Unfinished Business

By Lyssa Layne

Marine Theo Lindemann is home for the holidays, what used to be his favorite time of the year, but not this Christmas. This year, Theo is haunted by the death of a fellow Marine. 

Tess Vargas has been putting off visiting her mother for as long as she can but she has no escape now that it's Christmas time. 

Tess meets Theo drowning his sorrows at the airport bar and finds herself tasked with getting him on his flight. Upon arrival at their final destination, Theo offers Tess a ride and the pair end up snowed in at Theo's parents' house. When Theo's parents would rather focus on his new 'girlfriend' rather than the loss he has suffered, Tess plays along until she realizes who Theo has been mourning.

Both have unfinished business but little do they know that it's the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lyssa Layne
• Release date: Feb 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386086123

Book preview

Chapter 1

Theo

Cheery Christmas music plays overhead at La Guardia Airport and I find myself inadvertently singing along with the tune in my head. The holiday season used to be my most favorite time of the year. It didn’t matter if I was wearing my utilities or the god awful knitted sweater my great Aunt Ruby gifted me with while pinching my cheeks, I would be belting out every holiday song, completely off key and as loud as possible. When I found out six weeks ago that my leave would coincide with Christmas, I was stoked... until I got the news. This year isn’t going to be the same as it usually is because the reality of what my life has become and where it could be going is slapping me in the face like a wet fish trying to get away.

Hey, bro, you sure you’re cool on your own?

I turn to my fellow Marine who flew halfway around the world with me even though his home is in the opposite direction. That’s one thing about the brotherhood, together we stand whether it be on the battlefield of war or the battlefield of our own minds.

Squeezing his shoulder, I nod. Yeah, Johnson, I’m good. You don’t need to babysit me anymore.

Johnson scoffs and shakes his head. It’s not like that, Linde. Master Sergeant—

Wants you to hold my hand until I’m safely in the hands of my family, I know. Look, Johnson, I promise I won’t off myself on your watch. I cringe at my own abrasive words, especially after the loss we all suffered, but I need to get Johnson to stop smothering me or I might do it myself. Go home to your family, enjoy the holidays.

Johnson pauses and I can almost actually see the wheels of his brains turning as he contemplates disobeying direct orders from our master sergeant. I tighten my grip on his shoulder and give him a slight shove in the opposite direction of my gate.

Merry Christmas, Johnson, I say with a final push.

The younger Marine keeps moving forward with his head turned in the opposite direction, watching me closely as though I might do something crazy right here in the middle of the airport. I wait until he runs into a businessman staring at his phone then make a mad dash to the bathroom. Wasting no time, I shed my utilities and dig out a faded, long sleeve thermal shirt that the elbows are almost worn out of and a pair of old jeans. A small weight is lifted off my shoulders as I shed my military gear but the holiday cheer still isn’t making a comeback just yet.

Looking into the mirror, I run my hand over my grizzly beard that doesn’t meet the standards of the U.S. Marine Corps. After the loss of one of my buddies, my superiors have taken it easy on me and let it slide. Pearl was always the man that lifted our spirits, made us laugh even when things were dark, and things got really dark over there. We all did things we aren’t proud of, things that keep us up at night, things that we’ll never forgive ourselves for, but Pearl always found the good in every situation. He and I only served eight months together, but the two of us were tight from day one and practically inseparable. It was nice to have that kind of bond with someone when your family is thousands of miles away and you’re literally living hell on Earth. Pearl was my rock. He helped me through my eighth deployment, even when he came home before I did. When the news arrived that Pearl was gone, the unit was silent for two days straight. Not a word was spoken because Pearl was the voice of our brotherhood and now that he’s gone, things will never be the same again.

Tess

Even though the streets are constantly filled with honking cars and screeching tires, I know that the taxi driver impatiently pounding on his horn is intended for me. I called for a ride an hour ago and he’s been down there beeping every thirty seconds for the last ten minutes, trying to get my attention. My bag is packed, my appliances are unplugged, and all I have to do is turn off the light and lock the door, but I’m stalling. I’m pretending the cab isn’t here yet, that it won’t arrive on time which will cause me to miss my flight and avoid being home for the holidays.

My pit bull whines and paws at my hand for attention. I pat the couch and she doesn’t hesitate to join me on the comfy furniture. Resting my chin on my knees, I stare into her eyes and rub between her ears.

I know, Lola. Mommy should stay home with you, shouldn’t she?

Lola grunts in response and I smile. I’ve only been home a month from traveling, and this dog hasn’t left my side from the moment I stepped foot in the door. I feel bad leaving her again, but I have to go home for Christmas, if I can even still call it home. I have to do this, not just for myself but for my family. Luckily, my neighbor loves Lola as much as I do, which is a relief since the poor dog has spent more time with Mrs. Eldridge than me in the past year.

What if I promise I won’t leave again for a long time after this trip?

Lola’s moaning gets louder as I find that special spot behind her ear. I sigh, wishing I could find a man that could pleasure me as easily as Lola is in that one little spot. The cabbie honks again, and this time it’s joined by a slew of profanity in another language. With a quick kiss to her wet nose, I jump off the couch, grab my bag, and lock up before I run downstairs. I fling open the front door of my building and shout a few choice words of my own in the same dialect taking the taxi driver by surprise. Quietly, he takes my bag and holds open my door, waiting for me to enter his vehicle. I do so and slam the door behind me. I lean my head against the cold glass and sigh. I’ve been dreading this day for the past month. Only five days with my mother then I’ll be back home with Lola on Christmas night. I’ll be giddier than any child under the age of ten on Christmas morning.

Chapter 2

Theo

Ah... The sweet burn of whiskey running down the back of my throat, nothing feels much better than that. Then again, the fact that I’m feeling anything besides grief is pretty amazing right now. I tap my glass and the bartender pours me another. Aside from the death of my buddy, I need to drown my sorrows for what my bill is adding up to be.

I’m twenty-five, and I’ve been deployed so many times that I’ve almost lost count. I’ve seen death before, many times, so this isn’t new to me. I’ve lost buddies that went through boot camp with me, I’ve lost superiors that have been mentors, and I’ve lost men that I’ve trained myself so it’s not even the first time that I’ve known someone who fought for our country and died. Maybe the reality of his death is hitting me harder than normal because Pearl didn’t die defending our freedom. No, he lost the battle in his mind after he got home—the unspoken war that veterans are facing on their own, behind the doors of their homes, hidden from their very own family. I can’t shake the feeling that I could’ve done something. If I had called him sooner, if I’d talked to his family that I’d never met, something, anything, then maybe Pearl would still be here making us all laugh.

I slam my latest shot of whiskey, having lost track as to what number it is, much like my deployments. My mind is starting to get hazy from the alcohol and my mood is lightening as I find myself slightly enjoying the holiday tunes that I was despising earlier. Then the reminder of where and just exactly what I’m headed to creeps back into my mind and I know I need more liquor.

When I tap the glass for more, the bartender doesn’t automatically appear like he has been. I look around for him and spot him at the opposite end of the counter, hitting on some woman. I squeeze one eye shut to get a better view of her; I have to admit that she’s not bad. She has wavy black hair that falls mid-way down her oversized black sweater. It’s hard to make out her body shape in that top, but her red skinny pants make me want to barf at how festive she looks. Still, I don’t blame him for flirting with