The Forging Page 27

  Charlene reached up with one hand and cupped my cheek “Well, you always could touch my heart,” she smiled and pursed her lips to ask for a kiss. It was a tender kiss. When we finished, John and Moiraine wedged themselves between us.

  John dropped to his knees, “Thank you, God. Thank you.” He began crying loud sobs.

  “Grandpa, why are you crying? Mommy is not sleeping anymore. Don’t be sad.”

  “Oh, grandpa is not crying because he is sad. These are happy tears. grandpa is happy, so very, very happy.”

  “I’m happy too,” Moiraine said, as she grabbed a handful of cranes and threw them up in the air. Soon all the kids present gathered around and grabbed up the cranes and started throwing them up in the air and cheering. John started laughing and joined in the party, Mary also.

  Mary chimed in with “This is what the doctor ordered,” she laughed. “I would have paid real money to see the look on Ms. Barton’s face if this had happened while she was here.”

  What the Hell, I started cheering too. Grabbing a handful of cranes too, I threw them in the air, and they rained down on Charlene. Moiraine started saying, “I love you, Mom,” and soon all the children began chanting themselves, “We love you, Mrs. E.” After all the pandemonium died down, I saw Mary use her cell phone. I assume she is informing Hospice they no longer had a patient. “Okay, children. Mrs. Embers needs her rest, and your parents are waiting back at the school. Let’s get a marching. And we’re walking, we’re walking.” The envoys from Greentree Elementary followed their principal’s orders and headed out the door.

  “Goodbye, children. I will see you back at school soon.” Char’s voice is a bit hoarse, but it is music fit for God to my ears. “Nathan, I am terribly hungry, would you fix me something?” Those words are more music to my ears too. She’s hungry. I took it as a good sign.

  I asked Mary, “What is safe to feed her?”

  “Use the BRAT diet until we hear from her doctor. It consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Not too much, her digestive tract has not been working for some time. It is best to start slow. I called for her doctor to come out. He needs to give her the once over.” She began to whisper, “Don’t forget what I said; this might be only temporary.” I nodded my head, yes, but somehow in my heart, I knew Char is back.

  I brought everything on the BRAT list and the largest glass we have full of ice water. Char ate a scant few mouthfuls before pushing the plate away. She did drink a large amount of water. After she ate, she was able to sit up and gave the room a quick look. “Dad, is this the bed you have been working on?” John told her it was. She turned in bed and beheld the mural and cried. “It is so beautiful. Thank you. We might need to cover your and mom’s faces at night. Having you watching Nathan and me while we are,” she coughed a bit and blushed, “sleeping would be a little unsettling.” John nodded. At our feet, we could hear the thumping of Blossom’s tail against the nightstand and one distinctive bark. “Nathan, let her up here, will you?” Doing as I was asked, I placed Blossom up on the bed. She gave Char many licks of love. She curled up next to her owner. I started to pick her back up when Char told me to leave her be. Wow, Charlene never lets Blossom up on the bed, let alone let her sleep there. Having a bullet rip through your body must change your priorities a bit.

  It is about dinner time when John said, “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m hungry. I am going to run out and pick up some Chinese food.”

  “Pot-stickers, Grandpa. Get some pot-stickers.”

  “Okay, I’ll get pot-stickers. Does anyone else have any other requests?” John took my order for cashew chicken. He turned to Mary. She motioned no, but John would have none of it, “This is a celebration. What do you want?” She acquiesced and told him broccoli and beef. He turned to Charlene and said, “Sorry, you are on a diet. Only what the doctor says until you are one hundred percent.” John left on his errand.

  Before John returned, the doorbell rang. Charlene’s doctor, Dr. Hazer, was at the door. He didn’t say a word to me. He started to push his way past me. “Is she this way?” He pointed down the hall, and I nodded. He went straight away down the hall and to Charlene’s side. He wasted no time. He introduced himself to Charlene, then began his examination. I leaned in, “Doctor, a moment, please.” He stepped back, and I whispered, “Don’t tell her about the baby. It will come better from me.” He nodded his head then continued with his examination. Char gave me the eye but said nothing. Mo and I stepped out of the room to give Char and the doctor some privacy.

