Baby Im Back

before these feelings of guilt tricked his heart into thinking it felt something that wasn’t real. So after Lora had put him through an arduous set of exercises with a weighted vest that forced his shoulders back, he stopped and blurted, “I’m sorry.”
    Lora looked confused. “But you’re doing great.”
    Suddenly this didn’t seem like a good idea. “I meant I’m sorry about…when we were kids.”
    Her eyes widened. “What?”
    “The name calling…I’m sorry.”
    A flush climbed her face, and she grew flustered. “It wasn’t your fault…it was just a stupid nickname.”
    “It was mean and I’m sorry.”
    She searched his face, then gave a curt nod. “Apology accepted.” Then she angled her head. “But if you think now I’m going to go easy on you, you’re sadly mistaken.”
    Relieved at her good humored response, Barry laughed, then waited as the guilt drained away to take with it these confusing sensations were Lora Jansen was concerned.
    A few seconds later, the guilt was gone…but to his dismay, the confusing feelings remained.

Chapter Five

    A FEW DAYS LATER, the feelings for Lora hadn’t dissipated, but Barry had identified where he’d felt this sensation before—just before a free fall parachute jump over Kandahar.
    “How’s it going, Seaman?”
    Barry looked up from the lunch counter in the diner to see Porter Armstrong standing there.
    Barry smiled and extended his hand. “Fine. The accommodations make me feel right at home, although I have to say, the showers are nicer than what I’m accustomed to.”
    Porter grinned. “I remember…sometimes we got one a week. And the rest of the time—”
    “—a giant baby wipe,” Barry finished, and the men laughed in a moment of camaraderie. Then he sobered. “Listen, Porter…I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I hadn’t planned on spending this much time in Sweetness.”
    Porter looked rueful. “I guess we were hoping you’d decide to stick around.”
    Barry blinked. “In Sweetness? No, sir, I’m going back to the field.”
    Porter raised an eyebrow. “Surely that isn’t possible.”
    “I’m relying less on my cane,” Barry insisted. “I’ll be back up to speed soon.”
    “Thanks to your physical therapy with Lora Jansen?”
    Barry smirked. “I see word still travels fast in this town.”
    “Yes…but if the PT is working, all the more reason to stay.”
    Barry lifted his coffee cup for a drink. “I can continue PT at Bethesda. I’m sure Lora will forward my exercise plan.”
    Porter nodded. “I’m sure she will, but I have it on good authority that Lora might be sad to see you go.”
    Barry choked on his coffee.
    Porter gave him a wry grin. “Nikki—Dr. Salinger—might’ve mentioned that she noticed some chemistry between you two.”
    Barry had heard Porter and Nikki were a couple, had seen them together around town. “Dr. Salinger must’ve been seeing things,” he said casually, “because I have too much on my plate right now to think about…chemistry. And while my SEAL days are over, I’m not ready to leave the Navy.”
    Porter looked dubious, but inclined his head. “I understand you’re eager to get on the road, but we still need more time to make arrangements for the ceremony. How about Friday?”
    Barry tried to hide his frustration. Two more days seemed interminable, but he nodded. “If you don’t mind, though, I’d still like to keep this private.”
    “Sure thing.” Porter clapped him on the shoulder, then said goodbye and walked away.
    With Porter’s comments churning in his brain, Barry paid his bill and pushed to his feet, noting with satisfaction he didn’t need the cane to stand, and recalling with a start that he hadn’t taken a pain pill today—he hadn’t needed to. The realization cheered him immensely.
    Several people spoke as he left the diner—the faces were becoming familiar, and he knew a few names, too. The men in the living facility they called the barracks were a congenial group, and many were ex-military. Everyone had made him feel welcome.
    He borrowed a four-wheeler to explore the town. The area outside the city limits was still in disrepair, but progress was slowly extending to the valleys and ridges where most of the former townspeople had lived. Barry’s family had lived on Clover Ridge, where the Armstrongs and many other families had made their homes before the twister changed the landscape and the trajectory of everyone’s life. But even as