One Christmas Wish by Sara Richardson

Author:Sara Richardson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2015-11-03T05:00:00+00:00

Didn’t think he’d be doin’ this anytime soon. Isaac carried Julia across the threshold and into their love nest. The sneezing and wheezing had gone away, but now his head ached like it used to when he’d blow off steam at the bar while he was on leave.

Carefully, he set Julia in her chair next to the bed, then slumped onto the couch a few feet away, kneading his forehead, trying to feel normal.

He’d said too much. Damn Benadryl. It was like truth serum. Now Julia wouldn’t even look at him. She hadn’t said two words to him, either, since he’d revealed that picture in his wallet. Damn, he really had a low tolerance these days. He’d known exactly what he was saying, but he didn’t care. He was tired of pretending to be married to her and yet also having to pretend he wasn’t attracted to her when they were alone. The whole thing took way too much effort.

An awkward silence made the room feel even smaller. It seemed Julia wasn’t going to break it, so he had to. “Sorry about dinner.” He’d meant every word he said, but Julia obviously didn’t want to hear any of it. “I haven’t had much to drink since I came home. I should’ve stopped with the Benadryl.”

Her expression was guarded, but at least she looked at him. “Why haven’t you had much to drink?”

Not that he wanted to broadcast it, but… “I’ve been dealing with some stuff. Depression, mostly. Doc says alcohol can complicate things.”

She wheeled herself close enough that he got a clear look into her eyes. They looked sad. “Did you see terrible things over there?”

“Not as bad as other guys.” Compared to the Marines, he’d had it easy. Only lost three members of his team in a decade. Which wasn’t so bad, all things considered.

“But it was still horrible?” she rasped.

“You can’t go into a war zone without seeing horrible things.” Haunting things. They replayed in his dreams, mostly. Since he wouldn’t let himself think about them during the day.

Shadows from the fire flickered across Julia’s face. “Is it hard to be back, Isaac?”

It’d gotten easier since he’d seen her. Not that she’d want to hear that, either. “It’s funny. I wanted to come back for so long.” He’d wanted it like nothing he’d ever wanted in his life. He’d wanted to see beauty and good instead of the desolation, the unending destruction. “Then when I did, I realized everything had changed. Life moved on without me. I’d changed.” Wow. How did he find it so easy to talk to her? Most of the time he sat in his psychologist’s office in complete silence, the man nodding and jotting notes, even though he hadn’t said a damn word. But Julia…she’d understand more than most people. She’d had her fair share of trauma. “Sometimes it feels like I’ve already lived the most important part of my life, you know?” That was the hardest part of coming back. “I mean, what could possibly be left?”

Her eyes closed and her hand flickered like she wanted to reach for him.

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