Page 13 of Charlotte
“You are looking much better than the last time I saw you.” Mozart smiles down at us.
The other members of the team come in Dude and Cheyenne, Abe and Alabama, and Benny and Jess. Last is Cookie and Fiona.
“Charlotte, I’m so very sorry.” Fiona is struggling to hold back her tears. “If you need someone to talk to, please call me. I understand what you are going through better than most.” She leans down to put her arms around Charlotte, and I hear her whisper. “Call me anytime, day or night. You will need someone in the days and weeks to come.” She pulls back then and joins the others standing around the room.
“Thank you all for coming to visit me.” Charlotte tells the room. “I want to thank you ladies for supporting these men in what they do. I have always admired those that serve but did not fully understand the gravity of what they do until I was under their care and protection. They may be the ones to be in service to our country, but you ladies serve in a different manor. You are the glue that keeps everything together while these men are out saving the world. I will never be able to thank you all enough for giving me another chance at life. I surely thought it was over when I was taken, but then my guardian angles came to my rescue when I was in desperate need.” Charlotte’s voice breaks and tears are welling up in her eyes. So many emotions flash across her face.
Needing to be near her, I get up out of my chair and stand next to the bed. She scoots over so I can sit with her. I am grateful for the visitors, but Charlotte is getting awfully tired. The nurse brings in another dose of pain medication and that’s the signal for the room to clear. “I think it’s time for Charlotte to get some rest.” I inform the room.
Everyone comes to the bed to tell us goodbye and wish Charlotte well. When it’s Caroline’s turn, she hugs her and leans in to whisper in her ear. “Wolf has already talked to Hawk about this, but when you are discharged you are both welcome to come stay at our house until you figure things out, ok?”
Charlotte looks up at her in surprise, but then a huge smile comes across her face. She nods in agreement. Wolf and Caroline are on our side of making a go of this attraction between us. It’s nice to know that others can see what we feel. I’m not sure what will happen over the next few days, but I know we will have the support of some good friends. Charlotte lays back on the bed and smiles at me. I take her hand and hold it until she falls into a deep drug induced slumber.
Chapter 11
Charlotte
I wake laterin the day to find my kids sitting at the foot of my bed. I struggle to sit up and Hawk is right there helping me. They are looking at me with concern, but also confusion. Suddenly I am nervous. What will they think about Hawk? I haven’t even mentioned trying to date since their dad passed. Will they be ok with this? Sara is the first to react to my being awake. She comes to the opposite side of the bed from where Hawk is standing guard.
“Mom, you had us so worried. I thought you were never coming home,” Sara cries as she wraps her arms around me. “You’ve lost so much weight. I just can’t believe this has happened to you. I hate that your first attempt at adventure turned out so badly.”
Justin is next up. He stands there stoically waiting for his sister to finish her babbling and crying. When she backs up. He rushes in and hugs me tightly. “Mom! I knew you would make it back someday. I knew you weren’t dead even when JoAnn told us we should give up believing you would ever come home. I knew I would feel it in my heart if you were gone, just like with Dad, but I never did.” I am sobbing at this point. I hate so much what they have suffered through while I was missing. Hawk gets some tissues and a wet washcloth for me to wash my face. Once he’s satisfied that I am not going to fall completely apart, he leans in to whisper in my ear.
“I’m going to take a walk and give you all some time alone. If you need me, the nurse will be able to find me, Ok?” I nod as I am still too choked up to speak. With a kiss to my forehead, he leaves the room. I stare after him for a little too long. I am brought out of my daydream about the wonderful man that has just left the room when Sara shrieks.
“Mom! What is going on here? Who is that man? Why does he seem like he’s a little too friendly with my mother who doesn’t date? Where did you meet him? How long have you been seeing him? Spill, spill!” Sara is firing off questions faster than I can think of an answer to the one before.
Justin decides to intervene. “What Sara is trying to say is Lucy, you got some splaining to do.”
