by Carrie Daws
David and Melody grabbed jackets and joined Ryan, walking down the stairs and toward the sidewalk. “Why did you let her talk to you like that?”
Ryan thumbed back at the house. “That? That was nothing.”
“Nothing?” said Melody. “She was downright rude!”
David hung quietly behind, letting the two of them walk side-by-side.
“Nah. Different people show love different ways. Even God romances His people differently. Think about the stories of God calling Abraham and Moses. In one instance He shows up in person and allows Abraham to feed Him. In the other, He presents to Moses in a burning bush and demands that Moses remove His shoes.”
Melody shook her head. “What does that have to do with Aunt Patty?”
“It’s all about relationship, Mel. Patricia likes to be in charge, and she knows I’ll let her have it without giving up any control myself.” Ryan shrugged. “I don’t see it as rude because I know her heart.”
“I suppose you’re implying that I don’t,” said Melody, bristling.
“No,” said Ryan. “I’m just saying that what you saw is our relationship. On the outside, she’s gruff and controlling. On the inside, she loves very deeply. I won her over the first time I let her help me make a decision on a part for the Mustang. She may not sound like it, but she’d fight for me like I was her own if I needed her to do so.”
“Maybe,” said Melody, unconvinced.
They turned the corner onto Cascade Street. David saw the diner halfway down the block.
Ryan bumped Melody’s arm with his elbow. “It’s good to see you, by the way.”
She looked at him and sighed. “Thanks. I just … I don’t know.”
“It’s okay, Mel. You lost your baby just ten days ago. Give yourself a break.”
They found seats in the diner and took time to decide what to eat. As the waitress walked away, a cute, dark-haired beauty slid into the bench seat beside Ryan.
“Hey, Dr. Ryan!”
“Hey, gorgeous!” He wrapped his arm around the bench behind her. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
“Yeah, but I had to get shots.” She raised her right sleeve to show her bandage. “Daddy let me come back here for lunch.”
“Ah. Did Mrs. Brittany remember to give you candy when she was all done?”
“Yeah. But she didn’t give me two like you always do.”
Ryan chuckled. “Perhaps she needs more training in the fine art of shot giving.”
“I think she’s just thinking like a momma.”
Ryan chuckled. “Maybe so.”
“Are these your friends?”
“Yes. Eleni, I would like you to meet Mr. David and Mrs. Melody. Eleni’s father is the cook here.”
“How old are you?” said David.
“Six. But I’ve known Ryan since I was four. He fixed my elbow.”
Ryan looked at David. “She’d fallen on some ice and dislocated it.”
David smiled. “I’m glad he was here to help you.”
Eleni focused on Melody. “You look sad.”
David felt Melody stiffen beside him. He spoke before she had a chance. “It’s been a tough few weeks for us.”
“You should stick around here, then. Matthew tends to show up when people is hurting.” She looked over David’s shoulder. “My dad wants me. Have a good lunch!”
David watched her skip away before turning back to Ryan. “Matthew?”
“He’s an angel.”
“Angel?” said David. “Like a good person, or like heavenly host, wings, and halos?”
“Well, no one’s seen any wings or signs of a halo, but he’s shown himself a few times and mysteriously disappeared.”
“You really believe the stories?” David smiled slightly with raised eyebrows.
“I’d probably be skeptical too.” Ryan reached for his buzzing cell phone and looked at the caller display. “But one of the people he appeared to was me.”
Ryan flipped open the phone. “Hey, Britt!”
David sat, not sure what to think about what Ryan had just shared. He looked at Melody, and she seemed to share his disbelief.
“Have you called Pete? We’re on the way!” He slammed the phone shut and stood. “Sorry to interrupt lunch, but I’ve got to get to the clinic. Something’s wrong with my sister.”
Chapter 16
MELODY KEPT UP WITH RYAN and David’s rushed steps on the two-block walk to the clinic. Ryan burst through the door, and the receptionist immediately called out, “Exam Room 2.”
Ryan led the way down a short hall. Crossing to the bedside near Brittany, he said, “What’s going on?”
“I’m feeling fine now,” said Amber. Her dark hair spilled across a folded blanket, and her short frame almost fit on the exam table without her bending her knees.
Brittany checked her watch. “We’ll see what your blood pressure looks like in seven more minutes.”
“It spiked?” said Ryan.
“It was 156 over 92 when Mom brought her in,” said Brittney.
“I just felt a headache coming on,” said Amber.
“Dear, you were pale as winter and having trouble standing,” said an older, blond-haired woman on the opposite side of the bed from Ryan. Faye’s presence gave Ryan some comfort, as he knew Amber loved and honored her mother-in-law as much as she did their own mom.
“Where’s Dr. Williams?” said Ryan.
“He’s with another patient,” said Brittany. “He said to get her resting on her left side and check it again in twenty minutes.”
Ryan looked at Melody. “Everyone, you remember David and Melody.”
“Oh, Melody,” said Faye, coming over to hug her. “It’s good to see you again.”
Melody felt the hug all the way to her core. This woman was physically about as different from her mom as she could be, standing equal to Melody in height but doubling her in weight.
