7. Allison

Benni grabbedAmy's car seat and walked over to Spartan, who took it from her and put it in the back. Then he picked Amy up and secured her snugly in the back seat. As I settled in the front beside Spartan, I couldn't help but notice his expression. I hid my smile. Spartan looked like he might regret agreeing to accompany us.

His gaze kept drifting to the rearview mirror, a smile playing on his lips. Curious, I turned around to find Amy amusing herself by making faces at him. It was then that I noticed something striking – both Amy and Spartan shared a dimple on their right cheeks, paired with big blue eyes and dark lashes. Could Amy be Spartan's child?

"Where is your first stop?" Spartan inquired, turning his attention to me.

"Mr. Grover's place. He's been struggling with his breathing lately. I've urged him countless times to cut down on his pipe smoking, but he refuses to heed my advice. At eighty-six, he's rather stubborn," I explained.

"After that, we're heading to Jolene Webber's to check if she's expecting again. She hasn't mentioned anything to me, but I caught a glimpse of her when James drove me home from the hospital, and she appeared to be pregnant," I continued.

"Jolene, isn't she in her fifties?" Benni piped up from the back seat, her attention divided as she jotted something down.

"Yes, and her last pregnancy took a toll on her. Her husband hardly lifts a finger to help. I've told him before that he needs to pitch in more and assist with the kids, but he seems to believe it's solely Jolene's responsibility because he works full-time," I added, frustration evident in my tone.

Spartan's persistent glances in my direction finally prompted me to meet his gaze. "What is it?" I asked, feeling a flush creeping up my cheeks.

"For someone with no memory, you seem to be doing fine remembering everything that's happened around here."

I felt my face flame and covered it with my hands.

"Leave her alone. I filled her in on everything happening on the mountain," Benni said, trying to help me.

"Okay, please don't tell Ghost I remember everything. My memory came back the same day I woke up. The thing is, I didn't want to be away from Ghost. I regretted saying anything to him three days after I found him with that woman, but he was gone when I went to see him.

"That's right, Ghost rode with us to the base. He returned a week later. Couldn't you talk to him then?" Spartan asked, looking at me frowning.

I wanted to talk to him. He came to my house, and Ryan told him I had gone back to school. I had gone back to get my things because I was going to start my internship. But I guess Ghost thought I wasn't coming back. So he joined the service with his you guys. It was all screwed up," I admitted, feeling a pang of sorrow.

"Damn, Allison, why didn't you say something when we got out of the service? Or when he came home for a visit?" Spartan questioned, puzzled.

"Because I was embarrassed to say something. I didn't want him to think I was begging him to take me back, especially when I saw him with other women. I was still pissed every time I thought about it. And he dated other women."

"What's pissed?" Amy asked.

"Allison had to go pee-pee," Benni quickly explained, earning a chuckle from me, and Benni and Spartan burst into laughter.

"Please don't say anything. I want Ghost to get used to having me around, and then he won't kick me out of the house," I pleaded, feeling a mix of anxiety and misery.

"Ghost won't kick you out; he loves you too much for that. And I won't say a word. He dated other women to make you jealous," Spartan reassured me.

"Yeah, that's a bunch of malarkey," I said, feeling a sadness come over me.

"I won't say anything either," Benni said.

"Me either," Amy echoed, joining in.

"Just be cautious with what you say. If you don't want Ghost to suspect you remember everything, that is," Benni cautioned. "You were recalling details like you've never forgotten a thing. I don't understand why you don't just tell Ghost; he'd be thrilled to know you remember and still love him."

"I've always loved him. But things became so complicated, and I let it linger for far too long. Every time I resolved to confess, I'd see him with someone else, and the anger would resurface," I confessed.

"Allison, I didn't think you had an angry bone in your body," Spartan remarked, surprised. "And when you call us by our Delta Force names, it gives you away every time."

"Do you think he suspects?" I asked worriedly.

"No, you've been doing good at the house. You haven't even talked that much," Benni reassured me.

"I'll be more careful," I said, chuckling nervously.

"How are you feeling, going over these rough roads," Spartan asked, changing the subject.

"It's a little uncomfortable, but it's doable. Mr. Grover's house is just down this road. I hope he's in a better mood than the last time I saw him, that was about six months ago." We all got out of the vehicle, and I looked up when the screen door opened.

