Chapter 5

Stood in her parents kitchen in Lower Bishops Green, trying to work the kettle with one hand, was as far from Afghanistan as Jules could get.

She was counting the days until she could go back.

"Morning sweetie," Her mother appeared in the kitchen bright and early, a wide smile on her lips.

Jules rolled her eyes mentally, "Mornin'."

"Oh, honey, let me help you with that," Katherine hurried through the kitchen, her small heels tapping against the tiles.

"I'm fine, Mum," Jules held the kettle out of her way as she placed it in the sink, turning on the faucet.

"Well, I'm here if you need any help," Katherine continued to smile, she would not let her daughter's bad mood affect her own. She finally had her daughter home.

I don't want your help. Jules bit her tongue as her father appeared shortly after.

A military man he had always awoken early, he could never get out of the habit, however it was a shock to find that his wife had gotten out of bed before eight a.m.

"Julia- Oh, morning, Katherine," He placed a kiss on their cheeks, "How are my two favourite ladies this morning?"

"Fine, dad," Jules placed the kettle on the hob, smiling in triumph as she did it by herself.

"How's the shoulder treating you?" Her father joked as he grabbed himself some toast and got the margarine from the fridge, "Getting shot hurts like a bitc-"

"-Language," Katherine interrupted them as she took a seat at the table.

Jules and her father shared a look before he continued with his story, "When I got shot in the leg over in-"

Katherine gave a loud, audible sigh, "No military talk, please,"

Jules looked away as her father smiled apologetically at his wife.

Her mother always reminded Jules of an ostrich. She would stick her head in the sand and ignore what everybody was telling her.

'Julia had been shot by the Taliban.' Katherine would mutter something about how everything would be alright and then- POP! Her head goes into the sound.

"What are you planning to do today, Julia?" Her mother asked as the kettle began to whistle, cutting through the thick tension.

Jules shrugged, hating how her mother always called her Julia, "Figured I'd go for a run and watch some telly."

"Well, instead of the television set, why don't you sort through all of your clothes upstairs? You hardly wear any of them anymore and Barbra, down at the Knit'n'Stitch group is organising a charity fair. She could do with some hand-me-downs."

Jules did not want to argue so she nodded her head and made herself her cup of tea which was what she had come down for in the beginning, not a lecture.

"Just put them in black bags and then leave them by the stairs. I'll take them over-"

"-Morning!" Rhys came panting in through the back door, letting it slam shut behind him.

"You went for a run?" Jules frowned at him, "Why didn't you tell me!?" She could have avoided all of this.

Rhys headed for the fridge, removing a chilled carton of orange juice, "I didn't think you could run, GI Jane."

Jules narrowed her eyes at him, "It was my shoulder that got shot, not my legs!"

Rhys chuckled, lifting the carton to his lips.

"-Rhys!" Katherine interjected, not liking the talk about shooting, "I was just telling Julia to sort through her clothes for Barbra. You can do the same, and your brother . . ." Katherine looked around them, "Where is Thomas anyway?"

"He stayed over at his girlfriends," Rhys winked at Julia.

"Girlfriends?" Their father interjected, "Now that Simone girl?"

"No," Rhys shook his head, "I think he said her name was Charlie."

Jules tried not to smile as they watched their parents confusion.

"I swear he goes through girls like he goes through underwear." Her father muttered.

"Charlie?" Katherine frowned, "What a name for a girl! Why don't they just called her 'charlotte'?"

Maybe because she's not a girl, Jules thought as she gave her a brother a look. They had known about their brother 'batting for the other team' for years now, but Thomas still didn't want to tell their parents.

And Jules didn't blame him. She knew exactly how they would react and she liked her brother in one piece.

"Well," her father began to speak when the doorbell rang.

Everyone lifted their head and looked towards the door.

Katherine checked her gold watch, "Who would be calling at this time in the morning?"

Jules knew that her mother wasn't impressed at the early time.

