Ben was back in the jungle and running hard. He tried to remember if it was the mission in Thailand, the Congo, or even Colombia, but his mind refused to identify it. The only thing he knew for sure was something was after him — not some one, but some thing.
He barged on as vines tried to snag him, huge palm fronds slapped at his face and body, and he was coated in perspiration, rain, and fear.
Behind him, trees were being flattened and he tried to accelerate but hit a wall of weird tree trunks that barred his way. He spun and reached for his gun — it wasn’t there.
Before him, the trees were prized apart and he finally saw his pursuer — he screamed.
“Jesus Christ!” The sound of the front door bell was like an electric shock and jolted him awake to jump in his chair, beer sloshing in his bottle and onto his groin.
“Ah, crap.” Ben grimaced and quickly got to his feet, put the bottle down plus the pile of letters, and headed for the steps. He checked his watch — full morning already — and he moved quickly, taking the steps two at a time. He didn’t want his mother woken.
On the first floor, the doorbell rang again.
“Argh! Keep your hat on!” He sprinted now, the last dozen stairs to ground floor taken in three giant bounds.
Out of breath, he reached for the door handle and wrenched it open. “Can you please keep it…?”
“Well, someone looks out of condition.” Emma Wilson smiled up at him, holding a cloth-draped box in her arms.
Ben cut off his demand and instead sucked in one last big breath right to the bottom of his chest, flooding his lungs with oxygen. He held it for a second and then let it out in a whoosh. He shrugged. “Yep, and that’s what living the high life will do to you.”
He stood there staring at her, knowing that the grin he wore was a dumb one.
He’d seen her at his dad’s funeral, but up close, she looked even better — luminous green eyes, and her brown hair shone with red highlights in the sunlight. Freckles still smattered across an upturned nose and cheeks, and she wore a T-shirt showing off an athletic figure — very athletic; there were corded muscles in her neck and arms. Whatever she was doing was obviously working for her.
He and Emma had dated for a while and got really close. But he enlisted, their roads forked when he went away, and that was that. Seeing her again, made him feel… good. He suddenly remembered his scar and angled his face slightly.
She held the box in one hand and reached up to his chin. “Did it hurt?”
Her fingertips were butterfly-light on his skin, but he still felt their warmth. He shook his head. “Really, I don’t remember a thing. Could have been worse.” He shrugged.
“Yes.” She dropped her hand. “You kept your looks.” She tilted her head. “I kinda like it. So…” She held up the box. “I made these for your mom; just an orange sponge cake with marmalade jam. It’s her favorite.”
“Her favorite?” His brows rose slightly.
She beamed up at him. “Um-hmm. And she also likes pecan cookies and brownies done crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.” She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “If you got back here more often, then you might…” her smile vanished as she seemed to remember. “I’m sorry, your dad… I didn’t mean…”
“No, you’re right; I should have been here.” Ben waved it away. “Forget it; you wanna come in?”
“Yes, please. But only if it’s a good time.” Emma shuffled in, now looking a little less sunny than when she arrived. “I can come back.”
“Don’t be silly.” He gently closed the door and then led her into the living room. “So, how do you know my mom likes orange sponge cake?” He cocked his head.
“We-eeell, you do know that she does cycle classes down at World Gym, right?”
He shrugged. “I knew she was exercising, but…”
“It’s the same gym that I go to.” She lifted her chin. “We kinda ended up hanging out from time to time.”
“Good for you, the pair of you, and thank you.” He looked her over. “And that accounts for the body of iron I detect.”
She raised an arm, making a muscle with her bicep. “Dude, this is rock-climbing beef. Ohio is home to some of the best climbing faces in the country. I’m rated 5.11, expert level.”
He reached out to squeeze her arm. “I’m impressed.” He grinned. “But I’m afraid mom’s asleep right now. Hate to wake her as she hasn’t been sleeping well of late.”
“No, no, it’s okay.” She held up a hand, while still cradling the box. “I thought I’d drop this off, see how she is. Maybe say hello to the prodigal son while I’m at it.” She looked up into his face as she held the box out to him. “So, how are you holding up?”
He bobbed his head as he accepted the box from her. “I’m good; feeling a bit guilty for not being here, but, good.”
“Don’t feel guilty.” Emma’s eyes glistened. “No one could have expected… this.”
“Yeah.” He scoffed as he stared at the box she had given him. “Like, who knew the guy was even sick? I’m betting he didn’t either.” He pulled in a cheek. “Mortality; one minute you’re here, and then next, you’re not.”
“Big Barry was a great guy. And he and your mom proved that love could stay strong forev…” She looked up. “She’ll miss him.”
“We all will,” Ben said and motioned to a sofa. “Get you a coffee?”
“Sure, cream, no sugar,” Emma said as she eased down on the broad couch.
Ben headed to the kitchen where he opened the box. He was blissfully assailed with the smell of fresh baking.
“Mmm, maybe a slice each as well.”
The coffee had already been made so he poured a couple of mugs and placed two slices of cake on a plate — two small and the other doorstop size.
Emma beamed when she saw him bring the cake. “Good boy. Maybe it’ll become your favorite too.” She took the cup and broke off a small piece of cake and popped it in her mouth.
“So, how long do you think you’ll hang around this time? Ohio, I mean.”
“Hadn’t really thought about it. A few days, I guess. I’ll make a call on it after I see how mom is getting on at the end of the week.” He shrugged. “Maybe longer if she needs me. Not much going on at home right now.”
Emma’s eyebrows turned down, but there was a slight gleam in her eye. “Um, no one at home for you to miss?”
He half smiled. “No Miss Right, and not even Miss Right-Now.” He sipped his coffee. “Since I got out of the military, I’ve been doing some freelance security and advisory work, but I thought maybe next year I might go back and finish my studies.”
“Oh yeah, I remember. The animal lover.” She nodded. “That’s great.”
“And what about you?” he asked as he bit off half the cake wedge and pushed it into the side of his mouth.
“I have a small business running rock climbing classes, adventure tours; that kinda stuff,” she answered.
“You were always the maths whiz. And weren’t you studying economics?” he asked quickly.
“Yeah, but how many economists get to spend their day outside, every day?” She lifted her chin. “Have you ever sat amongst a field of wild flowers in spring? Just the bees and birds talking to you, with the warm sun on your back and the mountain peaks lined up before you?”
He shook his head. “No, but you make it sound like a dream. Seems like its captured your heart. And speaking of that… what about you? Any Mr. Rock Climber in your life?”