Chapter 19

Emmett

Monday morning, I found Autumn and Penelope having breakfast in the main house. Penelope, who had gotten too much sun, yawned big as I walked in the back door and then took a bite of her pastry.

Autumn smiled when she saw me. “Hey, Emmett. We’re dragging this morning. I blame the two bags of cotton candy and the late-night game of hide and seek.” She brought a piece of toast to the table and sat down to spread it with butter.

“Sorry. I guess we let the excitement of the day get the best of us.”

She gave me another smile that was interrupted by a big yawn. “No more sweets and late-night parties on a school night, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I gave her a salute and sat down with her at the counter. I had hoped that she would come to my bed again, and while I was disappointed, I wouldn’t complain. I knew that she was worn out from the busy day.

“It’s fend for yourself this morning. I hope you don’t mind.” She pointed to the kitchen behind her. “There’s milk and cereal, toast and fruit, eggs in the fridge, or frozen pancakes. I’ll let you decide which you want.”

“Take the cereal. I wish I had.” Penelope broke off another piece of the pastry and put it in her mouth. She was moving as slow as a slug, and I got up and headed to the counter to find something to feed my face.

Autumn bit her toast and then wiped her mouth. “I thought you might want to take my car today. So, we’ll get Pen to school, and then you can drop me off at work.”

“I can call an Uber if you want.” I reached for a bowl and poured some cereal. Then I went to the fridge for the milk and topped it off.

“I don’t mind. You can come pick me up when you’re done, and Pen is going to Paisley’s anyway for a playdate.”

Finding a spoon, I made my way back to the bar. “Okay, but I can’t promise how long it will take.”

“I can get a ride home, and Paisley’s mom is going to bring Pen home after dinner. It will be fine, I promise.”

I hated to take her car and leave her stranded at her office, but I knew I needed to get down to the base where my sergeant was going to meet up with me. Today was the day I’d find out more about what happened with the accident, and hopefully, I’d have all of my military life behind me. Once I finished filling out my discharge papers and completed my final physical, I’d be finished.

I had been ready to move forward as soon as I’d gotten my degree. I’d spent years taking my time to figure out what I wanted to do, and as soon as I did, I worked my ass off to get there before the time for my next reenlistment contract.

I was thankful to be alive. I had another chance at life, as well as another chance with Autumn. I also had a second chance with my brother, who I owed a debt of gratitude for bringing me home to the two beautiful creatures who were sitting before me.

An hour later, we dropped Penelope off at school, and we were finally all alone. Autumn reached over and held my hand on the console. “Alone at last.” She giggled, and I lifted her hand to my lips.

“I missed you last night.”

“I missed you, too, but you know I have to be careful with Penelope. She’s really missing her dad, and I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to replace him in her life.”

“I completely get it, and I know you were tired last night, but I sure miss holding you.” I squeezed her hand and then stopped at the end of the road. “Which way do I go?”

“We’re downtown now. It’s a new building.”

Their company had moved to a much better part of town. “Things certainly are doing well, then. I can’t wait to start.”

She grinned and leaned closer. “I’m glad. I can’t wait too; we’ll have to do lunch together every day.”

“You’ll have to show me off.” I stroked her wrist with my thumb and then looked down to make sure it wasn’t her burned wrist.

“I’m keeping you all to myself.” She reached up and cupped my face, giving my goatee a stroke.

“Oh, I see how it is.” I chuckled. “You know I’m going to depend on you. You’ll be my senior buddy, and I’ll be your freshman.”

“Fresh meat. I like it.” She leaned on the console and then kissed my cheek. “I’m afraid you’ll get a bit of attention from the other ladies, too. Would you care if I kept you all to myself?”

“Not at all. I’m not interested in other ladies.” I searched her eyes, and she seemed so sincere that I felt bad. Not that I would show her pity and make her feel awkward, but that Jason had done such a number on her.

It got quiet as we got closer to downtown, but it was a nice and comfortable silence instead of awkward or uneasy.

“Turn here.” She pointed at the street and then gestured to the first right, which I had already seen was the entrance. “I guess this is where I get off.”

