Page 26 of Embattled Return

Color raced under his damaged cheeks, and she could see he was gritting his teeth. “I don’t understand,” she whispered.

Logan pushed up from his chair and left the dining room, anger radiating from him. Marigold stared after him, wondering what the hell she’d said. Her eyes stung with tears and she glanced around, wondering who had seen them. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal. Had none of them seen Logan storm off?

Should she go after him? For some reason she felt like she’d done something wrong, but she honestly couldn’t say what...

Her internal monologue was interrupted a few minutes later when Shannon joined her. “Everything okay?”

“Not sure,” Marigold murmured, “I think I just pissed Logan off.”

Shannon’s eyes widened. “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know,” she cried. She related the conversation. “I can only assume someone left him because of his injuries.”

Shannon nodded. “Sounds like it,” she murmured sadly. “Unfortunately, it happens a lot. You’ll hear about it repeatedly when you’re a military psychologist. Duncan’s fiancée did it to him when he was in the burn unit at Walter Reed. He would tell you that himself. It motivated him like nothing else.”

Marigold frowned, looking toward the door. She’d been waiting for Logan to return and laugh it off, but if he didn’t, she would have to go find him.

“Veterans, especially combat veterans that have seen action, are very different animals,” Shannon continued. “I don’t think Logan has been out of combat for a full year, yet, so he’ll probably react to things a little more aggressively for a while. They find offense quicker and are willing to fight sooner. It’s probably nothing you did, just a perceived slight that feels more hurtful than it actually is. They need time and understanding to work through their emotions, because they’ve been taught by the military to turn them off for so long.”

Damn. The insight and understanding in this woman’s heart was something it would take her years to learn at school. Sighing, Marigold looked toward the door. “Should I go after him?

Shannon smiled. “It’s up to you. John and I didn’t expect you to babysit Logan so thoroughly. We appreciate it, of course.”

“I’m not babysitting because I have to. I like him.”

Shannon gave a single nod of her head. “Then maybe you should go after him. Just be aware that veterans, especially those that have recently come back from combat, are more sensitive to situations and words. We’ve thrown a lot at Logan today.”

Marigold snorted. “I know. I may or may not return. I’ll see you tomorrow, Shannon. I’m glad you’re back.”

Shannon waved her off and Marigold left to find Logan.

“What’s going on?” John asked her, rolling up beside her chair as she sat down.

Shannon grinned. “I think there might be something going on between Logan and Marigold.”

John’s eyes went wide, and he glanced at the door. “Seriously? He just got here.”

Shannon smiled and leaned over for a kiss. “I know, but I think he’s been searching for more than his family for the past few months. You should try to find him a job, because if the look in Marigold’s eyes is anything to go by, she’s not going to want him to leave. And I’m not sure Logan is going to try to get away very hard.”

John shook his head. “What the hell did you do to us, Shannon?”

She smirked and reached out to run her fingernails through his black beard. “Nothing you wouldn’t do yourself. I know how you are.”

“You’ve ruined me with good food and good sex and incredible children.”

“I did,” she agreed, grinning. “And you love it.”

“I love you. More than I ever could have known. I was thinking about this earlier.” He glanced around to make sure they were out of earshot of the rest of the group. “Years ago when I was in Walter Reed recovering I contemplated throwing myself off the balcony to the pavement below and getting it over with. I didn’t think I was high enough to actually kill myself, though. With my luck I figured I’d just fuck up my arms in addition to my legs, and I would have been seriously fucked. I’m very glad I didn’t go through with it, or eating a bullet later, when I had the option. I’m not sure why exactly I stuck around to deal with the suck of my life, but I’m very glad I did now.”

Shannon’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of the despair he had to have been in. “I’m very glad you didn’t as well,” she whispered, her throat tight. “I can’t imagine you not being in my life. Or my kids,” she sighed, blotting at her eyes with a napkin. “I think Logan might be dealing with some of that right now. I can tell he feels inadequate being here, but it’s deeper than that. I think he’s suicidal, and I worry now that if Marigold is growing attached to him, if he leaves it’s going to wreck her.”

John frowned. “If he is, there’s not much that we can do about it. We’ll express to him that he has options, but he’s a grown, apparently sane, man. If he decides to end it, there’s nothing we can do.”

Leaning forward he pressed a line of kisses along her jaw and into her hairline. “Let’s make our goodbyes to the group and go see those incredible kids.”

Shannon nodded and they turned to say their goodbyes.

9

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