Page 21 of Blackstone's Heart
"Excuse me?" Ethan demanded.
"You heard me. Krista doesn't do men who shelter her. A few tried in college and she tore them to shreds. That woman over there," Jerry paused pointing to where Krista and Stan were both standing, their interview done. "That woman eats weak ass men up for breakfast. Nick and Debbie raised a bad ass daughter with killer looks, brains and the strength to match. I'll tell you right now Ethan Blackstone, whatever darkness you think makes you unworthy of her this go around, don't hide it. You do, you'll lose any chance with her." Jerry elaborated.
“Jerry, I need her to be one hundred percent sure that I’m what she wants. The Ethan that she remembers isn’t the Ethan I am now.” Ethan spoke, but his eyes were locked on Krista.
Jerry’s brows furrowed. “I think you lost me somewhere.”
Ethan finally looked away from Krista and faced Jerry. “I’m sure she’s mentioned our past as lovers?” When Jerry nodded, Ethan continued. “I’m not that sweet guy anymore. I need her to really grasp what being with me would mean. I also have never screwed around with a client, none of us have. If I’m going to cross that profession line, I need her fully committed to it. If I get even a taste of her again, I’m not letting her go.”
Jerry stared at Ethan in shock. The other man’s words finally sinking in. Jerry looked from Ethan to Krista, then back at Ethan. “Good lord above. You’re serious about this aren’t you?”
“Dead serious.” Ethan nodded.
“Does Krista know that this?” Jerry asked.
“No.” Ethan answered.
Both men looked over just as Krista shook hands with the reporter. “Then You better tell her. If you want her, she need to know what you want from her.”
Ethan watched as Jerry hurried to Krista with a big shit eating grin. He smirked a little as the two friends hugged. He knew Jerry and Grant were right. Right there in that moment, watching Krista and Jerry walking toward him, he made up his mind that he would tell her tonight when he dropped her off.
***
Krista sighed as she, Jerry and Ethan entered the VA hospital. A sense of purpose settled over her. During her first book tour in the fall of 2009, she had been in Houston and heard about a young soldier brought in. The man had no family and had lost his left leg in an IED attack in Iraq. She had immediately gone to see him.
After spending three hours visiting the hospital and talking to the men and women there, she made it her mission to share their stories, to help however she could. She had heard some people say visiting these facilities left them sad, but not her. She felt giddy, felt happy. Like she made just a small difference in their lives just by saying hello and giving them a few minutes of her time.
"Ms. James, welcome back." A nurse in her mid-fifties greeted, her arms open wide.
"Hi Louise." Krista beamed hugging the nurse. "How's the family?"
"Oh they're good. My son, Phillip, he told me once he graduated high school next year he wants to be a medic in the Navy. Me and John are so proud. Rachel will be starting her last year at John's Hopkins in the fall and says she wants to be a cardiac surgeon." Louise reported.
"The Navy can always use good medics." Ethan spoke up.
Krista gave him a small smile. "Louise, meet Ethan Blackstone. He's my new head of security. He was also a Marine until two years ago. Of course Once a Marine, Always a Marine right?"
"I have taught you well honey.” Louise winked before facing Ethan. “Hello Mr. Blackstone, and thank you for your service. My brother was a Devil Dog back in 'Nam and so was my husband." Louise nodded.
Ethan, still a little weirded out at being thanked for his time, simply returned his nod. Krista seemed to sense his discomfort, because she slipped her arm through Louise's and led them through the hospital. Places like this always left Ethan with a feeling of sadness. He himself had spent nearly six months in a VA facility in Richmond after his last mission. It had been a humbling experience and he was thankful that he had been lucky. He had suffered minor injuries compared to some of the men and women that were there with him.
Their first stop were the more serious patients. He watched Krista follow the protocols for entering this section with a skilled precision. Her hair swept up and away from her face, surgical scrubs covered her clothes. As much as he wanted to stay at her side, he couldn't bring himself to follow.
"It's heartbreaking I know, but these patients look forward to seeing Kris." Louise spoke up.
"Ma'am?" Ethan startled, having not heard her step up to his side.
"These patients are our long term ones. They are those who may never walk again or may never leave this hospital." The nurse sighed. "Kris tries to visit us at least once a month. Since her first few visits these men and women look forward to those. She gives them a sense of hope. That they still matter. She’s a woman who genuinely cares about them even though they are total strangers."
"And Kris loves coming here." Jerry added moving to Ethan’s other side.
"We love having her, not just the patients but the staff too." Louise chuckled. "She's so giving with her time. Sometimes, that's better than any monetary contribution for our patients. Knowing that there is still one person who genuinely appreciates what they and their families have sacrificed."
"Yes, that does mean more." Ethan said softly, looking through the window of the double doors in front of him to see Krista walk into a room.
Louise studied him. "What facility were you at Mr. Blackstone?"
"Um, Richmond, ma'am."
