Echo-Foxtrot (16 page)

She pulled her phone across and rang the base. “Could I speak to Dr. Andrews please?” She got put on hold and eventually someone in the infirmary answered. “Hi,” she repeated. “This is Lou Benson. Could I speak to Dr. Andrews please?”

“I'm afraid she's not on duty right now. Would you like to speak to the duty doctor instead?”

Lou sighed. “No. Just tell her I rang.”

Benjy jumped onto her bed and curled up next to her.

Lou rubbed his ears. “Glad you're here,” she whispered. “You're like Jack. You don't replace the ones who've gone on ahead; you just help us learn to love again.”

****

The night before the wedding, Jack slept at the base, so as not to see Mum. Lou as usual didn't sleep much, if at all, and threw up first thing.

Jim caught her as she came out of the bathroom. “Isn't it the bride who's supposed to throw up? Or are you afraid your mum won't turn up and you'll have to marry Jack instead?” he joked. He looked closely at her. “Are you OK? You look dreadful.”

“I'm gonna be sick again.” She ran back into the bathroom.

Jim waited at a respectable distance until she came out. “Lou,” he began.

“Don't tell Mum,” she replied. “I've got a headache. That's what's making me sick.”

“Are you gonna manage today?”

“I have to.” She went into her room and sat on the bed. She began to shake and couldn't stop.

Staci glanced up. “Lou, can I borrow your per— You OK?” she asked.

Lou didn't answer.

Then seemingly the next minute, her mum was there. “What's wrong, darling?” she asked.

Lou shook her head, shaking so much she was unable to reply. This was the last thing she wanted. She was ruining everything.

Mum looked at Ailsa, who'd followed her in. “Ring Jack.”

“But you're not supposed to see him.”

“Never mind that. Just go ring him and get him here.”

Fifteen minutes later, Jack dashed up the stairs. He shooed the others out of the room. “I'll see to her.”

Ailsa looked at Jack. “Sorry to drag you back here. Nichola insisted I call you.”

“That's OK.” He crossed over to the bed and sat next to Lou.

Lou sat on the bed, drenched in sweat. She was still shaking and gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face.

Jack gathered her into his arms, holding her tightly. He spoke calmly, rocking her gently until the shaking stopped and her breathing was no longer coming in ragged gasps. He stroked her hair and held her, still talking softly and calmly until the storm of tears had passed. When it had, he loosened his grip, but not releasing her entirely. He handed her the tissues.

Lou took one. “I'm sorry,” she said. “I didn't want to spoil your day.”

“You haven't spoilt anything. It's OK, honey. You're safe now. Why didn't you say anything?”

“It isn't always this bad.”

“How long has it been going on?”

“A while. It started off with little things, but it has been getting worse. The headaches were the cover story,” Lou admitted. “I can't go out in case it rains. I can't even swim because it reminds, reminds...me...of...” She broke off, panic rising within her again.

Jack tightened his grip. “Calm down. Nice deep breaths. That's it.”

Lou tried to do as he said.

“You need to talk these things through,” Jack told her. “You need to see a counselor. And you do it soon. Doc Andrews said that one would come here if you'd find it easier to start with. You can't keep it bottled up. Promise me you'll talk to someone.”

“I'm not crazy.”

“No one said you are. This is a normal reaction to a traumatic event. You just need to talk it through, that's all. It's nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. And it's S.O.P. for any solider returning from a war zone. No one thinks them crazy.”

“OK. I'll talk to her.”

Jack hugged her. “Good girl.”

Jim knocked and stuck his head round the door. “Sorry to interrupt. Only time's getting on. We only have an hour before we have to leave.”

“I must go,” Jack said, giving Lou a final hug before releasing her. “I have to get changed and meet Ed. Will you be OK now?”

Lou nodded.

“This is that prescription you got but never filled.” Jack took a container from his pocket and pressed it into her hand. “One now, one tonight, and then one in the morning. The doc wants to see you soon.”

“Thanks, Jack. See you at the church.”

Jack stood up. He left, pausing on the landing. “I'm going now, Nicky. It's safe to come out. See you in church. Don't be late.”

