Unconditional Love (Journey of Love 1)

I nodded and said, “You want to go back to my place and pack up a few things and go camping for a few days?”

The smile that spread across her face told me she had already forgiven me and all was good again.

“Camping? Yes!”

We took Azurdee’s 4-Runner back to her house and made our way into Austin. We spent the next three days doing nothing but enjoying the beautiful mild winter days, hiking, making love, running along the trails, grilling fish we caught in the river, and making love some more. I never wanted this to end. The moment my cell went off, I saw it on her face. The worry and concern appeared again. The whole way back to Austin I could feel the tension coming from her body.

I stood outside her door and leaned down to kiss her. She held up her hand and said, “Just promise me that whatever it is that you do, there is not a risk of you being…killed.”

I looked at her and shook my head. “I can’t promise you that, Azurdee. I’m in the Marines. We sometimes go into active war zones. I can’t make that kind of promise to you, baby. I’m sorry.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Then promise me you’ll come back to me.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips across hers. I could taste her tears and it broke my heart.

“I promise you,” I whispered as I kissed her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and held onto me tighter. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” I said as she opened the door and walked into her house.

I quickly walked to my truck and got inside. I pulled out my phone and hit Jerry’s number.

“Lark. It’s about damn time you got back in touch with me. You said you needed this and then dropped off the face of the planet for days.”

“Just tell me what you found out.”

“The moment I found out this was personal and not for a mission I should have stopped.”

I let out a long sigh. “Jerry, knock it the fuck off. You’ve used CIA shit to spy on your own damn wife.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The information, Jerry.”

“He took over his father’s construction company shortly after high school. No college degree, married with two kids.”

I sat up straighter as I pulled out of Azurdee’s driveway. “What? The fucker is married? Is he separated maybe?”

I heard him moving some papers around and then heard typing on the computer. “Um…nope. He is for sure married. Just posted a Facebook picture of him and his wife from last weekend at some party they went to.”

I shook my head. “What in the fuck is wrong with people?”

“His wife is probably a bad fuck.”

“Thanks, Jerry. I owe you one.”

“Just remember that next time it takes me longer to pull up real intel.”

“Deal.” I hung up and tossed my phone in the passenger seat.

“Fucker’s married.”

I got home and began packing up my bag. My phone went off and I pulled it out of my back pocket.

Azurdee: How in the world did you get the rose in here?

Me: I have my ways!

Azurdee: Why do you leave them? The roses?

Me: I want you to know how much I love you. How hard it is for me to leave you each time. It’s my way of leaving behind a piece of me with you. Roses remind me of you.

Azurdee: I love them. More than you will ever know. Please be careful.

Me: I will. Gotta go. I love you.

Azurdee: I love you, too.

I grabbed my bag and hit Skip’s number. When he answered, I asked, “We find him?”

The second he said yes, I had a terrible feeling I might be breaking my promise to Azurdee.

I walked around to each table and asked the customers how everything was. It was Valentine’s Day and my restaurant “The Leaning Tree” was finally open. It was just a preview night but it was packed.

I walked up to a couple and smiled as I asked, “How are you enjoying your meal?”

The girl raised her eyebrows and said, “Oh, it’s so good. The chicken and grits are to die for.”

The guy nodded and said, “The smoked pork chop is wonderful.”

I smiled and said, “Thank you so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed them. Be sure to try the ancho dark chocolate terrine. It’s one of my specialties and a favorite dessert among the staff.”

I turned and walked up to the next table and was shocked to see Dan sitting there. He was trying not to look at me. “Dan. I’m so glad you were able to make it.”

The blonde sitting across from him was smiling with the biggest smile on her face and she looked so familiar. “I practically had to beg him to bring me tonight. The moment I found out he had the job for this place I went crazy. I went to your coffee shop almost every single day and was so sad when you closed it.”

Then it clicked. “Yes. I knew I recognized you from somewhere.” She smiled and looked at Dan.

“How do you know each other?” I asked.

Her smile faded briefly. “Well, we’re married.”

I was sure the shocked look on my face was going to be the cause of an interesting ride home this evening for Dan.

I smiled and said, “Well please, enjoy whatever you would like on the menu. It’s on the house.”

I quickly turned and walked away and headed into the kitchen. I pulled Ralph by the shirt and said, “Talk. Now.”

When we walked into my office I shut the door, or rather slammed the door. “Oh. My. God. Dan’s married and he and his wife are eating here tonight!”

“I know! Lark already told me he was married.”

My mouth dropped open as I looked at him. “When?”

Ralph shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t remember. Last time he was here maybe? Speaking of. Why isn’t he here?”

My heart dropped. How did Lark know Dan was married and why did he feel the need to tell Ralph and not me?

“Azurdee? Where is Lark?”

I shook my head and said, “Working. He got called out of town.”

Ralph’s face fell and he said, “I’m sorry, honey. I’m sure if he could be here he would.”

I gave him a weak smile and nodded my head. We made our way back out into the restaurant and I plastered on my fake-ass smile and prayed I’d make it through the rest of the night.

“So, how is the restaurant doing?” Jessie asked as she placed Lauren down in the portable crib in my living room.

I smiled weakly. “Good.”

She turned and looked at me. “Just good? You don’t seem very happy. Azurdee, this is your dream come true, honey. You should be bouncing off the walls.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “I am honestly. It’s been open over a month now and it’s doing wonderful. I’ve actually had to hire two new people.”

Jessie jumped up and down and pretended to clap her hands. “That’s wonderful! I bet Lark is so proud of you.”

My smile faded and my heart dropped. Lark had been gone for over a week. He was leaving more and more and each time he came back, he grew more and more distant about his job. Something was weighing heavy on his mind. I knew I should be used to this since he had been gone almost all of the last two months except a few days here and there.

Jessie sat down and looked at me. “Azurdee, is everything okay with you and Lark?”

I smiled weakly and said, “Yes. I mean, no. I mean, yes it is, but things aren’t okay with me. God Jessie, I knew getting into this that his job was top secret but…I kind of overheard him talking about something and ever since I heard it, I can’t push it out of my mind. I would worry about him before, but now. God, now I find myself not able to sleep. And this trip…I haven’t even heard from him once. He at least checks in with me, but this time…it’s like radio silence.”

She got up and moved over to sit next to me. She took her hands into mine and said, “You knew that his job was probably a little…dangerous. You even said yourself he had a few scar

s from where it looked like he had been shot. Why haven’t you talked to him about it?”