“You mean my being a Marine?”
The sigh said it all. “I expect you to act like a lady who’s had a good upbringing.”
She rolled her eyes and reached for her desert camouflage bag. “So, however I normally act…”
“The opposite. He’s a good man for you and would make a great father. He wants three kids. Two boys and a girl. No pets. He knows you enjoy cooking and that’s something he approves of.”
Of course he does.
She prayed for patience. “I have to go, Mother. I will see you in two days.”
She hung up and groaned. That short call had been more exhausting than her past eight weeks. After shouldering her bag, she walked out to a waiting taxi. She had already reported in and had been dropped back to active reserve status.
The taxi dropped her off at a hotel and she tossed her bag onto the bed once in her room. Then she called Slater to find out what had happened and where Tuck was.
Her mood was sombre as she stepped out of the Charleston International Airport and walked to where her rental would be waiting for her. Tuck was comatose and the respirator attached to him made him seem so fragile, she’d spent most of her two days before coming here with him.
After unlocking the door to her Chrysler 300, she put her bag in the trunk then got behind the wheel. She didn’t want to be here. She wanted to be with Tuck.
“Not entirely true, I want to see Daddy.” She pulled away from the lot and began the trek to the house she grew up in. “It’s everyone else I don’t want to deal with.”
She spent her time on the road convincing herself she wouldn’t allow them to draw her into any kind of argument. She would be pleasant. After all, it was only a day and a half. She could handle that.
Outside the gate of her childhood home, she paused before turning up the long paved drive. At the top she saw the large house with the six pillars. Rolling her eyes at the overstated opulence, she took her foot off the brake and began heading up.
She parked in front of the six-car garage and got her bag before striding to the door. It swung open and she smiled affectionately at the man standing there.
“Porter!”
“Ms Greene,” he said with a smile. “Welcome home.”
She hugged the reed-thin man and pressed a kiss to his weathered cheek. “How are you?”
“Fine, thank you.”
Porter was the one person from her childhood she recalled with any fondness. He allowed her to tail him and regaled her with tails of his life in the Marines. She’d joined because of him.
“Where is everyone?”
“Atrium.” He winked. “Shall I alert her to your arrival?”
“No, no.” She held up her hands and waved them vehemently. “Definitely not necessary to do that.”
His nod was one of understanding. “It’s always a blessing to see you.” He walked her to the stairs and parted ways there.
She watched him walk away. A bit older and a bit slower, but she’d bet anything he was just as sharp. Jogging up to the next floor, she went to then pushed open the door of her room and stepped inside. Instantly her eyes hurt—pink and lace. What every good young girl desired. Especially a debutante. Or so she’d been informed by her mother. Eventually she’d learned to tune out the colour and ignore how offensive it was to her.
After debating changing for a while, she finally decided to stay how she was dressed.
So much for avoiding confrontation
, she told herself with a wry grin.
The atrium hadn’t changed either. It was still a nice place to hang out. She could hear her mother, and took a final fortifying breath and walked towards the voices.
“Daddy,” she said as they came into view.
Her father’s grin made all the crap she knew was coming worth it. “Ariel,” he said rising to his feet. “Porter didn’t tell us you were here.”
“I told him not to bother, I’d be right down.” She hugged him, grateful to see how spry he appeared.
“Obviously,” her mother said. “I see you didn’t change.”
Releasing her father, she faced her mother. As usual, the woman hadn’t a single hair out of place. Her silk outfit, Ariel knew from experience, would have been expensive. She walked over and placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “Good to see you as well, Mother.”
The shoulder pat and air kiss were decidedly uncomfortable. “I expect you to dress for dinner.”
“I’ve only eaten naked once but he asked me so nicely I couldn’t find it in me to refuse.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Ariel, please. There is no reason to be crass.”
“Do I need a reason other than it’s fun?” She moved to the ottoman then sat and leant back against the chair behind it. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll make sure to be
properly
attired for the evening meal.”
“See that you do.”
Ariel didn’t even respond. Her mother loved having the last word and it made things in the house much simpler when she got her way. This woman would have had Hitler running to the Allies asking, begging to surrender if it would just get her off his back.