Well it seems they are taking this better than I thought they would. I get them to sit down as I try to catch them up to date on what has happened since I left our little hometown so long ago. I tell them about meeting the soldiers in the airport, then working clinic in the villages, and about the night I was taken. I spare them as many details as I can about my time in captivity. I tell them that under no circumstances are they to talk to the press about my rescue. Lastly, I tell them about Hawk and how he risked his life to get me to the helicopter so I could come home to them.
“Mom, I don’t quite understand. If he was shot, why is he up roaming around and you are the patient in the hospital. Were you shot too, and you just didn’t want to tell us?” Justin asks. He has taken Hawk’s chair beside my bed, while Sara sits on the bed next to me. They are both looking at me with confusion and concern on their faces.
“No, I wasn’t shot. I suffered some broken ribs that resulted in a partial collapsed lung, but I am going to be fine. The chest tube has caused my lung to inflate and I am sure they will be removing the chest tube later today or first thing tomorrow. I just needed some fluids and antibiotics. It was not the most sanitary of conditions down there." I tell them in an effort to reassure them.
“So, what gives with Mr. Hottie?” Sara demands with a smirk.
“Sara LeeAnn Williams! I’m not sure I know what you are talking about young lady, but I don’t appreciate your tone.” I joke. I know exactly what she is talking about. I have not so much as looked at a single man in the last five years. They have just witnessed what I am sure they perceive as very intimate contact between their mother and a complete stranger. I know I need to discuss it with them, but I’m not even sure what is going on at this point myself.
“Alright Mom, if you want to keep whatever you are doing with Mr. Secret Hottie Pants a secret that’s fine, but don’t expect me to spill on my love life either then. That goes for you too right Justin?” Sara declares with finality.
“Oh, I’m with Sara on this one Mom. There is positively something going on between you and what did you call him, Mr. Secret Hot Pants?” Justin looks at Sara. “But if you insist on keeping secrets from your own children, then we are forced to keep ours, too.” Justin nods in agreement with his sister. I huff out a laugh, that makes my sides scream in pain.
“Ok, ok stop. You two are ganging up on me. I am not sure what if anything is going on,” I answer as honestly as I can. “I need some moral support. I will introduce you to him.”
The nurse comes in about that time to change my IV fluid bag. I ask her if she can find Hawk for me. She just smiles sheepishly and says of course she can. It is barely a minute after she has left the room that he is back. He looks from me to the kids and back again with concern in his eyes. I guess he is looking for signs that they are upset with us. I reach for him and he immediately comes to my side, stepping over Justin in the process. I suppress a giggle. It just hurts too much to laugh.
“Hawk, I would like you to meet my children. Sara, she’s the oldest and this is Justin my son. Guys this is Staff Sargant Jordon Jackson aka Hawk. He is a Marine and one of the men who helped to save my life and bring me home to you.” I take a deep breath, squeeze his hand, and look him in the eyes as I continue. “They want to know what is going on between us.” Before either of us can say anything else, Justin speaks up.
“What are your intentions toward our mother? She hasn’t dated anyone since Dad died. We would like to see her happy and not be alone, but I won’t tolerate anyone, badass Marine or not, using her,” Justin declares with venom as he glares at Hawk.
“Michael Justin Williams! Don’t you use that tone, young man! I can still turn you over my knee and teach you some manors,” I admonish.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Mom.” Justin replies as he glances at me then turns his eyes back to Hawk. Before I can say anything else. Hawk reaches over and squeezes my hand in reassurance.
“It’s ok, love. He is looking out for you and I admire that he is determined to look out for your best interest, just as I intend to do.” Hawk says to me as he stares Justin down. “I admire and have strong feelings for your mother. I will do all I can to protect her and keep her safe. I would never intentionally hurt her. I know you don’t know me, but I hope you will keep an open mind and let me prove myself to you and your mother.”
“Good answer.” Justin says as he reaches out to shake Hawk’s hand.
