Loved by a Soldier: A Military Romance Collection

by Alison Mello

  Courtney gave her hand a squeeze, indicating an acceptance to her offer. “Thank you.”

  The server returned with two bowls of salad, interrupting the moment.

  “I was prepared for some jabs.” Courtney laughed.

  “Let me guess, Zachary told you about my Mafioso ways.”

  “He sure did.”

  “Jerk.”

  They both laughed.

  “What are your plans this afternoon?” Jane asked, taking a bite of her salad.

  “Free. Already packed and ready to leave.”

  “My afternoon is pretty much open. You know what we can do? We can go shopping for your trip, get some fancy turbans. It’s in fashion, you know.”

  “I noticed.” Courtney giggled excitedly. “We should do just that. I need to upgrade my wardrobe anyway.”

  “I know just the place, and we can get some sexy lingerie to get Zachary in the right mood.” Jane winked.

  Courtney blushed.

  After lunch, Courtney placed a call to Zachary to update him on her afternoon plans. They drove to a boutique a few miles from the restaurant, one of Jane’s favorite shops. They spent a few hours trying on dresses and shoes then drove to a shop that carried pricey scarves, wraps, and shawls.

  Courtney gasped at all the beautiful, unique materials around her. “I didn’t know there was a whole market for this.”

  “You’d be surprised.” Jane pulled her along. “I need some pretty turbans.” She smiled at the salesgirl that approached them.

  “Of course,” the woman said. “This way, please.”

  They followed her into a section dedicated to fancy-looking turbans.

  “Ta-da!” Jane spread out her arms dramatically.

  Both the salesgirl and Courtney chortled at her silly gesture.

  “Champagne?” the salesgirl asked.

  “Yes, thanks,” Jane accepted, and Courtney said, “Sure.”

  Another woman approached them, handing each of them a catalogue. “Please have a seat.” She motioned to a charcoal gray sofa behind the ladies, and they obliged. “On page twelve, you will find a collection of our new merchandise.”

  “These are already in stock?” Jane asked.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Great!”

  Courtney pointed to a shimmering red and gold floral turban with a pleated pattern.

  “That’s a great choice,” said the second store clerk. “This was handcrafted in Italy.”

  “You should definitely get that,” Jane said in a girlish voice that made Courtney giggle.

  “I do like it. I think I’ll take that,” she said but refrained from asking the price. She’d walked into the shop with a “life is short, carpe diem” mindset, and she was truly enjoying the carefree attitude. She hadn’t had a moment like this ever in her life. The women she was forced to befriend in William’s circle were pompous, disparaging, and negative, and she didn’t spend any more time than she needed to with that mob. Jane’s friendship didn’t feel forced. It was natural, making her realize how much time she had wasted being unhappy and unfulfilled.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You should add this silk pink turban.” Jane pointed to it, and Courtney’s eyes lit up.

  “Definitely!”

  “I’ll undeniably go for the gold and silver diamond turban. I like to be loud, if you know what I mean.”

  “It’s your right,” Courtney quipped.

  The salesgirl laughed and walked away to collect the items. The lady that initially welcomed them returned with a bottle of champagne and two flutes.

  Jane clinked glasses with Courtney. “To an awesome new friendship.”

  “Cheers,” Courtney replied, her heart overflowing with unadulterated happiness.

  The second salesgirl returned with a few boxes.

  “We can try these on, right?” asked Courtney.

  “Of course. You only need these wig caps.” She passed both women one.

  Courtney placed her glass on the table beside her and picked up the turban. With her hair absent, she wore both the cap and turban with ease.

  “You look gorgeous,” Jane complimented, and the salesgirl approved with a nod.

  Jane wrapped her hair into a bun then tried hers on.

  “You sure look well-heeled and sophisticated,” said Courtney.

  “That’s the plan.” Jane winked at her.

  “I’m keeping this on,” Courtney said.

  Jane nodded, “Me too.”

  “I’ll prepare the orders for checkout,” said the salesgirl. “Please relax and enjoy your champagne.”

  Jane grinned. “Oh, we plan to.”

  “I can do this all day,” Courtney said, and Jane raised her glass.

  Courtney assembled her thoughts on a favor she was preparing to ask Jane. She shifted her body to her, and Jane noticed the solemnity in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Courtney swallowed. “I need you to do me a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “We both know what is ultimately going to occur, and I see it in your eyes that you understand. You are not in denial, but Zachary is. Every so often I think he realizes it. Other times I feel him blocking it, but I need him to embrace the fact that I am going to die.”

  “It’s not that simple,” Jane said. “Especially because he loves you. I understand what he is going through.”

  “I know, and I absolutely understand that, but it terrifies me when I think about how this will damage him at the end.”

  “I know where you stand,” said Courtney, “and it’s to protect your friend. I expect you to blame me for setting such a burden on him.”

