Fort Lupton

by Christian, Claudia Hall

  “I’m going into surgery again,” Charlie said.

  Charlie jumped off his bed when the orderly started rolling Charlie’s body down the hallway.

  “Should we go with . . .” Charlie gestured to the bed.

  When he looked back at his father, Maresol was tucked under Mitch’s arm. Charlie gave him a puzzled look.

  “Do you mind?” Mitch asked.

  “No,” Charlie said. “It answers a question for me. But . . .”

  He stepped back so that Maresol’s body could roll past on the way to a different surgical suite.

  “Why is Maresol here?” Charlie asked.

  “I was hit on the head by that horrible Detective Red Bear,” Maresol said. “They are going to do some brain surgery. They bandaged it, of course, a few hours ago. But they decided I needed this.”

  Maresol shrugged. She smiled at Mitch, and he gave her a goofy, puppy-love grin.

  “Otch,” Maresol said. “They are waking me up for the surgery.”

  Maresol stepped back, but Mitch held onto her hand.

  “Why?” Mitch said.

  “No sey,” Maresol said. She leaned forward to kiss him before she disappeared.

  Charlie grinned at his father.

  “What?” Mitch looked at Charlie.

  “I think I have to ask you, ‘What?’” Charlie asked.

  “You mean Maresol?”

  “Yes,” Charlie said. “I have a long surgery, so you can tell me everything.”

  Mitch grinned at Charlie.

  “You want to go back to the park?” Mitch asked.

  “Let’s walk on the path,” Charlie said.

  “Cherry Creek Path?” Mitch asked.

  They were walking along the cement path next to Cherry Creek, below Speer Boulevard. The day was mild, not too warm, not too cold. A family of ducks floated along on the slow moving river.

  “So Maresol . . .” Charlie started.

  “What do you know about her?” Mitch asked.

  “Seth hired her when he got back from college,” Charlie said. “He was like fourteen or something. She had five kids and a husband, but he died soon after she started working for Seth.”

  “Couple of years later,” Mitch said. “Manuel worked for the city. He was killed in an accident at work. Very tragic.”

  Charlie fell quiet. He’d seen Sam Lipson use this as a way of encouraging someone to talk. Mitch glanced at Charlie.

  “I met Seth when I started at East High,” Mitch said. “He’d just come back from Eastman. He was . . .”

  Mitch chuckled.

  “Geeky?” Charlie said.

  “Very cool,” Mitch said. “He rode to school in a limo . . .”

  “How’d you meet?” Charlie asked.

  “I was riding my bike to school and ran him over,” Mitch said. He laughed. “Seth’s what, six feet now? He was small then. Looked like a little kid. He wore these dark sunglasses, a black hat pulled down on his forehead, very beatnik. I didn’t see him. He also wasn’t looking where he was going as he got out of the limo. Knowing Seth, he probably was caught up in his own head.”

  “We had first period together. I sat next to him.” Mitch smiled. “I don’t know if you’ve ever had it happen, but I’ll tell you — I knew the moment I met him that I wanted to be around him. I always felt that way about Seth. Next time I saw him, he was defending this enormous black kid — we called them ‘negroes’ then — from a crowd of kids who wanted him out of the building. This kid was big and looked dumber than dirt. His clothes were clean but really worn. None of us had any money — except Seth, you know — but that kid looked really poor.”

  Mitch chuckled.

  “There’s little Seth and this giant guy,” Mitch said. “Some kid had told the big kid he shouldn’t be there. Segregation and all. Even though the school wasn’t segregated, the kids were still fighting it out. Can you guess who the big kid was?”

  “Dr. Bumpy?” Charlie asked.

  “Yes, indeed,” Mitch said. “Seth . . . Some kid tried to punch him and I was there. It was just one of those things. I’d gone to junior high with almost everybody. I was really popular, jock, and all of that. I told them to break it up and that was that. I mean, there was a little more hassle, but . . . It was just like that — what I said went.”

  “I went back to Seth’s house that afternoon and met Maresol,” Mitch said. “They were very formal then. Seth was the boss. I thought she was . . . old. I mean, she had five kids and a house. She was twenty-two. That’s a lot older than fourteen.”

