Thirty minutes later Hufham pulled up to a large military style building six stories tall. It was painted white with a tiled roof, snuggled into the side of a mountain. It was surrounded by several well manicured courtyards with trees and plants. People in hospital robes were walking around. They got out of the Humvee and made their way inside.
Ricks had been moved to a step down unit. It offered enhanced care but not the same as intensive care. He had only a couple of tubes now, although wires were still leading to the heart and breathing monitor. The cuts on his face were healing well and the nurses had shaved him that morning to look good for his parents. They walked in the door to see Su Lynn sitting beside his bed, holding his hand.
Su Lynn almost didn’t know what to do. There before her were Dale’s parents. His mother looked very much like him. Her eyes danced just like Dale’s. She wondered what they were thinking. They didn’t know her and she didn’t know them, yet they were linked through Dale. Su Lynn stood and bowed slightly.
Upon seeing Su Lynn, Mrs. Ricks immediately saw what her son saw in her. She was lovely to behold and there was something about her eyes that told her of Su Lynn’s strength. Hufham was right. She was by her son’s side. That alone meant everything. Mrs. Ricks walked slowly up to Su Lynn and wrapped her arms around her daughter. “Welcome to my family,” she said kissing her on the cheek.
Su Lynn hugged her new mom hard. “I am so happy to meet you,” she said very relieved.
“And there is so much we need to talk about. But first how is our boy?”
Looking at the bed, you almost couldn’t tell there was anything wrong. But Su Lynn’s eyes became moist. “I so sorry. Dale lose legs.” She began to cry again. Mrs. Ricks pulled her back into a hug.
“I know sweetie, I know. But he’s still with us. We’ll figure things out okay.”
All this time Mr. Ricks was looking at his son. The boy who left home had changed. He wasn’t the little kid who got in trouble at school or stayed out too late anymore. His face had become more chiseled and lean. His chest was broader and more muscular. This wasn’t his little boy. He was a grown man.
Mr. Ricks looked over at his wife and Su Lynn. He had grown up in the ways of rural Georgia. Anything from outside the country was suspect and ridiculed. This was the very first time he had even been outside the state. He had seen Asians before. There was a growing Asian community in Atlanta. He’d heard the stereotypes — smart and industrious; lived frugally. But now it was all staring him in the face. She spoke English. She was a good looker. She obviously cared for his son. Maybe Hufham was right.
He turned to Hufham and extended his hand. “I take back everything I ever said or felt,” he said. They shook hands. Then he walked up to Su Lynn and hugged her as well. “I’m David and this is Amanda. We’re glad to finally meet you,” he said.
The doctor came in and gave them a brief on Ricks’ condition. Then David Ricks and Hufham went to check them into a hotel while the two women stayed with Dale. They sat beside the bed as Amanda and Su Lynn got to know each other. Then they started to talk about Dale. Amanda told Su Lynn stories of his growing up — his love of anything outdoors, hunting, and of course NASCAR.
During a lull in their conversation, Amanda pulled back the side of the sheets and looked at Dale’s leg. It was bare down to the knee and then heavily bandaged around the stump that was left. She felt it to see if it was warm to the touch and was surprised when Dale let out a small moan. The two women looked at his face and saw the eyelashes flutter and open slightly. At first he focused on Su Lynn, closer to him and holding his hand. His lips widened into a smile.
“Hi there,” he croaked while looking into Su Lynn’s eyes. Then someone else came into view and he refocused. “Mom? What are you doing here?” he said a little clearer. He lifted his head and looked around the room. “Where am I?”
Su Lynn placed her fingers on his mouth. “Shhh. You are in hospital. You not remember you get hurt?” She reached over and pressed the little call button.
“Honey, from what we heard you’ve been asleep for almost a week. You are pretty banged up, but doing okay,” Amanda said. “The Army gave us a ride over here to see you.”
Ricks smiled. “So I guess you guys have met,” he said laying his head back. That simple effort exhausted him.
“Oh yes. We’re already sharing stories.”
“She tell me about when you young baby,” Su Lynn said with a broad smile.
“Oh no. Mom, you don’t have to tell her everything,” he joked.
A nurse came in the room. “Well, look who’s back to the world of the living. Let me go get the doctor,” he said as he turned and left the room.
“How bad am I hurt?” Ricks asked.
“You feel pain?” Su Lynn asked.
“Legs sore. They itch a little…” He looked down the bed and noticed that the blanket did not come up where his feet should be. He tried to lift his leg and saw where they ended. Tears formed in his eyes as Su Lynn hugged him close and his mother placed her hand on his chest. The memory flooded back. The shooting, the explosion, him getting knocked down and seeing the ceiling start to fall. “Dang it,” he said in exasperation. “Both of ‘em?”
His mom nodded.
Ricks felt like his life had just about ended. Anxiety and a fear of the future seemed to fill him. What was in store and what would he be able to do? He had seen some homeless amputees hobbling around in Atlanta; no job and no hope. Suddenly he saw himself begging on the street. What would happen now? What about Su Lynn? The emotions began to wash over him. “Well, I guess that’s that,” he said with a sigh.
Su Lynn sat up. She had a beautiful determined look on her face. “No it not. I talk to doctor. They give new legs. You must walk again,” she said.
He held her hand. “It’s not that easy,” he stammered.
“Yes is that easy. You must do it. Must do for me,” she said, then after a pause, “and for our baby.”
Ricks looked up at her. “Baby?”
She smiled at him and placed his hand on her stomach. “Yes. Doctor say baby. I hope it boy.”
The doctor entered the room. “Hello. I’m Dr. Kelsey,” he said entering the room and extending his hand. “We’re very glad you’ve finally come around.”
Ricks took his hand but wasn’t listening. Su Lynn had given him the reason to live. His anxieties and fears went away as quickly as they had appeared. Suddenly life was full again and he was going to live it. He had to for Su Lynn and his child.
“Doc, when can I learn to walk again?”
Kelsey got an astonished look. It wasn’t often that a guy with these injuries came back like this. “Well, it will take a little time. Give these stumps of yours some time to heal, then we will fit you out. You are in pretty good health by the way. Now that you are awake, we can start getting you back in shape.”
“Good, Doc. ‘Cause in about eight months I want to be able to stand and hold my child.”
The SH-60 landed on the pier and three people exited — two men and a woman. The Captain was called and walked out of his cabin onto the O-2 level and peered down to see the XO run from the side and speak to the OOD. Bongs were heard and the Bo’sn announced “Mayor of Vallejo, arriving.”
Hammond looked back at the small group making its way down the pier. There she was. He could see her hair blowing in the breeze. He almost couldn’t move. Beside her was his old friend Jim Butler. They looked up and waved at him.
Hammond nearly jumped down the ladder and onto the quarterdeck as they climbed the stairs and crossed the brow. He extended his hand and welcomed his friend aboard, then looked at Patricia Crowell. He took both of her hands and stared into her eyes. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you,” he said. Then he noticed the tears in her eyes.