When finished, the owner of the diner came out, squatted down by their table, and introduced himself. He thanked them for their service, and told them breakfast was on the house, the least he could do for any man willing to give his life for this great country.
The two soldiers thanked him for his hospitality, stood up and made their way to the door. As they slowly walked from the diner, they could hear people clapping and cheering them on once again. Neither of them said a word, just continued limping to the train station, waiting to board.
Once on the train, the three hour trip to Blackwater seemed never ending. They couldn't sleep, and hardly talked to one another; both in deep thought, thinking about the war, the events of D-Day, the loss of their brothers in arms, and their family and friends waiting for them in Blackwater. Their minds wondered in thought, until the scenery outside of their window began to grow familiar.
They grabbed their bags, scooted themselves to the edge of their seat and got as close to their window as possible. About a mile from the station, Jake and Edwin grabbed their bags, and stood in the center aisle, making their way to the door, and anxiously waiting for it to stop. When the train arrived, the two soldiers limped out as quickly as they could, and began making their way home.
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They decided to take the back roads, walking together for about a mile. They arrived at the perfect time of day; most everyone was busy in their shops, stores or tending to their land. It wasn't that they didn't want to be seen, they just desperately wanted to get home to their wives and families.
At the baseball diamond, they stopped, shook hands, and said their goodbyes as each went their separate way. Edwin continued in the same direction they were traveling, while Jake went through the back of the baseball field, taking the narrow path, which lead straight to the old barn on the Brierly's land.
Edwin was the first to arrive. He limped up the steps to his porch, and knocked softly on his door. He could hear Ashley's voice, letting her guest know she would be right there. She was washing dishes, and when she opened the door, she was drying her hands with one of the kitchen towels.
"Oh sweet Jesus!" she screamed, dropping the towel, and cupping her hands over her nose and mouth. "Edwin!" she yelled from the top of her lungs, jumping in his arms and smothering him with kisses. "It's you—it's really you!"
"Hi sweetness!" he said in a soothing voice. "I've missed you so much Ashley!"
As they walked inside, Edwin dropped his duffel bag and told his wife he needed to sit down, as his leg was starting to hurt. They sat side by side on the couch holding one another, kissing, crying, and talking. Ashley knew from his letters he lost his stutter on D-Day, and was pleased to finally hear it for the first time. To her, it didn't matter that he lost his stutter or not, Ashley Birch loved him unconditionally.
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As Jake walked to the old barn, he stopped to rest for a minute by Todd Beven's grave stone. He brushed the leaves covering the stone plaque with his shoe, and quietly said a few words to the late Mr. Beven. He walked to the tree where he carved his name as a young boy, and ran his fingers over the letters, remembering the day it was done. After a few minutes of reminiscing, he continued the quarter mile walk to his new house.
As he got closer, he could see three familiar silhouettes in the distance, Mr. and Mrs. Brierly, along with his pregnant wife tending to their garden, pulling weeds and picking the ripe vegetables. His heart began to race as he hobbled a little faster, excited to surprise his wife.
Madison handed a gardening tool to her mother, and looked up towards the fields, wiping the perspiration from her forehead. She noticed something small and shiny in the distance, and a person's silhouette limping toward her. She didn't realize it at first, but the shiny object was the sunlight reflecting off of Jake's medals.
"Jake!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, startling her mother and father. "Oh my goodness, Jake––it's Jake!" She said again, dropping the hand tool and going towards her husband as fast as she could. She held her seven month old pregnant belly; half running and half waddling, her parents trailed behind her, warning her to slow down.
"Maddie!" Jake yelled, dropping his duffel bag in the field, limping faster towards his wife.
Finally reaching each other, they embraced and kissed, slowly melting to the ground, and disappearing into the tall grass. Mr. and Mrs. Brierly both fell to their knees, and through laughs and tears, joined in on the welcome home hugs.
