Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

DAMIEN

It doesn’t take long with all of us helping to get dinner cleaned up and soon, I’m walking out with Emerie by my side.

She’s breathtaking, man, I think. Her pictures didn’t do her justice.

“You said you had some things from Levi?” she asks once Levinia is securely in her carseat.

“I do. Would you like them now or can I follow you home? The box is rather heavy,” I reply.

“Then you’d better follow me because that little chunk in the backseat is guaranteed to fall asleep on the way to my house,” she says, giggling. “And after today’s shift on the rig, my muscles could use a break.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” I state. “Don’t forget I’m following you, though,” I warn. “Remember, not from the area.”

She laughs hard then and once she’s got herself calmed down, she says, “Trust me, Possum Creek is barely a blip on the map. If you get to Maggie Valley, you’ve gone too far. But just for you, I’ll go slow.”

Grinning, I get into my rental car and start it up, then once she turns around and heads down the driveway, I do the same. As I follow her, I’m filled with admiration for all she’s managed to accomplish since Levi died. Not only did she graduate from high school while being pregnant, but she’s also got an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, works full-time as a 911 dispatcher, and she’s about to take her test to become a paramedic.

“She’s done good with the hand she was dealt, man,” I murmur as I make a left turn that heads up. That’s something I’ve noticed is a lot of the houses go up into the mountains. The scenery is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and I feel envious that both of them grew up in this area. Even though it’s far more humid than I’m used to, I can tell that the temperatures aren’t completely stifling. Unlike where I grew up in Arizona. At least living there, I was somewhat prepared for the desert when I was shipped overseas.

It’s not long before we pull into a driveway with a small cottage sitting there. It’s a bit disconcerting considering all I’ve seen were log homes or farmhouses, yet it suits her. I park my car then get out so I can help her.

“It’s okay, I’m used to carrying her,” she says. “Just come on inside when you’re ready.”

Nodding, I head back to my car and grab the second box out of the trunk. I wasn’t lying when I said it was heavy; it feels like it’s full of bricks or something. Still, the alpha inside of me won’t let me admit that it might be a bit too much for my leg. I carefully follow the pathway and then open the door, grateful when I see a living room right past the foyer. Setting the box down in front of a well-used recliner, I make myself comfortable on the couch, chuckling when I hear Emerie talking to Levinia, who I know is still sound asleep, as if she’s alert and listening.

“Would you like something to drink?” she asks, coming into the living room. “I have juice, soda, and water, but no beer since I’m not old enough to buy it yet.”

“Soda’s fine, thanks, Emerie,” I reply.

“You’re welcome,” she calls out.

She’s back before I can take a deep breath, handing me a Coke before she sits down in the recliner. I watch a myriad of emotions cross her face as she stares at the box but doesn’t touch it.

“I can go if you’d prefer privacy,” I say.

“No, no, that’s okay.” She laughs but there’s no humor. “The irony isn’t lost on me that a week after he died, I got his last letter to me, which I thought would be all that I’d get, y’know? Instead, I now have this box full of things he bought for me.”

“I just hate it took so long for me to get it to you,” I admit. “I didn’t want to just ship it though. Thought that might be harder.”

Plus, I wanted to meet her, not that I’ll admit that fact.

“It’s okay. I probably wouldn’t have been in a good place then if you had shipped it to me.”

“Are you now? In a good place?” I ask.

Once again, various expressions race across her face as I wait for her answer. “I’d like to think I am. It still hurts, of course, but it’s more like an ache of an old wound, not fresh and raw like it was for so long. If not for Levinia, I’m not sure where I’d be at this point, to be honest.”

“It gutted me,” I tell her. “Then, not being able to come back for his funeral? Yeah, I was glad I had leave because I spent it drunk.”

She snickers then quickly sobers. “I know he was your best friend, Damien. He was mine, too. I’m still amazed I didn’t meet you when you came home with him on leave.”

I shake my head. “Emerie, I wasn’t going to take his time away from you when we were here. In fact, I think I spent most of it either sleeping or eating.”

