More Than a Soldier Read online

  Audra looped her arm through Edward’s and smiled at Hank. “Sergeant Dexter was on the flight with us. Said his girlfriend was going to pick him up curbside at the airport.”

  Hank looked at Edward. “Same redheaded babe he’s been seeing?”

  “As far as I know, it is. Must be six months now. A record for him.”

  “Excuse me.” Hank and Edward’s mother stepped between them. “Would one of you boys help your father move the grill from the garage to the picnic table by the lake? I saw him struggling with it when I glanced out the kitchen window a second ago.”

  “Sure, Mom.” Edward headed for the patio door with his mother trailing.

  Audra watched until they exited and closed the door behind them. “I’ve got to get back to putting the potato salad together.”

  Hank stood alone with Marcus. “Good, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you in private.”

  “Oh? About what?”

  “Something personal.” Hank motioned with a sideways jerk of his head.

  Marcus followed, sank into the loveseat in the living room, and crossed an ankle onto his knee. “What’s on your mind, Hank?”

  “It was decent of you to officiate at Edward and Audra’s wedding and to travel up here today to baptize Edward in the lake with our parents as witnesses.”

  “I’m honored that he asked me to do both.”

  “I’ve always considered you a mentor when it came to spiritual things—you being an ordained minister and all. When I was still in the unit, you and I had lots of deep discussions about the Bible and what it meant to be a believer. Remember?”

  “Yes, and I enjoyed our conversations.”

  “Me too.” Hank scratched his cheek. “Rev, I believe, understand, and accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us—for me—on the cross, and I’d like to get baptized, but—”

  “But what?”

  “Sometimes it feels hypocritical to consider myself a Christian. I still wrestle with the simplest things. Profanity, for example. It doesn’t take much to knock a curse word out of me. One stub of the toe, and—”

  “O wretched man that I am.” The words flew from Marcus’s mouth with a flare.

  “Huh?”

  “Romans, chapter seven. The apostle Paul bemoaned the fact that his flesh warred against the things of God. He wanted to do what was right and became angry when he did otherwise. As Christians, we don’t go out and purposely do things that offend God. But if we slip, we ask forgiveness and pray for help not to fail again.

  “Face it, Hank.” Marcus leaned forward. “If perfection on our part was required for admission to heaven, no one would get in. We’re sons and daughters of God, not because of how good we are, but because of how good He is.”

  What Marcus said made sense. It also lightened the load of self-inflicted guilt for unintentional mistakes. “In that case, would you mind baptizing me along with Edward?”

  “Nothing would please me more.”

  “Thanks, man.” Hank got up and stuck his hand out for a shake.

  Marcus smiled broadly, rose to his feet, and pulled Hank into a backslapping hug.

  They went outside to the back yard.

  Edward stood near the lake with his arms circling Audra, both of them looking out over the water. At the barbeque grill, Hank’s father shook a bag of charcoal onto the rack, and his mother scurried around the picnic table clipping a checkered tablecloth in place.

  Hank greeted his dad for the first time since arriving then called out to his brother. “Hey, Eddie, guess what? I’m—”

  Edward’s phone rang. He palmed it and looked at the screen. “Hold that thought, Hank. It’s Dexter.

  “Hey, Dex. What’s up? Whoa, man, slow down. My brain’s jogging to catch up. She what? You’re kidding. A fireman, you say?” Edward’s brow arched over his left eye.

  Dexter’s indistinguishable rant drifted from the phone and filled the air like the distant gobbling of a flock of turkeys. Edward walked off a few yards and continued his conversation.

  Hank looked at Marcus. “Wonder what that’s all about?”

  “I’m not sure. After I picked up my rental car last night, I looped around to see if Dexter was still waiting for his girlfriend to pick him up at the terminal. I didn’t see him, so I figured she must have come and got him.”

  Edward returned. “Dexter’s girlfriend called and broke up with him last night. Seems she decided she preferred firemen to soldiers. Dex was bummed out and left stranded at the airport. He rented a car and spent the night in a hotel. Mom, Dad, I hope you don’t mind, but I asked him to come over and stay with us. He should be here in an hour or so.”

