To Love a Soldier (16 page)

“Yeah, I get that. It took me years to get over the fear of him coming back for me again.”

“Right. Even with Brady around or John when he was here, it didn’t matter. I was always looking over my shoulder and wondering if and when he’d be back.”

“All right, just know that if you need to talk about anything, at all, I’m here for you.”

“I already know that, bitch.”

We hugged again and I felt so lucky that I was gaining a sister out of the deal, too. “I’m going to head up and take a shower, unless you want to go first?” I asked.

“No, that’s cool. I’ll do the dishes for you.”

We both took our time getting ready. I kept fighting the urge
to repeatedly ask her if she was okay. I did know she would tell me, and she was convincing about it, so I dropped it. Instead, I decided to occupy my mind with baby names. A while later, we were set and on our way to the hospital.

“Do you think he’ll let us see the knife hole?” I asked.

“You mean the stitches?”

“No, the hole where he got stabbed.”

“Okay, Mandy. You realize that they stitched him up, right? Because if they let him keep a cool knife hole, he’d be dead right now.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Sometimes, I don’t think at all. My mind forgets to process and words just leave my mouth. It’s almost like my brain to mouth filter is busted; if there was even one there to begin with.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I meant can we see the stitches?” I said, in a failed attempt to cover my idiocy.

“Since you clearly can’t wait until summertime to see my boyfriend’s abs, I guess I’ll ask him if you can see them.”

“Oh, shut up. I have your brother’s to look at and damn, he is ripped.” I said with a sigh.

“
Eww.” She cringed. “Let’s stop this right here.”

“Okay, I’ll change topics. There’s a bunch of baby names that I like. Has John ever mentioned any names ever?”

She started laughing at me, again! “Holy shit, Mandy! You’re killing me today.”

“What? Why?” I said. “I wasn’t joking.”

“I know you weren’t, but it’s not like Mr. Military sat me down one day and said ‘in between showing you how to field assemble a gun and how to survive on berries in nature, I’d like to discuss what names I would like if I were to ever have children.’”

“Fine, I get it. I’ll just let him know what names I like for boys and girls, then find out if he likes any, and then I’ll cross
reference that with my I don’t give a shit list.” We were both cracking up, but my feelings were slightly hurt.

“Oh, come on,” Liz said, while continuing to laugh. “Don’t get all upset about it.”

“I’m not,” I assured her, even though I was a little upset.
Stupid emotions.
“Let’s go see your boy toy.”

As we got in the car, I cranked the radio, rolled the windows down and headed toward the hospital. The ride was silent. Neither of us having much to say for once. Once I found a parking spot in the visitor’s section we both took a deep breath, not
quite knowing what to expect. Even though he was alive, it was going to be difficult for her to see him bedridden with tubes sticking out of him.

Recovery For Two

Liz

As Mandy and I made our way to the recovery unit, I hoped to run into one of my mother’s friends who could help get us past security and break the visitation rules. Scanning the area, I looked for a familiar face but didn’t see anyone.

“Oh, well, we’re just going to have to get past security,” I said.

“Don’t you know anyone?” Mandy asked.

“Nope, I don’t work here,” I said, sarcastically. “And I didn’t see anyone I might recognize who’s friends with my mom.”

“Gotcha. Well, I did my makeup really
good today if you need me to use
the flirt.”

“The flirt?” I laughed.

“Yeah, you know. The flirt. Where I get stupid boys to do almost anything I want just by being nice to them and giving them a smile.”

“Yeah, I get it. Boys are stupid. But what makes you think I can’t flirt my way past?” I asked her.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sure you could at a restaurant or something minor league like that, but this is the majors. When it comes to police or security, just let me handle business,” she said, straight- faced and smug.

“You’re unbelievable,” I said, shaking my head. “But fine, do your
thang, Eye Candy Mandy.”

We walked to the security desk, seeing no other way to get to the recovery section. There was one guard sitting at the desk, reading a newspaper. He looked to be in his
mid-40’s. Lowering his paper, he watched as we walked up to the desk.

“Visiting hours are not for another hour and a half, ladies.” He raised the newspaper back up to his face.

Mandy and I looked at each other.
Oh boy, this was going to be a challenge. There was no way she was going to be able to pull this off.

“All you,” I said, smirking and nodding my head at her.

She closed in on the desk. I saw her pull down her top down slightly and adjust her boobs
. I don’t know how she does this!
She gently placed her manicured hand over his newspaper and lowered it down.

“I know you have rules,” she said to him. “But my friend here has a boyfriend who was hurt real bad last night and it sure would mean a lot to me if you could let us go see him.”

“I can’t, ma’am,” the guard said. “I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” Mandy replied. I noticed her voice change to a more seductive tone.
Damn, she’s good.
“I don’t have a boyfriend, so I can do whatever or whomever I want.” She ran her tongue gently over her top lip and winked at me. “But I could only imagine how scared this poor girl is, not being able to see him in person since he got hurt." Leaning over the counter, she exposed her cleavage.

“Yeah, I understand
that,” the guard said, staring in awe at her fabulous rack. She leaned even further, practically pushing her boobs in his face, and reached her other hand out, sliding a finger down his cheek.

“So, you’ll do me this favor and let us in, right.” Mandy didn’t even say it as a question; she pretty much was telling him what he was going to do and with any hope he would.

“Yeah, of course,” the guard said, pressing the buzzer to unlock the doors. “Just this once, though. And if you get caught, you snuck in while I was in the bathroom.”

She grabbed my arm and pulled me away. The security guard was not the only one in awe. I couldn’t believe how she just controlled him like a marionette.

