Chapter 7:
Chris and Andy were walking along the path to the beach when Chris suddenly placed his hand over Andy's mouth and pulled him into the woods. "Be still and quiet," he hissed. Andy could hear the faint whisper of voices. Chris suddenly jumped to his feet and led Andy back toward the house. He stopped along the side of the big hill and pulled some brush away revealing a small opening. He shoved Andy inside. "Stay here, don't move, and don't say a word. I'm going to get the others." he said, before covering the opening again. He ran as fast as he could to the tree house and climbed the ladder. Rae and Julie looked up as he ran into the main room. "We have to get out of here now!" he said.
"What's wrong, Chris?" Rae asked.
"There are people on the island. I have this really bad feeling about them. We have to hide."
Rae looked at him and considered his words for a moment. "Alright. Grab Ann. Julie, grab what you can." she said, rushing into the room where Spot and Ann were sleeping. Chris followed her and wrapped Ann in several blankets before heading carefully down the ladder.
Julie followed with what few things she could manage to throw into a sack. Rae helped Spot to his feet and helped him over to the ladder. Once they were down on the ground Chris led the way to the small cave, Julie following close behind him, Rae and Spot bringing up the rear. Rae had draped his arm around her shoulders and had her arm around his waist to support him.
"Where are these people, Chris?" Rae finally asked. "What did they look like? And where are we going?"
"They were on the beach when Andy and I left. They looked like pirates, but I can't be for sure, I didn't understand a word they were saying."
"Pirates?" Spot asked skeptically, as they headed for a cave.
"You know, shaved heads, eye patches, peg legs..."
"Kid Blink," Rae murmured with a snigger.
"Rae!" Spot hissed, but was soon grinning.
Chris just gave them a puzzled look and then shrugged.
"You said you had Andy with you. Where is he?"
"In that cave." He pointed towards the cave that was just a short distance away.
"You left him there alone?" Rae asked.
"Well... I... uh... yeah..."
"Next time don't leave him!" she snapped.
He frowned and hung his head. Moving the brush aside, he waited for the others to enter the small cave before he followed with a sleeping Ann.
Andy ran over to them and threw his arms around Rae and Spot. "I was so scared," he whimpered.
Spot collapsed weakly to the ground and pulled the little boy into his arms, as Rae sat beside them. "It's alright, we're here now, Andy."
"What's going on?" he asked, his eyes wide.
Rae and Spot exchanged a glance, "Nothing sweetheart," Rae was quick to say.
"Then why are we hiding?"
"We're just playing a little game, Andy," Chris said, handing Ann to Rae.
"Are you sure?"
"Yep, we're pretending like a bunch of pirates have come to take over our island."
"Don't we have to beat them up then?" he asked, crawling into Chris' lap.
"Not these pirates. These pirates like to play hide-and-seek. So we have to hide and be real quiet so that they don't find us." Chris answered, looking over Andy's head for approval from Spot and Rae.
They both nodded, approving the plan.
"Will they leave?"
"We hope so."
"If they do, will they take us back home?"
"No, Andy," Rae answered, "these pirates aren't going to our house."
"Well... they SHOULD take us home! If we're letting them play with us, they should be nice and take us home!" He pouted.
"Come here Andy," Spot snapped.
Flinching, Andy hesitantly approached him. "Yessir...?"
"These pirates aren't nice pirates. I need you to sit down and be real still and quiet until they leave, alright?" He frowned and plopped down next to Spot. "Straighten up, little man."
He did as told. Ann whimpered. "I'm cold..."
Rae wrapped another blanket around the girl and held her tighter. "I'm sorry baby."
Nodding, she sniffled. Beyond them, Julie paced. "How long do you think we have to wait?"
"Hopefully they will be gone in a couple of hours." Spot said.
"How will we tell?"
"I think we should run them off the island!" Chris proclaimed, smacking his fist onto his open palm.
He startled Ann who began whimpering even more. "Chris!" Rae hissed, sending him a look, while trying to comfort Ann.
"Well... we should!"
"Chris, please," Rae pleaded.