“I wouldn't dare,” came the reply. As the front door slammed shut, Mum came into Lou's room and sat next to her. “Are you OK, love?”

“I think so. Thanks for calling him. I'm sorry, Mum. I didn't want to spoil your day.”

“Oh, Lou.” Mum hugged her. “You can't keep things bottled up like this. You need to talk to someone. And you haven't spoilt anything.”

“That's almost word for word what Jack said.”

“There you are then. It must be true.”

“Here you are,” Jim said, handing Lou a glass of water.

Lou took it and swallowed one of the tablets Jack had given her. “Thanks, Jim,” she said. She looked at Mum. “Do you want a hand to get into your dress?”

“If you feel up to it, love.”

“Course I do. It's your big day. Can't have you late for it, can we?”

As the cars arrived to collect them, Staci put down the notebook. “It's finished,” she said triumphantly.

“Good,” Jim said. “Perhaps now you can concentrate on us for a change.”

“Don't you even want to know what it is?” Staci asked, a hurt expression covering her face.

“Later, kiddo,” he said, straightening his tie and putting on his jacket.

Ailsa grinned. “You look very smart, Jim,” she said.

“And you look beautiful,” he replied.

Ailsa did a twirl. “Thank you,” she said, the full skirt billowing around her.

“What about me?” Staci said.

“You look gorgeous too, kiddo.”

The lilac satin dresses fell to the floor, with puffed sleeves, bows on the overskirts and at the back, and very full skirts. The necklines were heart-shaped and the necklines, sleeves, and bodices had piping and sequins on them.

A cough from upstairs made them look round. Mum stood at the top of the stairs.

Jim said, “Wow. You look amazing.” Her ivory dress was similar in style to the bridesmaids, with the exception of the overskirt and the addition of long sleeves and a three-foot train. The bodice was also covered in sequins. Her long hair hung in ringlets with a short sequined veil and a simple floral headdress.

Lou held the crutches tightly. Despite the tablets, she felt sick and nervous, but was determined not to show it.

Bill offered Nichola an arm. “Let's go.”

21

They arrived at the base chapel five minutes early, to be met by an honor guard of airmen extending from the lych-gate to the church door. The organ was playing and Lou leaned down to arrange Mum's train, balancing on one crutch as she did so. She straightened up and caught hold of both crutches. She nodded to the chaplain and he went inside to tell Jack they had arrived.

The strains of “Olympic Spirit” by John Williams could be heard as the three Air Force trumpeters began to play. Ailsa and Staci set off up the aisle, their lilac dresses complementing the red and yellow flowers in their hair and bouquets. Jim glanced at Lou and she nodded.

Bill looked at Mum. “Ready?” he asked.

“No,” Mum replied, smiling nervously. “I'm terrified.” She paused for a bit. “I'm ready.”

Bill took her arm and led her up the aisle to where Jack and Sergeant Peterson, in dress uniform, waited. As they got halfway there, Jack turned and smiled at her.

Behind them, Lou propped her crutches up against the doorpost and walked up the aisle unaided. Jim stayed close by her side as planned in case she fell. And also as moral support in case she panicked again.

The marriage itself took place. When the chaplain said, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Bill placed Mum's hand into Jack's. They had chosen the traditional vows with Mum promising to obey Jack. (She had told him she had the easy end of the bargain. He had to promise to love her as Christ loved the church, i.e., to die for her. All she had to do was obey him.)

Lou wondered idly if she'd get sixteen husbands too when she got married. Four better, four worse, four richer, four poorer. On reflection, she'd just have eight—the better, richer ones. You could keep the worse and poorer ones.

Mum's voice shook slightly as she reached the
till death do us part
phrase, as memories of Robert flashed through her mind. Jack looked Mum straight in the eyes as he promised to love and to cherish her, in sickness and in health, keeping only unto her as long as they both shall live. The next hymn was one of Mum's favorites—“I Vow to Thee, My Country.” She had chosen it deliberately, as through her marriage she had become an American citizen.

