Page 107 of Thick & Thin

Caleb cried, and I pulled his face to my neck to shield him from seeing Josh and what he was doing. And just as quickly as it started, it stopped. Josh’s eyes cleared and realization set in. One minute, he was crouched in the corner of my room like a wounded animal lashing out, and the next, his eyes were full of unshed tears, and he was fleeing from my house.

I wanted to run after him, but with Caleb in my arms, I knew that was a bad idea. The thought crossed my mind to call Mrs. Black, but I didn’t want to worry her since she was having heart issues. So instead, I searched my room for my cell, and I called Genie.

It was early, the light of the awakening sun was slowly coming in through my windows, so when she answered on the third ring, I was shocked.

“Hello?” Her voice cracked with sleep.

“Genie, it’s Jenny. I’m so sorry to call you this early in the morning, but something happened with Josh.”

The sounds of her moving from her bed came through the line, and when she spoke again, her voice was much clearer. “What happened? Is he okay?”

“I’m not sure. He spent the night last night and woke up freaking out.”

I explained everything, from the moment I fell asleep to the moment Josh fled my house. She remained calm the entire time, and when I finished my story, she simply said, “Okay. Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll go find him.”

She was casual about it.

That didn’t make any sense to me.

“Why aren’t you freaking out, Genie? This is serious.”

She went quiet on the other end of the line, and then I heard her breathe. “Shit. He didn’t tell you, did he?”

I felt like reaching through the phone and choking her. She wasn’t making any sense.

“Tell me what? What’s going on, Genie?”

“Josh has post-traumatic stress disorder. Physically, he fared well when the IED blew up his convoy, but mentally … not so much. He was a mess when he came home. He went to Texas for rehab, and he’s doing much better, but he still has panic attacks. Most times, nightmares trigger it. That’s probably what happened.”

I sat on the couch, and my eyes went to Caleb who had all but forgotten about the morning’s drama and was playing with his toys on the floor.

“Is he dangerous?” I asked, tears breaking in my voice.

“He thinks he is. It’s why he didn’t want to see you after his injury.”

My mind flashed back to the past, thinking of the desperation on Josh’s face when he was screaming at me to leave. Pieces started to move together; misunderstandings began to make sense. And everything in our past that pulled us apart was suddenly so clear.

I gasped, feeling nauseous with the realization.

Josh was struggling, and he needed me.

I gripped the phone and closed my eyes. The memories of our past few weeks flashed through my mind until one conversation stuck to my brain. Josh’s words played on repeat, reminding me of the promises we had made to each other.

Never leave me again. No matter how hard I push you away.

I told him I wouldn’t let him push me away again. I had promised, and I wasn’t about to break that promise.

I spent the rest of the morning putting my bedroom back in order and spending time with Caleb to make sure he was okay. Once Dad got home, I filled him in on everything that was going on, and he kept Caleb for me so I could go and check on Josh.

His truck was parked out front when I pulled up at his house. I cut the engine on my car and went up the front steps to the porch to find Mrs. Black sitting there drinking a glass of sweet tea.

“Is Josh here?” I asked.

“He’s around here somewhere. I think he’s back at the stable. Is everything okay?”

I felt the tears coming, but I kept them at bay. “He trashed my room this morning.”

She gasped and set her glass down on the table beside her rocking chair.

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