Battlefield of the Heart (12 page)
Read Battlefield of the Heart Online
Authors: E. A. West
He'd been home for a year and just left a couple of boxes undisturbed in the middle of his floor? Something about his expression made her believe it was more than a simple case of never getting around to dealing with them. “Why didn't you unpack them?”
He dropped his gaze to the cat dozing in his arms. “I couldn't at first. Too many memories. And now⦔ He shrugged and looked up at her. “I'm not sure I even care what's in them anymore.”
Something she'd learned about PTSD popped into her mind. He was using avoidance to prevent even the possibility of having a traumatic memory triggered by something in those boxes. From what she'd read, avoidance would give him more problems in the long run than remembering would. She stepped close and put her hand on his arm. “Danny, those boxes hold pieces of your life. You should go through them and make sure you don't want any of that stuff. Just leaving them in the middle of your floor can't be a good thing.”
“My mom agrees with you. My dad just wishes I'd face the past and deal with everything. If that means unpacking those boxes, he's all for it.”
She had an idea that might give him the courage to deal with whatever those boxes contained, but she didn't know how he'd react to it. Yes, she cared a great deal about him, but they hadn't been dating very long. She shoved down her doubts and suggested it anyway. “You know, I could help you unpack them if you think it would help to have me there.”
A slight smile touched his lips, and he shook his head. “You're sweet to offer, but I'm not ready to face what those boxes hold. Once I can put it all behind me and deal with life like every normal human being, then I'll take care of the boxes.”
He certainly was stubborn. “Unpacking the memories might help you put it all behind you.”
“Don't worry so much. I'll deal with the boxes eventually. For the moment, they're perfectly happy sitting in the middle of the floor.” He planted a light kiss on her cheek. “Now, what was that movie you wanted to pick up?”
She let him drop the issue and walked over to her desk. Trying to discuss it any more would only irritate him. After digging through the bottom drawer to retrieve the DVD she wanted, she rejoined him and they headed into the hall. The front door closed, and Elmo leaped out of Danny's arms to dart down the stairs.
“Sounds like my dad's home,” Cindy said as they followed the cat at a slower pace.
“I wonder what your mom will tell him about me?”
She paused to give him a hug. “Don't worry about it. I'm sure my dad will like you just fine.”
“I hope so.” He held her a moment longer, then he released her and grinned. “I think meeting a general for the first time was less intimidating than meeting your dad.”
She rolled her eyes and took his hand. “Oh, come on. My dad's a nice guy.” Halfway down the stairs, she gave in to her curiosity. “Why did you meet a general?”
He avoided looking at her. “There was a meeting about something we had to do.”
“That was a nice vague answer.”
Her favorite teasing twinkle sparked to life in his eyes. “I could be more specific, but then I'd have to kill you.”
Cindy laughed and spotted her father at the base of the stairs. He stared at them with wide eyes, and she realized he must have heard the end of Danny's comment. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hi, sweetheart.” He focused on Danny. “Why are you threatening to kill my daughter?”
“It was just a joke, sir. I'd never intentionally do anything to harm her.” Danny glanced at Cindy, his discomfort showing in his eyes, and a wave of sympathy washed through her. Apparently, he'd been serious when he said meeting her father was intimidating.
A quick prayer for him winged heavenward, and she gave his hand a squeeze as they went down the last few steps. “Dad, this is the guy I've been seeing, Danny Flynn.”
“I'm Peter Waymire.” He gave Danny a firm handshake. “I figured you weren't serious about killing Cindy. You have to admit it's an odd thing to hear, though.”
“I guess it would be.”
Cindy glanced at Danny then returned her gaze to her father.
Lord, please guide me.
Maybe an explanation would remove some of the tension between them. “He was trying to avoid telling me why he met a general. Apparently, he's not allowed to talk about it. Either that or he just doesn't want to.”
“It's a little of both,” Danny said with a shrug. “The army can be touchy about some topics.”
Peter raised his eyebrows. “You're in the army?”
“I was. I got discharged about a year ago.”
“How long were you in?”
“Six and a half years.”
“Six and a
half
years?” Puzzlement creased Peter's brow. “I thought enlistment was three or four years at a time.”
“There were some extenuating circumstances that got me discharged early.” Danny shot Cindy an uncomfortable glance. “If it hadn't been for that, I'd still be in. Probably until I got my twenty in and could retire.”
Peter remained silent so long Cindy began to worry about what he'd say next. “Danny, I get the feeling you don't like talking about what led to your early discharge. But for my own peace of mind, since you're dating my daughter, will you tell me if it was an honorable or dishonorable discharge?”
“Oh, I was honorably discharged. I just⦔ He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “They gave me a medical discharge because of severe post-traumatic stress disorder. I couldn't handle combat any longer, and they decided it would be best for my mental health to remove me from the army completely rather than giving me a job stateside.”
“I'm sorry to hear that, son.” Peter put a hand on Danny's shoulder, giving a sympathetic squeeze, and Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like her dad would approve of him after all.
Danny lifted the other shoulder in a shrug. “It's life. I served my country, did my duty, and now I'm in college.”
Her father lowered his hand. “What are you studying?”
“I haven't decided on a major yet, but I'm thinking about English.”
Cindy slid an arm around his waist. “He's an excellent proofreader. He helped me get an A on my last sociology paper.”
“You would have gotten an A without me,” Danny said, draping his arm across her shoulders. “That paper was awesome.”
Peter smiled and Ellen joined them to announce lunch. Danny held Cindy back as her parents headed for the kitchen.
“You know, your dad has something in common with generals.” His eyes twinkled. “Once I've met them and talked to them a little, they aren't nearly as intimidating.”
She laughed and hooked her arm through his as they headed for the back of the house. “I told you my dad's a nice guy.”
