Page 52 of True Valor
“Well, I really want to get some skiing in.I’m not sure where I’m headed.Have you heard the ski conditionstoday?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Nic walked to the door, opening it forRaines.“If I see her or hear from her, I’ll let you know.”
“I’m sure you will.”Raines handed Nic hisbusiness card and walked out.Nic closed the door behind him.He’dneed to be careful when he left.
To make sure he wasn’t followed.
Cruz pulled his Jeep into the driveway of asmall bungalow that occupied the center position in a smallcul-de-sac.The mailbox out front said Cruz/D’Onofrio/Amonte.
“Either it’s bigger than it looks, or youguys gave new meaning to three amigos.”Julie forced a cheerfultone; the melancholy of Joey’s absence still hung around.
Cruz laughed.“Triple bunk beds.You can havethe middle.”He leered at her good-naturedly.“Maybe not.”Hesnapped his fingers before lifting the back hatch.He threw Juliethe house keys, then reached for the luggage.
“Go on in, I’ll get the bags.”
It really was bigger on the inside than itlooked from the driveway.The front door led right into the livingroom.Overstuffed chairs and couch all aimed at the big-screentelevision.Obviously a guy’s living room.Monster speakersdominated each corner of the room.No lack of testosterone here.But, even so, everything was fairly neat.No socks or underwear tobe seen.No underwear over the lamp, either.
The small, spotless kitchen, with olderappliances, was off one side of the living room.Either they neverate here or someone was picky about housekeeping.Nic.Neat-Nic.She smiled inwardly at the play on words.
A door from the kitchen led to the garage.ABatman sign hung there.Cruz must have followed her into thekitchen because now he, again, answered her question before sheasked it.
“The Batmobile’s out there.”At her look ofconfusion, he stepped around her, opened the door and flipped onthe light.“Batman’s car.”There, in the dim light of the garagesat a gleaming black truck.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.Yours?”
Cruz shook his head.“Batman’s.Nic.”
“Nic?Batman?”
“Yeah, he lives to rescue.He could no morepass by someone needing help than he could fly.But you alreadyknew that, didn’t you?”
Julie just looked at him.Batman, huh?Andshe was just a helpless victim he couldn’t pass by?God, the lastthing she wanted to be was some helpless female who always neededrescuing.
But, hehadrescued her.He’d takenwounds that would have killed her.But still.The idea that shecontinued to need rescuing left her feeling cooped up in an oddsort of way.She didn’t like the idea or the feeling.
Cruz was talking again and leading the wayout of the kitchen.“You can either take Joey’s room or...”Now hestammered, suddenly embarrassed.
Julie laughed at his discomfort.“Or what,Eric?I can sleep in Nic’s bed?”She patted him on the shoulder asshe walked by and picked up her bag.“Which one’s Joey’s?”
Cruz cleared his throat and pointed down thehallway.“Last on the left,” he said.
The longer she thought about it the maddershe got.She was not a victim, by God.And if Nic thought he couldjust move in on her, because she’d been in trouble, he was wrong.And yet, being with Nic, having him hold her, felt like home.
But that wasn’t the point.What was thepoint?
Oh, yeah.The point was that she didn’tappreciate being treated...
Julie flopped down on the bed.The truth wasthat, with Nic, she felt safe and loved and secure.If that wasjust obligation on his part, then she was way past the point ofgetting out of this unscathed.She was falling in love with him.Tears sprang to her eyes at the thought that he might not feel thesame way.
She swiped at a tear with the heel of herhand, bouncing off the bed.Needing a distraction from her currentthoughts, she set about reading the plaques that, along with framedpictures, covered the walls of the bedroom.Joey’s room.
There were plaques of appreciation from SARunits, of recognition from the Air Force.All very impressive.Butthe pictures.My God, the pictures.Joey looked even more Italianthan Nic did.In one picture, Joey and a younger looking Nic stoodin front of an ambulance, marked with a very recognizable FDNY,both with paramedic patches on their uniforms.They worestethoscopes around their necks, had their arms crossed, and smiledwearily.
More recent photos showed the Three Amigos ina variety of endeavors, from holding parachutes to rappelling on awall.One even showed them in mid-skydive, with arrows pointing outwhich was which.A team shot, seven men in all.Clearly from theinsignias on their uniforms this was Bravo Squad and theircommanding officer, Colonel McIntyre, Cruz had called him.
Julie didn’t realize she was crying until thetears spilled down her cheek.This Joey was gone, leaving Nic,Cruz, and an entire team, grieving his loss.Still, Batman hadfound her, and had let her into his life, at a time when he’d justwanted to be alone to recover.What that said about him made thetears come harder until she sat on the bed and just let themflow.
