Her hometown hero, p.24
Her Hometown Hero, page 24
“It was hard on all of us,” Gia responded. “I’m so glad to see you, Braxton. I really am. I’ve been worried about you.”
“Who were you talking about when I walked up?”
“Trey Rothchild.”
“What happened to him? Wait...are you with him?”
“We’re not together anymore,” she responded. “Trey is a marine... He was wounded badly in Afghanistan. He lost both legs in June.”
Braxton embraced her. “I heard you say something about pushing him too hard.”
“I wanted him to keep moving forward. I guess I should’ve been more understanding. I know with Dad—he came to the decision to get help on his own. It just seemed like Trey wasn’t interested, but maybe he just wasn’t ready.” She felt guilty for wanting him to move at her pace. Gia regretted pushing Trey so hard.
“I can talk to him,” Braxton offered.
Gia shook her head. “No, don’t do that.”
He pointed to the cake. “Care to share?”
Smiling, she said, “There’s another piece in the box.”
Gia was happy to see her brother. She wanted to use this visit to build a closer relationship with him. “Mama’s gonna be so happy to see you.”
He chuckled. “Think she’ll make me some fried chicken? I was thinking about it all the way here.”
“You know she will.”
* * *
TREY STRODE OUT of the kitchen to join Leon in the dining area.
“Looks like you’re getting used to moving around pretty well,” Leon observed.
“I’m getting my permanent prosthesis in January,” Trey announced. “It feels good to drive again and just walk. I feel like a new man.” Things were going well for him but there was one important part of his life missing. Gia.
“How do you like being back at the café? I used to hate working here in the summer.”
“I enjoy it. Today was pretty busy, so I didn’t have time to think about anything other than work. That’s always a good thing for me.”
“Have you spoken to Gia?”
“No.”
“What is wrong with you, man?” Leon asked. “You know that Gia is the one woman for you. Why are you acting this way?”
“Leon, I’m not the man for her,” Trey said. “It’s time I accepted it. I’m dealing with a lot, and I can’t just get over it—not the way Gia expects me to. It’s taking me a while to process everything.”
“Did she tell you that?”
He shook his head. “I just figured she’d know this already.”
“You love Gia. Don’t you think she’s worth fighting for?”
Trey didn’t respond.
“You know I’m right.”
“Looks like you two are in a deep discussion,” Renee stated when she walked over to the table. “Am I interrupting?”
“No,” Leon responded, “I’m just trying to get my brother to see the error of his ways. He’s got a good thing with Gia and he’s about to blow it.”
“I told him the same thing,” she responded.
Renee sat down in the chair opposite Leon.
“Look, I don’t need the two of you ganging up on me,” Trey said. “We need to stay focused on finishing up the work at the Praise House.” Eleanor Louise had sent over the date for the museum fundraiser she was planning there. The family was holding one locally and another in Charleston.
“We’re not ganging up on you. We just want you to be happy. I know Gia loves you. She asked me to give you this.”
Trey looked at Renee. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. I’m just following instructions.”
He opened the box. Inside was a piece of birthday cake.
Renee looked at Leon, who shrugged in confusion.
“Is it her birthday?” Leon asked.
“No, it’s the Marine Corps birthday,” he said.
“That’s proof that this woman still loves you, Trey,” his brother said.
“It may not be enough,” he uttered. “I promised I’d never hurt Gia. It’s a promise I didn’t keep. It also doesn’t change the fact that I’m messed up inside.”
“I think you’re being way too hard on yourself,” Renee said. “We all have issues, Trey.”
Leon agreed. “You are being too hard on yourself in every area of your life. There’s help out there for you, but you keep rejecting it.”
“You sound like Gia.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe she’s right?” Leon inquired. “Put away your pride, little brother. Our high school team was the Charleston Warriors. Do you remember what our coach used to say whenever we lost a game?”
“Yeah,” Trey responded. “A true warrior knows that when he loses a battle, he is improving the skill to fight harder the next time.”
“Trey, I know you feel like you lost a fight you didn’t see coming. One of my favorite quotes by Carl von Clausewitz is this—‘Courage above all things is the first quality of a warrior.’ The same can be said of not only the Marines, but all branches of the military.”
“Awww...you lost me with that part after the Marines,” Trey teased. “Seriously, though, I hear you, Leon.”
His brother’s words stayed with him through the night.
* * *
“YOU DON’T LOOK like you slept well at all,” Patricia said when Gia came downstairs for breakfast.
“I didn’t,” Gia admitted. “I couldn’t stop thinking about Trey. Mama, I love him so much.” She pulled out a chair from the table and sat down.
“Then why don’t you go talk to him?”
“I don’t think it would do any good. I need to give him the space he needs. I’ve pushed him enough.” Gia picked up a plate. “Is Braxton still sleeping?”
“I think he’s up. I heard him talking to someone earlier.” Patricia lowered her voice. “Sounds like he’s in love.”
Amused, Gia asked, “Were you listening to his conversation?”