  “Okay, you can come back in now, Dearies,” Mary said as she stuck her head out.

  “Well, except for weakness from being in bed so long, she appears to be in perfect health,” Dr. Hazer said. Turning to Char, “You are one lucky lady. By all accounts, you should have died. I can’t explain why you didn’t. In a couple of days, I want you to come in for some testing. Maybe we can figure out what went right.” He started packing up his bag.

  “Doctor, when can I return to my normal routine? I have been in bed long enough.”

  “I should readmit you to the hospital, but I feel you will heal better at home. Your incision is healing up well for the most part. Tomorrow you can start pushing yourself, but not too hard. Don’t lift anything more than five pounds. No housework and I understand you work at a school as well. Please wait until I give you a complete okay before you return to work. Let your own body tell you what you can and can’t do.” He finished up packing and started walking for the door. I followed him out of the room.

  At the front door, he stopped, turned, and looked at me, “Mr. Embers, I didn’t tell her about the baby, but she needs to know. If she asks me directly, I can’t lie or hide the truth.”

  “I know. When she is strong enough, I will tell her.” A promise I won’t have to keep, because I don’t think she will ever be strong enough for the news. She was shot in the heart. I don’t think she can take it being broken.

  I stretched out my hand and shook the doctor’s hand. “You saved her life. Thank you. If ever you need anything, I’m your man.”

  “I didn’t save her life. I only removed the bullet. You saved her life. And God gave her back to you.” Dr. Hazer left.

  Back in my wife’s bedroom, I found Char and Moiraine having a conversation. Moiraine is telling her all about the events since the shooting. Charlene is listening intently while stroking Blossom with one hand. “It’s Mary, right? Mary, could you take Mo out to the living room? I want to talk to my husband in private.” Mary shooed Moiraine out of the room and closed the door.

  I started to undress, “This should only take a couple of minutes.”

  “Nathan, when I said talk I meant talk.”

  “I know. I am trying to lighten the mood.”

  “Sometimes moods should not be lightened,” she said while giving her famous out with it look.

  I paused, “What?” I paused again, and she looked at me. “Okay. Okay. I am worried about you. You push so hard sometimes. I wanted the doctor to emphasize you need rest.” Another lie this is starting to become a habit. She accepted my answer, but I can tell by her expression she didn’t buy it. We talked some more I filled her in on everything Mo didn’t. I told her Mark Galos still had plans to kill me. The threat he made to Greentree if I didn’t stay away. My dreams of visiting her.

  “Nathan, I dreamed we talked a couple of times.”

  “What do you expect? Of course, you dreamed of Moiraine and me.”

  “They were strange dreams. It was like I was looking at myself, and once you left me alone in the hospital.”

  “They were dreams; don’t let them upset you.” Wow, she remembers my dream visits? This stuff keeps getting curiouser and curiouser.

  John returned in short order with his arms full of Chinese food. I brought in some paper plates, and we all feasted right there in the bedroom. Char didn’t even say a word about it. It was a magical time.

  As I started clearing away the used plates and e
mpty takeout containers, my phone rang. I went into the other room to take the call. After a brief conversation, “See you then.” I hung up my phone and went back to the party.

  Mary is packing up her stuff. John is quietly talking with Charlene, and Moiraine is enjoying having her mother brush her hair. Seeing my wife engaging in everyday things gave me a warm, happy feeling. It has been a long time since I’ve felt happy.

  I announced, “Well, I have a temporary job. I start tomorrow morning.”

  “Good work, my boy. Any chance it can turn into something more permanent?” John asked as he stood from Char’s bedside.

  “No, it’s for a couple of weeks at most. But it’s a start.” I looked at the time on my cell phone. “Moiraine, you need to get ready for bed; you have school tomorrow.”

  “No. I want to stay home tomorrow and be with mommy.”

  Char broke in “Now, Moiraine, listen to your father. Tomorrow is Friday. We will have the whole weekend to be together. Also, help your dad pick up these cranes and put them out of the way for now.”

