“Shhh. I’m fine. I got a little carried away is all. There will be time for that.” She grabbed one hand and turned toward the door. “Right now I want to go see our baby, T.J. I want to watch as you touch her.”
He brought his forehead to meet hers and nodded. “Okay. We’ll do that.”
With the assistance of the nurses, another chair was brought into the nursery, and T.J. was properly gloved and gowned. Shannon leaned into his side as he placed his hand through the plastic seam and gave Courtney a tickle to her cheek. The baby’s complexion was a deep pink, but getting lighter almost before their eyes.
“Tomorrow I think maybe you can feed her,” the head nurse said from the other side of the warming unit.
“Really?”
“Well, she needs your early milk as soon as you feel up to it. I’ll help you pump a little so you’ll be ready tomorrow.”
“Oh, and I’d love a shower.”
“Not for a couple of days. The doctor. has to inspect your incision tomorrow. Maybe day after. But I’ll bring you some things to freshen up.” She turned, and after giving T.J. a look that told him she didn’t trust him to behave, left the room.
“I’m not letting that woman touch you. If there’s going to be any washing up, I’m doing the washing.”
Courtney was fussing, trying to push the mask off her face with flailing fingers and arms. T.J gave her his little finger and she grabbed it.
“Yeah. You’re gonna play softball. You’ll be a pitcher with that grip.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
‡
T.J. HAD A hard time sleeping. The nurses made up a bed next to Shannon, and he’d fallen asleep off and on after watching her doze off, their fingers weaving together like they’d been doing it for fifty years. He’d tried several times to pull back his arm, which had fallen asleep from the elbow down, but each time, Shannon grabbed onto him harder, and he was unable to extricate himself without waking her. It made him smile and count his blessings.
Earlier, before he’d finished his private visit with Courtney, a young neonatal intern joined him. The young man patted him on the shoulder and took a careful look at the baby. He listened to chest sounds and nodded, raising his eyebrows.
“You’ve got a very strong little girl there.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Good thing she was so large. Hardly seems like she was, what, two weeks early?”
“Doc had told us just two days ago she could be born at any time. I’m guessing she figured she was ready.”
“Under the circumstances, I’d say we got lucky.” He repositioned his stethoscope around his neck. “I’m inclined to remove her mask and see how she does. Wanna do it?”
“You sure?”
“No, but I don’t hear anything that disturbs me. I think she can breathe on her own.”
“She’s been fighting that thing ever since I got here tonight.”
“Well, let’s give it a go and see how she does.”
Though T.J. had stitched salty combat vets up, the idea of pulling tape off little Courtney’s fine light brown hair, ears and cheeks left him squeamish. “I think I’ll let you do it, if you don’t mind.”
With the breathing mask removed, the baby eased into a deep sleep with regular up and down chest rhythms. He watched her for nearly a half hour, and then went in search of Shannon. There was a new crew at the nurses’ station, so he informed them he was joining Shannon.
“We’re gonna let her sleep tonight. She can have the baby tomorrow,” he was told.
A young pretty volunteer brought him a set of turquoise scrubs to use as pajamas, blushing as she presented them. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he never wore any, and thanked her with a wink.
Shannon was finishing up a sponge bath.
“You’re gonna love this. Courtney is breathing on her own.”
“You’re kidding? That’s awesome!”
“We just took the mask off, and the doc says she’s breathing completely without difficulty. They’ve still got her monitors on and will check throughout the night, but that’s a great sign, honey. Really remarkable, Shannon. I’m so proud of you both.” He watched Shannon towel herself off.
“I can’t wait to get a real shower,” she said.
T.J. leaned over and kissed her. “And I can’t wait to get you in the shower too.”
He washed up in the private bath, but by the time he climbed into the hospital bed, Shannon was fast asleep. He extended her arm to his chest and held it there with both of his. Filtered light sliced into the room from the hallway. Outside, the sky was beginning to turn deep blue, and he willed himself to sleep. But as the early morning hours turned into real morning, the new sunlight was hard to sleep through.
