Chapter 2
Scarlett stormed down the hallway back towards her room. She wondered if Lady Jaye and Flint were in on this too. She didn't even see the soldier's face in front of her but she pushed him out of the way.
"Well, excuse you." Falcon mocked with an icy glare. Scarlett softened. His face was so much like Duke's. She gathered that the boys got their looks from their mother.
"I'm sorry, Falcon. I'm having a rough day." Scarlett apologized.
"Can't be worse than the last year I've had." Falcon remarked.
"I know…" Scarlett trailed off afraid to say anything. She began to continue on her way when Falcon grabbed her arm.
"Would it have killed you to send a birthday card to him?" Falcon asked with clenched teeth.
"What?" Scarlett asked taken off guard.
"TO Duke. The man that you pretend doesn't exist." Falcon replied cruelly.
"That's not true. I…"Scarlett trailed off with tears welding in her eyes.
"You haven't talked to him since that day in the hospital. And you wonder why he doesn't remember who you are." Falcon cut her off.
"It's been hard." Scarlett sniffled trying to keep her tears from falling.
"It's been hard for all of us. Can you imagine how we feel, his family? It took him three months just to remember who we were. Another three months to remember his life in St. Louis. A few more months to remember some of his military career. He's so close to having all his memory back. All he needs is someone to help him, to remind him of his life and what he has done." Falcon replied tightening the grip on her arm.
"I'm sure Hawk would be happy to sit down and talk with him." Scarlett replied.
"Damn it, Scarlett, he needs you. You know him best. And you aren't there for him. I hate you for that." Falcon fumed. Scarlett began to sob at his words. "I hope he never remembers you. You aren't worth remembering." He let go harshly and kept walking. Scarlett buried her head in her hands as she continued to sob. All of his words were true. She was constantly tortured by Duke in her dreams at night, but in the daytime he was almost a figment of her imagination. It was easier that way. She didn't have to feel. She continued to her room and quickly unlocked her door because she heard her phone ringing.
"Hello?" Scarlett answered.
"Hello, Shana." Her father's voice answered.
"Oh, Dad. Thank god you called. I've had the most awful day." Scarlett cried into the phone.
"What is it, lass?" her father asked.
"I've been ordered to take a month of leave effective immediately. Apparently I am not in the proper condition to be on the team right now." Scarlett revealed with a sigh.
"What's going on, Shana? Are you all right?" her father asked concerned.
"No, Dad, I'm not. This past year has been so hard for me. I can't sleep at nights. All I do is have nightmares…" Scarlett trailed off.
"About Duke?" her father guessed.
"Yes, all my thoughts are with him, constantly." Scarlett sighed.
"Then why aren't you talking with him, my love?" her father asked.
"Because I hate him." Scarlett whispered into the phone sobbing.
"Oh me sure you don't mean that." Her father chuckled.
"I do. I hate him for forgetting me." Scarlett revealed still sobbing.
"So then tell him that." Her father responded.
"What?" Scarlett asked thinking she didn't hear her father.
"Never has an O'Hara woman failed to get the last word in." her father chuckled.
"What are you talking about, Dad?" Scarlett asked.
"I never told you kids the true story about coming over from Ireland. Truth is your mom and I came separately." Her father revealed.
"Dad, what happened?" Scarlett asked shocked at the truth.
"We got into an argument. I wanted to get married. She thought I was being too possessive. She thought I wanted a cook and a cleaning lady. I told her that there were plenty of women who do such things. I didn't mean it the way she took it. Oh my lass, if you wanted to see a fiery temper that matched your own, you should have seen your mother that day. She told me to find one of those women, because SHE wasn't going to be my servant while I taught you kiddies to fight. She told me I'd best be findin a woman that I can handle! I said I certainly would. What did I know? I left for America a week later to join my cousin's dojo in Atlanta. Your mother couldn't stand not having the last word so she followed me all the way across the Atlantic, only to tell me that she was more woman then I could ever handle, anyhow." Her father laughed.
"I can't believe mom did that." Scarlett replied shaking her head.
"Yeah, she was a spitfire. Much like yourself." Her father laughed.
"So what happened after that?" Scarlett asked.
"Well, I kissed her and she called me "A carrot-headed old fool". I am glad she followed me. A wife with spirit is a hard thing to handle, but a glory to behold. I know I've told you how much you remind me of your mother so many times, but I just can't imagine that you would let any man forget about you. You're an O'Hara. That's not your style." He concluded the story.
"But dad, I feel so ashamed for not contacting him sooner." Scarlett replied.