****
Danny's cell phone rang soon after they finished lunch and moved to the living room. He spoke briefly with the caller, then he turned to Cindy and lowered the phone. “Do you want to go to my parents' house for dinner? My father is determined to grill burgers, and Mom doesn't see a point to grilling for just two people.”
She smiled and nodded, excited at the prospect of meeting his parents. “Sounds good to me.”
He lifted his phone again and quickly ended the conversation. As he returned his phone to the holster at his waist, Peter spoke. “Do your parents live near here, Danny?”
“They're about twenty minutes or so from here, over in Maple Creek.” Elmo the cat jumped in Danny's lap, and he stroked the animal as he continued. “They were relieved when I chose to go to a school so close to home. According to my dad, they want me close by so they can make up for all the time they didn't see me while I was in the army.”
Peter chuckled. “That makes sense to me. From what little you've said, you didn't spend much time at home during your enlistment.”
Danny looked down at the cat settling down for a nap. “No, I was stationed in other parts of the country, and I was overseas quite a bit.”
Cindy could tell he didn't want to talk about it, so she abruptly changed the subject. “Hey, Dad, will you buy me a camera?”
Peter lifted an eyebrow. “I thought you had a camera.”
“I do, but it has automatic focus. I need one with manual focus if Danny's going to teach me about photography.”
Ellen turned to Danny, looking impressed. “I didn't know you were a photographer.”
“I'm strictly an amateur,” he said, finally lifting his gaze from the cat he still stroked. “But I did offer to teach Cindy what I know.”
“So, can I have a camera?” Cindy gave her parents a look she hoped would get them to agree.
“Yes, you may have a camera, but you don't need to buy one.” Peter stood and moved to the stairs. “I'll be right back.”
She watched him go upstairs then turned to her mother. “What is he talking about?”
“I have an idea, but I'll let him explain when he gets back.”
Cindy rolled her eyes as she looked at Danny. “Are your parents this exasperating?”
“Only sometimes,” he said with a chuckle. “Once you have a camera, I'll have to take you to one of my favorite places to photograph.”
“Where is that?” Ellen asked.
“Mounds State Park. It's beautiful year-round, and it's constantly changing.” His face lit up as he talked about it. “There's one section of the river I've been wanting to visit, but I haven't had a chance recently.”
“Why don't we go tomorrow?” Cindy hoped he'd agree. He looked so much more animated than usual just talking about going there. She wanted to see how much he'd relax once he was actually in the park.
“That would be awesome.” He put his arm around her. “I think you'll love it out there.”
Peter returned before Cindy could reply. He held up a black leather camera case. “This should work for whatever you want to do. I even put in fresh batteries, so you won't have to worry about that.”
She accepted the heavy case. “Wasn't this Grandpa's?”
“That's right,” he said as he returned to his chair. “He left it to me, hoping I'd take up photography again, but I just never had the love for it he did. I'm sure he'd approve of me giving his camera to you.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She unzipped the case. A camera and three lenses rested inside, along with a flash and a couple of other things she couldn't identify. “Looks like I need to pick up some film.”
Peter chuckled. “No, you don't. That's the digital camera your grandfather bought just a few months before he died. I figured you'd prefer it to the old 35mm.”
Danny reached toward the case. “May I?”
“Sure.” Cindy handed it to him and watched him pull out the camera body and examine it.
He took a quick look at the lenses then met her gaze with a smile. “This is top of the line stuff. You can have a lot of fun with it.”
“Well, I can once you teach me the proper way to take a photograph.”
He attached one of the lenses to the camera body and checked for an SD card, then lifted it and aimed it at her. “To take a photograph, you look through the viewfinder like this. Then you adjust the focus, like so, and press this button.”
She rolled her eyes as she accepted the camera and looked at the close-up of herself on the back. Well, if he wanted to play that game⦠She grinned and lifted the camera, aiming it at Danny. “So, what I'm supposed to do is this?”
She snapped the picture as her parents laughed. Danny leaned over to look at the image she showed him and nodded. “Yes, that's the way it's done.”
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As they drove away from the Waymire house, Danny smiled at Cindy. “I like your parents. Now that they know I'm not going to do anything horrible to you, they're pretty laid back.”
She settled deeper in the seat, amused by his melodramatic statement. “Yes, they're laid back, but I seriously doubt they ever thought you'd do something horrible to me. They're just overprotective.”
“Sounds like my parents.” He glanced at her again, his good humor fading, and then returned his attention to the road. “Don't be surprised if they're less friendly to you than your parents were to me at first. They want to shelter me from life, and they don't always realize there are other people in this world who can handle my problems.”
She reached over and rubbed his shoulder, wishing she could reassure him, but he knew his parents and she'd never met them. “I'm sure it will be fine.”
“If they try to cause too much trouble, I'll remind them that I'm almost twenty-six.” Danny put his hand on her knee with a faint smile. “One of these days they'll realize I'm a grown man who's capable of getting along with other people.”
Heat raced through her at his touch, and she covered his hand with hers. “Maybe I can help convince them of that.”
He chuckled and gently squeezed her knee. “You can't stand discord, can you?”
“Can I help it that I like to see people get along and be happy?”
“I hope not. That's one of the things I like about you.”
He laced their fingers together, and her heart tripped over itself at the warmth of his palm pressed against hers. Hopefully, he'd continue to be affectionate with her around his parents so they'd catch on that he could have a normal relationship in spite of the PTSD. She was a little worried about what they might say to her, but she trusted Danny to stand up for her, if necessary.
His parents' house turned out to be a one-story ranch house with fall flowers along the front. Danny pulled into the wide cement drive leading to the attached two-car garage and turned off the engine.
“This was home for a year before I joined the army.”
Cindy turned to find him studying her. “Where did you live before that?”
