My eyes light up when I hear this and Stacey rolls her eyes. “Looks like you said the magic words, Ellie.”
Ellie gives me a wink and squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t you mind her, I love hot chocolate too.”
I grin and stick out my tongue at Stacey making her roll her eyes. Since the call with Charlie, this is the happiest feeling I have had but my heart still aches for her. I miss her but I will be strong and know that she will be back very soon in my arms where she belongs.
The amusement park is buzzing and we go on so many of the rides. Ellie goes on more than I thought she would and some of the photos are hilarious. It is just what we needed, we laughed, we screamed, and we had fun. We tried to win a big cuddly toy, but we were all brutal and came away with nothing. It was only a short walk to the ice rink and that’s where Stacey and I found out that Ellie was an excellent skater. She skated rings around us and even threw in a few jumps and hops. She looks so vibrant and her smile was something I had never seen before. It was home to her - being back on the ice. Stacey and I did okay but fell so many times, I know there will be a bruise on my ass.
Stacey and I were the first to go off the ice and order the hot chocolates. We watch Ellie traverse around the rink with ease.
“Did you know she could do that?”
Stacey is wide-eyed. “No, I don’t even know if Charlie knows she has a figure skater for a mom. Look at how graceful she is, no wonder she had a glint in her eye when she suggested here.”
“It’s so good to see her so free, I wonder how good she was. Oh my god, take a video we can show it to Charlie.”
Stacey quickly takes out her phone and starts to record Ellie skating forward and backwards. She even throws in a spin and then comes over skidding to a stop. She smiles brightly and comes off the ice. “Mmm, hot chocolate, just what I need now.”
She sits down, takes a sip of her hot chocolate and luxuriates in the taste of it. We both stare at her until she notices and frowns. “What?”
I look at Stacey, both of us wide-eyed. “Seriously you ask what. Why did you not tell us you could skate like that? How good were or are you?”
She blushes and takes another sip as we patiently wait. She looks at us again and sighs. “Okay, okay, I will tell you. When I was younger I trained every day for 10 years as a figure skater. I won an all-state champion for three years running and I was on the way to becoming an Olympian, but that went out the window when I did severe damage to my knee at the world championships in warm up and that ended my figure skating dream. A couple of years after that, I met Anthony and I was happy with him and I had a new dream. Every so often, I come along here and just skate for a little while and it makes me happy. He used to come with me and watch me skate and he would try to skate but he wasn’t very good at it but he kept trying and that’s what makes it even more special to me.”
Stacey and I are so surprised by the story and very touched by it. “Does Charlie know?”
She blushes again, shakes her head and my mouth drops open. “Why not, she would be so proud. Has she not seen your trophies?”
“No, they are all in a box put away in the attic. She has never seen them, I never told her, come to think of it, I don’t know why. She tried skating for a while and was pretty good but was more interested in martial arts, so that’s the path we took and put her into the classes she wanted.”
“Well this is something we will talk about and we are going home and bringing those trophies down so they can be put in pride of place. I want to see them and if Charlie and I are blessed with kids, it’s something they might be into and will need their Nan to teach him or her the steps. It’s something to be proud of and Charlie will be so surprised with this. It’s something we can talk to her next time she calls home. I can’t wait to see her face, it will be the best call.”
Ellie laughs and is still blushing. “I guess we should tell her and I will bring down the trophies and medals with the photos too.”
Stacey is bouncing on her seat. “This is wicked, my second mom is an amazing figure skater. You should have become a mentor and coach Ellie.”
“I did think about it but it didn’t happen and my life took a new path and I was happy with the way it went. I met the man of my dreams and had a beautiful daughter and look at me now, I have three daughters. I can’t be happier and if the time comes, that there are grandchildren and if they try skating then I will be the proudest Nan to give pointers.”
Stacey drains the rest of her hot chocolate. “Come on, I’m excited to see these trophies and the photos…wait there has to be footage of your competitions, right?”
Ellie’s eyes widen and Stacey claps her hands. “You have footage too, now I know what we are doing after dinner we are watching you skate.”
Ellie looks at me. I simply smile and shrug. “Sounds like a wonderful plan, let’s get home and see what kind of a talented mother we are dealing with.”
Chapter 25
“Paige keep your damn head down. We need to keep moving and find better cover. Back up will be on the way.”
I look around and see our commanding officer. He signs for us to move and he will cover.
“Okay Paige, are you ready?”
She looks at me and nods. “Ready, I got your back and you have mine, right?”
I grin and nod. “Always, now on three, we go.”
“Charlie, Paige, move now.”
With the tone and urgency, we both take off instantly keeping as low as possible. We get to cover and the two of us are out of breath. My heart is pounding in my chest. We were told of what could happen but being this close to the noise of gunshots and seeing the dust rise a few feet from you as you run, kicks you into another gear. We can hear the choppers coming. There is more gunfire and then silence comes. It is eerie, this change.
The chopper lands near to us and we are hustled into it. We are in the air just as quickly. Paige looks at me. “Fuck that was a little hairy.”
I puff out my cheeks. “Yes, it fucking was…Paige, you’re bleeding.”