"That was just your stubborn nature. It's time you swallow your pride and get on with your life. It's not good to live in the past." Her father wisely spoke. He heard his daughter sigh on the other end of the phone. "Follow him, Shana. I know he's worth it."
"Yeah, ok. I'll make things right." Scarlett decided.
"That's my daughter. You be good now." Her father smiled into the phone.
"Ok, I'm going to call now before I lose my nerve." Scarlett sighed.
"If you need anything else, my dear Shana. Don't hesitate to call again." Her father offered.
"I will. Good bye, Dad, I'll call you if there's any change in his condition." Scarlett promised.
"Then I'm sure I'll be hearing from you soon." Her father agreed and they hung up. Scarlett clicked off her phone and clicked it back on to get a dial tone. She knew Duke's number in St. Louis by heart, but she still felt the need to look it up in her phone book. Her fingers trembled as she dialed the digits. The phone was ringing. Maybe she would get an answering machine.
"Hello, Falcone residence." a familiar voice answered. Scarlett's hands were trembling. It had been such a long time since she heard Duke's voice. "Hello?" the voice called again. Scarlett hadn't realized that she hadn't answered him back. The phone slipped out of her nervous hands and tumbled to the floor. She quickly scooped it up.
"H-hi. It's Scarlett." She announced. She waited, hoping and praying he would know her. She could here him breathing into the phone.
"Are you calling for my mother?" he asked after a few seconds. Tears welded in her eyes and she rested her head in her free hand.
"Yes, please put her on." Scarlett said trying not to lose her composure. She could hear Duke summon his mother through the phone.
"Hello, Scarlett, dear. It's so nice to hear from you." Mrs. Falcone greeted the caller.
"Hi, Mrs. Falcone. I'm sorry I haven't been in contact." Scarlett apologized.
"It's understandable, but I am glad you called." Duke's mother answered.
"Please don't hate me." Scarlett sighed so upset with herself that she hadn't called sooner.
"Honey, we don't hate you." Mrs. Falcone soothed the woman's fears.
"Falcon hates me." Scarlett pointed out.
"I don't think Falcon understands this completely. To him, feelings are cut and dry." Mrs. Falcone wisely answered.
"I just feel so horrible for not calling. I tried…I just couldn't. I don't want you to think I forgot your son. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him." Scarlett told her.
"I know, dear. You've always been kind to my Conrad." His mother smiled into the phone.
"Do you think it would be possible to come for a visit? I mean if it isn't an inconvenience?" Scarlett asked nervously.
"I think that would be lovely. Conrad needs you here. He may not know it, but he does. It might help him recover more of his memory. I hope…" his mother trailed off.
"How is he doing?" Scarlett asked seriously. She heard his mother take a huge sigh.
"He's ok. It's just his memories are stuck on Vietnam. You see, Vietnam was tough for him to take. It was a while before he could handle the repercussions: the flashbacks and the nightmares. Well, it's like he's back there all over again. It was excruciating the first time, it's impossible now." Mrs. Falcone revealed.
"It must be so frightening for him." Scarlett sighed upset at the news.
"For all of us dear. On top of everything, his whole life is out of whack. People are older than he expects them to be, and he can't recognize a lot of the people in the scrapbook I keep of his adventures." His mother continued.
"Like me." Scarlett blurted into the phone as the tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"Scarlett, that is why it's important that you come. He needs you. We need you. Maybe it will jog his memory. Something has to be done or he's going to kill himself." Mrs. Falcone sighed sadly.
"What do you mean?" Scarlett asked wiping the tears from her face.
"The stress of it all is too much for him. He's turned to drinking." Mrs. Falcone revealed.
"Why drinking? To forget?" Scarlett asked.
"I thought so at first, but with all the trouble he gets in, it seems he really is trying to find a way out. Jack keeps him just this side of getting arrested at least 3 nights a week. He has to go out and fetch him before the brawling starts." Mrs. Falcone replied.
"I really wish I had called sooner. I didn't realize things were this bad. I apologize again." Scarlett spoke softly feeling terrible about what has been going on.
"Well, hopefully a visit from you might trigger something in his memory. It's got to…" Mrs. Falcone trailed off. Scarlett could hear a small sob.
"I'm going to toss a few things in my bag and I'll be on the next plane. I'll call you when I reach St. Louis." Scarlett answered. The two women exchanged closing remarks and hung up. Scarlett took a deep breath and took out her duffel bag. She packed as much clothing as would fit. She opened up the top drawer of her dresser and pulled out a velvet box. She opened it and touched the gold necklace that laid inside. It had been a present from Duke not long before the accident. Scarlett picked up the chain and let it dangle in the air. She let the necklace slip through her other hand until she came to the two gold heart charms.