* * * *
The party was a hit. Trouble was, it lasted all day and by evening, Ariel wasn’t in the best of moods. All this flash and pomposity wasn’t her thing. She would have much rather taken her father to a steakhouse and had a beer with him. As she leaned against the marble balustrade, a shadow fell over her left shoulder.
Wishing it wasn’t some trick played by the wine she’d had, she took a breath and looked. The man standing there was handsome. His three-piece suit had been tailored for him, she knew that from a single glance. There was no way ones off the rack draped that way.
She arched an eyebrow. “Can I help you?”
I bet this is what’s-his-name that Mother wants me to mate with.
He held out his hand, assuredness all over his behaviour. “Dr Saunders. Aaron Saunders.”
They shook and she smiled. “Ariel Greene.”
His grin turned smug. “I know. Your mother showed me your picture.”
“Did she now?”
“It didn’t do you justice.”
She retrieved her hand from his and drained the rest of her drink. Already her alarms were screaming to get away from him. “Mother says you’re just a surgeon, not a specialist.”
His expression sobered and he cleared his throat. “I’ll be getting that soon.”
She gave him a smile she’d seen her mother give many times. One that placated but wasn’t at all impressed.
“She told me you would be interested in a date to see how well we get along.”
“And then we can discuss marriage?”
“Yes. I mean I obviously like what I see and I know you do.”
Oh, of all the unmitigated gall…
Her fist clenched and she counted back from ten so she didn’t punch him. All she did was smile and give a grunt of sorts.
“She says you love to cook. I think that’s wonderful. I agree with your mother that women should be home, cooking for their children.”
“Is that so? Did my mother tell you she never once cooked for us? Nor did she raise us. The servants and nanny did.” She stepped closer. “I grew up loving beer and steak. Not wine. Although I do drink it occasionally. I also like my hard liquor. I swear like a sailor and I am not the docile type of woman my mother tries to pretend I am. If that’s what you’re after, you should probably talk with her about my other sister. She’s a bit more primitive, like you and my mother.”
He seemed taken aback. Ariel pressed on.
“I’m not a dainty housewife. I’m a Marine. I’m not supposed to tell you that because according to her, it’s not ladylike. Well, I’m not very ladylike. I’m in this dress for my father. That’s it. Not because you were coming and she hoped I’d fall madly in love with you. I’m already in love with someone and he does what my mother considers menial work. Good luck,
Doctor
. But you’re not getting into this family through me.” She shifted her weight. “If you’ll excuse me, I am going to go pull this underwear out of the crack of my ass.” She smirked. “It’s just so uncomfortable some days.”
Laughing, she walked away and went to her father’s side. He was eating some of his cake but looked up when she approached.
“Time for you to go?”
“Sorry, Daddy, but I have to or I’m going to miss my flight.”
He hugged her. “Don’t stay away so long this time.”
“I won’t. You’ll have to come down to San Antonio and we’ll spend some time exploring.”
His eyes brightened. “The Alamo?”
“Absolutely. I love you, Daddy.”
He kissed her. “Love you too. Now go on before your mother finds another reason you can’t possibly leave.”
“Tell her goodbye for me.”
He gave a sad smile. “Go.”
She did, pausing to turn back when he called her name. “Yes, Daddy?”
“I’m proud of you, baby.”
She blew him a kiss then headed for her car. Her bag had already been delivered there, thanks to Porter. And the man waited for her. Their farewell was similar to her father’s. Then she was on her way back to the airport. She’d not even changed. Ariel had a singular destination in mind and nothing was going to keep her from arriving there as soon as she could. Nothing.
* * * *
The hushed voices sounded far away. Something that didn’t make sense. Hushed meant they had to be close. Right?
He tried to open his eyes but it turned out to be such a battle. And took him more than one try. Soft light filled the room and he couldn’t make any sense of where he was, based on the window view. Nothing rang familiar to him.
His nothing included the two men who stood talking at the end of his bed.
Well, I know where the voices came from.
Both tall, one in an expensive suit and the other had a stethoscope around his neck as well as a white lab coat.