Mr. Brierly went and retrieved Jakes duffel bag, and rejoined his family, walking toward the house. Jake couldn't take his hand away from Madison's belly; he kept rubbing it all around, still shocked his child was growing inside. Then, something spectacular happened; he felt a little movement, a kick on the left side.
"Did you feel that?" Madison asked, as she smiled.
"I sure did," he nodded "He's gonna be a strong one!"
"Or she!" Madison jokingly replied.
"It doesn't matter, Maddie––boy or girl, this baby will be loved!"
When they got inside, Jake went directly to the couch, plopped down, put his hands behind his head, and his feet on the coffee table. His family gathered around and began to update him on all the news and gossip in Blackwater.
As they spoke, their voices slowly grew dim; he could see them smiling, and moving their mouths, but only heard muffled noises coming from them as Jake's mind began to drift back to the beaches of Normandy. Somehow, his mind had him trapped once again, behind the small mound with SSG. Bradford, Pvt. Birch, Pvt. Glosman, Big Tex and Pvt. Tucker's upper torso washing up next to them.
Then all of a sudden, a horn began to blast out in front of their house. Jake instinctively threw himself on the ground and attempted to take refuge, underneath the coffee table. Mr. Brierly quickly jumped up, ran outside and began waving his arms, trying to get Smitty to lay off his horn.
Smitty was excited to hear of Jake's return, and wanted to make some noise for his old nemesis and friend, returning from war.
"Stop honking that horn, you idiot!" Mr. Brierly yelled.
"What'd I do now?" Smitty asked, as he stopped.
"You just scared Jake half to death, giving him flashbacks or something."
As Mr. Brierly and Smitty walked in the living room, they saw Jake crawling out from underneath the coffee table, being consoled by his wife and mother-in-law. "You okay, Jake?" Mr. Brierly asked.
"I think so." he replied "Just feel a little stupid, that's all."
"Hey Jake!" Smitty said, as he removed his hat and nervously fidgeted with the brim. "I'm Sorry, if I knew––"
"It's okay, Smitty." he interrupted "I just got a little spooked that's all."
"Here honey, drink this," Madison said, handing him a glass of sugar-water. "This should help calm your nerves."
"Thanks honey." He said taking a sip.
"So what's new, Smitty?" Jake asked, as he sat down on the couch.
"Oh nothin' much, still workin' my store, that's all." he replied. "Well Jake" he continued, "I can't stay, I just wanted to come and welcome you home. Everyone knows you and Edwin are back in town; news travels fast around here, but you already knew that."
"Sure does Smitty!" Jake smiled as he waved goodbye.
They heard Smitty's truck drive away, and Madison and her mother went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, wanting to give Jake a proper home cooked meal. Mr. Brierly stayed in the living room and they continued talking about life in Backwater.
Mr. Brierly was extremely curious about Jake's war experiences; wondering what it was like, what all happened, and if he actually killed anyone. He didn't ask though, for obvious reasons. He figured Jake would talk and share when he felt comfortable. He could only imagine the horrors of war he experienced, to cause a grown man to react like he did, from something as simple as a horn blaring in the front yard.
After they ate dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Brierly walked the short distance to their newly built house, leaving Jake and Madison alone, to
catch up, and talk about all the new changes with the arrival of the baby in just two months.
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For the next few weeks, Jake and Edwin did their best to relax and get reacquainted with civilian life. The simplest tasks however, brought back memories from their war experiences. They would only confide in each other at first, which was helpful, as they were able to release and discus certain things only a soldier at war could understand. Most men who transitioned back to civilian life bottled things up, and would explode months or years later.
They continued to have heavy flashbacks for weeks, then when it seemed to subside, they would have nightmares about the events that took place on D-Day. They talked to each other almost every day, either in person or on the phone about the dreams they had, and reactions to certain events. Edwin confided to Jake that Ashley laid next to him, on the floor underneath their bed, one night, in an attempt to comfort him during a recent thunderstorm.
