Love From the Ashes (9 page)

Bethany nodded.  “I know that I said I was too old for stories, but that one was pretty good.”

He stifled a laugh.  “I told you that you would enjoy it.”

He cleared his throat, causing the kids to look up.  Frankie jumped up and rushed to him.  “Daddy.”  She gave him a hug and then each followed.

“I’ve missed you guys.”

“We missed you too Daddy.”  Joey began.  “Becca just read us a story.  It was really good.”

He smiled and turned to Rebecca.  “I see that.  I’m sorry to just enter unannounced, but I knocked and no one answered.”

She waved off his apology and laughed.  “No worries; I suppose we were all into the story.  It’s always been my favorite; ever since I was a little girl.”

“How were the kids today?”

She looked around and her eyes beamed as if she was a proud parent.  “You have a wonderful set of kids Thomas.  They made me feel like I’ve known them all of their lives.”

He grinned at that.  “I am happy to hear that.  I think they’re all pretty special.  We better get going.  I have to get everyone in bed for school tomorrow.”

Bethany groaned.  “Not everyone.”

He just smiled; he didn’t want to argue with her, not when the day seemed to have gone so well.  “I’ll help you load up your van.”

They grabbed the school bags and car seats and headed out to the van.  They all were silent as they all piled into the van.  Thomas couldn’t help but feel the moment turn from easy into awkward.  He wondered if Rebecca felt it too.  When he glanced her way, he was sure she did.  “Are you sure I can’t pay you something?”

“You can make it up to me.”  She laughed.

He nodded.  “I will; believe me.  Thank you!”  He smiled and got in the car.  He looked in the rearview mirror and smiled at his children.  “So, tell me about your day.”  He pulled out of the driveway and found himself watching Rebecca as her face disappeared from his mirror.  Each one of them was enthusiastically describing their day.  “Is that so?”  He laughed out loud.  “Now, let’s try one at a time.”  It was the best part of his day hearing about them.  It made him feel like he was never away from them to begin with.

Rebecca had contemplated many different reasons why she shouldn’t tell Adam she would go with him to his family reunion.  For starters she didn’t want him to think that it was any
thing more than her doing a friendly gesture.  Plus, she was worried how it would look to the outside person.  She had never really thought about that; until recently when something had changed.  She was worried that Thomas would get the wrong idea.  She was going to have to tell him, because she would need him to make arrangements to get the kids earlier on Friday.  She realized she didn’t have to tell him the truth. However, lying about where she was going just seemed wrong; even though she didn’t owe him anything, but the courtesy of being kind to his kids.  When Wednesday had rolled around, she was certain that she was going to tell Adam that she couldn’t make his reunion.  She would make him understand, and if she had to use the fact that she was watching Thomas’s children, she would.

She was pretty proud of herself that she had avoided him, but she decided she would call him after the kids were picked up and just tell him that it wasn’t going to work out.  She dished out their supper of hamburgers and French fries and then took a seat.  “I was thinking after we eat supper we could watch a movie; any suggestions?”

“Hm…”  Bethany seemed to be thinking.  “What kind of movies do you have?”

Rebecca laughed.  “I’m a regular movie store.  You name it; I probably have it.”

Kari’s eyes got big.  “Do you have Alvin and the Chipmunks?”

“Which one?”

“Any of them; we like them all.”  She replied excitedly.

“I do believe so.”  She turned to
the other kids and they were smiling.  “Is it agreed that Alvin and the Chipmunks is the movie of choice?”

Bethany nodded.  “I think that Kari was right.  It’s perfect.”

“Okay; then eat up and I’ll put it on the television in the living room.”  Rebecca thought that the past few days had been going exceptionally well.  After she had gotten over the initial fear zone, she was able to relax and enjoy the fact that she had some people to spend time with on a daily basis.  They all got along great and the company was much appreciated.  When they were done eating the children happily jumped on the couch and got into their positions.  “I’ll put in the first one and if you guys get done with that before your dad comes, we’ll put in number 2.”  She turned to them as the previews started.  “Do you want popcorn?”

Bethany turned to her brother and sist
ers.  “How about a little later?  I think it’s unanimous that we’re full.”

She smiled.  “It’s a deal.”  She took a seat in the chair and they all settled into watching the movie.  It had barely just begun when her cell phone rang.  She grabbed it and hurried from the room.  They all looked interested in the show, so she figured a few minutes away from them wouldn’t hurt anything.  “Hello?”  She whispered as she barely exited the living room.

