Letters from Home (Love Beyond Reason #1)
Beth Rhodes
To my family—patient, loving, funny husband, Matt, and all the beautiful kids we made, Virginia, Matt, Thomas, Sean, and Darla. You’ve given me room to grow and live my dream. I love you!
Prologue
Zachary Benson was going to be late. His foot tapped the brake impatiently.
Come on, damn it.
“Finally,” he muttered as the vehicle in front of him passed through the gate. When he lowered his window, frigid air filled his rental car. The south, his ass. It was too damn cold this year…everywhere.
“Good afternoon,” the guard at the gate drawled.
Zack smiled, giving the older man a token nod and handing him the ID. The guard turned the card over and studied it. The secret to life isn’t there! As the gate rose, Zack held his hand out and fell just shy of tearing it from the gatekeeper’s hand before he took off.
Elena was leaving any minute. Against his advice, she’d joined the Army. Then she’d gone to med school. Now, she was on her way to one of the most dangerous places in the world.
When she’d called, elated by her own news, it hit him, hard. He couldn’t imagine the thought of her leaving without being able to tell her…
What? He cared? He loved her?
She might laugh in his face. There had never been anything romantic between them before. He’d always been just a friend, her brother’s best friend, practically a member of the family.
He pulled into the parking lot. There were families everywhere, loved ones left behind. He knew her family hadn’t come this far. He pulled into the first open parking spot and checked his watch. 13:12.
He ran.
“Excuse me.” He worked his way through the small crowd until he was stopped short by an MP when he reached the blacktop of the runway. He scanned the line of soldiers entering the plane and searched for a sign of the familiar, dark bun at the back of her neck.
All of the soldiers looked the same. He’d heard it said by his friends and family when they’d come to see him for official stuff. Now, he believed it. Zack squinted against the glare of the midday sun and shaded his eyes with his hand.
God, there she was, talking with one of the other soldiers. Zack caught a glimpse of her profile, confirming it was her. The cheekbones, the perfectly shaped eyebrows over large brown eyes. The full lips. And she laughed at something as they spoke. Happy. There was no other way to describe her. He knew the feeling. The anticipation and love of doing something bigger. She took the first stair, turning halfway around to respond to the man behind her.
And then she was gone. Followed into the fuselage by three more soldiers. The last one gave a glance toward the crowd at the edge of the airfield and waved.
Zack’s throat tightened. His arms felt like lead, heavy at his sides. The burn of anger filled his stomach. You idiot!
What a fool he’d been to wait so long. He’d always thought there would be another day, another chance. Better than anyone else, he should know that wasn’t always true. Stupid.
The door to the plane closed, sealing within it a part of himself he’d never acknowledged before. His heart. He shoved his hands into his pockets, hunched his shoulders against the wind coming off the tarmac, and turned back to his car.
One year. Could he wait that long?
Now, he didn’t have a choice.
Chapter One
Dear Lena
Two months, three days, and six hours until you come home. (No, I’m not counting)
Yesterday, I walked past the school and was reminded of the first time I saw you. You might not remember because you were scolding some bully for picking on a little kid. I always wondered what set you off. You were bigger than life, dark hair flying, mouth running, in Spanish! I had no idea what you were saying, but it didn’t matter, I think that’s when I first fell in love with you…
Elena Rodriguez dropped the well-worn letter into her lap and stared out the tinted window, her stomach twisted into knots. No matter how many times she read it, nerves crept up on her. She didn’t even know who wrote the letter—letters. Thirteen of them, one for every month of her deployment and another for her birthday. What kind of crazy person expected her to meet him, on Christmas morning no less. If he knew her at all, he’d know she was going to church with her family first thing.
“Ay,” she growled under her breath. The passenger next to her shifted, looking at her with a questioning frown. Lena cleared her throat and smiled. “Sorry. Just thinking.”
When she found out who had made her fall in love with him without even telling her his name, she was going to kick his butt…and maybe love him back. She could hope, and maybe she’d find something like her parents had. Strong and enduring.
Cold air washed over her as she stepped off the bus into Northern California’s December mist. The driver pulled her army-green duffle from the cargo bay and set it on the ground at her feet. Her name was stenciled on the side with the last four digits of her social. “Thank you for your service.”
She smiled and shook the hand he offered. “Merry Christmas, sir.”
“Welcome home,” he added, then waved before driving off.
“Lena!” An oh-so-familiar voice rang across Raley’s parking lot, strong and clear—or just plain loud. Heels clattered over the cold cement, and jangling sounds of bracelets filled the air like bells in a Christmas song.