Winter Reunion by Roxanne Rustand Page A

to hear the news, Dev. But now I’m even more sorry.”
    He felt an uneasy, guilty prickle at the back of his neck, already knowing what she was going to say. Already knowing she was right.
    â€œI understand it’s bad news. So be it. You’ve still got so much more to be thankful for. Your vision, your mobility. Your life. You are so lucky. And your parents have left you resources beyond the dreams of most people. Even if you don’t want to live here, you could do a lot of good in this world with that money.”
    â€œYou’re right.”
    â€œI’ll give you twenty-four hours. But if you dare wallow in disappointment longer than that, then believe me. I’m—” She broke off suddenly. “Oh.”
    â€œI’ll do my duty here. Then I’ll go back to the Marines and finish out my career. Who knows…maybe after that I can go back to school, or figure out some sort of business.”
    â€œLike security, or law enforcement?”
    â€œI just don’t know. Not yet.”
    â€œMaybe you’ll even decide to come back here, then. It’s a wonderful town, Dev. And for as long as you’llhave been gone, it could still feel like a fresh start. Where else would you go?”
    Good question.
    He no longer had ties anywhere on the planet…no longer had anyone who cared where he went, or what he did. He’d lost touch with his more distant relatives years ago.
    But while that had once made him feel free, now it just made him feel…empty.

Chapter Eight
    A fter a sleepless night, Dev downed a couple cups of black coffee at a truck stop on the edge of town, then got back into the Jeep and drove aimlessly through town…only to find himself turning onto Hawthorne.
    He continued down to the end of the block, nodding at the folks strolling along the sidewalk who waved at him—which, it seemed, approached just about a hundred percent of the people he saw.
    The first few days, he’d been uncomfortable at the recognition and attention from veritable strangers. Now he realized that they were all simply an incredibly friendly lot, and waved to everyone.
    Pulling to a stop in front of the Walker Building, he rested his wrist on the top of the steering wheel as he surveyed the beautiful old building and once again imagined a rainbow of colorful kayaks leaning against the exterior wall, and an American flag fluttering from the empty flagpole angling skyward from the second floor above the entrance.
    Was it even possible? Not likely. If he sank his savings into a business like that, he’d probably end up broke before the year was out.
    At a sharp rat-a-tat against his half-lowered window, the world around him exploded. His heart rate escalated to triple speed, his focus narrowing to a single point—survival.
    He lurched to the right, twisting within the confines of the tight space behind the wheel as he automatically reached for his gun.
    A gun that wasn’t there.
    Panic surged through him as he pawed at the dashboard. The passenger seat—
    An angular male face framed in a furry bomber cap, his features blurred with sags and wrinkles, stared through the window at him with a startled expression that had to match his own.
    It took Dev a moment to recognize Frank Ferguson, one of the boarders.
    The man adjusted his tie and tapped at the glass again. “You okay in there, son?”
    â€œFine. Just fine.” Until you nearly made my heart stop.
    In this lazy, quiet community, Dev perceived the threat level as low. He’d relaxed his guard. But it took almost nothing to bring the past crashing back on him with the lethal force of an AK-47.
    Once again, images of blood and death crowded into his brain. His hands started to shake.
    The acrid scent of gunfire and smoke filled the air, making it impossible to breathe.
    It isn’t real. It isn’t real.
    Taking a slow, steadying breath, he curled his fingers around the steering wheel and