#11 Meet Me in the Emerald Forest

Clementine

Did I really just spend three hours explaining my job and going over my parents’ case with a complete stranger? And now I was agreeing to let him drive me to PT twice a week. What the hell was wrong with me? I think the surgeons screwed up and fucked with something in my head instead of just my shoulder.

“Great, I’ll see you Thursday then.” Lukas grinned like a Cheshire Cat and I felt my eyebrows raise up in question.

“O…kay.” I muttered and Lukas chuckled deliciously.

Chuckled deliciously? Lord have mercy….

“Goodbye, Clementine.” Lukas’ voice was suddenly very serious and his plump lips turned into a sexy sly grin.

“Bye.” I answered lamely.

Lukas laughed again before turning away and walking down the sidewalk. I watched him until he disappeared into his large truck. I shook my head at myself and slammed the door, putting an end to my eye stalking. I had no idea what had gotten into me.

I decided to make some lunch. A little while later, the doorbell was going off and I found myself silently hoping it was Lukas again. I ran to the door and yanked it open without looking out the window first. My smile faltered and it took me a second to recognize the person at the door.

“Tara?” I felt my eyes widen.

The woman before me had short blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was dressed in a floral summer dress and had a wide grin on her face.

“Clem!” She shrieked, throwing herself at me. Her arms went around my neck and my body automatically responded by hugging her back, “I can’t believe you’re finally home!”

She pushed us both inside the door before kicking it shut with her foot and releasing me.

“News really does travel fast.” I grumbled and Tara laughed at me.

“It always has, Clem.” She rolled her eyes and welcomed herself into the house, “I can’t believe you didn’t call me.”

“I didn’t call anyone.” I said, following after her.

Tara entered the living room and plopped down on the sofa. She kicked her legs up on the coffee table and looked at me expectantly.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Seven years.” I replied before sitting down next to her.

“You hardly ever call.” She points out.

“I texted.” I shrugged, “I’ve been busy, Tara.”

“Oh yes, the fancy FBI agent doesn’t have time for her high school best friend anymore.” Tara fake pouted.

“I don’t even have time for my brother.” I said.

“Right, like you had time for him before.” She scoffed. I sighed at her but didn’t respond.

Honestly, she was right. Daniel left when I was 13 and didn’t come back home until I was 17, so we really didn’t make time for each other before he became my legal guardian. Tara, on the other hand, has been there for me my entire life. Her, Elle, and Beau were my best friends throughout school and I ghosted each of them when I left, save for a few text messages here and there and on special occasions.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m only home because I got put on medical leave.” I knew it was easier to just agree with Tara than to argue.

“What happened?” She sat up, suddenly serious. Her eyes scanned my body and froze on my bandaged shoulder.

“I was shot.” I replied plainly.

“Clementine!” She shrieked loudly and I winced at her volume.

“I’m fine, Tara. It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last. But, I did have some nerve and muscle damage so they’re making me go to PT and requiring me to take three months leave.” I explained in a bored tone.

“Not the first time?” She looked pale.

“It’s the worst, I’ll admit that. But, I’ve been shot in the vest at least a dozen times now and grazed in the arms twice.”

“Let me see!” Tara demanded, scooting across the couch to sit knee to knee with me.

I pulled the sweatshirt over my head with a grunt, my shoulder, admittedly, a little sore now. I pointed out the faint scars on my upper left arm and lower right forearm.

“What happened?” She grabbed my uninjured arm and yanked it towards her.

“That one I went for the gunmen who had a seven year old girl in his arm,” I said, pointing towards the one on the arm she had, “and this one came from a really shitty sniper.”

Tara looked at me pointedly and I just shrugged.

“Well, we’re catching up now that you’re forced to be home for 90 days.” She said matter-of-factly before plopping back on the sofa and releasing my arm. I pulled my sweatshirt back on and relaxed, too.

“Fine, you start.” I said, knowing how much Tara liked to talk about herself.

“Well, I got married so you missed the wedding.” She shot me a glare,

“Oh, yeah, I think your invitation is still hanging on my fridge.” I muttered.

“Gee, thanks.”

“I sent a card!” I said defensively.

“I would’ve rather had you there, you know.” Tara said and I felt a little ping of guilt.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise. What’s the guy’s name? We’ll all do dinner.” I suggested.

“It’s Kurt, Kurt Marcus from highschool? He was a year below us.” Tara smiled, my previous discretion already forgotten, “He was on the football team?” She continued to try and refresh my memory.

“Right, he was friends with Bennett.” I frowned and Tara’s smile faltered slightly,

“Yeah, he took Bennett’s spot on the team when we graduated.” She said,

“How did you two reconnect?” I asked, turning the conversation away from my ex.

“Our five year reunion.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess I missed that, too.” I said and Tara just shook her head at me.

“Yes, you did. Anyway, we traded numbers and he asked me out. A year later we were engaged! We live a few blocks away now, in one of the newly built houses. Oh, I can’t wait, we’re trying to have a baby!” Tara was bouncing up and down on the sofa now.