He frowned. "Oh, all right..."
"Thank you," Rae said with a sigh.
"Yeah, yeah..."
Julie crouched near the cave wall and pulled some dried fish out of the sack she had packed, poured some water in the dish and set it aside to soak it up. "We can eat in a few minutes, if anyone's hungry."
"Good thinking, Julie," Rae said, shifting Ann's sleeping form. Ann whimpered and shrieked and tightened her hold on Rae.
"Shh, shh," she whispered. "It's okay." Once Ann finally settled down, Rae sighed and leaned her head against the cave wall. This was going to be a long wait.
* * *
Dawn came with chirping birds and the fresh scent of the ocean blowing into the cave. With stiff necks, backs, and other appendages, everyone awoke, or tried to. Rae rubbed her eyes sleepily. "I wonder if the pirates are gone..."
Spot stifled a yawn and snagged Chris' arm. "We'll take a look."
Chris muttered a word under his breath and Spot sent him a glare.
"We'll be right back."
"Be careful," Rae warned. "Don't let them see you if they are still here."
"Don't worry, dear, we'll be careful." Spot said, dragging the boy from the cave.
"You'd better!" she called out after them. Turning to Julie then, she asked, "Want to help me get breakfast ready?"
Julie sifted through the bag of things that she had brought. "We finished off the food last night."
Rae wrinkled her nose. "Well... the island better be clear... because I'm starving... and I imagine you two are too," she nodded at Ann and Andy.
Andy nodded, but Ann whimpered. "I don't feel like eating, Miss Rae."
"Do you feel worse?"
Ann nodded with a whimper. Rae frowned deeply, resting her hand on the little girl's forehead. "Oh honey, you're burning up... Here, bundle up in these blankets." She handed her the blankets they had used through the night.
"Will you hold me?" Ann asked.
With a nod, she pulled Ann onto her lap. "Rest now, okay?"
Ann nodded, "I love you, Momma," she whispered.
Rae's eyebrows hiked up in surprise, and she looked down at her. "I love you too, Ann."
Ann snuggled up closer to Rae and soon fell asleep. Rae sighed. What had happened to Ann's mother? Had the little girl already forgotten her?
Andy looked at her inquisitively. "What's wrong, Miss Rae?"
"Come here," she said, motioning him closer.
He looked at her uncertainly, wondering if he was in trouble or not, but walked over.
She put her free arm around him. "Andy, do you know what happened to your parents?" she asked.
Andy scratched his head. "I... Well... Momma got sick... and went away... Daddy... daddy got hurt in a factory accident and he.... he went away too..." He looked at her sadly. "Why didn't they come back, Miss Rae?"
Rae pulled him closer. "I don't know sweetheart, but you and Ann are gonna stay with us now."
He nodded slowly. "Thank you Miss Rae."
"Your welcome, sweetheart," she said. "Andy?"
"Yes, Miss Rae?"
"I love you kiddo," she said, kissing his dirty head.
He hugged her. "I love you too, Miss Rae. Will you marry me?"
She giggled, "What about Mr. Spot?"
"Well.... he can share! You're supposed to share, you know." He nodded wisely.
"You'll have to ask him if he wants to share, kiddo."
He grinned. "Okay!"
They waited for a few more minutes before Spot and Chris returned. Andy ran over to Spot. "Mr. Spot?"
"Yes, Andy?"
"Can I marry Miss Rae too?" He gave him a wide-eyed, hopeful look. Chris snorted.
"What are you talking about Andy?"
"I wanna marry Miss Rae, but she said I'd have to see if you wanted to share." Again, Chris snorted. Julie whacked the back of his head to shut him up.
Spot bent down so that he was nose to nose with the boy. "I don't think I wanna share Miss Rae. Cause I love her a lot."
"But... not sharing is mean!"
"I know, but this is Miss Rae, we're talking about."
"But.. but.. NO FAIR!"
"Sorry Andy, I got her first."
He pouted and then walked over to Julie. "Will YOU marry me?"
Chris knelt in front of him. "You gotta ask her big brother if that's alright first Andy."
