Mending Hearts (The American Soldier Collection 11)

Jaxon ran his fingers through his hair.

“Gabe’s not coming out of this fog. It’s like he wishes he were dead, yet something makes him hold on.”

“Yeah, but then suggest going out and socializing and he turns into a beast. His sourness, nastiness, and aggression are too fucking scary to expose him to the public in Salvation. I don’t think Garrett is right about pushing Gabe to start living again,” Jeb told them.

“Garrett has had that limp of his for years, and he would know what it takes to get through the pain and the public scrutiny as people stared as he limped,” Geno told them.

Jaxon looked at Geno, who was just as tall as him and in great physical condition. They all were. He wished there was some way to get through to Gabe and make him live his life again, instead of being such a prick.

“I don’t think we’re talking about

the same thing here. Gabe is all fucked up. He’s got that bad scarring, the indention where he lost the chunk of his muscle, and then the limp. He walks with a cane and has continuous pain,” Jaxon stated.

“But if he doesn’t get out and move around, try to do the exercises and things, then it will never improve. Sure, he may not walk without the limp, but he can get past the pain by working out those muscles. He just works out his upper body and his abs,” Gator said.

“We’re all trying to transition back to civilian life still, and it’s been a year. We need to get him out more,” Gator said.

“What are you thinking, Gator?” Jaxon asked him.

“A couple of weeks ago, we helped with that fundraiser for the school wrestling team with Wes. There’s some other activities and volunteer work coming up. We could all participate together as a team. Gabe seems a lot better when we’re all together. He would at least get out of the house and engage in some form of public activity. It might help him.”

“It sure as shit can’t hurt,” Jaxon said.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that.” Jeb rubbed his chin. Just the other day as Jeb started in on Gabe and how he was being a depressed asshole, Gabe had decked him. It took Jaxon and Gator to separate the two before they pounded one another to death.

“Let’s hope nothing like that happens again. I’m willing to give this a try. Something has to give,” Jaxon told them, and they all agreed.

Jaxon couldn’t help but think that this might be a mistake. He always worried about Gabe going off the deep end and losing his mind or becoming so violent that he would need to be restrained or could get arrested, or even placed in some psych ward. He wouldn’t even let them tell his parents or family that he was alive and well. He was so mangled up when they’d found him in that building in Iraq that he just wanted to die. The more the doctors talked about his injuries and the lasting effects of the damage to his body, the more Gabe closed up and asked them to put him out of his misery. It was the worst time of all their lives, to see their best friend, their fellow soldier and brother, in pain and wanting to give up and die.

Something had to give. There had to be something that would make Gabe want to fight to live a better quality of life. Something.

* * * *

Alana looked at the small house she was renting. Well, it was more like a little cottage with everything on one floor. A large bedroom, no closet space, a big kitchen, and medium-sized living room space, but it also had a pretty back porch and a yard that led up to a woods. It was in a small town about thirty minutes from Salvation. She chuckled to herself. It seemed she didn’t feel as confident as she’d thought she would feel being far from home. Instead, she’d chosen a place not too far from Deanna, Teddy, and Jim. They were thrilled, and Deanna even brought Julia over to the house with her. The three-year-old was adorable, and it made Alana think of Gabe. But then again, there wasn’t much that didn’t make Alana think of Gabe. Even though she’d left Scrantonville and headed away from the memories and the sadness, they had followed her here.

She looked around the room and knew she needed furniture. She needed something to focus on for today. It was Saturday, and Monday would come soon enough as well as working her two jobs. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, she worked from nine until two at the large clothing and household store in Tranquility, and on Friday and Saturday night, she worked as a waitress in Casper’s. Thanks to Jim and Teddy. Their friends owned the place, and it was always very busy. Then on Sunday, her day off, she would clean the house and work on the handmade jewelry she created. She was trying to make enough items to sell at the large street fair in two weeks. She wasn’t sure if she would sell anything, but Deanna offered her half the table she was setting up to sell her soaps and lotions from a known company.

Alana heard the horn honk and knew that Deanna was there to pick her up. She had called this morning and told Alana about an estate sale in a very old neighborhood in Salvation. Deanna told her she would be able to get some antique furniture at some good prices to place in her home and perhaps even some things for free. She grabbed her purse and her keys then locked the door before she headed down the cobblestone walkway. She really liked this small cottage. Despite the size, it had character and made her think of small towns and everything they had to offer. Tranquility was quiet and just beginning to get established.

“Good morning, sunshine. Are you ready to get all nostalgic?” Deanna asked, and Alana got into the front seat of the car.

“Nostalgic, huh? Well, I guess so. I’ve never been to an estate sale before.”

“Oh, well then, this should be exciting for you. It’s kind of weird going through a dead person’s belongings, but the family is trying to raise money for the local sports teams. They’re donating all the money.”

“That’s so nice. God, I hope I don’t get the heebie-jeebies. I kind of have this sixth sense when it comes to spirits and things.”

Deanna rolled her eyes.

“Oh brother. Please don’t start talking to this dead woman aloud. Just keep the conversation to yourself.”

Alana chuckled as they drove out of Tranquility.

“Who was the woman anyway?”

“Alana, isn’t it better if you don’t know anything about her?”

“No. I would like to know. We are going to be rummaging through her things, as you described.”