My Soldier, My War. by Filippone Joe

Author:Filippone, Joe [Filippone, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781605923765
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Published: 2013-04-24T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

"Kristian?" I called stepping into the house. "Kris?"

"In here," he called from the living room.

I walked into the living room. Kristian was sitting in his recliner. A box sat in front of him.

"Let's talk about last night," I said.

"Let's talk about this," he said tapping the box with his big toe. It was open.

"What is that?"

"For you. From your publisher," he said, not sounding happy. "I opened it. Figured it was the latest Horror High novel. I wanted to see the cover art."

He stopped abruptly and just stared at me. My heart started to race.

"What's wrong?" I asked, suddenly nervous.

He didn't speak. He lifted a book from the box. My heart dropped. It wasn't the latest Horror High novel. It was the story I'd written about Daniel Hoffman. I had completely forgotten about it. And there, displayed proudly on the front cover, was my name—Scott Wallace.

"Kris, let me explain—

"Don't." He cut me off, sat down in his chair, and opened the book.

"What are you doing?"

"Reading it," he answered. "I read everything you write. I want to read what people are calling, let's see...."

He looked at the back of the book.

'Heartbreaking.' 'Incredible.' 'A masterpiece. The best thing Wallace has ever written.' 'An instant classic.'"

The words stung like a whip.

I stood there, motionless, as Kristian read, searching his face for anything that would betray his true feelings. He was blank. Devoid of emotion. A perfect poker face.

My heart was pounding so fast it made my head hurt. Even though Kristian was an expert speed-reader and could finish any book in less than two hours, it still felt like it took him an eternity to finish that last page.

"You didn't know Danny," he began, voice too calm and even.

"I know. Kris, I'm sorry. I never should have—"

He held up his hand, and I was silent.

"You let me finish. Danny was my friend. You didn't know him."

He was silent. I didn't say a word. We stared at each other. After several minutes that felt like hours, he finally smiled.

"But you captured him perfectly."

Losing my balance, I braced myself against the wall. Kris had caught me completely off guard. I had played this scenario over and over in my nightmares, and this was the last reaction I had ever expected.

"Thank you," he said, his eyes twinkling like the stars. "For giving Danny immortality."

"You're....You're not mad?"

"I was at first. I guess I was more hurt that you thought you had to keep this from me."

"I'm sorry. I...I didn't want you to think I was a monster. That I was using his death for profit. That I was a sellout."

"I could never think of you as a monster. This is not the work of a sellout or someone using a kid's death for profit. This is the work of someone trying to make sense of a senseless death and war."

Relief washed over me. I ran over to him and jumped on him, nearly knocking the chair over. I kissed him all over. Finally! Things felt back

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