9

Bev rang the hospital for what had to be the hundredth time. Well, at least the fifteenth. But still the nurse wouldn’t tell him how Jude was. More than frustrated now, he slammed the old fashioned receiver down on the phone, three times before it settled onto the cradle properly.

“Praying is a far better option than breaking my phone, you know.” Gran’s voice was mildly displeased as she leaned against the door frame.

“I’ve been doing that for hours,” Bev retorted. He glanced at the window. “There’s some people coming up the path.”

Gran nodded and headed into the hall as the doorbell rang.

Bev looked at his bandaged hands. He had rung the base and he had to go in that afternoon. His boss hadn’t sounded at all happy, but maybe he’d just caught him on an off moment.

Gran spoke from behind him. “Bev, the police want to talk to you about last night.”

Bev turned. Three people stood with her. DI Jenson and DS Holmes he knew, but the third man…he had Jude’s eyes.

Bev cut her off. “You must be Mr. Travis. Jude looks like you, sir.” He shook hands carefully, trying not to wince as pain seared through him. “What time did you leave? Jude said you live some way from here.”

“Five AM. I was hoping to see Jude, but I guess she’s at work.”

“Not exactly.”

Bev glanced at DI Jenson, wondering why Jude's parents hadn't already been told about the fire. It wasn’t his place to tell the man, but… “Jude’s in the hospital. There was a fire in the bakery last night. She had to stay in overnight. They won’t tell me how she is, even though we’re…” He broke off and paused. He changed his mind at the last second and didn’t say ‘we’re going out.’ “I pulled her out.”

The older man paled. “Was she hurt badly?”

“We’ve just come from the hospital,” DI Jenson said. “She broke her leg, a few minor burns, but she’ll be fine. They’re talking about sending her home this afternoon.”

Relief flooded Bev, mirrored in Mr. Travis’s face.

“I should get over to the hospital,” Mr. Travis said.

"I apologize for the fact you weren't told," DI Jenson said. "I'll be chasing up my colleagues and finding out why. I'll take you to see her once I've taken a statement from Bev. Visiting isn't until two, but they'll make an exception for me." DI. Jenson told him. “Visiting isn’t until two, but they’ll make an exception for me.”

“Thank you, Officer. Mrs. Bowen, I’ll do that quote for you in the meantime.”

Gran smiled. “Thank you. I’ll take you over there.”

Bev nodded to the two police officers. “Take a seat.” He sat on the edge of the chair. “What do you need to know?”

“Whatever you can tell us about the fire and wanting to take Miss Travis to the DIY store,” DS Holmes told him.

Bev took a deep breath and told them everything he remembered, emphasizing the stench of lighter fuel when he entered the burning building. “I just wish I’d insisted on her coming with me to the store.” He looked at his bandaged hands. “Not that I can decorate now.”

“Will the burns affect you going back to work?”

He shrugged. “No idea. I report to the camp medics later today. I just have to pray they don’t make me stay there.”

“Could they do that?”

Bev nodded. “Oh, yeah. I could get into a ton of trouble for what I did last night. Especially if it affects my operational status.” He paused. “Is Jude really all right?”

DI Jenson nodded. “She’s eager to get home, so yeah.” She stood as Gran and Mr. Travis came back into the room. “Are you ready to go?”

Mr. Travis nodded. He turned to Bev. “Thank you for getting Jude out.”

“You’re welcome.”

Gran saw them out and Bev sat back down, gazing out of the window. Mr. Travis didn’t have a bag, so he hadn’t picked up any clothes for Jude. She’d need them to come home in.

An idea sparked in Bev’s mind. He’d pick up some clothes for her and take them in on his way to the army camp. Tell the nursing staff he was her boyfriend and sneak in to see her for a few minutes. He’d have to go in uniform anyway.

“Bev you have a visitor,” Gran called.

“Coming.” He stood and was half way to the door, when Elliott Wallac came in. Bev grinned. “Hey, long time no see.”

Elliott gave him the bear hug they always shared and grinned back. “I don’t know. Survives half a tour in a war zone and almost dies at home. Nice one, Bev.”

Bev shrugged. “What can I say? I have a talent for it.” He, Elliott, and Elliott’s twin brother Joel, went way back. “How are you?”

“I’m great. What about you and this fire though? Word on the street is that it’s arson.”

“I thought it might be, but nothing has come from official channels yet. I’m fine, this will heal. I’m more worried about Jude and this stalker of hers.” He filled Elliott in quickly. “But what brings you over here? Surely you’re not that worried about me.”

Elliott chuckled. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve been meaning to come over all week, but never made it. I’m here for work actually, to give you a quote for some work over the road.”

“Jude’s place. I’ll take you.” Bev grabbed the keys. “Gran, I’m taking Elliott over to see the house. Won’t be long.” He walked over the road with Elliott. “I was going to decorate, obviously I can’t do that now.” He shrugged. “Anyway, Gran reckons I should get the kitchen and bathroom gutted and both rooms, along with the heating system, brought kicking and screaming into this century. Both date back to when the house was built. Jude’s dad is a kitchen fitter, but I’d like you to do the bathroom and heating if that’s possible.”

Once inside, Elliott began to measure and draw a basic plan of the house for the positioning of the radiators.

Bev leaned against the wall. “Gran tells me you’re getting married.”

