Mending Hearts (The American Soldier Collection 11)

“Should you call Geno to check on Gabe?” Jeb asked.

“I’m not quite ready to talk with him yet,” Jaxon said and then walked back toward the house to see what delivery was next. He wanted to get through them and make this day end. Yet he also wanted to see Alana again, and he told himself it was because he felt badly for her. He swallowed hard but felt that sixth sense kick in. The one that told him this situation wasn’t over with Alana. Not by a long shot.

* * * *

“Are you going to be okay?” Deanna asked Alana as she stood by her back porch looking out at the woods.

“You and I talked about this for the last two hours. What choice do we have? You saw him, Deanna. He wanted nothing to do with me, with us.”

“Maybe he’s suffering from one of those post-traumatic stress disorders or something? Or maybe something happened while he was serving. You know, Jaxon said he was held prisoner.”

“Whatever it was, whatever happened to him, he’s not the same man I knew. The man I love,” Alana said and then covered her mouth to try and hide the sob.

Deanna pulled her close and hugged her as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to keep this from Teddy and Jim. I’ve never lied to them or withheld information.”

“I know. Do what you feel is right.”

Deanna looked out toward the wooded area and then to the old shed by the neighbor’s house next door.

“It’s kind of creepy out here. You sure this place is okay for you?”

“Deanna, don’t worry. I’ve got my guns.”

Deanna smiled.

“That’s right. The daughter of a Marine.”

“Yup.” Alana walked Deanna out of the house. She waved goodbye and then headed back inside.

Now that she was alone, she pulled out a picture of Gabe. The real Gabe. The one who’d said he would love her forever. She traced the wooden frame with her finger and smiled at his masculinity and happy expression. Today, he hadn’t looked happy. He looked withdrawn, sick, pale, and angry. For a split second, when he spotted her, she thought she saw excitement, love in his eyes, but just as quickly, it disappeared, and he told her he was dead.

He wasn’t the man she knew. The one who spoke so sweetly to her, with passion and love. So many times over the last three years she’d gone over those great times she had with Gabe. They made her laugh. They made her cry, but there was also that sensation of feeling as though he was still alive. Now she knew it was more than a sensation. They were bound to one another.

She gulped, trying to swallow the lump of emotion down her tight throat. Her nose tingled, and her nostrils flared as she grabbed the pillow and cried.

* * * *

Gator and Jeb showed up at Alana’s house to drop off the furniture and the items she had purchased. As Jeb walked up the front walkway, he could see down the side of the house and noticed someone standing by a tree. At first he thought it might be Alana, but then the person moved, and through the branches, Jeb could tell it was a man. He turned around as if he’d noticed Jeb had noticed him and then walked farther into the woods. Jeb got a very eerie feeling inside.

“What’s wrong?” Gator asked him as he carried two of the boxes.

He explained about the guy, and now Gator was concerned.

“I hope it wasn’t some Peeping Tom.”

“Me too. We should inform Alana and make sure she’s safe.”

He rang the doorbell, and it took her some time to get there. When she opened the door, Jeb could tell that Alana had been crying. Her eyes brightened at the sight of them as she probably remembered the things she’d bought at the estate sale.

“I’m sorry. I totally forgot about the stuff being delivered. Can you give me a minute to move some boxes?” she asked.

“Sure thing, doll. Take your time,” Jeb told her.

He watched her push some boxes around, and he couldn’t help but to check out her butt as she bent over. Gator cleared his throat, and Alana looked up as she stood.

“This should be enough room. The place is small, so I need to use the living room as my office too.”