Andy wrinkled his nose. "I gotta ask everyone something all the time!" They laughed.
Julie reached around her brother and ruffled Andy's hair. "Ask me again when we're older and maybe I'll think about it."
"Yippee!"
"Is it safe?" Rae asked, shifting Ann in her arms.
Chris and Spot nodded. "Or, so it looks," Spot added.
"We need to get Ann back to the house, she's pretty sick."
Chris crouched down and scooped the little girl up into his arms. "All right then. Let's move out."
The others quickly gathered the few belongings that they had managed to grab and followed him from the cave.
"Can we eat now?" Andy asked as they crossed the beach.
"As soon as we get back to the house," Spot answered.
"Can't we fish and eat right on the beach?"
"Let's go take care of Ann first, and then we'll come back and fish."
"Oh all right."
"If you'll take Ann, little man and I can stay here and fish," Chris offered.
Spot and Rae looked at one another and shrugged. "Just be careful," Rae added, taking Ann from him. "We'll be back soon."
"You two just worry about Ann. I'll take care of Andy."
"I will too," Julie offered, linking arms with her brother. "It's about time you showed me how to fish anyway."
Spot ruffled Julie's hair and led Rae down the path toward the tree house.
Once in the house Rae placed Ann on the bed and stood back to watch her sleep. She sighed heavily. "I'm getting worried about her, Spot," she murmured, leaning her head on his shoulder. "We got better. Why isn't she?"
He slipped his arm around her waist. "I don't know sweetheart." he said, kissing her temple.
"She will get better... right?"
"I hope so, darling."
She frowned deeply. "You go with the kids. I want to stay here and watch Ann."
He pulled her closer to him. "I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay right here with the two of you."
"They're expecting at least one of us back..." she pointed out.
"They'll be alright. I don't want to leave Ann anymore than you do."
She smiled softly and sat down on the floor by Ann. "You know, she called me Momma..."
He knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "When?"
"While you were out. It's just hallucinations or something but... it was strange... I kind of liked it."
"I'm sure you did. I mean, in all ways expect for blood, you are here mother."
"I suppose... I guess that makes you her father in all ways except for blood." She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder again. "Spot, I asked Andy about their parents..."
"And?"
"I think they both died."
He held her closer. "Did he say what happened?"
"Their mother got sick and their father got hurt in a factory accident."
Spot took several deep breaths and Rae could tell that he was thinking about his own accident. He let go of her and moved to get up. She looked at him with a frown and pulled him back down. "Don't start that again, Spot," she scolded firmly, yet sadly. He pulled away from her and left the room. He walked out and leaned against the railing of the tree house. Getting up, she followed him and folded her arms over her chest, waiting for him to start talking.
"I'm sorry Rae, but...you said that and the whole thing came back. I remember the heat of that room. The sting of the burning metal tearing into my skin. The pain that I felt when I woke up...."
She slipped her arms around him and looked up at him. "I know... But it's over... It's over now.... And you have nothing more to worry about... You had done a good thing." He buried his face in her hair and his shoulders soon began to shake. "It's all right," she whispered soothingly, stroking his hair gently.
"Why Rae? Why me? Why those children? Why?"
She shook her head. "I don't know why. Life is funny that way."
"I'll never get over this Rae. Every time I looked in the mirror. Every time I look down and see the scars on my arms and chest. I can't..." She didn't know how to comfort him... It seemed as though words would not suffice. He pulled back and turned away, his hands going to his eyes to dry them. "I'm sorry, Rae. You shouldn't have to deal with this."
She shook her head. "No...we are married now. And before that, best friends. Best friends, husband and wife, they all share problems. I want you to tell me. I want to help you Spot."
"Rae, there is something I should have told you before and I'll understand if you hate me."
She looked at him curiously, tilting her head. "What is it?"
"I can't give you the children you want."
She quirked her brow. "What do you mean?'
He sighed. "When I woke up the doctors told me that because of the accident that I couldn't father any children."
She stared at him. "You... can't?"
"No," he whispered, turning away from her.
