The property where she was staying belonged to Gunner Godet’s mother, who had graciously offered to host the team for the holidays. Alegria doubted Madeline had anticipated that almost a week later, some of them would still be here.
“Bon matin,” Madeline said when Alegria walked in the back door of the main house and into the kitchen.
Alegria smiled. Gunner’s grandfather on his mother’s side had been the US Ambassador to France, and Madeline had spent most of her childhood living there.
“Bon matin,” she answered.
“I hear there’s good news.”
“Dutch and Mantis are on their way to the base north of Mogadishu.”
“I’m so glad.” Madeline walked over to hug her. “I was on your side of too many missions in my life. When the call comes in and you know your loved ones are safe, it’s as though the weight of the world is lifted off your shoulders.”
Gunner’s father, who had recently passed away, had retired as a four-star general from the United States Marine Corps. The missions he’d undertaken throughout the course of his career were as legendary as they were dangerous.
“What can I get you?” Madeline asked, opening the refrigerator.
She’d only had coffee this morning, and hadn’t eaten much in the last couple of days. Suddenly, she was ravenous. “Whatever you have,” Alegria answered. “I can get it though,” she added.
“I don’t mind. I love to cook.” Madeline took eggs and bacon out of the refrigerator and set them on the counter. “Breakfast okay?”
“It’s perfect, thank you.” Alegria dug the phone out of her back pocket. “I’ll just return this to Onyx.”
“He’s in the living room. They’re supposed to be taking down decorations, but I think they’re spending more time playing with those puppies.”
“That’s right. The puppies.” Three had been delivered as gifts on Christmas morning. One to Gunner and his fiancée, Zary; another to Ava, Razor’s wife; and the final to Razor’s sister, Saylor, and his nieces.
Saylor and the girls had left the day before, but Razor, Ava, Gunner, and Zary were all still here, which meant two of the puppies were too. Her back hurt just thinking about the rambunctious animals.
“Sit,” Madeline said, pulling out the chair. “I’ll deliver this.” She took the phone out of Alegria’s hand and left the kitchen.
“Thank you,” Alegria said when she came back.
“You’re welcome. How’s your physical therapy going?”
She laughed. “I guess you caught the look on my face when I pictured playing with the puppies.”
Madeline smiled and nodded.
“I need to start up again.” Alegria stood and stretched her back.
The challenge to do so was that her original physical therapist was in California. She’d been seeing one at Langley after Thanksgiving when she and Dutch went to stay at his place in Newport News. It was a four-hour drive from here to there, and even if she attempted it, with Dutch still in Somalia, where would she stay?
“Here,” said Madeline, handing her a business card. “The physical therapy center at the naval base is a ten-minute drive from here. Jennifer, who I saw after my surgery, is wonderful. I’m sure you’ll like her.”
“Thanks. I’ll give them a call.” Alegria sat back down at the table while Madeline finished cooking breakfast. “I’m not sure when Dutch will be back,” she murmured.
Madeline poured two cups of coffee, handed her one, and then sat down at the table, next to her. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like.”
“I don’t want to be an imposition, but…”
“You’re not an imposition. The guest house sits empty most of the time, and once everyone else leaves later today, it’ll be much too quiet around here.”
“Everyone is leaving today?” That made Alegria feel even worse about staying on. She had an apartment in New York City that her parents had purchased several years ago and then deeded to her when she retired from the Air Force. She spent so little time there, though. For the last two years, it seemed as though the missions she’d been assigned were back to back. She’d been traveling non-stop up until she was shot and wound up in the hospital, fearing she might be paralyzed.
When she was released, Dutch took her to the condo he’d rented near the hospital. From there they’d gone to his place near Langley. Maybe it was time for her to think about returning to New York and resuming physical therapy there.
“Eat,” said Madeline, pointing to Alegria’s untouched breakfast. “You can solve the world’s problems once you have food in your stomach.”