She frowns at me. “What?”
I move closer and rip her shirt and grin. “Flesh wound, thank fuck for that.”
Paige’s eyes widen. “I got shot?”
She looks at her arm. “Fuck Charlie, I got shot.”
“Move Charlie, let me take a look at that and then when we land you can meet her in the medic tent.”
I move out of the way and let Rowan look at Paige. He pours water over it and cleans it out with the med kit on board.
“You need stitches, but you will be fine. It’s just a scratch. You will be sore for a while and you will need to keep it clean and change the dressing a lot because of the dust and crap here. You both did very well for your first ambush. You need to keep watch and obey all orders given. Going against an order could end up with you being killed and I am not losing any more out here to these sons of bitches. So, listen and listen well.”
“Yes, sir.”
He smiles at Paige. “At ease soldier, we all look out for each other and the two of you were impressive. Not only did you listen, you brought each other to safety, that’s what I look for from my platoon. You both will do just fine out here.”
He moves back and I sit down beside Paige. “From now on, we will be more vigilant, this was too close.”
“Too fucking close, I got shot, Charlie.”
I look at my commanding officer and smirk. He shakes his head and scratches his mouth. I grin and look at Paige. “Yeah, we really need to get that checked out properly. If that gets infected, Jesus Paige, you could lose the arm and if I’m not mistaken, you’re left-handed and Valerie will not be happy with that. How will you help with your kid then?”
Paige’s eyes widen and she swallows hard. “Oh my god, we need to get back to the medic tent soon. I need to look after this now, oh god Charlie, my child and Valerie I couldn’t…there’s no way we would be able to cope with that.”
Rowan starts to laugh and I can’t
hold it in anymore either. Paige looks at me to Rowan and realises I was just joking around. She growls and thumps me in the arm while Rowan's fist bumps me. With the stress of what had happened, we are all glad of the break in tension. I sit back, Paige rests her head on my shoulder and grumbles. “I’m telling Emily how mean you are to me.”
I start laughing again. “Such a tattle tale.”
She smirks, shrugs, and then hisses. “It stings, shut up Charlie, it’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry, I will lay off and don’t worry, we will have you looked after well back at base, we will be landing in a minute.”
“Charlie?”
“Yes, Paige?”
“Will you come with me?”
I move my head and look at her. I see fear and frown making her blush. “I don’t like needles.”
I try to hold in the laugh that is threatening to explode from my chest and she sighs moving away to look out the window. I quickly recover and pull her back. “I’ll go with you, don’t worry and I’m not going to laugh. I just have one question though.”
“What’s that?”
“When you take your kid for shots, what will you do?”
“Ummm…I guess Valerie will be doing that. There is no way I could watch my kid go through that and the pain of it too.”
I stifle the laughter. “I thought you might say that but I have an idea that Valerie is going to make you face your fear and make you go.”
Paige groans. “I hope she loves me enough not to do that to me.”
She starts laughing and sits up straighter. “Thanks, Charlie.”
I shake my head. “No thanks required, it’s what we do right?”
“Right, but you’re still an ass for teasing me.”
“I know but that’s what you love about me.”
The chopper lands, I take Paige to the medic tent and she is well looked after. She was not kidding about having a fear of needles. Paige is tough and would kick your ass in a heartbeat but facing a needle, she is putty. She is given a mild sedative to help her through the injection and stitches. She was practically high coming out of the medic tent. I take her back to our bunks, passing Rowan on the way. He was going to give us an assignment but took one look at Paige and shook his head. “You look after her and tomorrow I will give you another assignment. Tonight, however, I think you will have your hands full. Good luck Charlie, I think you are going to need it.”
Paige tries to give him a hug and he goes wide-eyed before stepping back. “Uh, I’m good in the hug department, will you take her inside before our enemies hear her singing and think we have gone soft.”
He laughs and moves away while Paige starts singing another song. I look up to the sky. “Emily baby, this is one thing you never thought I would be doing on tour but at least we are safe and I’m thinking about you.”
Paige stops singing and looks up at the sky. “You can see Emily…move over let me see, I want to talk to her too.”
I start laughing again and shuffle her into the tent.
“Lay down and I will get you some water.”
I go to pick up the canteen for water and turn around to bring it back to Paige who is now making shapes in the sky with her hand. She jumps up when she sees me. “I’m going to be a mom…I will be the best mom. My kid is going to be loved so much, you know that? He or she will have everything they need and want. I will sing to them and dance with them and you can teach them stuff too…you will be there too right, you will be my baby’s aunt, right?”
I sit on the edge of the bunk. “Here, drink some of this and yes, of course, I will be your kid’s aunt. I will be honoured to.”
She nods her head, then lays back and within seconds is asleep.
“Good god, you are hard work but this was too funny. I can’t wait to tell Valerie about this the next call time we have. It will make her day and you will be mortified.”
I hop onto my bunk, lay back and it’s only when I do, I realise just what could have happened.
“Oh baby, I miss you and I love you and I will do everything I can to come home safely. I love you so much baby girl.”