“No, of course not.”
She gave her mother a sidelong glance. “Uh-huh...”
Patricia picked up two pieces of bacon with tongs and put them on her plate. “Now, you know I wouldn’t do a thing like that. I’m just saying that from his tone, it sounds like he’s in love.”
They heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly changed the subject.
“Are you still going to the Veterans Day celebration?” Patricia asked. “Sam and I are going.”
“I’m going,” Braxton interjected. “We can all go together. I don’t mind driving.”
Gia poured orange juice into a glass. “Yeah, I’m still planning to attend. Trey and I might not be together, but I wouldn’t miss this event. It’s not just about him but all who serve, like Braxton here.”
“And Dad,” her brother added.
“One thing’s for sure,” Patricia said. “Y’all loved your daddy and he loved y’all like crazy. He was a hero, a good husband and father... I miss him so much.”
“He would’ve wanted you to move on,” Braxton said.
“She has Sam, and he adores her.” Gia reached for more bacon. Me... I’m left with the memories of what could’ve been.
* * *
TREY WAS LIKE a zombie through most of the Veterans Day celebration. He was glad when the parade ended. Now they were seated on stage with the mayor. When it was time for him to speak, Trey stood up and walked to the podium, cane in hand.
“Hello, everybody...” he began. “I keep hearing the word hero and it takes me a minute to process that it’s me people are talking about. The thing is...y’all got it all wrong. I’m nobody’s hero. The real heroes are not here today. They can’t be here because they sacrificed their lives for this country. My team...Corporal Laura Hudson, Lance Corporal Erik Jenkins, Private First-Class Lamar Mitchell...they’re the heroes. I was just doing my job.” He shook his head. “Two more brothers in my battalion died over there a few months later.
“A hero isn’t about just an accomplishment. It’s the influence that the individual’s achievement has on us and what we can learn from the adversity they’ve overcome or endured.” Trey’s gaze traveled to where Gia was seated. “Master Gunnery Sergeant Eugene Harris is someone I consider a hero. He always made time for all the kids on this island. He’s the reason I enlisted. All these men seated behind me are heroes.” He eyed one of the local vets in particular. “Master Sergeant Bremen still has a bullet in his head, but he doesn’t let it stop him from being an outspoken advocate for education...”
Trey was relieved when he stepped away from the microphone and returned to his seat.
As soon as the event ended, Trey left the stage to try to catch up with Gia. He wanted to talk to her.
“Excuse me.”
Trey turned to find a man standing a few feet away, with two small children.
“Yes, sir,” he responded.
“My name is Asher Hudson. Laura was my wife.”
Trey felt as if he were about to lose his balance. He gripped the cane and tried to steady himself. “Mr. Hudson...”
“Call me Asher. I wanted to come and personally thank you for your letter. I found out about this event through your friend Greg.”
He felt his eyes go wet. “It was the least I could do. I’m so sorry for your loss. Hudson... Laura was an outstanding marine. It was an honor to have her on my team.”
“She thought a lot of you, as well,” Asher responded. “I listened to you talk up there and I have to say you’re wrong. You are also a hero. I know that you feel you were at fault for what happened, but you’re not. They told me when the medevac arrived, you were in and out of consciousness, yet you shouted for them to take care of Laura first. They said you wanted them to make sure your team was okay in spite of your own injuries.”
Trey didn’t remember any of this. “They didn’t get there in time.”
Asher offered a tiny smile. “Laura was alive when they took her to the medevac. She died on the way to the hospital. You gave her a fighting chance—it was just her time to leave us.”
Trey was stunned. “I didn’t know that.”
A lone tear traveled down his cheek as Asher pointed to one of the ribbons on Trey’s uniform, for his actions on the day of the bombing. The tiny V in the center stood for valor. “You should always wear it with pride.
“They told me about the bombing,” Asher continued, “and there was absolutely nothing you could do but fight to survive. As far as I’m concerned—that alone takes a lot of courage. If you truly want to honor your team...live. Just merely existing would do them a great disservice.”
Trey considered Asher’s words. He was basically saying the same thing Gia, Leon and everyone else had been trying to tell him. However, he’d always felt something was missing—that was why it didn’t click for him until now. Hudson’s spouse had provided the missing piece. He’d tried to save his team when help arrived, even though they felt he was the most critically wounded. He’d demanded that they do what they could for his team first. This part had escaped his memory.
“Asher, thank you for your kind words,” Trey said. “How are you and the kids?”
“We’re taking it one day at a time.”
Trey saw a shimmer of sadness in Asher’s eyes. Offering his hand, he said, “I hope you’ll keep in touch.”
Accepting the handshake, Asher responded, “I’d like that. At some point I’d like to hear more about Laura’s time in Afghanistan. Right now, it’s still too soon.”
“If you need anything,” Trey said, “please do not hesitate to let me know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
THE DINING AREA of the café was beautifully decorated in red, white and blue.
Trey smelled the apple pie as soon as he opened the door.
