Flawlessly Executed (Dark Horse Guardians Book 3) (28 page)

“What are your favorite subjects in school?” Ben queried.

“Math and science.” William answered without hesitating.

“How’s your Mom doing?” Ben tossed it out, hoping it would be an acceptable subject.

“She’s not doing so great. She went to the hospital again for a long time.” William recounted. “I don’t think she’s getting better. I think she is getting worse.”

There was a silence between the two as they walked. And, Ben regretted bringing up Sienna and her anorexia. William sounded hopeless when he spoke of her.

“What’s your favorite color?” William was asking the questions now.

“Navy blue.” Ben answered.

“You miss the Navy, don’t you Dad?” William was perceptive.

“Yeah,” was all Ben could say.

“What do you miss about it?” his son probed.

“My men. The friendships, the way we worked together.” Ben answered automatically.

“They weren’t normal men, were they Dad?” William queried.

“These guys were special. They paid attention to details, were loyal, resourceful, self-starters. I loved them.” Ben answered, but wondered how the conversation became about him again. And, of all things, William guessed what was on his mind. Maybe missing Jake, the feelings of guilt and regret were written all over his face.

Ben stopped walking and took William by the shoulders, “I’ll tell you something important, something I want you to remember. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or fame, but on relationships with people you love and respect.”

“Got it,” William nodded.

~ Lara ~

After William was there for a couple of days, Lara marveled at how he folded into their routine. He cleared the table after meals, walked Einstein, and spent every waking moment at Ben’s side. William reminded her of a puppy wanting to be petted and could never get enough. She was pleased to see the positive interaction between Ben and William. Ben took him everywhere with him in the truck, on long runs, and to his secret basement gym.

She played card games with William, Rummy, Slap Jack, Go Fish, Old Maid, and Uno. William was enthusiastic and it gave her a chance to know him better. Later he would play “A Sense of Duty” with his school buddies on-line just before bed. She had heard him in the guest bedroom talking with his friends, shooting bad guys in the state-of-the-art game.

After a boisterous game of Uno during a few inches of snow, Lara informed William they’d have a Christmas gathering in a few hours.

“What’s a Christmas gathering?” William quizzed her.

“A group of friends will come, have a meal, and probably talk and laugh a lot.” Lara explained. “Some are close friends of your father’s. My mother and her husband will come and some of my dearest friends, too.”

“Will there be Navy guys coming?” William asked.

“Yes, former Navy guys. They served with your Dad.” Lara noticed his eyes light up. “They will stay overnight in the guest rooms.”

“Wow, that’s so cool. Can I help with anything?” William asked.

“We’ll do a little cleaning, but the caterer will come and take care of all the food. They will arrive around 4:00 and our guests will arrive around 6:00. You can help me clean!” Lara offered and William smiled.

“What would you like me to do?” William asked.

“How about vacuuming.” Lara replied, “Are you okay with that?”

She showed William how to run the central vacuum and, although it took him nearly two hours, he cleaned the whole place. Once she passed him in the hallway and he pulled her aside,

“Hey, Lara, what should I wear tonight? Is this a suit kinda thing or casual?” William asked with a serious look on his face.

“Casual.” Lara smiled. And, he continued cleaning.

She noticed that William selected a Navy blue V-neck sweater and comfortable stone-washed chinos. It was exactly what Ben was wearing. It was Ben’s idea to answer the door with William at his side so he could introduce his son. How sweet. She was going to suggest such an arrangement, but Ben had the situation well in hand.

Lara’s mother and Rusty arrived first, followed by Bettencourt and Monique, now happily engaged. They were thrilled to meet William. Don and Olivia Henderson came next and Don wanted Lara to bring William to the dojo.

Lara smiled at Will’s whispered commentary in her ear, “That first guy, Bettencourt, is a monster, but this Henderson is a big guy, too. You mix it up with them at the dojo?”

“Yes,” Lara giggled, “And, sometimes they tap out.”

