Page 4 of A Very Grumpy Navy SEAL

We’re led over to a booth.I slide in across from Lula and pass her a menu.

“I should call him,” she mumbles.

I nod, scanning my menu.

She pulls out her phone and curses.

“What’s wrong?”I ask in alarm.

“My battery died.I’ve been on it all day between driving up here and trying to find a place to stay.”

“You don’t have a place to stay?”

“No.I mean, I did, but there was a fire, and now I’m screwed.”

I hate that she looks so defeated.I want to hold her and make all her problems disappear.

Before I can offer to do that, my phone rings.I pull it out to see Ledger’s name on the screen.

“Speak of the devil,” I mutter.

“What?”Lula asks.

“It’s your brother.Hold on,” I tell her as I answer the call.“Hey,” I greet Ledger.

“Hey?Did you make it to Wolf Valley all right?”

“Yeah, just got here.”

“Did you get the picture I sent you of Lula?”

“Yep, and I found her.”

“She’s okay?”

“Seems to be.Hold on, I’ll pass the phone to her.”

“Thanks, man.I owe you.”

I pass my phone to Lula, and she smiles as she talks to her brother.I listen to her side of the conversation.

“No, I’m fine…Work is all right…No, I was laid off…This morning…I know, but I’ll find something else…Yeah, and somewhere else to live, too…It will be okay.I promise…Yeah…How are you?...Promise?...Okay, yeah, I’ll talk to you soon…I will.I promise…Okay, bye.”

She hangs up and passes my phone to me.“He says thanks, and he’ll talk to you later.”

I nod and tuck my phone back into my pocket.“What now?”

She takes a deep breath.“I’ll check into the hotel in town.I can charge my phone and get some rest.Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.”

I nod, and the server returns to take my order.

“Can I get a BLT to go, please?”

“Coming right up,” she says.

I turn back to Lula, taking her in.She looks tired and a little defeated, but she’s strong.She’s a fighter, and I know that none of this will keep her down.

“What can I do to help?”I ask.

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