Faye pulled back and looked into Melody’s eyes. “I was so sorry to hear about your baby.”
Melody’s voice caught in her throat. “Thank you.”
Faye looked toward David. “How long do you get to stay?”
“For a while,” said David. “I took some leave in combination with what the commander gave me, so I don’t have to report back to Bragg until November 21st.”
“Good,” said Faye. “That’s a nice break that I’m sure you both need right now. Are you going to spend all that time here?”
Melody couldn’t help but watch Amber lying obediently still on her left side as David and Faye talked.
“We don’t have any definite plans, but at some point we’ll need to get Melody’s mom’s car back to her.”
Brittany was taking Amber’s blood pressure again. Ryan looked at the reading. “Where’s Peter?”
“I’m here.” He pushed through David and Melody, excusing himself, then apparently recognized who they were. “Oh, hey! Good to see you.” His focus was immediately back on his wife lying on the barely propped up exam table.
“Her blood pressure has gone up,” said Ryan.
“Okay,” said Peter. “What’s that mean?”
“It means we’re concerned about pregnancy-induced hypertension that could lead to preeclampsia,” said Ryan. “Neither is good for the baby, and both would force us to deliver early.”
“So what do we do?” said Peter.
“Let’s see . . .” Ryan referred back to the notes Brittany had been making on the chart. “You’re thirty-three weeks, four days. Pete, get her home and in bed. Amber, you can get out of that bed to go to the bathroom, but that’s it. Nothing else. And lie on your left side as much as possible. Got it?”
“But . . .” said Amber.
“No,” said Ryan, putting up a hand. “I may be your baby brother, but I will absolutely pull doctor rank on you. Whatever else is going on in that brain of yours needs to stop. Your job is to be a mother to that baby, and right now, he needs to you lie in bed. Period.”
Brittany touched her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll all step in and do whatever needs done. Pops can finish getting the furniture set up, Mom and I can take turns helping around the house. You know Heather will come down and help.”
Melody watched Amber smile and lie her head back. The family was circling the wagons like she’d seen them do before. The grandfather, even the brother and sister-in-law who lived in Portland would do whatever was necessary to be available once the need was made known. Why couldn’t I have that? Why do I have to be separated from everyone, living by myself on the other side of the country?
“This doesn’t sound like it’s for a few days,” said Amber.
“We’ll see,” said Ryan. “I’ll stop by tonight and check on you. If you’re pressure is still elevated and you’re still having the headache or other symptoms, then you’re probably going to be in bed for the duration.”
“What’s the critical point?” said Peter. “I know thirty-three weeks is too early. Is thirty-eight weeks where we need to be?”
“Chances improve exponentially with each week. The next few weeks are critical for his brain, gut, and lungs. Another week and a half would make a huge difference. Every day we can make it past thirty-four weeks will only increase his chances.”
“And when she goes into labor?” said Peter.
“Straight to Portland. Baby boy will need more support than we can give him here. We can always call Chief Donovan at the Gilbert Fire Station in Portland if we need ambulance support. He could meet us on 26, part-way into town.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Peter. He turned and leaned close to his wife’s face. “How are you feeling now?”
“I feel fine. Really. My head’s just aching a little.”
“No chances, my Ray.”
Melody wondered at the endearment. She’d heard it before when she came down for Ryan and Brittany’s wedding and had learned then that it had something to do with Amber being Peter’s ray of sunshine. Does David have something he calls me? Normally he just calls me Mel. That doesn’t count.
“David,” said Ryan, “outside that door, to your left and down a bit, there should be a wheelchair.”
“Ryan,” protested Amber, “I can walk to the car.”
Ryan pointed at Peter. “No chances, remember?”
David rolled it in, and Peter helped Amber into it.
“I’ll bring dinner over tonight along with what we purchased today in town, dear,” said Faye.
“Sounds good, Mom,” said Peter.
“And everyone else can come for dinner at our house,” said Faye. “You too.” Faye grabbed Melody’s hand and looked deeply into her eyes. “I’d love it if you would come as well.”
“Thank you,” said Melody. “That’s very nice.”
Melody walked behind the crowd as Peter rolled Amber out and placed her in his Jeep. She wasn’t sure her family would show the open concern for someone like she saw here. But Mom and Aunt Patricia did fly out when Cole was transferred to Duke. Would I care that much over something in Aunt Patricia’s life?
Ryan held the door open as Brittany rolled the wheelchair back into the clinic. They stopped near her and David.
“Sorry about lunch,” said Ryan.
“That’s okay,” said David. “Maybe next time, we’ll actually get to eat.”
Ryan looked at Melody for a moment. “Do you really want to come out to Frank and Faye’s tonight for dinner?”
“Yeah,” said Melody. “I think I do.”
Brittany put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s good to see you again. Even if I hate the reason for the trip, I’m thankful you’re here.”
Melody looked back at her, her eyes filling with tears for the first time in almost a week. “Thanks.”
Chapter 17
DAVID REACHED OUT AND GRABBED Melody’s hand as they walked back to her aunt’s house. “What are you thinking?”
