Masters at Arms (Rescue Me Saga, #0.5)(14)

“That’s really not necessary, sir. I don’t mind—”

“It’s done. The least we can do after all you’ve done for us.”

Luckily, Daddy didn’t add to her embarrassment by spelling out to everyone at the table why they felt they owed this Marine something. But she and her parents knew. All her fault. A few hours ago, she’d have been thrilled to know Adam would be with her another day. Now she didn’t even know what to say or do with him.

Karla had teetered on the verge of crying since she’d been rejected by Adam on the front porch. Of course, she didn’t want to break up his happy marriage or anything. But he could have at least given her a little kiss to remember him by. She’d never find anyone like him to love ever again.

Adam continued to avoid looking at her. He didn’t eat much either, not even the casserole she’d made for him. Another rejection. More tears.

Grandma began sharing stories about her latest cruise and Karla zoned out until she heard Adam’s name.

“Adam, have you ever been to Mexico?” Grandma asked.

“Yes, ma’am. My wife and I went to Cabo San Lucas on a second honeymoon about ten years ago.” He cleared his throat. “Beautiful place.”

Well, even if he wasn’t happily married, he wouldn’t wait for you to grow up, Kitty. No, he was so handsome, he could have any woman he wanted. Besides, he didn’t even know she existed. Karla felt the lump growing in her throat and put her useless fork down. She hoped this nightmare dinner would end soon so she could escape to her room and have a good cry.

Why had she so embarrassed herself on the porch? She needed to make conversation before her Mom hauled her into the kitchen for having such bad manners. Karla looked up at Adam. “I’ll bet you miss her a lot.”

His eyes got sad again and he looked down at his plate. “More than you’ll ever know.”

Yeah, he loved her. She was a very lucky lady. As if to keep from having to say more, he took a small bite of her casserole. She smiled.

Mom said, “Karla, your broccoli casserole gets better every year.”

Adam looked up at her as he chewed, smiling across the table. “Best I’ve ever had.”

Karla’s tummy squeezed tight and she smiled back.

After the dinner plates had been cleared, mom pulled out the Quiddler cards and dictionaries and everyone at the table played. Adam was pretty good at it, but Karla beat him in the last round with the word “domination.” That was the best word she’d ever gotten in the stupid game!

The next day went by in a blur, but Karla could never get Adam alone to apologize for her stupid scene. By the time she stood in the airport terminal saying goodbye, tears spilled down her cheeks. Her father already had said goodbye and thanked him, then had to go to his office at the other end of the terminal to check on some emergency.

Saying goodbye wasn’t easy. “Adam, please forget what I said on the porch. I was just being a stupid teenager. But I’ll never forget you. Thanks for rescuing me.”

He shuffled his feet, then seemed to decide something and met her gaze. “Karla, I know you aren’t going to understand this, but you’re the one who saved my life. I’d lost sight of what I needed…what was important to me since…well….”

She thought she saw a glint of tears in his eyes, but none fell. He looked down at the floor again. After a moment, he continued. His voice sounded like he’d swallowed sandpaper. When he looked into her eyes again, those freaky butterflies returned to her stomach.

“If you hadn’t shown up in that bus station two nights ago, Karla, I don’t know what…. I was heading back to the war without the fire in my belly. It’s my job to make sure my units survive their next missions and I….” He rubbed the back of his neck.

She wished she could give him a neck rub to calm him. He seemed so upset. Then his words registered. Oh, no! He was going to Afghanistan or Iraq. She was sure of it. That’s all she heard in the news now. Ian might be going to one of those places, too. They both might get killed!

Tears spilled down her cheeks again. Good thing she didn’t wear mascara. She’d known she was going to cry when she said goodbye, just not how much. Suddenly, it was important that she not lose track of Adam. His wife and family would write to him, but Karla needed to know he was okay, too. He’d become such an important part of her life in the last two days.

“Can I—?” She cleared the frog from her throat. “Can I write to you, Adam?”

His gaze met hers and she thought he was going to say no, then he smiled—another really sad one. She bet he didn’t think she’d actually follow through, because she’d acted like such a selfish teenager ever since he’d met her. But she would. Every day.

Well, at least once a week.

“I’d like that.”

Before he changed his mind, she reached into her purse and pulled out a treble-clef-shaped writing pad. She wrote his name—well, he had to spell his last name for her—and then his APO address. Ian had an APO, too.

Well, duh, Kitty. All soldiers have those.

She vowed to herself she would also bake goodies to send them both. “Do you like brownies?”

He got that look where she knew he wasn’t thinking about her anymore. Then he smiled. “Yeah. With peanut butter.”