No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

porch.” He pointed past the small floral couch across the room. “This door,” he turned back and pulled open the door she had questioned, “leads to the garage. You can warm up your car without going outside. Now, follow me through here.”

He led her through the garage into another hallway which connected two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a utility room. Plus, the steps leading back up to the living room where they began. The whole time Tasha followed on his heels exploring everything in sight.

“So, you live here alone,” she stated more for confirmation than a question.

He nodded.

“Now tell me what you expect of me.” She wanted to know as she scanned the large room again.

“To cook for me and keep the house in order. With a few rules of course.”

“Such as . . .” she prompted him to explain.

“That entire end of the house is yours. I will put a lock on that door for you and supply you with the keys to each door. You have free rein of the entire bottom floor. But my room is off limits, no exceptions. Don’t expect me to talk and don’t come in here gabbing and carrying on. I like my peace and quiet. Occasionally I may watch a bit of television. And at times I use the downstairs room for working on projects when I get a notion.”

She sat in silence considering the living situation before asking, “What’s the pay?”

“First of all, you get room and board. I supply the groceries, but you can shop for them. Have you a number in mind?”

She told him what she considered fair. This was not a new position for her, so she had a fair idea of wages. They discussed the offer and agreed on terms.

“I’m hungry,” he blurted as soon as the deal was decided.

“Of course, you are.” She laughed. “Do you cook for yourself normally?”

“Do I look like I go hungry?”

“You look healthy to me,” she said, watching his gunmetal blue eyes narrow on her yet again. “I mean you seem to know how to take care of yourself. You look good.”

“I’ll look better when I get some food in me. Then you and that dog can disappear for the night.”

Hanna only shook her head. He did sound like a bear, harsh and emotionless. But he had come to her with the offer. She laughed inside at the term. He didn’t offer as much as he demanded. A blessing for her nonetheless.

Chapter Seven

Over the next few weeks, Hanna and Leo quickly fell into a routine. She respected his privacy and he kept to himself. Occasionally Tasha would follow Hanna into the kitchen or living room and he would talk to her and allow her in his lap. At night when he sat on the balcony, Hanna kept her locked in the house.

For the most part everything went like clockwork, until one morning when Hanna headed upstairs early. She heard movement and hurried up to prepare his breakfast, even though she realized it was earlier than usual. When she opened the door, he stopped his pacing and snapped.

“What are you doing here?”

“I heard you up,” she whispered. “I’m here to cook breakfast.” She paused at the sight of him. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. His hair wild. His rumpled clothes drenched. His eyes were dark.

“Not hungry.” He began his pacing again as he ran his hands through his hair. “Get what you want and get out.”

Cautiously she padded to the kitchen and grabbed something for her and the dog to eat, then hurried back to her designated part of the home. For most of the day, she kept to her room, listening to him ramble around the space above her. Also, she worried about Tasha whining. The dog would sit at the top of the stairs next to the door and whine. Hanna would carry her back down and again the little dog would find her way back to the door, wanting inside the room with Leo.

Late that evening Hanna eased open the door and peeked inside. She noticed Leo sitting at the table with his head cradled in his hands. Quietly she pushed open the door stepping inside.

“Would you like something to eat?”

He only lifted his shoulders without raising his head.

She quietly moved to the kitchen and prepared a quick meal, then slid a plate in front of where he still sat at the table. Hurriedly she prepared another plate for herself and carried it to her room. The dishes could be cleaned after he retired to his room she thought.

Only when she hurried from the upstairs, she pushed the door closed without checking the latch. When the house was completely quiet hours later, she ventured back to clean the kitchen thinking her fur-baby was fast asleep in her bed. But when she found the door ajar and eased it open further, she stopped in her tracks. Leo sat reclined on the couch with Tasha sprawled over his chest with her head next to his chin. He talked softly to her, gently stroking her shaggy coat. A vast change of demeanor from Leo’s earlier attitude.

Leo’s head jerked toward Hanna when the door creaked.

“I’m so sorry. I thought you would be in bed by now. I just came up to clean the kitchen.” She turned toward the stairs with her hand still holding the doorknob.

“No,” he blurted. “You can come in.”

“I won’t be long,” she said as she quietly made her way behind the long couch and began filling the dishwasher. Soon the counters were sparkling, and the hum of the dishwasher filled the room. Without a word, she headed for the door leading to her own private living room when his voice brought her to a halt.

“You can sit if you want.”

Slowly she turned and walked to the couch’s matching chair next to the fireplace. She glanced at the cold logs as she sat then directed her attention to Tasha, who looked as