  “Alright,” Mo said crestfallen. She started picking up cranes and putting them back into the bags. She made the task seem like the cranes weighed as much as White Star material. She is not happy.

  “I’m all packed up, Dearies. It is time for me to make my exit,” Mary said as she started for the door.

  Charlene sat up a bit in bed, reached out with her hands, and said, “Mary, I want to thank you.” Mary put her things down and took Char’s hands in hers. “You took such loving care of my family and me. Thank you.”

  “It has been a true pleasure. It’s not often I see a happy ending when I go to work. Thank you.” Mary leaned in and gave Char a light hug and kiss on the cheek. Charlene reciprocated. Mary turned around to pick up her things, but John had beaten her to them.

  “Let me walk you out to your car. It’s the least I can do for my second favorite nurse.”

  Mary asked, “Second favorite nurse?”

  Char replied, “My mother was a nurse.” Mary nodded and smiled.

  “I think I will head home after escorting Mary to her car. The emotions of this day have tuckered me out. No need to see us out, we know the way. Okay, Mary, let’s go.” John started out of the bedroom carrying his burdens, and Mary followed him out.

  Moiraine is taking her own sweet time picking up those cranes, so I started to help with her task. “So, Char, what do you want to do with all these? Throw them in the recycle bin?”

  “Please put them in the bags for now. I have an idea of what to do with them.” Char watched as we completed our chore smiling at us the whole time. “Go ahead and put those bags out of the way for now then get Mo ready for bed.”

  I watched her brush her teeth, get a glass of water, and waited patiently in the hall as she emptied her bladder.

  She ran to her mom to give her a kiss goodnight, “Goodnight, Mommy.” She reached over and gave her mom a huge kiss then went straight to bed. As I am following her to her room, she grabbed something in there and dashed by me. Back into my bedroom, she handed her mother the teddy bear she had been carrying everywhere. “Watch over my mommy. Make sure she keeps getting better. Goodnight again, Mommy.”

  “Goodnight, Moiraine,” she replied with a tear rolling down her face and a big smile. “Our daughter…”

  “is amazing. She has been through the wringer, but she never gave up hope.” Pausing and bowing my head. “I did. I am ashamed to say.” After my confession, I followed Moiraine to her bedroom and tucked her in. No longer is she surrounded by the guys. They had been placed in their corner as they were before this whole episode of our lives began. I think, in time, Mo will be fine. I returned to Char’s side.

  “Nathan, give me your hand.” We held hands. The little electric jolt is there again. “You said some foolishness a moment ago. You have nothing to be ashamed of. YOU gave me back my life. It is the greatest gift anyone can bestow. Can you name me anyone else who could have done what you did? As ever you were my hero.” I leaned in and gave my wife the most passionate kiss I could without her heart bursting out of her chest. After our bit of bonding, Char said, “Nathan, tell me everything that has happened with as much detail as you can without reliving the events.”

  She wanted the whole story, so I laid out every detail. She heard about everything except about our son. The news might jeopardize her recovery. Carrying the weight of that fact will be my burden for the rest of my life. She doesn’t need to know. The song “Carry That Weight” by The Beatles began playing in my mind. Mr. K.R.A.P. is particularly cruel today. “Boy, you gotta carry that weight Carry that weight a long time…”

  “Charlene, it is getting late, and you need your rest, so I will leave you to it.” As I tried to disengage my hand, she would not let it go.

  “What I need is my husband to come to my bed and share it,” she said it with a slight catch in her throat.

  “Only sleep, right?”

  “Only sleep, Husband Mine.”

  “Glad to hear it. While I would love to more than sleep, I think the safe play is to wait for the okay from the doctor.” Can I keep my lustful self in check? I returned Blossom to her bed and made my rounds through the house, checking to see all the doors and windows are shut and locked. Last on the list is to pick up the blanket and pillow off the recliner and put them away. Nothing left to do but getting into my jammies. It felt like heaven sliding under the covers and enjoying the warmth of my bed. I reached over to Char and gave her a goodnight kiss.

