Echo-Foxtrot (15 page)

Jim looked from General Merrick to Jack and back again, amazement and wonder on his face. “For real?”

General Merrick nodded. “Even though you're British by birth, you can enlist as a path to full citizenship.”

“What about the entrance exams?”

“You've done the aptitude test,” she said, holding up the papers. “Ninety-eight percent. Do you need time to think about it?”

Jim looked at Jack. Surely he was dreaming. “No. I'd like to join please, ma'am.”

General Merrick smiled at his enthusiasm. “I'll send a recruiter over tomorrow to get you signed up.”

Jim walked on air back to the car. “Woo-hooo,” he yelled, punching the air, as soon as they were in the car park. He looked at Jack. “I'm not dreaming, am I?”

Jack pinched him.

Jim rubbed his arm. “I guess I'm not.”

Jack grinned. “I guess not. We'll stop off for food on the way home.”

“I might just stay in the car,” Jim said. “Let you handle that while I text Mum and Dad and tell them.”

They arrived back to find the house in darkness.

Jim yawned. “Maybe they are all asleep.”

“Maybe,” Jack replied.

They walked up to the door and Jack let Jim in first. “Hello?” Jim called.

Suddenly, the lights snapped on.

“Surprise.” Party poppers exploded over him. A banner hung from the stairs proclaimed, “Congratulations, Jim.”

Jack shut the door with a big grin on his face.

Staci hugged him. “Well done, bro. One day you may really be Captain Kirk.”

“Once I'm an American citizen, yes,” Jim told her.

She let go and Lou hugged him. Then Ailsa.

Nichola waited until the others had finished before giving him a hug too. “Well done. I'm proud of you.”

“Thanks. All this, it's...How did you know?”

“Black ops,” Lou grinned. “Plus a spy on the inside. Jack rang from the takeaway.”

“Dinner's ready,” Jack called. “Come and eat while it's hot.”

****

Lou was the last to leave the kitchen once she'd done the dishes. Jack and Mum were sitting on the swing seat. She turned off the kitchen light and looked back towards the window as Jack dropped to one knee. She turned away, not wanting to intrude on their privacy, and headed into the hall and up the stairs to the room she shared with Ailsa.

It seemed everyone's life was finally falling into place. Except hers.

19

The following morning, Jack was up and gone to work before any of the others had surfaced. Mum was still asleep when Lou brought her in some tea.

“Cup of tea,” she said.

Mum turned over and pushed up. “Thanks, love. What time is it?”

“Just gone eleven.” Lou noticed something sparkle on her mum's left hand and sat as she patted the bed beside her.

“Last night Jack asked me to marry him.”

Lou took her hand. The emerald and diamonds sparkled. “It's beautiful.” She hugged her. “Congratulations.”

“You really are pleased? You don't mind me remarrying?”

Lou let go of her mum and looked at her. “Jack is one of the best and nicest guys around. I've liked him since I first met him. Besides, he asked my permission to marry you first.”

“He told me that. I thought he was joking.”

“Have you set a date or is it too early?”

“We have one in mind. Jack is sorting leave today. He has already spoken to the chaplain and pre-booked the base chapel. It'll be a proper Air Force wedding.”

“He was that sure you'd say yes then?”

“We spoke about it a little before I left for England, but he hadn't asked or anything.”

Lou stood up. “I must get dressed.”

Mum caught her arm. “Are you sure you're OK with this?”

“Yes. Like I told him last night, I couldn't ask for a nicer stepdad. There is one thing though.”

“Anything. What?”

“After the wedding, when you move into Jack's room, can I have your room? It's got a bath and a shower in the en-suite.”

Mum laughed. “Of course. Will you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“Will you be my chief bridesmaid?”

Lou flung her arms round her mother's neck. “Of course. I'd love to. Thank you.” She let go just as the telephone began to ring.

“Nichola? Jack's on the phone for you,” Jim called.

Lou got dressed and then went downstairs.

Mum was down just before her, with a pile of clothes in her arms. “Jack will be home soon,” she said. “We need to talk to you all, so don't disappear.”

