Read Online Mended Hearts (New Beginnings Series) by Mandie Tepe - Free Book Online
Authors: Mandie Tepe
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question. It’s not you, Luca. It’s me.”
“I hate when women say that,” he said, trying to lighten the mood a little. “I’m here if you ever do want to talk. You know that, right?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She steered the subject back on track. “So, after the interrogations stopped what did you do?”
“I drove over to base to talk to my CO. I was hoping they’d give me something to do while I’m recuperating. I’m even willing to ride a desk . . . do paperwork . And I hate that.” He sighed. “I told him just sitting here all day with nothing to do is bad for my mental health. I start feeling sorry for myself and that doesn’t do me any good.”
“What did he say?”
“They won’t let me come back to work until the doctors clear me for rehab.”
This is the first time Gracie had heard him sound really down about his situation. “I’m sorry, Luca,” she said softly. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Well, you can distract me. That’s another reason I called. I know the band has Mondays off and next Monday is Labor Day, so I’m assuming the daycare center will be closed too. Do you have plans?” he asked.
“I do, actually. Sugar Creek is playing a benefit . . . in your neck of the woods—Coronado.”
“Not the unified military families support benefit fair?”
“I think so. It’s a carnival being organized by a group of military family charities here in the San Diego area. Sugar Creek performs there every year.”
“I was going to ask you to go with me, but it sounds like you’re already going to be there. What time do you sing?”
“From five to seven o’clock in the big band pavilion.”
“I’d like to come out and listen. Then we can meet up and hang out if you want to. They always have good food and lots of booths to raise money.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Luca? You don’t want to push your knee too much,” Gracie said with concern.
“I won’t stay too long. Besides, it’s a week away so I’m hoping I’ll be stronger by then. It’s a great cause, so I really want to go. What do you say?”
“Okay. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you,” she warned.
Sonny laughed. “Be still my heart.” There were a few seconds of silence. “Are you still there, Gracie?”
“I never know how to take it when you say things like that,” she admitted.
“ I’m just being silly, honey. Flirting a little. Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“I guess.”
“Why? When was the last time someone flirted with you?” He couldn’t believe it didn’t happen all the time.
“I can’t remember. ”
He blew out a breath. “That’s hard to believe.”
“I’ve been a little sheltered lately. And before that . . .” she trailed off.
“Before that what?” He was shocked that a beautiful, unattached twenty-two year-old woman . . . girl, really . . . wasn’t out there flirting with every man she came into contact with. That’s what they did and, in his opinion, there wasn’t a thing wrong with it. He was a big fan of flirting.
“Nothing.” The wall went up again. He could feel it from miles away. “So, Luca, when do you start rehab again?”
Regret seeped through his chest. Why couldn’t she talk to him? He decided to play along and followed her lead. “About a week and a half. If the doctors think I’ve healed up from the surgery enough.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“You sound tired, honey. I’m going to let you go. Are we on for the fair, though—after the band finishes?” He held his breath and mentally crossed his fingers. If he could just spend more time with her, maybe she’d feel comfortable enough with him to confide in him. He sensed she needed to work through some things and knew she couldn’t do that as shut down as she was.
“Okay.”
He sighed quietly in relief. “Great! I’ll just meet you at the band pavilion. I’ll be there to listen to the band anyway. Alright?”
“Yeah, okay. ‘Night, Luca.” She
“I hate when women say that,” he said, trying to lighten the mood a little. “I’m here if you ever do want to talk. You know that, right?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She steered the subject back on track. “So, after the interrogations stopped what did you do?”
“I drove over to base to talk to my CO. I was hoping they’d give me something to do while I’m recuperating. I’m even willing to ride a desk . . . do paperwork . And I hate that.” He sighed. “I told him just sitting here all day with nothing to do is bad for my mental health. I start feeling sorry for myself and that doesn’t do me any good.”
“What did he say?”
“They won’t let me come back to work until the doctors clear me for rehab.”
This is the first time Gracie had heard him sound really down about his situation. “I’m sorry, Luca,” she said softly. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Well, you can distract me. That’s another reason I called. I know the band has Mondays off and next Monday is Labor Day, so I’m assuming the daycare center will be closed too. Do you have plans?” he asked.
“I do, actually. Sugar Creek is playing a benefit . . . in your neck of the woods—Coronado.”
“Not the unified military families support benefit fair?”
“I think so. It’s a carnival being organized by a group of military family charities here in the San Diego area. Sugar Creek performs there every year.”
“I was going to ask you to go with me, but it sounds like you’re already going to be there. What time do you sing?”
“From five to seven o’clock in the big band pavilion.”
“I’d like to come out and listen. Then we can meet up and hang out if you want to. They always have good food and lots of booths to raise money.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Luca? You don’t want to push your knee too much,” Gracie said with concern.
“I won’t stay too long. Besides, it’s a week away so I’m hoping I’ll be stronger by then. It’s a great cause, so I really want to go. What do you say?”
“Okay. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you,” she warned.
Sonny laughed. “Be still my heart.” There were a few seconds of silence. “Are you still there, Gracie?”
“I never know how to take it when you say things like that,” she admitted.
“ I’m just being silly, honey. Flirting a little. Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“I guess.”
“Why? When was the last time someone flirted with you?” He couldn’t believe it didn’t happen all the time.
“I can’t remember. ”
He blew out a breath. “That’s hard to believe.”
“I’ve been a little sheltered lately. And before that . . .” she trailed off.
“Before that what?” He was shocked that a beautiful, unattached twenty-two year-old woman . . . girl, really . . . wasn’t out there flirting with every man she came into contact with. That’s what they did and, in his opinion, there wasn’t a thing wrong with it. He was a big fan of flirting.
“Nothing.” The wall went up again. He could feel it from miles away. “So, Luca, when do you start rehab again?”
Regret seeped through his chest. Why couldn’t she talk to him? He decided to play along and followed her lead. “About a week and a half. If the doctors think I’ve healed up from the surgery enough.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“You sound tired, honey. I’m going to let you go. Are we on for the fair, though—after the band finishes?” He held his breath and mentally crossed his fingers. If he could just spend more time with her, maybe she’d feel comfortable enough with him to confide in him. He sensed she needed to work through some things and knew she couldn’t do that as shut down as she was.
“Okay.”
He sighed quietly in relief. “Great! I’ll just meet you at the band pavilion. I’ll be there to listen to the band anyway. Alright?”
“Yeah, okay. ‘Night, Luca.” She
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