Scarlett stormed down the hallway back towards her room. She wondered if Lady Jaye and Flint were in on this too. She didn't even see the soldier's face in front of her but she pushed him out of the way.
"Well, excuse you." Falcon mocked with an icy glare. Scarlett softened. His face was so much like Duke's. She gathered that the boys got their looks from their mother.
"I'm sorry, Falcon. I'm having a rough day." Scarlett apologized.
"Can't be worse than the last year I've had." Falcon remarked.
"I know…" Scarlett trailed off afraid to say anything. She began to continue on her way when Falcon grabbed her arm.
"Would it have killed you to send a birthday card to him?" Falcon asked with clenched teeth.
"What?" Scarlett asked taken off guard.
"TO Duke. The man that you pretend doesn't exist." Falcon replied cruelly.
"That's not true. I…"Scarlett trailed off with tears welding in her eyes.
"You haven't talked to him since that day in the hospital. And you wonder why he doesn't remember who you are." Falcon cut her off.
"It's been hard." Scarlett sniffled trying to keep her tears from falling.
"It's been hard for all of us. Can you imagine how we feel, his family? It took him three months just to remember who we were. Another three months to remember his life in St. Louis. A few more months to remember some of his military career. He's so close to having all his memory back. All he needs is someone to help him, to remind him of his life and what he has done." Falcon replied tightening the grip on her arm.
"I'm sure Hawk would be happy to sit down and talk with him." Scarlett replied.
"Damn it, Scarlett, he needs you. You know him best. And you aren't there for him. I hate you for that." Falcon fumed. Scarlett began to sob at his words. "I hope he never remembers you. You aren't worth remembering." He let go harshly and kept walking. Scarlett buried her head in her hands as she continued to sob. All of his words were true. She was constantly tortured by Duke in her dreams at night, but in the daytime he was almost a figment of her imagination. It was easier that way. She didn't have to feel. She continued to her room and quickly unlocked her door because she heard her phone ringing.
"Hello?" Scarlett answered.
"Hello, Shana." Her father's voice answered.
"Oh, Dad. Thank god you called. I've had the most awful day." Scarlett cried into the phone.
"What is it, lass?" her father asked.
"I've been ordered to take a month of leave effective immediately. Apparently I am not in the proper condition to be on the team right now." Scarlett revealed with a sigh.
"What's going on, Shana? Are you all right?" her father asked concerned.
"No, Dad, I'm not. This past year has been so hard for me. I can't sleep at nights. All I do is have nightmares…" Scarlett trailed off.
"About Duke?" her father guessed.
"Yes, all my thoughts are with him, constantly." Scarlett sighed.
"Then why aren't you talking with him, my love?" her father asked.
"Because I hate him." Scarlett whispered into the phone sobbing.
"Oh me sure you don't mean that." Her father chuckled.
"I do. I hate him for forgetting me." Scarlett revealed still sobbing.
"So then tell him that." Her father responded.
"What?" Scarlett asked thinking she didn't hear her father.
"Never has an O'Hara woman failed to get the last word in." her father chuckled.
"What are you talking about, Dad?" Scarlett asked.
"I never told you kids the true story about coming over from Ireland. Truth is your mom and I came separately." Her father revealed.
"Dad, what happened?" Scarlett asked shocked at the truth.
"We got into an argument. I wanted to get married. She thought I was being too possessive. She thought I wanted a cook and a cleaning lady. I told her that there were plenty of women who do such things. I didn't mean it the way she took it. Oh my lass, if you wanted to see a fiery temper that matched your own, you should have seen your mother that day. She told me to find one of those women, because SHE wasn't going to be my servant while I taught you kiddies to fight. She told me I'd best be findin a woman that I can handle! I said I certainly would. What did I know? I left for America a week later to join my cousin's dojo in Atlanta. Your mother couldn't stand not having the last word so she followed me all the way across the Atlantic, only to tell me that she was more woman then I could ever handle, anyhow." Her father laughed.
"I can't believe mom did that." Scarlett replied shaking her head.
"Yeah, she was a spitfire. Much like yourself." Her father laughed.
"So what happened after that?" Scarlett asked.
"Well, I kissed her and she called me "A carrot-headed old fool". I am glad she followed me. A wife with spirit is a hard thing to handle, but a glory to behold. I know I've told you how much you remind me of your mother so many times, but I just can't imagine that you would let any man forget about you. You're an O'Hara. That's not your style." He concluded the story.
"But dad, I feel so ashamed for not contacting him sooner." Scarlett replied.
"That was just your stubborn nature. It's time you swallow your pride and get on with your life. It's not good to live in the past." Her father wisely spoke. He heard his daughter sigh on the other end of the phone. "Follow him, Shana. I know he's worth it."
