by Clare Revell
He was almost to the truck, when something thudded into his back. Pain jarred him, but he kept going. He reached the truck, placing the aid worker into the safety of it. Another thud sent him to his knees. Voices came from a long way off. A third sent him spinning, landing on his back. A fourth caught his stomach. He lay there, watching the blue sky overhead. “Jude…” he whispered.
~*~
The e-mail bounced back again. Jude sighed and typed rapidly into the ebluey site, only for that to inexplicably go down. It was too early for the news, so she checked the online news sites and then social media, but there was nothing on there either. Bev hadn’t updated his social media page in over a week, not since he’d gone back. But then, she told herself, he’d said he’d be out in the middle of the sticks with no internet access.
And she wasn’t his wife. He had no need to be contacting her at all. She was his adopter, nothing more.
The news came on. The main report was from the Middle East. “Three soldiers have been killed…”
A huge lump blocked her throat. Tears sprang into her eyes. She struggled up and hobbled to the door, not bothering with the crutches. She needed to know one way or the other and perhaps Mrs. Bowen would tell her. She had just reached the door when the bell rang. She tugged it open and her stomach plummeted and twisted.
Mrs. Bowen stood there. “Jude, dear, Bev’s parents were visited by the MOD. My daughter just rang me and I thought…”
“Noooo…” Everything faded as Jude feared the worst and she fell into the darkness.
12
Jude opened her eyes. She was lying on the sofa. “How did?” she began.
Mrs. Bowen smiled at her. “You passed out on the doorstep. We moved you in here.”
“We?” Jude struggled to sit up.
“Now you lie down again,” came the unmistakable voice of her American GP. “How you doing, Jude?”
“Fine,” she said. She sat up anyway.
Jackson Parker set a mug of tea on the table beside her. “I’ll be the judge of that.” He sat beside her and took her wrist. “Drink that tea. It’s hot, sweet, and good for shock.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was giving Linea a lift home. She’s my new receptionist. She saw you fall and I stopped to help.”
“Linea? Bev’s wife?”
Mrs. Bowen laughed. “Bev isn’t married, dear. Linea is his sister-in-law.”
“Oh.” Jude closed her eyes. Why hadn’t she thought of that?
Her eyes sprang open. “You said the MOD called. Is…is he…” She broke off, unable to say the word and make her fear reality.
“He was badly injured. They’re treating him out there and will fly him home as soon as they can.”
Jude’s hand flew to her mouth. Her whole body went cold, clammy and shook.
“Not going to pass out on me again, are ya?” Dr. Parker asked. His fingers closed on her wrist again.
“No…” Tears burned her eyes and she could no longer pretend to deny her feelings for Bev. They ran deep through her and her heart broke afresh. “Is he badly hurt?”
“It’s not good,” Mrs. Bowen said, also crying. “I’m going to Birmingham as soon as I can pack. He’ll be flown to the military hospital there.”
Dr. Parker stood. “OK, I’m off. Let me know how things go and if you need me again, shout.”
“I’ll see you out,” Mrs. Bowen said.
“I’ll see myself out. You ladies take care.”
Jude sipped her tea as he headed out. God…please she whispered, having no idea what to say or how to voice it. Guide the medics, the pilots that bring him home. Heal him. Don’t let him die, not with things unresolved between us…She broke off, not wanting him to die at all, but not wanting to ask too much.
“Gran?” came a voice from the hallway.
“Come in,” Jude called. She glanced at the door as the blonde woman from the previous week came in. “Hi.”
Linea nodded. “Hi, are you all right?”
Jude nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Gran, Aunt Tasha just rang. Bev’s flight is due to leave at four. He’ll be in Birmingham sometime overnight. Mum says we can stay with them. She’ll make up the beds.” Linea turned to Jude. “You’re more than welcome to come. Bev thinks the world of you and he’ll want to see you.”
Jude’s heart leapt. “But won’t it be family only?”
Mrs. Bowen echoed the sentiment. “Bev thinks of you as family. I was going to suggest you came. Linea beat me to it.”
“OK,” Jude managed. “Thank you.”
