”

  “Your feet were swinging over it when you were sitting on the thinking rock with me yesterday. The water’s dark and deep there.”

  “Sounds cool.” She rubbed her palms together. “I’m game.”

  “Maybe I should stay here with your parents.” Audra chewed her lip.

  “You’ll be fine.” Edward pulled her along. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”

  Hank headed for the tree line and tromped along the same path they’d taken the day before. He broke into a marching song, his words following the cadence of his heavy footfalls.

  “Woe-woe-woe-woe.”

  Edward echoed, “Woe-woe-woe-woe.”

  Hank led again, “Wo-oh, I gotta go.”

  “Wo-oh, I gotta go.” Edward chanted.

  “Gotta get back home.”

  “Gotta get back home.” Cindy joined Edward’s repeat-back.

  “Ho-o-o-o-o-ome.”

  “Ho-o-o-o-o-ome.” Cindy smiled as Audra’s voice joined the chorus.

  After singing a few rounds, the path narrowed through overhanging bushes. Hank stopped singing and pushed through the brush.

  Cindy stayed close on Hank’s heels, catching branches as they slid from his sides. “I seem to remember this squeeze in the path from yesterday. We’re almost there, aren’t we?”

  “Yup.”

  Cindy pressed onward through the rustling shrubbery. “You know, I once—Whoooah!” She tripped forward, clawed the air and locked onto a wad of Hank’s T-shirt.

  “Ack!” Hank’s head jerked backward.

  Cindy righted herself. “Oops, sorry. Didn’t see that limb lying ’cross the path.”

  Hank hacked again, turned and pulled the shirt from his throat with a hooked finger.

  She chewed her nail. “Y’okay?”

  “Sure,” he squeaked, then rubbed his neck and coughed. “It’s good for a man to have his Adam’s apple knocked against his neck bone every now and then. Toughens him up.”

  Edward bowed over, laughing. Audra covered her mouth, but her eyes sparkled with laughter.

  Hank started to turn, but stopped and motioned Cindy forward with a sweep of his hand and a mischievous smirk. “After you.”

  * * * *

  Hank followed Cindy onto the thinking rock and gave Audra a hand getting up while Edward helped from below. Hank went to the edge with Cindy. “Been a long time since we came swimming out here, eh, Eddie?”

  “Too long. Let’s light this candle.” Edward peeled off his shirt.

  Audra clutched Edward’s arm, peeked over, and gasped. “You guys aren’t thinking of jumping from here, are you?”

  “Good grief.” Hank shook his head and tossed his T-shirt aside. “It can’t be an inch more than thirty feet from here to the surface. Besides, the water’s deep enough there’s no way you’d ever hit bottom. It’s fun.”

  Audra looked again and recoiled. “It’s not the depth of the water that scares me. It’s the fall. I feel a nosebleed coming on every time I look over the edge.”

  “Audra doesn’t do well with heights.” Edward threw his arms around her. “It’s okay, babe, there’s a nice place down there for you to wade in. In a minute or two, I’ll help you off the rock and go with you.” He grinned at Hank. “After I take a jump, of course.”

  “Hey, Hank! Last one in’s a smelly hamster.” Cindy charged from the far end of the rock, zoomed past Hank, Edward, and Audra, and leaped over the edge with arms spread wide and legs peddling through the air.

  Hank and Edward leaned to watch Cindy’s plunge into the water.

  Ka-sploosh!

  Cindy surfaced, raised a fist, and gave a loud whoop.

  “Hank?”

  He cast an over-the-shoulder look at Audra. “Yeah?”

  “You were looking for someone tall and sassy?” She smiled and hiked a thumb toward the lake. “She just went that way.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Hank spring boarded from coiled knees, shouted, “Cowabunga,” and cannonballed into the water.

  As Hank’s head came up, Edward splashed down near
by and sloshed a small tidal wave in his face.

  “Sure you don’t want to try it, Audra?” Edward shouted up to the rock. “Hank and I will make sure—”

  Audra covered her face with both hands and gave her head a few small, rapid shakes.

  Edward looked at Hank and laughed. “Just messing with her. I knew she’d say no. I better go help her get down.”

  Cindy doggy paddled after Edward. “Wait for me. I want to go again.”