He thought about the conversation with Travis Banks. He wondered what kind of man could do a job like that, and then figured it was some kind of calling, like the calling he had to become a SEAL. Not many people understood his motivation to jump in harm’s way and not get any active recognition for it. The pay wasn’t that hot, the life insurance was adequate, but then if that occurred, he’d not be around to enjoy it. It was a good way, though, to secure his family’s future. Frankie’s policy was going to pay down the mortgage on the house so they didn’t have to pay PMI, and the rest would be saved. Courtney’s education would be paid for, thanks to Uncle Sam. Shannon would get a new air conditioner for the back bedroom.
Voices in the hallway woke him several times. Each time, it got harder and harder to fall back asleep, so finally he got up, dressed and hung out at the nurses’ station for some free coffee. He was informed the local donut shop would be making the rounds in an hour, mostly for the staff, but they told him a lot of the dads really enjoyed that service.
He was the only dad, of the several newly admitted couples, to spend the night, and he found that to be curious. How things had changed in his life. He wouldn’t have thought he could enjoy sitting quietly by, watching Shannon or the baby sleep. It had all been about doing midnight HALO jumps, or training missions in the glaciers of Alaska.
T.J. decided to call Travis Banks.
“Maybe you can help me with some decisions, Mr. Banks.”
“I thought you’d call back, son.”
“No promises, yet. But I’d like for you to fill in the details, if you could. I don’t know a thing about my dad.” After he said it, he wondered if this was a good idea, but his curiosity was getting the better of him.
“I can’t tell you anything without his permission. So much easier, son, if you’d just come out here, then ol’ Bobbie Ray could decide for hisself what he wants to tell you.”
“So his name is Bobbie Ray.” Maybe it would be easier for Travis, but T.J. could see it would be more difficult for him.
“Yes, son. Bobbie Ray Stokes. He said he named you Bobbie Ray Junior, if you want to know.”
“I could have gone a long time without knowing that.” He felt the familiar lurch in his stomach from fear, followed by slight nausea.
“I understand.” Travis’ deep vocal tones ended on an even deeper, darker downturn.
“Is my mother alive?”
“I think that’s what he wants to talk to you about. I think he wants to tell you where you can find her, if you’re willing.”
“I’m not sure I am.”
“Well, it’s your decision, of course. We’re just here to help out.”
“You enjoy your job?”
“Job? Oh, I see what you mean. No, son, this is not a paid position. I’m a volunteer. I have a little church about forty miles away. We do a lot of prison outreach. I’m only here three afternoons a week. The rest of my time, I’m tending to my other flock on the outside.”
T.J. was pained with guilt he’d been so crusty to this man, who was obviously just trying to do something nice for the prison population. Guys like this were rare. He was glad that someone on the outside cared for these men, even if he couldn’t go there himself.
“I
’m sorry I got a little rough with you, Mr. Banks.”
“You can call me Travis, and apology accepted. We all do the best we can do. You thought I was someone trying to insert hisself into your life without an invitation. A lot of people don’t come ‘round when a family member is in prison, and many don’t have family to talk to. So we try to give them just a little lifeline. But they gotta do all the heavy lifting themselves. We’re here to support that.”
“I’ll bet you’ve seen some drama.”
“Oh, yes, I could tell you some stories. I work with many of the sick or hospice patients. They often want to clean up their lives as they prepare for their final destination. When you’re livin’ here, heaven looks like a lot better place.”
“I can imagine.”
“They might have messed up this life, but they can have a clean fresh new one, and that’s what we focus on. Goin’ home to rest.”
T.J. couldn’t speak, frozen by the man’s story.