“If we leave at eight,” Mrs. Bowen said, “we’ll be in Birmingham by lunch.”
Linea nodded. “I’ll let Mum and Aunt Tasha know, although they’ll probably have left by now.” She plopped down on the sofa beside Jude. “You know, Bev did nothing but talk about you the day before he went back.”
“I’d offered to go to the repatriation with him, but he didn’t want me there.”
“He didn’t want anyone there. He’s typical army. Thou shalt not cry, you know? He likes to pretend he’s this big, strong bloke who isn’t fazed by anything.”
“Only he isn’t. I know that.”
“Thing is, in front of his men and the rest of the camp, he has to be this fearless leader who is the bedrock of his unit and there to support them.”
“I thought he just didn’t want to be seen with me.” Jude wrung her hands. Maybe she’d been wrong about that as well.
“Oh, no. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Linea touched her hands. “I’d turned up to tell Gran about my new job and seeing him was a bonus. But he insisted he had a date and couldn’t stay. He almost ran over to your place.”
Jude’s heart sank. “But I wasn’t there.”
“He was devastated. Not even I could cheer him up. But don’t blame yourself for not being there. Stuff happens and we misread things and…”
Jude looked at her. “I thought you and he were married…”
Linea laughed. “Me and Droopy-drawers? No way. Aside from the fact he’s my brother-in-law,” she held up her left hand, “I think my husband would object somewhat. No, Bev is besotted with you, and looking at you, I think it goes both ways, right?”
Jude nodded. “Yeah. That’s why I went away. I wanted to give him space if he was with you.”
“But now you know he isn’t, we can be friends. So, let me help you pack and then we’ll go over to Gran’s. I don’t think you should be alone tonight.”
~*~
Bev existed in a sea of pain. He was running towards Jude, arms outstretched, trying to catch her to propose, but she was getting further and further away. Then he was trying to get to the truck with Jude in his arms. He could hear the gunfire around him. Bullets hit his back, went through his armor and into the woman in his arms.
People fell and died around him. He was flying. Blue sky and bright sunshine filled his vision. “Nooooooo….”
“Colonel. Col. King, can you hear me? Bev, open your eyes for me.”
Bev fought to do what the voice commanded. He was a soldier and had to obey orders. “Jude?”
“It’s all right, Colonel. We’re almost back in England. It won’t be long now.”
Bev fought whatever was holding him down. “I need to see Jude. Have to tell her sorry. Have to marry…”
“Colonel, if you can’t keep still I’ll have to sedate you again.”
“Have to find Jude…” He broke off in a groan as pain ripped through him. “Please…find her…”
“I will, but you have to lie still.”
Bev closed his eyes. A phrase ran though his head, about his enemies gloating over him in death. Was he dying? Was he dead? No, if he were dead he’d be in heaven, he knew that, and heaven didn’t hurt. What about the others? Did they die? Was he the only one left?
The next time he opened his eyes, he was in a room surrounded by equipment. Machines beeped. Wires seemed to tra
il from every part of his body. And he hurt. He groaned.
A blonde woman in green scrubs with a clipboard smiled at him. “Afternoon, Colonel. How are you feeling?”
Bev moved the mask over his face. “Jude…” he managed.
“She’s on her way,” the nurse said. “As are the rest of your family. Do you need something for the pain?”
He nodded. He wasn’t sure which hurt more. His back or his stomach. But he could feel his legs and arms and hoped…prayed that was a good sign. The darkness descended again and he let it take him. Perhaps she’d be here next time he woke.
~*~
When Jude and Mrs. Bowen arrived at the hospital, a waiting, worried-looking couple welcomed them both with a hug.
Mrs. Bowen turned. “Jude, this is Henry and Tasha, Bev’s parents.”
Jude balanced on one crutch. “I’m Jude Travis—”
Bev’s mother hugged her. “You’re Bev’s girlfriend. He’s told us so much about you in his letters and when we saw him last week he showed us your picture. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Taken aback at the word girlfriend, Jude hugged her back.