  Hank trained his eyes on Cindy as they swam away. Edward stepped onto an underwater shelf near the shore, reached back, and yanked Cindy onto it. A sheen of water melted from her red bathing suit like mercury dropping in an arctic wind. She pulled the leg holes down in the back, the way girls always do when they get out of the water, and high-stepped on tiptoes, keeping up with her brother. Hank smiled to himself and sank into the cool, dark depths.

  A garbled groan rippled under the water, followed by simultaneous splashing noises. The rowboat. Hank thrust himself to the surface.

  A few yards away, at the mouth of the cove, Dexter leaned back on the oars one last time before pulling them in through the squeaky oarlocks to a stowed position. He got up, moved forward, and stood with one foot hiked up on the bow plate as if he were Washington crossing the Potomac. Collared polo, denim shorts. Not exactly what most guys would wear fishing.

  Then again, Dexter had packed for a visit with his girl, not an excursion in a rowboat. Hank sniggered under his breath. Mr. Fancy Pants probably didn’t have the horse sense to leave his wallet at the house. Bwahahaha.

  * * * *

  Cindy waited on the rock until Edward and Audra slipped into the water before inching forward and wiggling her toes over the ledge. She waved at Dexter. “Catch anything?”

  “Not even a nibble.” He folded his arms atop his knee. “Are you going to stand up there all day, pretty girl, or are you going to jump? And don’t worry, ’cause I’ll be more than happy to save you.”

  With a shout, she leaped from the ledge and dropped like a torpedo with hands at her sides. Cold water bubbled up around her. She surfaced, pushed back her hair, and wiped her face. Something made a loud ker-splunk. The rowboat sat rocking on the water, and a circular tsunami rippled out from the bow.

  Cindy swam closer to where Edward and Audra treaded water. “What is it with that guy that he’s always swimming in his regular clothes?”

  Edward laughed through his nose. “You’ll have to ask Hank about that.”

  “Ask me about what?” Hank’s sudden appearance beside her made her flinch.

  Dexter flicked his head, sending droplets flying from his hair. He grabbed the bow rope and glared in Hank’s direction. “Dude, there’s something seriously wrong with you.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, right.” Dexter side-stroked toward shore, towing the rowboat behind him. He wagged a wet finger at Hank. “After I tie up this boat, I’m gonna pummel you.” His scowl morphed into a crooked grin and a laugh puffed out his nose. “Oh, never mind. I may as well take a crack at diving off the rock since I’m all wet anyway.”

  On shore, Dex shucked his shirt, tossed it in the boat, and squeezed water from his wallet. He climbed to the ledge and stood with sunrays sparkling off his curly blond chest hair while he shook out his arms and legs like an Olympic diver getting ready for a triple back flip with two and a half twists.

  Hank nudged Cindy’s arm under water, gave a wink, and yelled up to Dexter, “You gonna stand up there all day, pretty boy, or are you gonna jump?”

  Cindy fell into a fit of giggles and shouted, “Don’t worry, I’ll save you.”

  * * * *

  The rowboat’s stern drifted in a semicircle with its bow tethered to an overhanging limb. Cindy hung on to the transom and caught her breath. She pushed off with her face to the sky, and arms and legs moving her along at a lazy pace. What a difference the last twenty-four hours had made in her life. If Mrs. Baker hadn’t reminded her of the information Eric had given her, she might be sitting in her apartment right now, wondering if maybe she should just get a cat and forget about people completely. Except for Mrs. Baker, of course. If she loved the older woman any more, she’d have to start calling her Mom.

  “Enjoying yourself?” Edward bobbed like a cork beside her.

  Cindy stopped and treaded water. “Yes, but I’m exhausted. I must have climbed and jumped fifty times. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.”

  “Good, I’m glad to hear it.”

  “Watch this,” Dexter yelled before somersaulting off the rock.

  “I think my sergeant is trying to impress you.”

  Dex popped up and looked her way. She gave a thumbs-up. “Should I be impressed by him?”

  “I am. His sniper capabilities are unbelievable.” Edward laughed.

  “Good to know.” Cindy rolled her eyes. “If I ever need to have someone picked off at a hundred yards, I’ll know who to call.”

  The mirth in Edward’s eyes dimmed somewhat. “Dex is a good guy.”

  “Judging by your tone, you left a ‘but’ hanging off your assessment.”