When the storm was over, they both were able to laugh about it, but as it was happening, all she could do was run her fingers through his hair, and quietly sing Christmas carols to him. Although odd to recite Christmas carols in November, he calmed down, his breathing slowed to a normal pace, and he quietly joined his wife in song.
Jake fulfilled his promise to Big Tex, and mailed the letter to Staff Sergeant Bradford's wife who was extremely surprised and greatful, completely unaware such a letter existed. Jake put the folded letter, still having faint bloodstains on it, in a larger envelope, along with the Staff Sergeant's dogtag.
Although the letter wasn't sealed, Jake never read it; he simply placed it in the larger envelope, took it to the post office and mailed it to the address provided on the original letter.
As Jake made his way home from the post office, he was taken back to the day he signed up for the military. He vividly remembered Staff Sergeant Bradford, the way he looked, and the way he was. He also remembered when they met the second time around, in England. Then he his final memory of him, the last day he saw him alive, and then seeing his lifeless body lying on the beaches of Normandy.
Jake always felt a little guilty about the mortar round that killed SSG. Bradford. He knew that his brother in arms took the brunt of it, shielding him from further injury. Edwin took the second hardest hit, shielding him even more, then he himself, taking the least amount of the blast causing the least amount of damage.
He continuously wondered what the outcome would have been, if they left the mound just a little sooner, or maybe even a little later; nevertheless Staff Sergeant Bradford was gone, and all he could do to keep his memory alive, was tell as many people as possible, about an American hero, named Staff Sergeant Charles J. Bradford.
Chapter 12
—
Life and Death
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As the weeks went on, Paul Sutton's health continued to decline. The doctors tried everything in their power, but it seemed nothing could be done to help him. He wasn't in much pain, but very weak, and now constantly coughed up blood. Jake and Madison made the decision to stay at his house day and night, to tend to his every need, in attempts to make him as comfortable as possible. He had a spare bedroom where they would rest for a few hours, then get up to give him medication, cook and feed him, and care for his needs.
One night Jake, Madison and Big Paul were in his living room talking. Madison was getting tired, so she asked Big Paul if he was ready for bed. Big Paul wanted to stay up just a little longer, then at 12:30 a.m. Big Paul was finally tired and ready to turn in.
Something strange happened, when he stood up, his legs didn't seem to function as normal; they were wobbly, like a newborn deer trying to walk for the first time. The young Patterson's immediately went over, and practically carried him to his bedroom. When they finally got him in his bed, he used all of his strength to push himself up, so his back rested against the headboard.
Big Paul began to have difficulty breathing, and they knew his time on earth would soon come to an end. Madison sat in a chair next to his bed, while Jake sat on the bed next to him.
Big Paul asked Madison to reach underneath the bed, and retrieve an old shoebox he kept with him since his wife passed away. She did as instructed, dusting off the top, and laid the box on his lap. He smiled, thanked her, and with his eyes closed, put his hand on top of it and took a deep breath as one lonely tear fell down his cheek, past his neck and disappeared underneath his t-shirt.
As he held on to the old shoebox, remembering what it contained. Jake quietly began to sing a hymn, in hopes it would comfort his friend and mentor. Big Paul slowly put his head on Jake's chest, and said the words 'yes Jesus' a few times. Big Paul adjusted himself and lay down with his hand still on top of the old shoebox. He told Jake and Madison he wanted them to have it. He told them it was the last sentimental thing he owned.
Jake and Madison couldn't speak, the lump in their throat too great, they simply nodded their heads, letting Big Paul know his precious shoebox and everything it contained would be in good hands. Big Paul smiled, told them both how much he loved them, and reassured them everything would be alright.
He fought to stay awake, but fatigue got the best of him, as he closed his eyes and was fast asleep. It was one o'clock in the morning, when Jake picked up the phone and called Edwin, telling him that he didn't think Big Paul had much longer to live. Edwin assured Jake that he and Ashley would be there first thing in the morning.
