On a limb with Claudia

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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTEEN

Charlie stopped in his tracks.

Sandy was crying about… him.

He took a step back into the hall. Unbidden, his mind flashed on Sandy’s bright face. She was the light of his life. No matter what he did, she had always loved him. He remembered seeing her outside the Hotel Teatro. She was so small, tiny compared to him, but the bright beacon of her essence drew him to her like a magnet. He had ran to her just to be near her, by her side. Wherever Sandy stood was a perfect place for Charlie.

He stared at Sandy and Aden for a while before he felt a hand on his arm. He looked down to see Nash. Nash gestured toward his room. When Nash opened the door, Buster zoomed into the hallway. Noelle was sitting on Nash’s bed. Feeling left out, Charlie anger and attitude returned. He grunted at Noelle.

“We hoped we’d catch you,” Nash said.

“Catch me?” Charlie grunted.

“Delphie talked to me after dinner. She said you were leaving tonight and if you left…” Noelle panted with excitement. “You would die and Sandy would die and the baby would die. Nash set his alarm so we could stop you.”

“Why do you care if I die?” Charlie asked. “Sandy’s fine.”

“Sandy’s in trouble,” Nash whispered.

[...]

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Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and SIXTEEN

Four days later
Tuesday — 11:20 A.M.
Children’s Hospital

“Where am I?” Sissy said as she sat up in her hospital bed.

“Children’s Hospital,” Sandy said.

Sandy sat down on her little sister’s bed.

“How did I get here?” Sissy asked.

“You don’t remember?” Sandy asked.

“I remember seeing Charlie. I remember meeting Noelle and Nash and Teddy and his Dad. He’s your pilot. Right?”

“He is.”

“I remember thinking I was going to see you!” Sissy said. “We went to some place…”

She shook her head.

“Everyone ordered burgers and fries,” Sandy said. “You ate most of yours then collapsed. You had a seizure at the restaurant. The EMTs thought you were stable but you had another seizure in the ambulance.”

“A seizure? I’ve never had a seizure before,” Sissy said.

“You almost died.” Tears ran down Sandy’s face. “Well, you did die in the ambulance. They were able to get your heart started. You…”

Sandy shook her head. Her hand swiped at her tears.

“My heart didn’t stop! You’re making this up,” Sissy said. “I’m not even sick!”

Overcome, Sandy began to cry into her hands. She’d promised herself she’d be the grown up, she wouldn’t cry, but this was too hard, too painful.

“You’re making it up,” Sissy repeated.

Sandy raised her head to catch her sister’s eyes. She shook her head.

“Why did I almost die?” Sissy’s voice was no louder than a whisper.

“Because you haven’t been eating,” Sandy said. “Why, Sis? Why? Why would you stop eating?”

[...]

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Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and FIFTEEN

“You’re a prostitute right?” the only brunette at the table said.

“No, she was a prostitute,” the platinum blonde woman said. “Remember?”

“We certainly can see how you tricked Aden into marrying you,” the first woman nodded to Sandy’s belly.

“Tricked Aden? What are you talking about?” Sandy asked. “I met Aden…”

“As a prostitute. Yes we know,” the brunette woman said. “Can’t blame a single man for seeking a little company.”

“Aden’s never seen a prostitute.” Sandy jumped to her feet. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s alright. We’re very liberal here,” the platinum blonde woman said. “We just don’t want your… values to influence our daughters.”

“Maybe you should speak with your daughters and not me.” Sandy turned away from the table and said, “I think…”

“Sandy!” Bambi, Honey’s boss, gave Sandy a hug. “I’m so glad to see you. I don’t know a soul. My goodness, you’re shaking like a leaf.”

Bambi toward the table.

“What did you do?” Bambi asked the platinum blonde woman. “This is Aden’s wife, the mother of his children.”

“We know what she is,” the brunette said.

[...]

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Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and FOURTEEN

Thursday early morning — 4:52 A.M.

Charlie wandered down the hall toward the living room. He wanted to talk to Aden when no one was around. Last night, he’d heard Sandy say she was too tired to get up when Aden left for work at five in the morning. Aden had assured her he could get his own breakfast. She’d laughed and made pumpkin muffins.

And Charlie had made a plan. Not wanting to miss his chance, he’d barely slept. When he heard Aden moving around, he got dressed and waited until Aden came out of the bedroom. Sliding into the living room, he saw Aden tying his shoes with one foot on a dining room chair.

