He nodded, took them, and handed her the glass. “Thanks, Gracie.”
“She’s crazy about you, Doc.”
He slowly smiled. “I’m crazy right back.”
“I think you’re both certifiable,” Grace told him.
He drove home with a dull ache in his shoulder and a much sharper one in his leg. After all of his worry, damned if her car wasn’t parked next to his folks. “Guess she sorted it out quicker than I thought she would.”
The door opened, but instead of the woman he wanted to talk to, Jamie ran out and jumped on his bad leg. Jack went down hard, landing on the shoulder he had just put back into place. He saw stars and then he saw Caitlin—two of her—standing over him, begging him to speak to her.
“Speak to you?” he grumbled. “I’ve been trying to do that since you opened that damn door and I dislocated my damn shoulder.”
“Hmmm,” his mother said from where she stood behind Caitlin. “That’s two damns in one sentence. Our darling boy is upset about something.” Instead of offering Jack any sympathy, she put her arm through Cait’s. “Why don’t I make us a nice cup of tea?”
“John, dear,” his mother called out as she walked into the house. “Jack might need your help getting up.”
Jamie couldn’t understand why Jack wasn’t moving, so he jumped on Jack’s chest with his two front paws and started to lick Jack’s face. “At least you aren’t leaving me.”
“What’s all this about, Cora—Son!” His father knelt down by Jack’s side. “What happened to you?”
Jack cleared his throat, and told him, “It all started with this little dog.”
His father helped him to his feet and checked his eyes and the back of his head for lumps and bumps. “Where does it hurt the most?”
Jack grimaced. “My shoulder. Dislocated it when I hit the wall in Cait’s bedroom.”
His father’s eyes widened, then he said, “I’m having trouble wrapping my thoughts around that one, Jack. What exactly were you doing at the Mulcahys’ house?”
Jack sighed; he’d have to fess up sooner or later. Joe might stop by and it would be better if his father knew the truth before he had to bury his son. “Breaking her door down.”
“Then how did you hit the wall?” his dad asked, helping Jack to stand.
“She opened the door.”
“But I thought you said—”
“I told her to stand back because I didn’t want her to get hurt, but does the stubborn woman listen to me?”
“I was afraid, Jack,” Cait said from where she stood on the other side of the screen door.
“I know,” he said. “Are you ready yet?”
Her eyes filled and she walked outside to stand in front of him. “I’m listening.”
“I’m sorry about this morning, Cait. I shouldn’t have shut you out.”
His father handed him the ice bag first and then held the bottle of pain relievers and water.
“Grace already gave me some aspirin.”
“All right. Here,” his dad said, urging him toward a deck chair. “Sit down, son. I can tell your leg pains you.”
Looking at Cait and only Cait, Jack said, “I’ve been to the VA but wasn’t due for more therapy for a few weeks. There are times when I’m there again—in Iraq and it’s happening all over again.” He closed his eyes, breathing deeply to calm his racing heart. When he opened his eyes, Cait squeezed his hand. “Sometimes,” he whispered, “it seems like a dream.”
His father and mother stood off to the side, but he motioned for them to come over. When they all sat down, Cait pulled her deck chair closer to Jack’s, so she could keep holding his hand.
“I need to tell you,” he said to Cait, “and my parents need to hear this too.”
His mother was sitting on the edge of her seat until his dad took her hand and patted the back of it. His mom scooted back in the chair but didn’t let go of his dad. Jamie laid down on Jack’s feet and looked up at him. The warmth and unconditional love surrounding him and shining in Jamie’s dark brown eyes gave Jack the courage to start.
“I was caring for the wounded in our battalion when an IED struck.”
“We know you were, Son,” his father said. “That’s why they gave you that medal.”
Cait looked over at his father and then back at Jack. “Yeah,” he said to Cait, “the one you found this morning.”
Drawing in a calming breath, he rasped, “Cait’s dad got me started talking today. It’s better if I just get it all out at once, and then I won’t have to talk about it again.”