Letters of Love (Green Division Series Book #3) (20 page)

“Mmmm.” Aubrey opened her eyes and smiled at Ben.  “Morning.”  Even though it was mid-afternoon.

“Morning.”  Ben pushed a strand of hair from her eyes.  “Today was amazing.”

“I can’t argue that.”  Aubrey wrapped her leg around Ben’s and rested against his side.

“Was it worth ending your three year streak?”

“Hell yes.”  Aubrey patted his chest and smiled.

“Did it change your perception about anything?”  Ben asked hopeful.

“Don’t do this right now.”  Aubrey didn’t want to discuss their now very complex relationship.

Ben nodded his head and tried to accept the reality, but couldn’t. 

“Will you talk to me about whatever is holding you back?”

“I can’t.”  Aubrey sat up in bed.  “I told you that before we did this.”  The realization that she’d made a colossal mistake began to settle in.

“You can trust me, God don’t you know that by now?”

“We should check on Tiffy.”  Aubrey tried to change the topic.

“I already called Jack.  She’s awake and in good spirits.  Talk to me.”

Aubrey rose out of bed and collected her clothing.

“We should go see her.”

“Aubrey—”

“No.”  Aubrey said firmly.  “I told you before we did this that I didn’t want more.  Don’t complicate this.”

“It’s too late.” Ben rose to his feet and took Aubrey in a firm hold.  “That might not have been our intention, but it is a fact.  You know I love you.”

“Stop saying that.”  Aubrey pushed him back and began to dress.  Ben slid his pants on as well.

“Well I do.”

“What do you want Ben?  For me to tell you I love you too?  I can’t do that.”  Aubrey wiped her face frustrated by his persistence.

Ben nodded his head dejected.  “I can’t do this anymore either.  I can’t be just friends with you, Aubrey.  I can’t go back.  I want more.”

Aubrey looked at Ben’s hurt eyes.

“I can’t give you more.”  She walked into the living room, Ben trailing behind her.

“Tell me, Aubrey.  Tell me the truth, I’ll understand—whatever it is.”

“No, you won’t.”  She opened the doorway and held it for Ben.  “I need to get ready for work and you need to leave, now.  Call and let me know how Tiffy is when you visit her.”

Ben walked onto her porch, the remainder of Ben’s uniform in his hands.  Aubrey didn’t give him enough time to fully dress.

“You have Jack’s number.”  Ben said dryly.  “Call him yourself.”

“I told you Ben, I told you I didn’t want more.  Why did you have to do this?”  Aubrey was angry with him.

“Because I love you.”  Ben said emotionless then turned his back, walked down the stairs, and left.

“Ben…why did you have to do this,” Aubrey asked and crumbled onto the couch.

After composing herself the best she could, Aubrey prepared for work and out the door she went. 

She dialed Jack on her long commute.  Both Jack and Joanne were deep in guilt upon finding out why Tiffy ran away.  They talked for nearly a half hour, until Ben arrived.  Aubrey hurried off the phone upon merely hearing his voice in the background.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

A week later.

“Good to have you home.”  Ben kissed Tiffy’s cheek.

“Glad to be home.  I hate that hospital.”

Ben pulled a blanket from the back of their couch and covered her with it.

“Have you talked to Aubrey?”

“We’ve been busy,” Ben fibbed.

“When are the Three Musketeers going to
ride again?”

“We’ve been busy with work, but we both still see you.”

“Not together.”

“Maybe we will soon.”

“Okay.”

“I have to go to work kiddo, but I’ll call you every night and I’ll see you in a few days.”

Tiffy sighed and puckered her lips.

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too honey.”  Ben kissed her cheek and left for work.  Another four days in Ridgewood.

*****

“How are you doing?”  Jill passed Aubrey a cup of coffee while the two worked at the bakery.

“Better.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“No.  What is there to say?”

“You could start with saying, I don’t know…I’m sorry I was such a flaky bitch.”

“Thanks Jill.”

“The man told you he loved you and you flaked out!”

“What was I supposed to do?  Look how Junior reacted.  Ben would be no different.”

“Junior was always an ass.  That just brought out his true ass-ed-ness.”

“Ass-ed-ness?”

