Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Christmas Storm....continued....


He'd been driving for what seemed like an eternity. "Not the most brilliant of ideas you've ever had Shawn." Peering in the mirror, he shook his head at his appearance. Nothing short of a mess could describe him. His eyes were blood shot, his hair was standing on end and his 5 o'clock shadow more closely resembled Santa Claus's beard, with the exception that his was still the strawberry blonde that he'd been born with. To say the years had been good to him would have been an understatement. Still, he looked again at himself as he pulled to a stop at the sign and looked over the directions that he had gotten from Yahoo. Damn that woman, when she wanted to have everything gone from her life, she'd made good and sure that most wouldn't find her. "But I did."
He turned right and continued down the back country road. It was the middle of a snow storm, so it hadn't been easy. Traveling from southern Virginia, he hadn't thought about checking the weather so far north into Maine. Big mistake. The weather had gotten colder and the snow was getting deeper. He knew he should pull over to the side of the road and find a hotel before dark. But that wasn't going to accomplish what he'd set out on this journey for, so he continued on. According to his directions, he only had about 30 more miles to reach her new home. Checking his watch, he realized that should put him on her doorstep sometime around the time school let out for the three older kids. Then they'd be on Christmas vacation. He had checked all of that information out with the school district she was now in. Finding her had been quite an accomplishment. But, he had known that, even with the money from the beneficiaries fund and from the sale of the house that she and Nick had built, she'd go back to work. No, Bobbi wasn't one for staying home and pitying herself. So, he'd checked police departments up and down the coast and had finally found her in this tiny little town, dispatching for the local police and EMS. He had to admit he was a bit surprised; he figured she'd go back to patrolling. Then again, with this job, she was home when the older kids were and didn't have to do much to find little Nikki a babysitter. He shook his head again. Nick had taught her well about taking care of herself and the kids. "Why in the world do I think she needs me?"
His thoughts turned back to the night of prom, 20 years before. He and Bobbi had gone together as Nick had taken his girlfriend. Somehow, Nick always had a new girl. Bobbi never approved of them, which was why Shawn, wild as he was, never seriously dated. He figured he'd never find anyone to stand up to Bobbi's standards, so why bother. Nick and his date had left the party and Bobbi had been upset. She knew where they were going and it had made for a very unpleasant last few moments at the party. He'd grabbed her arm and forced her into his car before she could run from him. Then he had leaned into the door and kissed her. It was at that moment he learned of the passion she had for him, and he for her. He quickly drove her to the little broken down barn on the edge of town that had long been the hide-out for the three of them. He hadn't remembered when he'd thought of putting a blanket in the corner for something like this, but he had known it was there. Leaving her in the car, he'd run inside and pulled out the blanket from its hiding place, lit a few candles that they always had there, then went back to her. Opened the door for her. And carried her inside. They were kids, and it had been awkward at first, but he knew it was passionate love that they had felt. She'd told him that, as well, as they lay naked next to each other, whispering of all of their dreams and hopes. It was then, too, that he knew she would marry Nick and not him. She wanted a family. The family that she had not had as a kid. And he'd wanted nothing to do with children. Being the oldest of 10, he just couldn't imagine wanting kids, ever. He told her that. And the look in her eyes gave him the final notice that, indeed, this would be their first and last time to make love to each other. She would need Nick for a life partner. Nick the grounded one. Nick the one who would give her what she needed. Even as he was off in some motel with another woman. He knew who she would marry. And they did, between their junior and senior years of college. And he was the best man.
The irony of those words hit him hard as he made the next turn in the road. Only 15 more miles to go according to the directions.
Best man. He should have been her best man. And he'd come to that realization much too late. When she was walking down the aisle. He'd realized then that he wanted kids, but with her and no one else. But his two best friends were marrying each other. So he had 'forever remained silent', and stood by the two of them as they started their 'happily ever after'.
But the fairy tale ended on July 4th. And he was determined to fix the mistakes that he had made. She hadn't made a mistake. And he knew it. She'd made the right decision for what he had given her that night so long ago. But he had a chance to fix it, or what he thought was the fix.
