Forever My Soldier (Love Conquers Life Book 3) (5 page)

“That’s next weekend, right?”

“Yes, and I got you guys VIP seats to sit with Derek. Your mom and Richard will be there too.”

“Nice. Is this a suit or tux type of event?”

“Definitely a tux,” she says as she throws her takeout container away.

“That’s fine. Carter has one. I wanted to make sure I knew how we were dressing. My mother will probably send her limo for us.”

She giggles. “Probably. You know how she is. Listen, it’s been a fun day, but I have to get going. I want to be back at Derek’s to surprise him with dinner tonight. He’s been doing a lot of the cooking, so I’m planning a romantic night for us.”

“Aww, look at my little lovebird cooking for her man.”

She sticks her tongue out at me. My eyebrows shoot up. “Wow, you went from grown up to thirteen in a matter of seconds.”

“Shut up and give me a hug. I miss you,” she says as she squeezes me tight.

“I miss you too. Thanks for your help today. I’ll see you soon.”

She walks out the door, and as soon as I’ve locked it, my phone starts to ring. It’s Carter. I realize I forgot to text him when I got home.

“Hey, honey. I’m so sorry I forgot to text you.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. I was about to send out a search team.”

“I really am sorry. I was busy with the movers, and then Bella and I sat down to lunch and we got busy talking about the fundraiser and her fashion show next weekend. By the way, is your tux clean?”

“It could probably use some freshening up. It’s been hanging in my closet. Why?”

“You need it for the fashion show. We have VIP seats to sit with Derek, my mom, and Richard.”

“Okay, there’s a company that provides a cleaning service for clothes for our building. They’ll pick it up and drop it back off. I’ll bring it down tomorrow on my way to work, and they’ll take care of it for me.”

Shocked, I say, “Is there anything this building won’t take care of for you?”

“There are a lot of things, but lucky for me, I have you to help with them.”

I giggle. “Oh really? Maybe I’ll have to remind you tonight how good I am at taking care of those things.”

“Yes, please,” he says as he chuckles into the phone. “Listen, as much as I’m enjoying flirting with you, Derek is standing in my doorway waiting for me. I’ll talk to you a little later, but I’m glad you’re home safe.”

“Bye, Carter.”

“Bye, baby”

Chapter 5

Patty

I’ve spent the entire morning working on the book so I can send the final manuscript to my agent. We’re meeting on Monday to discuss the timeline the publisher has given her and talk about signings. I need to finish it, but I’m having a hard time focusing. Ben’s wake is in a few short hours, and I’m getting a bit nervous. Carter went to work early this morning because he is coming with me. Bella and Derek are going as well as my mother and Richard. We’re all going to pay our respects and then go out to dinner. As usual, my mother has made reservations at the Palm Spring Country Club. My mother and Richard are members there, and we eat here often.

I click ‘save’ after approving the final edit and attach it to an email addressed to Joan. I inform her that this is the full manuscript. I also state that I’ll see her for our scheduled meeting on Monday to discuss any concerns the publisher may have as well as the timeline she’s gotten from them. Next I send a quick message off to my beta readers.

Karen and Cassie,

Thank you so much for all of your work on this book. I truly enjoy reading your notes and appreciate the input you provide. I’ll let you know when I’ve started the next one, but it won’t be for a while now since I’m taking time off. Watch for your signed copies in the mail. ;-)

Hugs,

Patty

I read the note one more time and then hit send. I’ve never met either of them, but they have both become friends of mine and I’m lucky to have them on my team. I begin scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed. When I see nothing of importance, I post a quick teaser to my readers and then jump onto my website to add a little more about the book in the ‘Work In Progress’ section.

I shut my laptop down, happy with the progress I’ve made. I move to the closet in my room in search of what I’m going to wear tonight. As I glance at my clothes, my mind starts to wander. It’s like I see my clothes, but I’m not really looking at them as my hand glides over the hangers. I’m feeling off today. I have to face Mr. Mancini tonight, and I’m scared. What if he gets mad that I showed up? What if he blames me? I haven’t spoken to him in such a long time. Maybe I should call him and ask if it would be okay that I attend.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

I jump, not realizing Carter had been standing there, watching me. “Carter, I didn’t hear you walk in.”

“Baby, you were so deep in thought, I’m not sure you’d notice a bomb go off right next to you. Talk to me,” he says, concerned.

