Page 64 of Second Chance Serenity

How many nights did he fall asleep and not know if he was going to wake up tomorrow?

And then I remember the letters, and how absolutely hopeless he felt for a good portion of his deployment. My heart aches for him, yearning for the man who felt so unsupported that he ran off to join the service, leaving everything he’d ever known behind.

My gaze rakes over the deep purple bruising all along his ribcage and chest, compliments of the accident, as he tries to suck in breath after breath. He’s struggling to breathe.

Is he going to make it?

Please God let him make it.

“Here.” Caleb offers me a bowl of stew, and I take it, my stomach growling.

“Thank you.”

“I can make a bowl for him if you’d like.”

Michael groans.

“I don’t know that he should eat anything yet,” I reply, then take a bite and nearly groan myself. Though mine is out of pleasure at the delicious food rather than pain. “This is amazing.”

“My late wife’s recipe,” he replies proudly, then takes a seat at the small round table that serves as his dining room.

“How long have you lived out here?” I ask, genuinely curious as to why he’s out here in the middle of a swamp.

“Who says I live here?” He grins. “About eight years now, I suppose. Ever since my wife—” He takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry, it still hurts to talk about it.”

“I can understand that.”

“When she passed away, I didn’t see any reason to stick around. So I quit my job and moved out here. I’ve been here ever since, aside from the occasional trip to town.”

“Why out here?” When he doesn’t immediately answer, I add, “I’m sorry. I’m being nosy, and it’s rude.”

“No.” He waves his hand, dismissing me. “Not rude. It’s been a long time since I had a pleasant conversation.” He eats a bite of stew. “I wanted to be away from people. It was like everywhere I turned, there were memories that gutted me. A scab ripped open every time someone asked me a question that brought her up. So I started driving, then parked and went for a walk out here. After that, I built this place, and I’ve been here ever since.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks.” He smiles tightly, but I can see the pain on his face. It breaks my heart. “What led to you two being out here? I know you said you were kidnapped, but from where? You seemed surprised to find yourself in Florida.”

“Boston.”

He whistles. “That’s a long way to go.”

“We were in an accident and they drugged us. Brought us out here.”

He gestures to the tattered gown I’m still wearing. “Somewhere fancy?”

“We were at a charity banquet,” I tell him. “Benefitting a women and children’s shelter.”

“Any idea who grabbed you? Or why?”

“None that make any sense,” I reply truthfully. The idea that they think my brother had anything to do with this—I don’t understand it. Carter has always followed the rules. I don’t think he’s ever broken one in his entire life. In fact, he loves the law so much, he’d already known that he wanted to be a lawyer by the time he was ten.

So what did he get wrapped up in?

“Well, I can get you to town tomorrow. We’ll make sure he gets seen by a doctor, then find a way to get you the rest of the way back.”

“His team will be looking for us,” I tell him. “With any luck, they’ll already be in Florida.”

“Team?”

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