Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“You’re…”
She rubbed her very swollen belly and smiled. “Eight months along. John got leave to come home for our son’s first day of kindergarten. It happened then.”
I closed my eyes. “I had no idea.”
“How could you? I hadn’t even told John yet. I had so many complications with my first pregnancy and wound up bedridden for four months. John was such a worry-wart, and I didn’t want him to not be focused while he was where he was, so I didn’t tell him. He was supposed to be discharged when I was six months along, so I figured he’d come home to a big surprise.”
I swallowed.
Bridget stepped back and waved me in. “Well, come on in.”
I panicked and thumbed behind me. “Actually, could I…finish mowing the lawn for you?”
“Sergeant Langston, I can’t let you do that, even if it does take me all day to get through it.”
“It’s Jagger. I’m not a marine anymore, so no need for the honorific.”
She smiled. “My husband would disagree. He always said, Once a marine, always a marine.”
I looked back at the lawn. “I’d really like to mow, if it’s okay with you.”
She shrugged. “I’m not going to stop you.”
I extended the box in my hand. “These are the things we spoke about on the phone.”
Bridget took the box, and I took my time mowing the rest of Sergeant John Nelson’s lawn. It was hot as hell today, but I didn’t mind one bit. After, I put the mower back in the garage, and then I couldn’t avoid his wife or going inside his house anymore.
Bridget opened the door with a tall glass of lemonade in her hand. “For you.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
The contents of the box I’d brought were laid out all over the table—things I’d won over the last few years of playing cards. Most of it was stupid—a belt, a cell phone charger, one left sneaker, a toothbrush, a piece of paper with his Netflix password. But there was also a leather wallet I thought she might actually want to keep. Bridget lifted the sneaker. “I wondered why there was only one when they shipped home John’s things.”
I smiled. “I figured maybe the belt and wallet might be nice to have.”
She picked up two small photos I’d never seen before and held them out to me. “These were inside his wallet.”
One was a photo of me and Nelson with our arms around each other. I swallowed. “We took this the night we finished basic training.”
She gestured to it. “Turn it over.”
I recognized John’s chicken-scratch handwriting. Lucas, if I’m ever not around and you need something, call this guy. My phone number was listed after.
Jesus Christ. There was a sting behind my eyes.
Bridget patted my hand. “You meant a lot to him.”
“He meant a lot to me, too.”
The second picture was of their son, Lucas. He had on his dad’s helmet, which was five sizes too big for his little head, a diaper, and a smile.
Bridget pointed to the refrigerator. “That’s one of my favorite pictures of Lucas. He looks just like his daddy. John had me make a copy to take with him.”
“Would it…be all right if I kept it?” I asked. I wasn’t even sure why I wanted it or what I would do with it.
Bridget smiled. “I’d like that. Would you like the photo of you and John, too?”
“No. That’s for Lucas. You tell him to use the number on the back if he ever needs anything. Same goes for you, Bridget.”
“Thank you, Jagger.” She kissed my cheek. “You take care of yourself.”
CHAPTER 35
* * *
Sutton
By the following week, Jagger had completely stopped answering my texts. His security guys were still guarding my building like it was Fort Knox, but I was losing sleep trying to make sense of everything. I knew he was busy and going through a lot, but I could no longer justify the way he was treating me. And I planned to tell him that today at our weekly mentor meeting.
Ten minutes before we were to get together, I went to the ladies’ room to freshen up. I’d intentionally worn blue, Jagger’s favorite color and one he’d told me more than once he liked me in. The dress also happened to be the same exact shade as the center stone on the choker he’d given me. I lined my lips in the mirror and put on a fresh coat of lipstick before taking a deep breath. It didn’t do much to calm my nerves, but at least I looked good. As I went to the bathroom door, my phone chimed with an incoming email. My stomach had already been nervous, but it knotted seeing the message was from Jagger’s assistant. Another meeting cancellation? Not five minutes before the start time! I shook my head. No, just no. He was not avoiding me again today.