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Chapter 27: Max
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Finding Casey Chapter 1: Casey
Casey: 10 years ago"Mom, can you stop stressing""No. I won't stop stressing. You have just turned 18 and are planning to go into the military. It's every mother's worst nightmare, Casey, My oldest babies are leaving tonight and I don't know how to feel about this""So is it a bad time to let you know that Oliver is leaving too, cause I don't want you to chew my ear off alone?""Oh, goodness me. I always knew you two would do everything together. Thick and Thieves" My mom sighs as she calls for our dad to come down the stairs. He already knew that we were doing this, and when we filled out all the paperwork, our medical history, and everything else that was needed on the list, our dad was right there explaining it all to us and guiding us. So I bet my mom is going to give him hell for it."He's thick, if you must know." I can't help but joke. It's my coping mechanism when I'm nervous.We didn't exactly tell our mom that we was joining because we knew she would tell us she didn't want
Finding Casey Chapter 2: Casey
Day 3 of Training campWe had to write letters from beyond the grave. Letters for our families as a way to say goodbye. They won't get mailed out unless you pass. It was an 'If you got this letter, this means I won't be coming home' type of thing. I tried not to think about the ways I could tear my family apart-ways that I knew would happen if they ever received a letter from me or my brother.I wrote my letter to Mom and Dad and one to Oliver, but then I also wrote my own letter to mail to them for tomorrow's deliveries.Dear Mom and Dad:Bootcamp's going great. Early morning starts, and there are a few drills that we didn't expect to be doing right away, but I met a friend here. Jackie, her name is, and she's good. Oliver and I haven't been roomed together as expected. Still, I am honestly enjoying our time here, and before you know it, we will be back home and driving you all mad as usual. I hope you are all doing okay, and Sophia is keeping you on your toes. I will transfer some m
Finding Casey Chapter 3: Casey
We have come quite far in the short time we have been here, and I have learned a fair amount from the people we are grouped with. This is week 10 now. As I said, we learn a lot at boot camp. Just last week, we based our skills on teamwork and positivity.We had a few shows on how to handle an injured soldier in combat and what to expect. We travelled and used our skills on each other, performing medical examinations and building our strength.We have learned what our weaknesses are and have been tasked with overcoming the fears of those weaknesses. My weakness was a fear of falling from a great height, so our captain had me climb each rope to the top and slide back down again. Then I climbed boulders, and before I knew it, I was doing it without sweating or shaking like a leaf. Okay, it took about 4 weeks to accomplish that, but it was useful.Many of the people here were afraid of something so I was glad I wasn't alone.Over the last few weeks, I received another letter from Mom and
Finding Casey Chapter 4: Casey
4 years ago:It's been a long journey over the last 7 years. Me and Oliver spent our 21st birthday at home on leave. We got back a few days before our birthday, and we spent most of the time slumming it at home.Only to be re-deployed 2 months later to Japan on a mission that took 9 months, but when we got home, we were reassigned to the same mission because the problem caused more problems and it wasn't done. It took another few months in the hot weather, but we managed to get ourselves to safety. We turned 24 last month and had just come back from base after our birthday for a few weeks before we were sent back to San Diego.You never know when you're about to leave so they always prefer you to be back on base so you can leave the moment your captain tells you too.Our younger sister, Sophia, has turned into such a sassy, clever young lady and has surprised everyone when she has a school project that asked her to write about the people who inspired her most.She wrote about me and O
Finding Casey Chapter 5: Casey
6 months ago:Time lost me.Torture became a new thing. No food became normal. Minimal water was a thing, apparently.No one tells me what day it is; some days they leave me for what feels like days. The only light I ever get is a small, shitty lightbulb above my head. One mishap with that, and this place will probably go up in flames.Just what I need right now.I wonder if Oliver would have retired and become the father he always dreamed he would be. Living his life. I would prefer to just end this now. My mind is never going to get out of itself now, but whenever they come in, my screams are more grunts. They don't even give a shit anymore; they keep asking for information, but by now I can even remember if my left hand is still attached to my body or if my arse is still even working. I stink. I keep telling myself to grab a shower and then laughing inside my head at the thought of not being able to move. Some days they let me go, but as soon as the cuffs are off my hands and feet,
Finding Casey Chapter 6: Max
Weeks turned into months, and months turned into a year, which led to two years. Each passing day that they didn't find Casey was another day that life became harder for her family.Her mom fell ill with depression after they found out Oliver had died, and they went to identify the body. They then had a funeral at Arlington Cemetery, where they did the 21-Gun-Salute. An extremely hard day is made even worse when we don't know where Casey is. She never would have missed her brother's funeral. The captain of their team had been wheeled here and spoke about Oliver, his time in the military, and then Casey, how she saved not only her brother but four more of their people. A few of their friends who had joined with them came and paid respects.Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton didn't leave the grave until the next day. Sophia came home with their grandparents, and since then, it hasn't been the same. Everything they do, they do it with sadness in their bodies now.The once-happy family, who enjoyed B