“OK.” Jim looked at Lou. “Do you know what's going on?”

“Why should I?” Lou grinned. She'd noticed that her mother had taken off the engagement ring.

Staci left the room, still mumbling and scrawling in the notepad.

“What is she doing?” Lou asked.

“I take it that's a rhetorical question,” Jim said. “Or do you really expect me to know?”

Ailsa gathered up her books. “I'm going to study in the den for a bit,” she said. “Call me when they want us, will you?”

“Sure. Do you want some help to study?”

“No thanks, Jim. Your idea of help is not what I had in mind.”

****

Jack arrived home just before one, having done a twelve-hour shift. Mum went out to meet him, while the others sat round the table in the dining room. Staci was still scribbling in the notepad. Lou sat silently, while Jim and Ailsa tried to guess what was going on. Jack and Mum came in and sat down.

“OK,” Jack began. “We've called this family meeting because there are things we need to tell you.”

Jim looked at him. “Family meeting?”

Jack looked round the table. “I used the word
family
deliberately. Last night I asked Nicky to marry me.” He took her hand, now displaying the ring. “She made me the happiest man alive when she said yes.”

“Congratulations,” Ailsa said. Jim and Staci added their congratulations too.

Jack smiled at them. “Of course,” he continued, “this will affect all of you. Jim lives here, and Staci will be living here whenever Bill and Di are away. Ailsa, you are as much a part of this family as any of us.” He winked at her. “I'm guessing wherever Jim goes, you'll go too, but while he's based here, you're welcome to stay as well.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

Jack looked at Lou. “I'd like to adopt you. If that's OK?”

Lou grinned. “It's more than OK, Uncle Jack.”

“Quit with the uncle.” He grinned. “You can take my surname or keep your dad's surname or hyphenate and double barrel them or whatever, I don't mind.”

“We've arranged the wedding for September 30,” Mum said.

“But Mum and Dad are away; they just left.” Jim frowned. “You can't get married without them.”

“We're not going to. They'll be here for the wedding. Bill's giving me away. Jack's been doing a lot of plotting and planning without me. It seems he's been taking lessons from you lot in how to be sneaky. And I'd like you girls to be my bridesmaids.”

“Yes, please,” Staci and Ailsa said together.

Jack looked at Lou. “Are you OK, Lou?” he asked. “You're rather quiet.”

“I've got a headache,” she replied. “I'm really pleased for you both.”

Jim grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed it. He shot her an understanding glance. “She's just lost for words,” he said. “She's excited on the inside.”

Lou squeezed his hand gratefully. He knew her too well.
It was just a shame
— She broke off. Jim was with Ailsa now and she just had to accept that and move on.

“We need to go dress shopping then,” Mum said. “There is a lot to do and very little time to do it in. We'll go now.”

Lou pushed slowly to her feet, just the thought of going out making her feel sick. But she'd do this for her mother.

Staci reluctantly left her notebook behind long enough to go shopping that afternoon. They were sworn to secrecy over the color but were all pleased with the dresses they ended up choosing, especially since Lou's was floor length and hid her false leg.

Once they got home, Staci shut herself away with the notebook again.

Jack took Lou to one side, leaving Mum to make a start on dinner. “Lou, are you really OK with the wedding?” he asked.

Lou looked at him. “I'm fine about it, honestly. I'm just having a bad day, that's all.”

Jack looked at her. “The truth.”

She sighed. “It's the date you've chosen. September 30 is the day this happened. It'll be the first anniversary of it.” She pointed to her leg.

Jack smiled. “Lou, honey. That's one of the reasons we chose it. We know it will be a hard day for you. This will give you something else to remember the day for. If you have a problem with the wedding, please say so now.”

“No problem, honest. I'm looking forward to it.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Can you see if I can go talk to Dr. Andrews? She offered me some meds a while back to help with the anxiety issues and I think maybe…maybe I should try them.”

20

As the day of the wedding grew closer, Lou became more and more withdrawn. She was having a hard time coping, despite the medication and her newfound faith. She had begun to experience panic attacks brought on by the ever-increasing flashbacks.