For the next few hours, Jake sat on a chair right beside Big Paul's bed, watching him closely as he continued to sleep and struggle to breathe. Madison on occasion, would lightly put her hand on his chest to feel for a heartbeat, and noticed it continued to weaken each time.
About 5:30 a.m., Jake called Edwin once more, advising him to come over as soon as possible. It seemed that Big Paul only had hours to live. Edwin and Ashley quickly got ready, and began to make their way over to Big Paul's house.
Madison gently placed her hand over his heart one last time, and could barely feel it beating at all. She didn't tell Jake, just slowly walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. After she left the room, Jake watched Big Paul labor to breathe, he took a breath then exhaled. Almost twenty seconds later he took another breath, and exhaled again. He took a third breath then exhaled, Jake patiently waited, but Big Paul never took another breath again.
It was exactly 5:36 a.m. on Saturday morning, December 2, 1944 when Paul Sutton took his last breath in life. Jake sighed deeply, as tears began to run down his face. He went to Madison, already sobbing herself, with an overflowing glass of water, held steadily under the running faucet. Jake reached around her, and shut the faucet off, grabbed the overfull glass of water from her hand, and gently set it on the side of the sink.
"He's gone, isn't he?" She asked, slowly turning around and burying her face in her husband's chest. "How can this be? He was alive just a few minutes ago."
Jake didn't say a word, just held tightly to his wife, as the two silently remembered the greatest man they ever knew, Mr. Paul Sutton. Twenty minutes later, they heard Edwin's truck rumble up the driveway, and Jake walked outside to meet them.
"He went home, Edwin." He said sadly "He passed away at exactly 5:36 a.m."
Edwin and Ashley both began to cry as they walked into the house to see Big Paul's body. There was calm about the place, and although Big Paul left this world, he looked peaceful, it seemed like he was only sleeping.
"He passed away in his sleep." Madison said quietly. "He wasn't in any pain, or any discomfort when he left us. He basically closed his eyes, went to sleep and never woke up."
Phone calls were made, and the funeral home staff was on their way to pick up his body. Jake, Madison, Edwin and Ashley stood around his bed, talking about all the good times they shared with this amazing man; each one told their story of how he helped them in one way or another.
A short time later, the funeral home representatives came by, offered their condolences and commenced to wrap his
body in a white sheet. As they did so, they gently took his hand, moving it away from the top of the old shoebox, and placed both his hands across his chest, while continuing to shroud his body. After they transferred him to the gurney, they offered their condolences once more, and took his body away.
The four convened in the living room, and Jake grabbed the old shoebox from the bed, placing it on the coffee table. He slowly removed the lid, and all four peeked inside. It was filled with pictures from when Big Paul and his wife were younger. There were letters and notes they wrote to each other. There was also an old diary that belonged to his wife Jenny when she was a teenager.
After looking through Big Paul's cherished memories for about a half hour, they began calling friends and family, to alert them of Big Paul's passing. Later that afternoon, they all went to the funeral home to make arrangements for the burial.
They chose a beautiful royal blue casket, flowers and a headstone to mark his place. The funeral service and burial would take place on Tuesday, December 5th, behind the old barn, where Big Paul would be laid to rest next to the other town's hero, Todd Beven.
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The following evening, Madison, now eight months pregnant, was lying on the couch with her feet up and her head resting on Jake's lap. The radio was quietly playing in the background, as they were both lost in their own thoughts. They were startled from a sudden knock at their door.
"Coming!" Jake shouted, trying to help his pregnant wife to sit up.
"Ahh!" Madison exclaimed, as her husband quickly stood up. "Quit moving Jake, my hair's caught in your belt buckle!"
"Well get it out! I gotta' get the door!" he said.
"How can I? I can't even see it!" she argued.
"Okay, hold still, I'll get my pocket knife and cut it free!"
"Jake Henry Patterson! I swear, if you so much as cut one hair, I'll take that pocket knife of yours and––"
And Along Came Jake Page 20
