Jade stayed behind where the family was sitting, and he told her to stay put until he came for her. She didn’t move at all because she didn’t want him to worry about her.
Jade couldn’t help crying when Jerry’s mother and sister were given the United States flag. She didn’t see any emotions on the men’s faces but knew each one of them was hurting tremendously.
She couldn’t help it when she jumped at the gun salute during the service. It sounded like cannons were going off. Then the ceremony was finally done. Family members and friends were led off before Cole, and the team moved.
She hugged Cole tightly when he came for her. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I know, baby.”
Chapter Seventeen
Jade walked around the room with a glass of punch and stood by Jerry’s sister. She hadn’t had a chance to give her condolences to the family.
“Hi, my name is Jade. I’m Cole’s friend. I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss.”
“Thank you. My name is Tessa.”
Jade put her glass down and grabbed the girl’s hands. “How are you holding up?”
Tessa looked around the room. Jade thought she looked exhausted, and her eyes seemed dead. “Not well.”
“I know you guys live up south somewhere.”
Tessa nodded. “Yes, in Little Rock, Arkansas.”
“We live in Arkansas, too. Most of the team is moving there. We’re so close, maybe I can come to visit.”
Tessa’s eyes lit up. “I’d really like that.”
“How long will you guys stay here?”
“We’ll head home tonight. My mother is sick.”
“Sick? I’m so sorry.”
“She has cancer, and they gave her a month to live. She really shouldn’t have traveled here, but she said she would never get peace if she didn’t say goodbye to Jerry.”
“Oh, my God. Is there anything I can do?” Jade asked. “I know you probably have family and friends around, but I—”
Tessa shook her head. “No. Mom is the last of my family, and I haven’t been able to have friends.”
“Why?”
Tessa looked around. “For one, I’ve been taking care of my mother, and the other thing is our neighbor has been helping around the house since Mom got sick. He won’t let me go anywhere, and when I try to fight it, it upsets my mother.”
“Oh, no. Is he here?”
Tessa tipped her head to the side.
Jade saw a man in his thirties hovering over Tessa’s mom. “Why do you think he’s doing that?”
“He says he’ll take care of me after Mom is gone. It’s just… He scares me, Jade. It’s like he’s obsessed with me. He’s over every day. He says it’s to help with Mom, but he spends most of the time trying to touch me.”
“We need to figure out a way to get you out of there when your mom passes,” Jade said.
“I don’t know how. He’s trying to take over my finances and the mortgage on the house. Everything.”
“I’ll talk to Cole. I know the guys will do whatever it takes to help you.”