So far she had managed to keep them secret, but they were getting progressively worse. Little things set them off at first—a smell or turn of phrase. As the anniversary of the shark attack approached, the attacks grew in intensity and frequency, getting to the point where the sound of running water or even rain could trigger a full-blown attack.

She could no longer go swimming and she no longer went out anywhere—except to church—but even that in itself was an ordeal. She was literally sick before they left and after they got back. She had also begun to experience nightmares like she had never done before. She blamed her inability to go out on her headaches. She knew she should get help, but that meant going outside. Besides, she felt she could only confide in Jack and he had more important things on his mind with the wedding coming up.

She'd seen Dr. Andrews a couple of times, but not being able to leave the house kyboshed any attempt at seeing her again before it had even started.

Mum and Jack had decided against having a honeymoon. Instead, they had opted to stay at home with their family. After a long talk with her mum, Lou decided to change her name to Fitzgerald, keeping Benson as a middle name. She'd assume it after the wedding, even though the official papers wouldn't be through for several months yet. And she'd already decided to call Jack Dad after the wedding. That would be her own special present to him.

Mum and Jack had bought her a puppy, a cute golden Labrador they'd called Benjy, but she couldn't bring herself to take him for a walk. Instead, she let one of the others do that, and she just played with him indoors.

The day of the hen/stag parties arrived. The wedding was only two days away and all the arrangements were completed. Both pre-wedding parties were being held at the same restaurant, although at different tables. Ailsa and Staci chatted excitedly while getting changed. Lou sat on her bed, watching them, feeling sick.

Staci looked at her through the mirror. “You're not coming like that, are you?” she asked, brushing her hair. “It's a posh restaurant. They won't let you in wearing jeans.”

Lou rose and made a dash for the bathroom. It took longer than usual to control the heaves and shakes. She splashed cold water on her face and slowly opened the bathroom door. She headed into her room, closing the door behind her. A few seconds later, someone knocked on it.

“Come in.”

Jack opened the door and crossed over to Lou. “Staci says you're not feeling so good.”

“I've got a headache,” Lou said shortly.

Jack looked at Ailsa. “Can you give us a minute?” he asked.

Ailsa nodded and left, shutting the door behind her.

As soon as she had, Jack sat on the bed next to Lou, his eyes full of concern. “What's wrong?” he asked. “You've been looking forward to this evening and planning it for ages.”

“I've got a headache. Nothing much I can do about it.”

“You've been having way too many headaches recently. You've had to give up swimming and your physio because of them. And you've lost weight where you aren't eating properly. Maybe I should take you to see the doc tomorrow.”

Lou pulled a face and leaned back on the pillows. “I'm fine. It'll go. I'll sleep it off.”

“Are you sure there is nothing else worrying you?”

Lou looked away. “I'll be fine.”

“Is it the wedding?” Jack asked. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Jack, you're marrying Mum, not me.”

“You know what I mean.”

Lou smiled at him. “No, I'm not having second thoughts. Now, you guys need to go or you'll be late. Please give Mum my apologies. See you when you get back.”

Jack watched her for a minute or two and then left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Lou lay with her eyes closed, listening to the others chatting in the hall and calling goodbyes up the stairs to her. The front door shut and car doors banged. As the car started and pulled away, Lou opened her eyes. She sat up on the bed.

She desperately wanted to go, but just couldn't face going outside. She grabbed her crutches and swung herself across to the wardrobe where her bridesmaid dress hung. She opened the door and looked at it. It was beautiful, but she had lost so much weight, it didn't really fit anymore. Ailsa had carefully added ties to the back of the dress, under the bow, so she could adjust it on the day itself.

As she looked at the dress, the familiar panic rose within her. She'd never make the wedding, she realized as she threw up again. But if she didn't go, her mother and Jack would get the wrong idea. They would assume that she didn't approve and nothing could be further from the truth. She loved Jack as much as she had her father. She was looking forward to him becoming her new dad. The problem wasn't them getting married; the problem was it meant her leaving the house. If it rained, it would trigger an attack. Or she may have one anyway. She couldn't allow that to happen. Everyone would see. Bad enough they'd see her false leg and not her.