Chapter One: The Secret
Denise Sherwood raced into her home slamming the door behind her. She threw her keys on the table and sat down. She put her delicate fingers over her face and tried to push back her tears. She heard him come in and automatically tensed.
"I got my letter today. I got into West Point."
"Are you going to go?" Denise asked her eighteen year old son Jeremy.
"I don't really want to. What do you think?" Denise stood up and faced her son. Jeremy had his arms crossed in a very hostile manner. He could probably care less what she thought but since her husband was fighting the war in Afghanistan she had to speak for him. And Frank would want his son to go to West point. It was an honor to get accepted. For both father and son. But if there was anything Jeremy hated more than his fathers choices for his life was being his father.
"I think you should go but it is your decision. I know your father really wants you to go." Jeremy grabbed her arm hard making her flinch.
"What did you just say?" he asked angrily.
"Your father just wants what's best for you. He thinks that it would be a good experience for you. West Point is about honor." Jeremy brought his hand back and hit her hard. If his hand hadn't been gripping her arm tightly she would have fallen to the floor. She brought her free hand to her face and felt a cut on her cheekbone.
"I am not my father! Maybe I don't want to be in the army! Maybe I don't want to go to West Point! I don't care what Dad thinks about this issue." Denise tried to pull her arm away put his grip only shifted to her wrist. She felt like her bone might snap in half.
"I know you're not your father. You are Jeremy my son your own person. Whatever you decide to do I'll stand by you. You can go to whatever school you want. Please just consider West Point." His grip tightened and she yelped. "Please Jeremy you're hurting me. Please let go" Jeremy finally did let go and she nursed her throbbing wrist.
"Thanks for saying you'll stand by me. I know you will."
"Of course I will you are my son and I love you. I just want you to be happy" Jeremy hugged her and Denise held back her scream of pain and hugged him back. She did love him. She didn't know how after what he kept doing to her. Hitting her when his anger got out of control. But she was his mother and he was a sweet loving son when he wasn't angry.
"I love you too mom. I'm sorry about hitting you I just got mad." Denise smiled.
"I know" After Jeremy left she got back in the car and drove one handed to the hospital.
Claudia Joy walked into the hospital to get her daughters medical forms. She needed them for a job by tomorrow. She walked up to the nurse at the nurses station and smiled upon seeing a familiar face.
"Hello Joyce how are you this evening?"
"Just wonderful Claudia Joy thank you. I'll go get your forms but first you're friends with Denise Sherwood right?" Claudia Joy's heart sped up.
"She's my best friend is she here is she all right?" The nurse grabbed her hand to calm her.
"She's fine. She came in saying she slammed her wrist in her car door. But how are things at home?"
"Fine. I mean Frank just got deployed but other than that."
"Wait the husband isn't home?"
"He left with the last deployment. Why are you sure she's all right?" The nurse leaned over the counter and spoke softly.
"Her wrist is sprained but she has a cut on her cheek. She told us she walked into a wall. She has got to be pretty klutzy to walk into a wall and slam her wrist into a door. And she would have had to slam the door pretty hard to do that kind of damage." The nurse picked up Claudia Joy's wrist. "Not to mention her bruised wrist looks like this."
"A hand print?" The nurse nodded.
"It looks like she took a beating. Generally we expect it to be the husband but if he's not here he certainly can't hurt her from across an ocean. Is there anyone else you can think of?"
"No everyone loves Denise. I don't understand how someone could hurt her." After a pause Claudia Joy added "Can I see her?" Joyce smiled.
"Off course. Maybe you can convince her to let you drive her. How she got here with a wrist she can barely move is beyond me. She's in room 18 let me know if you find out anything." Claudia Joy nodded and raced to her friends room.
Pamela knocked on Roxanne's door quickly.
"T.J. don't touch that!" Came Roxy's voice from inside. Pamela smiled. Been there done that. Finally the door opened. Roxy smiled when she saw Pamela. "Hey come in. I'll be ready for dinner in just a few." She turned and walked into the small house leaving the door open for Pamela to enter. Pam entered the house and saw the two little boys watching T.V. Finn looked up and smiled.
"Pam!" he shouted running up and hugging her. T'J followed his younger brother and gave her a hug also. "Guess what we get to sleep at your house tonight. Can we have ice-cream for dinner again?"
"Ice-cream?" came Roxy's voice chuckling from the bathroom.
"Hey my kids like it your kids like it and its easy."
"Can't argue with that logic" Roxy emerged from the bathroom and kissed both her sons. "Trevor we're leaving. Drop the kids off at Pam's before you leave."
"Okay love you!" shouted Trevor from another room. The girls walked out and went to the Hump bar for dinner. Oblivious to what was happening just across the fort.