"It's about damn time you came back to the mountain," Mr. Grover said, stepping onto the front porch. "I heard you got shot up pretty bad working in that hospital in the city."

"First of all, it's not a city; it's a town. And yes, I did get shot up, but here I am, back on the mountain where I'm staying. How have you been?" I responded.

"I've been managing alright. It's the misses I'm worried about. She refuses to see a doctor, but I reckon she'll let you check her out," he remarked, walking around the broken boards on his porch. Then, turning to the others, he continued, "Benni, I have some stories for that magazine of yours. Liam, it's good to see you again."

"Hey, Buck, it's good to see you too," Spartan acknowledged as I walked inside to check on Flo. She was in bed in the middle of the day. That in itself told me something was wrong.

"Hello, Flo, I hear you're not feeling too great," I said, opening my bag.

"That old man of mine worries too much. Just a chest cold, but I'm glad you're back on the mountain. Tell me about that shooting," she said.

"I would if I could remember it."

"I heard you lost your memory, but I don't believe it. If you have amnesia, how would you know who to visit on your runs around the mountain," Flo said, coughing.

"Dang, do you think Ghost noticed that slip?" I muttered.

"If he did, he would have ignored it. I hear you two finally tied the knot," she chuckled, but it turned into a fit of coughing.

"I see the joy in your eyes again; that's all that matters," she said, patting my hand.

"Now take a deep breath and another one," I instructed, suspecting Pneumonia, but I also knew she wouldn't go to the hospital, so I had to make this room into a hospital room. I finished examining her; I looked at her.

"How is Mr. Grover doing?" I inquired. I always called him Mr. Grover because he was my math teacher, and that's all I ever called him.

"He's quit smoking his pipe. It's been hard for him, but he's been doing great for the last three months. What about my lungs?" Flo asked, her eyes fixed on me.

"It sounds like you have Pneumonia. I will give you a prescription, but I need you to make sure you get fresh air. Open the window when it's nice outside. Will Mr. Grover be able to pick up the medicine?" I asked.

"Yes, if you tell him to get it, he will. I need him to pick up a few other things while he's in town," she replied.

"I don't want you doing any housework or cooking until I say you can. How long have you been sick?"

"A couple of weeks."

"If it doesn't improve in a week, you'll have to get X-rays. I'll be back in two days. I don't want you to do anything except get well," I instructed, adjusting her pillow. "Now, tell me how Mr. Grover is doing?"

"He's having trouble with that left leg of his, and he's so stubborn he won't take anything for the pain as always. He doesn't trust the medicine companies," she started coughing again. His lungs are getting better since he stopped smoking that damn pipe," she explained, interrupted by another coughing fit.

"I'll place this trash can nearby; use it for any phlegm you cough up," I suggested.

"Yes, Doctor Allison," she grinned. "Now, spill the beans about you and James. How did you get married so fast?"

"When I first woke up, I couldn't remember what had happened or that James and I weren't together. I went back to sleep, and when I woke up again, everything came flooding back, including how foolish I'd been for six years. I want us to stay together forever, so James remains oblivious to the fact that my memory's returned. Do you think that's wrong of me?"

"No, you messed up and didn't know how to fix it. Now you have your chance. I would have done the same thing," Flo agreed.

"Thank you. It's just that I love him so much."

"I know you do, but don't worry about it anymore. Who came with you?" Flo inquired.

"Spartan, Benni, and Amy," I said.

"Does Liam know Amy is his daughter?" Flo asked.

"Not yet, but he's spending more time around them, so he'll have to notice, right? I mean, the dimple is a big giveaway."

"It won't take him long to see what's before his eyes. I wish I were around when he figured it out. If you are near them when he sees it, you'll have to tell me everything," Flo insisted.

I chuckled. "I'll call your medicine in. I have to leave, but I'll return in a few days."

"I'm glad you're back, Allison."

"Thank you, me too!"

I stepped outside. Amy was playing with the dogs, Benni was jotting down things Mr. Grover told her, and Spartan was counting his steps as he checked the broken porch. I figured he wanted to estimate how much wood he would need to fix it.

"Mr. Grover, Flo has pneumonia; I'm calling the drugstore to get her prescription. She can't do anything until I say she can. I will also call in your meds for your leg. I'll return in a few days to check on both of you. You have to take your medicine so that you can care for Flo while she's sick," I instructed.

