Secrets And Tea

Chapter 17

Damien sat back patting his belly. He was glad that he had made four BBQ steaks and a couple of potatoes to go with it. Between him and Rhianna they had demolished everything.

The side dishes were still slightly full so together they put the covers on the containers and shoved them in the fridge. They had spent time remininscing about Thomas.  Each telling their own stories of their adventures with the amazing man.

He had enjoyed hearing about Thomas's childhood while Rhianna seemed to enjoy hearing about Thomas's antics in the military. Despite their sadness at losing the man to early. They each had memories that made them laugh or just smile.

He was glad to have given this lovely woman something to smile about. Something to laugh about. Many times the passing of a loved one left too big of a hole in a persons heart to fill. She was slowly healing it seemed and with each passing moment he found he enjoyed having her company.

"So what are you planning on doing here on the island?" Rhianna asked him as they took seats outside on the swinging bench he had constructed, "Are you going to work here or on the mainland?"

"I hadn't really thought about that yet," He answered, as he pushed the swing with his legs, "For now I am content just to fix up this place and get it back to its glory. I will decide a little later what I want to do."

"Why don't you apply at the island's police department. I'm sure they could use a hand especially during the summer tourist months. There is always such a large influx of visitors and they need help." Rhianna suggested.

It was a good idea and with his military background he was already considered fit. He just wasn't positive that he wanted that kind of job just yet.

He liked working with his hands and had considered maybe doing construction or working at the orchard.

"I might look into doing odd jobs around the island for now until I settle down and if I find something I really enjoy doing. I'll settle for that." he said  he sipped on the tea she had made.

It was a raspberry tea with a hint of citrus. She claimed it was good for digestion after such a large meal. He found it refreshing and since they added ice to it.  It was cold and tasted wonderful.

"That's fair. I guess after being in the military you need time to adjust to a normal routine that doesn't include marching up and down the streets." she said making him chuckle.

"It wasn't dull that is for sure," he commented, "You never knew when you would be sent on missions and you had to keep up your physique everyday. I am rather enjoying these days of relaxation. I still wake up before the sun rises and any small noise wakes me up but I'll eventually get back into the swing of things."

Rhianna smiled softly at him and he smiled back. They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit and sipped on their iced tea. He had found out lots about her. Her dreams, her future goals and what she liked and didn't like tonight.

He had shared more information about himself. His childhood and that he had not had much aspirations since he had joined the army. Never sure if he was going to come back from a mission and dulled his futuristic dreaming.

He hadn't thought much except about the next possible mission he would be sent on and whether his note home would need to be sent to his parents and devestate them into an early grave.

He had yet to talk to his parents since he had left the military. Aside from the phone call he had given them telling them that he had resigned from the military and needed to do something before coming home. He had not talked to them since.

He would have to do that soon before they worried that he had decided he couldn't function in a normal society and offed himself or something. He would have to tell them he wouldn't be coming home but that he had decided to settle on a small island in a small town of strange people.

Midnight struck and the church bell dinged 12 times announcing the hour.

Rhianna got up and they said their good byes. She climbed into her little car and drove off with a wave.

Damien hummed as he cleaned up the dishes and the kitchen. He felt accomplished with his job tonight. Tomorrow would be another day of fixing the house and yard.