  Jane frowned at her insinuation, but Courtney continued. “I would if I were in your shoes, and it’s reasonable. Just please promise me you’ll be there for him. Please make sure he doesn’t shrink away into a dark and lonely place. My spirit will never rest if he does.” Courtney took in a deep breath.

  Jane, who was now overwhelmed by a promise she was about to make, simply gazed forward, avoiding any sort of eye contact with Courtney. After a brief pause, she said, “We’ll take care of him, Courtney. Zachary is family, and we love him. You have my word.”

  CHAPTER 29

  The acceptance of death gives you more of a stake in life, in living life happily, as it should be lived. Living for the moment.

  ~Sting

  Zachary held on to Courtney’s hand like a little child as they crossed the street to local transportation at an airport in Yogyakarta. Borobudur was a little over an hour from Yogyakarta, and their next step was to take a bus to their final destination, a hotel located on the grounds of the temple. Courtney was impressed by how fast and well planned out this trip was. Zachary left no stone unturned to ensure she delighted in the experience. She didn’t nag him when he acted overprotective on the trip. It was a long and tedious journey from Seattle to Seoul and to Jakarta. Twenty hours, to be precise. And the journey wasn’t over. They had to sit in a bus for another hour, but Courtney didn’t complain. She savored in the beauty of life, appreciating every moment, perceiving every barrier to be a blessing. People had no idea what they were missing, worrying, fighting, and being unhappy if they opened their minds and hearts to their surroundings. It amused her when she thought she would have been so upset about the stresses of traveling if she had come here before her diagnosis. Being so close the death’s door gave her a whole new perspective on life.

  She hadn’t arrived at the temple yet, but she was already starting to feel very much at peace with herself. One glance at Zachary further eased the stress she had built up. He looked more tranquil than she expected.

  It’s in the air, she thought.

  As they rode through the city of Yogyakarta to their destination, she stared out the window in admiration of the people and the culture. Their traditional batik outfits—she made a mental note to purchase a few more—the traffic, a few dusty roads, the incredible street art on the walls
, and shopfronts were all so captivating. Her exhaustion from the trip had fizzled out, and she sat alert now, taking mental images of every feature.

  Her enthusiasm brought Zachary pleasure. He wasn’t seeing the situation as she did, though he appreciated her courage. It seemed more to him like defeatism, and he didn’t find anything comforting about their circumstances. He laid his head on the headrest and shut his eyes. A kiss on his cheek caused him to immediately sit up. He glanced around him, struggling to dredge up his whereabouts in his mind. He rubbed sleep from his eyes.

  Noticing his agitation, Courtney said, “We’ve arrived at the hotel.”

  He stood from his seat to help Courtney out.

  “You should get some rest after we check in,” she said to him, and he grunted.

  After passing the concierge a tip, Zachary jumped into the shower. When done, he walked out to find Courtney standing by the door, nude.

  “Thought you died in there,” she teased, tossing a towel at him.

  He groaned at the ravishing view and wishfully said, “Do you need help?”

  “I think I can manage that on my own, thank you.” She pushed past him into the shower. “You should get some rest. I have plans for us tonight!” she called from the shower.

  “What kind of plans?”

  “You’ll see.”

  ***

  “Wakey wakey. Come on, rise and shine, baby,” Courtney said into Zachary’s ear, and he groaned.

  “Oh, come on, I am exhausted.”

  She pulled the duvet off his body.

  Zachary sighed in frustration and forced his eyes open. He gazed at her, surprised by how bright eyed and gorgeous she looked. “You’re wearing a turban.”

  “You like?” She turned her head from left to right.

  “It’s pretty.” He glanced over her long, fitted dress that highlighted her curves. Even though she’d lost about fifteen pounds now, her attractive feminine curves remained, and in a bizarre way, she looked radiant. “How long have I been asleep?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “About three hours, I guess.”

  “Did you get some rest?”

  “I’ll rest when I’m dead. Now get up and let’s get going.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Nowhere in particular. Just taking a stroll, getting a bite to eat, and talking. You’ve been so busy with work and stuff, I feel like we’re growing apart.”

  He sat up. “Growing apart? How much closer can we get?” he teased.

  “You know what I mean. Now get up.”

  Without any more protest, he did as he was told. Courtney leafed through a tour guide by the phone while she waited.

  “What exactly do you have planned? You need to be specific,” Zachary asked as he stepped into the bedroom, pulling his pants up.

  “I was thinking we could take a stroll to a place called Malioboro Road, according to the front desk.”

  He scowled. “Front desk?”

  “Yes, Zachary. I couldn’t sleep, so I explored the hotel. According to the lady at the front desk, the street comes alive after dark with a night market, shops, food stalls, people, and there is a huge mall, apparently the largest mall in this town.” Her eyes widened like a little girl narrating her version of a fairytale story she just read. “It’s in Yogyakarta.”

  “Wait, what? That’s an hour way.”

  Courtney nodded and pursed her lips. “I know that.”

  “All right, Courtney Peterson. It’s your show.” He threw on a shirt.