“That’s amazing, Tara!” I really was happy for her.

“Promise you’ll come home for the baby shower when it happens?” She begged, pushing out her bottom lip. I sighed,

“I’ll try, Tara.” I knew I couldn’t possibly promise that.

“Try hard.” She snapped and I held up my hands in surrender,

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I still have regular lunches with Elle. She met some French dude when she was studying abroad and brought him home. They got married, I think it was just for his Visa, but they’ve been living together for three years now and seem happy.” Tara shrugged.

“You don’t know if they got married for his Visa, Tara.” I sighed, knowing how Tara loved to start up drama. She just shrugged again.

“We’re due for lunch in a couple of weeks. You’re joining.” She didn’t leave it up for debate and I knew the only way I’d get out of it is if I was back in Quantico or dead.

“Sure.” I tried to sound enthused.

“By the way, who’s the dreamboat outside?” She asked suddenly.

“What?” I cocked an eyebrow

At first I thought she meant Lukas but that would’ve meant she was sitting outside my house for a good two hours before ringing the doorbell. Or Lukas was stalking my house. Either scenario was unsettling.

“There was a guy in your side yard. You didn’t know?” Her eyes pinched together.

I jumped up and went to the sliding glass doors in the kitchen. I looked into the backyard before opening them and stepping out on the deck.

“Where are you going?” Tara ran up behind me.

“You said there’s a stranger in my yard.” I stated obviously.

I walked down the deck steps and opened the gate to the fence that surrounded the backyard. I carefully stepped into the side yard. It was a few hundred feet of grass that separated the fence from the road with a treeline that blocked our house from the neighbors. I narrowed my eyes on the trees but didn’t see anyone. I also surveyed the yard and street, coming up empty. I sighed for letting myself get sucked into Tara’s drama.

“There’s no one out there, Tara.” I said, shutting the glass door and locking it, just in case.

“He probably left after I saw him.” Tara’s eyes were wide like she was watching an episode of Dateline.

“Yeah, probably.” I huffed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at her antics.

It was probably just a guy going for a walk and Tara changed it to “stalking your house” in her brain.

“How’s it been back under the same roof as Danny?” Tara asked, leaning against the kitchen island.

“It’s only been two days but that’s enough time to remind me why I didn’t come home.” I replied in a grumpy voice. Tara laughed at me,

“You were a pre-teen when he left and a moody teenager when he came back. Then, you bailed and became a well established young adult before coming home. You haven’t exactly given him much time to catch up, have you?” Tara said,

“Whose side are you on?” I glared at her which only had her laughing harder.

“I’m always on your side, sis, you know that,” Tara blew me a kiss, “But, I still want to see you and Danny getting along. He’s the only family you have left.”

“I know that.” I muttered.

“And he did come home to take care of you which he didn’t have to do.” She continued.

“I know.” I muttered again.

“He’s not so bad. I’ve checked in on him from time to time.” She said, surprising me.

“You did?”

“Sure. I told you, we’re only a few blocks away, now. He never has anyone over and he’s hardly ever home. He works probably at least as much as you do.” She laughed to herself.

“He’s had to work hard to rebuild his gallery in D.C. It’s not as good of a crowd as he had in New York.” I said, trying not to feel any more guilt than was absolutely necessary.

“And I don’t think he likes being here.” Tara said,

“He’s still staying in his old room.” I replied, mostly talking to myself.

“Honestly, I never understood why you guys didn’t sell.” Tara looked away from me as her eyes scanned the house.

“It was the only house our family ever knew. My parents bought it a few months before they got married and it was the first place they lived together. They had us here, raised us here, and lived their entire adult married lives here. It was hard to think about getting rid of it.” I explained in a quiet voice.

“They also died here, Clem.” Tara replied carefully.

“And thankfully Danny doesn’t have to live with that imagine like I do.” I said, not at all surprised or offended by Tara’s bluntness. It was typical Tara.

“But, he still has to live with that knowledge. I don’t know, Clem, just maybe something to think about.” Tara smiled genuinely at me before giving me another hug.

“Alright, alright, get off of me.” I laughed, pushing her away and grinning as I tried to lighten the mood. Tara laughed and walked over to the fridge, yanking it open.

“It looks like a frat house in here.” She said and I glanced over her shoulder to observe the nearly empty fridge. Its contents were beer, water bottles, and about a million leftover food containers from various restaurants.

“That’s kind of disgusting.” I said, noticing how the fridge had a particular oder about it.

“I’m willing to bet the cabinets are the same,” Tara said, “Come on, I’m taking you to the grocery store.”

“I can drive!” I cried out as she grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door.

Why did no one think I was capable of doing things for myself these days?

“Yeah, and where’s your car?” Tara threw shade over her shoulder without even bothering to turn around.

Well, yeah, there’s that.

I just grumbled and followed after her.