Read Online Ever After by Karen Kingsbury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Kingsbury
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she’d never been anywhere other than school and Fort Lewis. “I’d love it.”
He took the next exit. Ten minutes later, he had a parking space near the water, and they climbed out and began walking toward the closest pier. Seattle had an eclectic feel about it, a mix of fast-paced business people in their suits and nice dresses, and urban earthy types with baggy clothes, long hair, backpacks, and sandals. Over all of it towered the Seattle Space Needle.
The sun was still high in the sky, and the smell of exhaust fumes and seawater mixed in the cool breezy air. When they’d settled into a comfortable pace, Justin took a slow breath. “Like I was saying, it’s so different over there. I went expecting a battle, and I found one. The war is a long ways from over.”
“That’s what I hear.” She kept her pace even with his, and every now and then, the smell of his cologne mixed with the evening wind.
“But the best part was the people.” He smiled and his eyes took on an added depth. “They’re so glad to be free, Emily. Men, women, and children — all of them so grateful. To most of them, we’re the heroes.” He gave a single laugh. “My mom made a scrapbook with all the pictures I took. Pictures of me and the people of Iraq. Especially the kids.”
“So … so you weren’t in a lot of danger?” They were walking down a hill now, along a cobblestone road, and just ahead, the sun cast a blanket of diamonds over the water of Elliott Bay and the distant Puget Sound.
“There was danger.” His smile faded. He was quiet for a moment, and then he looked at her. “I lost two buddies, guys who were hit by a roadside bomb on a day when I stayed back to do weapons inventory.”
She felt her heart sink. “I’m sorry.” And she was. But at the same time, she breathed a prayer of thanks to God for sparing Justin, for allowing the soldier beside her the chance to live the life ahead of him.
“The majority of people here and over there support us, and that’s a good thing.” His words were slower now, thoughtful. “It’s not like it was for the Vietnam guys. Not hardly. But still — ” he looked up at the sky and squinted at the setting sun — “I wish more people knew the truth. We’re getting a lot done over there, Emily. It’s a good thing, even with our losses.”
The conversation shifted to her and her role on the soccer team. “I’ve played midfield since I was a little girl, and it’s more fun now than ever.”
“Because you can see the light at the end of the tunnel?” His comment wasn’t rude or flip, just an honest observation.
And an accurate one. “Yes.” She felt her arm brush against his, and the sensation sent a shiver all the way to her feet. “I’m good, but I won’t be on an Olympic team or trying out for the pros.” She gave him a sad smile. “This is it, so I’m giving it everything I have.”
“I’d love to see you play.” They came to an intersection and crossed, stepping up onto a sidewalk that ran along the water’s edge. “I played, back in high school.”
“Really?” Again Emily had the sense that she’d always known him. If they’d been at the same high school, they would’ve been the best of friends. Or maybe they would’ve found the sort of teenage love her parents had shared. She blinked away her thoughts. “What position?”
“Midfielder. Same as you.” They stopped and he looked out at the water. “I miss it sometimes. But it wasn’t my passion.” He cocked his head and met her eyes again. “Not like being in the army.”
Emily’s admiration grew. “When did you get back … from Iraq?”
“In October. Right before the holidays.” He leaned his forearms on the metal railing that separated the sidewalk from the embankment down to the water. “Made my parents happy.”
“So now … you’re done?” She kept her tone light. The question dangling in her heart wasn’t one she wanted to ask, but she had to know. She rested her
He took the next exit. Ten minutes later, he had a parking space near the water, and they climbed out and began walking toward the closest pier. Seattle had an eclectic feel about it, a mix of fast-paced business people in their suits and nice dresses, and urban earthy types with baggy clothes, long hair, backpacks, and sandals. Over all of it towered the Seattle Space Needle.
The sun was still high in the sky, and the smell of exhaust fumes and seawater mixed in the cool breezy air. When they’d settled into a comfortable pace, Justin took a slow breath. “Like I was saying, it’s so different over there. I went expecting a battle, and I found one. The war is a long ways from over.”
“That’s what I hear.” She kept her pace even with his, and every now and then, the smell of his cologne mixed with the evening wind.
“But the best part was the people.” He smiled and his eyes took on an added depth. “They’re so glad to be free, Emily. Men, women, and children — all of them so grateful. To most of them, we’re the heroes.” He gave a single laugh. “My mom made a scrapbook with all the pictures I took. Pictures of me and the people of Iraq. Especially the kids.”
“So … so you weren’t in a lot of danger?” They were walking down a hill now, along a cobblestone road, and just ahead, the sun cast a blanket of diamonds over the water of Elliott Bay and the distant Puget Sound.
“There was danger.” His smile faded. He was quiet for a moment, and then he looked at her. “I lost two buddies, guys who were hit by a roadside bomb on a day when I stayed back to do weapons inventory.”
She felt her heart sink. “I’m sorry.” And she was. But at the same time, she breathed a prayer of thanks to God for sparing Justin, for allowing the soldier beside her the chance to live the life ahead of him.
“The majority of people here and over there support us, and that’s a good thing.” His words were slower now, thoughtful. “It’s not like it was for the Vietnam guys. Not hardly. But still — ” he looked up at the sky and squinted at the setting sun — “I wish more people knew the truth. We’re getting a lot done over there, Emily. It’s a good thing, even with our losses.”
The conversation shifted to her and her role on the soccer team. “I’ve played midfield since I was a little girl, and it’s more fun now than ever.”
“Because you can see the light at the end of the tunnel?” His comment wasn’t rude or flip, just an honest observation.
And an accurate one. “Yes.” She felt her arm brush against his, and the sensation sent a shiver all the way to her feet. “I’m good, but I won’t be on an Olympic team or trying out for the pros.” She gave him a sad smile. “This is it, so I’m giving it everything I have.”
“I’d love to see you play.” They came to an intersection and crossed, stepping up onto a sidewalk that ran along the water’s edge. “I played, back in high school.”
“Really?” Again Emily had the sense that she’d always known him. If they’d been at the same high school, they would’ve been the best of friends. Or maybe they would’ve found the sort of teenage love her parents had shared. She blinked away her thoughts. “What position?”
“Midfielder. Same as you.” They stopped and he looked out at the water. “I miss it sometimes. But it wasn’t my passion.” He cocked his head and met her eyes again. “Not like being in the army.”
Emily’s admiration grew. “When did you get back … from Iraq?”
“In October. Right before the holidays.” He leaned his forearms on the metal railing that separated the sidewalk from the embankment down to the water. “Made my parents happy.”
“So now … you’re done?” She kept her tone light. The question dangling in her heart wasn’t one she wanted to ask, but she had to know. She rested her
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