Love Survives (10 page)

Chapter 11

My father rapped
on the door until I answered. Dressed casually, he placed his hands in his pockets, like he frequently did. “Everyone is meeting downstairs for cocktails. Do you think you might want to join us? I’d hate for you to spend your whole visit alone in this room.”

I leaned on the door frame. “Yeah, well I’m better off steering clear of Branch. He hates having to put on a show when I’m around.”

“I’m not going to take no for an answer.”

I hated disappointing my dad, so I realized I didn’t have much of a choice. I slipped on a pair of shoes and followed him down to the lounge, where I found everyone there except for Kat. Since I knew I couldn’t ask about her, or make it obvious that I was scanning the area to locate where she was hiding, I ordered a drink.

Melissa approached me immediately. It was obvious this girl was going to be a thorn in my side; one that I could use to distract everyone from the fact that I was infatuated with being close to Kat. “What will you be drinking tonight, Brooks?”

I stepped up to the bar. “A draft beer is fine. I’m taking it easy tonight. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.” I looked at my brother and nodded.

He raised his brows, giving a sarcastic smirk then downed a shot. Without making it obvious, I turned my attention back to Melissa. She sipped her drink through her straw while staring at me. Since I was still wondering where Kat was, I decided to walk toward my parents, until I saw her coming into the room. Then everything around me stopped. As excited as I was it was important not to make a scene.

We all sat down at a nearby table. When Melissa and Branch stood back up to get drinks for everyone, I couldn’t help but lean over and speak. “Are you feeling better?”

I could tell she was looking around to see who was watching. “Yes, thanks.”

“Nerves got the best of you, I assume.” As I said it I stared at the television as if I wasn’t paying attention to her.

For a while everyone chatted about mundane things, mostly the guests that were coming to the event. I kept my focus off of Kat, but didn’t check to see if my brother was watching my back. By the time our seats were ready for dinner, I was starting to unwind. I’d had a few beers, and the focus turned to an interest in what I’d been through so far in the military.

“Are you nervous about being deployed?” Melissa asked.

I shrugged and played with the rim of my glass. “Not really. I’m as prepared as I’ll ever be, I suppose. I mean, it’s nothing you can be one-hundred percent sure of.”

“I don’t know why someone would ever sign up to risk their lives. It’s so dangerous.” Her response made me feel tough.

I swished my beer around. “I’m proud of my choices,” I lied. Sure, I was happy how I’d been brave, but walking away from Kat was definitely not something I’d ever forgive myself for.

“Our son has dedicated himself to serving this beautiful country. That’s something to be proud of.” My father was the first to make me feel at ease.

“Dad, as much as I appreciate that, I’ve been taught to fend my own battles. Now, as far as going overseas, I’ll take it day by day. We have one life, and I plan on making the best of it. It’s my job, and I take pride in that.”

“What was it like at first?” Kat asked. “When you left for basic was it difficult? I don’t think I ever asked.”

I wished I could tell her that my struggles weren’t because of joining the military. What I fought daily with was the decision to walk away from not only my family, but most of all from her. It didn’t matter that she was with Branch. I should have stayed, because just maybe they wouldn’t be tying the knot, putting me through more pain and suffering. “It wasn’t all that bad. I was learning something new every day. I made a couple friends, and we leaned on each other when times got tough. I’ll never forget the first week when we all had to get our haircuts. There was this guy who kept making fun of people with weird shaped heads. Well, let me just tell you, as soon as they shaved the first half of his scalp it was like looking at an egg. From that moment on he was known as Humpty. I guess you had to be there to get the full gist of it.”

A couple people smiled while Kat seemed to be pleased.

“What are the girls like in the Army? Are they all butchy?” Branch asked. Leave it to him to open his mouth about other women as if I didn’t know it was  purposely to get under Kat’s skin.

“Much to my surprise there are plenty of beautiful women in the armed forces. In fact, it’s a lot like college. We just walk around in camouflage and work out way more. We go out for drinks, play games, and lack sleep.”

Kat giggled and said something under her breath to Melissa. “It sounds just like college.”

“Yeah, if every day was like rush week,” Branch rudely commented, while waving down the waiter for another drink.

While I sat there looking at my brother I noticed how the years had changed him. Maybe I just didn’t recall ever feeling scrawny, or perhaps it was the fact that I was so much bigger than he was now. “I’m hoping to eventually work in a recovery unit. My sarge thinks I should focus on marksmanship, but I don’t know if that’s all I want to do. I think I’d rather help people, instead of focusing on destruction.”

None of the people at the table could respond to my statement. It was like they were shell-shocked. They couldn’t have understood what I was preparing to walk into. There was a good chance that I wouldn’t be coming home. I had to be realistic. Bad things were happening overseas, and I was about to be right smack in the center of it all.

“Can we talk about something else now? It’s my wedding eve.” Branch was all about himself, just like he’d always been. Every statement he made caused me to wonder what the hell Kat saw in him.

“Yeah, sure. I was simply answering a question.”

“Wait,” Melissa interrupted. “I’d like to hear more. My cousin is in the Navy. He always has the best tales to tell.”

“I don’t know if I have anything worthwhile to talk about. I mean, I’ve lived on a base for quite some time. My day is like anyone else’s with a job. I wake up and put in the time, and then I’m done.” Explaining what it was like for me seemed so boring, but Kat’s friend was staring at me like I made millions of dollars selling paperclips. She was whacked.

