AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Isn’t that the way of the world, Sally? Nobody gets one hundred percent of what they want.”
“But you always get what you need.”
Harper laughed at the reference to the Stones’ song. He’d always liked that song.
Next call he made was to Admiral Patterson. “Sir, I’ve talked to my LPO. Kyle thinks he can spare me, but he doesn’t want to let me go. I’m trying to work out something, so that if this doesn’t work out with the Silver Team, I can come back. Is there any reason that wouldn’t work?”
“I don’t see why not. But we certainly don’t want to set something up, put money and assets into it, and then have you turn around and bail on us. I don’t think you’d do that.”
“To be honest, I owe him a great deal. He’s saved my life a couple of times at least, and I don’t think there’s any harm by saying that if I discover it’s not for me I’d rather not have to start flipping burgers or making coffee at Starbucks. This would give us all the best possible solution.”
“But you’re leaning into making it work.”
“I am.”
“Give me your number one reason you’d want to go back.”
“Expectations too heavy. Not enough under my control. Personalities of the team and me clashing. Not being able to boot someone I don’t want there. There’s always something that makes you second guess, Sir.”
“That’s for sure. But the money is good. That help?”
“With my dad, temporarily, yes. But I owe it to Lydia to catch the asshole who took her away from me. My biggest problem is not catching the guy. It’s going to be hard as hell if I have to bring him back alive.”
“Roger that, Harper. You, you’re working on it? Can I tell the president this?”
“Give it until tomorrow morning. I’ll be sure to give you a call first thing.”
“Thanks, Son. You have a good evening, and safe travels.”
It was oneof the easiest flights home he’d had in a long time. He’d been bumped up to first class, and even in the small plane, two whiskeys later, he was feeling fine and knew he’d have to stop somewhere in the airport for some food before driving home.
Venom was beside himself with excitement, attempting to lick Harper’s nose or give him a slobbery kiss across his chops. Harper was still hungry, so he barbequed two steaks, one for him and one for Venom. Venom’s was gone before Harper could lay his napkin on his lap and begin cutting the meat.
He walked around the house and then out into the upper part of the garden and made his list of things he wanted to do tomorrow. He picked some flowers to put on the marble bathroom counter, right next to Lydia’s toothbrush, pretending he’d get to watch her enjoy them.
Sally had converted some photographs and videos to a recorded DVD and gave it to him after Lydia’s funeral. She’d retrieved the images from her phone, which came in the box from the mission, along with her washed and folded clothes and a spiral notebook. Sally had asked permission first, and Harper hadn’t minded.
He’d never watched it before.
Slipping the disc into the player, he showered, donned his pajamas, then sat back in the bed, Venom stretched out alongside him, and turned on the player.
Lydia’s name came up on the screen, surrounded by flowers. Sally had chosen some light guitar music for background, and one by one, he watched the images of them walking the beach with Venom, Venom chasing sticks Harper threw into the surf, along with some cute videos of the back of his ass as she followed behind him at the Farmers’ Market.
The sweeping view of the market and the colorful fruit and vegetable vendors also showed a brief clip of his face, full of love, and looking much happier and even younger.
The ache in his heart started to pulse. Taking deep breaths forced the tears in his eyes to stop spilling over his lower lids.
They’d attended a SEAL wedding down at the beach in Coronado. Under golden glow from hundreds of candles stuck in the sand, they danced and laughed so much his sides ached. Their own wedding had been simple, quick, and done at the courthouse because his deployment was coming up the next day. He’d told her he’d be damned if he’d go off to the jungle and not have her properly married with a ring on her finger, his ring. He’d told her she would never be able to leave him. She had said the same too.
The last few pictures were of the mission in Benin. She loved taking shots of the children with their big eyes and wide smiles. She played with a stethoscope with several of the children, sharing the chance to hear each other’s heartbeat.
The mission crew was sort of rag-tag. She’d told him by phone that several of the staff came from Belgium, spoke French, and were part of a large evangelical Christian organization that was popular there, taking after the missionary work of Dr. Schweitzer. One by one, she photographed the five doctors and twelve aides and nurses who had accompanied them.
There was also a mission teacher, a young man who nearly always had his back turned to the camera. She’d snuck around the front of him and surprised him with a full shot of his face. He was a handsome fellow, and it bothered him that this man, as well as the others, were the last to see her alive. His dark brown curly hair was long enough to pull back in a ponytail. His eyes were wide and dark brown.
Harper wondered about the survivors and who must have taken the pictures of the aftermath. He was going to see if he could find out. That brought up other questions, like, how many did survive? Were they aid workers or natives? How did they survive?
The last part of the reel was a nice photo of her grave Sally must have taken herself with Lydia’s phone. Venom sat next to him, studying the flowers resident there.
