“Yep, that’s Jenny.” Leonard finished his beer, set the empty on the bar, and asked for another. “She always goes for guys that are younger than her. And definitely more innocent.”
Joey almost argued the point on that one, but he didn’t. Leonard was a big guy. Besides that, he had information about Jenny that Joey wanted.
“Want a word of advice, kid?” Leonard asked.
The black anger Joey felt got the upper hand for a moment, making his voice sharp and quick. “Do I look like I need advice?”
Leonard glanced at him in surprise. For a minute, Joey got the impression the guy was going to jump him. Then Leonard grinned, and there was a trace of evil in the expression. “Yeah, you do.”
Joey swallowed and kept back the immediate response that formed in his mind.
“My advice to you,” Leonard said, “is to enjoy tonight. Maybe a couple other nights, and some real nice times. But don’t get hung up on Jenny. She ain’t forever, man. She’s just out to amuse herself, and you’re just the flavor of the week.”
Leonard’s words slammed into Joey. He bridled against the prediction. The guy didn’t know that. Jenny had come on really strong, talking to him, making time to be with him. The attraction wasn’t one-sided. Joey was certain he wasn’t the only one to feel it.
But Jenny was still dancing with the band, still in the spotlight and apparently loving it.
Feeling kind of sick, no longer able to tolerate the beer taste in his mouth, Joey turned back to the bar, intending to ask for an order of cheese nachos. Ace stood at the television mounted on the wall behind the bar. Channels cycled as the bartender used the remote control. The news broadcast caught Joey’s attention.
On the screen, video footage of troops rushing across windswept desert sands bore the tagline SYRIAN-TURKISH BORDER. Explosions ripped across the stark landscape in the next instant.
Ace cycled past the news channel.
“Hey,” Joey shouted.
The bartender turned around. “You want something, kid?”
“That news channel,” Joey said. Goose! Goose was over there! “Let me see that again.”
“You got somebody over there?” Ace asked.
“My dad,” Joey answered without hesitation. “My dad is over there.”
“That’s harsh, man,” the bartender said sympathetically as he switched the television channel back. “Looks like those guys on the front line are taking a beating.”
10
United States of America
Fort Benning, Georgia
Local Time 12:42 A.M.
“My mom and dad got into an argument this evening.”
“Before you came to the base hospital?”
“Yeah. A long time before.”
As Megan watched Gerry Fletcher, her heart went out to the boy. Remaining professional in light of everything that had gone on so far tonight, especially after having to drop Chris off and not knowing where Joey was or if Goose was all right, tested her emotional control to the max. At the moment, with the clock ticking here and who-knew-what going on with her menfolk, she felt in over her head dealing with both Gerry and her own family crises. As she always had in other times of overwhelming stress and uncertainty about what course she should pursue, she quietly prayed to God.
She felt a little guilty just now because it seemed like she was praying to Him lately only to intercede on her behalf or her family’s, not just to accept and talk and give thanks. But that was when she most needed Him: when things—like Gerry’s situation—got the better of her. And when those things—like Gerry’s situation—continued, sometimes she couldn’t help feeling that God didn’t care.
Upon occasion, Megan had unburdened herself to Bill Townsend when he had been visiting. Bill had always seemed so understanding, so seemingly in tune with God’s ways, that he had been easy to talk to about her work and about her faith. She’d told Bill about the bad things she had dealt with while counseling the base kids, and Bill had told her that God’s plan took everything into account, that no sparrow fell without notice. He couldn’t explain why those terrible things happened, but he did believe they served a purpose that wasn’t always within human understanding. From the way he had talked, Megan knew that Bill believed that. But she had her doubts, and times like tonight brought those doubts to the forefront.
Gerry sat in the bed with his back to the headboard. He held his good arm wrapped around his injured arm, his knees doubled up. Although he stared at the television set where the Lakers had just returned to the court after the half, Megan knew the boy no longer saw the game. He was reliving the night, reviewing another section of the never-ending nightmare his life had turned into these past few years.
“Your parents got into an argument,” Megan prompted after a short while.
“Yeah,” Gerry said.
“I’m sorry.”
Gerry shrugged a little, taking care with his injured shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Mrs. Gander. It’s my fault.” Tears ran down his scratched cheeks. “It’s always my fault. That’s what you don’t understand. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all this time, and you just don’t listen. If you just listened and believed me, maybe we could fix me. Make me better.”
“I know you, Gerry,” Megan said softly. “You’re a good person.”
Stubbornly, sniffling and wiping at his tears, Gerry shook his head. His voice came out as a hoarse whisper. “I’m not. I can’t be. If I was good, my mom and dad wouldn’t fight so much over me.”
“Your mom and dad haven’t just fought over you,” Megan said. “During our sessions, you said they’ve fought in the past over money and over jobs your mom has taken.”
“Yeah, but they’d have more money if they didn’t have me,” Gerry said. “I’ve heard Dad say that.