Aden had a black box on his ankle.

“What’s that?” Charlie said.

Aden looked up at Charlie and finished tying his wing tips. He pulled out a chair and nodded for Charlie to sit down.

“Join me for breakfast?” Aden asked. “You look like you have something to say. I bet your sister’s pumpkin muffins will make this easier.”

Charlie nodded and sat down. Aden set two muffins on Charlie’s plate. He took some eggs and passed them to Charlie. For a few minutes, they ate in silence.

“The box is an ankle monitor,” Aden said. “I’m on house arrest for beating up Sandy’s biological father.”

“Did you beat him bad?” Charlie asked.

“I did,” Aden said.

Charlie raised his hand. Laughing, Aden gave Charlie a high five.

“I did the deed. I have to pay the price,” Aden said. “I also hurt and betrayed Sandy. I’m much less proud of that.”

Not wanting to know anymore, Charlie nodded.

“Your Uncle sentenced me,” Aden said.

“Uncle Howard?” Charlie laughed. “How did you get that unlucky?”

“It’s a long story,” Aden said. “Suffice it to say, your uncle and I have some serious history.”

“You’re lucky he didn’t throw you away for good,” Charlie said.

“Three months in prison. No good time,” Aden said.

“Prison?” Charlie asked. “That sucks.”

“I ran into my brother there,” Aden said. “Let me tell you about suckage.”

[...]

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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and THIRTEEN

Wednesday early morning — 2:47 A.M.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

“Jill.” Jacob shook her shoulder. “Jill.”

Lying next to him, Jill was sweating and shaking her head. Her hands were up near her face and she was crying. Her lips were moving. He leaned close to hear what she was saying.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Jill whispered.

“Jill!” Jacob said again. He shook her shoulder.  “Wake up!”

Jill opened her eyes. Seeing Jacob’s face, she threw herself into his arms and cried. He stroked her hair and her back. He kissed her neck. When she seemed to have stopped crying, he leaned back. She was asleep. Confused, he lay her back on her pillow. Her head had not hit the pillow when she started crying and shaking her head.

“Jill!”

Jacob’s voice was insistent. Jill opened her eyes. She looked confused.

“Jacob, what’s wrong?” she asked.

He clasped her to him.

“What is it?” she asked. “What happened?”

[...]

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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and TWELVE

Monday evening — 6:45 P.M. MDT

“Ok,” Valerie said. “Let’s go through it one more time.”

She and Delphie stood in a bathroom at DIA. They kept getting interrupted as women wanted to take Valerie’s picture or get an autograph. Valerie laughed and introduced Delphie to them.

“They’re going to put me in the plastic cage,” Delphie said. “They have to because of what happened before. But you’ll be there.”

“I will,” Valerie said.

“Right,” Delphie straightened her back. “I can do this.”

Valerie hugged Delphie tight to her.

“You didn’t have to come all this way,” Delphie said.

“Yes, I did,” Valerie said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help the first time.”

“What did the movie people say? What about Mike?”

“Mike was ready to champion his Delphie!” Valerie laughed. “And the movie people flew us here to help. We’ve all been through this with TSA. Everyone has some awful experience. They wanted me to help if I could. Especially since it’s my fault.”

“Your fault? How?” Delphie asked.

“I forgot to tell you that the fancy Italian bras set off the metal detectors.”

“I mostly never wear one,” Delphie said.

“You have since your stroke,” Valerie said.

“I have,” Delphie smiled. “I wonder why.”

[...]

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Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and ELEVEN

Monday Evening – 7:30 P.M. PDT

“Did you see that?” Jill asked.

“The bright flashes of light?” Jacob asked.

“Like a million sparklers going off all a once,” she said.

“Yes, I saw them.”

“Wow,” Jill said.

She nestled her head in his arms. He kissed her bare neck and shoulders. They were entwined in the back corner of the hotel elevator.

“Are we off the ground?” Jill asked.

“A couple feet,” he said. “Sorry.”

They lowered to the ground. He shifted to disengage and buttoned his jeans. She kissed his lips. For a moment, they were lost in the passion that had levitated them. Jill sighed and he stroked the sheer back of her skimpy dress.

“Did that happen last time?” Jill asked.

“Yes,” he said.

[...]

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Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and TEN

One week later
Monday mid-day — 11:30 A.M.