Doctor. Still don’t know who he is, though. Either of them.
He continued glancing about the hospital room. Balloons touting “Get Well” were plentiful. As were plants, flowers and cards.
Guess people like me.
Movement to his right had him peering there.
Damn!
A woman sat there. Sound asleep, sunk in the chair, with her head resting along the right corner of the back. Long hair framed the aristocratic lines of her face. Her dark skin shone and he had this inane urge to drag his fingers along it.
Who is she?
He closed his eyes, shifted on the bed then opened them again. The two men were hovering over him. The doc was talking—he didn’t make sense of any of it, however—and the suit wearer had a wide grin.
Where is she?
Cutting his gaze to the right for a second time, he frowned when he didn’t see her. He stared ahead and couldn’t explain his relief when he saw her past the foot of the bed. She was awake now, and her brown gaze remained focused on him.
Some nurses came in and took him off the respirator, before rolling, poking, and even prodding him before they left him alone. He was exhausted.
Suit clutched his hand. “Damn good to see you awake, Pierce. I’ll call your folks and they’ll be right over. They’re staying at a nearby hotel.”
He racked his brain but couldn’t pull up this man’s name. His parents he remembered. And his siblings.
But why don’t I know him? Or her?
The suit stepped back and the woman took his place. She ran her gaze over him, eyes full of worry and relief. “Had us concerned there, Tuck. Glad you’re awake.” A soft yet sad smile. “I should call Steve—he’ll want to hear you’ve woken up.”
Steve? Not a brother. So who was that? Her husband? No, that didn’t feel right. “Wait.” His word was rough. She lifted her brow but didn’t move. “Wh…who are you?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Despite the words he could see the hurt in those stunning brown eyes. She reached out to touch him only to not allow the contact in the end. He was disappointed about that. Then she walked away.
His parents arrived and after the tears, hugs and more tears, he cleared his throat. “The man in the suit and the woman. Who are they?”
His mother’s eyes grew wide and she grabbed at the doctor. “What’s wrong with him?”
The doctor stood near and flashed a penlight in his eyes. “I would guess a form of retrograde amnesia. More recent activities are unable to be recalled. Remember, he’s been in a coma for a good number of days. His body will undo what it did to protect him.”
“Is it”—she lowered her tone—“permanent?”
“Time will tell. Most—”
“Oh my God!” she wailed.
The doctor held up his hand. “Most often it’s short-lived and he will regain those memories.”
His mother clasped her hand to her neck. “Thank you, Jesus.”
When his father leaned close, he asked the question that had been bothering him since he saw her. “Who is she?”
“She was your neighbour, Ariel Greene. Friends with your roommate Steve.”
Was his neighbour. Steve, the man Ariel had said she was going to call. He tested both names. Nothing.
Damn it!
“And the man?”
“Richard Dockett.”
Recognition sparked. “He’s in construction.”
His father’s face lit up. “And helped you start your company.”
Okay, that didn’t ring any bells. His company? He had a company? What the hell was happening there if he was in here?
“Don’t worry, son. Richard is keeping an eye on everything for you.”
He relaxed a bit. He may not remember him right out, but he did recall something about him. And he liked and trusted him. The doctor checked him again, asked some annoying questions then made notes on his chart before leaving.
“Dad?”
“Yes, son?”
“How are you affording to stay here?” His parents weren’t wealthy.
“Mr Dockett put us up. Refused to even discuss payment. Just said parents shouldn’t have to worry about money when their child is in the hospital.”
Richard stepped back in the room, leaning heavily on his cane. He didn’t speak but then, he didn’t need to—he demanded attention just by walking in the door. He approached the bed as Tuck watched his parents embrace by the window.
“How are you doing, Pierce?”
“Feel like shit.”
“Understandable.”
“I’m told you put up my parents and took care of my work while I’ve been here. Thank you.”
“Not a need to thank me, son. You focus on recovering. Your jobs are coming fine. Drake’s stepped up big and is handling it all. Man’s great with everything, it’s like he’s been doing it forever. You’re going to love your house. It’s just about done. Then they paint and lay carpet and you’ll be able to move in.”