Page 28 of Absolute Valor

I looked past her at Priscilla, the June Cleaver of southern parents. She raised three boys with a gentle soul and a powerful spirit. “I believe if the mother is able to stay home with the kids, she should as long as possible. At least until the children are of school age where they don’t need as much parental involvement. I like the idea of a warm house with dinner on the table, pressing pause on the world outside and coming together as a unit. Mom’s and dad’s being more than just team captains, but true role models of how we should treat one another, living every day the way they preach to their children.”

Claire’s smile is electric and when I turn back to the men in the pool, all eyes are on me, listening to the idle rambling of a poor girl with big dreams. She doesn’t wait for Dylan to invite her over, she takes the two steps and slides into the space between him and the edge of the pool.

“Momma?” Dylan calls. Priscilla slides her sunglass down her nose slightly as Dean motions for her to join him. “I wanna know how much it set the two of you back to have Miss Audrey made just for Chase?”

Everyone stayed quiet, looking between Chase and Dylan. “Shut up, Dylan. My Audrey is priceless.” Chase moved his sunglasses to the top of his head, his blue eyes intense against the color of the pool and the brightness of the sun. One look, a single gaze, and I know he really believes it, that I am something precious to him.

“C’mere, for a second,” he motions to me, patting his wet hand on the side of the pool, leaving a rough outline of his massive hand behind. “I need you down here with me, Audrey—” he pauses long enough to think for a half second. “What is your middle name, Sweetness?”

Rising from my chair, I make my way over to him. “I have two middle names, after my mother’s two best friends from school…Faith Lynn.” By the look on his and his brother’s faces, there has to be something wrong with having two middle names.

“Awe, Daddy, you always did look after the boys for me.” Priscilla says, her face turned toward heaven as she kisses the tips of her fingers, and then sends it off into the air above her. Dean pulls her close, whispering something only she is meant to hear, while she nods her head as he rubs her shoulders.

“Audrey Faith, will you please join me?” I go willing, more out of curiosity than anything else. Tucking my skirt around my legs, my feet and ankles are submerged under water. “Do I want to know why my middle name upset your momma?” I lean over to whisper into his ear.

Wrapping his arms around my thighs, pulling me forward until my legs are parted and practically straddling him. The chill of his skin from the water against my heated flesh, sends a shiver up my back and around to my belly.

“Granddaddy came to our house every day of our lives. He was at every game and graduation, he missed nothing. When it was time to have the important conversations every man has to sit through, he was right there as Daddy told us about life. When I made the decision to join the Marines, he pulled us all aside, filled our cups up with Hennessy and gave us these.” He fingered the corded band around his wrist, dark green and black cording intermingled to make a thick bracelet. In the center, sat a silver plaque with the word Faith in the center.

“He gave each of us one of these and said as long as we wore this, we would always have faith. He believed when you lost it, you lost a part of yourself.” His eyes remained fixed on the scratched surface of the metal. “He wished for each of us to find a good girl,” his eyes traveled up and locked with mine, “named Faith.” His eyes shifted back and forth as his smile grew on his face. Lips that look so soft and kissable, surrounded the straightest, whitest teeth I’d ever seen. “So, to answer your question, Sweetness, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your name.”

Golden tones color his skin, kissed by the sun, and decorated by ink from a skilled artists hand. Tiny droplets of water scurried a path down his pectoral and arm muscles, his hair wet from the swim he took to get to this side of the pool. His brown hair looked almost black, but not quite as dark as Austin’s. A tiny scar was visible under his left eye, circular in shape, and I wondered what could have cause the mark. My fingers move on their own, tracing the Marine insignia on his left peck, taking my time with each star above and below. “Why four?” I asked before I could pull it back.

“One for every man I’ve killed in combat.” The moment is heavy and my fingers want to pull away, but he places his cool hand over mine flattening my palm against his beating heart. “I fought a war I didn’t start, against men I never knew. The men I killed had never wronged me; that is why they have a place on my chest, near my heart.” I could feel the definition of his abdominal muscles flex as he moved closer to me, touching the skin of his stomach against the skin of my inner thigh. Being this close to him is more intimate than any act of sex I’d ever had. Having nothing between us, no barriers to divide and shield me from his touch, should terrify me, but the thought of the moment when he’ll back away, taking his gentle touch and soothing skin with him, causes the bile to bubble in my gut.

Just above where my thigh is pressed against the tight muscles of his ribs, is the word trust, written in elegant script. Just the single word, no symbols or clever anecdotes. I resist the urge to touch it, confirming the word is real, but I’m afraid of breaking the bubble and shattering this moment into a billion tiny pieces. “Trust is something we are forced to extend to our team mates. It’s the hardest thing for someone to earn from me, yet having my life in constant danger forces me to rely on the guy next to me. Now that I’m home, I can be more selective and place it where I want to, instead of where I need to.”

