Chapter18
Garrison
The sermon hit home after another night riddled with terrifying nightmares that had me up in a cold sweat more than once.I was sitting on a boat in the middle of a furious ocean.Each angry wave that slammed into the boat brought about a memory.
Of the times my parents were so high they forgot I existed.
Or worse, when they remembered.
Of the night I found them, wide-eyed and pale, cold as the tile they were lying on.
Of my first time in combat.
Of my last.
One after the other, they hit me, harsh reminders of all I’ve lived through.
But just as it always does, dawn broke.
The sun rose.
And God is still good.
Beside me, Katelyn wears a beautiful blue dress that shows off her curves and incredibly long legs.She’s styled her hair in loose waves and dusted some color across her eyelids.
She’s stunning, and the battle to keep my gaze off her has been a fight that I keep losing.What am I supposed to do from here?Because remaining just friends feels like a mission I’m going to fail.Will I lose her when I do?
“May God’s peace be with you all,” Pastor Daniel Reeves announces as he smiles out at us.
Where moments ago, the church was silent, now it’s full of chatter.Happy voices as people get to their feet and make their way toward the exit.I stand, reaching down to offer Katelyn a hand as I do.
Since, thanks to my sleepless night, we were nearly late this morning, we’re seated toward the back of the church.
“That was excellent,” Katelyn says as she beams up at me.“I can’t believe I haven’t made an effort to get here before today.”She closes her eyes and draws a deep breath before opening them again.“I feel so full right now.”
“Me, too.”I smile down at her, and for a moment, the rest of the world fades away.Lord, what am I doing here?
“Garrison, Katelyn!It is so good to see you.”
We both turn at Linda’s greeting.She pulls Katelyn in for a hug first.
“It’s so good to see you, too, Mrs.Knox.”
“Please, honey, call me Momma Knox.This is my friend Marlene.”She smiles kindly as she tugs an older woman up to her side.
Marlene’s brown eyes crinkle at the corners when she takes Katelyn’s hand.“It is so good to meet you.Linda speaks very highly of you and your son.”She glances up curiously at me.“I have to say, I’m quite impressed you managed to catch this one.He’s been dodging my set-up attempts for years now.”
Even as heat spreads along the back of my neck, embarrassment coloring my cheeks, I force a smile and try to play it off.“You mean all those blind dates you keep trying to set me up on?I told you, Marlene, you should have just asked me yourself.”I wink at her, and she throws her head back, a throaty laugh erupting from her.
“Please, we all know I am not afraid to put myself out there.”Someone calls her name, so she glances over, then returns her attention to us.“I need to catch her before she leaves.It was great meeting you, Katelyn.Garrison,” she adds with a purr and a wink, then walks off laughing.
“You just made her day,” Linda tells me.
“Good.She’s a nice lady.”
“The nicest,” she replies.
“Nah, Momma Knox, I think you take that one,” I tell her.