“I was trying to decide what to wear tonight when I realized…” I pause, trying to hold back my tears. “That I don’t know how Mr. Mancini will feel about me showing up tonight. Do you think he blames me or will be mad?” A lone tear escapes me.

“Come here, baby,” he says, opening his arms for me. I walk to him, and he wraps me in a huge hug. His hands slide up and down my back, soothing me. “I think he will appreciate you being there and if anything, he would be mad at your mother, not at you. You did nothing wrong.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I know, but when you’re upset, you tend to see things differently. Maybe we shouldn’t go and I can make a special trip to see him.”

“Baby, I will support you no matter what you decide, but to be honest I really don’t think he’ll be upset. I also think some of this is hard because you’ll be seeing him for the first time since everything went down.”

“You’re right.” I sigh, wiping the tears from my face. “I have to do this. I need to face him and be done with it.”

I look up as he lowers his lips to mine. He gives me a quick, gentle kiss “Let’s start getting ready. We don’t want to be late.”

I nod. “Thank you for being so supportive, Carter.”

***

I look in the mirror one last time to check out my appearance. I’m wearing loose fitting black slacks with black boots and a plum color top. I look nice even though I’m not overly dressed. My hair is done in loose waves, and I have on the slightest amount of makeup.

When I make it back into the living room, I find Carter sitting with a book in his hand. He looks really handsome in a pair of black slacks and a gray button-down shirt. As I walk over to him, he rises from the couch. “Baby, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you. I wanted to look nice, but not be too dressed up.”

“You look perfect.” He kisses me softly. “Are you ready to go?”

I give a faint smile and nod as I walk away, pulling my dress coat from the closet. He follows behind me, taking my coat from my hands and helping me slip it on.

“It’ll be fine. I promise I will be right by your side the entire time.”

“Let’s go.” That’s all I can manage to say at this point, so we walk down to the lobby in silence.

Darryl opens the door for us and says, “Have a nice night, but drive carefully. It’s supposed to snow.”

“Thank you, Darryl,” Carter says as we make our way to his Jeep.

We pull up to the funeral home a short time later. The place is packed. Carter manages to pull into a space someone has exited. As he puts the car in park, my phone chirps. I take a deep breath. It’s Bella.

Bella: We’re here.

Patty: We’re parking the car, be right there.

Bella: Okay, see you in a minute.

I silence my phone and stick it back in my purse as Carter comes around to open my door. When we approach the steps leading to the door, my hands go clammy and cold. I’m so nervous, I’m shaking. I really hope I’m doing the right thing.

I take a deep breath and force myself to walk up the steps. Carter places a hand at the small of my back, and the two gentlemen at the doors open them for us. There’s a short line, but we quickly find my mother, Richard, Bella, and Derek. We get in line with them, and that’s when a sudden wave of nausea hits me. My stomach is turning and I take deep breaths, trying to keep it together.

Carter must know I’m freaking out inside because he leans in and says, “You’re doing fine. Keep taking those deep breaths.”

Suddenly it’s our turn. As I walk in, I glance around, seeing all the beautiful flowers people have sent to show their love for Ben and his father. I’m shaking, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s dead and I spent a year of my life trying to love him, or if it’s because I no longer have to fear what he’ll try next. Carter and I kneel in front of the closed coffin and silently ask Ben why he did what he did. I look up to see a nice picture of him staring at me from on top of the coffin. I whisper that I’m sorry things ended the way they did. I truly am. This is not what I wanted. A sob escapes me, and now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. I sit back on my heels, shaking and crying. That’s when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Mr. Mancini giving me a sympathetic smile.

I jump up and wrap him in a huge hug. In that moment, I’m not even able to speak because I can’t stop crying. He rubs my back and says, “It’s okay, Patty. This isn’t your fault. Please tell me you know that.”

“I’m so sorry it ended this way. I’m not sure why he was behaving the way he was, but I certainly didn’t want this.”

“I know you didn’t, and it’s me who should be apologizing. I’m sorry for what he put you through. I didn’t even realize how far he had taken his obsession with you until the police came looking for him.”

I pull away, looking up at him with so many emotions coursing through my body. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You had no part in this.” He nods at me. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing okay. I’m taking it one day at a time and trying to busy myself with work.” I rub his arm. “I want you to do me a favor, though,” he says, looking into my eyes.

At this point, my family has surrounded us. “You name it. Anything?” I tell him.

