Where Evil Sleeps

Blast from the Past

Chapter 3 

    It had been a month since Michelle’s BBQ and Bree had hardly seen anyone but Kelsey. The Café had been changed to Studebakers Café and Bar. From her profits since acquiring her liquor license, she was able to do some renovations and upgrade a few appliances upstairs. Bree was back to working her four days and the occasional night event. Kelsey had given her a pay raise again so Bree was able to start saving for a house plus she was able to keep that mystery money. The bank was unable to find out any information as to who sent but the money but they could locate that it was an international wire transfer. It had been over 30 days the since the money transferred in so the bank said it was hers.

    The girls were busy in school and day to day life seemed to start flowing for them all. Bree was able to put Lilly in Gymnastics and Haley in Dance as extra curricula activities. Both girls seemed exhausted and ready for bed each night, which was good because so was Bree. Each weekend Bree tried to look at a few houses but she hadn’t seen anything that she really fell in love with.

Before dropping off the girls at school, Bree checked her emails, it had been a few days since she checked them so she turned on the computer, went and made coffee, came back and clicked on her inbox and went back to the kitchen and made breakfast. So, by the time the girls were eating she wouldn’t have to wait. She really did a new computer. Add that to the list for the daily errands. Scrolling through the inbox, she saw an email from SSgt Tulloch. She clicked on it and read:

Dear Mrs. Anderson,

I apologize for not informing you sooner but my leave has been approved for December. As I discussed in my last email in August, I would be happy to drop of GySgt Anderson’s belongings to you on the way to visit family.

Please let me know if this is suitable. I will need your address and a contact number should I get held up as I will be flying then driving.

SSgt Rob Tulloch

         Well, I guess it’s time to call Jack, Christopher’s best friend Bree thought out loud. See who this character is, probably should leave out the details about Christopher’s things but just to make sure of SSgt Rob Tulloch. A reply first with no address till I speak to Jack.

Dear SSgt Tulloch,

Thank you for letting me know. We maybe relocating shortly so I will email as soon as I know for sure. Should you need to call (903) 867-6445

Thanks again.

Bree Anderson

    Bree shut down the computer and rushed upstairs to get changed, she really wanted to speak with Jack and price a new computer, and she would talk to Kelsey when she got to work. She rounded up the kids and headed to school and then to work. When Bree walked in the café was not its normal busy self, it was kind of quiet. With the new staff Bree had interviewed they seemed to be well covered. Bree found Kelsey in the freezer doing inventory.

“Morning Kelsey” Kelsey turned and smiled

“Hi Bree, how are you?”

Bree laughed “Cold standing in here!”  Kelsey laughed and walked out.

“What’s up?” Bree hesitated “Well do you mind if I leave early today? I need to take care of a few things” Kelsey smiled and said “Get out of here take the day, its going to be quiet I can feel it and I have the new hires to train up so go”. Bree beamed and hugged Kelsey “Thank you Kelsey, I really appreciate it” Kelsey a little caught off guard by the hug said “you’d better leave before I change my mind”. She heard Bree laughing out the door. Bree jumped into her truck and pulled out her phone and scrolled down to Jack’s number, it had been so long she had no idea if he was even in the States. She clicked on his number and waited patiently, it rang and rang and suddenly he answered

‘Jack Stevens’

“Jack…it’s Bree”

“Bree… How are you? Is everything ok? How are the girls?” Jack sounded worried

“Yes, Jack we are fine, girls are growing up fast. We love it here…how are you?” Bree trying to get the small talk over with.

“Good and busy…keeping busy, not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.” Jacks voice broke

Hot tears started rolling down Bree’s face “me too” she whispered.

Jack coughs and gains his composure “so what do I owe this unexpected call?”

Bree wipes her eyes but she can’t hide the sniffle, she takes a deep breath and says “Well I wanted to see if you know SSgt Tulloch?" She could tell Jack’s tone change, “Yeah I know him…he deployed with Chris a few times, they were friends but he and I never really hung out…Why?” Bree calmly replies “No reason he was kind enough to send an email after we moved here and I wanted to know if I knew him” hoping she sounded convincing.

“Yeah, you know him, remember that trip we all pitched in for to go to Maui for Christopher’s birthday and all you wives and girlfriends were drooling over him” Jack sounded jealous. Bree thought back and she remember the trip but she can’t place Rob Tulloch. Then it clicked. “The Bobby guy?  The one that got drunk and tried to strip at the bar?”