“I’m good at creating words.”

The two worked at painting the back room of the bakery.  Once they finished the painting all that remained was the floors to be laid and the equipment to be installed.

“I’m proud of you for sleeping with him.”

“Thanks…I think.”

“You haven’t had sex in three years, I mean damn Aubrey that was a big step.  You did your therapist proud.”

“I’m sure he’d be proud of that…”

“And it was good.”

“Too damn good.  I forgot what I’d been missing all these years.”

“SO TALK TO HIM.”

“Drop it.”

“Fine.”  Jill went back to painting.  “But you are wrong on this one.”

“Stop.”

“You love him too.”

“I don’t.”

“You do.  Don’t lie to me.  I know you too well.”

Aubrey stood beside her and began painting once again.

“Even if I did, it doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters.  You deserve happiness Aub.”

“I don’t feel happy.”

“Maybe it’s time you change that.

*****

“Looking good in green.”  Kip teased Ben at their division headquarters.  “Finally looking like a man.”

“We’ve been over this bud, I’ll always be more man that you.”

“Always doing that, cheap shot.” 

Ben smiled at young Kip. 

“How are you liking the new gig?”  Kip worked on a report at the desk next to his.

“Loving it.  Once I get moved up there it’ll be easier.  I’m not enjoying the sleeping arrangements and commute.”

“You got the good slot bud.  Minus the lack of civilization.”

“Yeah.”  And it was hours away from his family and everything he knew.  “I have it good.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Another month passed.

Fall had settled in Maine.  Deep hues of orange and red colored the plentiful trees as far as the eye could see in all directions. 

“There.
” Ben pointed quietly to a group of hunters dressed in all camouflage, wearing no hunter orange.  With scruffy beards and dirty attire they looked like anything but honest men.  One was in his twenties, the other two appeared to be in their upper forties.

“What are the odds they have a license,” Kip whispered back.  Having Kip train Ben was a bad idea.  The two had far too much fun together.

“None,” Ben answered. “Should we wait?”

“Let’s give them a few minutes.”

Just then there was a shuffling in the woods and one of the three men took aim at something behind them. 

POW

A deer dropped no more than fifty yards to the side of Ben and Kip.

Ben and Kip sprinted from the trees together.

“Warden Service!”  Ben announced their presence.

“Jesus!” One of the three men jumped at the sight of them.
 

“Unload your weapons
now,” Kip instructed the hunters.  They did so.

“Where is your hunter orange gentlemen?” Ben asked.

“We were just taking a leisurely stroll in the woods.”  The young smartass in the troupe chimed in.

“Not the attitude I would use right now,” Ben said sternly.  “Hunting licenses.”

All three looked at one another with the same guilty glare.

“You men don’t have hunting licenses?”
 

“We forgot them?”  The young one tried to be cute.

Kip pulled out his phone. 

“Want to
swing up our way?”  Kip asked his superior.

“Where are you guys?”  Mike asked

“Off of Dresden Road in Lynn Township.”
 

“What have you guys got?”

“Three poachers, no licenses, no orange, dead deer.
 I’m thinking our boys are felons to top it off.”

“Good job.  I’ll be there in about twenty, I’m not too far out.”

“Thanks Sarge.”

“ID’s.”  Ben demanded.  

“I don’t have mine,” the young kid said.

“Neither do I,” m
an number two said meekly.

“Me either,” m
an three said.

“Convenient.”
 Kip looked at Ben.  

“You come with me.”  Ben pointed to the kid of the group, the shooter.  “What’s your name?”

“Liam.”  The kid kicked at the ground.

“Last name.”

“Jondreau.”

“Date of birth.”

He rattled it
off, he was all of twenty-one.

“What’s the deal?  Why don’t you have a hunting license?  Tell me the truth, I’m going to find out one way or another.”

“I’m not allowed to have a gun.”  He exhaled loudly.

“Why?”

“I’m a felon.”  

Their hunch was right.

Ben’s phone buzzed in his pocket.  One of the rare occasions when his cell phone worked in the remote terrain.  It was Jack.

“You need to get here.”

“What’s going on?”  Ben stepped aside keeping an eye on Liam and the other two men.