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Chapter 46

"There is Always a Silver Lining"

0000 – Peterborough, UK

"Elvis! I am so sorry! I know it is late. I wanted to get in touch with you sooner but had to take mum to the A & E."

"Wha' for?"

Georgie could see Elvis had relaxed a bit but he looked concerned. Her posture stiffened.

"We were worried it may have been a heart attack, but they are still running tests. We have been here for four hours and on pins and needles."

"Well, is she alright? I mean they're still checkin 'er over?"

That really peaked Georgie's interest and she stood up. Elvis looked at her.

"She seems OK, more comfortable but as I said, they are still running tests."

"Georgie is 'ere. I'm gonna put ya on speaker." Elvis said, motioning to his wife.

"OK" Debbie said, her voice layered with concern.

"Her mum's at hospital." Elvis said as he placed his mobile on the night stand. The couple sat down on the bed together.

"What?!" Georgie mouthed to Elvis, then…..

"Hey Debs! What's goin on?"

"Hey Georgie. We were out to dinner and mum felt sick, said her chest and back hurt, felt tight. Reginald called for an ambulance and here we are."

"No results on bloods or anything?" Georgie asked tapping her hands prayerfully against her lips.

"No. Nothing as yet. Leastways no one has said. Elvis….. how are you? We've been worried about you as well!"

He looked at Georgie. "Fine on this end."

"But you were just released from hospital today, yeah?"

"At's right. I'm OK Deb." He said rubbing his eyes.

"He was very happy to see Laura!" Georgie said, putting an arm around him.

"Yeah. Thanks Deb. It meant a lot to me." He said, kissing Georgie on the temple.

"She does not know that you had been missing."

"At's best. She saw my bullet graze. It's mendin well enough so she was fine with it.. Ya know, she's growin so fast."

"She is!.. She is very smart. Takes after you I expect."

Elvis smiled. "She's playin piano now." He said proud of his little girl.

"Yes! Did she tell you? Aw, she seems to really enjoy it!"

"Can't wait to 'ear her play. Maybe over Christmas." Elvis said, rubbing his eyes once again. Georgie knew he was knackered and ran her hand up and down his back.

"Elvis. I really need to talk to you about something."

"Go on."

Georgie held her breath.

"It is a bit involved. I would rather wait until tomorrow."

Elvis looked at his watch. "It is tomorrow." He cheeked.

"Alright, this afternoon then."

Georgie laughed. "Good one! Sounds like a plan Debs. Keep us posted on your mum. If ya have any questions, please call us. I'm happy to advise." She said.

"Thank you so much Georgie!"

"We'll wait till we 'ave more intel from ya before I tell Laura." Elvis said. Georgie smiled at his choice of words.

"Good. Thank you Elvis. I'll be in touch." Debbie said, sounding weary herself.

"You have our prayers." Georgie said. "Bye Deb."

"Get some rest Elvis. Bye you two." Debbie said.

"Bye." Elvis said and reached for the mobile to end the call.

"It just doesn't end." Georgie lamented.

At's life." Elvis said, allowing himself to fall back on the bed.

"Deal with it then?" Georgie asked standing in front of him as he put his hands up in agreement.

She studied him, it had been a long day for him. "How do ya feel?"

Elvis looked up at her. He was knackered but could not resist. "I feel like I could go for that back rub ya mentioned earlier." He said, his voice a husky rasp. Georgie's face lit up with mirth as she tried to shut down the desire for him that was building inside of her. The husband whom she had longed for was lying in front of her, shirt open, his dark hair splayed randomly over his eyes.

"Well then. Let's take care of that shall we?" She said as she reached down to move his legs onto the bed. Elvis laughed and obviously found a renewed sense of energy as he complied. He sat up to pull his shirt off and Georgie watched him. He grinned and began to roll onto his front until she stopped him.

"Change of plans." She said with a sultry tone.

Their eyes met. "Georgie….." Elvis rasped and pulled her down to him. Suddenly all of the nightly dreams they had about one another over the past months were finally realized. Their happiness became all consuming. Husband and wife became one again.

Xxxxx

1300 – Peterborough, UK

Debbie had sent a text midmorning. They were told Olivia Simms did not have a heart attack but she was being kept in hospital for additional observation. So now Elvis waited….what did Debbie want to discuss with him? He was stood at a large window in the dining room watching Laura and Anthony chase around the yard with Manny. He chuckled as Laura out maneuvered the lad and even harder when re recalled overhearing her say to her cousin she was thinking about Sandhurst.

Georgie came to stand next to him. He looked down at her and placed his arm around her, kissing her as she tilted her face to him.

"Mmmmm." She murmured happily.

"There's more where that came from." He whispered huskily.

"I know." She whispered back, then playfully pinched him. "Be have!"

He laughed.

"It's nice they get on really well." She said joining Elvis as he watched the three outside.

"Yeah." He looked at his watch. Georgie noticed.

"No updates?"

"Nah. But I wonder why she hasn't called."

Georgie cleared her throat. "She will."

No sooner were the words uttered and his mobile sounded. Elvis moved away. "Ello. Deb. Any developments?"

"Nothing new. Mum is stable. She has not had any further pain."

Elvis looked at Georgie and shook his head indicating nothing new. She smiled, nodded, then looked out the window…..but her eyes slid back to Elvis.

"I need to tell you something Elvis, and I hope you understand." Debbie began.

Those words sounded hauntingly familiar coming from Debbie Simms and Elvis braced himself.