“Hmmm? Oh,” she shrugged. “I don’t know that I can put it into words. My mind’s a jumble right now.”
“I was worried that maybe watching everything going on with Amber might be too much.”
“It’s definitely touching on some raw nerves. I keep wondering what will happen if she does go into labor. It’s not like they’re close to a hospital here. It’s got to be like an hour drive to Portland.”
“Probably.”
“What if the baby is born too soon? Or they release it from the NICU and something happens later?”
“Like what happened with Cole.”
Melody just nodded her head and took a deep breath. They walked for a short while in silence before she said, “I feel different here.”
“Different how?”
“They all care about each other so much. But they don’t make me feel like an outsider, either.”
“I know what you mean. It’s like they pull you in, but you don’t realize it.”
“I wish we had that.”
David sighed. Letting go of her hand, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Should I get out of the Army and move us back here?”
Melody paused for a moment. “And what will you do in Crossing?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged.
They walked up the driveway, and David saw Patricia sitting on the porch.
“Enjoy your lunch?” she called out.
“We never got to eat,” said David.
“How about I go make us some sandwiches as you explain?” said Melody.
She went inside while David sat in a rocker near Patricia and updated her on Amber’s status.
“So you’re going to eat at Faye’s tonight?” said Patricia.
“That’s the plan,” said David. “Do you mind?”
“Oh, heavens no, child. Go enjoy yourself. I do hope things turn out well for Amber and that baby. Heaven knows the girl’s been through quite a lot.”
Melody came back outside with a tray covered with two sandwiches, a bunch of grapes, and two glasses of water. “What do you mean?”
“How much has Ryan told you about her?” said Patricia.
“When we were in high school,” said David, “I didn’t even know he had a sister who was still alive. He barely talked about the one who died.”
“Yes, well apparently, when that girl died, the family fell apart. Amber finally ran away from home when she was sixteen. Ryan would have been just about twelve at the time.”
“We didn’t meet until he was 16,” said David.
“In her years on the road,” said Patricia, “she survived one pretty decent dog attack and escaped one abusive fellow, both of which put her in the hospital.”
“Amber?” said Melody.
Patricia nodded her head. “And that’s not to mention the variety of places she slept and despicable places she worked in order to earn enough money to eat semi-regularly.”
“I guess I just never thought about it,” said Melody. “I knew Brittany had mentioned Amber had been on her own for awhile, but I just never took the time to think about what that might mean. I guess I just thought she was a lot like me.”
David shook his head. “She’s quite incredible. Looking at her now, I would have never guessed any of that.”
“Most people,” said Patricia, “have a past touched by tragedy of some kind.”
David watched Patricia as her mind seemed to leave the porch and travel back in time. “Sounds like a good story there.”
Patricia refocused on him. “Don’t know about good, but it’s a story. I might even tell it to you one day.”
David finished the last bite of his sandwich while thinking about this interesting woman before him. As far as he knew, she’d never married. Yet she’d carved out a life for herself and remained true to her roots. Or did she? Was Crossing where she and Melody’s mom had grown up? He could recall some family stories, but not any locations.
“Well, you two enjoy the scenery out here,” said Patricia. “I’m going to go put together a meal Peter can store in the freezer
until they need it.”
Patricia went inside, and David looked around at the neatly kept yards and fall flowers in their final colors before the coolness of winter took them. “It really is pretty . . .” He froze, all his senses heightened.
“Yes, it is,” Melody replied.
“Do you see that?”
“What?”
“There,” he pointed across the street, one house down. A man stood watching them. Not really close, yet David felt like he could see him as clearly as if he’d been standing inches away. “Blue jeans, white shirt, blue jean jacket, blond hair, and blue eyes.”
“Blue eyes? Where are you looking? How on earth can you see what color his eyes are?” Melody stood to look, and David quickly stepped to her side.
“Wait.” He looked again but saw no one. “Where did he go?”
Melody raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t see anyone, honey. Are you sure it’s just not everything catching up with you?”
David scanned the street, taking in every bush or tree where the man could have darted. “Maybe.”
The sun was sinking low in the sky as David followed Ryan’s car into Frank and Faye’s driveway.
“Do they all live in log houses?” said Melody, looking at the beautiful two-story home with a three-car garage.
“Wow,” said David. “Maybe I should go into lumberjacking.”
They stepped out and followed Ryan and Brittany inside.
“I’m so glad you all came,” said Faye, taking time to hug each one. “You remember Frank?”
Melody took in Frank’s tan and weathered face that seemed quick to smile.
“Of course,” said David. “It’s good to see you again, sir.”
Frank extended his hand to David for a shake before waving them farther into the room. “Come on in and have a seat.”
Ryan sat on the leather chair closest to the fireplace while Brittany sat on the ottoman in front of him, leaving the couch to David and Melody. Faye sat beside Melody, and Frank sat in the chair opposite them.
“So tell me,” said Faye, “how are you doing?”
“Better, I think,” said Melody.
“Well, I can tell you,” said Faye, “in the beginning, some days are easier than others, and gradually over time, even the bad days aren’t so bad.”