"Don't you worry, I'll take care of Flo. Did she tell you she's been coughing for the last three months? That's why I stopped smoking my pipe," Mr. Grover shared.

"No, she didn't mention it. I want you to bring her to the clinic so I can do X-rays."

"Okay, what day?"

"Tomorrow at eleven. I'll meet you there."

"And if she won't go?"

"Then convince her somehow. Cry or whatever you need to get her to the clinic."

"I'll be back in a couple of days to start working on this porch, and I'll bring one of my brothers with me," Spartan offered.

"Since you have all that lumber going to waste in your garage, I appreciate your help with this old porch."

"Here you go, Mr. Grover. Thank you for catching me up on things here. Have you heard anything about someone living in Carly's old house?" Benni asked.

"Oh, I forgot about that. Yes, someone lives there, but you won't see anyone. No one answers the door, and no one leaves the place either. Are you stopping by there?"

"Yes, I just want to check on it," Spartan said. I saw the corner of his mouth tip up, and Benni chuckled, then pretended it was over something Amy said.

"Allison, you can fill me in when I see you what happened at Carly's old house," Mr. Grover said. We were all smiling as we climbed inside the vehicle.

"Where to next?" Spartan asked.

"Jolene Webber's. I'll say I'm stopping by to fill my water bottle. I don't want her to think I'm barging in on her personal business," I said, drinking the rest of the water in my bottle.

"Isn't that what you are doing?" Spartan questioned, looking over at me.

"I'm concerned about Jolene. I told her she shouldn't have more children; she had complications when I delivered her last child. The woman is fifty-six." It took fifteen minutes to reach Jolene's house.

"I'll ask Jolene some questions about the mountain so she can make some money," Benni stated, pocketing some money from her bag. I turned in time to see Spartan watching her in the rearview mirror.

"Do you pay people five hundred dollars for answering a few questions? Do they really believe it's worth that much money?" Spartan asked, frowning.

"It is worth it," Benni insisted.

Pulling in behind Joe's old truck, we found him working on it, his expression less than welcoming.

"Hello, Joe," Spartan greeted, peering under the hood. "What's going on with your vehicle?"

"The damn thing starts, but it dies on me when I've gone a few miles. I'm not working right now so I can't put it in the shop. What are you all doing?" Joe replied.

"We stopped by Mr. Grover's place so Allison could check on them. She has to fill her water bottle, and Benni has a few questions about the mountain that she wants to ask Jolene," Spartan explained.

"I'm surprised to see Allison out and about after taking four bullets into her body. Maybe she can talk Jolene into visiting her doctor. She won't listen to a word I say. She is so stubborn."

"If anyone can persuade her, it will be Allison. Why are you out of work?"

"Because it's tough for carpenters right now, money is tight. I have a couple of orders but I had to send after this special wood, out of State which won't be here for a few more weeks. What money they gave me upfront paid for the wood; I didn't realize it was that expensive."

"I wonder if you could do me a favor. I promised Mr. Grover I would redo his front porch; I think his back porch also needs to. The thing is, I told him I had a truckload of extra wood. Do you think you could build those porches for me? I'll pay the going rate; just don't let Grover know I'm paying you, or he won't want us doing it. Tell him you owed me a favor or something."

"Of course, I will. Thank you. This will make Jolene happy, and she can load the freezer up again."

"Where are the kids?"

"They went with Gary and his wife to the swimming hole. When do you want me to start on the porches?"

"Tomorrow, if you can. Begin with the back porch because Flo's is going for X-rays tomorrow, so they'll be using the front porch."

I overheard Spartan and Joe speaking to each other; I glanced at Benni, who had tears in her eyes. "Now, do you see why I love him?"

"We walked over to them, and I looked at Joe. "Jolene is pregnant. This is a dangerous time for her to be having a child. But she's at least seven months long."

"She's been taking those birth control pills."

"Well, something didn't work, and now we have to make sure she goes to the hospital to deliver this baby. She can't have the baby here at home. I know how much Jolene loves having babies, but this has to be the last one. Let's hope there are no complications."

Our final stop was Carly's old house. No smoke was coming from the smokestack, and no one answered the door when we knocked. We tried looking in the windows, but the curtains were pulled shut. Disappointed we left without seeing anyone.