When nobody made a move to answer the door, Rhys hit his carton down, "I'll answer it shall I?"

Everyone watched him leave the kitchen, a trail of sweat running down the spine of his shirt.

"I really wish that boy would shower first before polluting our house," Her mother muttered as she spotted Rhys's back.

Jules said nothing, watching as the front door was opened but Rhys's broad shoulder blocked her view of the visitor.

"Does Jules Reynolds live here?" A voice asked, but whilst her parents turned to look at her, Jules's eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

How had he found her?

"Jules!" Rhys called, "There's a bloke at the door for you."

"A bloke?" Her parents gasped.

Jules pushed off the counter and stormed into the living room.

"Good going, Jules, he's hot," Rhys patted her on the shoulder, "For a while there, I thought you were going the same way as Thomas."

Jules held out her foot and tripped him up whilst she moved onto the door where Marc stood before her in jeans, a plain black shirt and a hoodie with the word 'NAVY' stamped across it.

"Reynolds!" Marc shouted as he saw her.

"What are you doing here?" Jules asked, though she was secretly glad to see him. After two weeks, she was already going insane.

"I thought you'd like the company," Marc smiled when he looked at something over her shoulder, "Are those your parents?"

Jules looked behind her and saw her mother and father stood watching them closely.

"No." Jules snapped as she pushed him back and stepped outside onto the pavement with him.

"How did you find me?" Jules hissed as she pulled the door shut behind her.

Marc shrugged, "I have my secrets."

Jules rested her weight onto her hip and glared up at him.

"Okay fine, I snuck a look at your records when the doctor wasn't looking," Marc muttered and Jules's heartbeat sped up.

"My records?" Jules whispered, looking into his eyes and knowing that he had seen something else other than just her address.

Her mouth grew dry when the door opened behind them and her father poked his head out, "Julia, your mother would wish for you to bring your friend inside."

Jules closed her eyes, "Okay!"

There was no way she was getting around this and she needed to know what Marcus had found out about her.

Containment and control.

Jules remained there for a moment just staring at him, imaging punching him in her head, when her father reminded her that her mother was waiting and she stepped aside to let him pass.

As he did so he looked down at her, "Nice outfit."

Jules had to look down at herself to see what she was wearing. She cringed when she realised she was dressed in her pink pyjama shorts, knee-high striped socks and loose-fitting shirt.

Muttering to herself as she followed him in, Jules was shooting daggers at him as she was forced to make the introductions.

"So, Marcus," Her father straightened up even though he was still a few inches shorter than Marc, "How do you know my daughter?"

Marcus remained calm and cool, "We serve in the same unit in Afghanistan."

Her father's hostility was instantly lost and shook Marc's hand again, "Good to have you, son."

Marc winced when he shook his hand so hard it jolted his other, wounded, arm.

"Oh, sorry, lad," Her father patted his shoulder.

Katherine just narrowed her eyes as she heard that he was with her daughter for the last few months, "Did your mother not teach you about calling so early?"

"Sorry ma'am," Marc replied with a smooth smile, his entire body radiating calmness, "The life of a marine. I knew Jules would be up early too, I just wanted to see if she would like to go out."

Katherine shot a look at Jules, asking how he would know such a thing, "Out?"

Marc nodded and gave Jules a knowing look, "I heard they do a wicked breakfast around here."

Jules sighed, he was here for that bloody date he had promised.

"You should go," Rhys interjected, and stepped up to Marc, "But if you lay a hand on my sister then beware."

"Beware what?" Marc frowned, not sure if he should feel threatened or embarrassed.

"She has a mean right hook." Rhys laughed.

Marc smiled but he did not mention that he had already been on the receiving end of it, and a single look at Jules told him that she was grateful for it.

"Give me ten minutes," Jules sighed, walking past him and hurrying up the stairs.

Marc watched her leave, his eyes lingering on her smooth legs and the knee-high socks, before he turned back and saw her parents looking at him.

Marc settled in for an uncomfortable wait.