“Hey, I didn’t get your name, or number,” he called after us.

Mandy looked back at him. “It’s Lisa. Lisa Kane and I work here, so you don’t need my number.”

Turning down the hallway to the ICU, we burst out laughing.

“Mandy, when my mom starts getting harassed by this guy and then finds out why, she’s going to kill you.”

“Whatever, it’s worth it. That will be funny.”

We quickly found Brady’s room. Taking in a deep breath and trying to calm my nerves, I turned into the doorway. As I walked toward his bed, he looked better than I had anticipated. Thankfully, he had his breathing tube removed the night before because I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing him hooked up to a ventilator. The tough son of a bitch was awake and alert

He pulled himself into a sitting position to make room for me. “Hey, babe.”

“How are you, baby?” I said, shaking my head after realizing I sounded like Mandy. “I meant, well, you know what I mean. Are you in a lot of pain?”

“Sort of, but the painkillers help.”

I sat next to him and lightly wrapped my arms around him. He surprised me by pulling me into a crushing hug. I got a little emotional and had to keep pulling one arm out to wipe my tears away. Mandy found the visitor chair in the corner of the room and
sat and just watched us like we were a soap opera. I could even here her ‘awing’ when we’d talk. He kept staring at me like I was some sort of prized possession and put his hand on my cheek.

“I feel like I failed you, Liz,” Brady said. “You could be dead right now and it would be my fault.”

“Don’t you dare fucking say that,” I snapped at him. “You were stabbed because of me, Brady! You defended me and things would’ve been different if he didn’t have a knife. I saw how you left his face. I know.”

“Yeah, I know. I can’t help how I feel, though. I’m sure John wouldn’t have failed you,” he said sadly.

“Oh, hell, no,” Mandy chimed in from the corner.

“Shut it,” I said to her. “Listen, Brady, even the mighty John can be taken down by a gun or knife, so stop beating
yourself up.”

“I guess,” he reluctantly agreed.

“And John’s proud of you for what you did. He’s extremely thankful, too.”

Mandy got out of the chair and walked over. She sat on the other side of Brady.

“Can I see?” she said, in that voice again.

“Good lord, Mandy!” I snapped again. “Have you no shame?”

“No, I really don’t,” she answered bluntly.

“It’s a robe,” Brady said. “I can’t exactly pull it down, so the only way to see is pulling it up, and I don’t have anything on under this.”

“That’s okay.” Mandy slowly moved her hand towards his leg and the bottom of the robe.

“Line, Mandy. The line,” I said, smacking her hand away from my man.

“I know,” she laughed. “You know I’m playing.”

Before we knew it, Brady’s nurse came in to give him his dose of pain meds. “You know you girls aren’t supposed to be in here yet,” she gave us a stern look. “I’m not going to throw you out, but he really does need his rest.”

I tried getting out of the bed, but he held me with his one arm and I couldn’t leave just yet.

“Just a few more minutes.” He said as he started to zone.

After about fifteen minutes, he was really starting to fall asleep.

“We’re going to go so you can get your rest. You call me when you need anything, okay?”

“Okay, babe. Thanks for coming to see me.” He mumbled.

“The fact that you thanked me tells me you definitely need to rest.” I feathered his pillow behind his head and got him
comfortable. I gave him another hug and a long, hard kiss as we left him behind, already asleep. A few tears escaped as we walked away.

“Aw, sweetie,” Mandy comforted me. “You’re both going to need time to recover.”

“I told you I’m not hurt. It’s just a small cut on my leg,” I said.

“No, Liz. You have different wounds, the emotional kind. You still need to concentrate on yourself to heal.”

She was right. I did needed to accept everything that had happened and work through it. I think I’d rather trade the knife wound with Brady. His healing would be much quicker than mine.

We managed to dodge the guard on the way to the car. The sun was shining and it was perfect timing since the mall would be opening soon. We had two stores to hit to get what we needed to do the
big reveal for John. Even though I worked there, I wanted to avoid that place. I’m sure that by now, some of Mike’s friends were spreading around what happened, and I just didn’t need to deal with that kind of drama after the past few days. Fortunately, Mandy and I were both experts at navigating the mall. To us, shopping was a sport and we were proud players.

As soon as the car was in
park we put our game faces on. The timer was running because John was going to be calling in a few hours. Mandy headed to her designated store, and she sent me to Build-a-Bear. We met back in the second floor main entrance.

“Liz, I sent you down there for one specific item. One item,” Mandy said, pointing a finger in the air. “Why are you walking towards me with a large bag?”

“You sound like my boyfriend now!” I shouted across the crowd. I thought I could get a laugh or two, but nothing. People were just too self-absorbed and just downright unfriendly.

Opening the bag for Mandy to see, she shook her head. I showed her the not one, but stuffed two bears, each wearing full outfits. Of course, one was wearing the outfit she had asked me to get. She pulled out two cute
onesies and smiled.

“Can you believe he or she is going to fit in this?”

“I’m still trying to get used to the fact that you and my brother are going to be parents,” I said shaking my head.

We made our way to the exit, but not before making a pit stop at Twists for cinnamon-sugar pretzel bites. I called my mom on the ride home to see how things were at the house and update on Brady. In turn, she kept pressing me about Mandy, but I did my best to play stupid. Mandy needed a couple hours to get a hold of John before we let her know
, and I managed to get off the phone without letting on to anything.

When we finally got back to Mandy’s we started prepping for John to call. She texted him the importance of him using Skype to call her because she needed to show him something. I couldn’t wait to see his face. Since Mandy and I had this ball busting thing going on, I played it off earlier to make her sweat knowing he was going to be ecstatic.