Judy Christenberry - A Soldier's Return

A chill shot through Carrie. She’d often found herself worrying about Jim’s safety. She’d listened more closely to the news about the Iraq war, fearing that one day she’d hear that Jim had been killed. It seemed they’d shared the same thoughts.

Just as Jim started to sit down, they all heard rapid footsteps coming down the hall. Jim’s gaze fixed on the door where Vivian had disappeared.

Carrie was amazed. She thought she saw fear in his eyes. A man who had faced down the enemy, had been decorated with many medals, was frightened to face his baby sister?

Vanessa appeared in the doorway and came to an abrupt halt. She stared at Jim for a long minute. Then with a sob, she charged forward just as Vivian had done, her arms extended. Once again, Jim found himself holding a woman in his arms.

Jeff followed Vanessa, but he only extended one arm.

Awkwardly, Jim extracted his right hand from Vanessa’s embrace and shook Jeff’s hand.

“I’m Jeff Jacobs, Rebecca’s husband. I’m glad to meet you. And Rebecca is waiting for you to come in and visit with her, if you don’t mind.”

Vanessa didn’t turn loose of Jim, but she reared back so she could look up at him, tears streaming down her face. “Just promise you’ll come right back,” she said. “I wouldn’t let you go, but Becca is suffering.”

Jim stared at his sister and shook his head. “I didn’t expect— You’re beautiful, Vanessa. You were so little the last time I saw you.”

“Wait until you see Rebecca and Rachel together,” Vanessa bragged. “They’re the real beauties.”

Carrie protested. “You could be a triplet, Vanessa, and you know it.”

“You remind me of Mom,” Jim told his sister, awe in his voice.

Vanessa started blinking furiously to hold back more tears. She buried her face in his chest again, then she stepped back. “Go see Becca, and I’ll try to get myself under control before you come back.”

JIM HOPED Vanessa stopped crying. If she didn’t, he might end up crying, too, and that would be embarrassing.

Jeff looked at Jim out of the corner of his eye. “Rebecca is a little emotional right now, so don’t be surprised if she cries, too. All three girls have been anxious for you to come home.”

“Why?” Jim blurted his innermost thoughts. “They don’t know anything about me. I failed them. The only sibling I managed to keep in touch with was Wally, and I got him killed.”

“Man, they idolize you and are so happy you’ve come. They don’t expect you to jump through hoops or be a superhero. They just want their brother.”

Jim drew a deep breath. Then he muttered, “Thanks.” He wasn’t sure if he believed the man, but he gave Jim a little more courage to face Rebecca.

Jeff opened the door. “Here he is, honey.”

Rebecca, a dark beauty like Vanessa, sat up in bed and extended her arms, too. Jim wasn’t a slow learner, so he hugged her in return. Nor was he surprised when tears ran down her cheeks. Her reaction was brought to an abrupt halt by a labor pain. Jeff hurried to the other side of the bed and took her hand, telling her to take short breaths.

Once it had passed, Jim leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Concentrate on your baby right now. I’ll be around when you’ve delivered.”

“Okay, but promise you won’t disappear,” Rebecca barely managed to get out before another contraction hit.

Jeff looked at Jim. “Would you ask the nurse to step in here?” he asked calmly.

Jim, however, could see the panic in his eyes, so he hurried out and found the nurse. Then he returned to the waiting room.

“You didn’t stay long,” Vivian said, back in the waiting room.

“I think her pains have increased.”

Vivian’s attention transferred from him to Rebecca’s situation. She hurried back to Jeff and Rebecca.

Jim frowned. “She’s not Rebecca’s mother, too, is she?”

Vanessa shook her head. “No, but she felt like she should’ve been. She wanted to adopt all of us, but her late husband wouldn’t let her. So when we find any of you, she kind of adopts them with her heart. Besides, Becca doesn’t have a mother around.”

“Did her adoptive mother die?”

“No,” Vanessa said, her lips pressed together.

Jim didn’t ask any other questions. It was obviously not a happy situation. And he appreciated the support Vivian was giving his sister.

“How long will she be in labor?” he asked.

Will shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure, but Vivian said it’s supposed to be shorter with your second child.”

“Oh, I’d forgotten Rebecca had another child. Joey, right?”

“That’s right. And you wouldn’t have forgotten him if you’d met him. He’s adorable,” Vanessa said.

“Carrie mentioned him earlier.” He looked at Carrie, nodding in gratitude. Their earlier conversation had helped him deal with the family. It helped to know someone who wasn’t family, too. After all, he’d gone from having no family to having more than he could comprehend. Carrie seemed to understand how overwhelming it could be. He could look at her and center himself. He’d never felt that before with anyone.

“Come sit down, Jim,” Will suggested again. “We may have a long wait.”

“So everyone’s staying until the baby is born?” Jim asked, a little surprise in his voice.

“We wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Will assured him and patted the chair next to him.

As soon as Jim sat down, Vanessa grabbed the chair on the other side of him.

“When did you arrive?” Vanessa asked.

“Around three, I think.” He looked at Carrie for confirmation. “I arrived earlier at the airport, but I rented a car and found a hotel room.”

“A hotel room? You’re staying with us, aren’t you?” Vanessa demanded.

“I don’t want to be a problem,” Jim said.

Will just shook his head. “I knew she’d react that way.”

“Look, I just wanted to see you, Vanessa. You and Rebecca and Rachel. I don’t intend to impose on you.” He hadn’t really made plans for his future, but he had a fat savings account and time to look around for what he wanted to do.

“Will, make him stay!” Vanessa exclaimed.

“Honey, I can’t do that if he doesn’t want to. Maybe your mother can talk him into it.”

Jim didn’t have anything to say about that, but Vanessa did. She blew out a sigh of relief. “Of course. Mom will take care of it.”

It was Will’s turn to ask him a question. “What do you plan to do now that you’re out of the marines?” he asked.

Carrie took a seat and held her breath, waiting for the information she’d wanted to hear. Like his sisters, she didn’t want to lose touch with Jim, even though she didn’t have that right. But he’d been in her mind, in her dreams and fantasies, for so long. How could she let go of him now?

“I don’t know. I’ll have to get out the want ads and see if there’s anything I can do.”

“You handy with a gun?”

Jim frowned. He didn’t know exactly how to answer that. “I’m a fair shot. I’m no gunslinger, though.”

“Good. How are your computer skills?”

“Good. I majored in computer science.”

Will’s eyebrows shot up. “Excellent! I suppose you can handle yourself in a fight?”

“Just what do you have in mind, Will?”

“Have you thought about working as a private investigator?”

“You mean, like you?” Jim asked, surprised.

“Yeah, like Carrie and me.”

Jim looked at the young woman. So she wasn’t a receptionist, as he’d first thought. But she didn’t appear particularly muscular. In fact, she looked quite feminine…and pretty, not that that mattered in her line of work.