Letters From Home …. a sneak peek from my rough draft.

“Just one more day in my life,” her co-worker said as she walked down the hall and disappeared behind the door. Jess was a good person and she enjoyed working with her. She walked on and found her way to the car. She didn’t care for night shift, it had left her drained and ill. At least her work kept her busy while Adam was away. It had only been a couple of days since she had talked to him and already it had felt like months. The nights were the worst. She tried to stretch her days as much as she could. Before long her body was going to see to it. She hadn’t been pregnant and she was experiencing a lot of things she wasn’t sure of. She had wished many times over her mother was was closer or that Adam was home, least things a bit easier. For now it was a home of one with friends coming in and out. The neighbor boy still came in and out even though Mack was there. Sometimes it has been just the company that he wanted, but she always seemed to have a stash of cookies for him. Linden acted years older than he was sometimes he just came over to sit and talk with her. Most of the time he would come to see if there was anything to do to help her out. She would give him simple jobs like taking out the trash or helping her bring in the groceries if Mack hadn’t already done it himself. She was sure his mother had asked him to look in on her while Adam was away. She hadn’t met Linden’s mother, but she had seen her out and about and she had waved and smiled at her from her yard on occasion. At any rate she enjoyed Linden’s company. She found her way into her home and sat her things down, depositing her her shoes at the door. She sat down, taking in a deep breath and blowing it out. She expected Mack today, but it didn’t matter. She would do a few things and slip off to her room as she had in the past and sleep. She had fought him in the past about going straight to bed, but this time she had to agree that it was in order. There was a knock on the door that she had expected to be Mack. When she answered the door, she found Linden, waiting to be asked in for company. She greeted him and Linden walked in and took a seat at the kitchen table. He looked around, and Sara thought as he gauged his surroundings what a little man he was. “The place looks good Mrs. Crowder. Your friend must take good care of you. I see him come over every now and then. I can still help, maybe take some of the weight off.” Sara covered her smile and contain her laugh, he was always there and he watched out for is it he was Adam and Max age is far beyond his years come to think of it she couldn’t remember ever seeing his father. “I’m sure Mack would appreciate anything you can do to help. Why don’t you have a seat and I will get you some milk and cookies and we will discuss a few chores you might be able to help him with. Sara turned and took the cookie from the jar and gathered the milk from the refrigerator. She poured them both a glass and sat down at the table with him. Linden took a cookie from the tray and closed his eyes as he took a bite. “Mmm, these are so good. “ Satisfaction in his eyes as he continued chewing on the cookies and milk. “You know you can call me Sara, you don’t have to call me Mrs. Crowder. The little man continues as he eats his cookies. “Yes, ma'am, Mrs. Crowder.” She giggled under her breath. “Ok Linden, why don’t you finish your cookies and then you can help Mack with a few things. I know he would appreciate your assistance.” He gave her a satisfied look as she stood to wash up the dishes and prepare for her day. This was a chance to get to know Linden a little more. He had been there often, but he mostly did chores for her. He didn’t seem to mind getting paid in cookies, cake sweets. There were times that he just came and sat on the couch with her and watch movies with her. It was nice to have company, She had friends, but she was still lonely from time to time and he did help her pass the time. “How’s your mother Linden? I see her every now and then. Why don’t you bring her along sometime?” He sat there quietly and then answered as if it didn’t matter. “She’s not my mother Mrs. Crowder, she’s my foster mom. My mom didn’t want me and I don’t know who my father is. I’ve never seen him.” Sara was taken aback when she heard his confession. No wonder he acted as if he was 30 something. It must be his way of dealing with his situation. “Oh, I see.” He picked up his glass and carried it to her sink where she stood wiping her hands on a towel. “It’s ok Mrs. Crowder. Miss Jacobs is a nice woman and she takes good care of me. Some kids in foster care don’t get that. I help her out and she gives me a place to say. She loves me in her own way, but I’m not hers. If I were, things would be different. No one wants a child, my age, they all want babies.” Sara choked back a sob as Mack entered the door and she turned for a moment to keep Mack and Linden from seeing a tear slip down her cheek. She quickly swiped it away and gave her hands another wipe as Mack came closer. “Sara,” he questioned and she knew he had caught it. She shook her head letting him know not to pursue it with Linden present. “Mack, Linden and I were just discussing what you might need help with.” Thank goodness he took it and ran with it. Linden looked at him as if he was the best thing he had seen. To a boy without a dad, she guessed Mack was pure gold to him. “Ok Linden,” Mack said as he assessed the boy and grinned, “I’m going to be doing some pretty heavy stuff today. You think you can handle it? I could use some help.” That’s all that little boy needed was a boost of encouragement from a male role model that he obviously admired. He smiled broadly as he took on Mack. “I can handle it, sir.” Mack ruffled his hair as he walked toward the door. “First thing Linden, call me Mack. Sir makes me feel like my father. We’re buddies and you are aloud to call me Mack.” Linden shook his hand and addressed him. “It’s a deal Mack.” They walked out the door discussing their day's adventures and Linden was happy as a Lark with Mack by his side. It must be difficult growing up without parents she thought as she continued to clean her home and survey her surroundings. Linden was a little boy and he took care of everyone around him including his foster mom. He was a fine young man and she hoped things would change for him. He knew none of the circumstances that surrounded him other than what he disclosed and she hoped that the woman that had taken him as a foster child was kind to him. He always looked well taken care of and Linden himself said that she was very good to him, he just wasn’t hers. That was it, he wanted to belong and Mack gave him that.

#Military #Hero #PTSD #Romance #Officer #Clips