Page 53 of Perfect Chemistry

My brain didn’t understand what was going on. “Did our chock get moved up, Sergeant Major? Shit, I am so sorry. I have been on the phone with my best friend. I didn’t even realize the unit was trying to contact-”

My words dropped off. The two men before me were in their Alphas, hats in their hands. The Sergeant Major who had been talking to me, watched my face, recognition slowly dawning on me. The second marine beside him was a Major, a chaplain more specifically.

“Staff Sergeant Johnson, may we come in for this?” the Sergeant Major asked.

I don’t remember walking into my apartment or sitting on the sofa.

“The Commandant of the Marine Corps has entrusted me to express his deep regret that your husband, Tyson Johnson died in Kazkheli, Turkey on 13 February. Gunnery Sergeant Johnson’s platoon was helping a family free three trapped children from a partially collapsed structure. An aftershock caused the building to collapse as they were about to exit to safety. Gunnery Sergeant Johnson pushed his marines and the civilians from harm’s way, but sustained fatal injuries when the structure collapsed behind him. The commandant extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss.”

I sat staring at my phone. “No, I just talked to him. We talked yesterday. He’s going to call any minute.”

“Katie, is there anyone we can call for you?” the chaplain asked, seated beside me on the sofa.

“I -” my voice choked.

The Sergeant Major said something to the Chaplain and left the apartment. “Katie, I know this is a lot. Sergeant Major Gray is going out to meet with Master Gunnery Marie Gonzalez. She’s going to be your CAO. Is it ok if she comes in and talks with us?” he asked calmly.

“I-” my words stopped as a realization dawned on me. “Oh my god! Ty’s parents! They don’t even know we got married! Have you told them? Do they know?”

I was shaking and as my mind reeled with the thought of his parents finding out that not only had their son died, but he was married to a woman they knew nothing about.

I heard more voices talking, but I couldn’t hear them. My ears were ringing.

“Katie?”

Andie. I heard Andie’s voice, and my knees buckled. She was here. The Marines were still in my apartment. I wasn’t dreaming. My heart shattered and the most gut wrenching wail left my body. “No. No. God, no.”

I sobbed in a ball on the floor. My soulmate. The love of my life was gone. Tyson left me alone. Everything around me ceased to exist in my sorrow. My chest felt tight, and I couldn’t breathe.

“I - I - I…. No,” I stuttered repeatedly as arms wrapped around me. “No. Not Ty, Andie.”

I don’t know how long I lay in Andie’s arms sobbing. At some point the Sergeant Major and the Chaplain left, and it was just Andie and this Master Gunnery Sergeant assigned as the casualty assistance officer to a widow.

I started to retch, but I couldn’t move from the ball I made on the floor. Andie pulled my hair back and a small waste basket was put in front of me as I retched again and threw up stomach bile.

“I’ve got you. I’m not leaving you, Katiedid,” Andie’s voice cooed as she continued rubbing my back.

When the retching turned dry-heaving finally stopped, I collapsed on the floor. He was my sun. Without him I would wither and die. If Tyson wasn’t in this world, I didn’t want to live it in either.

Chapter 19

Kai’s Point of View

I demonstrated the stretching motion for the patient in front of me. “Just like that, Grace,” I encouraged her.

Grace rewarded me with a million dollar smile. She was by far one of my favorite patients since I started working with this clinic.

“I need a new therapist!” she exclaimed, continuing to repeat the stretching motions with the pulleys. “I can’t concentrate with your flirting and strutting in front of me.”

I barked out a laugh. I loved this woman. Grace was almost 90, and just as sharp as any one I knew at my own age. She was recovering like a champ from an accident that limited the mobility of her shoulder.

“Grace, I think you have that all wrong!” I chuckled. “These men are going crazy in here with you doing all these Jane Fonda poses.”

Grace peeked at several of the older men working through their own therapy sessions. She nodded slightly, “Can’t seem too available. I have to make them work for it, you know.”

She changed arms and then whispered quietly, “If they think a young stud like you has my eye, they’ll try harder to impress me.”

I staggered back with my hand on my heart like she had just wounded me. “Are you using me, Grace?”

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