I close my eyes and start to doze but smile softly when I hear the soft snores coming from Paige. “Today was too close, we need to get back to the ones we love just like we promised and Emily I need to get back to you. You are my heart, my life, and my soul. Goodnight baby girl, I love you.”
Chapter 26
I am sitting on the sofa and watching the news. A sheet of ice runs through my veins when I hear of an ambush that has taken place where Charlie is located. This is not the first time I have seen this on the news and every time my heart stops. I wait to hear if there are deaths and sigh in relief when I don’t hear Charlie’s name be announced. In a split second, I feel guilty because some other family has lost a family member and they are distraught with grief. I don’t realise that tears have started to slide down my cheeks and I offer them to the families that are hurting.
I hear the front door and quickly wipe the tears away before reaching for the remote control to turn over the TV to another channel. Stacey comes barrelling in. “Get the plates Em, dinner is served.”
I go to the kitchen to retrieve plates and a couple of bottles of beer. I set the table and Stacey sits next to me. She pops off the cap on the bottle and takes a drink. She looks at me and I know she is trying to read me but I do my best to deflect.
She sighs, picks up the remote and presses a button that shows the last channel viewed. “Why do you keep doing this to yourself? You know she will call you when she can, I know it’s been a while since you have talked but you are driving yourself crazy watching this every day. Charlie is okay if she wasn’t you would feel it. Emily, you need to stop thinking like this and look forward to the day she comes home. Think about what you are going to do together. She is thinking about you all the time, I have no doubt and she will not want you sitting here like this.”
I sigh knowing that she is right in what she says. “Okay Stace, I will do a lot better from now on. Thanks for dinner, it smells great. What will we do tonight?”
She gives me a look and grins that instantly makes me regret asking the question.
“Oh god, what are you thinking?”
“Get your booty into the shower when you finish and put on some nice clothes, we are going out on the town.”
“Oh Stace, no I don’t want to. I am happy just being here and chilling out, plus it’s a Wednesday night. I have college tomorrow.”
Stacey tuts. “You really think you are going to get away with that with me. You are going to get ready, we are leaving once dinner is finished. We are going out and we will have a good time and if you think I won’t report this bullcrap to Charlie, I will.”
My head snaps up and I pout. “You can’t tell Charlie that, she will worry and be mad at me. Damn Stacey, you don’t play fair, fine I am going to get ready.”
She grins at me and shrugs, taking another drink from her bottle. “I am doing what was asked of me, so just suck it up.”
I stand up, lift my phone from the table and make my way to the bedroom to get ready for a night out on the town with Stacey. I start to undress and am left in my bra and panties. I sit on the edge of the bed and pick up my phone. I open the photos and smile when I see Charlie’s blue eyes sparkling bright and the smile that melts me. I wish she would call, just so that I know she is okay. It’s been five months since I last saw her face and heard her voice. I miss her so much and I just want my fears to be put at ease.
‘Please call soon Charlie, my Charlie.’
I set my phone on the bed and stand up to turn on my cd so that I can listen to it while I’m in the shower. I am just about to press play when my phone sparks to life. It is a Skype call. I pick it up and the lump that forms in my throat is massive. The smile on my face explodes as I see the face of the woman who has been in my dreams every night since she has left. The tears start to fall as I try to say hello.
“Emily, baby
I’ve missed you, are you okay? Are you crying?”
I clear my throat and smile. “Hey baby, I’ve missed you so much. You look so good.”
My hand reaches out to touch the screen and I see her grin as she does the same. My heart skips a beat as it picks up the pace. I see her move closer to the screen and I see the mischievous glint in her eyes. “Baby, are you naked?”
I look down and blush. “I was just about to go into the shower, I’m in my underwear.”
I see her bite her lip and moan. Oh, my God, I can feel myself get damp between my legs.
“I have longer time on this call because it’s been so long. You still have the same phone right, you haven’t changed it?”
I frown. “Yes, it’s still the same one, why babe?”
She grins so big. “I’m alone here now, how would you feel about some company in the shower?”
My nipples harden and my clit pulses at the mere thought. A moan escapes my lips and I slowly nod my head. She smiles at me, I move into the bathroom and set the phone on one of the shelves.
“Can you see me?”
She smiles softly at me. “Yes, I can see you. God, you look so beautiful, baby. Let me see all of you.”
I blush but slowly unclasp my bra and take it off, revealing my breasts. I see her bite her bottom lip and hear a moan from her. She always made me feel like a beautiful princess with the way she looked at me and how she appreciated every inch of me. I keep my eyes locked on Charlie’s as I slide my lace panties down before standing in front of her naked. I turn on the water in the shower and lift the phone. “I’ve wanted you to be in the shower with me since you left. I’ve missed the feel of your body behind me and your warm breath on my neck.”
“I’ve missed you too so much, let me wash you sweetheart but first I want you to be a little dirtier first.”
I smirk as I know what she wants me to do. I move the phone lower and I open myself up as I begin to stroke my clit.
“Oh Emily, baby you look so beautiful and so wet for me already.”
“Only for you baby, mmm, Charlie I’m getting hard already.”
A Chance Encounter Page 18
