Page 32 of SEAL's Spitfire
Lizzie nodded and went back out the bedroom door. Meghan got up and washed. Then grabbed her laptop and phone and headed downstairs. Lizzie wasn’t going to like her plan, not even a little bit.
By the time she’d gotten down to the kitchen, Lizzie had a whole meal laid out for her. Beef stew, salad, fresh rolls. Her sister really was just like her mom. Or maybe she was trying so hard because they were losing her slowly to the disease.
“You were busy while I was slacking. This looks and smells great.”
“Thanks. But I had the stew in the crock pot. The bread machine helped with the rolls and salad is nothing. Just leave room for dessert.”
“What is it?”
“Nope. That’s a surprise if you eat your dinner.”
“What am I ten?”
“No, you only act like it sometimes.” Meghan was about to let her have it when she saw the expression on Lizzie’s face and burst out laughing. She’d fallen for it yet again.
“Oh my God, this is delicious. You need to give me the recipe.”
“You cook?”
“Sometimes.”
Grabbing one of the rolls from the basket, Lizzie buttered it and took a bite. “Are you lonely?”
That question took Meghan by surprise. Was she lonely? Maybe. But she didn’t give herself a chance to think about it. She kept busy all the time and when she had down time she’d call or go visit Chrissy. And now she had Rafe in her life. Although if she managed to get to Afghanistan, she wasn’t sure how he’d react.
“I don’t think so. I’m usually busy. And I have you and Chrissy.”
“And Rafe?”
“We’ll see. It feels real but with all that’s going on, who knows.”
“You could come back here. Stay with us until you get a job. Or with Mom.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I want my dream.”
“We worry about you.”
“You mean you worry about me. I am not sure what Mom does or doesn’t remember.”
Lizzie’s eyes welled with tears and Meghan could have kicked herself. Maybe it was Lizzie who was lonely and scared. She’d been the one dealing with Mom, the twins, and a husband who traveled more than he was home. It was a lot for anyone to deal with on their own.
“I’m sorry, Lizzie.” Meghan got up from the table and pulled her into a hug. It was only going to be worse when she found out that Meghan was heading for the middle east as soon as she could make the arrangements. She contemplated keeping it a secret until she got back with Charlie, but there’s no way her sister would let her out of her sight without checking on her constantly.
“Go eat, it’ll get cold.”
“You are a great mom, Lizzie. And you’re doing a hell of a job taking care of everything. I don’t tell you that enough.” From the surprised look on her face, she definitely didn’t tell her enough.
“Keep that up and I’m going to be a total mess. What’s going on? You’re up to something.”
“No. Nothing, at least not yet. I’m just trying to find out where Charlie is. And what we can do to get him back.”
Lizzie gave her the side-eye. “Meggy, I can see right through you…”
“Seriously, that’s all that’s going on, for now.”
“Ah, that’s it. The infamous ‘for now.’ C’mon fess up or I’ll sic Mom on you.” It had been the ultimate threat when they were kids, and it had the same effect over twenty years later. No one wanted Mom involved in this.
“Fine, but nothing is settled. I’m going to go to Afghanistan. I need to do something.”
