Chapter Thirty-Nine

Xander

 

I stared up the mountain from the parking lot below. The trees had filled in quickly as summer approached, making it impossible to see the cabin that sat at the peak. Bailey’s hand slid into mine as she leaned her head on my shoulder.

“I’m really proud of you,” she whispered.

I was proud of me, too.

It had been a long three months, but with Bailey by my side, she made the hard work worth it. I squeezed her hand gently and turned away from my secluded home on the mountain.

“You ready to go?” I smiled.

We walked to her car hand in hand, stopping at the driver’s side door for a quick kiss before I helped her inside.

“The kids are going to love you,” she said sweetly as I slid into the passenger side of her car.

It felt odd letting her drive me and not being behind the wheel of my own truck. She insisted, saying she had a stop to make before we got to the school and it was best that she drove.

It was the first time in months that I’d been down the mountain, other than a few quick trips to town for supplies. The therapist I’d been connected to insisted that I make the trips myself and not allow Bailey to bring me anything on her trips up. She was right. Bailey didn’t need to load her backpack down with water, whiskey, and other items I needed from town. I was a grown ass man, and it was my responsibility.

“Do you miss the kids?” I asked, watching Bailey’s expression turn serious as she pulled from the parking lot.

She hadn’t told me what the other stop was, and I didn’t ask. I trusted her.

“I do. It’s going to be great to see them again,” she gushed, her expression softening. “I’ll enjoy teaching online though. It’ll give me more freedom to be at the cabin more during the winter.”

I’d spent all morning running cable and finding the perfect spot for the modem in order to get a faster Internet connection at the cabin. I was amazed that she’d taken the job once the school year ended and that she’d taken it to spend more time with me. I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed.

We drove along the curvy road that took us straight into town. We passed the hardware store and the market where I purchased supplies, the only two places I’d ever stepped foot inside. Now, she had me talking to a group of elementary kids about the military and what it was like being a Navy SEAL. I knew they’d all have their little hands shoved in the air, asking question after question. I was nervous, scared to death actually, but I didn’t want her to know that. I wanted to be the strong man she was so proud of.

“We’re here,” she turned the car into a small cemetery.

We drove through the large black gates and towards the back of the grounds. My heart raced, knowing what she was doing and appreciating that she wanted me there.

She turned to me, her eyes wide and filled with tears.

“I want you to meet the man that helped push me into your arms,” she chirped.

“I would be honored,” I smiled, gripping her hand in mine.

She reached in the back seat and grabbed a bundle of newspaper. When she pulled it up to the front, I noticed the wild flowers wrapped inside. They were mostly the green ones that matched her eyes, mixed with a few blue ones, wrapped in the politics section of the paper.

“He loved to gripe about the news,” she chuckled, sliding from her seat to the pavement.

I followed her, watching her approach a tall double headstone with the name Martin engraved on top. Pictures were on either side, one of her father dressed in his military blues, and another of a woman, strikingly resembling Bailey.

“Is that your mother?” I gasped, taking a step back to admire the resemblance.

She nodded with a smile, the same one the woman in the picture wore.

“Wow. You look just like her,” I smiled, moving closer to take her hand.

“And this is my father,” she motioned towards the picture of the man in military blues.

“Sir,” I stood tall, saluting the man before me, beneath me.

She introduced us, talking sweetly to her father as she started to cry. She told him how she’d followed his advice, climbed the mountain, and gone after love. It warmed my heart to hear her speak so openly to her father, as if he were still there and she’d brought me home for dinner.

I followed her lead, speaking to the man, thanking him for giving her that push. I promised I’d take care of her, that he’d never have to worry about her here, that I loved her, and I’d never leave her side.

When I turned back to Bailey, she had tears rolling down her cheeks. She knelt down, placed the wrapped flowers by the stone, and then kissed each picture before turning to me.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Thank you,” I replied, honored that she wanted to share this part of her life with me.

I pulled her into my arms, kissing her softly on the cheek. I could taste the saltiness of her tears on my lips as she snuggled into my shoulder. I meant what I said to the man, and I was going to spend the rest of my life keeping that promise.

“Are you ready?” she asked, her bright green eyes staring up at me.

I wasn’t ready. “Yes,” I choked out, forcing a smile on my lips.

“I know this is hard for you,” she chirped.

“It’s harder thinking about not being with you,” I admitted.

My therapist thought this was the perfect opportunity to shake me out of my comfort zone. She was right. I was shaken, and I wasn’t comfortable.

Bailey drove us to the school and held my hand as we entered the front doors. There were more than a dozen men all dressed like me, in their blues, standing at attention, and ready to speak.

It was a summer camp program that the school sponsored each year, and since it was based highly on military life, they always invited veterans, and even some active duty men and women to speak about their experiences.

Bailey briefed me on what not to say before we’d left the mountainside. No talking about death if it can be avoided, no details that could scare the kids, and basically, no reality, no truth. I laughed when she gave me the list, telling her she was sheltering these kids.

“They are young. They can only handle so much truth,” she’d smirked.

I watched the kids being escorted down the hall by their teachers, recognizing Lila right away.

“Hey guys. I’m so glad you’re here,” she stopped and grabbed my hand.

She’d spent a few days at the cabin at the start of summer, and I could see why Bailey loved her so much. She was sweet, fun, and she could cook like a rock star. I was glad she didn’t bring more clam chowder when she visited though, still not wanting to admit I wasn’t a fan.

The kids all entered a large set of doors that Bailey told me led to the auditorium. I knew they were just kids, but there were so many. My palms started to sweat, and I thought about running out of there, but Bailey gripped my hand.

“You’re gonna do great,” she urged.

I smiled, took a deep breath, and calmed myself down using the brain tricks my therapist had given me. I thought about next month, Bailey and I at the cabin, and then next year, Bailey and I in town. As I daydreamed about the future, the present became less frightening. It was a stepping stone to get where I wanted to be and nothing more.

I leaned against the wall, staring in the doors at the crowd of kids. Eventually, they called in all the military men and women that had volunteered to speak.

One by one, we entered the auditorium, and one by one, we were invited to speak. We each had a small notecard that we were to read, a fact about the military branch in which we served. Mine was a quick fact about Navy SEALS making up only one percent of the Navy and a side note about the training that is required to become one of the elite members.

When it was my turn to speak, I nearly choked. I cleared my throat, read my fact, and then panicked as the tiny arms flew into the air almost instantly.

Bailey smiled from the sidelines, offering her support. I called on one of the kids, and then another, and another, until the teacher in charge excused me from my duty. It wasn’t so bad. It was actually fun. The kids had some interesting questions, and luckily, none of them included death or extreme combat.

“I’m so proud of you,” Bailey squealed, wrapping her arms around my neck and covering my face with kisses.

My hands gripped her waist, lifting her from her feet, and twirling her around.

“That wasn’t so bad,” I admitted, still beaming with pride that I’d handled myself that well. “You make me a better man,” I smiled, leaning down to kiss her gently on the lips.