Shattered Dreams Read Online Free PDF

Max
this morning and was going for his morning run. Danny is so
disciplined; even out of the service, he still acts and looks like
a soldier. He has the best posture of anyone I have ever seen.
Cheryl, Max’s mom, makes breakfast and has it on the table
precisely at 8:00 a.m. I am certain this is a routine that has been
around for a long time.  
    Danny comes in from his run and showers, and
Cheryl has the food ready for him when he comes downstairs. I join
them at the table and nibble on some toast and ask Danny about his
exercise routine.  
    Danny explained to me, “I get up, I go to the
bathroom, I go for a run. If I don’t go for a run immediately after
I get out of the bathroom, then running doesn’t get done.
Therefore, I go for a run immediately after I get out of the
bathroom — I don’t even have coffee first.” 
    Cheryl replied, “While Danny runs, I stay at
home and do my aerobic exercise.” 
    “ She means that she gets
back in bed and snores,” Danny said. 
    “ Snoring is aerobic
exercise," Cheryl joked. “I figure that as long as I am alive and
breathing without the help of a machine, I am working
out.” 
    “ Actually, Cheryl prefers to
do yoga and exercise in the afternoons with her Tamilee Webb DVDs,”
Danny said. “Both of us know that if we take care of ourselves in
our sixties, we are much likelier to have healthy
seventies.” 
    After breakfast Cheryl helps me bathe James
and once I am ready, we head out to Alexandria Bay for some
sightseeing. I know this is Danny’s attempt at taking my mind off
the meeting Max’s platoon and their leaders are
having.  
    Cheryl knows it is a lame distraction, but
she goes along with it. I also go along with it. Danny is trying so
hard. Getting out and seeing Alexandria Bay and having lunch on the
water is very nice. It’s March and still cold in upstate New York.
We visit a lot of the shops and mostly sightsee from within the
buildings. If this were mid-summer, we would be able to take a boat
ride and visit some of the many islands and old castles that
surround Alexandria Bay.  
    We stop by the store before heading home, I
want to grab something special to make Max for dinner. I know Max
well enough to know that if today was stressful for me, it was also
stressful for him.  
    Max comes home from work with a smile on his
face. He is still wearing his Army fatigues and combat boots. He
greets his parents warmly before walking over to James and
me.  
    “ I have missed you.” He
smiles and bends over and kisses me. 
    “ And we missed you, too,” I
say, kissing him back. 
    “ It smells delicious in
here. Seafood?” he asks, kneeling down in front of
me. 
    “ I decided on a clam bake
for dinner.”  
    “ You brought Florida to us?”
He smiles as he strokes James’ soft cheek. “Do I have time to
shower?” 
    “ If you
hurry.” 
    “ Good, I’ll be right back. I
love you,” he saying, smiling at me, “and you, too,” he says,
kissing a sleeping James. 
    I smile from a sitting position and watch Max
walk up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Once he is out of
sight, I place James in his bassinet and walk into the kitchen. I
check the two pots of boiling water and add some final ingredients
and seasoning. I even bought strawberries for Max’s favorite
dessert, strawberry cheesecake.  
    Cheryl comes into the kitchen to offer her
help. We set the table with a white lace tablecloth and white
tapered candles. I step back and look at the table. It looks
beautiful. Once Max comes down from his shower, Cheryl and I get
the food out on the table. I can see from the corner of my eye
Danny and Max talking. I know they are talking about the meeting he
had at work today. I also know Max won’t talk about it with me
until he is ready. I worry, but I try to put a smile to my
lips. 
    We sit around the round table and everyone
holds hands for the grace. Once Danny finishes the prayer, we begin
to eat. 
    The boiled red skin