Page 9 of The Soldier's Final Mission

The rest of the afternoon and eveningconsisted of Becca cleaning and cooking while Riley had napped and silentlyplayed in his room. Once they had each showered and had dinner, she redressedRiley’s arm after smearing it with cream. Becca then settled him into bed wherethey began their nightly ritual of her reading to him before he fell asleep.

Thoughts of Bob suddenly came to mind. Afterall these years, here he was. What had his life been like? How did he get thosescars? And the limp? Was he still enlisted? “Obviously, if he waswearin’ the uniform,” she said to herself. Made her want tocall Tessa, but with the time difference, she didn’t want to bother her friendthis late. And given that it’d been some time since the two had even contactedone another, she wasn’t even sure how her call would be received.

“Oh, crap! I didn’t even call Patrick. Guessone more day won’t hurt.”

Becca cleared her thoughts of her ex andstarted some relaxing yoga poses. Try as she might, she couldn’t get Bob out ofher head. And why would she want to? He had been the object of her affection—evenif it had been one-sided—for many years. Logically, she had understood Bobtelling her she shouldn’t wait, that she should make a life for herself becausehe just couldn’t offer her one. And sure, she’d been devastated, but she’d alsobeen hardheaded in thinking there may have still been a chance.

When it was clearly evident that thechance would never be, she took off to make a life for herself in California. Butshe still couldn’t remove the man from her heart. When there’d been no contactbetween her and Bob and no hints from Tessa as to whether he even mentionedher, she figured she might as well get on with her life.

Meeting Patrick had been a gooddistraction at first. They had been introduced by mutual friends at afundraiser she happened to attend. He’d been charming, smart, and fun. Marriageseemed like the next step in her life, Patrick’s as well. But then the fun onlywent so far. His life revolved around work. When she found out she was pregnantwith Riley, she thought that would change things for the better. Wrong again. Peoplewho say they stayed together for the sake of the children had it all wrong. Theirkids would love them more knowing they lived truthfully.

Could Bob showing up mean a second chance?

She laughed and snorted.As if, she thought.He’s just being friendly for old time’s sake. Just enjoy breakfast andsee what happens.

Once again she tried clearing her mind asshe went through her nightly routine.

****

Bob sat in the darkened room at the DaysInn. His friend, Leroy, had offered him a room at his home, but Bob declined,not wanting to burden him and his family.

“Hell, man, you’re no burden and you knowthat. You’re always welcome in our home.”

“And I appreciate it, but I need somespace right now.”

“You better call if you need anything.”

“I will, thanks.”

After saying good night to Leroy earlier,Bob retreated to his room. Since the mission six months earlier that left himscarred and limping, he spent too much time alone. At least according to histherapist. Goddamned head-tinkers. Yeah, he knew the therapy was helping, andit wasn’t a show of weakness to talk to a counselor about his problems. He justnever thought he’d be one of the guys that would need the help.

Bob was lucky enough that the serviceswere being offered instead of being brushed aside and forgotten, as too oftenhappened in the past. The Armed Forces were realizing that the soldiers killedin the field weren’t the only casualties. The ones that came home and had toresume a so-called normal life after the shit they went through, they werecasualties, too. And their families.

They had to live with the trauma, thescars—whether they were physical, mental, or emotional—they were still there.

Bob thought of his team and that fatefulmission. Raul and Garrett killed. Mack, who ended up losing both his legs, tookan honorable discharge. He went home to Boston to run his dad’s business. Jake’sshoulder healed well enough, but he still couldn’t meet the physical needs forany further missions. He went on to become a weapons instructor. And Scotty,some thought the luckiest of them all, suffered only minor abrasions on hisbody. But his mind, well, he wasn’t having quite the positive attitude towardthe counselors that Bob was. Bob made a point to check in with Scotty weekly toensure he was on track with his therapy and his healing.

Thoughts of Becca came to mind. Seeing herearlier hadn’t been a shock really. After all, he had planned to seek her out. Hejust didn’t expect to see her exiting the hospital with her adorable son in herarms. He thought it to be her, and when he looked back and saw the tattoo onher lovely exposed neck, he had to react.

She was one of the main reasons he was inSan Diego. That, and a job possibility as a civilian tech consultant. Yeah, Bobwas a techy, and a brilliant one at that. He was entertaining the idea of hisseparation from the Army, and like Becca’s thoughts years ago, maybe a changeof scenery was in order. He’d always have a connection with his brothers-in-arms,only it would no longer be in the field.

Bob thought of his daughter, Mackenzie,back in North Carolina. He’d become a big part of her life in the last fewmonths. He’d had to because of her mom dying of a drug overdose after Bobreturned from the last mission. She’d had hopes of a reunion with him, butafter learning of his injuries and thinking he wasn’t going to come out of thecoma he was in, she couldn’t face her responsibilities. She fought a downhillbattle for years, and that had pushed her over the edge. Mackenzie had beenstaying with her grandma more than her own mom.

Bob made sure that would change. Thegrandma knew of her daughter’s struggles, and the only help she was able tooffer had been to take care of Mackenzie. But she was elderly with concerns ofher own, and as much as she loved her granddaughter, she was glad Bob was thereto take her.

Bob had considered bringing her on thistrip but didn’t want to get her hopes up if it didn’t pan out. He talked to herabout the possibility of relocating to California, and she was beyond excited. Hethought she’d be scared or wary, not wanting to leave her grandma or herfriends, but the idea of living by the beach where it didn’t snow sounded muchmore appealing.

One hurdle cleared.

But what if Becca wanted nothing to dowith him? Could he even consider relocating, knowing she was here butunobtainable?

Her quick acceptance of breakfast wasencouraging. She’d have shot him down if she didn’t want anything to do withhim, right?

Bob was driving himself crazy with allthese thoughts. He was hoping there were still lingering feelings on her partafter all these years. Sure, it sounded like a long shot, but he had to try. Hehad to see if he could make amends for his fuck-up all those years ago, nomatter how unlikely it may seem.

He made the decision to not wait untilmorning. It was eight in the evening. Bob had to see Becca now.

****

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