Authors: Aliyah Burke
different message for Kacy. Her body was on his menu.
Trembling, Kacy got behind the wheel as Ernst buckled up Adam in
the back before sitting in the front passenger‘s eat. Driving them to a family
restaurant, she kept one eye on Adam who looked like he was dozing.
Ernst reached across the middle console and held her hand. He sent
her a gentle smile when she met his gaze.
Adam walked between them as they entered the restaurant. Kacy
watched as Ernst took over. He asked Adam which seat he preferred. Then
men were side by side in the booth and Ernst helped Adam decide what he
was going to have.
Kacy handed Ernst her keys after their meal so he could drive. As
they were on the road back to the orphanage, Adam had fallen asleep, jarred
only by coughing spells.
Back at St. Lucia‘s, Kacy woke up the little boy. ―Come on, Adam.
Time to get up.‖
Sluggish still, Adam climbed out of the car. ―I had a great time,
thanks.‖ His young voice was raspy from all his coughing.
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―Me, too, sweetie, me too.‖ Kacy said, trying hard to smile.
Adam looked at Ernst and went for a hug. His skinny arms slid
around Ernst‘s neck as the man bent down level to the child. ―Thanks, Ernst.‖
―You are so very welcome. I had a great time.‖ Ernst said, smiling as
he hugged Adam back.
Adam pulled away and walked to Kacy, holding out his arms. Kacy
dropped to her knees and pulled him in. ―I love you, Adam,‖ she whispered.
―Love you, too, Kacy.‖ He kissed her cheek. ―Thank you.‖
―See you soon,‖ Kacy said in a quiet voice. She pulled back when he
didn‘t respond. His eyes were sad, but he smiled when she looked at him.
―Yeah,‖ he responded faintly. ―I‘m kinda tired; I‘m gonna go lay
down.‖
―Okay, baby.‖ Kacy stole one more kiss and released him. Adam
moved towards the nun waiting for him, looking exhausted and frail.
Ernst stood by Kacy as they waved to Adam, his arm around her
shoulders. ―Let‘s go, sweetheart.‖ He put her solemn body in the passenger
side and slid behind the wheel and drove.
He took them to a park. Getting out, he held out his hand for her to
hold. ―Come take a walk with me.‖
For a while, they strolled in silence. Holding hands, he led them
down a path that followed a winding stream.
C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N
―Thanks for letting me come along today,‖ Ernst broke the silence.
―I know it meant a lot to Adam to have you with him today,‖ Kacy
responded. At the arch of one pale brow she added with an easy smile, ―And
to me.‖
―That is what I wanted to hear.‖ He brushed her lips with his. Just as
he pulled her in closer, a beeping noise filled the air. ―Damn,‖ Ernst swore as
he grabbed his beeper and looked at the number.
―What‘s wrong?‖ Kacy asked.
―I have to go. We have to leave.‖ His tone was urgent yet calm.
―Okay,‖ she said immediately. They swiftly moved back up the path
to her waiting car. She reached for the keys and slid behind the wheel,
turning over the powerful engine.
Ernst admired the way she took his news without flinching. His ad-
miration only grew as she drove her car on the open road. The trees flew by
in a flash as she pushed the envelope to get him back to his truck. ―Are you
going to miss me?‖ he asked over the roar of her engine.
Flashing him a smile that held a hint of sadness she nodded. ―I am.‖
―Good.‖ He touched her cheek with one hand. ―I‘m glad. I will miss
you as well,
schätzchen
.‖
Her smile turned shy and she blushed. Her eyes stayed on the road
as she took them into town. ―That‘s good to know.‖
Pulling into her drive, she parked on the side so he could get his
truck out. ―Here we are,‖ she said and she climbed out of the car.
Not moving into the now-open garage, Ernst gathered her into his
arms. ―Give me a kiss for luck.‖
Kacy smiled. ―Do you need it?‖ She arched an eyebrow. ―Like last
time.‖
He grinned softly, remembering when he‘d first asked the question
in Hawaii, but noting these were far more serious stakes. ―Oh, yeah,‖ he
vowed. ―I need it.‖
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Lifting her lips to his, she kissed him, pouring into that one kiss all of
her feelings for him. He felt her gratitude for what he had done for her and
her sorrow that he was leaving. And even the love she wasn‘t quite ready to
admit out loud.
