Page 6 of Daddy’s Fortitude

“Sure. Do you want to write it down?” she asked.

He got out his phone and put in the address that she gave him. Then he gave her a nod of thanks.

“Do you want my number?” she asked.

“No,” he said, and started eating his sandwich.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get the hint and leave.

“How am I going to show you around the town if I don’t have your number?” she asked.

Be nice.

She did give you what you asked for.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other,” he said.

She smiled and nodded. “Sure, it’s a small town. We can just play it by ear.”

Awesome.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go.” He finished up the rest of his sandwich and stood.

“Oh, but I don’t even know your name.”

“It’s Ammo.”

“Ammo? Like the stuff that goes in a gun?”

“Yep.”

He paid the bill then headed toward the door. He’d walked a few steps down the street when two women came up to him, smiling and giggling.

“Well, hello, big boy,” one of them said, running her fingers up his arm.

He didn’t understand why a perfect stranger would think that they got to walk up and touch him. Ammo wasn’t that fond of being touched at the best of times, although he would tolerate it if necessary or with someone he knew. He didn’t know this woman and her touching him wasn’t necessary. He stared down her hand on his arm. She seemed to understand his displeasure and snatched it back.

Her friend frowned. “You’re a rude one, aren’t you?”

“I’m not the one that came up to a stranger and started touching him,” he said.

Then he moved around them, aware that they were staring after him and whispering.

Yep, this is why he didn’t like people.

Aimee stared down at her phone. Oh, God. What was she going to do?

How was a funeral this expensive? It was mind-blowing.

At least the VA was covering some of it. But she still had to cover the rest.

Sometimes she wondered why she was bothering. It wasn’t like Charlie would have done the same for her. That bastard probably would have left her to rot.

Calm.

You have this.

There’s no point getting angry. He’s dead.