The phone was ringing incessantly in Allie's ear as she woke from her slumber. She tried to reach for the phone but her arm was under Jack's, neck, gently she pulled it clear of him, smiling sweetly at her son as she did so, then reached for the phone, answering with a groggy, crackling voice, "Hello."
"Hi, honey, how is everything." The voice on the other end of the phone returned.
Allie sat straight up in bed, eyes wide and suddenly aware of who was speaking. "Hi, baby, where are you?" She says as she recognizes her husband's voice.
"I'm in Kuwait City, Allie, I got hurt and I'm coming home a little early."
"Hurt?" Allie asked concerned, "What happened?"
"Its not serious, but it'll get me a little recovery time state-side, aren't you excited?"
"Oh baby, you know I am, when will you be home?"
I'll be on a plane in an hour, it should land some time after noon tomorrow. I'll call and let you know when I transfer in New York, Ok?"
"Oh, yes, yes I can't wait, I'm so glad."
"I've got to go, honey, bye."
"Bye baby."
Jack had roused from the animated call. "Was that dad?" he asked.
"Yes, Jack, he's been hurt and he's coming home."
Fear and worry alternating in his mind as the reality of his incestuous affair with his mother mingled with concern for his father's wellbeing Jack asks, "Oh, that's terrible, is he Ok?"
"He says so, but you know your father, he could be saying that so we don't worry." Allie says, visibly agitated by the uncertainty of the situation. She throws the blanket back, swings her legs out of the bed and tells Jack, "Get up and get all your things out of this room."
Jack's heart sunk, his tenuous hold on his mother's confused sexuality was dissipating before his eyes, and he was helpless to do anything but comply with his mother's request. "Yes ma'am." He responded.
She didn't hear his response, nor did she see the hurt on his face.
***
Waiting was tortuous, time drug on without end, for Allie and Jack, seemingly forever. Neither spoke. Neither knew what to say, the common bond they developed out of emotional need now seemed sordid and unspeakable. Both suffered with their own soul's dark uncertainties.
Jack had taken the day off from his prep-school program to go with his mother and meet his father at the airport. As his mother drove nervously to the airport, Jack watched her hands shaking, as she chewed her nails and directed the car through the traffic. He wondered if she was going to be able to keep their affair a secret, he wondered too if they would ever again be lovers.
Allie was distraught, she was worried for her husband's injuries, were they severe? Could she bear up if they were serious? She determined she had to be strong, but strength didn't come, just more worry, what if he finds out about her and Jack, or Mr. Jones. She was slipping into a black pool of emotions, swimming in a sea of doubt; doubt that she could hold up from the strain of it all.
Major Tom Cooper waited in the international arrival customs line, gingerly inching forward as the line moved slowly forward, toward the customs agent and that much closer to home. He required the use of crutches, but they were invariably unwieldy in such close quarter movements, so he just hopped, or waddled as he made his way inexorably forward.
Major Cooper had been close to an improvised explosive device, IED in military parlance, when it claimed several soldier's lives, barely surviving, he had been ripped from his thigh to his abdomen by a piece of shrapnel leaving him incapacitated, but it was no longer life threatening.
Allie Cooper watched as one after another soldier passed through the portal that led from the international arrival concourse, her nervous fidgeting belying any attempt to appear calm. Suddenly, she froze, was it him, could it be... could that be him inching along the corridor toward her, and then she saw his smile... his smile, Tom's smile. She ran headlong toward him pulling up short as she realized he was seriously wounded. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lavished him with kisses, kisses long suffering his absence, her sobbing turned gradually to giggles and sincere gladness. He was home and she was safe again, he was safe, with her.
Jack watched as his mother smothered his father, nearly knocking him over as she clung to him. He was elated, and relieved that his father looked to be alright. But in the dark recesses of his mind he was concerned about the lustful urges he felt for his mother, his lover. He wandered over to his father slowly, smiling, wondering.
The reunited family made small talk as they made their way home, uneasily for all; Tom from his wound, Allie from her conflicted emotions, Jack from the overwhelming jealousy he now felt for his mother.
***
The first few days went by uneventfully. Late on the third night of his father's return, Jack heard someone walk down the hall whimpering. It couldn't be his father he thought, but why would his mom be crying? He got out of bed and ventured into the darkness of the hallway, wondering what he would find. Walking into the living room, he sees his mother, seated head-in-hands crying. Jack moves to her and gently touches her shoulder, startling her from her pitiable repose.
"Oh! Jack it's you." She says a little too loudly, then softer, "Go back to bed, I'll be alright."
"What's wrong mom?" Jack says concerned, "Are you Ok?"