A Soldier's Valentine

The cold air made her hasten her steps. Slipping on a patch of ice, she bobbled but caught herself and stayed upright. A strong hand gripped her shoulder, steadying her. Fearing it might be Lewis, she looked up and breathed easy when it wasn’t.

“Thanks.”

Matthew Zelinsky chuckled and let go. “I don’t know how you walk in those things.”

Ginger laughed, too, glancing at her high-heeled-boot indulgence. “It takes skill.” Then she looked around. “Where’s Annie?”

“Home with the baby. She didn’t want to take John out in this cold.”

Ginger smiled. “She’s hogging that little guy all to herself.”

“She loves being a mom,” Matthew said.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” At thirty-two, Ginger’s biological clock had a few ticks left, but then she wasn’t exactly looking for a husband. She hadn’t met any she considered worth the trouble. Or the risk.

Matthew was one of the good ones. He had stepped in to help after Annie’s husband had died, and they’d ended up falling in love. As first mate on a Great Lakes freighter, Matthew was home until late March when the shipping season started up again. “By the way, my mom’s having a get-together in two weeks, and we’d like you to come.”

“A prenuptial celebration? Sure, I’m in.” Ginger was thrilled that Matthew had given Annie an engagement ring at New Year’s. They planned a small, informal wedding the week before Valentine’s Day.

“More of a welcome home for Zach.”

“Oh...” She’d agreed too soon.

“I’ll tell Annie that you’re going. She’ll be glad to have you there. I think my family overwhelms her at times. See ya.” Matthew waved as he trotted off.

Ginger waved back. She knew how Annie felt. Captain Zelinsky had certainly overwhelmed her. And he hadn’t been happy about a welcome-home parade. Not one bit. How would he take a welcome-home party with his huge family?

* * *

Zach woke with a start. His fists were full of sheet and bedspread and his T-shirt stuck to his back. He looked at the clock blaring red numbers that read 5:15 a.m., and swung his legs over the side of the bed. With his elbows resting on flannel-covered knees, he forced the shaking to stop by breathing deep.

A soft knock followed by the creak of the door confirmed that he woke someone else up with his thrashing. “Zach?”

“I’m okay, Mom. Go back to bed.” He hoped she’d leave but knew otherwise. She was his mom. She’d try to make things all better like always, but he didn’t have a skinned knee. This couldn’t be healed with a kiss and a cartoon-covered bandage.

She entered the dark room and sat next to him. “How often?”

“What?”

“Do you dream like this?” She spoke softly, not calling them by name.

He didn’t blame her. He didn’t call them by name either, but he’d definitely had the same nightmare over and over since coming home. Today’s parade, his uniform and the flags must have triggered what he’d tried to bury. But the horror of seeing his men torn to pieces in an ambush wouldn’t stay buried. He’d been helpless then, and he was helpless now.

He’d led them there.

Zach let out the breath he’d been holding. “I don’t know. Often enough, I guess.”

“Oh, honey.” His mom put her hands on his shoulders and kneaded the tight muscles there. She also mumbled under her breath.

Leaning closer, he realized his mom prayed. For him.

He closed his eyes, too. Jesus, please...

He’d taken his Lord’s name in vain way too many times in his life. He’d also said the name in repentance and as a prayer. Now, he begged. For what, he still couldn’t put to words. Peace eluded even though he was out of the service. Even though he’d talked to a counselor at the VA. Even though the mayor had introduced him to the director of the local VA office here. Would it help to keep talking? Zach didn’t think so.

Buying a building where he could make things with glass might bring him the peace he sought. It’s what he’d planned for after he retired. He just hadn’t figured he’d have to retire this soon.

God knew he wanted to forget. But some things a person never forgot, including the notification letter that he’d been part of the army’s reduction in force initiative. He’d received a letter during his last deployment that his service was no longer needed.

He stood and kissed the top of his mother’s head. “Thanks, Mom. Now go back to bed.”

She searched his eyes. “You’re not going to sleep, are you?”

“No.” He didn’t want to repeat that dream. “Don’t tell Dad.”

His mom’s eyes narrowed. “He’d be the right person to talk to. He could introduce you to a friend at the VA office here. They have a program—”

“No.” Zach cut her off. He’d had enough talking on base. Seeing the hurt look in his mom’s eyes, he softened. “I already met the guy, but not now. Not yet.”

She didn’t approve, he could plainly see that, but she nodded anyway. Zach’s mother never went back on her word. She’d protected him as a kid. His father hadn’t known about the middle school brawls Zach had been in until many years later.

“I’m going to the shop to get some work done.” He needed to get settled into his own place where he wouldn’t wake his parents with his dreams. He needed to do something to keep his mind engaged in other realities. He needed to leave.

His mom gave him a worried look. “Be careful, honey. It’s dark out there.”

“I will.” He chuckled.

He knew all about darkness. He’d faced far worse than the winding ten-mile drive into Maple Springs. By the time he’d thrown on clothes, made a thermos filled with coffee and climbed into his Jeep, Zach looked forward to going into town.

He wanted quiet but not isolation. He’d never been a fan of big crowds, so city life was out. But living atop his own glass studio in a small town that shriveled up to nothing during the winter months was exactly what he’d had in mind when the time came. And that time was now.

His parents had offered him land to build on, but now more than ever he needed busywork. Distraction from his thoughts. A vision of that perky redhead named Ginger flashed through his mind. She looked too young for him. And cheerful in a cheeky sort of way that intrigued as much as irritated him. She probably hadn’t experienced an unpleasant day in her short life.

It didn’t take long before he pulled into the narrow back alley that ran the length of one block of Main. Streetlights above gave him plenty of light to see the back entrances of several buildings that were on each side. Each one had its own stout driveway, and he pulled next to a cherry red Volkswagen Beetle with a ladybug decal on its trunk. Right below that was a Love Michigan bumper sticker in the shape of a heart. Hometown pride. Or rather, home state.

The car had to be Ginger’s. She rented not only her shop but the larger apartment of the two above, on the second floor.

The woman he’d purchased the building from had tried to make the long-term lease with Ms. Carleton and her tea shop a condition of the purchase. Zach had negotiated those terms down to a year at a time with the promise that he wouldn’t simply kick Ginger to the curb without proper notice.

Zach had no intention of taking over the whole building just yet. Not until he grew his business. Having a stable rental income right off the bat appealed, but he couldn’t have kept the ridiculously low rent. He’d had to raise it to help cover his loan payment.

He got out of his Jeep and looked at the car. The VW fit his vibrant tenant with the flaming hair and soft freckles. He heard the back door open, and Ginger stepped outside dressed for a jog. Her reflective striped clothes announced a serious runner.

“Morning,” he said.

Startled, she grasped her neck, which was draped with a pink fleece scarf. “You scared the living daylights out of me!”

He chuckled.