The Dark Horse Guardians arrived promptly one after another. Gus and Linda Jorgenson arrived with Nadia from Newport Rhode Island. Elvis and Jessica Shaw came from New Britain Connecticut. When Nate O’Neal arrived with his wife, Susan, William’s eyes moved from his father to Nate, then back again. They looked enough alike to be brothers. Nate slapped Ben around at the door before noticing William standing there. Lara suppressed a laugh.

Tom Wilson was standing in the doorway next, the half-brother of Jake Wilson and Wendy was with him.

“Thank you for having us tonight.” Wendy’s face brightened as she embraced Ben. “And, who’s this handsome young man?”

Ben introduced William and she touched his shoulder. No words were spoken.

Tom was visibly solemn and Lara noticed the long embrace Ben gave him. Tom’s wife, Amanda slipped into the room and met William.

~ William ~

William watched the whole evening unfold as if he watching an old Christmas movie on television. He had never seen his father so animated and noticed he spent a lot of time with Tom Wilson. These people were like brothers to him. They knew one another so well, they could finish sentences. The funny stories were the best. The time they ate bad shrimp and all got diarrhea and who went the longest without taking a shower. There was even some sort of joke about his Dad living in a turret in Ramadi, sleeping there, using a bucket for a toilet. They all had humorous nicknames for each other. There was a lot of laughter for a while, then it got quiet as everyone got busy with eating.

William noticed their manners at the table were suspended for this night. The men were boisterous and slinging insults good-naturedly at one another. William envied his father’s closeness to his Navy friends. But, he also noticed how rich Lara’s relationship was especially with Bettencourt, Don, and Rusty. She loved them, the same way his Dad loved his Navy buddies. He wondered what sort of war Lara had been through, but he’d never dare to ask her. He knew she carried weapons and was into martial arts. He wanted to know more about her. There was something tough about her, even though she was tender and sweet with him.

The Navy guys didn’t drink as much as William thought they would. His Dad didn’t drink at all, except for an occasional root beer. He noticed the other guys had a beer or two, but that was it. They had a burping contest and made everyone laugh. This was something William would get punished for at school, if he got caught doing it. But here, at this dinner, it was a comical competition. Everyone was laughing.

As the night wound down, Ben took his phone and plugged it into the television in the living room. Everyone gathered around eating dessert and his father awkwardly announced he had a slide show to show them. William watched as his Dad turned on the sound system in the room then tapped his phone for the photos to show on the sixty-inch screen. The song “American Soldier” by Toby Keith came on the sound system. Photos whirled by, of each of the men doing everything and anything imaginable. William realized these were deployment photos from overseas.

Photos of them sleeping in bunks and on top of blankets on dirt floors; dressed in camo with the desert as a backdrop; Iraqi and Afghani city scenes flew by and he saw a photo of his Dad with a huge rifle and a neat scope. More photos, this time wearing Santa hats, or in their underwear displaying tattoos. In every photo, William noticed the happy, almost giddy, look on his father’s face. He was having fun in the middle of chaos. He had an unbreakable bond with these guys.

Everyone in the room was laughing so hard tears were forming. But there was silence in the room when a barrage of photos came on that featured Jake Wilson. A few comments rang out,

“That’s a time I’ll never forget…”

“Shit, that’s a great photo of him…”

“Gonna miss that son-of-a-bitch…”

William suspected a few of the men in the dimly lit room had tears in their eyes. But they weren’t tears of sadness; it was a different sort of grief. They were grieving but they honored this man named Jake. He was still with them somehow, part of them.

Later, when William was alone with his dad, he felt he had to ask the question, “What happened to Jake, dad?”

~ Ben ~

Sitting on the edge of his son’s bed, Ben hadn’t expected this question. He wanted William to assume that Jake died in battle, but he didn’t want to tell a blatant lie.

“He was flawlessly executed.” Ben whispered.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” He felt his son’s hand on his but didn’t want to shed tears in front of him. He inhaled deeply.