  “Of course we don’t mind,” Dad said. “I’m glad you invited him. Sounds like he needs to be around friends.”

  * * * *

  White lettering on a black, oversized mailbox marked the Shultzes’ property as clearly as a street sign. Cindy turned in and followed the winding driveway through the pines until it stopped between a large two-story house and a detached building that housed a two-car garage and what appeared to be a workshop. Straight ahead down a gentle slope, the sun reflected off the surface of a lake.

  She parked next to a camouflage-painted Jeep. Three additional cars sat on the other side of the Jeep, and beyond them, the rolled-up garage door presented a clear view of the back ends of two more vehicles.

  Soft scents of burning charcoal and sunscreen floated on clean, woodsy-fresh air. Cindy went around to the front and rang the doorbell. No one answered after two rings. She knocked. Still, no answer. Peals of laughter rang from behind the house. “Hmm. Everyone must be out back.” She circled to the rear corner of the house and peered around an azalea bush.

  A young blonde wearing a feminine pink tank top and navy shorts sat in a lawn chair rubbing sunscreen on her shoulders while a middle-aged couple stood near a barbeque grill. Four strapping men tossed a Frisbee to each other at lightning speeds—running, jumping, and lobbing playful taunts at one another.

  “You throw like a girl, Dex,” a tall, muscular guy with sandy hair shouted as he ran to catch a wild toss. He caught the disc with a hard snap. Then, with a twist of his shoulder, he called out, “Marcus, heads up!” and sent the Frisbee hurling through the air in a straight path to the targeted man’s waiting hand.

  Cindy smiled to herself. “Nice throw, big boy.”

  Marcus yelled, “LT!” and immediately sent the saucer to a dark-headed player who leaped upward, ripped it out of the air and landed on his feet.

  The one called LT called over to the blonde. “Audra, come play with us.”

  Audra laughed. “You guys are doing fine without me. I’m a terrible Frisbee player.”

  “Aw, come on. You couldn’t do much worse than Dexter.”

  “Hey, now.” Dexter planted his hands on his hips. Everyone laughed.

  LT gave the disc a gentle toss in Audra’s direction. She sprang from her chair and caught it. He motioned for her to throw it back.

  Audra twisted her upper half then uncoiled like a spring. The Frisbee shot toward the heavens, stopped, and changed direction.

  Oh, no! Cindy sidestepped from behind the azalea. The Frisbee bounced off the corner of the house and tumbled to her feet. She picked it up and held it against her belly. All activity stopped. Suddenly, she was the center of everyone’s attention.

  The raven-haired LT jogged over. “Hello, can I help you?”

  Seconds later, Audra joined him. A diamond wedding set sparkled from her left hand. The tall guy who’d thrown a Frisbee like a pro came up behind Audra. Well over six feet tall, he looked over her head with ease.

  Cindy clutched the flying saucer hard. “I’m looking for Edward Levi Giordano.”

  “I’m Edward.” He stared with the slightly squinted eyes of a man processing a deep thought. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”

  Cindy bit her lower lip. Why shouldn’t she look familiar? Same eyes.
Same color hair. The striking family resemblance left no doubt she was looking into the eyes of her flesh-and-blood brother. A ball of emotion rose as a lump in her throat. She set the Frisbee on the azalea bush. “No, we’ve never met. But— But we should have.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.” Edward cast a quizzical glance at Audra, who also wore a pinched-brow look of confusion.

  “I—” Cindy wiped a stray tear with the back of her hand. “I’m your sister, Cin—”

  “Cindy?” Edward couldn’t have sounded more surprised.

  A small sob chirped in her throat. He knew her name? “Yes, I’m Cindy.”

  Edward moved toward her, but seemed unable to find the right words to say.

  Cindy wrung her hands, and her chin quivered. “I-I didn’t know if you’d want to meet me, or—”

  “Of course I do.” He stroked her upper arm in a reassuring gesture and displayed a soft, kind smile. Edward took her into a gentle embrace and let her cry. He kissed her cheek, and whispered, “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m glad you found me.”