He grimaced as he remembered why he had the chance to fix it. They'd been on duty that day. Bobbi was still on leave with the new baby - the miracle baby that they had just had two months before. Bobbi had been shot, coming upon an armed robbery while on duty, just weeks after coming back from her third maternity leave. The doctors had told her and Nick that she would never have another child. It had taken Bobbi quite some time to accept this. And then she'd been sick this past January, just about 10 years from the time of the shooting. The doctors had run what seemed like a million tests. He'd gone with them to every test, and was in the room when they were finally told that, by some miracle of God, she was pregnant. The three of them had hugged and laughed and cried together. He'd even been there when the couple told the other three kids. He laughed as he remembered the look on Scott's face. The 16 year old had been in shock. Jimmy, at 14, and Megan, at 11, had been ecstatic. They couldn't wait to be big brothers and sister and spent much of the spring getting the house together for the arrival of a baby. It had been a long haul; the scarring from the bullet had caused many problems for the pregnancy. But Nikki had arrived on Mother's day with 10 fingers and 10 toes, a shock of deep auburn hair and bright green eyes - the spitting image of her father. He couldn't remember Bobbi looking more radiant. Well, that was a lie. Just one other time. And that they had both vowed to never speak of after that spring night.
Looking up, he saw the school bus turning into the lane ahead. He spied the sign post. "Finally," he sighed. This was her little back road. "Must be the kids' bus." He crossed his fingers and followed slowly, noticing that the snow was coming down heavier now. The bus stopped in front of a log cabin, and despite himself, he chuckled. One of the dreams she had told him that night that felt like hundreds of years ago was that she hoped to one day live in a log home. In losing her love, she'd found her dream. Then he grinned as he saw first Megan, then Jimmy and finally Scott jump from the steps of the bus, wave to the driver and then turn toward the driveway to walk to the front door. Scott had turned back to check the mail when he'd pulled up in his truck. Putting down the window, he craned his neck to look out the window, "Hello, Stranger!"
"Uncle Shawn. Oh my God, you guys, it's Uncle Shawn."
He could barely get his door open before they were all there, hugging him. He couldn't help himself, tears started to form in his eyes and spill over the corners. Quickly, he wiped his face with the back of his hand. "You've missed me?"
Megan sobbed into his jacket, "So very much. Very, very much."
Jimmy, being a young man of few words, just nodded, but Scott added, "So has Mom. Even if she refuses to say it." He paused, and Shawn couldn't miss the deliberateness of his next few words, "Dad told me she'd miss you if you were ever gone from our lives."
He looked at the almost grown man in front of him. Honesty would be best. "She left me, all of us, back home. She chose for me to be gone."
"Yet you chose to come and find us." The look he shot him was defiant.
"That I did, Scott, that I did."
"We're glad you did. Come in with us. Can we surprise Mom?" His face said he hoped so.
"Sounds like a plan."
"And, Uncle Shawn?" He waited for Shawn to nod at him. "I have something for you from my dad."
Puzzled, Shawn took Megan's hand and headed toward the door. "How's that baby sister of yours?"
Megan spoke so fast the words just tumbled out. By the time they reached the door, he understood enough of it to know that Nikki was 'getting big' and 'doing fine'.
The kids ran in before him. Each yelled a greeting to their mother. Shawn stepped inside the doorway and, after stamping the snow from his boots, followed them down the entrance way. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her standing by the tree, her clothing revealing the same lovely body he had been so vividly remembering on his drive and, in her hand, the ornament that he had given her those so many years before — a replica of the old barn that he had someone design just for her.
She stared at him; her shock turning to disbelief. He didn't approach her further. The look she was giving him told him he'd best stay right where he was. Scott spoke up first, 'Mom, look what we found outside!' It was obvious he could feel the tension between the two of them and that he was trying to break the proverbial ice.
She turned the ornament over in her hands; first looking at it and then Shawn. She repeated this several times before she cleared her throat, 'Hello Shawn.'
The coldness in her voice cut him deeply; this had been a mistake. Just another in the long line of mistakes he'd made with her. He sighed before speaking, 'Bobbi. I, well, damn, I'm sorry I intruded. I just,' he was shaking, 'I just couldn't stand the thought of spending a Christmas without you.' He looked around the room, 'and the kids.'
This last caught her attention. He'd never mentioned the kids in any of their conversations before she had moved. It had only been about the three of them. How he missed Nick because it felt as if the three of them would be together for eternity. It was one of the reasons she had run so far — she didn't need to be reminded every day that she and Nick had added 4 more to the group; 4 that Shawn didn't want.
He knew that had caught her attention so he rushed on, 'Yes, Bobbi, you and the kids. I wanted to spend the holidays with the only family I have that matters to me.'
