Page 16 of Luck Be Mine
Afghanistan. The airman had been assigned to her transport detail,and he’d snagged her attention. A young man, not even twenty, she’d admired his clean-cut face, his polished military look, and his concentration. The explosion had ripped through him, disintegrating his body. Cait saw it but hit the health center brick wall with the force of a speedingHumvee. How did she remember that moment so clearly when others were fractured?
Here he was in his last moment. She’d drawn him with the same focus, same spit and polish, same discipline in his posture.In memoriam.
Tears should flow, but the hurt swelled, creeping into every corner of her mind, her body, herspirit, and the sorrow jammed in her chest. One more thing too heavy to carry.
Phone propped beside her, she hit the button to video call Jackie.
Jackie’s smiling face popped onto the phone screen. “Finally, we can talk.” She peered closer at her face.
Cait’s struggled against the tears and cleared her throat, but she could never fake things with Jackie.
“Honey, are you okay?”
“Bad memories. Really bad ones. It sucks. I need some grounding.” She dropped the drawing pad off the bed. “Hunt’s back at work. For once, he didn’t ask anyone to come sit with me. Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming.”
“He’s worried still. It’s going to be a long time for both of us before we can relax. I fight wanting to call you every hour. The only thing stopping me is I figure you’re sleeping or should be.”
“Physical therapy is kicking my ass. The hip is improving, but I need a new assessment of my shoulder and arm. The headaches are killing me, too.”
“It’s only been ten weeks since the injury. These things take time. Especially with as hurt as you are.”
“I can’t exist here. I can’t. I have to push forward if I’m going to recover. I have to.”
“I’m not arguing the goal. But we are all more worried about the healing for your arm, shoulder, and brain. You’ll get squared away. Don’t push it. It’ll be a bad mistake.”
Cait stifled a sigh. Jackie wasn’t wrong, but there was nothing normal about lying in bed all day with minimal movement. Yes, her body still hurt. Yes, sleep was necessary. But she needed stamina too, and it was being sapped away by mending bones. The inactivity wasn’t helping the dreams either.
“How are the headaches?”
“Easing a bit but striking when I least expect it.” She shifted aside the pillow, turned sideways to the screen, and balanced on the edge of the bed. Jackie grinned at her.
“Yay! Good for you!”
“We’re cheering for sitting? I can walk to the bathroom.”
Jackie grinned. “Any progress is good progress.”
“Now if I could walk without limping and holding on to furniture.”
Jackie shook her head, but her amused grin faded into a serious, worried face. “This is tough. I wish I could take some of this away. But I can’t.”
Cait shoved her unruly hair away from her face. “I’m whining because I can. I try not to when Hunt’s around. He’s already doing so much.”
“You can call and whine to me any time.”
A strong knock sounded on the front door.
Cait stared through the bedroom door to the entry and counted the steps in her head. Oh Lord, here she was complaining when she froze at answering the front door.
“I gotta go, Jackie. Somebody’s at the door.”
“Take it slow and easy and text me. Don’t overdo. Naps are okay.”
She was tempted to say she wasn’t five, but she remembered waking up in the hospital and seeing the devastated panic on Jackie’s face. “Yes, Doctor, I will. Watch it be a magazine salesperson.”
“Better not be.”
“Later.” She disconnected and grabbed her crutch, her stomach tumbling with nerves.
