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

“You know they have treatments for cancer now and we’ll get you anything you need.”

“It’s too late for that. This has eaten away at my body for years. Two months a widower and I was told I had a choice to make. I choose to see my angel again and not suffer the agony of treatments. I’m ready to go now.”

Leo pushed back his sadness forcing his voice to be strong. “You’ve been a rock. The father I’ve needed at times, Sam. I’m not ready for you to go.”

“You’ll be fine now; I’ve taken care of you and hope you carry on the group meetings.”

Leo nodded then grinned. “I thought they were just a few friends gathering to escape the hassle of chores and wives.” He reminded Sam of his version of the meetings when Leo had told him he didn’t need group therapy.

Sam attempted a laugh that ended in a coughing spell.

“Sir, visiting hours are over,” the young nurse quietly told Leo.

He nodded and stood. Stepping next to the bed, he and Sam exchanged a goodbye and he walked out saying he’d see his friend again.

A few days later, Leo stood next to Tom, Henry, and Ryan watching the flag be folded and placed on top of the casket. He had been numb since the news of his best friend’s illness only days ago. Sam had hidden his ailments for years and had become good at it. No one had known until it knocked them all for a loop. As the service came to an end and the few people in attendance began to disperse, Leo turned and was caught by surprise yet again. Hanna stood dressed in a timely black dress and heels quietly away from the small crowd.

Even though her lips turned up on the corners, no happiness reached her eyes as she turned and walked to her car.

He stood motionless watching how she looked in that dress and admiring the way it hugged her body. Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he scolded himself for even noticing.

“Ready?” Tom asked, bringing Leo back to the conversation.

“Yeah,” he replied and turned to follow the guys to have a drink in memory of their fallen brother.

It was late when Leo arrived home. Hanna had paced and watched the drive concerned about his long absence. Even though she had no claim on Leo, she worried about his state of mind today. So many questions bombarded her with no answers.

When he did come through the door, she was sitting at the table with a mug of hot chocolate. He stepped from the stairs, and without any expression, he stared for a brief moment at her then turned toward his bedroom. Tasha jumped from Hanna’s lap and scurried behind Leo into his room before he pushed the door closed. She emptied her mug after a while, then stood and placed it in the dishwasher. Hesitating one last time, she glanced at the closed door then descended the stairs and went to bed.

Chapter Ten

Hanna awoke to a tiny tongue in her face. She blinked, trying to focus on the fur coat so near to her eyes. “Well, good morning to you too.”

She sat up and showered the dog with attention. “Are you trying to make up for abandoning me last night?” she laughed. “I bet Mr. Leo is ready for some breakfast. What do you say let’s go make some?”

Hanna threw back the covers and hurried through her morning bathroom time before grabbing her robe. “Come on, girl. We’ll get dressed later. I must have overslept,” she talked to Tasha as she pulled the robe on tying it closed tightly around her body.

When she reached the living room, she spotted Leo on the couch. He apparently had been up a while since he was already dressed for the day. He didn’t look up from staring at the floor in front of him as he leaned his elbows on his knees.

“I’ll have something cooked in no time,” she commented as she hurried toward the kitchen.

“Come sit down,” he instructed in a non-emotional tone.

“Okay,” she replied cautiously, turning and rounding the couch.

He motioned to the chair she had come to occupy on the rare occasion they sat together.

She eased into the cushion wondering what could be on his mind. He never told her to sit for no reason. Patiently she waited.

“How did you know Sam?” he asked.

“Sam?”

“The man whose funeral you attended yesterday. The same one who owns the house you were squatting in.” He rolled his head to witness her reaction and reply.

“You knew I didn’t inherit that house?” Her voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course I did.”

She fidgeted a moment before speaking. “I didn’t know him.”

He narrowed his eyes on her. “I won’t tolerate lying.”

“I really didn’t. I met him when I came to town. I stopped in that little store. You know, the white building on the corner. A few blocks from the bottom of the hill.”

He nodded.

“I stopped to stretch my legs and let Tasha walk and potty. We walked in for a drink and this man sitting near what looked like an old time stove heater struck up a conversation. I sat with him while I drank my Coke. When I looked over the bulletin board for jobs and rentals, he asked a few questions and told me about that house. He seemed to know I was searching for a cheap place to stay and didn’t question my reasonings. Anyway, he said I could stay there until I found something suitable. He told me that he had to move, and the place wasn’t ideal, but it was a free roof until I found one. So, I took it and I never saw him again. Then, yesterday morning, a delivery boy showed up here with an envelope for me. You may have passed him on the road as you were leaving.”

Once again, he nodded and listened.

“It was