A Chance Encounter

by Charlie Conwell

  I puff out my cheeks and know that it is hard for Ellie to talk about Anthony like that. I can see the tears building up in her eyes. I move forward and hug her close to me.

  “Thank you for telling me that and thank you for giving me strength and renewed hope. I miss her and that feeling scared me.”

  “I know it did, but answer me this, has that feeling got better or worse since then?”

  I move back a little and look at Ellie. All I see in her eyes is compassion and love. I smile softly and answer her in a small voice.

  “It has settled, not as bad as it was.”

  She grins at me and places her hand on my cheek.

  “Your heart will always tell you what is going on with Charlie, you have a unique gift. You both feel each other and let me tell you, if you are projecting this anxiety, Charlie will sense and feel it. So, you need to try and relax your emotions for both your sakes.”

  I nod my head in agreement. “I will try to do better, I’m just finding it a little hard.”

  “Emily, you are doing amazing. This is not easy and to have a low moment is to be expected. Ease up on yourself and accept that there will be up days and down days. Charlie will be home very soon and she will be so happy and excited to see you.”

  “Ellie, I’ve been thinking about Charlie and me living here in the near future. I love being here and I know Charlie would love to be closer to you. How would you feel if we were to get a place here?”

  I have never seen a brighter smile, as Ellie’s face lights up. “You would want to live here? Close to me, and Charlie wants to do that?”

  I grin and nod. “I want to finish college and then I want us to move here and yes, Charlie would love to move back here.”

  She screams and hugs me tight, making me laugh and feel lighter than I have in a few weeks. I know where Charlie gets it from now. She always has a way of making me feel safe and protected. Ellie has done that for me today, including every time she has talked to me and held me.

  My mom comes into the kitchen to see Ellie and me in an embrace. She looks at me concerned but I smile at her, get up, give her a hug and kiss her cheek. She looks at Ellie and they both share a smile. “I’m glad to see you are a bit brighter now.”

  “I am, Ellie helped me and she also told me you were going to make me chicken Alfredo for dinner.”

  Mom laughs at me. “Yes, I am. I got everything I need and I got us some doughnuts for after and I picked up a movie too, your favourite, beauty and the beast.”

  Ellie’s eyebrow raises and she grins at me making me blush. “Yes, okay, it’s my favourite, it’s a good movie and we can all chill out together and no thinking required.”

  “Oh, now you are going to switch off the thinking, I see how you work, I love our plans, it will be fun.”

  “I’m going to have a shower and then we can all settle in for the evening and enjoy what Disney has to offer. Thanks, Ellie, I really needed what you told me.”

  “You’re welcome sweetie and I’m here for you anytime.”

  I smile at her and give my mom another hug. “I love you mom, thank you for being here it makes me feel a lot better.”

  “All you have to do is call me and I will always come here.”

  I make my way to the shower. As I do, I hear my mom and Ellie in conversation. It warms my heart to know that they are such good friends. My heart feels lighter and I touch it.

  I know you can feel me, Charlie. I love you and I miss you. I am doing better now, come home safely and I am here waiting for you. I am going to be your wife baby and we are going to have a great life together. Take my strength and get your butt back home to me.

  Chapter 31

  My eyes flutter open. For the past couple of weeks, Sean and Paige have closely watched me. Rowan has been trying to act cool but even he has been in and out to see me. He told me what Paige had done and that she saved my life with the blood transfusion. The whole thing is still a blur to me.

  The only thing I remember is going into the compound. I remember the sounds and smell. I thought we had made it with minimal casualties, then there was a noise and a blur, I didn’t think. I reacted and then everything else went blank. I felt a burning sensation and intense pain.

  Every time I open my eyes my first thought is Emily. I haven’t seen or heard her voice in so long. I miss her so much. I really need to see her, hear her voice, see that smile, hear her tease me, and hear her gorgeous laugh. My heart aches for her, my soul weeps to be near her. I realise how close I have come to losing everything in my life and I feel physically ill at that thought.

  Silent tears started to slide down my cheeks and I just let them. Paige’s smiling face comes into view and her smile falters.

  “Hey, what’s going on? Are you in a lot of pain? I can call the doc to give you more meds.”

  I brush the tears away and shake my head. “I’m all right, I’m just thinking how it could have been different. You saved my life, Paige, you kept me alive to be able to go home to Emily. How can I ever repay that debt?”

  Her eyebrows raise. “Are you being serious? Do you not know what you did? Can you remember being shot?”

  I shrug. “It’s blurry, I keep trying to remember but there are blanks.”

  She pulls her seat closer. “Let me fill in the blanks for you.”

  She recounts that night and the more she says, the more flashes of images come into my mind. Her voice shakes when she explains the chopper ride back here and how they kept her at a distance even though she made herself a menace. I laugh at this, then stop when the pain strikes me. She pouts at me. “You’re an ass Charlie, all I could think about was the promise I had given Emily and how I was not going to break that.”