  Mitch shrugged.

  “We kind of lived at Seth’s house,” Mitch said. “Bumpy got his eyes checked at the same time I did. Turned out we were both blind as bats. Seth bought us cool glasses. We were smart, good-looking, and in Seth’s jazz band. Seth’s mom was like something out of a movie — so beautiful, smart, and still elegantly delicate. We adored her. Seth’s mom took Bumpy and me along when she went shopping with Seth for clothes. I will tell you, we were gorgeous.”

  “I bet,” Charlie said.

  “Maresol fed us, laughed with us, flirted, but . . .”

  Mitch shrugged.

  “I had girlfriends — lots, but I never . . . you know, sex,” Mitch said. “Seth . . . Well, you’ve seen Sandy? Imagine a sexier and more confident Sandy. Andy Mendy was everyone’s dream girl. She’d show up at school with her band and . . . Man, the boys would hang out the windows and drool. She was Seth’s and only Seth’s.”

  “So Seth’s getting some and you’re not?”

  “Didn’t matter, ’cept when we were leaving for ’Nam,” Mitch said. “I didn’t want to die a virgin. I convinced Maresol to help me out and . . .”

  Mitch shrugged and fell silent.

  “And what?” Charlie asked.

  “I fell in love with her,” Mitch said. “Plain and simple. We left the next day. Man, I spent years trying to fuck her out of my system — lots women, a few men, you name it, I tried it. Nothing replaced her. We came home from ’Nam and went to college.”

  “Why did Seth go to college twice?” Charlie asked.

  “Why does Seth do anything?” Mitch asked. “The great O’Malley wanted to go to college again so he did. Plus, we needed a degree to get into the Denver Police. There were a lot of guys back from ’Nam. It was hard to get in, and we wanted to be cops.”

  Mitch shrugged.

  “And Maresol?” Charlie asked.

  “We were together then, sort of,” Mitch said. “I mean, she had those kids, and I was really just a kid. We’d get together, and I’d screw it up.”

  “She didn’t?”

  “Oh sure, a few times,” Mitch said. “But it was mostly me. I couldn’t handle the fact that everything was so easy, so perfect. I wanted my own kids. That was the real thing. She couldn’t have any more kids.”

  Mitch shrugged.

  “That’s how I wound up with your mom,” Mitch said. “It was stupid. I knew it. Seth told me so to my face, but I really wanted you and Sissy. Once you were born, Patty . . . She didn’t really care what happened to me, so I started sneaking around with Maresol. Then I got sick and . . . You probably know the rest.”

  “Mom kicked you out when she found out the VA wouldn’t pay for all your medical bills,” Charlie said.

  “It was stupid,” Mitch said. “Seth has always had piles of money. Even after most of it went up our noses, he still had piles of money. He’d already paid all the bills when she kicked me and you guys out.”

  They walked along in silence for a while.

  “It’s a great story of how to be a complete idiot,” Mitch said. “I could have been really happy in my life, but I made it hard for no reason.”

  “When Seth talks about it, it sounds like you guys had a great time,” Charlie said.

  “Oh yeah?” Mitch grinned. “We probably did.”

  Mitch fell silent thinking. Charlie didn’t dare say anything in case he missed something good.

  “I guess from t
his perspective,” Mitch said. “The only thing that matters is who you love and how well you do it. I loved Maresol, from that first night. She loved me too. Seth and Andy, they had love in spades. And we all fucked it up. It seems like a waste to me now.”

  Charlie watched his father. Mitch seemed lost in thought.

  “Seems to me like your love for Maresol didn’t really go away,” Charlie said. “You loved Seth and that’s still here.”

  Mitch looked at Charlie and shrugged.

  “Maybe it’s not a waste,” Charlie said. “Maresol and Seth are still here. You’re here with them. I’m sure Andy’s looking after Sandy, and you’re here with me. Maybe everything is how it should be.”

  “Easy,” Mitch said.

  Charlie nodded. They kept walking. Neither had anything to say. They just enjoyed the day and the company. They’d walked farther than Charlie had ever walked when he heard his name.

