American Heroes Series - 03 - Purgatory by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

a
moment before standing up and picking up her plate.  As Nash watched, she came
around to his side of the table, set her plate down next to his, and pulled up
a chair.  The table was rather small so she was literally butted up against
him, her right thigh against his left one, her torso up against his. When he
looked at her with some curiosity and astonishment, she simply smiled.
    “I’ll sit here until you don’t
feel so bad,” she said softly. “Because, I have to tell you, I don’t feel bad
about it at all. I enjoyed it.”
    He was wrought with surprise and
hope. “You did?”
    “I did.”
    She pecked him on the cheek and
went back to her eggs. Nash could not have been more astonished or more thrilled
with her pressed up against him, eating her breakfast. He felt like he was
dreaming and thought he should probably poke himself with the fork just to make
sure he wasn’t.  It was the most amazing feeling he had ever experienced.
    With his eyes on Elliot, he
resumed eating and together, the two of them silently finished breakfast as the
sun continued to rise over the bayou. 
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    As Nash’s unmarked car pulled up
the driveway and around the front of the house, Elliot noticed a while Nissan
parked up near the house in the shadows of a moss-covered oak tree.
    “Oh!” she exclaimed softly. “Pen
is here!”
    She jumped out of the car before
it even came to a halt.  Nash put the car in park, watching her run into the
house.
    Reaching over into the back seat
and pulling out the take-away bag full of more eggs and potatoes for Alec, he
climbed out of the car and entered the house in time to see Elliot nearly
strangling a pretty young woman. 
    As Nash watched, he could see
that it wasn’t so much strangling as it was enthusiastic hugging. It was a
joyful family reunion, the sight of which softened and warmed him. It was very
sweet to watch.
    In the midst of squeezing, Elliot
caught sight of Nash out of the corner of her eye. Still hugging her daughter,
she indicated the tall man in uniform standing in the doorway.
    “Pen, I’d like you to meet Nash
Aury,” she said. “His family owned the house for two hundred years before we
bought it.  Nash, this is my daughter, Penelope.”
    Nash stepped into the house, a
smile on his face. “It’s very nice to meet you,” he said. “How do you like
Tulane so far?”
    Penelope Jentry was an absolutely
beautiful girl with her mother’s big blue eyes and a big dimple in her chin.
She was petite, like her mother, with light brown hair pulled back into a
ponytail. She grinned at Nash, taking his outstretched hand and shaking it.
    “I’ve only been there a week,”
she said. “Moving my stuff in and all that. So far, I like it. It’s a really
nice campus.”
    Nash nodded. “I’m sure your mom
hasn’t had a chance to tell you, but it’s my alma mater. If you have any
questions, let me know.”
    Her smile turned sincere. “Wow,
thanks,” she said. “I’m sure I will. This whole week has kind of been a
whirlwind so I’m sure there’s a lot I don’t know yet.”
    “I know how that can be,” Nash
said, suddenly realizing he was still holding a big bag of food. He caught
sight of Alec and extended the bag. “For you, son. Compliments of the house.”
    Alec snatched the bag, peering
into it. “Cool, thanks,” he took a big sniff. “Hey, that smells good.  I’m
hungry.”
    Penelope pulled away from her
mother and tried to take the bag from him.
    “I haven’t eaten yet,” she said
as it turned into a tug of war. “Let me have some.”
    They began fighting over it and
Elliot took Penelope by the shoulders and directed her away from her brother,
towards the kitchen.
    “Take it to the kitchen, kids,”
she instructed firmly. “And quit fighting in front of guests. You’re
embarrassing me.”
    Penelope flashed Nash a bright
smile as she grabbed her brother’s arm and pulled him down the big