  “I know and you saved me, I’m here because of you. I will tell her that. I just wish I could call her and tell her I love her and I miss her.”

  I see Paige bite her lip and there is a glint in her eyes that makes me frown. “What?”

  “I have spoken to Rowan and he is going to ask the docs to allow you into the communications tent to call Emily later. I didn’t want to say anything in case they don’t allow it, but you are doing okay, right? You will be able to get to the tent and make a call and behave and come back here after?”

  I smile so big my cheeks hurt. “I will do whatever I have to, just get me to that call.”

  Paige laughs. “I thought that might make you smile. What will you tell Emily?”

  “The truth, I won’t hide from her, she will be worried about the length of time since our last call, she will know something is up.”

  “Good, I was hoping you would say that or I would have to hurt you. Rowan is talking to the docs. I can see them. Okay you know nothing, they are coming.”

  Paige pushes back the seat and starts rambling about the weirdest things. She is funny when she is rattled. I start to laugh but stop when I get a filthy look from Paige.

  Rowan stands beside the bed and looks from Paige to me. “Great, the terrible twosome is back in action. I spoke to your doc and he has agreed that if you behave and do exactly as they say, you can have some time to call home.”

  “I’ll do whatever I’m told, thank you, sir.”

  Rowan smiles. “You should thank that royal pain in the butt there. She has been on my ass for the past ten days to arrange this. You weren’t able before but you look stronger now.”

  I look at Paige who blushes. “Thanks, Paige, you’re the best.”

  The doc moves forward and looks at me sternly. “You will have twenty minutes during that time, if there is any discomfort, you must tell us. Please try not to move too much, we want that wound to continue to heal.”

  “I will doc, I need to speak to my fiancée, and whatever you say goes.”

  He smiles at me and nods. “Okay, I like the thought of that, obedience, that’s new for a soldier, especially after dealing with her.”

  Paige goes to refute but then shrugs. “I just wanted to see Charlie and make sure she is
okay, I eventually did as I was told.”

  I start to laugh trying not to hurt myself in the process, making Paige pout. I take pity on her. “You are the best Paige and I appreciate everything that you have done. How is Valerie and Logan?”

  Her smile is blistering at the mention of her son. “I got to see him last call home. Charlie, he is so cute. Little hands and chubby cheeks. Valerie looks amazing and she is getting help from my mom and dad which is great. He looks like a mini version of Valerie. When she was telling Logan that it was me, he made these cute little noises, oh my god, my heart melted.”

  “That’s great news Paige, I’m thrilled they are doing so well. He was probably making noises like please no she isn’t my mom she’s too crazy.”

  Rowan starts to laugh and Paige hits me on the arm. “You’re an ass Charlie, Valerie was asking how you were and when she sees you, you will be getting a bear hug, so just be ready for that.”

  I grin. “I couldn’t resist, you know I like to tease you, it brightens my day. I will take that hug and I better get a cuddle off Logan too. I have no doubt that Emily will do the same to you too.”

  Rowan shuffles and looks at me “I will check on you later, enjoy your call home, Charlie.”

  “Thanks, sir I will. When do I get to make the call?”

  Rowan looks at the doctor and he smiles. “We will take you over in a few minutes, just let me get it set up so that it will be a smooth transfer there and back.”

  I smile so big. “Thanks, doc, I promise whatever you say goes, I just need to see Emily.”

  They both leave and I am a ball of hyperness and nerves. I look at Paige who is smiling at me. “Oh my god, I am going to get to see her, hear her voice. Paige I’m going to talk to Emily.”

  “Yes, you are, but please calm down, don’t get so worked up, they will be monitoring you and don’t do any naughty stuff.”

  I chuckle. “Oh my god Paige, I won’t be doing that I am just happy to talk to her.”

  She laughs. “I know you and it will be hard to contain yourself, just like when I talk to Valerie we get so carried away that things just happen…”

  “Paige, seriously, too much information. Will you be here when I get back?”

  “I will unless we have a patrol but I will come and see you when that’s done.”

  The doctor comes in and I am taken over to the communications tent. There is no one there at the moment. I can feel the nerves and excitement build up inside.

  “Charlie, we won’t be in here with you, we are trusting you to call us if you get into any trouble or discomfort.”

  I look at him and nod. “I will, I won’t take any chances, all I want to do is see her and hear her voice.”

  He smiles at me and squeezes my shoulder. “Tell her you are making a great recovery and you will be home soon.”

  “Thanks, doc.”

  “Oh, and Charlie, if it goes over twenty minutes, it will be okay, I will sort it out. You need time to explain and to reassure.”

  I smile at him, grateful for his support and understanding. He leaves the tent without me saying anything. I turn my attention and call Emily. As I hear the connection tone, my nerves kick higher.

  The screen flickers and there is my baby girl looking shocked but smiling so brightly at me.

  “Charlie, is it really you?”