“Hey beautiful.”  She rolled her eyes as she collapsed into the kitchen chair.  “Are you there?”

“Yeah I’m here Adam.  I was going to call you later.”

“This way you won’t have to.  I think you’ve been avoiding me the past couple of days.”

“No I haven’t;” she lied.  “I’ve just been busy.”

“I understand.  I just got a call from my mom and she was wondering if she should set that extra place at the dinner table; what should I tell her?”

There
were no escaping things now; she had to tell him.”

“Actually, that’s why I was going to call you.  I have given it careful consideration and I’m sorry; I can’t make it.”

There was a short pause on the other end of the line, but she could hear his light breathing and so she was aware he was still there.  “I…hm…”

“I’m sorry, but since I watch the Campbell kids, there’s just no way around it.”

“You mean to say that he couldn’t rearrange things to get them earlier, just one night?”

She didn’t expect him to speak the obvious.  She was sure Thomas would be more than happy to figure something else out, but she didn’t want to go.  She thought about the truth, but in the moment she felt this was the best way around the situation.  “I have obligations; I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Yeah, I know all about your obligations.  It’s easy to forget when someone does you a favor.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I just remember a couple of weeks ago where the shoe was on the other foot.  I helped you out, but don’t worry about having to repay the favor.”

She let out a breath; she knew he was right and she hated that.
She had done many things that she didn’t want to; what was one more?  She would just have to tell Thomas so that he could figure something else out for Friday evening.  “Fine; you have a point.  What time will you pick me up?”

“I was thinking 6:30.”

“How should I dress?”

“It’s just casual.  Jeans would be fine.”

“Okay; see you tomorrow at school. 

“
Rebecca?”

“Yes?”

“You won’t regret it; you will have a good time, you’ll see.”  He hung up the phone before she could say anything else.  She was already regretting it, but there was nothing she could do about that.”

____________________

Thomas was glad that the day was slow.  He was working on a project and it was nice to finally get into it.  “Officer Campbell, here’s the file you requested.”

“Thank you Jose.”  He grabbed the file from the
newly hired teenager.  He was there after school let out, and he seemed very helpful.  Especially in instances where he wanted to keep a low profile.  It wasn’t illegal, but he wasn’t a detective or investigator and people might question his motives.  Before Jose walked away from his desk, he stopped him.  “Remember, please keep this between us.”  When he first began the search to see if the police station would have any information, he was shocked; to say the least.  The only reason a police station would get involved is if they felt there was more to the story than just a person getting killed while serving in the military.  When he saw his name pull up in the archives, it made him question what really happened all those years ago.  Jose nodded and walked away.  Thomas looked at the folder; Robbie Parker’s name was written at the top.  He opened the file, suddenly feeling like he was snooping where he didn’t belong.  Probably because he was snooping where he didn’t belong.  It was just that when he thought about Rebecca and her story, he could tell that she still wanted answers.  He couldn’t blame her; he would have been the same way.  He leafed through the papers until he saw Robbie’s death certificate.  He glanced under the cause of death; it read
unknown.
  He found it hard to believe with all of the men in the Army, how no one would have seen something. 
If there were others killed at the same time; do those also say unknown?
  The thought entered his mind repeatedly as he went to the next paper.  Someone had to know something and he was determined to find out whom.  He stopped when he saw the name of the Army officer that headed Robbie’s troop.  It said that he was located in Tennessee.  He knew it was a long shot that he would still be living in the same residence and that he would still have the same number, but he had to take the chance.

He looked around and saw that there wasn’t anyone paying attention to him and he dialed up the number on the paper. 
“Hello?”

The voice that appeared on the other line was that of a woman.  He knew it was a foolish notion, but defying all commonsense he proceeded.  “Hello.  I’m Police Officer Thomas Campbell, I was wondering if there’s a Carl Murphy available?”

There was a hesitation coming from the other side of the phone and he almost repeated his question.  “Did you say Officer?  Did he do something wrong?”

She almost seemed hopeful tha
t it was bad news for Carl.  “No; nothing like that.  I just have some questions for him.  Is he available?”

“Oh…” the disappointment was clear.  He wondered if he was on a ground that he didn’t want to pursue.  “Carl doesn’t live here anymore.  We divorced about 8 years ago.  That no-good for nothing loser…”

“Do you know where I can reach him?”  He quickly cut her off.  He wasn’t interested in hearing how much she despised her ex.