  “Goodnight, Charlene.”

  “Goodnight, Nathan.”

  This is going to be sublime getting a restful sleep in my bed once again. It had been about five minutes when Charlene said abruptly, “Nathan, will you bring a towel or something to cover up my parent’s faces.” I nearly peed my pants. I laughed so hard. I got up and got a towel then neatly covered up John and Marlene’s carved portraits on the headboard.

  Returning to bed, I turned out the light and said again, “Goodnight, Charlene.” I waited for a beat then said, “Goodnight, John. Goodnight, Marlene.” I tried so hard not to snicker, but I am weak.

  “Shut up,” Char said trying to sound miffed, but she started snickering too

  Chapter Eighteen

  Why I agreed to help in this adventure as Mr. Nobuharu Makiyama asked? My life has been crazy lately, but I feel in my heart, I should go with it, or as my mother would say, “Ride the horse in the direction it’s going.”

  It is a glorious morning here in the twilight of the day’s beginning. Standing here on my front porch, I am watching and waiting for my ride. Char is on the mend. My family is whole again. I have a temporary job to bring in some cash. I looked around and took it all in. The birds weren’t up yet. All is quiet except at the edge of my hearing I could barely make out the whispers of traffic on the streets. The jingle of a dog’s collar is in the air as one of my neighbors is walking their dog. For what is the briefest of moments, I am at peace.

  A limo pulled up in front of the house, and the driver opened the back door for me. When they said they would send a car, I didn’t think it would be a limo. I walked down to the open door and bowed in return as the driver gave me a respectful bow. Sliding into the back seat, I quietly watched the world go by as we departed for parts unknown. At least unknown to me, but I think the driver knows the way.

  While I am watching the world go by, of course, I started to brood on my failure. I must live with the knowledge, more likely die knowing, I can’t protect my family. What can I possibly do? Wheels began churning in what I had left of my mind. My brooding went on until we arrived in the light industrial section of town. The driver opened my door, then guided me to an old beat-up warehouse. Once in, I can see a vast empty space. A few furnishings are trying to fill the space, but they are unsuccessful. The objects take up maybe twenty percent of the warehouse. There is a large pile of black sand. An even larger pile contained charcoal, real charcoal, not those barbeque briquettes fo
r backyard cookouts. There are also three structures inside this warehouse. One is a large furnace open at the top with a hood above to carry the smoke up and out of the warehouse. The glow of a fire could be seen. In a different area is an open hearth. It is cold, but it looked prepared so it could be lit quickly. There also is a small shrine of some sort.

  Mr. Masafumi Asahara turned toward the door and walked to us as we entered. After a short bow, he said, “Mr. Embers, good. You are right on time. My uncle is waiting for us to begin. Please come this way,” he motioned me toward the shrine. We walked there with a purpose in our strides. The feeling of peace I had experienced earlier is returning to me, the closer we approached the shrine.

  Mr. Nobuharu Makiyama is praying at the shrine. Quietly I stood next to him waiting. After a moment, he turned toward me and asked, “Mr. Embers, Nathan?” I nodded my approval of his using my first name. “Are you most rested? It will be a long time until we sleep again.”

  “Oh, wait a minute. How long are we talking about? My wife woke up from her coma, and I have a family to see after.”

  “Your wife has recovered? What a blessing. I prayed it would be so.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I bowed to him.

  “Nathan-san, it will be three days, perhaps four, until our task is done.” He bowed at me, “Hai.”

  “Okay, I am not prepared for this. I need to make a phone call and let my family know.” Pulling out my phone, I began to dial. John was supportive of how long I am going to be gone. He was puzzled, but he also said, without question, he would take care of everything in my absence. He’s a dependable man. If he said he would do something, you could bet the farm, he would get it done. We have grown a great deal closer with all that has happened in the last few weeks. Is this how it feels to have a father? It is reassuring to have a steady man like John in my life. Someone I know won’t lie, cheat, or steal. It’s grounding to know there is a man who is not afraid to tell me if I’m wrong or being an ass. Yes, I think this is what it feels like to have a dad.