  “Hi baby girl, yes it’s me, I love you and I have missed you so much.”

  The tears start to fall from both of us. Emily reaches out to the screen and I touch the screen here.

  “Baby girl, I’m sorry I have worried you…”

  “Charlie are you okay, I love you I have missed you so much.”

  I take a deep breath and recount what happened. The more I say, the more I see Emily’s eyes widen and the tears start to fall again. It tears at me to see how upset she is.

  “Baby, I am healing well and I will be coming home to you soon. This is the first chance I have had to call you. I’m so sorry baby, I reacted, and I got shot. I can’t wait to come home to you and make you my wife.”

  “Charlie, you saved Paige’s life without a thought of your own safety. I can’t tell you that I haven’t been worried because I have been. I knew something had happened, it could have been so much worse. I’m just so thankful you are alive. Paige saved you and gave you life and strength to get better. I will be eternally grateful to her for that. I need you to come home safely to me. I want to be your wife and live a long life with you.”

  “I will be home soon baby, the first thing we do when I get back is to organise our wedding. You are my world, Emily, I never want to come that close to losing you ever again.”

  I see her smile so big. “I have been looking at suits and dresses, I haven’t decided quite which I want to wear but it has been really exciting looking at them with my mom and Ellie. Your mom has been a godsend to me, she has really helped me with missing you and talked about your dad and when he was deployed. I couldn’t have gotten through it without them.”

  “I’m so happy to hear how close you have gotten with my mom. How is she?”

  “She is doing so good babe, her and my mom hang out practically every weekend, they act like teenagers when they are together. I feel like the mom at times.”

  I laugh at the stories Emily tells me and I feel lighter than I have done. Emily looks so good and I can see the more we talk, the sadness and worry eases from her eyes.

  “You look so beautiful honey, I have missed you so much. How is school going?”

  She looks sheepishly at me and I look at her confused. “What is it, sweetheart?”

  “Your mom helped me defer a semester because I couldn’t focus, so I will be going back next week and then I will graduate at the end of the term.”

  “Oh my god baby, I’m so sorry I have worried you so much. I knew you would but I’m so sorry it has interfered with your studies.”

  “Charlie, yes, I worried, I’m allowed to, and I am going to be your wife. I deferred a semester but I will catch up and I have seen and spoken to you now and I know you are okay. My heart is lighter than it has been in a while, so I will be more focused going back. I love you and I am so proud of you. You have been so brave and so strong, you fought to stay with me and you are here now. Don’t you ever give up fighting, because I never will.”

  I grin at her and my chest puffs out at her praise like it always does when she tells me she is proud of me.

  “Baby, I have to sign off now but I will try and get more time very soon again. I will ask Rowan to organise it for me. I love you so very much.”

  “I love you too Charlie, you are my heart and my everything.”

  I can see the tears in her eyes and it hits me hard. “Oh baby, I’m sorry I have to hang up. I wouldn’t if I didn’t have to. Please don’t cry, my love.”

  She smiles softly at me and wipes the tear away. “I’ll be okay, I’m just so happy to have seen you and talked to you. You tell Paige she is in for the biggest hug when I see her and that she will always be in our lives. Stacey will be back soon too, she will be sorry to have missed you.”

  “Please tell her I said hi and that I’m okay and my mom, tell her I love her and I will try and call when you are there next time so I can talk to you both. I love you baby girl. I will talk to you soon.”

  “I love you, Charlie, please be safe, I love you so much.”

  I smile at her, blow her a kiss and she blows one back. I catch it and place it on my heart. “I keep you here always baby, right here every minute of every day. I love you and I think of you always.”

  She waves to me. “I love you, miss you and think of you always in my heart.”

  The screen goes blank and I sit back, the tears start to fall but they are happy tears because I have talked to the woman who owns me and my heart.

  The doctor comes back in. “Everything okay?”

  I look at him and smile. “Yes, thank you, I needed to see her and I feel a lot better and lighter than I have been.”
/>   “Great, you needed that lift and it will help with your recovery too. Come on, let’s get you back to the medic tent and I will check that wound and dress it again.”

  We go back and the doc cleans and dresses the wound. My mind is on Emily and the image of her on the screen. I close my eyes smiling, feeling my heartbeat stronger with the thoughts and images of my true love.

  Chapter 32

  I’m waiting for my connecting flight and I know I am only a few hours away from touchdown. I’ve been discharged from duty a few weeks early since I can’t go on patrol or frontline duties. I’m still a bit sore from the gunshots but they are healing well. The only thing in my head now is getting back, seeing Emily and being with her again.

  I haven’t told her that I’m coming home. I want it to be a surprise for her. Tomorrow is my birthday and when I get off this plane, I will be a year older back to my fiancée and it will be the best birthday I’ve ever had. Paige was so sad when I was being choppered out, but I told her I would be there when she arrives home and that her proposal will be something very special. She has become a great friend and I know that I have a friend for life in her.