  “Charlie.” A woman’s voice seemed to echo along the beautiful river. “It’s Honey.”

  Charlie was standing next to his body. The doctors had finished his surgery while he’d been walking with his father. He looked over and saw Maresol’s bed. His father was sitting on her bed.

  “I know you can hear me,” Honey said. “I’ve been where you are. I know it seems really great, safe, beautiful, and so peaceful. But it’s easy to get lost.”

  Honey picked up his hand in hers.

  “Don’t get lost, Charlie,” Honey said. “It’s time for you to come home.”

  Charlie felt as if he were thrown back into his body. Suddenly, he was looking out of his eyes. Honey smiled at him.

  “Welcome back,” Honey said.

  “Hurrrtt,” Charlie said.

  “I know,” Honey said. “Sandy asked them to reduce your pain meds so that you would wake up.”

  “Whyyy?” Charlie whispered.

  “You were getting lost,” Honey said.

  “Noo,” Charlie said. “With Dad.”

  Honey leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Her face was next to his.

  “Your dad told Delphie to bring you back,” Honey whispered. “He thought you were getting lost.”

  “Wasss with him,” Charlie said.

  “And you were getting lost,” Honey said. “I know. I’ve been there. It’s easy to get lost and just stay there. You belong here.”

  Charlie shook his head and groaned in pain.

  “I know how hard it is,” Honey said. “Of all people, I know how hard it is, but you’re just starting this life. You have lots to live, lots to love. Your dad said he promised you that he would make sure you came back, that you wanted to come back. But you were getting lost. Your dad said that you needed to be loved and give love. I think he’s right.”

  Charlie felt tears fall down his face.

  “I’ll be here,” Honey said. “I’m not leaving your side. Together, we’ll get through this.”

  “Why you?” Charlie asked.

  “Because I know how.” Honey smiled at him. “Because I wanted to stay there — no pain, no hardship, only peace and love. I came back for love; I came back for MJ, and now Maggie. I can help. Even your dad said so.”

  “Hurrrt,” Charlie whispered. “Bad.”

  “Okay then,” Honey said. “Do what I say. Take as deep of a breath as you can and . . .”

  Charlie’s focus slipped. He saw his father at the end of his bed.

  “I’d rather spare you all of this,” Mitch said. “But it’s what you wanted.”

  Charlie blinked at his tears.

  “Love you, Charlie,” Mitch said.

  “Now pretend you’re blowing on the pain — wherever it is in your body,” Honey said.

  Charlie smiled at his father. He puckered his lips and blew.

  “Good job,” Honey said. “Let’s do it again.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Wednesday evening — 5:55 p.m.

  “I’m sorry, Heather,” the nurse said.

  Heather looked up as the nurse came into her side of the room. She was on the other side of the glass wall from Blane. When she arrived an hour ago, he’d been too sick to move from the bed. He’d just managed to make it to the chair.

  “I can only give you another five minutes,” the nurse said.

  “I understand,” Heather said.

  The nurse nodded and pulled the door close.

  “I don’t want you to go,” Blane said.

  “I don’t want to go,” Heather said. “I . . . It’s hard.”

  Blane nodded.

  “I don’t know if I don’t want to be alone,” Blane said. “Or if I just feel that much better with you here.”

  Heather smiled.

  “You are my health tonic,” Blane said.

  “I miss you,” Heather said. “Us. Our life.”

  “It’s only for a short while and . . .”

  “I know, I know,” Heather said. Blane nodded. “I know. I want you to take your time. Get well. Get really well. Because seeing you so sick today . . .”

  “I can’t believe how sick I am,” Blane said. “I forgot how it is . . . I was like this . . .every day before you came to love me.”

  Heather blushed. She put her hand up to the glass. He struggled for a moment and put his over hers on the other side. Her phone pinged, and she looked down.

  “What’s the word?” Blane asked.

  “Charlie’s out of surgery,” Heather said. “The operation went well, and his vitals are strong. Honey’s in with him. I told you what his dad told Delphie?”

  “That he was getting lost.” Blane nodded and sighed.

  She smiled. For a moment, they just looked at each other. The nurse peeked in.

