Page 78 of Love Story
The door opened, but before Andi could run to him she took a step back.
The man at the door wasn’t Cody.
“Can I help you?” He waited.
Andi shook her head. “I’m... I’m sorry. I’m looking for Cody Coleman.”
“Oh.” The guy was in his thirties, maybe. Balding with glasses. “I worked with him at Oaks Christian. I’m staying here through the end of his lease.”
Knots began to form in Andi’s stomach. “The... end of his lease?” She tried to make sense of what was happening. If Cody wasn’t here, then... “Where is he?”
“He moved.” The man’s expression grew more serious, like he was just understanding the situation. “You’re a friend of his... I thought you must know.”
“I didn’t hear.” Andi felt like she was floating above herself. This was a nightmare, that’s what it was. It had to be. She forced herself to focus. “Where did he go?”
“He took a job in Montana. Left last week.” The man shrugged. “Sorry I don’t have more details.” He hesitated and then seemed to get an idea. “His mother still lives in town. She might know.”
His mother! Yes, that was it! Andi knew exactly where Cody’s mother lived. She smiled at the stranger in Cody’s doorway as she backed away from the porch. “Good idea. Thank you.” She waved and like that she was down the path and back in her car.
She was at Cody’s mother’s doorstep five minutes later. As soon as the woman opened the door, Andi didn’t hesitate. “Mrs. Coleman!”
“Andi.” Cami Coleman looked shocked to see her. “What in the world...?”
They shared a quick hug. Andi didn’t have time to wait. She needed answers. Now. She searched the woman’s face. “I made a terrible mistake. Cody came to find me in Louisiana and I sent him away.”
A knowing look came over his mother’s face. “I heard about it.” There was no accusation in her tone, no finger-pointing. Just a sadness that reflected the way Andi felt. “Cody told me. You didn’t get to hear his story, his explanation.”
“No.” Andi felt terrible. What had she been thinking, not to at least hear him out? Especially when she still loved him so much?
“Come in, Andi.” Mrs. Coleman stepped to the side. “I’ll pour us some coffee.”
“I’d love to, but...” She looked back at her rental car. “My puppy’s sleeping, and I need to get to Cody. As fast as I can.”
The woman nodded. “Let me get the address. For the school in Montana. It’s a ranch for boys with severe emotional issues.”
Andi wasn’t surprised. It sounded like exactly the type of place Cody would be drawn to work. Her heart surged with hope. She was about to have an address! A quick drive back to the airport and she’d be on the next open flight to Montana. Even if it cost her half a month’s salary to get there.
Mrs. Coleman returned and handed her a slip of paper. “Here you go.”
Every minute counted, but suddenly Andi hesitated. She looked into the woman’s eyes. “Cody will tell me the details later, but... what was the reason? Why did he act so distant after we got engaged last time?”
For a moment it looked like Mrs. Coleman wasn’t going to say anything. She started to shake her head, and then she caught herself. “He can tell you more. But I’ll tell you this.” She hesitated. “It was hisPTSD, Andi. He had terrible episodes after your second engagement.”
Andi felt her heart fall to the ground. Cody was suffering fromPTSDthat badly and he never said anything. “Why?” Tears welled in her eyes and her voice fell to a whisper. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
Cody’s mother had tears in her eyes, too. She smiled through them. “He didn’t want to burden you.”
In a single instant the entire situation made sense. Andi hugged the woman once more. “Pray for us. That I get to him as soon as possible.” She drew back and looked into the woman’s eyes. “And that he’ll forgive me for taking so long to figure it out.”
“I’ll pray.” Mrs. Coleman hugged her again. “Go. Cody’s waiting for you.”
All the way to the airport Andi thought about what his mother had said. Cody hadn’t wanted to burden her. Of course that was it. Just like Bailey had told her, Cody would lay down his life for someone he loved.
Especially Andi.
She knew enough aboutPTSDto know it would be part of Cody’s life forever. If he took her back, then she had to know that there could always be times when the nightmares would return, when something would trigger his memories of Afghanistan and he’d start looking for snipers in every corner of a room.
If only he would let her help him through those times, everything would be okay. They would pray for God’s mercy and rely on His strength and they would get through any episode.