  “Me too.” Cindy squelched her cries to a sniffle and stepped back. “You knew about me?”

  “Of your existence, yes, I knew.”

  “How?”

  “Long story. I’ll tell you later. But, for now,” Edward motioned with an open hand. “Cindy, this is my wife, Audra.”

  Audra pulled Cindy into a warm hug, her eyes brimming with tears. “Oh my goodness, this is such a wonderful surprise. I’m so happy to meet you.”

  Edward touched her back. “Cindy, I’d like you to meet my brother—foster brother, that is—Hank Fleming.”

  At nearly five-foot ten, she didn’t look up into many faces. But the man standing before her had to be six-four, easily. His rugged face and brawny build went well with his ample height. She smiled and stuck out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Hank.”

  Hank’s huge hand swallowed hers. His eyes scanned a length of hair that hung over her shoulder almost to her waistline before leaning in and kissing her cheek. “The pleasure is mine.”

  Edward stood by, all smiles. “Let me introduce you to my parents and friends.”

  “I’d like that.” Cindy walked beside him. “I heard someone call you ‘LT.’ Where’d you pick up a nickname like that?”

  “It’s not exactly a nickname. It’s short for lieutenant.”

  “I wondered if you’d still be in the Army.”

  Edward’s quizzical face returned. “How’d you know I—”

  “Long story. I’ll tell you later,” Cindy said, deepening her voice to mimic Edward’s.

  Hank chuckled. “She’s a wise guy, Eddie. I like her already.”

  * * * *

  A rowboat rocked in the water beside Hank as he stood at the end of the pier sipping a glass of iced tea. On shore, Cindy mingled as if she’d known everyone all her life. The sun glinted off her dark, flowing hair, giving it a magical life of its own. Long, slender legs jutted gracefully from her shorts, and ended with girly feet complete with painted toenails. Her shoulder-bouncing, snort-laced laugh made him want to laugh too.

  Dexter joined him and turned to face the activities on land. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

  “An hour ago you were devastated over being dumped and said you were swearing off women for a while.”

  Dexter chugged half a can of Coke, smacked his lips, and belched. “That was before I saw her.”

  Wolfish eyes stared in Cindy’s direction. If Hank didn’t do something about it, Dexter would be cutting her out of the herd before the day was through. He set down his glass and glared at the side of Dexter’s face. “Getting a little hot and bothered over her, are you?”

  Dexter’s shoulders bounced with two staccato laughs. “More than a little, my friend. More than a little.”

  Dexter hit the water with a huge splash.

  Hank dusted his hands off and strode off the pier.

  “What in the world is Dexter doing out there?” Edward peered with a hand shading his eyes.

  Hank glanced over his shoulder. “Looks like he decided to go for a swim and cool off.”

  “In his street clothes?”

  “To each his own, I guess.” He smiled at Cindy. “Would you like me to show you around?”

  Chapter 4

  “Let’s go this way. There’s something I want to show you.” Leaving the path, Hank cut through the woods to an alcove where a rock formation stuck out like a tongue over the lake. He helped Cindy up the jagged side, went to the edge and sat with his feet dangling.

  Cindy stood next to him. “How much of a drop do you think it is to the surface of the water—twenty-five, maybe thirty feet?”

  “Sounds about right.”

  “It’s beautiful out here—peaceful, quiet, and secluded.” She filled her lungs and released the breath with a long hum. “Such clean, fresh air. What a perfect place to sit and ponder the deep things of the universe.”

  “Funny you should say that.” Hank gave a quiet laugh. “Edward and I call this the thinking rock.” He patted the stone surface and Cindy sat beside him with her feet hanging off the edge.

  “When Eddie came to live with us, he was quiet and withdrawn—filled with anger and pain. He’d disappear for hours on end, and I’d sneak through the woods only to find him sitting here alone on the ledge with his feet dangling, just like we’re doing now. One day, I ventured out and sat beside him for about an hour without either of us saying a word.

