Page 1 of Protecting Tiffani

Prologue

Adam Hill

Theringinginmyear stops, and the sound of people talking floats through the speaker. “Red Cross, how may I help you?” a woman asks. The once calm wind picks up, swirling the dead leaves off the ground around the porch. They whip around in what some may view as a dance, but to me is a visual representation of what is currently happening in my body as each emotion known to man fights for dominance. Through the closed front door behind me, a cry comes from inside the house, followed by another as my family comes to terms with what these next few days will bring. “Hello, is anyone there?”

I bring my shaky hand up, push my hair back from my eyes, clear my throat, and answer. “Yes, ma’am, I apologize. My name is Adam Hill, and I’m trying to find someone to help me bring my younger brother home. He’s an active Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan.” Goosebumps break out over my entire body as an intense shiver rushes through me. I can blame it on the cold wind, but it’s the dread of what is to come. Behind me, a squeak of rusty hinges reminds me that I was supposed to grease them ages ago. The screen door is shut as quietly as possible with the hurricane-like wind whipping around. Warmth spreads through my jacket and shirt, seeping into my frozen shoulders as a small hand gives them a gentle squeeze. Calm replaces the complex emotions wreaking havoc within my mind as the smell of my wife, Carly, encircles me.

“I see. Well, you’ve called the right place. I just need some more information from you, and I can get a message to his commanding officers. Give me a minute to pull up the form I need,” she says as the sound of keys on a keyboard being pushed comes through.

Switching the phone to my right hand, I pick Carly’s hand off my shoulder and wrap it up with my own, hoping to provide some warmth and comfort to us both. She walks around me and sits on my lap, wrapping her arms around my shoulder and pulling my face into her chest. A long sigh slips from my lips, as this has been the longest day of my life and one that I never thought would happen. As soon as Mom called me this morning, I knew what I had to do would take everything out of me. This is the second hardest phone call I’ve made in the span of fifteen minutes. My hair, which is going wild in this crazy wind, is pushed from my face once again. As I gaze from the leaves to Carly, she mouths, “I love you.”

“Thank you for waiting. What is your brother’s name?”

My eyes sting, but I blink the threatening tears away, “Levi Hill.” The wind picks up even more, blowing over the mop bucket Mom keeps on the porch.

“Okay. Now sir, why does he need to return home?”

A loud sob comes from the window located behind me. Turning my head, I witness my aunt fall to the floor as my uncle grabs her and gets her safely to the couch. How can this be happening at such a fast rate? My heart rate spikes, and I wish I was anyone but me right now. Once I say these words, I’m going to shatter my baby brother’s world just like I did our sister’s moments ago. Saying it aloud makes it all real, and even though I don’t want to say it, I have to. There is no running from this like he ran four years ago. I don’t know what made him hightail it out of here, but it’s time for him to come home. We need him now more than ever.

“Sir, are you still there?” Concern laces this stranger’s voice.

My gaze floats out over the front yard as visions of times past swarm me. Playing catch, learning how to shoot a basketball, being taught how to use a lawn mower, and how to perfectly cook a steak on a grill, my dad is the prominent individual in all these memories. Bile moves up my throat, and I quickly swallow the accompanying gag. “He needs to come home because…” A loud thunderous clap of lightning streaks across the January sky, followed by the boom of thunder, as the clouds split and rain comes pouring down. “…our dad is dying.”

Chapter one

Levi

Asakid,Iused to love watching the raindrops race each other as they fell down the windows, whether it be in a moving car or the windows at the house. I would always pick one and force someone else to choose another to see who would win. It got on my brother and sister's nerves, but my dad always entertained me. Watching the rain racing on the tiny airplane window hurts my already aching chest. It has rained more over the last forty-eight hours than ever before in January. But it seems fitting considering the reason I'm sitting here staring at the blurry, barely visible lights of the incoming runway.

My leg muscles cramp for the millionth time as if I didn't need a reminder that this space was not built for someone of my stature. The last two planes have been the same, fucking small, but when you book last-minute flights you don't have a wide choice of seats to pick from. I was lucky to find an empty seat, so I will take the pain and smells from the airplane bathrooms right behind me. As long as I make it in time to say goodbye. I have to make it in time to apologize and say goodbye. My body jerks again this time to the right, as the plane circles the tarmac for the second time. Why aren't we landing?

After one more pass over the runways, the plane shakes. To the other passengers, it might seem like a bit of turbulence. But after flying many times and studying aircrafts for my job, I know that the wheels are being lowered. Reaching below me, I grab the old, dirty backpack I shoved under my seat two hours ago. I groan when pain radiates through me as my body bumps when the wheels make contact with the ground. My body feels heavier than usual, probably due to my lack of sleep and my tense muscles. The speakers in the ceiling crackle as the pilot's tired voice comes through, breaking the silence.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to West Memphis, Tennessee. The current time is 8:50 p.m. If this is your final destination, welcome, and if you are getting a connecting flight, I hope we made it in time. Please stay seated and bear with us. We will be arriving at our gate in a couple of minutes." When the speakers cut off, a round of applause starts, and I roll my eyes.