Finding Casey Chapter 7: Casey
It was a real shock to my system to see Max Kendal here. I didn't recognise his scent when he walked in, but then his voice was the one I recognised. His dog tried to locate where I was, but I couldn't remove my hands from my ears. My whole body hurts physically and mentally. It's my first night here, and it's also the first night off the drugs I've been on for years.They want to wean me off them, so I thought, Why not go cold turkey? Get it over with.When he left, I felt relieved. It's hard enough living with what the doctor said was survivors guilt, but I wish I wouldn't be here. I'd be more at peace if they had just killed me over there, but then my mom and dad. Do they blame me? That's one reason why I couldn't accept the doctors to call.What if they blamed me?What if they disowned me?What if... what if... what if...Everything leads back to what if this or what if that. There's no way I'll be able to go back, and I don't honestly think I want to anyway.I'm pulled away from
Finding Casey Chapter 8: Casey
The days here are filled with endless amounts of nurses, blood being taken, night terrors in the day, which is bizarre, a lot of attempts to get me to go to therapy, attempts to talk, and it's driving me insane.I just want to feel something.Angry.Sad.Fear.Something. I don't even know how long I have actually been here, but I wrote down that I don't want anyone visiting apart from Max, and even he is limited to how many times he shows up. I haven't spoken to him yet, and I haven't spoken to anyone. I hear his voice speaking to someone down the hall."Katie, it's been nearly 2 months since she got here. Are you sure she's okay?""Max, you know the drill in this: you were once a military man yourself and converting back to a civilian life was hard for you who left with full bill of health and therapy to ease you into it. She's not been back in this life for a long time but hopefully she will one day"He grunts something, which makes me smile. He's always been a grumpy bastard, if
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Finding Casey Chapter 27: Max
Epilogue5 years later:For the last five years, me and Casey have become stronger with each other, and we have also been able to get through some tough days and still come out happier as well.When she blurted out she was pregnant, I was so shocked, but the excitement cursing through my body had been beyond amazing! I didn't know how to express it if words weren't enough, which they weren't at the time.We celebrated the pregnancy news with our families over snacks and some drinks at the local pub near us.Casey gave birth 8 months later to a beautiful little girl who we named Daisy Kendal, and she is definitely the spitting image of her father with her mother's stubbornness on top of it all.A year later, we found out we were pregnant again, and we had a beautiful set of twins, whom we named Oliver and Maddy.Oliver is a mom's boy, but the moment his grandads get here, he's all man and no mom.Me and Casey got married a few months after we had Daisy, and she was a beautiful, hot mam
Finding Casey Chapter 26: Casey
1 week ago:I'm sitting at my parent's house, panicking over what seems to be an exciting time for my mom. She still doesn't touch me as much and since that day I hugged her at the cemetery, she seems to be a little easier on things now."Mom, can you stop making me nervous""Yeah, well, if I'm going to be honest, it is nice to have some good news and have you told Max?""Do you think I would be panicking over here waiting for the drink to take its course if he knew about it?"If I'm going to cut to the chase, I'm late. I've never had a pregnancy scare before, and I'm sure that it will be negative because I don't believe Max even wants children, and I'm probably just stressed about next week. Surely it's just that."Have you Peed yet?" My mom asks through the door."Yes. I'm just waiting for the tests to do their magic"The moment I've said that, my mom opens the door and stands there waiting for me to tell her.The timer goes off and I hand her the stick. I can't look."Casey baby""
Finding Casey Chapter 25: Casey
Last week, when we all got home, me and Max started looking at houses, and while he was at work, I drew out some plans for my bakery. The unit is already ready for me to start my work because somehow Max and my dad and his dad had already started when we got back, and I only found out at the weekend what was happening. its a big shop that can seat people inside and outside as well.The name is going to be Sin City. It's hopefully going to do well, and I think it's something I need to focus on as well. For it to be in the heart of California is great, and it will be noticeable too, so that's good.Sophia said she can do all the art online and make a profile specifically for orders and deliveries; she's happy to help, and my dad said he and Joel will be starting any renovations I want to do, but it will take time, which is fine.My therapist appointment yesterday was good, and I have started going on walks with Zeke and Max, which Dr. Manning is thrilled about. He was happy to see I got
Finding Casey Chapter 24: Max