“What’s this in regards to?  How did you get this number?”

“I’m sorry ma’am; I can’t give you the details.  However, I got it off of a file that he was mentioned in from about 10 years ago.  I really need to speak with him.  Do you have his contact information?”

“Well, if you can find him…more power to you.  I have been trying to locate him for 8 years now.  He took off and left me in debt up to my eyeballs. 
I am owed about $48,000 in back child support.  The last I heard someone said that they heard he moved to Indiana, but I haven’t been able to find him.”

His heart fell; it was a dead end and who knew if that was even correct.  “Okay; well thank you for
your time.  If you hear anything, will you give me a call?”  He rattled off his number, but he wasn’t hopeful that she would actually contact him.  He hung up the phone and turned to his computer.  He typed
Carl Murphy
and
Indiana
into the search fields.  It took several minutes before it finally stopped thinking and when he saw the results he began to chuckle.  There were over 12,000 listings for Carl and C. Murphy.  It was hopeless; he knew it would be destined for failure.  He put the papers into the folder and placed the folder inside his desk.  He didn’t know why he didn’t just have Jose put it back in its original location.  He supposed he was holding out that one day he would be able to get the answers; no matter how much it didn’t seem possible.

____________________

Rebecca looked over at Joey and Judy; they were both sound asleep on the floor as the 2
nd
Alvin and the Chipmunk
movie played on.  She had made them popcorn and the two youngest had fallen asleep shortly afterward.  It was later than Thomas normally was, but no one really seemed to notice; except for Rebecca.  She didn’t mind, but sometimes it worried her if she hadn’t heard from him; in this case he hadn’t called all day.  She figured it was largely, in part, to the fact that he was getting used to the idea that Rebecca was taking care of them.  She heard the sound of his van pull into the driveway and she half expected for everyone to jump up and run to the door, but they were each so in tuned to the movie that they didn’t seem to notice.  She got up when she heard a soft tap on the door.  If she hadn’t have been so close, she believed she would have missed the sound.  She opened the door and smiled at him standing there.  She still felt butterflies seeing him in his uniform; she figured that would always be the case.  “Hi,” he replied softly as he entered the foyer.  “I’m sorry that I am so late.  Today was pretty slow, but I guess I lost track of time.”

“That’s quite alright.  The kids are watching a movie.  Well, that is except for Judy and Joey.”  She laughed.  “They must have been pretty tired.”

“You look kind of tired too.”  He smiled, but she could feel her face turning red.

She instantly looked away.  “I’m sure I’m a mess; it’s been a long…”

“You look beautiful; I just meant I am sure that it would have been nice if I would have been here sooner.”

She cocked an eyebrow; it was the first really personal compliment he had ever made her. 
The sad part was he didn’t even really seem to notice.  If he did, he was doing a wonderful job of hiding it.  “I didn’t mind.”

He was about to head to the living room, but she grabbed his arm.  He looked down at her hand and she removed it like it had just touched a hot stove.  “Are you alright?  You look a bit flushed.”

The night wasn’t going well.  First she looked tired, and now flushed?  “Yeah, I’m fine.  I guess I am a little tired.  I need to talk to you about Friday.”

“Sure.”

“I was wondering if you could possibly pick up the kids earlier.  I have…” she paused; she didn’t know if she wanted to call it a date.  “I have a previous engagement.’  She nearly choked out the words; he truly was going to think she was a total psycho.  “I just need them picked up at 6:00; if you don’t mind?”

He looked at her intently; she wondered if he could read her mind
.  “Um…sure.  That’s not a problem at all.”  He watched her as if he was about to ask what the previous engagement was.  She prayed to herself that he would just drop it.  “You said 6:00?”  She nodded.

“I know that I didn’t really give you notice, but it wasn’t really something that I intended on doing.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation Rebecca.  You are helping me out and one night isn’t going to kill them to have to get someone else.  So, I will be here as close to 6:00 as I possibly can.”

“Thank you.”  They walked towards the living room and peeked inside.

She saw a smile cross his face.  “I’ll put the car seats in and let them continue to watch the movie.”  When they walked outside he started to laugh.  “They’ve seen that movie about 100 times.  They can never get enough of it.”

She chuckled.  “I’m just glad that I had a movie they
were interested in watching.”