'Stop, Shawn, you have...'
'I have people. Siblings and parents and nieces and nephews. Yes, that I do,' he started to walk toward her now as Scott, Jimmy and Megan left the room at Scott's urging. 'What I don't have is the only two people who meant more to me than my family. I can't get Nick back.' He paused as she started to sob. 'I'm sorry, Bobbi, but it's the truth. I can't get him back. Not for you and not for me. But I can get you back. And I intend to get you back. All of you!' He'd reached her side and held his hands out to her. Her hesitation was short lived and she fell into his embrace, crying tears of sorrow and happiness all at the same time. Her emotions were getting the best of her. It felt good to be in the arms of the only best friend she had left on earth.
They stood like this for quite some time, both of them releasing all of the pain that they had been feeling over the past months. It had not helped either of them to avoid talking about Nick, though, she admitted to Shawn, running away had taught her that she was strong enough to raise this family alone. She had caught a peculiar look on his face when she had said it, but he had offered her no words in return. Finally, their all too brief moment was interrupted, 'Mom. Nikki needs you. And I started dinner.'
She pushed against Shawn's chest. 'I need to take care of the kids.' Then she walked over to Scott and hugged him. 'You're growing up, young man. Dad would be proud.' And she was off to get Nikki and finish their dinner. When she had gone, Scott turned towards Shawn. 'I told you Dad left something for you.'
'I can't imagine what.' He was confused as to how Nick could have 'left' him anything. The accident had been sudden and he had not been ill before it, at least not to his knowledge.
Scott reached into his back pocket and pulled out a long white envelope. Handing it to Shawn, he explained, 'Dad gave me this right after we found out about Nikki. All he told me was that he had things to say to you that were best left for when he was gone.' Shawn had started to interrupt when Scott raised his hand, 'Please let me finish this the way Dad told me to. You owe him that much. You owe my mom that much.'
Shawn nodded and sat down on the edge of the coffee table as he fumbled with the envelope.
'As I was saying, Dad told me he had things to say to you that were best left for when he was gone. He also asked me to remind you that all Mom has is you and us kids. That is, well, if he passed away before either of you.' He put his head down to hide the tears that were streaming down his face.
'Scott,' he had stood and reached out for the almost grown boy who looked so much, now, like the little boy he had been just a few years before. 'Scott. I loved your father. Very much. You know that.'
'Yes, I do. And he loved you, too. And he loved Mom. But I also know that you love my mom, too.' He had reddened under Shawn's stare.
'Of course I do, The Three Musketeers,' he'd not caught Scott's meaning.
'No, Uncle Shawn,' he was backing away from Shawn's grip on his shoulder. 'I mean a different love. And I know Mom feels the same for you.' He made sure to look the older man square in the eyes. 'I hear Mom crying at night. First she cries for Dad; then for you. Sometimes she's awake when she does this; sometimes she's having nightmares. But, just the same, she's crying over losing both of you.' He paused, waiting for Shawn to answer him. When he didn't, he continued on, 'I'm pretty sure that's what Dad wrote about in that letter. Read it later. Okay?'
'Of course, Scott. You know I'd do anything for either of your parents. Always.'
Scott looked carefully at him. 'I know you would. And Dad knew you would, too.'
He cleared his throat, 'Scott? Do you know what is in this letter?'
'Honestly,' he shook his head 'no'. 'But I can have some guesses. And I'd say I'm probably not far off to think he's asking you to take care of us...even though he knew you didn't want children.'
The incredulous look that Shawn gave him must have stunned Scott because he sat down and buried his head in his hands. 'Whatever gave you that idea, Scott?'
Sighing, his voice wavering, he carefully peered up at him through his bangs and answered him, 'It's what I hear Mom saying when she's having those dreams. She says things like 'Nick, you know he doesn't want kids and I do.' and things that go along that line. It was only 2 nights ago that I finally heard her say your name when she was mumbling about that.'
Shawn reached for him again. 'That was true --- a very long time ago.' She walked in the room and looked at the two of them in serious conversation. It made her heart leap to see Scott finally showing some emotion. He'd stuffed his feelings for the last 6 months and she knew it would hurt him. What she didn't expect was the feeling it gave her to see Shawn comforting him; and she certainly didn't expect the words that he had just spoken before he noticed her enter.
'Dinner's ready you two. Get washed up and get to the table.' She turned quickly on her heel and shuffled out to the kitchen.

No comments:

Post a Comment