"I love the early morning when it is just the two of us after a wonderful time together." Amy said with a smile.
"Yeah me too." Ricky said with a half smile.
"But?" Amy said as she knew he wasn't saying something.
"But everything else seems to be falling apart. Bryan is missing and who knows what has happened to him. Adrian is in a real hard place with waiting and trying to keep her life going for the kids. Ashley is still dealing with her abduction and the aftermath. And they still haven't found the creep who did it. And Jack called me from New York the other day. He said that Grace and he are having problems. He did elaborate but I could tell they were serious from the tone of his voice and the words he used. He sounded crushed Amy. I cannot imagine feeling that way. He sounded like he wanted to give up." Ricky said very seriously.
"Yeah that has to be tough. What did you tell him?" Amy asked gently.
"I told him that if he really loved Grace and she was the one that he loved more than any other woman that he needed to fight for his marriage. That no matter what happens he needs to hold on and that their love could carry them through. But I also told him to remember the good times they have had and how much he loved her. And if he still felt that way about her not to let her go or give her up for anything or anyone. And he said he would try and we said goodbye." Ricky said.
"Oh." Amy said.
"You know something don't you?" Ricky said as he knew his wife very well and he could tell that there was something that she wasn't saying.
"There is but I cannot say. I was told in the strictest confidence. I am not even suppose to know. Please don't ask me to say what it is. It is no one's business but Jacks and Graces." Amy said as it pained her to keep something from her husband but she also knew that it wasn't her place to say.
"I understand. I won't ask you again. I love you so much Amy. Never forget that my darling." Ricky said and then pulled her closer for a deep passionate kiss.
"I won't. And I love you very much Ricky more each moment that we share together." Amy said and kissed him as well. Then Ricky wrapped his arm around her and he held her close to him as if he could keep all harm from them and their family.
A half an hour later they woke up the kids and got breakfast, cleaned up, and everybody dressed for the day. Then Ricky took Anna and John with him. He dropped them off at school and then went onto work. Amy dropped off Lucy at the church nursery and then she went on to her hostess job. The day seemed longer than it actually had been for Amy. She just wanted to be at home with her husband and her children. She was holding them close to her. She knew that Adrian was having a very rough time with Bryan being missing and Grace's situation. Adrian had confided in Amy about Grace just recently. Amy felt very sad for them and what they were all going through. She only hoped that Grace wouldn't make a decision that she would later regret. But that was her choice and no one elses. Amy finished with her job and then she went to pick up Lucy and then drove over to Adrian and Bryan's house.
She parked her SUV and then she unbuckled Lucy and then she picked her up out the carseat. She walked up the sidewalk and she knocked on the front door. She heard footsteps and then she heard the door open. Adrian was standing before her and she was crying and holding a letter and she looked horrible. Amy went inside and closed the door behind her. Then she set Lucy down on the carpet and she grabbed Adrian's hand and they both sat on the couch.
"Adrian what's happened?" Amy asked in a panic.
"They captured him. He is alive as far as they know. They say he has been taken by the enemy. And that is all they know. How am I suppose to live with that? Every night I have had these nightmares were he is being tortured and he won't give them any information and they hurt him again. He is bruised and hurt. He looks like skin and bones. To think that is what he is going through is horrible. Dear God Amy how can people be so cruel? I don't understand any of this. What is to be gained by any of this? He is the most kind, genlte, loving man that I know. He wouldn't hurt anyone if he could help it. He has always fought for peace since I have known him. Oh my God I think I am going to be sick." Adrian said as she ran from the living room to the bathroom.
She was gone for several minutes. So Amy picked up Lucy and she knocked on the bathroom door. Adrian opened it. She looked like she was in shock. "Adrian are you ok?" Amy asked with concern in her voice.
