“Sure do. How are you, Headcap?”
“Fine, sir.”
“By your dress and your face, I know you are on a windup. Jessie, baby girl, Troy has some important questions for you.”
“Jessie, before I ask you, are you comfortable? Pain is under control?” Troy worried.
“Yes, sir. I met Gwen today. She helped me too.” Jessie smiled.
“I’m happy to hear that. I know this is hard. You’d been training at Twentynine Palms for a week before you were attacked. I have as detailed a map as possible. Are you able to point out the location where you were first attacked?” He lay out the map.
“We were here. The evac tent was here, and the helipad was here.” She pointed.
“Great job. Now, do you know where you were carried to?” Troy forced down his desire to push her, keeping his tone warm and understanding.
She closed her eyes as tears dripped down her cheeks.
“Jessie, I promise, it’s a bad memory. When I get back, we’re going to share a meal and talk, but I really need your help right now.”
Unexpectedly, she opened her eyes and grabbed for Troy’s hand. “Don’t let go.”
“I’m right here.” Troy interlocked his fingers with hers.
“It was windy. Dirt was swirling around. I see it; it’s an old building. Paint is crumbling. Blue paint. The door is blue. I can’t read the number. It’s like into the hill. He carries me inside. The barrages are to the south. Not so scary anymore, the helo, it was a big one. The roof felt like it was going to fly off.” She opened her eyes.
“You did amazing.” Troy smiled.
“Did I help?” she asked in a tiny voice.
“You did. We are all proud of you.” He released her hand. “I want you to have Mom or Dad go downstairs and get you something to celebrate with. They have a lot of fun edible things. I need to go, but I’ll see you soon. Ma’am, Commander, tell them account 8872. Get whatever you want.” Troy and Trask headed into the corridor.
Chapter 39
Gwen floated in a dream state, past and present melding. “Will, I want to go home.” Her head lolled against Kip’s side. She didn’t realize he was alert beside her.
“We’ll be home soon, Gwenny,” Will said as his phone vibrated in his pocket. “Yeah. I’ve got her. I’ve got her XO too. Tell Mitch I’m gonna need some stitches. She’s putting things together. We’ll be there soon; we’re about ten minutes out. I figure we can give her one last go before she and her XO get caught in a live ammunition exercise.”
Will’s callous tone drew a response from Gwen. “Will, why are you so mean?” She felt Kip stiffen and his palm against the side of her thigh.
“Gwenny, I’m only mean to people who deserve it. And you deserve it,” Will huffed.
“You keep saying that, but I don’t understand?” Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.
“You were always dense. I thought you’d be a great officer’s wife. Beautiful to look at, and best suited for a cock between your lips or up your ass. But then you told people you were going to end our engagement. You were punished severely for that, remember? That stupid doctor gave you help. Told you about Eventide Harbor.”
Her brows crunched. “You knew?”
“Shit, Gwenny, still stupid. Of course I knew.”
“You had me almost killed because I was going to break up with you?” She was growing more alert.
“No, if I thought you’d really do it, you’d have killed yourself. Well, it would have looked that way. No, you had the pin. And by the time I figured it out, you’d boarded the C-130. It wasn’t like I could put out a warrant and have you brought home.”
As she looked at the mountains, the memory bombarded her. “Oh god, the club Serenade. The bridal shower.”
The lights danced with the music. The club smelled of sweat from the dancers on the floor, mixed with cologne and perfume. It was Will’s night out with friends. Gwen seized the opportunity to attend one of her friend’s bridal shower, never expecting to be at the same place as Will and his friends.
“There you go,” Will snickered.