WILL: REAPER-Patriots: Book Forty-Eight by Mary Kennedy

Author:Mary Kennedy [Kennedy, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-23T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

With school out for the summer, the café was busier than usual. Millie was running the counter and register while three waitresses handled the floor.

The situation was exactly as Brooke had described. Most of the moms were chatting amongst themselves, letting the kids run wild in the café. Will pushed three tables together, their team taking a seat, frowning at the kids.

Right on cue, Charles walked in, waving at Millie.

“Have a seat, honey. I’ll get to you in a minute,” she called. Charles smiled, taking off his ball cap and wringing it in his hands. He found a seat at a small booth, nodding at the children as he passed.

“Hi, Miss Brooke,” he said, passing their table.

“Charles, I’ve told you. It’s just Brooke. How are you?” she asked.

“I’m right as rain,” he smiled. “It’s a beautiful day. What more could we ask for?”

“Charles, these are my friends. This is Will, Cam, Luke, Noa, Eric, and Keith and their beautiful wives, Ani, Kate, Ajei, Susie, and Sophia Ann.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he nodded. “I recognize the men from being in here before. And I don’t forget beautiful women. It’s very nice to meet you all.”

“Charles, why don’t you sit with us,” said Will. He nodded, pulling a chair up to the table. “Brooke has been telling us all about you. She said you have a way with children.”

“I do seem to be able to get them to calm down,” he grinned. “Of course, I had seven brothers and sisters growing up. Then I went into the Army for twenty years, got out, and became a first-grade teacher.”

“That’s amazing,” smiled Brooke. “I didn’t know that. Where are your siblings now?” A sad shadow passed across his face, and he looked down.

“All gone, honey. All gone. The two older boys died in Vietnam. Two sisters were lost to cancer. My younger brother died of a heart attack about eight years ago, and my baby sister took her own life. I was retired by then and felt like I should have done more.”

“Brother, there’s nothing you can do when someone sets their mind to it. We can hold their hand, be there for them, all of it, but it doesn’t change the demons they’re fighting on the inside.” Charles looked at Luke, nodding, then tilted his head.

“You called me brother. You were all in the military.”

“Yes, sir,” said Noa. “All of us.” Charles smiled at them, shaking his head.

“You boys run the shelter,” he said. “I’ve seen others that come in there.”

“Yes, sir,” said Cam, “but that’s not why we’re here. Let’s order, and then we’ll talk about this.”

Brooke took everyone’s order, wanting to help Millie as much as possible. She entered it into the computer system and then brought coffee around for everyone. She placed a huge cinnamon roll in front of Charles, touching his shoulder with a light squeeze. It was one of his favorites.

The men took turns telling Charles about what was happening just as the food arrived. He listened to each

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