By Diana McCollum
He
had just been dumped. Dumped by Elizabeth Barrett Steller, his college
sweetheart, and not for just any reason, but because he signed back on
with the Army.
Ben stomped to the car, his anger making it hard to get the key in the lock of his old 1989 Chevy pickup.
Yanking the door open, he slid into the driver’s seat. Leaning his
forehead against the steering wheel, he took deep breaths as he fought
to control his emotions. At twenty-four he could damn well make his own
decisions. The sweltering June sun only added to his temper.
God,
he felt like his heart had been ripped out. He had re-upped for her,
for a chance of a future together. He didn’t want to end up pumping gas
like his brother or doing some other menial job. That was no way to
support a wife and family. The Army would insure he could afford
college, and get a degree in computer science. He’d be able to get a VA
house loan someday and take care of his family. That didn’t matter to
Lizzie, spoiled self-centered Lizzie.
“Ben,
Ben…wait!” Lizzie ran towards the truck barefoot, her long brown hair
flying behind her. He paused for a second as he glimpsed the college
cheerleader he’d fallen in love with four years ago.
He turned the key and floored the gas. She’d had her say. His pride didn’t need any more abuse from her about how he
should live his life. He fingered the ring box in his pocket, as he
glanced in the rear view mirror. The road was empty. Good thing he’d
had sense enough not to ask her today.
Her words burned in his memory.
“Ben,
if you re-enlist there is no guarantee you won’t be sent to Iraq. I
can’t go through it again, not knowing if you are safe or not.” Lizzie
had turned on the tears, always a good move, only this time they didn’t
work. “I want to be with you. Don’t I mean more to you than the
Army?”
When
he told her why he had re-enlisted, she took her final stand with her
arms crossed, “I’m not waiting for you, Ben. You do what you have to
do, but I’m not waiting. I’m not an Army wife and I don’t plan on ever
being one. The stress was too much during your last deployment. When
you went missing for four days…I couldn’t eat or sleep. I almost lost
my job. I can’t do it again, I just can’t.”
She turned away from him and stared out the kitchen window. “Go. Just go.”
He
turned to leave. His hand on the doorknob, he paused, waiting for her
to tell him to stay, that they could work it out. She didn’t.
***
Six
months later in the Iraq desert the Cougar Ben was riding in set off an
IED. As Ben lay in the sand listening for the whirl of the Medevac
copter to arrive, he thought of Lizzie. He had thought of her almost
daily since the breakup. Once he got to the war zone, he’d tried to put
her out of his mind. The sadness of losing Lizzie gripped him and a
tear slid down his face.
The
fire in his core engulfed him. He gasped. The sweat ran down his
face, he wiped at it and came away with blood. Now with the potential
of death, he prayed, a low whisper of a prayer, “Lord, let me see her
one more time.”
Helicopter
rotors kicked up a cloud of dust and in seconds a medic was by Ben’s
side. His ears rang from the blast and that along with the noise from
the copter made it impossible to hear what the medic was saying. The
last thing he remembered was being strapped onto the litter and hoisted
into the Blackhawk.
***
Wounded
Warrior, that’s what the staff at Walter Reed Hospital called him. A
respectable title for what he and many other wounded soldiers had been
through. Ben worked hard at recovery. Physical therapy kicked his ass.
The
doctor came in carrying a small book. “This is yours soldier. It just
might have saved your life.” He handed the small Bible to Ben.
“What‘d you mean it saved my life?”
“Turn it over.”
Ben
turned it over and saw the jagged hole in the cover.” His eyes misted
over, his voice trembling with emotion he said, “Thanks Doc, thanks a
lot.”
His mom called that night. Her recuperation from a mild
stroke was as good as it was going to get. She had trouble with her
speech but the doctor hoped it would clear up eventually.
They
wanted him home, his family. When he could walk on his own, he’d be
going --not before. His goal was to walk off the plane on his mom’s
favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day.
***
On
February fourteenth he headed home. He walked off the jet, picked up
his luggage and hailed a taxi. He couldn’t wait to see the look on
Mom’s face when he gave her the box of chocolates and told her he was
taking her out to dinner. He chuckled remembering how much she loved
Valentine’s Day. That was their special day, ever since he drew her a
Valentine’s card in first grade.
When
the cab turned down his mom’s street Ben let out a low whistle. “Looks
like someone’s having a party.” Both sides of the street were filled
with cars. A few he recognized. His brother’s and Aunt Tilly’s were
parked in front of the house.
“You
can just drop me here.” He handed the cabbie the fare, and got out.
The heart shaped box of chocolates he’d bought for mom tucked under his
arm. He turned towards the house and stopped, not able to pass the car
that sat in the drive.
His eyes must be playing tricks on him. Nope, it was Lizzie’s unmistakable mini-Cooper in the driveway. What was she doing here?
He wanted to see her, but not now, not here. His heart beat out a
rat-a-tat-tat and his palms were suddenly sweaty. He glanced towards
the end of the street but the cab was gone. No escape. Man up, Ben. He readjusted his luggage and marched up the steps. Before he could ring the doorbell, the door swung open.
“Ben!” Mom said.
“Ben’s here.” She shouted over her shoulder. His mom embraced him, tears of joy slid down her rosy cheeks. “Come in, come in.”
The entryway was filled with pink heart shaped balloons. A Valentine’s party? The living room was filled with all his aunts, cousins and friends. There was definitely a party going on.
“What…” Did he forget a birthday or something? “Here, mom.” He held out the heart shaped box of chocolates.
Everyone
stared at him. His shirt collar seemed too tight, and he was beginning
to sweat. He looked at his mom for an explanation.
“Ben,
Ben dear boy,” She plopped down in an overstuffed chair and fanned her
heated face with her hands. “Why don’t you put your bags down in the
hall and get me a drink of water? I’m feeling a bit faint from all the
excitement.”
She
winked at Aunt Tilly. He tried to figure out why while he stashed the
bags in the hallway, and rounded the corner to the kitchen.
“Hello,
Ben.” Lizzie’s voice was tentative. She sat on a stool on the other
side of the counter, filling little bags with candy and tying them with
pretty pink ribbon.
“Lizzie…” He reached up and unbuttoned the top of his uniform shirt.
“I’m glad you made it home. I was so sorry to hear you were injured.” Her voice quivered as if she barely held back tears.
“What are you doing here?” She was so pretty. He couldn’t catch his breath. Well, he’d got his wish.
“I was invited.”
“Why?” He ran his fingers through his hair.
She stood up then and he could see she was expecting. His heart galloped in his chest.
“Your mom is giving us
a baby shower. I’m pregnant with your daughter.” She ambled over, and
placed his hand on her belly. “I found out the week after we broke up.
I didn’t tell you because one, we broke up and two, I wanted you to
focus on coming back alive.”
He felt a movement. His daughter! He removed the small bible from his pocket and held it out to her.
“Lizzie, will you marry me?”
A puzzled look crossed her face as she opened the Bible and stared at an engagement ring dented in half. “What…”
“I
was going to ask you before I left for duty. Then we fought, I kept
the ring in the pocket flap in the Bible. The Doc said it saved my
life, you saved my life.”
“Yes, yes I’ll marry you.” Her eyes sparkled with tears of joy.
© Diana McCollum 2012 All rights reserved.
A special thank you to artist Nick Pino
© Nick Pino 2012 All rights reserved.
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