“Mr. Talbot, I can tell you this, your daddy has confessed his sins, of which he has many. I’m not goin’ to lie to you. But give the man a chance to make his peace with you. He’s told me it’s the biggest regret of his life, and it has something to do with why he’s here. That’s all I’m going to say about that.”
T.J. considered his choices. He was inclined to set up a visit, but mostly because he knew it would please Shannon. Wasn’t going to be like welcoming dear old dad into his family circle. Courtney and Shannon would probably never know him. So what would it hurt? His dad would never live to meet anyone he cared about. So he reconsidered his decision, and found himself promising he’d work on it.
“And son, I’d hurry about that, if I were you. Hate to see you come all the way out here and not be able to talk to your dad. The sooner you can get here the better, if you want to connect at all.”
He thought about Kyle’s comments. “This is just the hand you’ve been dealt. Not like you had any say in the matter.” It was true, he was blaming his father for the abusive foster families he’d been so unfortunate to be placed with. He wanted to think his father would have chosen another trajectory for his son, but it wasn’t within his power to do so. He’d have to be okay with that for now.
HIS PLANE TOUCHED down at Nashville International Airport two days later. He’d made sure Courtney was going to be completely healthy before he bought the tickets and called Banks, who agreed to pick him up at the airport and get him right over to the medical facility. The subliminal message was as clear as the orders barked at him from the instructors at BUD/S. His dad didn’t have long to live.
Banks was younger than he’d imagined and much larger. He towered over T.J. by a good four inches and had a handshake that could crack walnuts. The African-American gentleman wore a black suit and quickly retrieved T.J.’s luggage from the carousel, then insisted he carry the bag to the car.
T.J. was concerned people would think Mr. Banks was in his employ, but it seemed to matter little to Banks, whose steady gait was damned hard to keep up with. He drove a dark-colored Chevy sedan that was old, but very well cared for.
“I’m afraid the air doesn’t work too good. The heater does, not that we need that today.”
T.J. was sweating before they hit the first right turn. “I left a reservation at the Rinwood Suites, and it’s kind of on the way, I think. Mind if I check in?”
“Well sir, I’d be rude, wouldn’t I, if I asked you to cancel your reservation? But I was planning on you staying with me at the parsonage so as not to be a financial hardship.”
T.J. had to smile. Banks was a wily country preacher all right. He’d be a captive audience over dinner and breakfast, and that would give the minister two chances to save his soul. Well, that was okay. The man did save him some money on a rental car. The least he could do was listen to a couple of sermons. And who knew? Maybe some of it would take. Not like T.J. had much of a spiritual life.
“So you’re a Navy guy, then. That right, Mr. Talbot?”
“Travis, if I’m not allowed to call you Mr. Banks, you sure as hell—sorry, you sure as heck can’t call me Mr. Talbot. Can we get that straight, please?”
“Yessir, I get you plain. How long you been in the Navy?”
“Ten years.”
“So you’re gonna make a career out of it, then?”
“I haven’t thought about that much. Playing it day by day. Had a rough tour last time over.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“Wasn’t your fault. Mine neither. War is messy.”
“That it is, son.”
“Travis, how old are you?”
“I’m almost thirty-six.”
“So why you call me son? We’re practically brothers as far as age. Not like I could be your son.”
Banks was overcome by a deep belly laugh, letting go his straight demeanor and dropping his guard a bit. T.J. guessed he had some wild days behind him.
“Yeah, but we look alike. Gotta admit that.”
They both laughed. T.J. liked Banks more and more as they drove to the outskirts of Nashville.
“How’d my dad find out about me?”
“I have no idea. He doesn’t have access to anything on the internet, but he gets calls. Not many, but a few.”
“My mother one of those calls?”
“Can’t say, T.J. I really couldn’t say. Remember, I’m only there three days a week.” Banks hesitated and then he sighed. “I can tell you he only found out about where you lived recently, so I’m guessing it was a visitor or a phone call.”
“So, who visits him?”
“Never seen a one. Not one.”