  “Greene,” she corrected, and he stared at her blankly. “Courtney Greene. I prefer to use my maiden name going forward.”

  “All right, Miss Greene, after you.” Zachary bowed.

  Holding hands, the couple walked through a busy street saturated with a mix of locals and tourists. Courtney amused herself with people playing traditional music and dancing along the street. Due to the hectic atmosphere and endless traffic so late in the night, Zachary suggested they not go further from the transportation yard for safety precautions. When the mall came in sight, Courtney yelped in sheer delight and picked up her pace, disregarding Zachary’s warning about staying on one side of the street.

  “We can get your colleagues and the Prestons some souvenirs,” she said in a high-pitched voice.

  “As you wish.” They walked into the massive space of the mall. “Oh goody, KFC. I’m starved.”

  “Seriously, Zachary? You travel halfway around the world to get American fast food?” She scowled at him.

  “Well, technically, it’s Indonesian since the cooks are from here.”

  She rolled her eyes and pulled his arm, dragging him away from the direction of the fast food joint. “We are getting Indonesian food from one of the food stalls out there.”

  “No, we’re not. I am not risking it.”

  “Risking what? I didn’t see people dying in the streets. Did you? Come on, live a little.” She batted her eyelashes dramatically at him.

  “If you wake up sick tomorrow, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he cautioned.

  “For a well-traveled ex-Marine, I’m disappointed.” Courtney stepped into a souvenir shop, where she grabbed a couple of traditional outfits made from batik off the rack and put them into the basket in her hand. She was impressed by the number of extravagant products they had on display in the shop. She had no idea where to start. With most of her alimony sitting in the bank, she thought it’d be put to better use giving it away to the families who needed it the most, a project she discussed with Mavis on her last visit. She donated a generous amount to the shelter, and now staring at all the lovely items, she concocted a plan to buy as many gifts as she could carry to donate to the shelter.

  She leaned into Zachary and said, “I think I’m going to buy a little more than I anticipated.” She pressed her thumb and forefinger together.

  He furrowed his brows. “How much more?”

  “More!”

  “Why? What are you doing with all this stuff?”

  “Not for me, silly. A donation to the women’s shelter.”

  “Oh?” He raised an eyebrow. “That’s kind of you.”

  “Okay, why do I feel like you’re being sarcastic?”

  “What? I am not. I just didn’t see that coming, that’s all. It’s a great idea. Mavis would be thrilled, I’m sure.”

  “Yes, she would.” She glanced around the shop, contemplating where to begin.

  “Come on. We can place the order and arrange to have them delivered to the hotel,” Zachary suggested.

  “We can do that?”

  “Let’s find out.”

  After making arrangements with the store owner, they grabbed dinner and hailed a cab back to the hotel. On the drive back, Courtney gazed blankly out the window. Her mood and physical dreariness had transformed tremendously since they arrived in Indonesia. He did not know what to make of it. Was it the change of scenery? Whatever it was, Zachary was grateful for the sparkle in her eyes and the elation in her laughter.

  “I like this part of the town, Zachary. We should make another trip here before our visit ends.”

  “We can do that on Saturday.”

  For a moment their gazes locked, and the longing in her eyes gave her thoughts away. Before she could speak, he already knew what she wanted.

  “Will you permit me to make love to you all night?” he asked.

  That night they made love, over and over, unhurried and passionate. Endless promises were made. Neither could believe how lucky they had been to actually find true love. As he held her securely in his arms, her back to him, he listened to her tears. Courtney was so moved by the passion they shared. The unconstrained need it released inside her was too much for her soul to bear. She tried to hide her tears, but Zachary knew.

  CHAPTER 30

  Until death there is nothing enough.

  ~Buddha

  At five o’clock in the morning, Courtney stepped out of the minivan in a pure white sarong with a sash around her wa
ist. Her head was covered with a beautiful white silk scarf. During their shopping extravaganza the previous evening, she made sure to purchase outfits that were deemed appropriate since she planned on paying tributes to multiple temples.

  She took Zachary’s hand, and he offered her a flashlight. She found the darkness to be somewhat bizarre. She’d read about it but was not expecting to see total blackness at this hour. The purpose of the early visit to the temple was to experience the most beautiful sunrise known to man.

  She glanced up at the sky. “It’s eerily dark.”

  The driver, also their tour guide, said, “It will be light soon. Beautiful. You’ll see.” He grinned widely, exposing a gap between his front teeth.

  “Thank you.”

  They followed him with their flashlights illuminating their path. As they ascended the staircase, he warned that they must climb all the way up without stopping or looking back, and realization hit Courtney. She tried to keep her tears of joy at bay.

  Dreams do come true, she thought.

  Never in a million years had she thought she’d live to see this day. She found herself gasping at the sight of countless statues of Buddha.

  With the help of the flashlight, she examined the intricate carvings on the wall. As they approached the upper level, she recalled from her research where it explained that this level indicated a divine existence, reaching a level of holiness that went beyond physical form. At this level, Buddha lived within.