  “When I got up and started walking away, Eddie called out, ‘Hey Hank,’ and without even turning to look at me, he said, ‘thanks.’”

  Cindy pulled a small twig from her hair and flicked it away. “I don’t get it. Why would he thank you for nothing?”

  “That’s what I thought at first. But, it wasn’t ‘nothing’ to him. Years later, Edward told me the hour of silence we shared that day opened the door for him to trust me. He’d been through so much abuse—people yelling at him, slapping him around—that he’d almost given up on people altogether. I came and sat with him often. It took a while, but little by little, he opened up, and we became the best of friends.”

  “All because you showed a willingness to listen.” She flashed a pearly smile. “How old were you when Edward came, and how long had you been with the Shultzes?”

  “I was twelve—same as Edward, only two months older. I’d been with Benjamin and Marlene Shultz since I was three.” Hank leaned back on his palms. “How about you? You were in the foster system too, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, and like you, I went to live with my foster parents at an early age. I’d just turned five.”

  “Were they good to you?”

  “Oh yes, very.”

  “Did you have any foster siblings?”

  Cindy’s smile fell to a frown and she looked away. “Yes. I grew up with a sister.” Her monotone response dropped the curtain on the subject.

  Moments later, she turned back toward him with a renewed sparkle in her eyes. “I had no idea Edward was in Special Forces, and that you’d also been part of his unit at one time. Marcus was telling me that you used to be the unit’s demolition expert but were severely injured in some sort of explosion in Afghanistan. I didn’t hear the rest of the story because you asked me to come on this walk.”

  Hank rose to his feet and gave her a hand up. “The truck I was driving was hit by a rocket propelled grenade.”

  “You look okay now. Were your injuries internal?”

  “I’m deaf in my left ear, lost my left eye, and my face and neck were burned on the same side. See?” Hank tilted his head and ran a finger down the rough patch of burns on the side of his neck from behind his ear to the backside of his shoulder.

  Cindy leaned in for a closer look. “Ouch. Does it hurt?”

  “It did at first, but not anymore.”

  “That’s good.”

  “As for my face, the doctor gave me some
goop to rub on, and those burn marks faded away.”

  Cindy looked back and forth at each of his eyes. “You have a glass eye?”

  “Not exactly glass, but, yes, it’s prosthetic.”

  “But both your eyes move. How’s that possible?”

  “The muscle behind the prosthesis moves in tandem with my right eye and pushes it a little. It makes it look like they’re tracking together, but only with slight movements. Check it out.” Hank held his head still and looked left to right.

  “Hmm.” Cindy put on a silly smirk. “They look the same to me. Not sure I’m buying the glass eye story, big guy. I think you might be yanking my leg on that one.”

  “Yanking your leg?” Was she crazy? “Why would I—”

  “I’m sorry, Hank.” Her gaze fell sharply to the ground. “I have a bad habit of blurting stupid things and joking around when I...”

  “When you, what?”

  “When I think I might end up crying instead.” She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. It makes me sad to think about it.”

  Sunrays burst through the trees and spotlighted Cindy’s image like the Mona Lisa on the wall of the Louvre. Instead of Mona’s mysterious almost-smile, the contrition etched in Cindy’s expression painted a picture of a girl with a sweet, tender heart and not a shred of meanness in the fiber of her being.

  Hank shifted his weight to one foot. “A horse goes into a tavern and bellies up to the bar. The bartender looks at the horse and says—” He cued Cindy with an open hand.

  She flashed a giant grin. “Why the long face?”

  “That’s right. So, no more long faces.” Hank grasped a lock of Cindy’s hair and gave two sharp yanks.

  She rubbed her scalp. “What was that for?”

  “I was just checking.”

  “Checking what?”

  “With hair that pretty, I figured it might be a wig.”

  Cindy broke into laughter. “Touché!”

  “Hey, Hank.” Edward stood at the base of the thinking rock. “Mom and Dad were about to call a posse to look for you guys, but I kind of figured I’d find you here. Marcus wants to dunk us before lunch, and Dad’s getting antsy because the charcoals are ready, and he wants to start cooking.”