A waitress kneels down, asking if she can get us anything, it’s enough of a distraction to sever the electricity we had flowing between us. “Yes, Ma’am, a new one of these.” Chase taps the side of his empty beer, “and whatever this gorgeous creature wants.” Our waitress is wearing a white mini skirt and with the angle of her legs, I wouldn’t be surprised if she is trying to show off her assets.

“I would love a diet coke with a lime, please.” Chase smiles as he gives her his room number to charge our drinks to. Dylan and Austin have Lainie and Claire on their shoulders playing a pushing game. Chase smiles as he watches the girls laughing as one tries to push the other into the water.

“You know, I’ve never been one of those girls who buys into the fantasy of the larger than life war hero. Preparing to do anything to gain his attention, if only for a night or weekend, and then plunging into the deep end of the depression pool when he doesn’t call or return a text message.” He leans in as if my words are meant only for him. I’m being honest, giving him every opportunity to keep our relationship as it is; friends.

“I’ve never cared for the girl who spends more time trying to change the face in the mirror, instead of facing life, armed with a full set of brain cells, all of which get along and are useful.” His hand finds mine and he wraps his fingers around my much smaller ones, bringing them up to his mouth as he places a gentle kiss on top of my knuckles. “Listen, I know we agreed to eat dinner at a chain, but I did a search a minute ago, and the closest place is eighteen minutes away. By the time we get a car delivered and drive there, I could have taken you to one of the many restaurants here at the resort.”

I know this is a battle I’m not likely to win, but perhaps with the questions I have swirling around my head and no doubt his own, maybe a private place would be better. “Whatever you choose will be fine.” With the ease of an Olympic swimmer, he pulls himself out of the pool with one hand, water splashing against the tile and across the cement.

“Okay, I’m going to go shower this chlorine off me, you can stay here with the family or you can come with me to my room.” His offer is enticing, but I know if I go up to his room, it will mean something different for him than it does for me.

“Actually, I am going to choose plan C and have a quick look around this place. Maybe walk along the beach for a little bit.” He pulls me up to stand beside him, the weight of the water making his shorts cling to his muscular thighs.

“Audrey, will you do me a favor?” His eyes are pleading as his fingers find my elbow, sliding down to my fingers with the opposite hand. “Save the walk on the beach for after dinner, with me.” I nod in affirmation as he squeezes both of my hands as he turned and walked toward the hotels entrance.

The resort was a shopper’s wet dream, with all the big names present and accounted for. I chose to stick to perusing the windows, admiring the handbags, scarves, and jewelry from my spot in the main hall. When I passed by the spa, I took a quick look at the lotions and salt crystals they had for people to sample. One particular scent reminded me of grass after being freshly cut. It left my hands feeling soft and smooth, but the price tag made my eyes bulge.

Chase was the brand of guy who took care of his appearance, still I was willing to bet he would be showered and dressed in less than half an hour. As I rounded the corner near the elevator bank, the doors opened and he stepped out, dressed in jeans and a button up shirt. “Well, imagine meeting you here.” He teased as he crossed the marble floor and placed a single kiss to my cheek. His proximity circles me in a wave of his cologne, something he didn’t wear every day, but when he did, it makes a person stand and take notice.

We walked slowly to the restaurant, passing many of the shops I’d admired in my walk about. Chase stopped at two different shops when he saw something that caught his eye. He purchased a beautiful purple scarf for Priscilla, admitting she is impossible to buy a gift for. Then he saw a silver picture frame, with a matching perfume decanter. I’d never admit this, but I had looked at it as well. I was fascinated at how the light danced off the metal, casting rays of light on the table below. He signed for all of his purchases, had them sent to his room, and then apologized for making me wait so long for him.

The restaurant he chose wasn’t what I expected. With its white washed interior and casual atmosphere, it was the perfect place to enjoy a burger and fries. Chase had reserved a table near the window and I could see the rows of cabanas along the beach. As the waiter took our drink orders, Chase rested his forearms against his chest on the table. “I have something to confess.” His blue eyes were full of worry. “Do you see the cabana there on the end?” He pointed to the one closest to us.

I followed the direction of his finger. “Yes,” I responded as I turned back to him.

“Well, we came here so Austin could ask Lainie to marry him.” My eyes went wide as I turned back to the white cabana. “He plans to propose tonight and marry her in the morning.”

Looking back at him, I double-checked to see if he was serious. “But they just got together. Isn’t this a little soon?”

Chase wrinkled up his chin, tossing his head from side to side. “Perhaps to some, but not to a man who knows what he wants and is willing to take a leap of faith that she feels the same.” Something told me his answer had nothing to do with Austin or Lainie, and everything to do with the couple who were currently sitting across from each other.

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