“Doesn’t mean I can’t hold you for a minute. When’s the last time you’ve had a hug, Mel?” I ask her.
“Well, if you count my second dad, it’s been a couple of weeks before that. Several hugs at the funeral, but nothing that really was meaningful, besides from Gene. That was nothing like what my dad would give me, his hugs. He’d wrap me up like he was a teddy bear and just hold me. I miss him so damn much. He was too young. I wanted him to be there for all the milestones in my life. Now he’s not.” Those words sound as if they’re ripped from her soul.
“Then let me hug you, sunshine. Nothing more. Give me those tears and let it out, at least for now. Then you get up, and fuck do I know it’s hard as hell, but you brush yourself off. If he had things he wanted to do while he was alive, you do those for him. Persevere, even when life is trying to knock you down.” I kiss the crown of her head, already feeling this gravitational pull towards her sunshine.
“What kind of experience do you have?” This time, it’s me who lets her go. I know what she’s asking, and as difficult it is, I’ll give her those.
“We lost a few of our own on our last mission, my career was over, and here I am in my late thirties with a knee replacement that I’ll probably have to have again later on in life. Those men, though, they were my brothers in every way of the word except blood. It may not be the same as losing my dad, because I’m pretty sure I’d be in your shoes, hurt, sad, and wanting the world to stop kicking me in the ass. Healing is gonna take time, Mel, so do that, but even though we don’t know each other all that well right now, I’m here for you, just a few steps away.” The sun may be beating down on her body, and fuck what a body she has, but I see her shiver, so I put my arm back around her, rubbing her arm. She lays her head in the crook of my neck, and we sit silently. Melanie says nothing about what I just told her. I have no doubt once she gets her thoughts together, she will.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain in the ass,” she breaks the silence after a few minutes.
“Nah, I almost went out last night to make sure you were okay. Damn woman had me closing the windows, felt like I was intruding. You’ve got a hell of a voice, sunshine.” Melanie perks up at my compliment.
“Thanks, you really think I’ve got a good voice? I mean, my dad always told me I did, but he’s my dad so, you know, biased opinion and all.” She moves the hair that’s blowing in the wind across her lips, placing it behind her ear. Shit, this woman has me wanting to do everything I can for her. Peyton, my brother’s now wife, wasn’t wrong. When you fall, you really fucking fall. She’ll get a kick out of this. Not even twenty-four hours in Melanie’s presence, and I know I’ll do whatever I can to keep the smile on her face.
“Nah, he was telling the truth. Next time you have a jam session, let me know. I’ll bring the bourbon and watch you play. The only reason I didn’t last night was, well, the way you needed to get it out, and I was naked as a jaybird,” I attempt to lighten the mood.
“Oh, dear God, I appreciate you not coming out, then. You probably would have scared the old lady on the other side of you.” She chuckles while saying this.
“She’d enjoy it. Don’t let her fool you. Let’s go for a walk. It’ll do you some good and help out my bum knee.” I play it up, wanting to spend more time in her presence but take away the melancholy sharing shit brought out in both of us.
“I’d like that. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t walked on the beach very much since I’ve been here.” I hold my hand out, offering it to her, knowing damn good and well I won’t be letting it go. Not only that, I’ll be enjoying the view entirely.
10
Melanie
Today was amazing. Well, it was until nightfall, when Fox and I parted ways. Now, here I am, lost in my feelings, drinking vodka and seltzer water, trying to numb the pain. That will happen when one of those damn memories pop up on your social media, knocking you to your knees. It’s taking everything I have not to drag out my dad’s guitar again, but something was holding me back. Before we said our good-nights, because let’s face it, Fox monopolized the rest of my day, including stopping at this little cantina, grabbing a couple of tacos, a margarita for me, a beer for him, and watching the sun slowly fade in the distance.