"Yeah, ok. I'll make things right." Scarlett decided.
"That's my daughter. You be good now." Her father smiled into the phone.
"Ok, I'm going to call now before I lose my nerve." Scarlett sighed.
"If you need anything else, my dear Shana. Don't hesitate to call again." Her father offered.
"I will. Good bye, Dad, I'll call you if there's any change in his condition." Scarlett promised.
"Then I'm sure I'll be hearing from you soon." Her father agreed and they hung up. Scarlett clicked off her phone and clicked it back on to get a dial tone. She knew Duke's number in St. Louis by heart, but she still felt the need to look it up in her phone book. Her fingers trembled as she dialed the digits. The phone was ringing. Maybe she would get an answering machine.
"Hello, Falcone residence." a familiar voice answered. Scarlett's hands were trembling. It had been such a long time since she heard Duke's voice. "Hello?" the voice called again. Scarlett hadn't realized that she hadn't answered him back. The phone slipped out of her nervous hands and tumbled to the floor. She quickly scooped it up.
"H-hi. It's Scarlett." She announced. She waited, hoping and praying he would know her. She could here him breathing into the phone.
"Are you calling for my mother?" he asked after a few seconds. Tears welded in her eyes and she rested her head in her free hand.
"Yes, please put her on." Scarlett said trying not to lose her composure. She could hear Duke summon his mother through the phone.
"Hello, Scarlett, dear. It's so nice to hear from you." Mrs. Falcone greeted the caller.
"Hi, Mrs. Falcone. I'm sorry I haven't been in contact." Scarlett apologized.
"It's understandable, but I am glad you called." Duke's mother answered.
"Please don't hate me." Scarlett sighed so upset with herself that she hadn't called sooner.
"Honey, we don't hate you." Mrs. Falcone soothed the woman's fears.
"Falcon hates me." Scarlett pointed out.
"I don't think Falcon understands this completely. To him, feelings are cut and dry." Mrs. Falcone wisely answered.
"I just feel so horrible for not calling. I tried…I just couldn't. I don't want you to think I forgot your son. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him." Scarlett told her.
"I know, dear. You've always been kind to my Conrad." His mother smiled into the phone.
"Do you think it would be possible to come for a visit? I mean if it isn't an inconvenience?" Scarlett asked nervously.
"I think that would be lovely. Conrad needs you here. He may not know it, but he does. It might help him recover more of his memory. I hope…" his mother trailed off.
"How is he doing?" Scarlett asked seriously. She heard his mother take a huge sigh.
"He's ok. It's just his memories are stuck on Vietnam. You see, Vietnam was tough for him to take. It was a while before he could handle the repercussions: the flashbacks and the nightmares. Well, it's like he's back there all over again. It was excruciating the first time, it's impossible now." Mrs. Falcone revealed.
"It must be so frightening for him." Scarlett sighed upset at the news.
"For all of us dear. On top of everything, his whole life is out of whack. People are older than he expects them to be, and he can't recognize a lot of the people in the scrapbook I keep of his adventures." His mother continued.
"Like me." Scarlett blurted into the phone as the tears started to roll down her cheeks.
"Scarlett, that is why it's important that you come. He needs you. We need you. Maybe it will jog his memory. Something has to be done or he's going to kill himself." Mrs. Falcone sighed sadly.
"What do you mean?" Scarlett asked wiping the tears from her face.
"The stress of it all is too much for him. He's turned to drinking." Mrs. Falcone revealed.
"Why drinking? To forget?" Scarlett asked.
"I thought so at first, but with all the trouble he gets in, it seems he really is trying to find a way out. Jack keeps him just this side of getting arrested at least 3 nights a week. He has to go out and fetch him before the brawling starts." Mrs. Falcone replied.
"I really wish I had called sooner. I didn't realize things were this bad. I apologize again." Scarlett spoke softly feeling terrible about what has been going on.
"Well, hopefully a visit from you might trigger something in his memory. It's got to…" Mrs. Falcone trailed off. Scarlett could hear a small sob.
"I'm going to toss a few things in my bag and I'll be on the next plane. I'll call you when I reach St. Louis." Scarlett answered. The two women exchanged closing remarks and hung up. Scarlett took a deep breath and took out her duffel bag. She packed as much clothing as would fit. She opened up the top drawer of her dresser and pulled out a velvet box. She opened it and touched the gold necklace that laid inside. It had been a present from Duke not long before the accident. Scarlett picked up the chain and let it dangle in the air. She let the necklace slip through her other hand until she came to the two gold heart charms.