Page 21 of Signed, SEALed, Delivered

The pain medicine had begun to wear off by the time I shutdown my laptop. I had some oral meds the Captain prescribed for me, so I popped two in my mouth and closed my eyes drifting off to sleep.

***

My arm was on fire when I woke the next day, forcing me to stop by medical, they gave me more painkillers and even added an antibiotic to the mix. I hated taking pills, but you never know what kind of shit was growing on the blade of a knife. My appetite was barely there but I knew I had to eat in order to take the pain meds and antibiotic. Once I forced some food down, I headed back to my cot to check my email.

To: Michaels. Zach, L.T.

From: CupCakeCutie

CC:

Subject: I'm brilliant!

Zach,

I did get in contact with my realtor friend, Diane. She just got a listing for an existing tattoo shop. She faxed me the details and it sounded really good on paper. She did tell me she had a guy coming to look at it, so since she was going to be there anyway I made an appointment.

When I got there, the guy was just pulling up. He was so handsome, I nearly fell out of my car, except a really pretty girl got out of the passenger seat. He walked over to where Diane and I were standing and introduced himself. I was so enamored with him I couldn't look away. He introduced himself and the girl. I wanted to hate her, but when she shook my hand, she was so nice and polite. Thank God the girl turned out to be his sister, not his wife or girlfriend. Diane let us both have a look at the building and I have to tell you it's perfect. It has everything you need. The guy is selling everything—equipment, chairs, ink, you name it. I told Diane we were definitely interested, but she had to see if the other guy wanted it since he responded first. Diane gave him twenty-four hours to decide what he wants.

But the best part is, I got his number and we're having dinner tomorrow night. Now, before you wig out about me falling in love with him and getting hurt, Zane already had him checked out and Jason Forrester is an honorable man. Mom says she knows his mother from one of her charities, and dad has met his father for a business matter. So you can breathe and just worry about getting this building.

Love you!

Savannah

The similarities were too great to ignore. The burning in my gut was much more than the side effect of my recent dose of medication. Could our lives be that intertwined? Could Savannah’s Jason and Kennedy's brother be the same person?

"Lieutenant!" My rank being shouted caused me to automatically look away from my email to Savannah.

"Don't waste your time trying to send out an email, we’re now in River City."

My answer was automatic and edged, "Who died?"With modern technology comes great benefits, and even greater challenges. A few years ago, a fallen soldier's family discovered his death by a message found on his Facebook page. Since then, an automatic shutdown of all communication happened until the family was notified.

“A new boot, Correra.”Sadly I knew the name, the young man Reaper had messed with as we waited for the medical convoy to arrive. He had been cocky, stomping off when Reaper tried to help him grow thicker skin.

You never had to question when communication was restored, the common areas emptied out and the noise levels were near zero. I knew if I tried to log onto my computer, it would take forever to get enough bandwidth to open my email. Talking to my sister was worth the amount of money it would cost for me to call her. Doing a quick calculation of the time back home, I pulled out my cell and dialed the number that could set my mind at ease.

"Hello?" Her voice was slightly broken up by laughter, but the delight in her voice caused me to smile along with her.

"Savannah? It's your brother."

"Oh, my God, Zach!" Her excitement increased tenfold, the octave in her voice rose to painful levels in typical Savannah fashion, and she began to babble about what was going on around her.

"Do you know what happened? Of course you don't know, you're in another country. Well, let me tell you!" She emphasized each word as her jubilance grew. "I tried to send you an email, but it came back with that crazy message. You know, the one when they turn off your Internet? Anyway, I went ahead and had a meeting with Diane, who told me Jason..." It didn't go unnoticed the way she said his name. Something was going on there. "...Wanted the shop, but was only interested in renting because his father found out he doesn't want to be an attorney and has cut him off. Thank God for his little sister. Oh, you would just love his sister, Kennedy, she’s so pretty and she just graduated, but her mother is being so silly by not letting her ride her horse. Can you believe that, Zach? Not letting her ride her own horse!”

Savannah was the type of person to get excited over a dental exam. When she was little, mom was concerned she had some sort of mental condition, so she insisted my father take her to a neurologist. My father tried explaining nothing was wrong with her mentally, she was thinking so quickly her mouth couldn't keep up. The pediatric neurologist confirmed what my father had said, and emphasized to my mother to let Savannah get her words out and not to encourage her to slow down. Over the years I have gotten used to the speed in which she does everything, I sit back and absorb.

"You got me that scarf, the one Lauren spilled her drink on. Oh, wasn't that a day! I had to leave the party and have daddy drive me because the stupid cow got her drink on my key fob and it wouldn't start my car.”Her ability to branch off her main subject was rather annoying, but completely a part of who she is.

"But the guy at the dealership got me a new one and then Zane got my car. Oh, I'm sorry Zach; we were talking about Ms. Diane and my Jason. Well, aren't you in luck as we’re having lunch at my shop, which is a half a block from your new shop. I went ahead and bought it using the paper thingy like you said to do and in three weeks, you’ll have the keys to the shop. Jason's sister, Kennedy, gave him her savings to help him out, isn't that so sweet? Not that I wouldn't give you my money if you needed it, but she is just so nice and I am hoping to introduce her to someone. She’s too pretty to be without a boyfriend, and I have decided to help her get one."

I couldn't explain the feeling I got when I heard my sister's admission. I should have been worried she had just bought a shop with my name and money attached to it, but the real reason for my discomfort was the likelihood Savannah would indeed find a guy for Kennedy. Granted this may not be the same Kennedy as the one I have been introduced to recently, but the fear is there.

"Savannah, did you say you're having lunch with someone?" If Savannah's Jason was Kennedy's brother, then I might have more success talking with him than Savannah. Besides, it would seem I have a business partner I needed to get acquainted with.

"I'm having a celebratory lunch with Jason. I invited Kennedy to join us, since his mother and father are being so difficult, but she’s at a job interview. Oh, Zach, she wants to work with horses, just like Aunt Ella. You remember when Daddy got me the red pony when I was five and he tried to jump over the fence and hurt his leg. Aunt Ella called the doctor to fix him. ”Now I was almost certain the Kennedy who had been writing me and the Kennedy who was now my sister's project, were one in the same.

"Savannah, hand the phone to Jason, please."

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