“What’s killing him, if I can ask that?”
“I don’t suppose it would violate anything. Kidney failure. He’s gone about as far as he can go. He’s not a candidate for a transplant, unless you wanted to give him one of yours.”
“You’re not serious?”
“You mean would I expect you’d give your dad a kidney so he could die in a jail cell? No sir, I wouldn’t bet on that one. Besides, he’s way too sick now. If he knew about anyone he was a blood relative to, he’d have told the doctors at the hospital before now. But we hardly ever get those approved, even when we find a donor match.”
“You’re not considering one thing, though.”
“What’s that?” Banks had turned off the highway and was idling down a two-lane country road. The large prison facility was hard to miss, looking like a college campus.
“What if he wanted to die?”
“Well, I’ll let you ask him yourself.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‡
BANKS SHOWED HIS prison ID at the external guard station. The heavy chain-link fence rolled shut behind them, temporarily sealing them in so the credentials could be verified before the second gate opened. After that, there was another perimeter fence around the prison hospital, this time with a guard shack, again denying them entry until their verification was run up the flagpole.
Travis parked in the staff parking lot, as opposed to the completely vacant visitor lot much closer to the front entrance.
“They’re gonna check your person, so if you have anything you normally carry that could be construed to be as a weapon, you’d best leave it in my trunk.”
T.J. removed his SigSauer and placed it in his canvas duffel before Banks slammed the lid closed.
“You got your wallet, right?”
T.J. nodded.
“They’ll keep that with your I.D. until you turn in your visitor badge. Never leave any money in it, I always recommend.
“I got credit cards mainly. A few bucks.”
“I think you’re good. Staff here is all paid, no honor farm workers, so I think you’re safe, but I don’t mind opening the trunk if you feel uncomfortable.”
“I wasn’t until you started talking about all this.”
“Fair enough. Forewarned is forearmed.” Banks flashed him a bright white smile, and T.J. noticed for the f
irst time he had one gold tooth in the front, one of his canines.
“That’s an impressive crown you got there.”
“Well, there’s a story behind that, too. Stories. Everywhere we got stories, all kinda stories here.” Banks waved his hands through the air like he was arranging a large flower display.
The two men mounted the four shallow concrete steps, and then T.J. remembered he needed to check in with his LPO. Most of the Team was in Las Vegas for Fredo and Mia’s wedding.
“You get there okay? You okay?” Kyle asked.
“I’m fine. I’m at the hospital now. Looks like I’ll be able to see him in a few. Give my best to Fredo and Mia.”
“Will do. How’re the little one and Shannon doing?”
“About as good as can be expected. I mean Shannon’s doing great. Courtney is going in the right direction, they say. Shannon’s mom and dad came down to be with her.”
“Awesome. So I gotta tell you they posted a picture of Magnus on the local television station. Haven’t seen it on the national stations, thank God. But it was that picture of the two of you at the Warrior’s run, remember?”
“They posted my picture on TV?” T.J. felt powerless being so far away from Shannon and the baby. The thought that his face might bring them danger scared him.
“Yes, I’m afraid they did. I think it’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes you, or uses that recognition software and they dig out your name. I need you to keep a low profile and be properly warned. Hoping these are a couple of nuts working on their own, but if not, you keep your eyes peeled for any signs someone recognizes you who shouldn’t, okay?”
“Will do.”
“Okay, be careful, and thanks for checking in.”
“No problem. I’m going to stay over at this reverend’s house. He works with the inmates.” T.J. looked over at Travis, who tilted his head to him in acknowledgement. “I’ll be coming back tomorrow. You staying over in Vegas after the wedding?”
“No. This isn’t a good time for a couple of days R&R for me.”
“Gotcha. Well, again, give my best—”
“T.J. you sound real good. Glad you’re doing this. But don’t linger there, okay?”
SEAL's Promise - Bad Boys of SEAL Team 3, Book 01 Page 16