"Wha' is it Deb?"

A huge breath on the other end… "Reginald and I are taking a holiday over the Christmas season and we are taking Laura with us." She all but blurted out.

Elvis froze. He was certain he heard her correctly. Part of him was not surprised but he needed more information. "The Christmas season…"

"Yes. To be honest…..we will be away for one month, Christmas and after the New Year."

"You're not fuckin serious !?" Elvis said as he began to pace, looking out the window at his daughter. Georgie clenched and unclenched a fist as she knew this conversation had to play out between these two.

"I am sorry Elvis, but no, I am serious."

"So this is the skiing trip?" Elvis said as his demeanor morphed into military mode.

"Why…yes it involves skiing. How did you know?"

Elvis smirked. "Laura told me Reginald was planning to teach her to ski."

"I see. She does not know about this holiday however. It is meant as a Christmas gift."

"To whom? Laura…..or you." Elvis said. He was blunt and he was direct.

Georgie cringed and hoped he would not explode.

"Elvis. It is for both of us."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, that damn, fucking, nagging headache was coming back. He tried to push it away and looked out at Laura. She was so happy last night telling him about learning to ski. These were special moments in her life and he did not want to ruin any of them for her. He was in no position to take his daughter on an extended holiday. Hell, he had wanted to take Georgie on their "honeymoon" after the Afghanistan tour and now that was fucked. He has to spend his leave mending.

Debbie became concerned by his lack of response. "Elvis? Are you still there?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah."

"Please try to understand…."

"Where are ya headed?" He asked as he wrestled with his raging emotions.

"Switzerland."

"It's not fair that I miss the Christmas season with my daughter." He said, looking intently out the window, thinking of all the shit he had survived on the mission for Georgie, for Laura, and his family. Few understand what a soldier brings home or carries in the heart.

"I promise! Easter is yours. This was not my idea. It is meant as a gift."

Elvis looked at Georgie. Her eyes were pleading. She could not hear Debbie's end of the conversation. Her husband's reaction was all that she needed. Elvis closed his eyes, his mind was swimming in his emotions. Life was ever changing. He knew that Laura loved him. Nothing, nor anyone could ever break that bond between them.

"If Laura wants to go. I am not goin to interfere with her happiness. Bad timin with Christmas and all, and I wasn't asked my opinion beforehand, but I want her to enjoy life."

He watched his little girl outside giggling and frolicking about. She noticed her daddy at the window and paused. Laura waved to him. Elvis quickly brushed something wet away from his cheek and returned the wave. Georgie's eyes teared and she dropped her head. She was witness to Laura's need for her daddy's approval last night and she knew it broke Elvis' heart….but he loved, fully, properly, no one could ever take that away from him.

"Are you sure Elvis?" Debbie asked tentatively.

"Yeah. Keep her safe Deb. "At's all I ask." Elvis' gaze never left Laura. She outran Anthony and noticed her daddy still watching at the window. She gestured for him to come outside.

"Thank you Elvis. Thank you so much!" Debbie said tearfully.

"Easter it is Deb. I will hold ya to 'at." He replied, looking at Georgie. "Gotta go. Keep us posted on yer mum."

"I will. Thank you."

"Bye."

"Bye Elvis."

Georgie watched him end the call. He sniffed deeply and tucked his mobile into his back pocket. It was not what she had expected but then again, she was not surprised. Elvis had grown since she had met him. Or did she have the pleasure to see a whole other side of him in the process? He looked at her. She could not completely read his emotions but his eyes reflected both pain and joy.

"They're takin her to Switzerland for Christmas." He said. "If she doesn't want to go, she'll be with us."

Georgie smiled and nodded. "Absolutely. Is it the ski trip?"

"Yeah. I know she's chuffed about skiin." He said with a lop-sided grin.

"You are a good father Elvis." Georgie said, looking up at him.

"Am I?"

Georgie's gaze lingered. "Yes. And I want ya to be the father of my children. Our children Elvis."

He kissed her sweetly and looked out the window. Laura was giggling. She must have seen them. "There's a young lady I 'ave to see for a bit." He said, deeply, playfully.

"Well, ya best have at it." Georgie said smiling.

Elvis laughed and went straight away out the kitchen door. Manny took notice when he breached the yard. Elvis lowered himself into a play bow and the Doberman was all over him. Laura and Anthony laughed and ran to him. Georgie had visions of the farm they would hopefully purchase one day and raise their family with love…..always love.

Xxxxx

The following day – 1400 hours - Hereford, UK

The cab pulled up to their flat. The couple were looking out, anxious to get on and get inside. It was months since they were home together. The driver emptied the cab boot as Elvis provided payment. Georgie dug into her belongings for the keys and before long, the Harte's were back home. They dropped their Bergens in the lounge and paused to look around. It all felt familiar and detached at the same time. They looked at each other. Elvis was the first to grin. He was lucky to be alive and he had orchestrated a spectacular assault on the UK's number one enemy. The public would never know this but Georgie knew. Her husband was a hero.

"Welcome home!" She said taking him in her arms.

"It is so good to be home with ya George! We made it! Livin on a prayer babe!"

"More like a wing and a prayer with you!" She said happily, joyfully, what could possibly be better?

Elvis swept her up in his arms, hardly wincing at those nagging ribs. "I love you Mrs. Harte." He said, tenderly kissing her. She giggled as she wrapped her legs around him. He spun her and they laughed….they kissed….and they were home!

...….To be continued ... look for "On a Wing and a Prayer"