Misty placed a plate of fried chicken, potato salad, beans, cornbread and macaroni and cheese in front of him. On the smaller plate, she included a slice of warm apple pie. Trey didn’t realize how hungry he was. He ate all of it except for the pie.
Eleanor sat down across from him in the booth. “I’m so proud of you, son.”
He smiled. “Thank you, Auntie.”
“You’ve grown into a fine young man, Trey. I don’t know where the years went. Seems like yesterday you were just a wee boy.”
“How are you doing?” he inquired.
“I’m a bit forgetful, but I’m gwine be fine,” Eleanor stated. “Rusty takes good care of me. I don’t know why, but he won’t let me out of his sight.”
“That’s because he loves you so much, Auntie. Remember, you kept that man waiting for years.”
Eleanor glanced around. “Where’s Gia?”
“I don’t think she’s coming, Auntie.”
“Why not?”
“Gia and I broke up,” Trey said. He’d told her this when they were at the park earlier. Her short-term memory was fading more and more each day it seemed, and the thought filled him with sadness.
Trey was glad to see Gia at the park earlier. Despite their breakup, he knew she’d come not just to honor her late father, but also to support him.
His conversation with Asher had opened his eyes to the fact that he’d falsely believed he was responsible for the deaths of Jenkins, Mitchell and Hudson. The only persons responsible were the insurgents who’d detonated the bomb and launched the rocket.
* * *
“HELLO, TREY. MAY I join you?”
He looked up to find Gia standing there and smiled. “I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance to talk to you.”
“Would it have mattered?” she asked.
“Yes.” He responded. “I’m glad you’re here because I’d really like to have a conversation with you.” He wasn’t sure she’d ever give him a second, chance but Trey had to try.
“About what?”
“About us.”
“Are you sure you want to have this discussion? I warn you that you may not like what I have to say.” Her gaze met his. “You’re the one who pushed me away, but then it made me realize that I was being a bit unfair to you.”
He frowned in confusion. “In what way?”
“I guess I had some timeline in my head of how long you were supposed to stay in your struggle. It seemed to me like it didn’t take long for my dad to realize he needed help, but in talking to my mom—I found out that it wasn’t that easy for him, either.”
“Gia, this is all on me,” Trey said. “Growing up, I heard over and over how strong I was. I guess I perceived strength as the opposite of weak, which to me translated to crying, complaining, losing—all these were signs of a weak man. I was strong. I was a warrior. I’m a marine. Nothing bothers me. I don’t fall apart or get scared...”
Gia took his hand into her own. “It’s okay to ask for help sometimes, Trey. Sometimes we need that. Even marines.”
“I realize that now.” His voice broke. “I have been trying to just make it to the next day, but I want more than that, Gia. I really want to live...”
She brushed away an escaping tear rolling down Trey’s cheek. “I love you. I want you to know that I will be by your side until I breathe my last breath. You own my heart, and you always have.”
His body relaxed and Trey felt hopeful that he hadn’t lost her. “I’ve thought about everything you’ve said to me, Gia. You’re right. I need help and I’m finally ready to admit this. I’m ready to get help. I acknowledge that I can’t do this on my own. I’m going to call the VA and see if I can join one of the support groups. I want to start there before I try one-on-one counseling.”
“Okay,” Gia said. He knew she wasn’t going to take the lead in this. Trey had to make a decision that he would be able to live with, as this was his journey to wholeness. “What can I do to help?”
“Marry me,” Trey said. “I know that I have a lot of issues I need to resolve within myself, but I can’t do this alone. I’m asking you to be by my side through the rest of this process.”
Her eyebrows rose a fraction. “Did you just ask me to marry you?”
“Yes,” he said. “I would’ve liked to have purchased a ring first and done it the traditional way, but I’m not sure how that would’ve turned out.”
She laughed.
“I love you, Trey Rothchild. And yes...I’ll marry you.”
“Did I just hear...” Eleanor said as she approached their table.
“There’s nothing wrong with my aunt’s hearing,” Trey said, lowering his voice.
“I can still hear you, son. Now, back to my question. Did you just propose marriage to Gia?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you did say yes?” she asked Gia.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Eleanor clapped her hands loudly to get the attention of everyone in the café. “’Scuse me, y’all. I’m happy to announce that Trey and Gia are engaged. He just popped the question.”
The applause overshadowed the music playing in the background.
“I knew I should’ve done this when we were alone,” Trey said.
Gia laughed.
Ten Months Later
GIA STOOD OUTSIDE the church, made of old stone and stained glass, her hand on the arm of her brother.
“I bet Dad’s looking down on us right now and smiling,” Braxton said.
“I hope so.” She stared down at the photo of him that was attached to her bouquet. “He’s definitely with us today.”
“Do I go in now?” Talei asked. She was dressed in a long-sleeved royal blue tea-length taffeta dress with a red bow around the waist. Soft ringlets framed her face.
Misty opened the door and said, “C’mon, sweetie. It’s time for you to walk down the aisle with Emery.”
