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She moves behind me and starts pouring warm water over my hair. We don’t speak again as she washes my hair, dries me off, and then walks me down to the kitchen. I’m very aware of the atmosphere in the house, and I’m sure it’s due to what I have done. The level of anxiety is like an elephant in the room.
We pass a couple of guys who quickly stop talking as we approach. They don’t look at me. Daniel comes into the room looking like he’s on a mission. I look away, but he wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into him much like his son used to do. I fight like hell to stop my tears, but it’s no use. They are always ready to break the dam that is made of frigging toothpicks.
“Some of us have been called out for an assignment,” he says, pulling away to look at me. “Mike is in charge since Keith is filling in for Paul.” He looks over at Abigail. “We shouldn’t be any longer than forty-eight hours.” He steps back and walks out of the room. I want to ask why he’s going, but I concentrate on trying to stop my annoying crying instead. I cried like crazy over my mother’s death, but this is a different kind of loss. My heart is shattered forever, and I know that even though I did not end my life today, I have no desire to go on.
“Savannah,” Keith says as he slips onto the stool next to me, “will you be all right while I’m gone?”
I nod, feeling very tired.
He takes my chin in his hand “Savi, Mike is easy to talk to, and Derek will be hovering around more than normal. None of your disappearing acts, you hear me? Right now, with The American—”
“I won’t,” I cut him off, pushing up from my stool. “Be safe,” I whisper as I walk out into the living room and sit down in my favorite place in front of the fire. Scoot, the little shit housecat, comes immediately to me and rolls onto his back, flops his legs open, and purrs until I give him some attention. I let my mind wander, remembering sitting on the floor scratching Scoot when Cole first joined me. Cole rubbed his belly with the warmest smile. I wipe my cheeks. Lowering my head to the floor, I tune in to the crackle of the fire.
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper as I kiss Scoot’s furry head and slowly drift off to sleep.
Cole
Cole presses his mouth to the small hole in the wall, attempting to suck in some fresh night air to clear his head. His wrists are handcuffed to the water pipe. They’re rubbed raw and blistering. His ankles are bound by ropes, and he’s freezing because he is wearing only his Army pants. They took his shoes and shirt right before the beating started.
His head flops back, resting on the cement wall. Savannah’s sweet voice finds him, and he gets lost in his thoughts.
“Promise me you’ll come back to me.” Her dark eyes are flooded with tears. It’s against all Army and personal rules, but if this is what it takes to make the look go away, then he’ll promise her the world.
“I promise, baby.” He wraps his arms around her. “I want to hold you.” She nods as he takes her hand, walking down the path.
“It’s so pretty through here,” she whispers, trying to break the sadness of the situation. “The forest just goes for miles and miles. It’s an endless path to who knows where.” She clears her throat. “So much freedom.” He squeezes her hand. “Have you ever just wanted to follow the moonlight?”
He glances over to see the moon is casting a trail deep into the forest. “I have thought of that, many times, actually.” They both walk, deep in thought.
Suddenly, she stops dead in her tracks. “Run away with me.”
His lips curl up as he brings their joined hands to his mouth and kisses her fingers. “I’d love nothing more than to run away with you, Savannah. But running won’t make what I do for a living go away. It’s a part of me.” He wipes a stray tear off her trembling chin, soaking up this moment with her. “I’m nothing without you.” He leans down, catching her lips and kissing her softly. “And you, baby, are the best part of me.”
Drawing her lip in between her teeth, she nods. Letting out a long breath, she turns to gather herself.
“You want to head back?” She slowly shakes her head. “What do you want to do?”
She steps over to the edge of the cliff, looking down at the house. She spreads her arms out as wide as they can go.
“I want to fly,” she whispers.
Cole pulls out his radio, watching her head tilt to look up at the sky. “Mark, you there?”
“Roger.” Mark laughs over the radio.
“I need you to get Mike to bring me something.”
Several minutes later, Mike appears off to the side. “Have fun.” He winks before he runs back down the path.
Cole grins as he walks over to Savannah, who is still lost in thought.
“Your wish is granted.” Her eyes open then glance at what Cole is holding. “You said you wanted to fly.”
The smile that runs across her lips is the sweetest thing. He takes a minute to let it etch into his memory.
He points the wooden toboggan down a clear path and tugs Savannah between his legs.
“You ready?”