“So you know who I am,” Nash said.

He sat down next to Charlie’s bed at Denver Health.

“You’ve got to be the gym guy’s son,” Charlie said. “You look just like him.”

“The gym guy?”

Nash wrinkled his face. He’d spent the entire bike ride to Denver Health pumping himself up for this conversation. He wasn’t going to take any crap from this Charlie guy. Teddy stood near the door to back him up.

“I don’t know his name,” Charlie shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think Sandy ever told me his name.”

“Aden Norsen,” Nash said. “I’m Nash.”

Nash held out his hand and Charlie shook it.

“My Mom and Dad were talking about you coming to live with us,” Nash said. “Sandy… I mean Mom really wants you to live with us. Dad will do anything for Mom, so…”

“I don’t know anything about it, bro,” Charlie said. “I’m supposed to get out of here today or tomorrow. Seth said I could live with him but Sandy wants me to go to rehab. That’s what I know.”

Nash opened his mouth to say something.

“Wow, you look like the pilot,” Charlie said to Teddy. “Who are you?”

“Ted Jakkman,” Teddy said.

“Yea, Jakkman,” Charlie said. “Sergeant Jakkman. I bet he’s your Dad.”

“My Dad’s a Captain,” Teddy said. “He’s the best pilot in the US Air Force.”

“You must be very proud,” Charlie said with dripping sarcasm.

Defensive, Teddy moved forward to hit Charlie. Nash held him back. The boys shared a long look. Teddy went back to the door and Nash sat down again.

[...]

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Recap of the Beginning and character summary
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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and NINE

Monday evening — 6:45 P.M.

“You’re his…” the Emergency Room resident said.

Sandy, Jill and Jill’s mother, Anjelika, were sitting in a family waiting area at Denver Health when the resident approached. He was looking for Charlie’s mother. Sandy jumped to her feet to speak with the resident, but he recognized her from the newspaper stories about her father. The resident didn’t want anything to do with her. Sandy wrapped her arms around herself for comfort.

“Sister,” Sandy said.

“Where is his mother?” the resident asked.

“She’s out of the picture,” Sandy said. “I’m all he has.”

“I don’t think I can give you an update. I…” the resident started.

“Listen,” Anjelika smiled her beautiful smile. “The mother doesn’t want her children. And we are paying your bill. In order to pay that bill, we need information to make decisions.”

Taken back by Angelika’s beauty and elegance, the resident stumbled over words.

“Uh… We could get in real trouble. We’re only supposed to release information to legal guardians or…”

“I see,” Anjelika smiled again. “May I speak with your supervisor? We were told that we needed to make decisions right away. That is, of course, after my daughter guaranteed payment.”

“He’s sixteen,” Seth’s deep voice came from the door. “You don’t need a guardian to make his medical decisions. Since I assume he’s unconscious, his next of kin will have to decide for him.”

“Seth!” Sandy said.

Seth hugged her.

“How is Charlie?” he asked.

“We don’t know,” Sandy said. “This… doctor won’t tell us.”

[...]

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Recap of the Beginning and character summary
Looking for the beginning? Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED and EIGHT

Monday early morning — 5:25 A.M.

Jill woke with a start. She wasn’t sure what had startled her, but Jacob wasn’t in bed. She lay there for a moment before remembering that he wasn’t working at Lipson Construction anymore.

“Jacob?”

Hearing an odd sound, she got out of bed to find him.

“Jacob?”

Jill checked Katy’s room. Sometimes when Katy had a vision, Jacob would stay with her until she was settled.

No Jacob.

Wandering out into the main loft area, she turned off a light in the kitchen. Jacob wasn’t in any of their living areas. She turned to look at the rooms. He’d been so excited to have another child. Maybe he was planning a nursery. She stuck her head in the empty room.

No Jacob.

She heard the sound again. Thump, thump, thump.

The door to her office was closed. She always closed her office when she was done with work or school work. Standing at the door, she paused.

What if he was doing something she didn’t want to know about? She’d heard all kinds of stories about men who went to chat rooms or played games on the Internet or maybe he was downloading porn.

She heard the sound again and smiled. The sound was Sarah, Jacob’s Labrador’s tail hitting the floor when she wagged. Thump, thump, thump. Jill opened the door.

Jacob was working on her computer with Sarah under his feet.

[...]

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