“Maybe we should order dessert,” My mother stated. “The pastor will be here soon for the rehearsal.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kat looking at me. Quickly, she turned away, I suppose because she was embarrassed I’d caught her. For the next several minutes it kept happening, each time one of us would turn away before we were discovered. It made no sense to me. She was acting like a teenager does when they’re crushing on someone. Obviously that wasn’t happening between us. She was about to get married.

After dinner, we all made our way into the hall where the ceremony was to be held. The pastor waited for us to come forward before beginning to explain what would happen. I know it was by accident, but instead of positioning my brother across from Kat, he grabbed me by the arm and stood me right in front of her. I could hear gasps around the room while Kat and I stood still staring at one another.

As fast as he was able, Branch shoved me to the side. The look on his face made me want to laugh, but I held it together, even as everyone else in the room laughed at the discrepancy. The whole time I kept turning back to meet eyes with Kat. I couldn’t understand why, but I felt like she was upset about something. I wanted to pull her aside and ask her what was going on, but understood it wasn’t the time or place. After the wedding I figured things would be easier. Branch would let his guard down and I could make sense out of everything that I was feeling.

When the rehearsal was over, we all went back to the bar, except for my parents, who retreated to their room early. Even though I don’t think my brother needed another drop of alcohol, he kept pouring them down. Meanwhile, Melissa also continued binge drinking, as well as throwing herself at me in front of everyone. She kept smiling at me, sticking her chest out, I assume to get me to look at her cleavage. Honestly, I tried. I thought that if I put all of my attention on her, I would get by with little peeks of Kat. Sure, it was terribly wrong, but it was all I could do to prevent from walking over to her and ruining my life some more.

Then Branch went too far. “So, what room did you say you were in again?” He inquired.

“I didn’t. It’s seven zero two. Why?” I expected him to say he was kicking my ass later, but that was far from what came out of his mouth next.

“You hear that, Mel? Write it down for later. I’m sure it’s been a while since he’s had a ginger.”

I faced him, ready to throw down. He’d taken things too far. I figured Melissa would get angry for him making a joke out of her having red hair, but instead she seemed even more convinced that she had a chance. “Don’t speak for me, Branch. You have no idea what I do with my free time.”

I refused to look at Kat. The first reason was because I didn’t want to see her disappointed face. The second was because I did. I wanted to know that she was offended, so much that she didn’t want to marry him. This guy, the one that was acting a fool, was the true identity of my brother. He may not present it all the time, but behind closed doors he was selfish, heartless, and out to make sure he won at whatever he’d set out to do.

Melissa came over, wrapped her arm into mine. “So, should I join you in your room?”

I stared directly at Kat when I replied. “Maybe later.”

I had no intentions of sleeping with her, but needed my brother off my back, at least until the service was over. It was a good plan if I could just put up with Branch for a little while longer.

It was obvious that Kat was becoming frustrated with my brother. She and Melissa went into the bathroom together, and when she came back out she had a disgusted look on her face.

Only a short time later Branch started cursing and giving other people at the bar a hard time. He was out of control.

Kat tried to grab him, but his weight knocked them both down. I managed to help her before he could crush her anymore. “Alright, bro. It’s time for you to call it a night, man.”

Kat told Melissa that she’d see her back in the room as we started to exit the bar.

While in the elevator, Branch began singing at the top of his lungs. “
Going to the chapel and I’m gonna get married
.”

We managed to lead him to his room, and Kat opened the door. Branch started on her again. “Don’t leave me baby. Give me some love before you go.”

She swatted his hands away. “I can’t stay, Branch. It’s bad luck.”

My brother pointed to the door. “Then get the fuck out. I knew I should have gotten strippers.”

That was the last straw. I wouldn’t let him disrespect her in front of me. I slapped him hard on the back of the head. “Be respectful, you drunk piece of shit. That woman is going to be your wife tomorrow. Don’t talk to her like that.”

Branch rolled over on his back. He pulled his knees up and started laughing. “Listen to you, standing up for her still. Do you know how many times I’ve been inside of her? She’s never going to be yours now. I marked her.”

This wasn’t just an attempt to get to me. He was hurting her too.

I pointed toward the door while looking at Kat. “Go outside and wait for me.”

“But I-”

“Kat, go outside. Now!”

She looked back at Branch, who was watching her exit the room. “In twenty-four hours you’ll be my wife, Katy. Don’t forget it!”

I waited for it to shut before giving him a piece of my mind. “What the hell is wrong with you? She’s not some punching bag.”

He covered his head with a pillow like my words meant nothing. “Go away. Who invited you here anyway?”

I stood over the bed, looking down at him in such a terrible predicament. “I don’t care how much I’ve had to drink. I’d never talk to her that way. You don’t do that to people you love.”

Branch started laughing. “Fuck you! You think I care how you feel? You’re just pissed that she wants me. I could beat the shit out of her and she still wouldn’t go running to you. Just get out of here, Brooks.”

“You know, it doesn’t matter what you say to me. You’ll never deserve her. I hope you oversleep, so she doesn’t make the worst mistake of her life. You’re pathetic. She may not see it now, but it’s only a matter of time.”

When I went out into the hallway I saw her sitting there on floor, her hands covering her face. All it took was for her to look at me, and I could feel myself becoming weak. This was my best friend, and she needed me.

“I’m really sorry about that. He didn’t mean it.” Even if he had, she didn’t deserve to have her heart broken. She may not have wanted me, but I’d never give up on her.

Chapter 12

I was leading
Kat down the hallway towards her room. I’d waited to be alone with her, but after what had occurred I knew it wasn’t the right time or place to catch up. If things were different I would have been willing to stay up all night reminiscing about our memories together. After all, Kat wasn’t just the woman of my dreams, she was my everything.