Reluctantly, he drew away from her mouth. ―I have to go, swee-
theart.‖ He kissed her one more time. ―Don‘t forget me.‖
―I won‘t,‖ she said in a soft voice. ―Stay safe.‖ Kacy was blinking
back tears.
One strong finger caressed her full bottom lip as his eyes stroked the
rest of her. ―I will do my best. Goodbye,
liebling
.‖ He dropped his hand and
walked to his truck, got in, and drove it out of her garage. As he pulled away
from her house, he saluted her briefly with two fingers.
Kacy stayed busy while he was gone. She worked hard and kept her-
self occupied as much as she could. Every Sunday she spent with Adam. It
had been six weeks since Ernst had kissed her and driven off, and she missed
him so much more than she cared to admit. She went to her meetings and
stayed strong, not wavering in her decision to try a relationship with Ernst.
Monday night she sat eating a quiet dinner when the phone rang.
The two words that reached her ears made her heart drop to her feet. ―It‘s
Adam.‖
Kacy kept repeating those two words over in her head. She drove as
if Lucifer himself were after her. Pushing her car to its limit, she tore to St.
Matthew‘s Hospital. Squealing into a visitor‘s spot, she headed for the doors
at a run, barely remembering to lock her car.
At the admittance desk she waited impatiently for the woman to ac-
knowledge her. ―Can I help you?‖ the question finally came.
―I‘m here to see Adam from St. Lucia‘s.‖ Kacy paused for a deep
breath. ―He was just brought in.‖
The deadpan eyes softened just a tiny bit. ―Are you Kacy?‖
―Yes,‖ Kacy said as dread filled her heart.
―Exam three. It will be on your right.‖ The nurse responded, pointing
in the direction Kacy needed to take.
―Thank you,‖ she replied as her legs took her to where Adam lay.
Knocking briefly before entering, Kacy stepped into the room. Moni-
tors beeped loudly, cutting through the otherwise silent domicile.
―He‘s been asking for you.‖ The whisper came from Sister Angela
who had risen from her seat beside Adam the moment Kacy entered.
With a kiss for the nun, Kacy moved to the bed where Adam rested.
His skin was pasty in appearance and covered with sweat. Breathing was
shallow and raspy. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him.
―Adam?‖ Kacy said as she wiped a cloth over his face.
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Those soulful brow eyes were weary as they opened at her voice.
―Kacy?‖ he coughed out.
―Right here, Adam, I‘m right here.‖ Kacy sat in the chair beside the
hospital bed that seemed too big for the body it cradled.
―I‘m scared,‖ Adam said, reaching for her hand.
―Of what? I‘m here. Sister Angela is here; the lights are on,‖ Kacy
spoke softly.
―I was scared you weren‘t coming.‖
―Have I never not come back?‖ Kacy asked her usual question, trying
to pretend she wasn‘t frightened as well.
―No,‖ he grated out. ―You always come back.‖
―And I always will,‖ she vowed as her hand moved softly over his
clammy face. ―And I always will.‖
Ernst wanted to see Kacy so bad. They had been gone for six weeks.
One task would end, then and another would line up.
In a black tee shirt and olive green BDUs, he drove to her house. She
hadn‘t answered her house phone or her cell.
Maybe
, he thought,
she had
decided to have a relationship with someone who was around more
. Pulling into the
drive, he hopped out, anxious to look at the face of the woman he loved and
had thought about totally for the last six weeks.
Jogging up the front steps, he rang her doorbell. Nothing. A frown
crossed his handsome face as he knocked. ―Kacy?‖
―She‘s not there,‖ a voice said.
Those pale eyes swung toward the sound and found her neighbor
Mrs. Wilder standing at the edge of her property. ―Do you know where she is
or when she‘ll be back?‖
Sadness crossed her weathered face. ―Don‘t know when, but I know
where. She‘s at St. Matthew‘s Hospital.‖ Ernst‘s heart plummeted. ―That
orphan boy is in there.‖
―Adam?‖ he asked.
Oh, dear God!
―Thank you so much,‖ Ernst said as
he bolted for his truck.
Kacy stood listening to the doctor as Sister Angela sat with Adam.
Her eyes were full of unshed tears. ―Thank you, Doctor,‖ she said, shaking
his hand.
