Page 13 of Fire and Rain
Who cares what she thinks?
Towel wrapped around her naked body, Eden walked out of the bathroom and hurried across the hall to her bedroom, where she found the light on and Mila taking Justin’s clothes out of the bedroom closet.
For a moment, Eden stood there, mouth open, stunned.
Mila saw her and smiled. “I thought I could help you sort through this. I can take it all to St. Mary’s—unless you can think of a better place. I’m not sure what to do with his uniforms. Does the Coast Guard have a place to recycle them?”
Eden’s face burned with rage, her pulse thrumming. “Put it back—all of it. Now! You have no right to touch his things or go through our closet.”
Mila looked surprised. “I’m just trying to help. You’ll need to do this eventually. It’s been three months, so—”
“If I wanted your help, I’d ask for it. The man I love is dead!” Tears rushed into Eden’s eyes. “You don’t get to tell me how to handle my grief. Put his things back. Now!”
“Okay. Fine.” Mila began to hang Justin’s clothes back in the closet. “You can’t keep this stuff forever.”
“It’s not your business what I do with his things. Quit trying to run other people’s lives.” Eden dressed in the bathroom then found her mother sitting wide-eyed on the sofa, the new clothes Mila had bought Maverick folded neatly beside her.
Her mother looked up at her through pleading eyes, her voice a whisper. “She means well. She bought Maverick some really cute clothes.”
“I didn’t ask her to do that,” Eden whispered back. “What right does she have to go through Justin’s things? Next time she tries to tag along, just sayno. I mean it. I don’t want her in my house.”
“I’m really sorry, Eden. I know this is hard. I went through the same thing when your father died. Do you want us to go? We came to cheer you up.”
“I need support, not cheering up. The man I love isdead. My life will never be the same. If you want to help, ask what I need. Don’t let her barge in and take over.”
Why was that so hard to understand?
Mila walked into the living room. “Aunt Lydia, I think we should go. I’m not sure Eden is really in the mood for company today.”
In the mood for company?
Eden fought to keep her teeth together.
Eden’s mother got to her feet, bent down, and kissed Maverick. “Baba’s going now, sweet boy. I’ll see you again soon.”
A few moments later, Eden watched them drive away, feeling both angry and guilty, the day darker than it had been before they’d come.
* * *
Sean satshirtless on a bench in the men’s locker room, cold pack on his aching shoulder and bicep. He’d made it through the fitness assessment and had surpassed the minimum requirements—but not without pain.
The locker room door opened, and Captain Walcott entered, clipboard in his hand.
Sean stood.
“As you were.” Captain Walcott glanced at the clipboard. “I was just reading through the results of your assessment. You did well—better than I expected.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’re having some pain now?”
“Yes, sir.”
The captain nodded. “When you’re done here, stop by my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
Captain Walcott turned and left.