“Yeah, so’s Joel. We’re having a double wedding on New Year’s Eve. Will you be around then?”

“I’m not sure. But if I am, I’d love to come. Just to see the confirmed bachelor doing something he’d sworn never to do, if nothing else. Who’s the lady?”

“Her name is Grace. She runs Carnation Street Florist now. Joel is marrying her sister, Faith.”

Bev smiled. “Grace and Faith. Sounds like there should be another sister called Hope.”

“There is, but no one has seen her in over nine years.” Elliott followed Bev up to the bathroom. “So, what’s the story with you and Jude?”

“She’s my adopter this tour. She sends me stuff and when I came to stay with Gran, we met and…” Heat rose in his cheeks.

“Are you blushing, mate?” Elliott teased. “Has the uptight Lt. Col finally fallen for a woman?”

Bev coughed to hide his embarrassment. “The same could be said of you. I thought we were going to remain single forever.”

“I changed my mind.”

He grinned. “Was there something wrong with the one God gave you?”

Elliott laughed. “Nothing wrong with my mind, or love, mate. Especially for the right woman.”

Bev leaned against the wall. “But don’t you find it hard?”

“Which bit in particular?”

“All the lads at work rave on about women and night life and…” He paused, stumbling over his words. “I mean, I haven’t kissed her properly yet, but what if I do and we can’t stop and…”

Elliott grinned. “Oh, you mean sex. It isn’t an issue. Both of us are content to wait until we’re married.” He stood and leaned against the wall next to Bev. “Don’t get me wrong, the temptation is there and far worse than either of us ever imagined. Just to keep kissing her and go further than we’re meant to. So we make it easy on ourselves. No kissing anywhere near a bedroom. In fact, that part of the house is off limits. Grace came up with a code word and if either of us feels we’re reaching the point of no return we use it.”

“Seriously?”

Elliott nodded. “Yes. And ‘pineapple’ usually works.”

“Pineapple? Great, now I’m craving pineapple upside down cake. I’ll have to ask Gran to make it for dinner tonight.”

“I’ll have the quotes to you tonight. I’ll drop them in on my way home.” He packed up his things. “You take care now.”

Bev saw him out and threw a few things into a bag, along with a change of clothes for Jude. Then he locked up and headed home.

Gran smiled. “All done?”

“Yeah. He’ll drop the quote off tonight. Can you give me a lift to the base? I have to go see my boss and the CMO.”

Gran nodded. “Sure. It’s a good job you’re based locally.”

“Yeah. And I really fancy pineapple upside down cake now. I’ll even buy the stuff while we’re on the base along with whatever else you need.”

“What’s in the bag?”

“Clothes for Jude. Can we drop them off on the way? I won’t stay long. Just need to go and change myself first.”

~*~

Jude sat on the bed, her father sitting next to her. She’d totally forgotten he was coming, so much had happened in the last eighteen hours or so. Dad was mid-story about Mrs. Dear from next door to them when Bev arrived—in uniform.

Wow, wow, wow, wow! Her mind screamed the same word over and over. It was only when he leaned in and closed her mouth that she realized her jaw had literally dropped and she was staring. “H—hi,” she managed.

He grinned, as if aware of the impact he had on her. “Hi. The nurse said I could have a couple of minutes after I told her I was on my way to report to the base.” He held up the bag. “I raided your house and brought you clothes, soap, talc. I just grabbed stuff, so it probably doesn’t match or anything.”

“Thank you. A—are you leaving?” A hole appeared underneath her, sending her stomach dropping several feet.

He shook his head. “Just reporting into the CMO after last night, is all. But visiting isn’t for several hours yet.” He winked. “Pulling rank works on occasion. And I didn’t have to lie to the nurse either.” He put the bag on the bed. “When do you get out of here?”

“This afternoon.”

“Then come to ours for dinner. I’m taking Gran shopping, and I know she won’t mind.”

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

Bev hesitated, then leaned in and kissed her briefly. Fire flamed through her from her lips to her core. Then as soon as the kiss began it was over and he was pulling away. “See you later, gorgeous. Mr. Travis.”

Jude sat stunned, fingers covering her lips, as Bev sauntered out of the ward.

Dad coughed. “He seems like a nice fellow. Army so I see. And a Lt. Col.”

“Yeah…”

“And you like him.”

She squirmed. “I can’t believe the first time he kisses me it’s in front of you.”

Dad grinned. “First time I kissed your mother was in front of your grandfather at a church camp. It means he’s confident about how he feels about you. Just make sure of your feelings for him before committing to anything.”

Heat rose in her face. “Dad…” But the protest sounded lame even to her. “My heart skips a beat, my stomach does cartwheels, and my knees go weak.” She paused. She’d always been able to tell her father everything, but this?

He took her hand. “Jude, you’ll always be my little girl. Even when you have kids of your own. And speaking of kids…”

She rolled her eyes. “I know, wait until I’m married. I have this top…” She broke off as she spotted it in the bag Bev had brought in. She pulled it out and held it up. Black adorned with bright pink writing, it read ‘I love my husband, and I haven’t even met him yet.’ Had he realized what he’d picked up?

“I love it,” Dad said, smiling ear to ear.

“Did he do it deliberately?”

“I doubt it. He said he’d just grabbed things at random, but so appropriate he chose that.”

Jude looked at it. Husband? Would that be him?