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“Hey, Luke. How are you?” Daisy asks easily, as if she just spoke to me yesterday and not over a month ago, not to mention being MI-fucking-A for days.
“What the hell, Daisy?” I yell at her, unable to contain my reaction to her calm demeanor under the circumstances. “You’ve been MIA for 3 fucking days, and that is how you answer me?”I’m so angry I’m surprised I haven’t broken a jaw tooth. I’m likely going to need to see the dentist again to have one of those guards made to keep me from grinding my teeth down to mere nubs. Daisy begins to say something when a large man pushes her out of the view of the camera. He leans down peering into the camera.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but I will not let you talk to Daisy that way.” The man growls at me, rage evident on his face. I’m certain if looks could kill I’d be dead right now.
“Who the hell are you?” I counter loudly. “It’s none of your damn business who I am.”
“Guys! I’m standing right here.” Daisy shouts to be heard over the two of us arguing. “Luke this is Ace, one of the Marines who helped rescue me. Ace this is Luke, my big brother.”
The man she called Ace’s posture immediately relaxes. I’m fairly certain he would have punched me if we’d been in the same room when this conversation took place. Now that I can see she’s alive and well, I begin to relax and realize my poor reaction to seeing her again.
“I’m sorry, Daisy. Ace is right,” I concede. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that, but I was scared. I thought you were gone for good, this time. Are you really okay? They said you were in medical. Where are you hurt?” My face pinching with worry.
“It was nothing, Luke,” Daisy dismisses. “Just a little flesh wound and some dehydration. We were in the desert, you know, but I was totally fine. I had some excellent soldiers with me.” Daisy tries to deflect just how serious the situation really had been. I know she doesn’t want me worrying about her, but how can I not when things like this are happening much too often?
“You have got to stop getting yourself in these types of situations. You have taken another ten years off my life, sis,” I admonish her.
“Luke, I am so sorry. I never meant for you to be worried. AndI’m sorry I hadn’t called you yet. I just got out of medical then I had to go through debriefing. I was packing up my things. They are sending me home. I’m on a two-month leave starting as soon as I get home.” Daisy sighs heavily. I can see the disappointment on her face, but she needs this, a vacation. I’ll make sure she takes every second of it.
“That is good to know. You need to take a break,” I tell her. “I don’t know if you have rotten luck, or if you go looking for this shit, but I am tired of it. I know we have had this conversation before, but you are going to listen, this time. I will go over your head if I need to.” I use my best I’m-the-oldest-and-in-charge-voice. Daisy rolls her eyes in dramatic fashion, but I’m not letting this go.
“You are getting your wish, brother. I promise to come visit when I am back in the states. I know it’s been too long. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” Daisy pleads.
“Sis, you know there is nothing to forgive. I was just worried, but I do want to see you. I am serious though; you have to stop this death wish you have. It’s not going to change anything, Daisy. I have moved on, and it’s time for you to do the same. The past is the past, Sis. Let go, please? Be safe coming home. I’ll see you soon. I love you,” I say.
“I’ll see you soon, Luke. I love you, too.”
When the call ends, I’m feeling marginally better about Daisy. I’m curious about this Marine and why he would be with Daisy, but it will have to wait until she’s home. She’s never been one to share her personal life with me. I’ve never really known her to have a boyfriend. It should concern me, but I’m just glad I haven’t had to run off a string of men since her high school days.
By the end of the day, I’m beginning to feel some fatigue setting in. I should have gone back upstairs after the Hanson meeting and napped with Marley, because there’s no way I’ll feel comfortable leaving her at the bar alone tonight, even if my men are the security guards.
I call Jay to make sure he has everything he needs for Marley’s paperwork. Jay assures me everything is a go. I want this job to work out for her. I know she feels the need to work and be productive. I would have offered her a job at my company, but I know she would feel like it was charity. It wouldn’t be. I can always use the help. It’s getting harder and harder to find good employees these days. This job at Jay’s bar is the only job, other than if I could convince her to work at Invictus, where I’ll feel safe for Marley to work.
Bo, Rosco, and Enos stop back by before ending their day. I update them on the video chat with Daisy. I can see the relief in their postures at the good news. I let them know I’m taking Marley to work at Jay’s tonight, and that I’ll likely be going in to work later than usual in the morning.
I head up to my room around four-thirty in the afternoon. I’m startled to see my bed is empty when I enter, but then I hear water running and realize Marley must be in the shower. I gather a change of clothes while she’s bathing. When she exits minutes later, her skin flushed from the hot water, she’s wrapped only in a towel and the deep shade of red that floods her when she sees me waiting for her.
“Hey, baby.” I reach for her, and she complies, dropping onto my lap just like I want her to do. We share a few kisses, but we don’t have time for anything else. “I better go shower and change.” She nods as she slides off my lap.
“Yeah, I need to get dressed,” Marley declares as she stands. “I’ll get a uniform when I get there, right?” I nod. Jay had told me he has an entire wardrobe for his employees. I head into the shower, shifting from my wheelchair to the shower chair. I make quick work of washing myself before toweling off and donning my fresh clothes.
MARLEY
My first shift at Jay’s Bar and Grill is about to begin. I’m nervous starting over at a new place, but Luke is so confident that everything will be fine that I’m trying not to stress too much. We pull into the parking lot. The building is well kept, and it seems to have good lighting in and around the bar. Luke drives around to the back. I expect him to just drop me off, but I should have known better. He parks in a spot and turns to me.
“Wait here while I get out.” I nod and sit patiently while he lowers his chair from the vehicle. He comes around to my side as I open the door. He holds his hand out to help me down. Once I’m on my feet, he kisses my palm before leading me to the back door.
He knocks firmly on the door. I had assumed we would just walk in, but it seems this owner is conscientious about safety for his employees. The door opens to reveal a man in his late thirties to early forties with dark brown hair greying a little around his temples. He looks to be around six feet tall with broad shoulders. His hair is short, and he’s clean shaven. The moment his eyes land on Luke, a big smile brightens his face.
“Hey Luke!” The man extends his hand.
“Hi Jay,” Luke replies as he shakes hands with the man. “This is Marley Morrison. Marley, Jay Gordon.”
“Hello, Marley. It’s nice to meet you,” Jay shakes my hand as well. His hands are soft. His grip is firm, but not too hard.
“Nice to meet you,” I say. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for you.”
“You’re welcome, little lady,” Jay answers. “The way Luke sang your praises I couldn’t say no.” I blush profusely, and he laughs before continuing, “Come on in. I just finished getting your paperwork in order.”