“I’m sorry, too,” was all he could muster. “Goodnight, William.” And, he kissed his son’s forehead and covered him up.

Even though there was a house full of guests sleeping, the house was quiet. A dangerous time for him. He would think too much about everything that had recently taken place. He went into his office and slipped Jake’s shirt out of the bottom drawer of his desk. It was his BUD/S shirt. Wendy had graciously let him take it. His fingers touched the name in capital letters on the back, Wilson. Memories flooded back, good memories of helping one another through grueling pool exercises when they first met. Ben closed his eyes, then put the shirt away.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Lara insisted on taking William to the early service. He hadn’t been to church for a while and wondered if he’d feel guilty or embarrassed as he knelt and prayed. God knew what he had done and he nurtured his own private pact with the almighty. He moved into the master bedroom and Lara was already beneath the covers half asleep.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes, I just tucked William in. It’s nice, having him here.” Ben sat on the edge of the bed. “He’s grown so much, you know? Like a little man now.”

~ Lara ~

She could see that Ben was emotionally drained from the day and she wanted him to go to sleep, but also knew he had a hard time letting go. When he turned to her she sat up in bed and the blanket fell away and she felt his eyes on her. He was predictable, that’s for sure.

“I’ll be right there,” Ben smiled from ear to ear. He smiled and the laugh lines, wrinkles and dimples were evident as his mischievous blue eyes met hers.

She watched him strip efficiently and he was in bed with her in ten seconds. His eyes clung to hers analyzing her reaction. It was as if a secret code transmitted between them. His kiss was urgent and exploratory as his tongue traced her bottom lip. Lara felt a shiver as he caressed her breasts with expert hands. She wanted him. He was above her now. Parting her lips she invited him. He kissed her forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin as if he wanted to devour her.

His mouth was on her lips; his tongue sent a shock of desire through her. His lips were on her neck with a tantalizing persuasion. She inhaled sharply. He traced his fingertip across her belly with a light touch knowing he was teasing her. She loved it when he took his time this way. She felt something warm and hard against her belly. His hands slipped beneath her bottom and he tugged her against him.

She enjoyed the hardened muscles of his chest against her breasts, a delicious sensation. She felt as if she couldn’t get enough of him. Their two bodies were in some sort of exquisite harmony, embracing life and all of the sweetness it encompassed. She let her body melt into his and allowed her desperate hunger for him to take over. She was panting, losing control but loving the sensation engulfing her. Through half-closed eyes she watched Ben’s face as he fell into a state of pure pleasure. As he moved inside of her, he kissed her which only served to push her past the point of no return. Together they cried out, completely forgetting there were guests sleeping.

Ben remained above her but eased onto his side. “Sorry for the noise.” He said breathlessly as he kissed her ear.

“I think I’m the one that made the most noise.” Lara gasped trying to catch her breath.

She remained in his embrace and fell asleep curled up on his chest sweaty and exhausted, but she didn’t mind. This was the best part, curling up with Ben. Listening to his breathing as he fell asleep, hearing his heartbeat. Lara thought it might be the closest thing to heaven.

~ Ben ~

Christmas Eve came with a flurry of snow and last minute errands. He had wracked his brain trying to find a gift for Lara that was meaningful. He had a hunch if he stopped by to see Rupert Jensen at Jensen’s Rare Treasures, he could get a few hints on what Lara had been drooling over lately. Sure enough, there was a set of china with a lace edge that cost a small fortune. Rupert also showed him a pendant she had taken great interest in. It was made of salvaged art pieces and was an estate item he’d picked up a few months ago. A wonderful antique French reliquary in sterling silver was embellished with an old bezel chain, mother of pearl rosary and a tiny antique brass bird. The clasp was sterling silver accented with a vintage religious medal and a copper quartz drop. The reliquary was in incredible vintage condition, with its original glass and the relics inside still intact.