Page 18 of Luck Be Mine
“I’ll be right here, and we can rest in between and plot our revenge on those boys for thinking that dang red sofa would be okay. Men.” Adele rolled her eyes.
Cait shifted her crutch to lever herself out of the chair again. Adele was there to help. Finally, back on her feet for the third time, she focused on how good clean would feel and to have her hair cut.
Somewhere she dug out more energy. “Doogie never told me about his father.” Maybe she shouldn’t ask.
Adele sighed, a pained yet dreamy expression in her eyes. “God rest his soul, he died when Doogie was in middle school. We met in high school. Got married after I got my cosmetologist license. He was a taxicab driver for fifteen years. Got shot by a stupid scum of a man who now is serving a life sentence in Louisiana for shooting my Darrell.”
By the time they got to the bathroom, found towels, turned on the shower to warm, and Adele handed Cait the shampoo,she heard the whole crime story and how Doogie had been inconsolable for all of seventh grade.
“Not a lick of trouble with that boy, and I was so proud of him when he joined the Navy. Of course, I worry myself sick about him being in so much danger, but I try not to tell him.”
Cait propped her crutch against the counter and began unwinding her sling. Hunt usually did this for her. He was too easy to lean on.
Adele followed her progress and assisted where she needed it. By the time shedding clothes was necessary, she’d resigned herself to needing help from Adele. She was determined to achieve doing this alone. Adele had gone silent, lost in thought.
“Lordie, child, you do have some scars, don’t you? We’re gonna get you fixed up. I swear on my mama’s Bible.”
Cait’s eyes filled with tears, and she had to take a breath. “Thanks, Adele.”
“No problem, child.” Adele stooped to help her shed her yoga pants.
Cait touched her shoulder. “Doogie is really good at what he does.”
“He claims he is.”
“I’ve seen him. Saved my life. Granted, it’s one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, but he’s a savior when people are in trouble. Remember that when the worry gets huge. It’s what I do with Hunt. The man is the best out in the field, and the two of them take care of each other.”
Adele rose to her feet and helped her shed her T-shirt. She checked the temperature of the water. “That helps. We’re gonna be good friends, Miss Cait.”
Cait laughed. “I hope so. I’m naked in front of you.”
“Pshaw. Nothing I ain’t seen before. But I don’t like how skinny you are or the look of those scars. I’ve got just the cream for your skin, and we’ll get a good chat about recipes before theboys show up. We’ll talk about those after your shower. Holler if I need to help with your hair.”
Cait bowed to the will of Adele and stepped into the shower, carefully planting her good hand on the wall. “You should stay right there. I only have one hand to wash my hair with.”
“My hands are yours, sweetie.”
One thing was true. She did need to figure out how to do things herself.
Because she needed to reclaim her independence, and mission time would roll over them soon.
Hunt would be gone.
The struggle would be hers alone.
A hurtful hole opened deep down. She closed her eyes and shoved the pain away. She would never, ever confess the difficulty.
She’d find strength somehow because no one was coming to save her. She had to do it herself.
Chapter Three
◊ Back in Uniform – Day Seven ◊
“Hey, Hunter. Wait up.”
On his way out after a long day, Hunt forced himself to turn. Almost to the damn door.
LT Gil Stemmons jogged to catch him. Their security meetings lasted most of the afternoon, and the man hadn’t approached him. That meant private. Please, no conversation about Deter Kirkus.