Jack replied flatly “Yep it’s that guy”. Bree blurted out without thinking “He was hot” and regretted it as soon as it left her lips.

“Bree, I know it’s not my business but please tell me you are not hooking up with Chris’ buddy”.

“Please Jack me some credit please” Bree was pissed and he knew it. Jack had a way about him that could irritate her to no end but now they had no Christopher to mediate.

“I’m sorry Bree…I know you’ll find someone else but I don’t want to know them”

Bree sighed “Jack I can even think about finding someone, I’m raising two girls, working – trying to make life as normal as possible, I haven’t got time to date and I’m not sure I’m even ready”. Bree was done explaining herself to Jack.

“Jack I’ve got to go; I’ll call again soon” she waited for his response

“I’m sorry Bree; I miss you guys, take care and call me if you need anything”. Bree said thank you and hung up. What a disaster that phone call was.

         Bree felt guilty even though she was just asking who Rob Tulloch was. She needed retail therapy to distract her mind. As she drove over to the shopping mall, she remembered a Best Buy there, hello new computer. As she parked, she thought back to the trip they all took to Maui. They were all friends, some married and some dating but all in the military but they did everything together as a group, but as always, people leave. Some deployed and some changed duty stations. It was strange how they all met and became this group, but it was short lived due to be military. Lost in her memories, she was brought back by the ring tone of her cell phone.

“Hello” Bree answered half expecting it to be Jack apologizing.

“Is this Mrs. Anderson?” said the voice, oh no prank call, a sudden pang of fear rose in her.

“Yes, this is she” she was trying to be brave.

“Ma’am this is SSgt Rob Tulloch” Bree eyes widened and she stuttered “Oh Hello Rob, how are you?” Obviously surprised at her casual response he relaxed “fine thanks, how are you doing?”

“We are doing fine…it’s been a transition but we are finally settling down I guess” Bree felt stupid, she did not want him to feel sorry for her!

“I’m glad to hear that, I know GySgt Anderson…I mean Christopher would be happy to hear that” he replied.

What an awkward conversation, Bree started to sweat. She was not sure what to say next or if she would break down and cry, thankfully he sensed the tone in their conversation and changed the subject.

“So, Mrs. Anderson…I will be going on leave for a few weeks during Christmas to visit my family, I was planning on driving through, pending where you are in Texas and returning a few things to you that I promised I would”.

Bree hesitated “Please call me Bree, and yes that would be fine, we are living in Canton…is that on your way?”

“Yes, actually I’m from a small town about 80 miles from there so its closer that I thought” he answered. Bree felt a pang of panic; she hadn’t seen anyone from California since she decided to relocate. She had tried to run from the painful memories but now it seemed like they were following her and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face them again…not yet.

“When are you leaving California?” Bree stammered, suddenly very nervous.

“I will be leaving December 20th to be home in time for Christmas” he replied.

“So, what day do you plan to arrive here?”

“Well, I will be flying and then driving, so pending on weather I hope to be there around the 22nd…if that suits you?”

Bree was wondering if he would be staying in town or just driving through and dropping off whatever and then going straight on but she did not ask.

“Yes, that sounds fine, the girls and I are staying here for Christmas” Bree said quietly.

“Are you spending Christmas with family?” he asked

“...umm no not this year” Bree said thinking that she really should take the girls to Christopher’s parents but she really was not in the mood to see them, and plus she wanted the girls to enjoy Christmas not look around and see adults crying all the time, and to be honest she was over crying.

“Oh ok, well how about I call you when I get ready to leave and when I get close to you?” obviously wondering why we were not going to Christopher’s parents for Christmas but again sensing that the conversation was turning very awkward.

“Yes, that sounds perfect” Bree trying to sound under control, which she wasn’t

“OK then, well I better let you go, take care and should anything change or you need anything this is my number” he replied

“Sounds great, thank you for taking time, I appreciate you using your personal time for us” Bree answered.

“No problem, take care” he said.

“You too…bye now”

 “Good bye” and she was left the sound of the dial tone. It took Bree a few seconds to replay and register the conversation she had just had, now fully realizing that her new life was about to be invaded by memories of her old. Would she be able to handle it? Or would it pull her back into that dark place feeling so numb with uncontrollable tears? Only time would tell, she would have to wait and see. Focus on the here and now Bree told herself as she threw her phone into her bag, walked into Best Buy to purchase a new computer.