The noise level steadily increases as conversations break out all over the plane. People discuss their plans for the night or their desperation to catch connecting flights, while I sit here silent. The lead weight that has kept me company for the last twenty-four hours gets heavy, as the dread I was able to push away creeps back in.

The words on the textbook page I’ve been staring at for hours are starting to run together, making a headache form at the back of my head. It’s my only day off, so I stayed up late last night, only getting a couple hours of sleep, so I could cram this material into my tired brain. The lunch bell sounds throughout the barracks, but I ignore it. I don’t have time to eat. Sitting back in the chair molded into my ass, I crack my back and grunt at how good it feels. When I lower my head back to start reading again, my eyes land on the picture of my parents that I keep on my desk. It was taken the day of my high school graduation. We all have smiles on our faces, but mine doesn’t reach my eyes like theirs do. Like it always does when I think about my family or home, guilt and longing course through me. Pulling my phone from the drawer I shoved it in to keep myself on track, I set a reminder to call my dad in four hours when it’s early morning at home.

“Hill. Sergeant Burns needs to see you in his office.” Turning around, I try to see who is speaking to me, but the doorway is empty. I place a random piece of paper in the book and close it. I’m in civilian clothes since it’s my day off, but I take a minute to brush any dirt off my shirt and straighten it while heading out of my room. Being summoned to your sergeant’s office isn’t always bad, but there’s a weight that has settled low in my gut. I keep to the covered walkways, as it started raining this morning.

Standing outside his door, I can’t shake the feeling that something is seriously wrong. Raising my hand, I knock and await his instruction. “Come in,” my sergeant’s deep voice comes from inside. As I enter the room, he stands with his back to me. He is watching the rain come down outside.

I swallow, trying to get some moisture in my dry throat. “Sir, I was told you needed to see me.” I stand at attention, showing my respect for him. There is a slight tremble in my stance as my legs shake slightly. Telling myself everything is fine, I muster up the strength and force myself to stand still. The silence spans on for what feels like forever, until finally he turns around, and the look on his face makes my strength wane. His face is solemn and dread infuses with my blood. A coldness settles over me, and the urge to run hits me full force.

“Take a seat,” he says, pointing to the chair in front of his desk. On shaky legs, I step forward and lower my rigid body into the seat but never relax. I sit on the edge of the chair with my back straight, all my muscles locked, and the sound of my blood pumping in my ears. My hands start to tremble, along with my legs. I clasp them tightly in my lap, making my knuckles go as white as the walls surrounding us. A clap of thunder rattles the room and makes both of us jump. My mind races with thoughts of my family, war, failing out of class, and, reluctantly, her. I shake my head ever so slightly. No, nothing is wrong with any of them. Please tell me I’m being deployed, I silently beg him.

Sergeant Burns pulls out his chair and sits. He leans back, unlike me, and sighs. That sigh doesn’t help the war that is raging inside me right now. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to spit it out. I just got off the phone with the Red Cross. They received an urgent call from your brother, Adam. It took them a little while to get their paperwork done. He called a couple of hours ago.”

My breathing turns labored, “My…” I point to myself. “Brother?”

“Yes. Shit, son, he said they had to call in hospice for your grandfather yesterday afternoon, their time. They said he doesn’t have long, only a few days at best.” Even though he’s speaking to me, he’s looking at his hands that are placed on the desk.

A nervous laugh falls out of my mouth as moisture fills my eyes. “There’s been a mistake. I spoke to my dad last week. He felt perfectly fine. You’re not sitting here telling me my dad is dying.” The tone of my voice could quickly get my ass in trouble, but I don’t worry about that right now. How could someone be so sick and twisted to call the Red Cross with a lie like this? I do the math to see if I could call Adam, but I’m fourteen hours ahead of them. “No, this is a mistake. Call the Red Cross back. Their information has to be wrong. It’s not my dad. He is healthy as a horse. I swear…”

My words die on my tongue as Sergeant Burns stands up, rounds his desk, and sits in the empty chair beside me. His hands come down on my shoulder, and I feel them shake as much as mine. His eyes are filled with remorse and pity. My head starts to shake violently back and forth. No, no, it’s not true. It’s not true.

His hand squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Levi, but I’m afraid it’s true. I had them repeat everything to me twice,” he says. I didn’t notice that I had said my thoughts out loud. What am I going to do now? How do I say goodbye to Dad? Can I even get home in time? “Usually, in a situation like this one, where a soldier is losing a parent, their travel cost would be covered. However, I’m afraid my hands are tied since he is legally your grandfather, as you were never adopted.”

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