  “Astute listening skills.” He smiled. “But, he has a tendency to throw back one too many beers every once in a while. I’m not saying he’s an alcoholic, but he’s gotten himself into a few fixes because of it.”

  “What about you? And Hank?”

  The side of the boat rocked toward them. They gripped the gunwale and faced one another. Edward glanced back to where Hank and Audra sat talking on a rock on the far side of the cove. “The last time I saw Hank drunk was when we were fifteen. Benjamin and Marlene had driven into the city on business, leaving Hank and me alone at the house. I went down the road, snuck into old man Murphy’s garage and stole a bottle of whiskey from the stash I knew he kept hidden from his wife.”

  “Uh-oh. This sounds like one of those stories that doesn’t end well.”

  “Exactly. Hank and I got loaded, and I convinced him to take a joy ride with me in Marlene’s car. I was speeding down Gun Hill Road when a deer jumped out in front of me. I swerved, lost control, and wrapped the front end around a telephone pole.” Edward exhaled and wagged his head.

  “I’m not sure if I passed out or got knocked out, but when I came to, I was in the passenger seat, and paramedics were putting a backboard and neck brace on me.”

  “Passenger seat? But how—”

  “Hank put me there. When the cops came, he told them he was the one who’d been driving, and also took the blame for stealing the liquor.”

  “I don’t get it. Why would he do that?”

  Across the way, Hank and Audra burst into laughter. Edward’s eyes seemed to brighten at the sound.

  “I’d been in so much trouble, Hank figured I’d be taken away and put in juvenile detention for good if the cops knew what I’d done. Since he’d never had any run-ins with the law, he took the rap, got a slap on the wrist, and had to do some community service. He said he’d never get drunk again, and as far as I’m aware, he never did.”

  “And you?” Cindy swatted a bug from her ear. “Did you become a teetotaler after that?”

  “Sadly, no. I remained a lowlife, carousing, rebellious punk until a few months ago. I’d caused a lot of heartache for Benjamin and Marlene during the years I lived under their roof, and I’m ashamed to say I continued to hurt them afterward, by way of neglect. I left home at seventeen—angry, bitter, and mad at the world—joined the army, and didn’t so much as call or write for eight long years.”

  A cloud passed across his eyes and an underlying sadness showed through his stoic expression. No doubt, the pain he’d caused left him scarred with grief.

  His lips twitched, but couldn’t seem to hold on to a smile. “I owe them a lot for embracing me as their own son despite my ingratitude for their care and affection. Now, every time I call them Mom and Dad, well-deserved titles of love and respect that I n
ever used while living with them, I still feel guilt and shame for withholding it from them for as long as I did.”

  Cindy swished forward and moved her hand until it rested on top of Edward’s. “What was it that happened a few months ago that made you change?”

  Edward stared into her eyes for a long, quiet moment. Had she stepped over a personal boundary by asking? “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I didn’t mean to be nosy. Well, actually, I guess I did, but—”

  “You’re not being nosy. It’s a long story, but the short of it is I had an encounter with The Almighty in a tent during a deployment in Afghanistan that left me feeling naked, ashamed, and without excuse for a lifetime of offenses. I’d spat in God’s face, broken all His laws, and ridiculed anyone who served Him. I knew that if God were to judge me, I’d surly deserve His wrath.

  “The defining moment came that night when, after an altercation with Marcus, I glanced at a blood-spattered Bible lying open on his cot and read, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ The weight of my shortcomings nearly suffocated me. It was profoundly humbling to think that God was willing to forgive me when I probably hadn’t forgiven anyone in my whole life.”

  Cindy swallowed hard. Forgiving small offenses came easy, but the big ones? Not so much. “So, you asked God to forgive you?”

  “I did.” Edward finally smiled. “And for the first time in my life, I surrendered.”

  Chapter 8

  Audra and Marlene scurried about, stirring pots, peeking in the oven, and washing an occasional dish or utensil at the sink. Cindy straddled a stool at the kitchen bar and propped her chin on a fisted hand. “Are you sure I can’t do something to help? I feel like a slug just sitting here while you two slave away in the kitchen.”

  Marlene dried her hands on a kitchen towel and patted Cindy’s hand. “You’re a special guest this weekend. You don’t need to do a thing but sit there and keep us company. Audra and I will have dinner on the table in no time.”

  “I didn’t do anything to help with lunch either. Sure you don’t want me to do just one thing?”