Adam was watching her as she sat back down on the stool by his
head. ―Do you want anything?‖ He just shook his head and reached for her
hand.
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A few moments passed and the only noise was the child‘s harsh
breathing and the beeps and pings of the machines hooked up to Adam.
―Kacy?‖
―Yes, Adam?‖ Kacy put her intense eyes on him. She loved this child
so much it hurt.
―I‘m glad you are my friend.‖
―Me, too, little man. Me too.‖ She ran a loving hand down his face.
―So glad.‖
His body tensed and Kacy knew he was trying not to cough. ―I
wish…I wish you could have been my mother.‖
―So do I.‖ A fresh wave of tears filled her eyes. This time, they flowed
down her smooth cheeks. She knew he only talked about a mother when he
was in lots of pain.
The lifelessness in his eyes gave way to a spark of emotion. ―Ernst,‖
Adam said as another bout of coughing attacked him.
Kacy jerked her eyes to the door. There he stood. Larger than life.
Black shirt, green pants, and black shiny boots on his feet. Six feet, two inches
of Germany‘s finest—Ernst Zimmermann.
His ghostlike eyes filled with tenderness as he ran them over her
body. Stepping fully into the room he said, ―Sister,‖ nodding at the nun. Then
he approached the bed. ―Hey, Sport,‖ Ernst addressed Adam as his hand
caressed the back of Kacy‘s neck. Looking into Kacy‘s copper eyes, he put his
index finger under her chin and brushed their lips together.
Adam reached for one of Ernst‘s hands and the Navy SEAL walked
around to the other side of the bed so the boy didn‘t have to strain himself.
―Thanks for coming to see me Ernst,‖ Adam forced out between coughs.
―I just got back and wanted to see my favorite kid. Hey, we still have
some camping to do. I brought you something.‖ Ernst dug into a pocket on
his leg and pulled out a wrapped gift. ―Here you go.‖
Adam smiled his adorable smile and took it. Tired hands tore away
the black paper. His large eyes grew wide as he stared upon his gift. It was a
small astrology book, Adam loved the stars. ―Wow,‖ he breathed. ―Will you
take me out to see the stars, Ernst?‖ His eyes were big and full of hope.
―Absolutely, Sport.‖ Ernst met Kacy‘s eyes. She knew he knew Adam
didn‘t look good.
―Did you see, Kacy?‖ Adam coughed. ―Did you see what he gave
me?‖
She wiped away her tears. ―I sure did, Adam.‖
His coughing became horrific for a few moments. Kacy sat him up
and rubbed his back while he endured it.
―I‘m tired, Kacy,‖ the small voice said as he sipped on some water
she held for him.
Kacy gathered his hand in one of hers and kissed the back of it. ―I
know, baby. I know.‖
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―Kacy?‖ he whispered as one hand held his gift and the other held
her hand.
―What, Adam?‖ The tears falling were ignored.
―Promise,‖ his voice was growing weaker. ―Promise me.‖
―Anything you want,‖ Kacy said.
―I want my picture,‖ he said.
Before Kacy could ask what picture, Sister Angela handed her the
one of Adam, herself, and Ernst that was taken the day they‘d gone riding
together. ―He has kept it with him since that day,‖ the nun whispered before
leaving them alone.
―That was one of the best days ever,‖ he coughed out. His eyes were
full of exhaustion as they moved from Kacy to Ernst.
―Mine too,‖ Kacy and Ernst responded at the same time.
―I felt like I had a family. A mom and a dad.‖ Letting go of the gift,
he took a hold of Ernst‘s hand and placed it on top of Kacy‘s. Then he held
his gift again. ―Promise me, Kacy,‖ he begged as his small fingers tightened
on hers.
―Anything,‖ she pledged.
―Don‘t forget me. I‘m scared you will forget me.‖
―I will
never
forget you. You are a part of me forever, Adam. Forev-
er,‖ Kacy swore.
―I wanted to be an electric like you. But I‘m so tired,‖ he forced out.
―Then rest, sweetheart. Rest.‖ Kacy bit her lower lip as she watched
his eyes land on her face.
―I love you, Kacy. Don‘t leave me. I‘m scared.‖
―I‘m right here, Adam. I‘m not going anywhere. I promise.‖
―Don‘t let them put me in the dark.‖ His voice was barely over a