Hope from the Ocean: 51

"Are you buckled in?" Todd said to Aiden, who was sitting in the back of the copter.

"Ya sure ya can drive this thing, Todd?"  Aiden said, as nervous as Todd had ever seen him.

"You face off against those sickos, and you're afraid of this machine?"

"We're going in the sky, Laddy, that's not a place for humans to be.  Birds, perhaps, not humans.  I really don't need to see a doctor.  I have a rule about this."

"And how's that been working out for you?"

Aiden didn't respond at first.  After thinking a few minutes, he added, "What was the use?  No insurance and no money, Pal.  No way for me to afford this kind of treatment."

"Well those days are over," Todd said, lifting off.

***

"Bea, come inside, now, it's quite cold out here," her nurse said.

Bea ignored her, sitting in the midst of the snowy patio, looking out to the mountains and the lake at Mountainview.

"Bea, did you hear me?"

Bea looked at her nurse, finally making eye contact.  She shook her head "no," and then smiled.

"You did hear me.  It's amazing how much you love it out here in the cold.  I bet it's the snow?"

Bea nodded.  The nurse hugged herself to try and maintain warmth.  "Bea, I just can't take much more of this cold.  Please?"

Bea hesitantly got up, the nurse spying the pad with her latest drawing.  It was a likeness of a handsome, but scarred, man, who the nurse recognized as Bea's son.  He was standing, hands in his front pants pockets, with a winter coat on, and the mountains as a backdrop.  The nurse said, "I do love your artwork.  That one of Mr. Manning is particularly lovely."

Bea smiled at her, and began to walk toward the building.  The nurse followed, and soon, they were back in Mountainview's lobby, and began to thaw.  Bea's nose was red at the tip, and her cheeks were blushing with the relief of the chill.  She undid her scarf, and smiled, holding the artwork toward Ray, who happened to be crossing through the main hall.

"Beautiful, Bea.  Looks just like him.  Very good likeness,"  Ray said.

She smiled again.

"Would you like to come early, today, for your session?  My office is cleared from now until late afternoon."

She nodded and handed her coat, scarf and hat to her nurse.  She was careful with the scarf and hat; they were cashmere and from Little Sam.  They were both red, one of her favorite colors, with little white snowflakes hand embroidered on them.  She followed Ray into his office.

***

Shaun, getting his coat and gloves on, looked into the mirror.  "Big guy, you'd better be sure about this."  He'd been thinking of it all morning, since Aiden's collapse.  Something about the guy wasn't sitting right with him, and he wanted to make his own head clear on the topic, and move forward.  Todd wouldn't be angry with me if I found something out to protect his family?  Something just wasn't right.

He understood why Todd Manning might take the guy in, and sort of overlook the fact that he didn't even really KNOW Aiden.  The guy had a scar, the guy belonged to a group that saved Todd's life, and the guy has a bad childhood - all things Todd would take pity on, and identify with.  

He left cabin two, and headed to cabin three.  Opening the door, quietly, he crept inside and closed the door behind him.  Where do I start?  After a few moments, he knew the answer.  The man had almost nothing.  There were very few things to poke through.  In finding a beaten, weathered bag, he dumped the contents onto the bed.  

There, shining in the light, was a knife, menacing in appearance, with a rather worn, curved handle.  It was sharp and polished.  Shaun picked it up, and examined it closer.  Wonder why Mr. Aiden has this?

***

The limousine pulled up in front of Courtown Demesne.  As the door opened, Jack, hands in his coat pockets, was standing there, smiling, and she stepped out of the car.  

Blair watched discreetly from the front doors, as her son and his girlfriend rushed to an embrace.  She smiled and closed the door to give them privacy.  Turning to Sister Rebecca Katherine, she said, "My son's in love, Sister," with a bit of wistfulness and pride.  "And my daughter, she's a wonderful mother, and on her way back to her home."

"He is.  And she's a sweet girl, really, Bridgette.  And Starr, she's someone to make ya proud."

"I know.  Both have made a good choices.  Hope's missing Addie too much, and her room, and her toys.  She's doing what's right for her little family.  I'm very proud of her."  She choked up.

"Likely modeled after their mother, Dear Heart."

"Well, how long do I give them out there?"

"Just a few minutes more.  In fact, I think I hear them on the front stoop now."

As they approached the house, Starr and Hope were just coming out, with complete with baggage.  Jack said, "Where are you going?"

"Home.  To Llanview.  With Jenna here, and Lynnette alone at home with the gallery, I offered to go and help.  Besides, I think Hope wants to be there.  She misses Addie.  I do, too.  As long as Mom and Dad are okay, then I'm all right to leave."

"Well, okay," he said, reaching out to hug her.

She said, "What was that for?"

"I dunno, just wanted to."

"Dorian and Sister Rebecca Katherine will help with everything here.  I'll see you soon, Jack."  She turned and hugged Jenna, "and you, too, Jenna.  Enjoy your stay."

Starr went to the car, and Jack watched her go.  "She's like totally grown up."

"Yeah, she is."  Jenna said.

***


"Were ya upset because I was a dead man on the lawn, or were you upset because it was me who died?"

Tina sat, by Ray's crib, with her book, and looked out the windows.  Remembering back, she could almost feel Aiden's lips on hers.  

She had been so frightened when she saw him, lying on the ground, arms and legs sprawled out.  His skin was whiter than she had remembered it and stark in contrast to the grass.  Her heart had almost broken thinking how still he was.  But, he wasn't dead . . .

She touched her fingers to her lips, and closed her eyes.  He's way younger than you are.  What do you think you're doing?  You've got to have a good 15 years on the guy.  Still, rational thought like those took a back seat to how she felt from the first time their eyes connected: his blue, crystalline eyes, his winning, magnetic smile, and the way he looked at her, like she was the only person in the room.  She smiled and went into a daydream about him: his muscular arms wrapping around her and bringing her close, her knees giving way, ever so slightly, his mouth on hers again.  She imagined wrapping herself around him, leading him backward onto her bed, and opening herself to him. . .

Tina.  You had better cut that out.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.