“I want you to move on from this. I don’t want you giving any of this a second thought. He can’t hurt you anymore, and you have this nice man by your side.” He turns to Carter. “Be good to her,” he says as he swallows a lump in his throat. “She is a sweet girl and deserves way better than my son did by her.”

Carter nods. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry for your loss.” Carter shakes Mr. Mancini’s hand.

We all hug and give our condolences. In that moment, I’m really glad I came because I feel like a weight has been lifted and now I truly can move on.

I put my hand on Mr. Mancini’s arm. “Hang in there. You’ll get through this.”

Carter gently squeezes my hand and nods toward the door, letting me know there is a huge line. We say we’re sorry one more time and walk through the rows of people to the back of the room. A few have whispered their hellos as we quietly slip out the back door.

“I need to use the ladies’ room,” I tell my family.

“I’ll come with you,” Bella says, and as soon as we’re through the door, she hugs me. “I’m so proud of you. That took a lot of courage, and I have no doubt you will feel much better now.”

For the first time today, I smile. “I think you’re right. I already feel better. I haven’t cried since everything went down, and to make matters worse, I was stressing over him being mad that I showed up tonight.”

“Oh, Patty, he wouldn’t be mad at you. He adores you, and he always has.”

“You’re right. I think that’s why I was so worried. I didn’t want to lose that. I’m glad I came. Now let’s go meet up with everyone else so we can get something to eat.”

I quickly pull a tissue from the box to dab my eyes.

***

Carter

We pull up to the U-shaped driveway of the club, and I’m happy because Patty seems back to her happy self. There’s color in her face, and the twinkle in her eye is back. It’s amazing how a couple of words between people can fix so much.

As we walk into the club, Patricia smiles as we glance around at the holiday décor spread throughout the entry. Sandra and Richard are standing there, waiting for us. “Patricia, darling, how are you?”

“I’m fine, Mother, but I would like to move on now. I’ve spoken to Mr. Mancini and, like he said, it’s time for me to move past this.”

“Okay, let’s go get some dinner,” she says, dropping the subject. We all follow her into the dining area, where the hostess is waiting for us. She walks us to a table for six, and we take our seats.

After the waitress pours our water, Sandra says, “I want to tell you all I’m very excited for this event. I have already managed to sell quite a few tickets, and I’ve started to round up some silent auction items.”

“That’s great,” Derek says, excited.

“I’m telling you, Derek. This is my mom’s thing. She’s all about these events and has always done a great job with them.”

“Thank you, Patricia. Now I’m working on some ideas for the ball drop with some friends of mine, and I’ll fill you in as soon as we know what we can pull off.”

“Awesome. We want this event to be a lot of fun. The hope is that we can do it again next year and it’ll become a really nice fundraiser for us,” Derek says as he takes a sip of his water.

“Well, if you’d like my help for next year, I’m more than happy to be a part of it.” Derek and I both thank her, and then we all start looking over the menu.

A few minutes later, the waitress comes back over to take our order. As she leaves the table, the focus of conversation becomes Bella’s big fashion show next weekend. She talks excitedly about all the dresses she will change into during the show. She tells us how the director of the show loves her and is so happy to have her. While she talks, I rub Patty’s leg under the table. She places her hand on my thigh, giving me a squeeze. I want to groan because if she squeezes any higher, I won’t be able to leave.

I look at her with one eyebrow raised, and she giggles because she knows exactly what she’s doing. I lean in and whisper, “I’m so happy to see you smiling again.” I kiss her cheek and then turn back to the conversation, but everything has stopped and they’re all staring at us.

Patty blushes but tries to play it off. “What? You’ve never seen a man kiss his woman on the cheek?”

Everyone starts to laugh, and the conversation starts back up again. As our food arrives, the ladies make plans to go shopping for dresses this week. They claim they need something to wear to the fashion show as well as the New Year’s Eve event. It’s as if these women don’t each have at least eight formal dresses, never mind the less elegant ones they have in their closet. I’m sure Sandra blows Bella and Patty’s wardrobes out of the water.

“Baby, I don’t care if you go dress shopping, but what’s wrong with one of the eight or so you have now?”

“I’ve worn them all,” she says like they’re only made to be worn once.

“Okay?”

Derek jumps in. “Don’t try it, man. Women are crazy about their dresses. I’m dating a model, I know better. I won’t even go there.” He looks at Bella. “I adore you, but you girls are crazy spending hundreds or even thousands on a dress just to wear it once. That said, because I adore you, you do what you have to.”