Bev’s father hugged her next. “Thank you for coming. He’s been asking for you constantly.”
“Really?” she managed. “I…”
He turned to the nurse. “This is Jude.”
The nurse smiled. “I thought it was. There was a photo of her in his uniform pocket. It’s with his things beside the bed. Do you want to come in? He isn’t awake, but just hearing your voice will mean a lot.”
“OK.” Jude followed the nurse into the room. Bev lay there covered with bandages, tubes and wires seemingly coming from every other part of him. She swallowed hard. “What happened to him?”
“He was shot several times,” the nurse replied.
“Jude…” Bev groaned.
Jude made her way over to the bed. She sat and grabbed his hand. “I’m here, Bev.”
“Jude, I’m sorry,” he called. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Why won’t you answer me?”
“I’m here,” she repeated. Tears filled her eyes. “And I’m so, so sorry. I love you. Don’t you leave me. I need you.”
Bev’s eyes flickered and opened. “Jude?”
“Yes, I’m here.” She kissed his fingers. “You scared me.”
“I scared myself. I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m here now, Bev, and I’m sorry for being an idiot.”
“Don’t leave me…” His voice faded as his eyes closed.
“I won’t. Sleep now. I’ll be here.”
~*~
Over the next two days, Bev seemed to be making a little progress, which was an answer to prayer. Jude headed back up to the ward after another lunch in the hospital canteen. She had texted her parents to let them know where she was. Dad said the renovations were done and they were just finishing the decorating now.
The nurse smiled. “He’s awake and longing to see you all.”
Henry King looked at her. “You should go in first, Jude.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll go last.” She lowered herself onto one of the seats in the hall and closed her eyes as the others took turns to go in and see Bev. Her stomach had turned into a bundle of nerves, but she really had no idea why.
Mrs. Bowen came out. “Henry, you and Tasha take me for a coffee. Leave the two young people alone for a while.”
Jude watched them leave, then looked through the glass window. She wanted to see him, but at the same time was afraid to.
Bev lay on the bed, his gaze firmly on her. He raised a hand and waved. She waved back. He rolled his eyes and beckoned to her.
Jude stood and balanced on the crutches, swinging herself in.
“Why didn’t you come when Gran left?”
“Scared. I messed up, remember. Got things wrong and…”
He grabbed her hand, tugging her to sit beside him. Then he put his fingers on her lips. “It doesn’t matter. Linea explained. Kinda funny if you think about it.”
“So why does she call you Droopy-drawers, or don’t I want to know?”
He grinned. “You’ll have to ask her, but it could be why my brother’s nickname for me is Chav.”
Jude snorted. “Maybe I should buy you some braces, mister.”
He curled his hand around her face, trapping her hair between his fingers. He gently pulled her towards him and kissed her slowly.
She closed her eyes, letting the soft touches grow in intensity until every part of her ran with fire.
Bev pulled back. “I love you. I wanted to tell you before I left, but you weren’t there.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Shush…then I thought I’d never be able to tell you, because as those bullets hit me, I thought I was dead. But you’re here and I’m here and God’s given me…us, a second chance.” He reached beneath his pillow and pulled out a small red box. “I have something for you.”
Jude’s heart pounded. “Bev?”
“Open it.”
Jude’s fingers didn’t want to work and it took several attempts to open the tiny, red velvet box. Inside glittered the most gorgeous ring she had ever seen. Gold forget-me-nots entwined around the front half of the band. She put a hand over her mouth. “Bev, it’s beautiful.”
“I ought to be on one knee, but I don’t think I’m up to that yet. But I don’t want to wait any longer.” He pulled the ring from the box and slid it onto her left hand. “Jude, will you marry me?”
“It’s a perfect fit,” she whispered.
“Just like you and me.” He looked at her.
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she whispered, throwing her arms around him and kissing him.
He returned the kiss with so much passion it sent his heart racing enough to set the alarms off.
By the time four nurses rushed into the room, Jude was sat on the chair looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but her firm grip on Bev and the huge grin on her face probably gave the game away. But she didn’t care. And she knew Bev didn’t either.
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