  “You can stay while I get him back into bed,” the nurse said.

  “Thank you,” Heather said.

  The nurse pulled on a sterile gown, gloves, face mask, and a hat before going into Blane’s room.

  “I love you,” Heather said.

  Blane smiled. The nurse helped Blane up from the chair. He grunted with exhaustion and pain. They shuffled across the small room to the bed. The nurse got Blane into bed and helped him pull up the covers. Blane waved to Heather. The nurse nodded, and Heather left the room.

  Biting her lip to keep from crying, she made it past the nurses station and ran down the stairs. She opened the stair door and saw Tres in the lobby. He gave her a smile.

  “I thought you might need some help,” Tres said.

  “I do.” Heather nodded.

  “Hold your hand?” Tres asked.

  Heather nodded. He took her hand and they stood facing each other for a moment. He gave her a slight smile before turning toward the door. They walked to her car together. He helped her in the car, kissed her cheek, and went to his own car.

  Unable to face the Castle, Heather drove home. Alone.

  Chapter Three hundred and nine

  Too tired for murder

  Thursday morning — 8:53 a.m.

  “Charlie would want you to be here,” Seth said to Sissy.

  Staring at the hotel’s carpet, Sissy nodded. Her long blonde hair was up in a tight bun that hid the pink streak. She wore jeans with a lovely hand-knitted-by-Delphie sweater over her long sleeved T-shirt. She had spent the last two days under going physical challenges, dancing, and medical exams, and the last two nights with Charlie. Today, she would complete her last interview with the four American ballet companies looking to take on apprentices this year.

  “He wants you to do this,” Seth said. “He told me himself.”

  “But not today.” Sissy’s voice came out in numb syllables. “He didn’t tell you today, because today he’s probably going to die.”

  Seth put his arm around her shoulders. She reached up to hold his hand. Seth looked up when a young ballerina and her mother came out of the room. The girl’s mouth smiled a row of large, white teeth while her eyes gave Sissy a venomous look. Sissy missed the entire moment by staring at the floor.

  “Good luck,” the
girl said.

  Sissy looked up at the girl. Seeing the venom in the girl’s eyes, Sissy squinted at her and looked back at the floor.

  “They’ve already found their candidate, of course,” the girl’s mother said. She straightened her daughter’s ponytail. “But it’s good of you to try, dear.”

  Seth gave the mother a pained look. The mother’s face made a kind of sneering smile before they walked down the hallway.

  “Don’t let them get to you,” Seth said in a Sissy’s ear.

  “Those two?” Sissy glanced down the hallway where they’d gone. She shrugged. “They’re always like that. They act like they already won. It’s just how they are.”

  “That’s my Sissy,” Seth said.

  “How did you compete?” Sissy asked. “I mean, you were younger than me when you went to college.”

  “I’ve never bothered trying to do it,” Seth said.

  “What do you mean?” Sissy asked.

  “I just got out there and kicked ass,” Seth said. “I didn’t waste my time or energy on this kind of . . .crap.”

  Sissy smiled.

  “Truthfully, I didn’t know any better,” Seth said. “By the time I figured out what was going on, I already knew your dad. You know how your dad was?”

  “Who’s better than you?” Sissy imitated Sandy imitating her father’s voice. “They’re gonna look pretty stupid when you prove them wrong.”

  Seth laughed at her imitation and Sissy smiled at him. Ivan came down the hallway toward them.

  “We are last they see,” Ivan repeated what he’d said a few times already. “This is very good.”

  He sat next to Sissy.

  “You no feel good?” Ivan asked.

  Sissy nodded.

  “It’s okay,” Ivan said. “You go in and you be yourself. If this isn’t the year? It isn’t the year. Why do we care?”

  Sissy grinned at Ivan. He’d been adamant that she sign with a ballet company before she turned fifteen next month. But the moment he learned that Charlie was injured, Ivan had changed his tune.

  “This will be your home, our home together, for years,” Ivan nodded. “They don’t care about Charlie? We don’t care about them.”

  Ivan sniffed. Sissy didn’t know what to say so she went back to staring at the carpet.