“Miriam can definitely cook, can’t she?”

This time it’s me that’s laughing. “Yeah, she can. I gained back the weight I’d lost from being out in the desert sweating my ass off. Thank God they don’t reissue BDUs when we lose weight. They just tell us to put another hole in the belt.”

She joins me laughing. “He may have said that a time or two. I think the biggest shock was seeing him after y’all completed basic training. He was thinner, but had more muscles, and looked more like an adult. That probably doesn’t make sense, but he always had a baby face until then.”

“Basic then BUDs kicked our asses, that’s for sure,” I reply. “Damn, I miss him. He got me through.”

“He told me you got him through,” she retorts. “Regardless, I’m glad y’all had one another. I worried about him constantly, but never expected him to die the way he did. I thought it would be on a mission or something. Not that I wanted him to die, of course,” she hastens to add.

“Freak training accident all the way around. Several other guys were injured, but he was closest to the blast and took the brunt,” I say. “I ended up with a broken arm and on desk duty for twelve weeks. I had hoped because of that I would be able to come home for his funeral, but our commanding officer said my skills were necessary and could be done at a desk.”

When I see her start trying to open the box, I pull my knife from my pocket and say, “Let me get that for you.”

“Thanks.” Her voice is breathless, and I can see her eyes have a slight sheen to them.

“If you want, I’ll open this for you then take off, Emerie. I’m okay with doing that,” I say.

“Are you sure? I feel like that’d be rude of me,” she replies.

“Not at all.”

I may be disappointed in not spending more time with her, but I also understand that this box wasn’t expected, so it’s probably put her right back to square one with her grief journey. Hopefully, though, she’ll let me hang around Possum Creek because I’d really like to get to know her better.

“I, uh, I’m off the next two days from both jobs if you’d like to see some of the sights around here,” she says.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I ask.

“Wouldn’t have offered if I minded,” she teases, grinning at me.

“Then I’ll take you up on the offer. Do you want me to come out here or what?”

“No, Levinia and I can come into town and pick you up. You’re at the Possum Creek Inn, right?”

“How’d you know that?” I question.

“Because it’s the only one in town. I mean, you could’ve stayed somewhere else, of course, but it makes sense to me that you’d stay in town since you were going to see Levi’s parents,” she replies.

“Gotcha,” I say. “What time?”

“Um, maybe eight? I usually take Levinia to the diner for breakfast on my days off,” she states, grinning at me. “I spend so much time between work and school, it’s one way for me to spend some time with her that doesn’t involve me cooking.”

I can’t help the chuckle that bursts free. “I imagine if Levi’s parents keep her often for you that Miriam sends food home anyhow.”

“Right? I mean, I can cook, but she’s got me beat by a mile since all of her stuff is from scratch and I’m willing to toss things together that need to be microwaved or come from a box.”

“She has the time available to her so she’s able to do that. I’m sure if you weren’t running around like a chicken with your head cut off, you’d do the same,” I tell her. “Eight is fine, I’ll get out of your hair now and see you in the morning.”

“Damien?” At my glance she continues. “Thank you for bringing these to us. It means more than words can say.”

“You’re welcome. He was my best friend. I miss him every day, that’s for sure.”

Then, I want to kick myself when I see the expression cross her face. She knew him longer, plus had a relationship with him that gave her a daily reminder. Before I can apologize, she nods. “I totally understand. I mean, y’all were together twenty-four/seven, in extreme circumstances, and I know from the few letters he sent me, that you formed a close bond.”

“We did, but it was more than that. Hell, I’m not making sense I’m sure, but it was like I had known him my entire life. Others in our squadron thought we had, as a matter of fact, because we just instinctively knew what the other was thinking.”

“He had that way about him. I think it’s the mountains,” she teases. “Some folks say there are abilities here in the Appalachians.”

I shake my head, chuckling. “At that, I’m leaving, but I’ll see you two bright and early tomorrow.”