“No, Autumn. That’s later.” I gave her a wink, and she poked my arm playfully.

“You’re impossible, but I hope you’re right.” She motioned for me to pull over, and she gave me a quick kiss and then got out of the car, looking both ways as if to see if anyone saw her.

I headed back across town toward the highway that would lead me the two hours to Camp Lejeune where I’d end my military career right where it started.

I reported to the office, and after being asked to have a seat, I sat down and waited for my sergeant to arrive. I’d known Sgt. Derek Phelps for most of my military career and was glad that he’d be the one to see me off.

“Hello, Sgt. Burke.”

“You don’t know how nice it is to hear that, Sergeant.” I stood and gave the man a salute. “I’ve been called mister for the past few weeks.”

“Yeah, your brother put in a hardship request, so we honored it, not thinking you’d make it.”

“Oh, ye of little faith. Here I am, alive and well.” We both took a seat, and I hoped we’d get down to business so I could ask what happened to my friends.

“Well, we didn’t want to make things any harder on them. They wanted you close to home, and we obliged. As for mister, you need to get used to that. You’ve already been discharged. Honorably, of course.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you. You know you’re set to receive a few medals. You not only saved Sgt. Hardin, but you saved a few others by showing them the way out.”

“I don’t remember too much, other than taking Hardin out and being shot. I wasn’t sure that he wasn’t killed. I was glad you gave me an update on him.”

“I’m glad that it all worked out and you’re here today. I’m afraid the others from that attack have already been awarded their medals, but I was waiting on the off-chance that you pulled through. I don’t mean any disrespect, but I checked into your brother’s records and decided that based on his past, I didn’t want to leave them with him until you had a proper burial or came to get them.”

“I appreciate that.” There was no telling what my brother would have done with them, and I’d probably had never seen them.

“Well, in honor of your recovery, and since you missed the big ceremony, I have plans in place to give you a private ceremony to present the medals. With you being a hometown boy and all, we thought it would be a nice gesture.” He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out my file, and then handed me a stack of papers.

“Thank you. I’m not sure I’ll have any family to attend.” I knew I could ask Autumn and Penelope to come, but I doubted Paul would give a shit.

“You have your military family.” He looked up and smiled as he offered me a pen. “You need to complete these, give me your final signature, and then report to the medic for your final physical.” He thumbed through the papers. “This is going to be your disabled veteran paperwork, so make sure to read over that carefully, and if you have any questions about that, just ask.”

Disabled veteran? I hadn’t really thought of how I’d label myself in the civilian world, but I guessed that fit. “There’s more paperwork going out than in.”

“Yes, sir, and don’t forget the Transition Assistance Program. Once you’ve completed the TAP class, you’ll be finished with your out-processing.”

“I did forget about that. How many hours will that take?”

“I’m afraid it’s a matter of a few days. However, you can attend starting tomorrow, so you’ll be done by the end of the week.”

“Oh, good. I’ll have to arrange transportation, but it’s best I get it done this week. I start a new job on Monday.”

“Yes, you’ll be ready to go. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.” He gave a soft laugh.

“I guess you could say that.” Things had heated up nicely between me and Autumn.

He leaned in on the desk, steepling his fingers. “I was surprised to hear you didn’t need the room I arranged.”

“I had a better offer from an old friend of mine. She heard I was wounded and came to see me. Apparently, someone put my picture in the paper.” I wondered if he knew anything about that.

“Well, you are a local hero.” He shrugged. “It’s no surprise that the ladies will be all over that.” He chuckled.

“I’ve been in love with her since we were kids, actually. I’m kind of hoping this could be a fresh start together.” I didn’t know why I was opening up so much with Derek, but he gave me a look of genuine admiration and held out his hand.

“I wish you the best of luck, Sergeant. It might just be the reason you’re alive.” I shook his hand and then went back to filling out my paperwork.

I couldn’t help but think about fresh starts, and I knew Paul was going to be a big part of that if I could help it. If there was a reason I was alive, it was not only to be with Autumn for the rest of my life but to make things right with my brother.