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Chapter 40: THE POUNDING OF FEET ON A TREADMILL
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Beast Chapter 41: DOWN HOME
Ashleigh got out of her car Sunday afternoon. She had roamed around Christopher's house missing him and had a desire to do something that would make her feel even closer to him. Now she was wondering what in the hell she had been thinking. She lingered there for a moment and considered getting back in though she said she wouldn't do that. But she considered it. Then one of the kids called her name. "Miss Ashleigh!"She plastered on a smile and headed to the little girl; Rachel. "Hi Miss Ashleigh! Where's Uncle Chris?" The other kids surrounded her in curiosity. "Your uncle is still on his mission.""Aww." They began to disburse. Rachel stuck with her and slipped her little hand into Ashleigh's. "I don't like when he goes away for a long time," she said. Ashleigh gave her small hand a gentle squeeze. "I don't either." The two of them headed for the side door and Ashleigh took a deep breath, knocking briefly before poking her head in. "Hello?"Five sets of heads turned to he
Beast Chapter 42: HIGH-SIDDITY
On Sunday Ashleigh sat in Mrs. Jameson's kitchen with the other ladies. She'd come every single weekend since that first time she'd shown up hesitantly on the doorstep like a little stray kitten. Surprisingly, it wasn't out of a sense of duty. This family made her feel closer to Christopher in the sound of their accented voices, the stories they told about him, and the resemblance that they all bore to each other. And in turn, she began to learn and understand them. For instance, she found that they weren't just regulated to the kitchen to cook for the men. The kitchen was their gathering place. They drank their coffee or soda, had a slice of cake or pie and they talked about the happenings of the past week. They were funny, sweet and entertaining, and best of all they loved having a new person to tell their old stories to.Ashleigh was making the meatloaf as she listened to tales about the wildcats that sound like women screaming and ghost stories about people who had died but then b
Beast Chapter 43: HOMECOMING
Doubt crossed Alma's face. She opened her mouth and closed it. "I have a four hundred and twenty-five dollar leather Louboutin purse." She twisted her fingers in distress. "I couldn't tell anybody. Nobody would understand. My family can't see why I'd pay that much for 'things'. I mean, what's wrong with wanting to get my nails and hair done?! I don't have to be a fashion model! But so what if I spend my money on things that I like?"Ashleigh took another look at the woman. Jealous? Alma had been jealous of her? Her heart softened. "Alma, you have to do what it takes to make you feel good about yourself. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone about that."Alma nodded. "But…I don't have anybody that I can…do those things with…" She blushed red and looked so expectant that Ashleigh further warmed up to her. "Louboutin? For under six hundred? How?""QVC.""Then it's not a knock-off…Can I see it?""Can I see your Manolo Blahniks?" "Are you crazy?! I couldn't afford them." She
Beast Chapter 44: MIA
Lance and Kendra called but understood when she explained that she didn't want company. They each told her that they loved her and after she hung up she finished the entire pizza that she had ordered. She intended to purge but didn't have to. Her system, unaccustomed to the deluge of junk food, made her sick on it's on. Afterwards Ashleigh climbed on the treadmill. She stared forward, not seeing the mounted television or the wall, only picturing the man that she had grown to love so much. She began to run and to think about Christopher. As soon as the alarm clock sounded on Wednesday morning, the first thing she did was to check her cell phone for messages. Nothing. She buried her head into her hands knowing that at some point soon an officer would go to Mrs. Jameson's house and inform her that her son had died in the line of duty. They would give her a letter signed by the President of the United States and then at his military funeral they would offer her a folded American flag…
Beast Chapter 45: THE MAD DASH
Two of the Marines stood outside of the lockers as Ashleigh got dressed just in case Tom Kardel should return. She hadn't asked them to do it, but was happy because that man had been totally unhinged. Ashleigh saw that she had a message from the guard at The Homeland Security Office so she got dressed and quickly thanked the men standing guard for her. She went upstairs to the lobby and knocked anxiously on the door to the security office. She then got the official notification. Christopher Henry Jameson was officially missing.Ashleigh sat down in a chair and shook like a leaf until the kind man explained that it wasn't the same as being missing in action. The reason Christopher was missing was because he was taken off all active duty rosters. In layman terms; Christopher wasn't on a mission. Then she remembered his long sent message. It said something about him not being active…Ashleigh was put into contact with her ombudsman through the Department of Homeland Security and then
Beast Chapter 46: REUNITED
Was she in a diabetic coma still? He paced, half scaring people in the terminal. Yeah, if it wasn't one thing then it was another; scars or bandages…When he boarded the next flight, he wished he'd taken the painkillers that Dr. Weitz had tried to give him. His face felt like someone had taken him by the back of his head and slammed him against a brick wall repeatedly. He'd eaten chicken soup as his in flight dinner since it didn't require him to move his sore jaw by chewing. He finally drifted off to sleep filled with guilt that something had happened to the woman he loved and he hadn't been there…again.Christopher called his mother as soon as he got to The Greater Cincinnati Airport terminal. "How's Ashleigh?""Son, she's awake and alert and waiting anxiously for you to get to her. The hospital has already released her. Her blood sugar level was good and her parents have taken her back to her house. You wait there and I'll send Butch over to get you-""No, I'm going to catch a
Beast Chapter 47: WRAPPED UP LIKE A MUMMY
She smiled and giggled. "It wasn't that hard either, was it?""I don't know about you but I was working pretty hard."She stared into his bandaged face. "I'm all yours, Christopher Jameson. I'll be yours for as long as you want me. I want to be your wife more than anything in the world, and the mother to your children." He stood slowly."Your…mom is still out there?""Well, she's probably listening at the door." He took her hand and led her to the bed."Get back in bed, sweetheart. I want you to rest." Ashleigh pouted. Her body was already slick and ready for him."By myself?" she asked."Get some rest," was his answer as he tucked the covers around her, "because I intend to wear you out as soon as you wake up." Her lips tugged upward at the corners in pleasure. "Okay."His hand lingered on her shoulder. "I wish I could kiss you." He allowed his hand to stroke her cheek. Her skin was so soft. "I have to call and find out when I can get these bandages removed!" And he needed t
Beast Chapter 48: ASHLEIGH'S SECRET
Christopher was anxious to get home. Besides, Ashleigh had no food in her house. He learned that she had pretty much moved into his place, a fact that he planned to make official just as soon as possible. Later they could decide about a bigger place in a nice neighborhood. He smiled at the thought of that. Seven months ago he had been sitting in his lonely home with not even the slightest inclination that he could know so much joy. Christopher unlocked the door and Maggie came rushing across the room. He laughed when she walked figure eights around his feet. "You missed me, girl?" He picked her up, not sure if she would be alarmed with his bandages. Evidently she recognized him by scent and sound and not by sight. He loved on her for a few minutes while Ashleigh watched. She knew that he was going to be the best dad. "I'm going to feed her," he announced. "Get changed and we'll go out for something to eat.""Alright, babe." She headed for the bedroom and quickly made the bed. Sh
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