Gently, she grabbed his hand and turned him back. "Why are you so upset?"
"I'll understand if you want to leave me when we get back to the States." he said, turning from her again.
She pulled him back again. "Now why would you think a silly thing like that?"
"Because you want a lot of children and I CAN'T GIVE THEM TO YOU! I don't know why you've put up with a freak like me as long as you have."
"STOP CALLING YOURSELF THAT!" she yelled, stomping her foot. "I put up with you because I love you! I don't care that you can't give me children. I don't love you for that, I love you for YOU, why don't you understand that?!" Before he could answer, Ann's cries filled the air. "Look what you did," she hissed, though she had been the only one yelling. Sitting next to Ann, she stroked the girl's fevered face. "What's the matter sweetheart?"
"I'm gonna be sick, Miss Rae," the girl whispered, quickly, her hand going to her mouth. Spot, nearest to the door, grabbed the empty water pail they had ended up keeping near the door and thrust into Ann's free hand just in time. When Ann finished throwing up, she dropped her head weakly into Rae's lap, "You two scared me," she whispered.
"Why was that sweetheart?"
"You two were yelling and it scared me."
Spot sat beside her, moving the pail. "We're sorry, Ann... Aren't we, Rae?"
"Of course we are." Rae said, brushing a stray lock of hair from the girl's face.
"Do you two hate each other?"
"No, of course not!" they exclaimed simultaneously.
"Why would you think that?" Rae asked.
"Because you two were yelling at each other."
"We always do that, remember?" Spot kidded, pushing her hair out of her face. "Don't let it bother you. Everyone yells sometimes."
Ann nodded. "Will you hold me Mr. Spot?"
"All right. But you get back to sleep, you hear? You need all the rest you can get, little lady." Spot gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"I love you, Daddy," she whispered as she fell asleep.
Rae looked at Spot and placed a hand on his shoulder. "If it hadn't been for you, we wouldn't have Ann and Andy, now would we?" He shrugged silently, reveling in the fact that this little girl had called him 'daddy'. He rather liked the sound of it. "Spot look at me." He glanced at Rae. She placed a hand gently on his cheek. "Having children of our own doesn't matter to me. There are two little angels that already consider us their parents. We don't need to have children of our own to be parents."
"But.. didn't you want children of your own?"
"I don't need children of my own to be happy. I'm happy with YOU! And the twins. And Chris and Julie if they decide to stay with us."
"Well.... are you sure you're happy though?"
She pulled his head towards her and kissed him. After a moment she pulled away. "Wanna ask that question again?" she whispered.
"Mm, no, I think that will suffice."
"No more talk of such nonsense, right?"
"...Right."
"I love you Spot."
"I know you do," he replied with a smile.
"She's beautiful, Spot." she said, brushing the hair from the girl's face.
Spot smiled. "I'm afraid that when she's older, we'll have to lock her in her room to keep the young men away."
"I think we'll be so busy keeping Andy away from the girls that we may forget to let her out."
He laughed. "That boy is a card."
"He's a lot like his Daddy," Rae said, turning her head to smile at him.
Spot smiled, running a hand through his hair. "Well, what can I say? Some of us men just have the charm."
Rae grinned at him. "You know, I'm getting mighty jealous of Miss Ann."
"Is that so?" He grinned
She nodded. "I think she's in my place. I seem to remember our wedding vows saying 'to have and to HOLD'," she said with a mischievous grin.
Spot chuckled. "Well, I've got two arms." He held out the other arm for her.
She moved over next to him and rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling up close to him. "This is a little better."
He grinned broadly. "Well, if Ann hadn't asked me to hold her first..."
Rae sighed and looked down at the tiny child sleeping in his arms. "I just wish I knew what to do to make her feel better."
"You and me both."
She shuddered. "What if she..."
"She won't."
"She might, Spot."
"We have to keep believing she won't."
"I can try, but it's hard, especially when I look at her."
He nodded and kissed her head. "I know it is."
"MR. SPOT! MISS RAE! YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO THE BEACH QUICK!" They heard Julie yell from below.