Home Coming

By Daniel Piller

John returns home after a long time serving overseas. He is heartbroken and seeks out relief at the local bar. Cassie, prompted by God’s touch, lends him help and her couch. A spark happens between them, and their passion erupts into fireworks. Just as forgiveness is found, John’s life is turned upside down. John sets his sights on a new journey with Cassie and deals with the guilt of his past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669875314

Daniel Piller

I have been writing for over twenty years and have found a healing sense in putting my thoughts on paper. I started with poetry and slowly graduated to writing stories. I love writing and letting the Holy Spirit flow. I have been in a wheelchair for a while now and I see it as a blessing. I may not be able to walk but I’m happy I’m a child of God now. I play on our local wheelchair rugby team and love playing it. I have been all over the county and met so many great people.

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Copyright © 2023 by Daniel Piller.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/28/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

850522

This book is dedicated to my father. Thank you for encouraging me to keep writing. As always, to the Holy Spirit, thank you for all your great ideas.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 1

Our story begins in a dark bar. Marty, the bartender, stands behind the bar. The TV is hanging on the wall; it shows a baseball game. There is an old pool table in the back that really shows its age. It’s five in the evening when the main door opens.

John walks in. He just got off the bus from the base. He still has on his army jacket. He has been away from home for five years and walks to the bar and pulls out a stool. Dropping his bag next to it, he holds his head down.

Whiskey and three shot glasses, growls John.

Marty grabs those and walks over to John. As he comes closer, he can see that John is well-built. He can also see the bars on John’s sleeve. He places the three shot glasses in front of John and fills them up.

Leave the bottle, growls John as Marty fills the last glass shot.

Marty walks back to his stool and continues to watch the game.

John slowly lifts his head and looks at the glasses. He reaches out and takes one.

To the brave three, whispers John.

John then downs the whiskey. He welcomes the burning feeling it gives him. He hopes it can help ease his broken heart. He lost his two best friends two weeks ago.

Here’s to you, little Andrew, whispers John as he takes the second shot glass.

John downs that one and then slams the glass down on the bar. Every time they return from a successful mission, they celebrate with a couple of shots. This is definitely not one of those times.

Marty looks over at John and sees him lift a shot glass and mumble something. Then John slams the shot glass down.

You want to talk about it? asks Marty as he walks over.

Fuck off! barks John.

John fills another shot glass and downs it.

The main door opens, and a group of young kids walks in.

Not these assholes, whispers Marty.

Marty walks to the other side of the bar where he was before.

Hi, guys, you’re usual? asks Marty, hoping they wouldn’t see John sitting at the far end of the bar.

Yeah, thanks, replies Paul happily. Make it a double for us.

Paul is tall with short brown hair and brown eyes. The other two guys go to their booth; they just got off work, from the looks.

A few minutes later, Marty finishes filling a tray full of beer.

Paul looks over and notices John sitting all by himself. He takes the tray full of beer over to his coworkers. He takes one beer bottle and walks over to John. As he gets closer, he notices the upside-down shot glasses.

Welcome home, Sergeant. Sorry for your loss, says Paul, placing the bottle beside the shot glasses.

Paul then turns and returns to his table just before he is out of earshot.

Thanks, replies John somberly.

Paul hears John and smiles as he walks back to his booth.

A few hours later, Paul’s coworkers are really drunk now. They finished off a 2-6 of rum and a dozen beers between them. The bar is packed by now, being it’s a Friday night. They are so drunk that they are hitting on every woman there. Every time they would talk to a woman, they would use these cheesy pickup lines.

Meanwhile, behind the bar is a new bartender who works the night shift. Her name is Cassie. She is the reason why most men come to the bar. She likes to wear her tight black tank top, which helps show off her chest. She has a few visible tattoos that show her wild side. She has long brown hair and brown eyes. Her hair hangs just to the middle of her back. She also wears a tight skirt that goes down to just above her knees.

At this time, John has finished his bottle of whiskey and waves at Cassie. She walks over to John and greets him with a smile.

What can I get for you, love? asks Cassie in a Southern accent.

Can I get a glass with ice in it to cool my beer off? asks John as he points to his beer.

Absolutely, replies Cassie.

Cassie walks over, opens the fridge, pulls out a mug, and adds ice. She returns, takes John’s beer, and pours it into the mug.

I know you, says Cassie. You’re John Walker, right?

Yeah, how do I know you? asks John.

I had the biggest crush on you when I was in high school, replies Cassie as she puts the glass in front of John. You were a few grades ahead of me.

You sure grew up into a beautiful woman, says John as he looks at Cassie.

John can’t help but stare into Cassie’s big brown eyes.

As Cassie hands over the glass of beer, her hand touches John’s. John can see she still has a thing for him as she smiles.

Is there a place where I can freshen up? John smiles.

There’s a bathroom in the back, replies Cassie.

John gets off his stool and takes his beer with his left hand. He begins to walk through the crowded bar. At this time, there are a lot of people around. He passes the pool table, where two guys are playing a game. He walks a little further and sees a sign that says Men’s Room. He walks in, and there is no one else in there. He walks to the mirror and places his beer on the bathroom counter. He looks at himself in the mirror. You can see the scar over his right eye. That is the only injury he suffered in his five tours in Iraq. He takes off his jacket and places it on the counter. All he has on is a white tank top; it’s the cleanest thing he has left since he left the base. You can see his well-developed upper body; his arms are big from all his overseas training. There is a tattoo on his left arm of an eagle—the same tattoo that his other two friends had.

John turns the water on and splashes it on his face to try and wake himself up. He looks in the mirror and thinks, I can’t believe that woman likes me. What would Mat do? Ah yeah, play it cool.

John grabs some paper towels and wipes his face. He turns, picks up his beer, and walks out of the bathroom. He walks back to his stool. That’s when he sees them. Two guys are looking through his bag. He quickly moves toward them. He grabs one by the arm and throws him across the room, smashing him into a table. The other one punches him, hitting John in the face. John turns and, with one punch, hits the other guy square in the face, knocking him out so that he falls to the ground at John’s feet.

Wow! He knocked him out. Who is this guy? can be heard in the background.

Paul steps out of the crowd. He walks up to the guy who is lying on the broken table. He reaches his hand out and helps his coworker up. While he pulls him to his feet, he holds on because he tries to go after John.

Meanwhile, John is checking inside his bag. He puts back a horse figure beside a toy tank.

Cassie stands behind the bar with a big smile as she looks at the two guys.

It’s about time those guys got what was coming to them, whispers Cassie.

John sits back on his stool and puts his jacket on his bag. He takes a drink from his beer, then sits there as he looks down.

This man needs a drink, says Curtis, walking behind John.

No thanks, replies John as he stares at his beer. I’m good with what I have here. Thanks anyway.

Cassie glances over at John, who is back