Page 45 of Mariposa (Queens Command #1)

VIOLET

Dear Graham,

I visited your aunt the other day and introduced myself.

I miss you so much that I thought I’d see you on your birthday.

You told me I made the best flan you’d ever had, so I baked it and wrapped it up.

I was so nervous. I messed up three times before deciding to take it like that and trust myself.

She was surprised to see me show up at her house uninvited, but in a good way.

She told me her nephew doesn’t stop talking about me in the letters he writes home to her.

It made me laugh. Don’t worry; she only said good things about you.

She told me you grew up in Texas on a ranch with over a thousand acres when your father was still alive, that you loved to ride horses and help your dad take care of the animals and land since you learned how to walk.

Eventually, she took out a photo album of you and your siblings growing up from birth to adulthood and showed me all the photos.

We finished the flan as I told her how we met.

The way you demanded my attention just by breathing when you walked into the diner that night, and I was your waitress.

We talked for hours, laughing and getting to know one another, and it eventually ended way past dinner hours as we danced the night away.

Thank God Jerry was working that night, and he let me close.

Every time “We Belong Together” comes on in the diner, I stop whatever I’m doing and smile.

I left around noon and cried at home because I couldn’t help but wish you were here to celebrate your birthday with us.

However, the first thing I noticed when I pulled into your neighborhood were the yellow ribbons tied into bows all over your aunt’s porch and the houses next to hers.

They were everywhere. Before I left, I asked her about them.

She said the yellow ribbon symbolizes support for military members overseas.

So, I place yellow ribbons on the windows every day now.

I also have one glued to my window. I don’t care if my family and friends don’t want us to be together.

I love you, and I’ll wait forever if I have to.

With love, Grace

S o, I went against my grandmother’s wishes and read another letter without her. Waiting on Graham, a green beret she loved, must have been hard. It doesn’t make sense why she chose my grandpa over him. She clearly loved him so much. She wrote him daily for months.

After I read it, I texted my grandma to check on her. Grandpa says she’s still in the same condition, with more bad days than good, but she asks for me now and then. He tells her I’m busy in North Carolina, so she doesn’t get triggered by my deployment.

Booker and I started spending more time together after the operation.

With Castle gone, I wanted to keep myself busy.

I’m not doing myself, or anyone else, any favors by worrying or staying still.

I’m eager to get back into the fight. There isn’t much to do here but prepare for the mission as we await our next orders.

I haven’t seen Kade in almost two weeks, not since the night in his office.

He’s been overly occupied with meetings and paperwork with special operators and generals.

We’re on the same army post, and I miss him. But I understand why he’s avoiding me, whether intentionally or not. He’s been giving me space to process my first interaction with war instead of burying my worries away.

I want to check on Anna, but I’m waiting to hear from the higher-ups before I message her or call the hospital she’s in.

The last I heard, she was in Germany, having surgery after surgery, and still in critical condition.

She sustained more injuries than losing her legs.

It isn’t fair that this happened to her, but I can’t help the other intrusive thoughts: it could have been me losing my legs.

If Kade hadn’t interfered, I could’ve been one of the fallen or sustained an injury like Anna’s.

Standing outside the building I’m occupying, I read my thriller book on my cellphone.

Booker texted that he was going out for a smoke, asking me to join him outside the building where he’s staying.

My heart flipped because I’d hoped to see Kade’s name instead.

The longer he stays away from me, the more I wonder if he’s trying to tell me we’re done with silence.

“Why do you read so much?” Booker breaks the silence.

“Ehh, sometimes getting lost in a book is better than getting lost in reality.” I shrug, turning a page with a swipe of my thumb.

“Everyone is growing desperate with each passing day to find the man responsible for all of these senseless tragedies.” Booker sighs, flicking his cigarette and making sparks fall to the ground.

“I know. Master Sergeant is never around anymore.”

He stiffens momentarily.

“What?” I turn around with a yawn, placing my fingers around my watch. It’s nearing midnight, and I’m dying to get back into bed for the night. We can get called in at any moment; I want to be well-rested before we get the heads-up from Intel.

“Nothing.”

Leaning forward, I poke his side.

“What’s on your mind? Spit it out.”

He scratches the back of his head as he walks closer to me. His tall frame casts a shadow over my body.

“I’m just thinking about my mom and dad. She doesn’t stop texting me because she’s so worried. I keep telling her to stop watching the news, but she can’t help it.”

I wouldn’t know what that feels like.

“Also, my girlfriend is waiting for me at home. I can’t wait until the deployment is done so I can surprise her.” Smirking, he hollows his cheeks and takes another drag of his cigarette.

“Booker, you have a girlfriend?” I shriek with a smile.

How could he not? Booker is handsome and one of the funniest men I’ve ever met.

Always cracking jokes in shitty situations, the same thing I like to do sometimes.

A breeze blows through his sandy blonde hair.

He sways his shoulders, making the bones pop—his thick mustache twitches when his lips curl nervously.

“Don’t act so surprised, Violet. It’s not good for my ego.”

Rolling my eyes, I shove him with my hand.

“Who’s waiting for you?” he pries.

His question rocks me harder than I thought it would. My face falls as I remember my grandmother’s condition. Chewing the inside of my lip, I shake my head. We haven’t been able to read letters together. I’ve been so busy at work.

“My grandparents.” I shrug, my tone distant and void of emotion.

“What about your mom? Any siblings?”

“You know what, Booker, I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll just say my grandparents are my only family right now.”

He nods once before throwing his cigarette into the trash can outside the back entrance of his building. Ambling closer to the door, his hand hovers over the knob as he peers over his shoulder. His boots skid across the ground before he stops.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Mariposa…but that is not entirely true.”

I quirk a curious brow, placing my phone back into my pocket.

“What do you mean by that?”

His full lips lift into a genuine smile, barely visible over his thick, dark brown mustache.

“We’re your family too, Violet. You’ve got me, the team…” He pushes open the door as warmth spreads through my chest. He takes one step in as the shadows swallow half his body. He swivels his head toward me.

“And Kade.” He winks mischievously before closing the door behind him. My jaw falls open, and I turn around, wanting to hide the redness in my cheeks even though I’m alone.

He knows about Kade and me. I just know it.

Before I can take another step and head back toward my room, my phone vibrates.

Master Sergeant:

My office now.

Me:

Work? It’s almost midnight.

Master Sergeant:

It’s an order. My office now. It can’t wait.

Me:

I’ll be there in five.