The sermon was next, with the chaplain preaching on 1 Corinthians 13. The last hymn was “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” which both Jack and Mum liked. Lou managed to stand and sit the whole way through the service unaided, which she was quite impressed by. It was only when they went through to sign the register that anyone noticed she didn't have her crutches with her.

Mum's eyes lit up. “Where are your crutches?” she asked.

“They're here somewhere. Wanted to surprise you.”

The organ struck up and Mum and Jack walked back down the aisle. Sergeant Peterson offered Lou his arm and they followed, with Staci, Jim, and Ailsa behind them. The bride and groom exited the chapel into the sunshine under an archway of swords. After the photos Lou retrieved her crutches and went over to Dr. Andrews. “Can I come and see you?” she asked.

“Sure, any time.”

“Tomorrow? I'll get Jim to drive me over.”

“OK, around 1100.”

“See you then.”

The reception was held in the base mess. The meal was a sit-down hot dinner. When it was time for the speeches, Sergeant Peterson stood up. “I would like to thank you all for coming today,” he said. “Jack and I go way back. We first met at the Academy. We have been a lot of places together. Fought together, saved each other's lives several times. Been best man at each other's weddings, twice now for Jack. You could say we've done it all. Jack has had a difficult few years but he has come through it all.”

He smiled. “Jack has a terrible sense of humor, no sense of timing. In fact, I don't know what anyone sees in him. But he is a good mate and he's the sort of guy you can rely on in a crisis. He knows what to say, how to say, and when to say it. And then there's his lovely wife, Nicky. What can I say? Beautiful, attractive, good looking, beautiful...did I mention how pretty she is? She can cook…”

He broke off as everyone laughed. “If I wasn't already married perfectly happily to Cathy, with a beautiful daughter of my own, I might just have to fight you for her, mate. I have been asked to thank all the people who did the catering and served us. It was a lovely meal, so please show your appreciation for it.”

Applause and cheering resounded round the room. Sergeant Peterson said, “But I promised I wouldn't go on too long. So I will let Jack speak now.”

Jack got up. He took out a huge pad of paper from his pocket and began to read it. “My wife and I...” Rapturous applause drowned him out. “My wife and I,” he began, again stopped by cheers and stamping. “My...” he tried again, but once more he was drowned out. He turned to Mum and grinned. “I give up,” he said and sat down.

“Speech,” someone called.

“I tried,” Jack answered.

Sergeant Peterson tapped his glass. “Let the man speak. It may be his last chance to ever get the final word in.”

Jack stood again. “My wife and I,” he paused, but this time, there was silence. He grinned. “Thank you for coming today to share this occasion with us. My life changed abruptly on a June day last year, when I met a young girl in Cornwall. When I ran in to the same girl again on Grand Turk, I knew it was no coincidence, especially when the papers had just printed the story of three missing teens. I contacted her mother and formed a deep friendship with her. When we discovered traces of the missing children, she came over here and the rest, as they say, is history. Things change, usually when you least expect them to. Happiness lurks around the corner of the darkest tunnel.”

He turned to his wife. “Nicky, you have made me the happiest man alive. I thought that I was destined to stay on my own, but here I am now. With a beautiful wife and a daughter that any man would be proud to call his own. Even though the adoption papers haven't come through yet, I can't wait until I can officially call Lou my daughter. I guess I have Lou to thank the most. If it wasn't for her messing up a simple shopping trip, as she put it, and rolling a whole load of tin cans down the hill at me, I wouldn‘t be here now. So would you please raise your glasses to the one person responsible for us being here today? Our daughter, Lou.”

“Lou,” came the response.

“She's also asked to say a few words.”

Lou pushed slowly to her feet. “A few words…” She sat down again.

Jack groaned. “Is that it?”

She laughed and stood again. “Sorry, couldn't resist that one. It's usually the father of the bride next,” she said. “But hopefully you'll settle for daughter of the bride and groom instead. Not sure I want to take the blame for the fact we are here today. OK, I messed up a simple shopping trip and dropped a whole bag of tinned stuff on Jack's feet. If I hadn't done that, we never would have met Jack and he wouldn't have met my mother and we would all be somewhere else right now. Actually, we'd probably be dead…Or I would be at least.”