Laura Acton

Newport News, VA – Seaside Star Restaurant

     LIEUTENANT Nicole Farris squeezed lemon into her water as the man joined her at the table. “Thanks for meeting me for dinner on such short notice.”

     “I’m surprised you called after the way we left things five years ago. Why did you?”

     Nicole gripped her glass to steady her hand. Usually, she would be rock solid, but the reason for this encounter rattled her to the core. “Let’s order first.”

     George’s eye caught the slight tremor most wouldn’t detect. He only nodded and waved over the waitress. He ordered the sea bass for himself, and Nicole ordered a shrimp salad. When she fidgeted again, he realized whatever she had to say hit her deep, but he waited for her to engage.

     Steeling herself, Nicole said, “I need your help. I understand if you’re reluctant, but you’re the only person I trust.” She lowered her voice, “The matter is highly sensitive, and I believe people’s lives are at stake.”

      “Who’s lives?” George leaned in closer. Nicole was spooked; he was sure of it now.

     “I can’t tell you yet. You need to promise me you won’t divulge what I tell you to anyone, and I mean anyone. Not even those you are certain you can trust.”

     “Nicole, what have you gotten yourself into?” Concern lit George’s weathered features.

     “Promise?”

     “I give you my word. I hope it means as much to you now as it did years ago.”

     Nicole inhaled sharply, regretting the words she said to him the last time they met. She hoped he heard the sincerity in her tone, “It does, or else I wouldn’t be here now.”

     George smiled and reached a hand across the table, letting her reach out if she desired. His grin grew when she grasped his hand. “Tell me, sweetheart, what’s got you worried.”

     Drawing strength from his touch, Nicole said, “Dad, I think my boss is trying to kill my team and blame me.”

     George Farris believed his daughter without reservation. “Never trusted Athole. What do you need from me?”

 

Virginia Beach - Near Chuck’s Creamery

     A light breeze blew as Max and Cali strolled down the sidewalk arm in arm. With Max leaving on deployment in three days, Cali enjoyed their simple date tonight; a stop at her favorite ice cream shop and a double scoop of mint chocolate chip. She teased Max about him getting plain chocolate topped with orange sherbet. The combination seemed odd to her.

     Max halted at the corner, scrunched his face and hissed.

     “What’s wrong?” Cali’s eyes surveyed him, searching for a non-existent injury … still jumpy from the few he suffered.

     “Brain freeze,” Max groused.

     Cali laughed.

     “Hey, not funny.” Max cracked open one eye.

     “Told you not to eat so fast,” Cali replied with no sympathy, still grinning.

     The pain ebbing, Max’s face relaxed, and he chuckled. “Been a long time since I had ice cream. Didn’t want it to melt.”

     “No fear of it doing that today. Perhaps in the middle of summer, but not now.”

     Something about Maxwell Stirling made Cali willing to risk being in a relationship with an elite warrior who could be called away at any moment. The more time she spent with Max, the more drawn to him, she became. Instead of focusing on what the future might or might not bring, she endeavored to take pleasure in the simple things life offered, like a lazy stroll downtown.

     Cali leaned in to kiss his cheek, but a tiny ball of energy plowed into Max as it rushed around the corner.

     Max peered down at the child who ran into his legs and now sat on the ground, gaping at him with surprise.

     “Sorry, Kami’s excited about visiting Chuck’s Creamery.” Kami’s mother said.

     Crouching, Max grinned at the little girl, who appeared to be no more than four years old. “I like ice cream too. Make sure you don’t eat too fast. Brain freezes are no fun.” He helped her up as he stood.

     “I like chocolate. Mommy said I can have fudge on top too,” Kami said in a cheerful voice, her brown eyes alight with delight.

     “You should try orange sherbet with the chocolate. Yummy,” Max suggested.

     “I love orange!” Turning to her mother, her bright eyes begged. “Can I, please?”

     Smiling, Kami’s mom reached out her hand to her daughter. “Sounds interesting. Let’s do it.”

     For several moments, Max stood in place with a grin on his face as he watched Kami skip, hurrying her mom along to get her frozen treat. Cali wrapped her arms around Max’s waist as she stood behind him. “You’re a softy.”

     “Yeah, well, don’t tell my brothers.”

     “Your secret is safe with me.” Cali promised.

     Their pleasant night erupted in chaos in the next moment. A ball of fire exploded from Chuck’s Creamery, sending glass, debris, and people flying. They stared in horror as the tiny girl and mother, who just reached the shop, were flung in the air and came crashing down on the sidewalk.

     Heedless of the fragments of glass, brick, metal, and plastic raining down, Max raced forward into the hectic scene as others ran from it. He knelt next to Kami, and his breath caught in his throat as he shielded her tiny body.

     His action would not change the result. Lifeless eyes, which had only moments ago held such promise and joy, stared up at him. His face screwed up in agony, and his eyes teared up. He would claim they were from the acrid smoke billowing out of the now-destroyed creamery, not the senseless loss of life.

     Max had no idea how long he covered Kami, but when multiple pairs of hands pulled him up and away, he sat back on his heels, and the scene came into focus. Firefighters, cops, and paramedics swarmed the area. Blankets covered several bodies. A sheet draped over Kami as sound returned to him.

     “Sir, are you hurt?” a paramedic yelled in his face.

     “Cali?” Max frantically searched to his left, his pulse beating a rapid staccato, fear he might’ve lost another love.

     “I’m here,” Cali’s quavering voice said to his right.

     Max turned to her and pulled Cali to him, his embrace bruising as he clung to her. “She is gone. She never …” He couldn’t finish. There were so many ‘nevers’ for Kami. Never got to try orange sherbet with chocolate. Would never grow up. She never stood a chance being so close to the blast.

     Pulling back, difficult because Max didn’t want to release her, through tears, Cali peered into his eyes. “I know. You need to let them look at you.      You’re bleeding.”

     “I’m okay.” Max scanned Cali’s body. “Are you hurt?”

     “No, I was standing behind you. I’m fine. But you have a myriad of cuts on your face. Allow them to clean you up, at least.”

     Max stood and shook his head. His gaze methodically moved as he surveyed the area, and his stomach clenched at what he observed. “This isn’t supposed to happen here. This isn’t a war zone. Children don’t die in explosions here.”

     Cali waved off the medic as she said, “I’ll take him home and clean him up.”

     An officer stopped them and asked if they witnessed the explosion. Neither one provided much detail, only that the blast occurred. They didn’t see anything or anyone out of the ordinary before the tragedy. Dazed, they wandered back to Max’s place.

Though Max’s external wounds were minor, the one to his soul, only visible through a pair of troubled ocean-blue portals, would require a different curative.