"I don't think I can do this Amy. Sitting every day by the phone waiting. I am constantly checking my cell phone. I always have to have it in my hand. And I am always making sure it is charged. It is so hard the waiting. It's been a month and I don't think I can take anymore of it. The kids know that daddy is away but they don't know anything about this. But their smart they can tell something is off. Holly is always asking me if I am okay. And Kate is always giving me a hug and telling me it's okay. And Hope is wanting to be held all the time. She hasn't been like that in a long time. It's like they know but yet they don't know. Amy this is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life." Adrian said as she stood in the bathroom doorway. And then she walked with Amy back to the living room and they both sat down. Then Amy placed Lucy on the rug once again near the toys.
"I know this is hard Adrian. This is almost unbearable I can imagine. But you have to keep fighting and holding on. We are all here for you. Please let us help if we can." Amy said with pain in her voice as she saw her friend's life unravel for the third time in her short life. Once with Mercy, then with Ben, and finally with Bryan. It hurt her to see so much pain.
"I understand. But how can I ask that of any of you. Grace is going through a horrible time. Jack is having a hard time with all of it too. Ashley and Toby are trying to put the past behind them but I can still see the fear in Ashley's eyes whenever I see her. And that has to be hard for Toby as well and they are expecting their first child. And Amy you are dealing with the loss of your and Ricky's baby. That is enough for one lifetime." Adrian said with tears streaming down her face.
"I know Adrian, I know." Amy said as she embraced Adrian and they sat there for a long time holding onto one another and just crying until no more tears would come anymore.
Later that day Grace was finishing her classes and she picked up Shawn from the daycare and she was walking home with Shawn in his stroller when Jason appeared out of nowhere. He walked right up to them. "Grace I have something to say to you. Don't interupt till I am done. I love you Grace. I have since med camp. I don't think I ever got over you and that night when we finally made love it was right Grace. You may not be able to see that but it was. And us creating two babies out of that love should be celebrated and not destroyed. So if you are planning on going through with the abortion I will fight you in court to see that doesn't happen. I will do everything I can to make you see that we or these baby weren't a mistake. I love you Grace." Jason said as he pulled her face hard to his and kissed her. Grace pulled back and slapped him across the face.
"Don't you ever touch me ever again or come near me or my family. I will get a restraining order if you don't stop harrassing me and my family. I never want to see you again. EVER. LEAVE ME ALONE!" Grace said as she began to run with the stroller. Jason just stood there dumbfounded as he watched her rush by him in surprise.
Ricky was sitting at home on the couch as he stared at a picture of him and Bryan while in Afghanistan on a mission. He had always had Ricky's back and he had always had Bryan's. But this time he didn't and he felt very guilty now that he hadn't been there. He thought maybe things would have turned out differently. He looked over at his and Amy's wedding picture and then he looked at his family picture of them and their kids and he knew that he had to what ever it took to find Bryan and bring him home to his family. He figured he owed him that much at the very least. He heard the door open and he saw Amy carrying a sleeping Lucy in her arms. Amy went upstairs and got Lucy changed and then put her in her crib and grabbed the baby monitor off the dresser. Then she went downstairs and sat down next to Ricky on the couch.
"That's a nice picture of you two." Amy said eyeing it.
"Yes I kept it with me along with our wedding picture and the one of you and the kids that summer at the park while I was overseas. A picture is a wonderful thing to look back at someone. Especially when you start to forget what they look like. Bryan would have given his life for me when we were over there and I would have done the same. He is a good man Amy. Amy I have been thinking I have to help find Bryan. I need to bring him home safe. I owe him that. Please tell me you understand?" Ricky said as he watched her expression closely. Amy put her hands to her face and she cried once again. Ricky held her in her arms and let her get it out.
"You come back to me Ricky. I mean it. I need you, the kids need you. Come back and bring him back too. I love you." Amy said as she kissed him passionately. And then they were in their room and they shared a long night of lovemaking and tenderness as they both knew a long seperation was likely coming for them. And then Amy and Ricky held each other close as the night went slowly by.
