A Soldier's Return. Judy Christenberry

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СКАЧАТЬ there in a few minutes.”

      He hung up the phone. “You were right. That was Bill, Jeff’s partner. Rebecca went into labor while she and Vanessa were shopping. She’s at Presbyterian.”

      “Good heavens!” Vivian exclaimed. “Everything’s happening at once. I’ll get my purse. Carrie, can you call Rachel?”

      Carrie nodded, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Jim. He looked like an inmate waiting for the right moment to break out.

      Sure enough he said, “I’ll check in with you tomorrow, Will,” and edged toward the door.

      Vivian ordered, “Stop!”

      Jim came to an abrupt halt. “Yes, ma’am?”

      “Do you have a fear of hospitals?” Vivian asked gently.

      Carrie almost laughed aloud at Jim’s confused expression. “No, ma’am.”

      “Then come with us. Rebecca will be thrilled that you’ve arrived in time for the birth of her second child.” She tucked her hand into Jim’s arm and dragged him out of the library.

      Will grinned at Carrie and offered his arm. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, Carrie, since Vivian captured the captain. Shall we go?”

      “Yes, but we’d better tell Betty about Rebecca and to put dinner on hold.”

      “Good thinking. It may be a long night.”

      VIVIAN HAD INSISTED they all ride in the same car. On the way, Carrie had called Rachel, but Rebecca had already called her. Rachel and her husband were flying in.

      Vivian hadn’t stopped talking since she met the captain. “What a wonderful surprise to find you here, Jim. The girls will be so happy!”

      Jim was sitting in the back seat beside Carrie. She had yet to see him relax, or to see him smile. She wanted him to be happy to be with his family again, but she wasn’t sure what his response was yet. They were fairly overwhelming. Maybe it was too much to expect him to show his emotion so soon.

      When they reached the hospital, Jim tried to hang back, but Vivian insisted he escort her. “The second floor is for maternity,” she announced as they entered the elevator. “I know because our baby was born here five months ago. J.D. proposed to Rachel in the waiting room that night, too.”

      Carrie caught Jim’s glance at her, as if he was acknowledging what she’d earlier told him. Either that or asking her to rescue him, she thought with a grin.

      When they reached the waiting room, there was no one there. Vivian hurried up to the nurse’s desk. The nurse told her what room Rebecca was in.

      “But she already has two people in there. You should wait until one of them comes out.”

      Vivian turned to her family. “I’ll go get them. It won’t take but a minute. Wait right here, Jim.”

      Jim backed away as soon as Vivian disappeared. “I’m not sure I’ll be welcome tonight. Perhaps I should go to the hotel and—”

      “You seem uncommonly fond of your hotel room,” Will teased.

      Jim shrugged his shoulders. “Compared to my normal accommodations, it’s pretty special.”

      Carrie felt she had to speak. “Jim—I mean Captain Barlow,” she hurriedly said when he raised his eyebrow, “Vivian would be terribly hurt if you left. And Vanessa would cry. Please stay.”

      His deep brown eyes looked into hers, as if questioning her honesty. Finally he gave her a nod. “I’ll wait.”

      He was a man of few words, Carrie decided, but she nodded in return, adding a smile. At least he’d agreed to stay.

      Will guided him toward some of the seats. “You must get tired of standing at attention so much,” he said.

      “Not really,” Jim said stiffly, still standing.

      Carrie desperately wanted to know more about this man. Though it was none of her business, she asked, “What made you leave the marines now?”

      She thought he was going to dive for a foxhole to avoid answering her question. But she kept her gaze focused on him, hoping he would explain himself.

      Finally he said in a low voice, “I’d been thinking about getting out for a while now. I was afraid I’d die before I saw my sisters again. I’d already been wounded twice. I figured the third time would kill me.”

      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 СКАЧАТЬ