A week before proposal-"Mr. Hamilton may I have a couple of minutes of your time please?"I stepped into the Hamilton home just like I normally do with my Mom and Dad's home. I walked straight through the door, hugged Mrs Hamilton, got a lecture for calling her Mrs Hamilton and not Jo or Joanna and then asked where Mr Hamilton was."Yes lad what's up?"It's been 4 weeks since I last saw Casey. She avoids my calls sometimes but I know it isn't personal. She needs time to heal and we have been speaking briefly when we have a spare few minutes but I miss seeing her beautiful face so even now, every Sunday I swing by here with Jake and Leah too, and we all have dinner here and then I go see my family as well."I have been thinking a lot recently and I have been pacing your driveway for a while now""I know. I've been finding it funny watching you on camera"I stop short of my next question when his laughter echoes over the room. It's a sight and sound I haven't heard for a while and it's
Finding Casey Chapter 23: Casey
The flight was a lot for me-over 5 hours trapped in one space. I didn't think I'd be able to do it simply because the last time I was on a plane, I was heavily sedated, so I didn't know how I was through out the flight, but this one tested so many waters and it made me feel so sick.We get into the cars we have hired for a few days, and we drive to the hotel, which is a short distance from the cemetery.Finding closure and peace for Olivier and me is why I'm here, and maybe, just maybe, I can begin to feel a sense of relief that he is somewhere out there looking down on us all and is proud of the person Leah is now and the daughter he has never met, but she hears so much about her daddy and the people mom and dad have become, even though everyone misses him so much."Hey Angel, shall we have a steady walk up to the fields? Let pooch have a bit of a walk around and do what he needs to do?""Yes. Is it busy?""No, it's a very quiet town and the fields are a short distance as well. Every
Finding Casey Chapter 22: Max
"A few days after I last saw you, I read Oliver's letter. He knew I'd blame myself if he died; he knew I wouldn't be able to handle it but he told me some stuff I needed to hear. He basically gave me the kick in the ass I needed from beyond the grave in a way," she says, smiling sadly."I knew I needed to fight it; I knew I needed to face the challenges ahead but I was scared. I'm scared of my own shadow, Max, Days like today, when it was a lot and it was overwhelming, I got scared. I haven't been in this kind of environment for so long I forgot what it was like. When I got my tattoo, they kept me talking and told me how they all got into that business and how it made them feel. I felt safe in a place I had never been to before""I'm glad you felt safe there, Angel""When I took my top off, they didn't judge me; they didn't ask questions but I heard my mom's cries. It fucking hurt I didn't want her to see them I didn't want her to be disgusted by what I have felt disgusted by. I remem
Finding Casey Chapter 21: Casey
I don't leave his bedroom because I know if I do, then I'd end up having a panic attack but when his mom steps in the door way of his room and bursts into tears, I can't help but stand still."Mom, don't cry; Jesus, she's just got here""Oh, shut up. Casey honey, it is so good to see you""Hello, Mrs Kendal," I say politely, even though I'm a bunch of nerves on the inside. When Mr Kendal steps forward, I take a step back instinctively."I'm sorry, sir"When Max puts a hand in his dad's shoulder and whispers something, he looks back to me and nods before walking out and following his wife down the hall."They aren't going to hurt you, Angel. I did the same thing when I returned home I called him sir way too much. It's a habit you can't break straight away but you're safe, okay. They know not to touch you and if you need to, we can take you home, okay"I shake my head because I didn't work my ass off for nothing. I didn't push myself so hard that I was sick most nights from exhaustion a
Finding Casey Chapter 20: Max
Every meeting is a pain in my backside, so when I got a notification that I had another meeting scheduled for 3:30, I was and could have lost my shit.When the receptionist, Paula, comes by at 3:25 to let me know my appointment is hers, I am prepared to cancel and tell them to go."Sir, she was very adamant about this meeting. I had to cancel your 4 o'clock meeting for this as she said it was urgent," she says as we walk from one end of the office to the other, and when I open my door, I literally drop my mug of coffee on the floor.Inside my office is Zeke, who wags his tail and then looks to his Owner, Casey, who iss currently sitting in the chairs opposite me."Sir, is everything okay?" Paula asks me as she looks to the woman in front of me. "I can call security if you need me to...?""No. Paula this is Casey. My Casey" I say, walking so fast, crossing my office to get to her and pulling her into a huge hug."Hello Maximus""Only my mother calls me that! But I'll let you off this o
Finding Casey Chapter 19: Casey
I stand in the doorway, staring at the family member who is staring back at me.Maria steps next to me and starts speaking to me."They've been here for a while. I am waiting for you to come out. I think your dad has only just sat down""What do I say to them?""Whatever you want. Come on, let's have a walk over there"We have a steady walk over, and while I walk, I look around me. I've never actually seen anything out here, so now that I can, I see how beautiful it all is. The sun is shining over us, and ahead is a nugget picnic that my mom probably did. She was always good at making buffet meals for parties."Casey is a little worried about today's events. She's just come out of a very tough therapy session. Please understand that she may not want to have millions of questions thrown her way. Enjoy your meals, and Casey, your medications will be ready for when you get back into your room," Maria says as she bids my family farewell.Zeke is standing in front of me, watching their mov
